Chapter 153 - Aggressive Pressure
In the hazy darkness of night, Mizuki sensed a figure approaching — from the same direction he had come earlier.
『It's already this late, huh...』
Mizuki had long been familiar with how dull chakra control and sensory training could be — especially sensing natural energy, which required a calm and ideal environment.
Avoiding others wasn't because he couldn't train around them, but because the process caused too much of a disturbance.
For Hyuga Neji and Yamashiro Aoba, sensing Mizuki's chakra movements was not difficult, and with Aburame Shino's kikaichū insects being extremely sensitive to chakra fluctuations, Mizuki preferred training in solitude out in the wilderness, where the serene atmosphere and lack of interruptions yielded the best results.
Realizing someone was approaching, Mizuki figured it was time to return.
Sure enough, soon Yamashiro Aoba emerged from the darkness.
"Why haven't you come back yet?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you," Mizuki replied.
"This place just felt so peaceful, I sat here longer than I realized..."
"Running off to stargaze as a team captain?"
Aoba teased with a grin, "Even after becoming a jōnin, you haven't changed much..."
"And is that a bad thing?"
Mizuki smiled, knowing full well that Aoba wasn't criticizing him — just a friendly jab between comrades.
"It's fine. I know how you operate. But those two genin don't. They were worried something happened and couldn't rest properly."
"It's an S-rank mission. Who wouldn't be nervous?"
"It's like the first time you put on a forehead protector — excited but uneasy,"
Aoba said as he sat beside Mizuki on a tree trunk, gazing up at the moon.
"Hey Mizuki, do you still remember your first S-rank mission?"
"That was a long time ago. Can't say I do."
"I don't remember mine either.
Guess we're both survivors of many battles... but who knows if we'll see the end properly."
"Surprised to hear that from you. I thought you didn't dwell on stuff like this."
"I didn't. Until recently,"
Aoba said quietly.
So many people had died in the past month — some familiar, others not — and the toll was beginning to weigh on them.
"I get it now. All this sentimentality today is because you're worried about the two genin, right?
Are you afraid they're too tense? Or that they won't be able to handle the pressure?"
"Both. They're rare talents. And with the village suffering so many losses, we need new blood.
Can't let them die in a place like this..."
"You still don't trust me as the new team leader, do you?"
Mizuki chuckled, not taking offense.
"It's not that,"
Aoba scratched his head awkwardly.
"I just think the village made this decision a little too hastily."
"You're overthinking it, Aoba,"
Mizuki said seriously, finally deciding to reveal a bit more.
"To be honest, this personnel arrangement was my own request.
I suggested the names, and Lady Tsunade approved them."
"You did? Why?"
"You were right — they are rare talents.
They'll be the backbone of Konoha's future."
Mizuki didn't directly answer the question.
"But you've underestimated them. Right now, they're already invaluable teammates."
"You really believe that?" Aoba asked, skeptical.
"Of course.
It's true the village is short on jōnin, but we could still scrape together a few decent chūnin.
So why would I specifically request two genin?
Because what they need isn't comfort or encouragement — it's trust."
"Hmm..."
Aoba fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"You're right. Greenhouse flowers will never grow into the pillars of the village.
This is a perfect opportunity for them.
But it just means we have to be even more careful."
"Exactly. And you know why the village promoted me to jōnin, right?"
Mizuki said with confidence.
"As long as they stay sharp, nothing will happen to them."
The genin wouldn't be primary targets — Mizuki himself was the most at risk.
"I'll just have to trust you then..."
There was no backing out now.
They had to see this mission through to the end.
"Let's head back — it's late..."
Mizuki glanced toward a few kikaichū insects flying nearby and recalled sensing two earlier instances of being watched.
Clearly, Shino and Neji had been keeping an eye on him just in case.
"Yeah."
Aoba followed Mizuki as they walked back.
"Becoming a jōnin really made you more talkative, huh?"
"No — you've always been too weak to talk back to me."
———
Early the next morning, the entire escort team slowly resumed their journey along the planned route.
For a unit composed of ninja, this pace was agonizingly slow —
as if they were boldly announcing to the lurking enemies:
"We're right here. Come at us if you dare."
Such scenes were exceedingly rare in ninja missions.
Ninja — born from an occupation focused on stealth, assassination, and infiltration — prided themselves on secrecy and agility.
Even after chakra elevated their role to the forefront of battlefields, effectively replacing samurai, the fundamental principles of ninja never changed.
"Mizuki, is this really okay?"
Yamashiro Aoba asked worriedly, watching the disorganized group.
"Shouldn't we do something?"
"No need,"
Mizuki shook his head.
"Let Shino's insects maintain a wide detection range.
Other than that, do nothing."
Mizuki had already anticipated this situation.
At its core, this mission was a game of who's dumber between the three great ninja villages and the Akatsuki.
Each side believed the others were more foolish than themselves — hence this absurd scene.
『This discrepancy in intelligence has created a bizarre standoff.
