Hayama gathered his team for an urgent briefing. The air was tense, and everyone understood the gravity of the mission. Hayama addressed them with a serious tone.
"If our target is anywhere near Orochimaru's level…" Hayama began, his voice filled with concern. "This mission's no longer B-Rank. We're dealing with something much bigger."
Enso could feel the tension in the room grow. He nodded grimly, his expression hardening. "We're in S-Rank territory now."
Hayama's eyes met his, an unspoken understanding passing between them. This was no longer just another mission—this was something far more dangerous. They would need every ounce of their skill and cunning to get through this alive.
Hayama immediately began planning, his mind already whirring through the possibilities. "We'll need to move fast. Once the arms dealers and the Hidden Cloud meet up, we'll be in big trouble," he stated.
Enso listened carefully, his mind already working on ways to improve the plan. After a moment, he spoke up. "We should split into two teams," he suggested. "One team keeps an eye on the trading ground, while the other focuses on ambushing the buyer team. We can pretend to be the clients, which will make it easier to get close to the arms dealers without raising suspicion. This way, we can avoid the two parties ganging up on us."
Hayama nodded, impressed with the idea. "That's a good suggestion. We'll stick with that. It'll give us more flexibility."
After a few more adjustments, the plan was set. Hayama and Itachi would handle the ambush, while Tokuma and Enso would keep watch over the trading locations. Enso was originally assigned to go with Hayama, but he insisted on staying with Tokuma.
He explained that Itachi's Genjutsu would make the assassination much easier, and since they would need to regroup afterwards, it made more sense for him to be on surveillance.
Plus, Enso's sensing abilities would be valuable for keeping watch on the area. Hayama had agreed, knowing Enso's abilities were just as strong as his own, if not more so in some areas. He trusted the young Shinobi completely.
Hayama's gaze softened as he looked at his team. They had grown into capable Shinobi. His Genin were no longer just kids—they were warriors in their own right. Itachi gave Enso a fist bump before turning in for the night, sharing a two-bedroom suite with Hayama. As the two left, Enso turned to Tokuma with a serious expression.
"Tomorrow, I don't care what you do, but do not get injured," Enso warned, his voice low but intense. "Once your blood's drawn, it's all over. If you can't win, just run to me. Don't try to be a hero."
Tokuma, though curious, refrained from asking questions. He had learned long ago to trust Enso. Despite being two years older, he viewed Enso as a big brother. "I promise," Tokuma replied, nodding in agreement.
Enso didn't sleep right away. He had work to do. He spent the rest of the night crafting paper bombs—more than two thousand of them. It was a painstaking process, but he needed to be prepared. By the time he finished, half of his chakra reserves had been depleted, but he felt ready. Only then did he allow himself to relax, closing his eyes and letting the exhaustion take over.
In the morning, he distributed the paper bombs, handing each of his teammates five hundred. With the plan in motion, they set out toward the weapon trading location, located at the outskirts of the Land of Lightning.
Enso instructed Tokuma to keep his distance, knowing that if anything went wrong, he would need to be ready to handle it on his own. Enso moved with caution, using his invisibility mode to survey the area.
As he got to work, Enso couldn't help but wish he had access to Summoning Jutsu. It would allow him to send messages or request backup if things went sideways. Maybe, when he returned to Konoha, he could ask Kushina or Minato about it. They always seemed to have answers when it came to expanding one's abilities. For now, he would have to make do with Shadow Clone Jutsu.
As Enso neared the location, his suspicions were confirmed. En Oyashiro hadn't lied—there was indeed a weapon trade taking place here. The only problem was that the arm dealers didn't mention the exact time when the trade was taking place.
He watched as a group of kids moved swiftly, setting traps around the area and splitting into smaller teams to patrol. Enso recognised them from the underground colosseum, but En Oyashiro was nowhere to be seen.
A sense of disgust settled over Enso as he observed the scene. He couldn't help but recall the conversation between En Oyashiro and Orochimaru. While he had no issue with the arms dealer using children for his operations, his actions went far beyond that—En Oyashiro was also involved in child trafficking. Children without special abilities were sold to nobles, while those with Kekkei Genkai were either forced to serve him or traded to the likes of Orochimaru.
Enso surveyed the area, noting the key details as he planned his next move. He set up a few traps of his own, knowing that the element of surprise would be their greatest advantage.
From a distance, Tokuma remained vigilant, keeping watch. Enso gave him a subtle nod, signalling that everything was in place.
...
Meanwhile, Itachi and Hayama had already begun their part of the operation. Their task was to intercept the Hidden Cloud Shinobi before they could reach the trading site.
