Chapter 126: Heavy Casualties

After the Third Raikage and Danzo, along with their group, gathered at a location in the Land of Waves, the Anbu from the Cloud Village immediately arrived to report the situation.

“Lord Raikage, here is the intelligence we’ve recently gathered. This factory is doing very well locally. Lately, they’ve been working even through the night. However, starting three days ago, the night shifts have stopped. It seems someone couldn’t keep up with the busy schedule.”

The Anbu detailed everything they had observed—the entrances and exits, the number of people inside the factory, the operating hours—and handed a scroll to the Third Raikage.

Danzo, somewhat envious, commented from the side, “Their medicine is even used by the Mist Village. They’re making money every moment. If that money were mine, I could easily double the size of Root. The dream of unifying the ninja world could definitely be realized within twenty years.”

The Third Raikage clenched his fist and made a resolute decision. “In that case, we’ll infiltrate at 2 a.m. Adam, I’m entrusting this matter to you.”

“Leave it to me, Lord Raikage.”

Adam understood the Third Raikage’s intention. He carried the Amber Purification Bottle, one of the Six Paths Ninja Tools. Besides sealing enemies, it was the top sealing treasure in the ninja world, said to be able to hold as much as a mountain or two.

During the last war, the Cloud Ninja relied on the Amber Purification Bottle to store military supplies, then used the Heavenly Delivery Technique to send them to the front lines. This was a unique capability of the Cloud Village; other villages could only transport supplies slowly.

Adam’s mission was to package all the medicines, production equipment, and documents from the pharmaceutical factory into the Amber Purification Bottle and take them away.

As for sharing any with Danzo? If he dared to show his fangs, the Third Raikage would give him a fist to the face!

Since when could they be extorting things from the Cloud Village?

Night fell. Most residents of the maritime town in the Land of Waves had gone to bed early. After a day’s hard work for Boss Kahn—whether fishing or making canned goods—they were exhausted. Unless someone shouted loudly with a megaphone at their door, it was hard to wake them.

The Cloud Village Anbu had precisely discovered this, so they moved boldly and swiftly across rooftops. Even if they occasionally encountered civilians who hadn’t slept yet, there was no concern. By the time the civilians came out to check, the Anbu had already vanished.

“Lord Third Raikage, that is the factory. The guards have been rather lax these past few days. Today, they didn’t even show up,” the Anbu reported.

Adam lowered his voice in suspicion, “Such a large factory—why would the guards be so careless?”

The Anbu immediately shared their findings: “Because every household here works for the factory. In fact, from outside the factory onward, the entire area is guarded by factory security. Even if a ninja is carelessly spotted, it would cause quite a commotion.”

“Adam, don’t be surprised. The nobles of the Land of Lightning are the same…” the Third Raikage said, then gave instructions: “You take care of the guards. The rest follow me and Adam into the factory. Split up and act accordingly.”

Adam’s team would use the Six Paths Ninja Tools to pack and remove the goods, while the Third Raikage carried a sealing talisman as he headed toward Kahn’s location. The talisman bore the mark of the Heavenly Delivery Technique. Once affixed, it would plant a mark that would teleport the target back no matter where they fled.

With the Third Raikage’s speed, he could attach the talisman before the enemy had a chance to use space ninjutsu. Of course, capturing Kahn outright would be ideal—he carried many secrets worth uncovering; the pharmaceutical factory was just a minor part.

Meanwhile, Danzo instructed his two squads: “Fox, you come with me. Once inside, immediately go into stealth. In the darkness, your clan’s secret techniques reach their peak. You must control them at all costs.”

By “them,” Danzo meant the Third Raikage and Kahn. Though envious of the pharmaceutical factory’s profits, he valued the Desperate Virus even more. He never revealed this information to the Third Raikage during their cooperation, intending to seize Kahn for himself.

“Dan, this time it’s up to you. If you can control the opponent even for a moment, we can capture them. Shin, use your Byakugan to pinpoint their location.”

To obtain the Desperate Virus, Danzo had even gone so far as to recruit members from the Hyuga branch family into Root over several days—a break from tradition, as Root never accepted Hyuga or Uchiha ninja before.

---

“Understood, Lord Danzo.”

Hyuga Shin activated his Byakugan and quickly located Kahn’s position inside the pharmaceutical factory.

“Found him, Lord Danzo.”

Once Shin confirmed Kahn’s location, a ninja from the Yamanaka clan used the Mind Transmission Technique to project the image into the minds of Kato Dan and the other squads.

“We’ve locked onto the target’s location, Lord Danzo.”

All Root members received the vision granted by Shin’s Byakugan. At Danzo’s command, they swiftly stormed into the factory.

The Cloud Village group lacked the convenience of Byakugan and Yamanaka clan secret perception techniques. Danzo had deliberately exaggerated the pharmaceutical factory’s profits to divert their attention.

Outside, Hyuga Shin, Kato Dan, the Yamanaka clan members responsible for Mind Transmission, and two other Root squads remained. Danzo stayed out as a reserve, prepared to intercept the Third Raikage if things went awry.