Which means... the only variable might be me.』
As the only one with a superior understanding of the full picture, Mizuki now found himself potentially in control of the mission's pacing.
Especially now that his own strength had risen to match those playing at this level.
Konoha believed it had Itachi as a spy, Jiraiya's intel, and two confirmed combat encounters.
Iwagakure assumed the enemy would foolishly try to rescue Deidara through an insider, and thus planned to exploit that.
Sunagakure, meanwhile, hoped to snatch some benefits by taking a gamble.
The Akatsuki were even more confident —
with Zetsu's omnipresent surveillance, countless outer cells, and years of embedded spies.
And then there was Sasori, who had Yura secretly embedded in this very team.
Everyone believed they had the intelligence advantage.
No one thought they might be falling into someone else's trap.
That meant the originally possible skirmish had become a certainty.
A fierce battle was inevitable.
Although puzzled by Mizuki's strategy, Aoba followed orders and assigned Shino and Neji to their support roles.
"Is it really that serious?"
Aoba asked in a hushed voice.
"Be ready."
Mizuki replied calmly.
"I don't know when they'll come, but they will come.
And it won't be long."
The moment the enemy gathered enough intel on their formation, they'd attack.
The only unknown was who — and how many — would come.
———
Over the next two days, the group continued their slow crawl.
The total distance they covered was barely more than what Hiashi's team had traveled earlier.
Mizuki even had time to revisit the site flattened by his Earth Gravitational Seal.
The ground was still loose and disrupted —
broken puppet fragments were scattered across the soil, partially hidden beneath the new growth of grass.
"This is where you fought last time? These marks are terrifying...
How did you all make it out alive?"
Aoba was stunned by the devastation.
"It's a long story,"
Mizuki said.
"But the point is, we may be facing enemies of that level again."
"That's… grim."
Aoba gave a wry smile.
"And you're saying there might be more than one?
How the hell are we supposed to win?"
"Relax. This time, we have allies.
Besides, have some faith in me — I'm about to get promoted, get a raise, and marry my fiancée.
No way am I dying in a place like this."
"Ugh, Mizuki, must you always bring up your fiancée? We know already."
"I'm reminding you,"
Mizuki shot him a look.
"When we get back, you owe me a dinner.
I've already invited the guests.
Also, start preparing that wedding gift."
They were still joking when they spotted Maki and Yura approaching from one direction, and Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi from another.
The expressions on all their faces were serious.
"Do you need something?"
Mizuki asked first.
"We'd like to withdraw from the joint escort mission and return to Sunagakure,"
Maki announced gravely.
"...What?" Mizuki frowned.
"We believe we're close enough to the village that, if we push forward, we can return within a day.
There's no need to continue at this slow pace."
Yura explained.
"This is the shared consensus among Suna ninja,"
Maki added with a nod.
"You insisted on joining us before, and now you're pulling out with no explanation?
Is that how all Suna ninja behave?"
Kurotsuchi snapped, unable to tolerate their fickleness.
"Things change,"
Maki replied coolly.
"Ninja are adaptable.
And besides, it benefits you — you'll reach Iwagakure faster without this detour."
Mizuki narrowed his eyes at Yura, who appeared calm and composed.
He had a strong suspicion that this was all due to misinformation —
and that Yura was the one who had delivered it.
Then Mizuki spoke sharply,
"Maki, I don't care what reasons you give.
They're irrelevant.
I'll ask only one thing:
Has Sunagakure found something more valuable than its alliance with Konoha?"
His words were no longer a negotiation — they were a direct threat.
Given the circumstances, persuasion would be useless.
Only intimidation might work now.
And Mizuki's confidence came from the fact that Sunagakure needed Konoha far more than the reverse.
If they fell out with Konoha, the next to strike would undoubtedly be Iwagakure, already eager for an excuse.
"Mizuki-san, what do you mean by that?"
Maki asked, brow furrowed.
"Exactly what I said.
Please think carefully, Maki."
"Do your words represent Konoha?
Do they speak for the Fifth Hokage?"
"I believe your village isn't entirely unaware of what's at stake here.
Given the timing, whatever the reasons, I'm confident Konoha would say the same."
Thank heavens Konoha still held the title of the strongest village in name —
and that Mizuki was no longer a no-name chūnin.
In this moment, his words carried real weight.
Even if he'd overstepped slightly, as long as his direction was right, the village would back him.
"In that case... we'll reconsider."
Maki said, leading Yura away, his face dark.
Mizuki sighed in relief.
That "we'll reconsider" was just for show — they had backed down.
If Suna's three jonin — especially the powerful Maki — had left, it would've been a major loss.
"We'll be going too, Mizuki-san.
As expected, Konoha's words still carry weight."
Akatsuchi said courteously before departing with Kurotsuchi.
Watching both groups leave, Yamashiro Aoba let out a long breath.
"That nearly blew up... Mizuki, you've got guts."
"Can't reason with cunning Suna shinobi.
This was the only way."
Then he added in a low voice:
"Keep an eye on Yura.
If he does anything unusual, let me know immediately."
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