Chapter 274: To Konoha Together
Kitahara Kaede looked at Terumi Mei.
"What happened at the scene? Did the ANBU discover anything unusual?"
Mei repeated the urgent intelligence exactly as it had just been delivered.
"The guards around the outer perimeter first heard something shatter inside the house. By the time they broke down the door and rushed in, everything had already descended into chaos."
Her brow was deeply furrowed, and her tone carried rare gravity.
"The room was a complete wreck. A brief fight clearly took place, and Yagura disappeared."
"His innermost guards weren’t killed, but every one of them was unconscious on the floor. When the ANBU examined them, they discovered a layer of white, viscous material wrapped around their bodies."
"It looked like some kind of spore clinging tightly to the skin. The strangest part was that distorted outlines of human faces could faintly be seen across the surface."
The description immediately reminded Kaede of something.
White Zetsu’s Spore Technique.
It was an extraordinarily disgusting technique.
Before activation, the spores couldn’t be sensed and could remain dormant directly inside their targets.
At the critical moment, they rapidly expanded, forcibly draining the host’s chakra while restraining movement.
No wonder Yagura’s guards had been completely overwhelmed without managing to send a single distress signal.
Mei saw that he hadn’t responded and asked softly, "You’ve seen that substance before?"
Kaede nodded and confirmed it.
"It’s an extremely difficult parasitic technique to guard against. The enemy probably planted the spores on those guards long ago, then activated them all at once tonight."
He immediately shifted to the crucial point.
"But spores alone can only create chaos and delay people. They couldn’t possibly remove a living Jinchuriki from the village in such a short time."
Obito stood two paces away.
At the words, he turned to listen.
Kaede organized the remaining clues.
"White Zetsu handled the ordinary guards and created an opening. Someone else was responsible for taking Yagura out of Kirigakure."
"That person perfectly bypassed every Sensory Barrier inside the village and moved the Jinchuriki away before the ANBU surrounded the area. Ordinary Ninjutsu couldn’t accomplish that."
As Obito listened, his expression gradually changed.
He had always considered Zetsu nothing more than a tool that helped him and collected intelligence.
He had never imagined the other party possessed methods like these.
Now, using only several details transmitted by the ANBU, Kaede had exposed the structure of the entire attack.
Obito suddenly felt like a fool who understood nothing about the so-called Moon’s Eye Plan.
Kaede had no interest in Obito’s changing state of mind.
He turned toward the Six-Tails Jinchuriki resting against a tree.
Kirigakure’s defenses ranked among the strongest in the Five Great Nations.
Yet even they had failed to protect the Three-Tails.
If the Six-Tails remained here, it would only be a matter of time before he became the enemy’s next prey.
Konoha’s barriers and combat power were far beyond Kirigakure’s current capabilities.
If Kaede tried to transfer the Six-Tails to Konoha, Kirigakure’s High Command would certainly object.
But considering the overall situation, it was the safest option.
More importantly, concentrating both Tailed Beasts in Konoha would allow them to forcibly seize control of the battlefield from the enemy.
Kaede turned back to Mei.
"Come with me. Take me to Genji."
His tone was decisive.
"There’s something we must settle immediately."
Mei didn’t ask a single question.
From Kaede’s expression, she understood the situation was too serious for delay.
"All right. Follow me."
Kaede turned and rapidly assigned tasks to the others.
"Kakashi, support the Six-Tails Jinchuriki. Rin, stay close to Kakashi and keep watch over the injury."
Finally, he looked at Obito.
"You’re coming as well."
Obito seemed ready to object, but ultimately said nothing and accepted the arrangement.
Rin secretly looked at him. Seeing that he was willing to follow, the tension in her heart eased slightly.
The group swiftly left the forest and traveled toward the center of Kirigakure.
The night grew darker.
ANBU squads carrying torches moved everywhere through the streets.
News that the Three-Tails had been lost had clearly spread.
Every passing patrol hurried with grave expressions. The entire village had fallen into extreme tension and panic.
When they reached the administrative building, Kaede stopped and turned toward the others outside.
"Remain here. Stay alert and don’t let anyone leave your sight."
Kakashi nodded and helped the Six-Tails Jinchuriki sit on the stone steps.
Rin immediately crouched, removed bandages and ointment from her ninja tool pouch, and began treating the burn.
Obito stood several meters away.
He silently looked into the distance, no one knowing what occupied his thoughts.
Mei pushed open the office door.
Genji sat behind the desk, his distinctive staff with the serpent-shaped head resting beside him.
