Naruto: Limit Breaker

Chapter 107: Lack of Intelligence

Ryosuke wasn't sure when it began, but he found more and more people gathering around him.

At first, his mindset had been selfish. All he wanted was to live quietly in this world, enjoying the peace and beauty that cultivation could offer.

But after forming a family—and finding a bloodline clan—things began to shift.

First, it was Hinata. Then her father. Then Hanabi. One by one, more people entered his life.

Now, even members of the Hyuga branch family were willing to give everything for him.

These people... they each held a place in Ryosuke's heart. No longer just strangers who couldn't stir his emotions. He wasn't alone anymore.

Maybe, just maybe, it wasn't only Hinata who had grown—taking on responsibilities and burdens. Ryosuke himself had started to shoulder hopes and expectations, without even realizing it.

---

After the battle in the canyon, Hizashi began sharing things that weren't found in the textbooks back at the Academy.

The Root squad's field commander had sent a Hyuga clan member into the dense forest beyond the canyon to scout. The rest of the team remained behind to clean up the battlefield.

In operations like this, the enemy usually left people on the outskirts. If the battle turned sour, they'd escape early to pass information to those in command. If things went well, those scouts would rejoin the fight.

No one explained this to Ryosuke, but he figured it out from the arrangements made by Mitomon Homura.

"You've all done well," Mitomon Homura said sincerely. "When we return to the village, I'll personally request the Sandaime to issue the proper compensation."

Everyone had witnessed Hyuga Tamao's sacrifice, and as the leader of the alliance task force, Homura gave his word.

Lying on the grass near the cliff's edge, Tamao gave a weak nod.

The team's medical ninja had treated his external wounds—the broken arm, the cuts and bruises. But what worried everyone more were the internal injuries.

The moment Tamao regained control of his body, he nearly passed out. It wasn't just pain. It felt like every inch of him had been crushed beneath a train, over and over. Just moving a finger sent sharp, unbearable pain rippling through his nerves and veins.

He wasn't sure what Ryosuke had done to his body—but judging by the looks he was getting, it must've been something big.

---

"When we get to Sand Village, we'll let him rest there," Hizashi said to Homura , glancing at Tamao. "In this condition, he can't travel with us to the Land of Waves."

"Of course," Mitokado Homura replied. "I'll ask the Land of Fire nobles to arrange the best care for him until we return."

Sand Village was their designated rendezvous point with the Land of Fire delegation, and also the closest village to the sea. Once there, they'd set sail for the Land of Waves.

But the ANBU captain nearby frowned in concern. "I just hope… those nobles haven't been targeted."

The ANBU operatives, once acting covertly, were now openly deployed. After the canyon battle, there was no longer any point in hiding their presence.

They had all assumed that the real fight would begin after they left for the Land of Waves. Yet the ambush had taken place right here, in the Land of Fire—and involved a disturbingly large number of enemy ninja.

"We'll confirm the identities of the attackers, then move out," Mitokado Homura muttered, rubbing his temple. "If those nobles got caught up in this… it'll be a nightmare. You know how obsessed they are with image and safety."

Everyone present understood. If those nobles were attacked, it would cause an uproar across the Land of Fire. The balance of diplomacy would tip violently.

"I just hope the enemy hasn't broken that unspoken rule… that ninjas don't lay hands on nobles," he added.

---

A few minutes later, an ANBU operative approached with a detailed report.

"Advisor, we've identified the relatively intact bodies. Most of them don't match anyone in our Konoha files. They're unknowns."

"Only one identity could be confirmed—Ikeda, a jonin from the Sand Village."

Homura's brows furrowed.

"According to our intelligence," the ANBU continued, "he fought during the Third Ninja World War. But he hasn't been active in recent years. The puppets found nearby bear craftsmanship unique to the Sand Village."

They even brought the body with them.

Upon hearing the name, everyone—Homura, Hyuga Hizashi, and the ANBU captain—fell into silence.

Their thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and suspicion.

They couldn't just assume these attackers were Sand ninjas based on their headbands. Ryosuke knew something was off. Hizashi, Hyuga, and the others—veterans of many missions—could sense it too.

If Sand Village had sent these ninjas to attack and slaughter their alliance delegation, it didn't make any damn sense.

There was no profit in such a move. On the contrary, it would jeopardize their own standing. And these attackers had even used ninja from the Hidden Mist as living bombs…

That changed everything. Was Mist behind it? Or Sand? Or was there a third unknown force pulling strings?

"Regardless," Hizashi finally said, voice low and steady, "we need to keep moving. Let's take the bodies with us. We'll confront Sunagakure directly when we meet."

"Agreed," Homura nodded.

The team rested briefly before resuming their journey.

Sadly, the Root captain and Hyuga's team, who had gone ahead, returned with no new leads. No clues, no signs of the enemy.

Far behind them, Ryosuke emerged quietly from the canyon wall.

While the team had rested, he had descended alone to inspect the shattered corpses littered across the valley floor.

But there was nothing.

"Thorough," he muttered, popping a soldier pill into his mouth to restore his chakra and stamina. "Anything they didn't want us to see was wiped clean."

Now trailing behind the team, Ryosuke's expression darkened.

The situation was messy, yes—but not completely incomprehensible.

Someone wanted their alliance destroyed. That much was clear. But with so many forces possibly involved—and so little intel—he couldn't yet tell who was behind it all, or how many groups were in play.

If this wasn't Sand's doing… then the team from Sunagakure that was meant to join the alliance may have been attacked too.

Ryosuke could only hope... that the Sand ninjas were still calm and rational—and that they wouldn't abandon the alliance because of one ambush.

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