The Land of Lightning was home to the Hidden Cloud Village, and its Shinobi were scattered throughout the region. The place was crawling with ninja, making it hard to tell who their actual target was. Any one of them could be a civilian, a patrolling unit, or part of a mission unrelated to the weapon deal.
Fortunately, there were only two known routes that led directly to the arms dealer's location. Hayama and Itachi decided to set up ambush checkpoints on both paths. Using shadow clones, they positioned guards on each route. This would allow them to cover both locations without splitting up too far, while still ensuring they'd get notified when something happened.
Time passed slowly.
Many ninjas passed near the checkpoints throughout the morning, but none raised alarms. Most of them were either taking detours toward different directions or simply stopping to relieve themselves in the nearby forest. These were likely low-level shinobi—at best, mostly Genin & Chūnin.
Later, two figures approached one of the checkpoints.
Itachi's shadow clone picked up on their approach and instantly dispersed, sending a signal back to the real Itachi. The message was clear: potential targets had arrived.
The moment Itachi received the signal, he and Hayama rushed toward the checkpoint. Moving swiftly, they reached a vantage point and observed the two individuals from a concealed spot behind the tree line.
Their ranks were mismatched—one appeared to be a Jōnin, while the other was clearly a Genin.
Hayama's eyes narrowed in recognition.
"That's Toroi of the Magnet Release," he murmured.
Toroi was infamous, both feared and respected throughout the Shinobi world. His kekkei genkai—Magnet Release—was a rare and dangerous ability, and his unique fighting style had earned him a deadly reputation. It made sense that the Hidden Cloud would send someone like him to handle an arms deal of this magnitude.
Walking beside him was an older Shinobi, visibly less experienced despite his age. His nervous glances and hesitant steps marked him as a Genin. Though senior in years, his abilities were a far cry from his partner's.
Team One had already gathered extensive intelligence on Kumogakure, operating under their alternate personas as the Emotional Magician. The unusual pairing of a seasoned Jonin and a Genin wasn't hard to spot, especially since Osoi was the only Genin deemed qualified to operate alongside a Jonin.
Osoi specialised in sealing techniques, particularly those used for containment and storage. After each mission, he would quietly collect discarded weapons, seal them into scrolls, and fade into the background. It was an insignificant role, but to him, working beside a renowned Shinobi like Toroi was a source of pride—even if he was treated more like a janitor than a teammate.
Hayama turned to Itachi and made a hand signal.
You take the Genin. I'll handle the Jōnin.
Itachi nodded as soon as the two Hidden Cloud shinobi were within striking range; he attacked.
Itachi weaved hand signs. In the blink of an eye, a massive ball of flame erupted from his mouth—Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu—and surged toward the two Kumogakure Shinobi.
The timing was flawless.
Hayama couldn't help but be impressed. He used the fireball's explosive presence as cover, darting forward in the smoke and heat to close the distance. The suddenness of the attack prevented the enemy from spotting his movement.
Toroi was caught off guard by the sudden jutsu, but his reflexes, honed through years of battle, kicked in. He reacted instantly, shoving Osoi away with a strong kick to get him out of the line of fire.
He rolled to the side, just barely evading the roaring flames. The heat grazed past him but leaving him otherwise unharmed. As he came to a stop, he reached behind his waist for a scroll and summoned two strings of Shurikens, each attached to a thin wire.
"Osoi! Fall back!" Toroi order loudly.
But Osoi never made it out in time, Itachi was already appearing behind him silently.
One clean slash across the throat, and the Genin collapsed, blood pooling at his feet before his body even hit the ground.
Seeing Osoi fall, Toroi stayed calm. Without hesitation, he flicked his wrist, sending his string-bound kunai whizzing through the air, aimed directly at Itachi.
Itachi parries each kunai with precision. But in doing so, he unknowingly fell into Toroi's trap. Every time he deflected the kunai, Toroi's Magnet Release technique quietly marked him.
Toroi didn't rush. Instead, he reached into his pouch and retrieved a scroll, biting it between his teeth. A flick of his fingers sent the empty strings refilling with Shuriken, each humming with Magnet Release Chakra flow.
He paused, calculating. He needed more information. Who had sent these two? Were there more enemies hiding in the shadows?
His mind raced as he scanned his surroundings. He would only strike when he understood the situation fully. Being a ninja wasn't just about eliminating the enemy—it was knowing when to fight and when to withdraw. A decision like that could mean the difference between life and death.
Hayama hurled five kunai wrapped in explosive tags toward Toroi. The moment the projectiles hit their mark, a massive explosion erupted, sending a thick cloud of dust into the air.
Then, just as the dust began to settle, a Vacuum Blade slicing through the air, aimed precisely where Toroi had stood. For a brief moment, it looked like a clean hit, as Toroi's body was shredded apart. But the fragments burst into white smoke—it had only been a shadow clone.
