Naruto: Kage of Kages

Team 6 had the bandit camp in sight, swiftly concluding how pitiful the bandit group was and determining how easy it would be to dispatch them.

But Shiki cared little for that.

He could not afford to ponder any longer on the change happening within him because he knew it was triggered by true danger, something that could truly end his second life that very night.

“Shall we strike first from a distance followed by my and Shiki’s charge to sweep up the survivors while Shinka supports from the back?” Mei, still unaware of the true danger, suggested a course of action for their original mission.

The Aburame girl nodded in response, still thinking everything was going according to the Root’s plan and thus all she had to do was continue to act as instructed.

“Right then!” Mei acknowledged Shinka’s affirmation and was prepared to start the assault.

After all, based on Shiki’s yappiness, if he disagreed, he would have spoken up by now but just as the bespectacled girl was about to lead with the first strike a gloved hand pulled her back.

“Wait. Something’s wrong.” The white haired boy spoke.

Shinka near-imperceptibly twitched with alarm underneath her oversized clothes.

Mei was about to complain about his annoying timings for speaking up but when she turned, she saw something she had never witnessed before.

Shiki’s face, usually in a mischievous smirk, self important grin or utterly blank with boredom or when he was making a show of ignoring someone . . .

Now, that same face that set off flutters in Mei’s heart out of her love for cute things, only chilled her to the core.

The boy’s eyes were like bottomless pools of freezing still water, his expressionless look had some similarities to the usual but now, it felt definitely predatory.

Even Inori began to get alarmed.

‘How the hell did this talented but inexperienced brat suddenly start giving the aura of an implacable killer!?’ She internally questioned, trying to hide her shock.

The blonde jonin instinctually felt as if any sign of weakness would trigger the boy into attacking her, an illusion of course but the very fact that he could induce that kind of feeling was wrong.

‘It’s not even the killing intent and bloodlust of battle enjoying freaks but a cold, hollow feeling, as if mass slaughter is the exact same type of action as breathing or eating, a fundamental part of his existence . . .’

A worse feeling that even the mindless killing machines the Root trained.

‘How does someone even become like that!?’

Such uncertain risk factors were precisely the type of thing Inori did not need when the situation was already as bad as it was.

Then, without warning, guided by supernatural instinct alone, Shiki tossed a kunai with three high quality Explosive Tags attached by a string.

“What ar-!?” Mei was about to call out the sudden inexplicable action but she was rudely interrupted . . .

By a massive explosion.

A deafening sound of chain explosions drowned out all sound and a blastwave of hot air threatened to send all four members of Team 6 flying.

Shinka and Mei were highly disorientated both from utter shock and from the physical impact of being close to a sudden explosion but Inori and Shiki were already directing their entire focus outward.

And as they scanned the surroundings, their pessimistic predictions proved to be quite realistic.

With the explosion of their trap as a signal, the Kumogakure shinobi rapidly approached in an encirclement formation, closing any gaps long before the Team could take advantage.

‘What the hell are these numbers!?’ Inori internally questioned with shock.

Three Elite Jonin backed by six regular Jonin and twelve Elite Chunin.

A massive investment of personnel so as to form a wide encirclement outside her sensory range.

‘Zee!’ Inori near-instantly recognized one of the chakra signatures.

‘. . . Dogan too . . .’ She thought with a bit more complex feelings.

‘The last one is one of the Third Raikage’s aides, Dodai . . .’

The blonde jonin began rapidly calculating possible actions.

‘They seem to be here for me so considering the kids’ skill level, I may be able to draw most of the Kumo forces and give them a chance to flee, even if it’s slight . . .’ She considered.

‘No . . . With such a high number of enemy shinobi and the involvement of the Raikage’s aide, it’s clear they intend to keep all of us here.’ Yamanaka realized.

‘Far more intel than intended got leaked, they are definitely targeting Shiki alongside myself, the other two are just side benefits if they can get their hands on them.’

Inori quickly figured out the major ins and outs of the situation.

“Listen up! This mission was a Kumo trap. Three Elite Jonin backed by six regular Jonin and twelve Elite Chunin are encircling us right now and closing in fast.”

Inori began to lay out the situation to her two still reeling students and Shiki who was busy doing calculations of his own while listening in.

Mei seemed to want clarification but the jonin quickly made a shinobi hand signal that broadly meant orders had to be followed swiftly and time was of the essence.

There was no time for questions!

“The Elite Jonin are spread out with one blocking the valley’s south exit and the other two blocking the west exit. We are already trapped.” Inori gravely continued.

“If we clump together they will just crush us with numbers, I’ll rush the west exit and entangle the enemy there for as long as I can, most of their forces seem to be concentrated there.”

“You three must try to break through the south blockade and reach the town, Kumo won’t attack there for political reasons.”

“Clear? Do not try to engage, focus on escaping alone.”

The blonde struggled but did not reveal how low the possibility of them making it was.

“No.” Shiki, who had been quiet since his kunai throw, spoke up.

Inori was about to shout at him to listen to her obediently for once but the boy calmly spoke ahead of her with a chilling tone.

“They should be targeting the two of us. This separation, white the best possible plan of action, is what the enemy wants as well.” He began.

“If it is just running around, if I give it my all, even an Elite Jonin will not capture me so easily, the enemy also seems to be an earth release specialisti and those tend not to have speed as their specialty.”

The boy was right but the level of his sensing ability and calm breakdown of the situation were shocking for the other three.

Inori especially knew for sure his sensory abilities were not at the level of sensing such details from a large distance.

‘He couldn’t have faked it to me before. Why did his skill level suddenly jump!?’ The blonde questioned.

“Only Shinka and Mei stand any chance of actually escaping because they are not targets, the two of us are staying here whether we like it or not.” Shiki declared to his sensei.

Yamanaka sighed.

“You’re a real piece of work.” She shook her head.

But then, with a hardened smile filled with resolve, she responded.

“Let’s go with what you said then.” Though she did not want to make it, Inori knew it was the right call.

As for Shiki, he was banking on his hidden backup to get him out of trouble before the enemy jonin squashed him.

And in line with his expectations, Tsunade was on the move, approaching the southern exit of the valley from the outside, having already figured Shiki would be heading there and positioned herself in wait for the perfect opportunity for a rear strike against the enemy.

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Hey, Author here!

Just a reminder that you can read up to a FULL MONTH ahead of this site on pa-treon.

I’m trying to become a full time Author now and I’m not going to be starting any new novels just so I can make sure this one is properly completed.

Find those sweet advanced chapters on pa-treon.com/lusoba without the -