Chapter 32: The Intestine Hunter

Might Guy’s mission destination was to support a border watchtower, cleverly disguised as a large tree by means of an illusion barrier. Supposedly, a reconnaissance team was stationed within. Yet now, the watchtower had been smashed to pieces by a massive boulder, while the illusion barrier struggled on, flickering like a dying lantern slide as it expended its last reserves of chakra to maintain its camouflage.

This was likely not a particularly vital watchtower; not one of the three young Konoha ninja corpses on the ground belonged to the Hyuga clan. Important outposts were always equipped with the Byakugan, which allowed the area to be thoroughly scouted.

“The bodies haven’t even been buried. So, where did Guy and the others go?” Shiraki only checked briefly; there were hardly any signs of combat in the vicinity. The watchtower had been targeted by Iwagakure’s shinobi, who simply brought it down with a single giant rock.

“It seems they gave chase. I can still smell the earthy scent of those Iwagakure ninja lingering in the air…” Pakkun sniffed around.

“Dogs really do have amazing noses…” Afei mimicked Pakkun, sniffing the air as well, but didn’t actually ask anything.

“Cats are only good for scratching bark and chasing mice. Dogs are truly mankind’s best helpers and friends.” Pakkun replied, sounding weary.

“No, no, no. I can’t even reach my own tail, but I’m pretty funny. In fact, I’m funnier than a dog who already looks ridiculous.” Afei, unwilling to concede, seemed quite delighted to have a dog to chat with.

“I’ve heard dogs can’t help eating their own droppings. Have you ever eaten poop?” Afei asked curiously.

“Hey, fat cat! Can’t you see I’m working here? Would you mind not talking about eating?” Pakkun was a staunch dog partisan and had little patience for idle cats.

“So, did Guy’s team chase after the enemy? Or were they just being too hot-blooded again?” Shiraki sighed. Most likely, they’d pursued the enemy too deeply, only to be surrounded by Iwagakure’s shinobi.

A seasoned ninja would simply carry out the given mission; if the support came too late and the watchtower was already destroyed, so be it.

“Let’s keep tracking them. The scent is already faint. If we wait any longer, they might be in danger,” said Pakkun, eager to avoid further questions from Afei about the taste of dung.

Man, cat, and dog continued to follow the trail. They ran through the night, occasionally encountering traces of blood and two more bodies, presumably Iwagakure ninja slain after being caught by Guy’s team.

“Once we pass through here, we’re at the border, aren’t we?” Shiraki found himself beyond the forest.

“Yeah… In fact, they really shouldn’t have pursued this far,” Pakkun said, nose to the ground, discovering several patches of blood—again, Iwagakure’s.

It was clear now: Might Guy’s team had chased down the three Iwagakure ninja who’d ambushed the outpost, killing two en route. The last one, injured but unwilling to let go, led them all the way to the border.

The other side wasn’t actually the Land of Earth, but the Land of Grass. But in a war between great nations, small countries had no say. When the big nations wanted to come and go, they did as they pleased. All the smaller country could do was put on a smile, even as they were left to clean up after the carnage.

Of course, there was once a small country that dared to defy the Five Great Nations’ tyranny: the Hidden Rain Village, led by Hanzo the Salamander. Unfortunately, after defeating the three Sannin of Konoha, he seemed to have sunk into vice and despair.

“What else can we do but keep going?” Shiraki shrugged helplessly and followed Pakkun onward.

They reached a barren mountain ridge, the trail leading straight there. However, the chaotic mix of scents in the wind made Pakkun hesitate.

There were traces of at least thirty Iwagakure ninja in the air. This was clearly an Iwagakure encampment, and somehow, Guy’s team had chased the enemy all the way to their stronghold.

“We should capture a prisoner for interrogation,” Shiraki mused.

Pakkun glanced at him with his large dog eyes. “Other than you, who else is there? Am I supposed to do it?”

“I can’t sneak,” Shiraki replied, spreading his hands. He felt utterly useless as a ninja.

You can’t catch a wolf without risking the lamb; you can’t catch a pervert without baiting with your own mother.

Though involving Afei in the mission would lower their evaluation, it was better than charging into a camp of thirty Iwagakure ninja single-handedly.

“If I come back alive, you must tell me—does eating dung smell bad or fragrant?” Afei said, as if entrusting his last wish.

“A lowly feline who licks its own fur still asks such crude questions,” Pakkun scoffed.

Shiraki lay down in the grass, watching as Afei used his Earth Mayfly Technique to slip underground, his tail sticking up like an antenna, weaving through the path and easily avoiding the sentries.

In front of the small hill, many Iwagakure ninja lay sprawled about, several wounded. These were the participants of the raid, and this was only a subdivision camp.

Afei chose a sleeping middle-aged ninja at random. His feline body stretched and transformed into a voluptuous woman, who leaned in and blew gently in the man’s face.

“What the hell—what’s he doing! Why not just grab him? Who taught him to use seduction?” Shiraki’s eyes burned with second-hand embarrassment.

The Iwagakure ninja awoke to a stunning beauty so close his memory short-circuited—who am I, where am I?

“Am I beautiful?” Afei asked seductively.

“Beautiful…” the ninja replied instinctively.

“How about now?” In a flash, Afei’s gorgeous face split apart.

The ninja’s scream caught in his throat as Afei’s body split into tendrils that wrapped him up like seaweed, pulling him underground and swimming back toward Shiraki.

“Kid, how did mom do?” Afei reverted to a well-behaved cat.

“…Good job,” Shiraki said, picking his nose.

“You’re from Konoha, aren’t you?” The captured ninja, limbs bound, looked pale.

“Prisoners should act like prisoners. I ask, you answer.” Shiraki tapped his shoulder with a bloodstained cleaver.

“I won’t say a word…” The Iwagakure ninja, though clearly unwell, remained stubborn.

“Why does everyone only talk after suffering? If it were me, I’d sell out the organization before they could even threaten my life,” Shiraki shook his head.

“I’m an inheritor of the Will of Stone… Rocks fear no pain, nor death…” The ninja swallowed hard.

“All just empty talk. The ones who say that stuff haven’t suffered real torture. When I get promoted, I’ll spin some poisonous nonsense as well,” Shiraki said, handing the cleaver to Afei. “Didn’t you always want a set of intestines?”

“You’re so thoughtful! I’ve always wanted a warm set of pink intestines—makes everything smell like a young girl when you go to the bathroom,” Afei replied gleefully, slicing open the ninja’s vest.

“That’s too much. This reminds me of a slaughterhouse. Don’t you know any genjutsu?” Pakkun turned away, unable to watch.

“The Will of Stone… fears nothing…” The Iwagakure ninja broke out in a cold sweat, his body trembling.

The sharp knife cut his belly, and Afei’s paw rummaged inside for the intestines, displeased to find them too old and dark for his taste.

The ninja’s agonized cries were muffled by a rag stuffed in his mouth. The terror of having his innards toyed with shattered all his psychological defenses.

“I’ll talk… I’ll talk…” As always, a broken man sang like a bird.

This was only a temporary gathering point; there were about forty people here, including logistics, commanded by a jonin. Their mission was to infiltrate the Land of Fire and cause destruction.

Guy’s team had chased one of them here this afternoon, barged into the camp, and even the jonin couldn’t subdue them. After several battles, they managed to force them into a cave and were now blocking the entrance, waiting for reinforcements.

“So, Guy is trapped in a cave by you people?” Shiraki stroked his chin.

[Mission acquired: Rescue Might Guy’s team.]

[Reward: Random hero skill draw.]