Before he could react, three giant Shuriken came screaming toward him—Toroi's way of returning the favour by trying to take out the Genin. He was certain now: no one else was lying in wait.
Itachi's Sharingan activated, allowing him to track the incoming projectiles' movements with ease. He tried to dodge, but the Shuriken followed his every movement, as if they had a mind of their own. It was no longer just a matter of evading them; they were drawn to him, each one twisting in the air with unnerving precision.
Hayama, recognising the danger, swung his Vacuum Sword with all his strength, intercepting the attack. But it was barely enough. Itachi stumbled backwards, losing his footing and falling to the ground. He couldn't help but wonder why the Shuriken kept following him.
As he struggled to regain his composure, the answer came to him. Toroi wasn't just throwing Shuriken—he was manipulating them with his Magnet Release.
Itachi quickly warned Hayama, "Sensei! Don't let him touch you or his weapons! He can magnetise anything he touches!"
The urgency in his voice wasn't lost on Hayama. He quickly adjusted his stance, his gaze now locked onto Toroi, wary of his magnetic powers. Itachi continued, "Once he marks you with his magnetism, any of his attacks will keep following you."
Even though Hayama's Vacuum Sword could disrupt the Shuriken for a time, it lacked the raw power to defeat Toroi outright.
With a swift motion, Hayama created three Shadow Clones. Each clone would take on a portion of the task, intercepting the Shuriken and buying him time. For now, close combat was a lost cause. Toroi moved swiftly as he handled the clone with Taijutsu, using his legs to dispel it.
Itachi felt the magnetic pull on his body weakening.
As his body returned to normal, Itachi created two explosive clones, sending them charging toward Toroi. It was a simple but effective strategy: overwhelm Toroi with distractions.
Toroi's situation had taken a drastic turn. In the blink of an eye, he realised that if he didn't escape soon, he wouldn't make it out alive. He had severely underestimated the strength of the Genin. But the realisation is a bit too late.
Itachi closed in, using his Sharingan Genjutsu to immobilise Toroi. One of the explosive clones charges in, blasting him into the air with a powerful explosion. It was a brief but critical opening—one that Hayama seized with precision. His Vacuum Sword sliced through the air, unleashing a flurry of deadly slashes aimed at Toroi's now-exposed body.
Toroi's body fell, a torrent of blood spraying from his wounds as he crumpled to the ground. He should have retreated the moment he saw Itachi's Sharingan—but pride got in the way. His final regret was not being able to warn the Raikage: Konoha was moving to sabotage them.
As blood soaked the earth, Hayama calmly absorbed it into his Curse of Killing. Itachi began to clear the battlefield, erasing all traces to avoid a Hidden Cloud investigation later on. He couldn't risk allowing them to associate the attacker with Konoha.
Once Itachi erased all evidence, Hayama used a Transformation Technique to assume Toroi's appearance. Itachi followed suit, taking on the guise of the fallen Genin, Osoi. Everything is going according to Enso's plan.
Before leaving, Itachi created a clone to inform Enso and Tokuma of their success. The last thing they needed was a friendly clash after such a well-executed ambush.
...
At the trading ground,
Enso waited for a moment before sensing the presence of Itachi's clone heading toward Tokuma's location. He quickly rushed to confirm whether the ambush had been successful or if Itachi had come to seek reinforcements.
Enso and Tokuma breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that everything was going smoothly. Itachi's clone had dispelled itself after relaying the information.
At 3 p.m., En Oyashiro arrived with his entourage, consisting of 10 kids. Enso focused his gaze on the little girl with blonde hair. He recognised her from the anime—it was Chino, the one who caused the explosive incident.
Hayama and Itachi soon approached the trading location. As they came face to face with En Oyashiro, he smiled and clapped his hands. "You're here early, Toroi."
"It's not the first time we're doing this. Let's get it over with," Hayama said calmly. Since the other party recognised him, he casually said something to avoid raising suspicion.
Five of the kids from En Oyashiro stepped forward and laid a long scroll on the ground. They quickly performed unsealing techniques, summoning 50 cases of weapons. Itachi stepped forward and inspected the quality of each weapon. There were more than 100 handheld kunai-launcher devices and 20,000 pieces of kunai and Shuriken.
Itachi glanced at Hayama, as if confirming the quality of the products. Hayama stepped forward and looked at En Oyashiro, who was still smiling, and asked, "What's your final price?"
But his casual remark caused En Oyashiro to immediately change his expression, knowing that the real Toroi would never ask such a question.
Those who had dealt with him in the past knew that his prices were non-negotiable.