“This is it. Tonight will be the moment I make Konoha great once again.”

After Danzo spoke, Kato Dan activated the Spirit Transformation Technique. Now highly skilled, his spirit body instantly separated from his physical form and surged toward Kahn’s location.

The next moment, Hyuga Shin shouted urgently, “Dan’s Spirit Transformation Technique hit the target. The target has... exploded? It’s smoke! Dan’s technique struck a Shadow Clone!”

A shadow clone?

The intelligence had suggested the target might have learned ninjutsu, but they had been deceived by a shadow clone during a sneak attack.

Danzo’s expression darkened. He immediately realized a possibility and ordered, “Everyone, retreat! Quickly...”

Boom!

A thunderous explosion erupted as a scorching wave burst from the factory’s rooftop. Amidst the earth-shaking roar, thick smoke and fiery sparks swept across like a sandstorm.

The massive blast caused entire blocks of buildings to collapse, with shattered reinforced concrete raining down like heavy rain.

The shockwave flung Kato Dan, Hyuga Shin, and others dozens of meters away. While flying through the air, they were struck by falling debris and rebar—some lost limbs, others sustained severe injuries.

“This is art, but it’s not intense enough yet,” Kahn said from afar, watching the towering flames with satisfaction. A seemingly empty factory and a shadow clone had yielded such a large explosion.

Fortunately, the residents’ quarters were far from the pharmaceutical factory; otherwise, more than half the town might have perished in the blast.

The guards emerged immediately upon hearing the explosion, comforting frightened civilians. Having received advance notice days ago, they fared better than the civilians but were still deeply shaken by the thunderous blast.

After the flames subsided somewhat, Kahn decided to investigate.

“There might still be survivors. Let’s go check.”

Before moving, he used a Transformation Technique and Ironclad Curse, then swiftly flew toward the pharmaceutical factory with the Flying Spell. If there were no survivors, he would call for reinforcements to clean up.

---

“Cough, cough, Lord Danzo, how are you?”

After recovering from the blast’s shock, the less severely injured Root members sought out Danzo, inquiring about his condition.

Danzo coughed up some blood and steadied himself by leaning on a Root ninja. “What about the others?”

“Not good, Lord Danzo. Dan’s legs are blown off, and he’s lost an arm. Those who entered the factory...” Hyuga Shin replied weakly, his own arm injured. The explosion was so powerful that many were caught off guard and badly hurt.

“Retreat immediately!”

Though furious inside, Danzo knew this was no time to vent. They had walked into a trap, just like last time. He feared there might be more tricks up their sleeves. If they didn’t retreat now...

---

“Looks like we have some interesting guests today. Is that... Danzo, Konoha's Right Hand to the Hokage?”

A voice sounded nearby. Root ninjas quickly formed a protective circle around Danzo, then watched as a black mist descended from the sky, transforming into an unfamiliar figure.

“Danzo, how did you end up in such a sorry state? And my factory—why did it explode? Could it be your doing?” Kahn said mockingly. “Though the pharmaceutical factory is gone, I still have some healing medicines here. If you’re willing to kneel and beg, I might even give them to you...”

Boom!

Suddenly, a figure burst out from the burning ruins of the factory like a desperado, charging at Kahn.

“Still alive? Obstacles everywhere! Raise the earth!”

Kahn was surprised but instantly cast a spell to block the advance, conjuring walls from the ground with a Transformation Technique.

Yet the attacker suddenly gleamed with dazzling lightning, breaking through Kahn’s barrier and walls, crashing into him. Though protected by Ironclad Curse, the force still sent Kahn flying.

It was the Third Raikage. Though wounded and blinded in one eye, he was still alive.

“Yu, Shika, buy us time!” Danzo ordered, then to the Third Raikage: “The plan has failed.”

He was the first to use ninjutsu to retreat. Several Root members quickly followed, two even carrying the injured Kato Dan as they fled.

Those called back were among the less mobile but still capable fighters. Though hesitant, their Anbu training compelled them to obey.

“Body Replacement Technique!”

“Shadow Binding Technique!”

Two control-type secret techniques launched toward where Kahn had fallen, restraining him before he could get up.

“Go if you must—I’ll avenge Adam...” the Third Raikage growled.

Danzo’s intuition proved correct. Moments after the Third Raikage spoke, ten RPG rocket launchers fired simultaneously from multiple directions, bombarding him with explosive rockets.

Explosions roared continuously. Though the Third Raikage wasn’t seriously injured, the barrage prevented him from charging at Kahn.

“Third Raikage, retreat quickly! We can’t hold out much longer!”

A Nara clan ninja shouted, veins bulging as his chakra drained. As he finished, he exposed his position and was immediately struck by three rocket blasts.

Boom! The Nara ninja was reduced to fragments.

“Damn it!”

The Third Raikage shouted in anger but knew when to give up. Raising his lightning chakra to its peak, he turned and fled.

Shortly after, another hidden Yamanaka clan ninja collapsed and died from chakra exhaustion.

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Chapter 126: Heavy Losses (To be continued)