The old man’s expression was extremely grim.
Losing the Three-Tails despite layers of protection was an unbearable humiliation and loss for Kirigakure.
When Mei and Kaede entered, Genji immediately asked the question that concerned him most.
"What happened with the Six-Tails?"
Mei claimed no credit.
"The Six-Tails is safe. Kaede noticed the anomaly in advance and intercepted the enemy in the forest. Otherwise, Kirigakure would have lost two Tailed Beasts tonight."
Genji released a long breath.
A little life finally returned to his deeply lined face.
"Kaede-dono, Kirigakure owes you another immeasurable debt."
After the courtesy, the old man’s gaze sharpened instantly.
"Since you predicted the attack on the Six-Tails, do you know who took Yagura?"
Kaede didn’t answer directly. Instead, he delivered even more explosive news.
"Elder, Takigakure’s Seven-Tails Jinchuriki disappeared some time ago."
Genji’s hand froze around his staff.
Kirigakure’s intelligence network had heard nothing of such major information, yet Konoha had already verified it.
Kaede continued.
"These people’s target isn’t Kirigakure alone."
"They’re collecting Tailed Beasts across the entire Shinobi World."
"The Seven-Tails is missing, the Three-Tails has been taken, and the Six-Tails nearly disappeared tonight. This fire has already spread across the entire world."
Deathly silence filled the office.
Genji half-lowered his eyes and said nothing.
Kaede looked at him and stated his proposal.
"The Six-Tails can’t remain in Kirigakure. I’m taking him back to Konoha."
Genji raised his head.
His cloudy eyes met Kaede’s directly.
For a long time, he gave no response.
What was a Tailed Beast?
It was the foundation that allowed a Ninja Village to stand firm—the ultimate weapon that deterred other Great Nations.
Sending the Six-Tails to Konoha would be equivalent to placing half of Kirigakure’s life in another village’s hands.
An alliance was still only an alliance.
No matter how close their relationship, nothing like this had ever occurred in the history of the Shinobi World.
If word spread, the conservative faction inside Kirigakure would erupt completely.
"Kaede-dono, the request you’re making is far too heavy," Genji said gravely.
"I understand."
Kaede stood before the desk without retreating half a step.
"But the facts are clear. Kirigakure’s current defenses can’t stop these people."
"The Three-Tails was taken from inside the village, directly beneath your eyes. If the Six-Tails remains here, the result won’t change."
Kaede placed each piece of leverage on the table.
"Konoha has the Fourth Hokage, the Sannin, and the strongest Sensory Barriers."
"Concentrating the targets in Konoha is better than allowing the enemy to remain hidden and defeat each village separately."
Genji understood the logic.
The reasoning was sound.
Sending the Six-Tails to Konoha truly would maximize the chance of preventing the enemy from obtaining him.
But as the person steering Kirigakure, he couldn’t hand over the village’s lifeline merely because Kaede spoke a few persuasive sentences.
He needed a reason capable of convincing himself and the others in the village.
As the atmosphere reached a stalemate, Mei stepped forward decisively.
"Elder Genji, I’m willing to guarantee it on his behalf."
Her gaze didn’t waver.
Mei understood the situation perfectly.
At a time like this, the words of someone from another village carried limited weight. A member of Kirigakure’s High Command had to stand behind him.
Kaede glanced at her, then presented the final solution.
"I never said you had to simply hand him over."
"Kirigakure can assign its strongest ANBU squad to accompany the Six-Tails and remain stationed in Konoha."
"Officially, they’ll be protecting the Jinchuriki. In reality, this will be joint defense. You aren’t surrendering a Tailed Beast. You’re participating in a combined deployment."
Genji looked at the two people standing before him.
One was a genius from Konoha who had analyzed the situation without leaving a single weakness.
The other was Kirigakure’s future Mizukage, standing beside him without hesitation.
And beyond them lay the reality no one could refute.
Kirigakure truly couldn’t protect its Tailed Beasts.
The old man’s withered fingers moved slowly over the serpent-headed staff.
After a long time, he finally nodded.
"Very well."
"The Six-Tails will be transferred to Konoha. Kirigakure will send personnel afterward."
At those words, the weight in Kaede’s heart finally lifted.
The alliance had been secured, and the Tailed Beast’s safety now had greater protection.
The next step was to return and discuss everything with Minato.
"The situation is urgent. I’ll leave first."
He turned decisively toward the door.
Just as he entered the corridor, Mei’s voice came from behind him.
"Kaede, don’t leave yet. We need to talk."