"What's the background of this man?"
"He used to be a close aide to Mr. Tezuka, the boss of the Underground Bounty Exchange. He's quite influential in the underworld."
"What kind of intelligence is he trying to sell us?"
"It's about Iwagakure."
"Can you be more specific?"
"He only said it concerns the remnants of Ōnoki's faction. For more details, we'll have to pay."
"He initially asked for 60 million ryo, but I bargained it down to 45 million."
Shu stopped asking questions and intertwined his fingers, resting his chin on them as he sank into deep thought.
As the head of Iwagakure's Anbu, Shu's work was understandably busy and complex. At just thirty years old, his receding hairline had already reached the crown of his head. His thin, elongated face appeared slightly hollow, and the faint dark circles under his deep-set eyes hinted at chronic sleep deprivation.
But who would have guessed that this seemingly frail man was a fierce warrior on the battlefield? During Ōnoki's era, Shu had served as the captain of the Iwagakure Explosion Corps. With his Explosion Release kekkei genkai, his signature technique, Explosion Release: Landmine Fist, had struck fear into the hearts of Kumogakure during the Earth-Lightning War. In the Rock-Sand War, he had held his ground against Sunagakure's iron-blooded kunoichi, Pakura, in an evenly matched battle.
However, not being part of Ōnoki's inner circle meant that, despite his remarkable strength, Shu was always treated as nothing more than a "super soldier." In reality, he was well-versed in strategy and military tactics. Before the Rock-Sand War, he had strongly opposed Ōnoki's plan to seize Shukaku, but his advice had fallen on deaf ears. No matter how heroic his performance on the battlefield, he remained overlooked and unpromoted, leaving him disheartened.
It wasn't until the end of the Second Shinobi World War, when Kurotsuchi ascended as the Fourth Tsuchikage, that Shu's lack of ties to Ōnoki's faction became his stepping stone to promotion. He was suddenly elevated to the position of Anbu chief, becoming the second most powerful figure in Iwagakure.
Grateful for Kurotsuchi's extraordinary trust, Shu devoted himself wholeheartedly to her cause. On the intelligence front, he worked tirelessly, delivering exceptional results. He struck hard against foreign spies while suppressing Ōnoki's residual forces at home, leaving them too intimidated to act openly. His achievements earned him a reputation as one of the "Four Kings of Intelligence" in the post-war ninja intelligence world, alongside Danzō Shimura of Konohagakure, Tetsuya Yamashita of Sunagakure, and Tsuchidai of Kumogakure.
The issue of Ōnoki's faction was one that Shu had always treated with the utmost seriousness. After all, Ōnoki had ruled as Tsuchikage for many years, leaving behind a vast network of family, disciples, and loyalists deeply entrenched in both the government and the military. Figures like Kitsuchi and Akatsuchi, along with their subordinates, still occupied critical positions, commanding numerous jonin and chunin. These individuals posed a constant threat to Kurotsuchi's leadership. Shu couldn't afford to ignore them.
According to recent intelligence, this faction had been showing signs of renewed activity. However, their organization was tight-knit and their actions shrouded in secrecy, making it nearly impossible to obtain actionable information.
This was why the news from the Underground Bounty Exchange piqued Shu's interest.
As the largest underground organization on the ninja continent, the Underground Bounty Exchange was renowned for its extensive reach. For the right price, they could fulfill almost any request. Their leader, Mr. Tezuka, was a mysterious figure with connections everywhere. If one of his close aides was offering intelligence, it was bound to be valuable.
"Ikubai, I have a question," Shu said.
"Logically speaking, someone as close to Mr. Tezuka shouldn't be short on money. Why would he resort to selling intelligence?"
"Minister, this man was caught having an affair with Mr. Tezuka's concubine. When he was discovered, he fled in a hurry, leaving everything behind. He only managed to grab a stack of intelligence files from the exchange's archives, which included information on Iwagakure. He's likely trying to liquidate the intelligence as quickly as possible to fund his escape."
"Oh? You've dealt with him before?" Shu asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, sir. We crossed paths back when I was in Kirigakure and during my time as a sand bandit."
"Hmm. Is this the man?" Shu retrieved a folder from his drawer and handed it to Ikubai.
Ikubai opened it and was greeted by a photograph of a young man on the first page. Below the photo, the intelligence details were almost identical to what he had just described. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He was shocked for two reasons:
First, he hadn't expected Shu to have infiltrated the Underground Bounty Exchange so deeply.
Second, he was impressed by the lengths Ōnoki's faction had gone to set up this trap.
Yes, Ikubai was secretly loyal to Ōnoki's faction, having been recruited by Kitsuchi. This entire setup—from the story of Mr. Tezuka's aide to the stolen intelligence—was a carefully crafted scheme to eliminate Shu, the biggest obstacle in their path.
"Yes, that's him. I don't know his real name; he only goes by the codename Mo."
Ikubai carefully returned the folder to Shu.
*Sensing Ikubai's tension, Shu smiled and placed the folder back in the drawer. "Don't worry. It's my habit to verify intelligence from multiple sources. Your information seems reliable. I approve this transaction. Go to the finance office to withdraw the funds. By the way, you could've bargained the price down even further. Mo is desperate for money right now."
"Minister, there's one more condition," Ikubai added cautiously.
"He insists on meeting you in person for the transaction—and he wants it to be a private meeting."
"Oh?" Shu raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Perhaps he's looking for Iwagakure's protection?"
"I can't say for sure," Ikubai replied.
After a moment of consideration, Shu said, "Very well. I'll meet Mo and see what his intelligence is worth. When and where?"
"Three days from now, at noon, on Meitu Bridge. The deal will be one-on-one—money for information."
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