Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 150: Infiltration and an Old Acquaintance

At their speed, it only took a few days for the pair to reach the Land of Lightning and arrive at the closest town near Kumogakure.

In a small inn within the town, they made their final preparations for infiltration.

Kumogakure's geographical layout was vastly different from Konoha's.

Konoha was situated on flat plains with level terrain, while Kumogakure was located high up in the mountains, among the clouds. The tallest peak housed the office of the Third Raikage.

Although the terrain was steep and treacherous, infiltrating Kumogakure was actually somewhat easier compared to Konoha.

Konoha relied on man-made defenses: massive walls, barrier seals, and regular patrols by ninja to prevent intrusions. During the day, the prestigious Uchiha Clan, in charge of the Konoha Police Force, handled security. At night, the police force worked in tandem with ANBU, creating dual layers of defense, both visible and hidden.

In contrast, Kumogakure's natural geography provided innate advantages. Surrounded by mountains and dense forests, it was challenging for ordinary people to approach the village, making infiltration relatively easier.

"Orochimaru-sensei, what's our next move?" Tonari asked.

In response, Orochimaru tossed him a scroll.

"Face-Stealing Technique?"

Tonari's eyes lit up as he read the jutsu inscribed within the scroll.

To call it a ninjutsu would be an oversimplification. It was more akin to a disguise or transformation technique.

This… was practically a godsend for any master of disguise or espionage!

"With this technique, you'll infiltrate Kumogakure. Study it here; I'm going to gather two materials," Orochimaru said before departing.

Tonari delved into the scroll, reading its contents carefully. The more he studied it, the more he realized he had severely underestimated this technique. Had he known how powerful it was, he would've begged Orochimaru for it much earlier.

Why was it called the Face-Stealing Technique?

The reason was simple: it erased one's own facial features and characteristics while copying those of another.

In essence, it allowed the user to steal someone else's face, transferring it onto their own as a disguise.

However, it was a brutal jutsu. To achieve perfect camouflage, it required the user to remove and steal the target's face. The fate of the victim, needless to say, was grim.

Tonari had long been aware of Orochimaru's possession of such a jutsu. However, he hadn't expected it to involve actually taking someone else's face for perfect imitation.

Not only the face but also the target's physical features and distinguishing traits could be replicated, making this an outstanding disguise technique.

Its only limitation was the inability to copy the target's abilities. Otherwise, this jutsu would be utterly broken.

Even so, Tonari was impressed by the power of the technique.

With it, there was nowhere in the ninja world he couldn't go.

No wonder Orochimaru, in later years, traveled freely across the ninja world, assembling subordinates with unique abilities. It wasn't just his personal strength; the Face-Stealing Technique played a vital role in his ability to evade detection.

This likely explained how Orochimaru maintained his own appearance despite repeatedly switching bodies using the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique. Whether the body was male or female, Orochimaru always retained his signature look.

Tonari also realized that during the Konoha Crush, Orochimaru had used this technique to take on the appearance of the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, sitting next to the aging Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, without being exposed.

He even commanded the forces of Sunagakure without raising suspicion.

There was no denying it—this was a divine technique.

Obtaining it so casually felt surreal.

Though the process was brutal, the ninja world was inherently harsh, and Tonari had no qualms about using it.

---

Nightfall.

After barely mastering the Face-Stealing Technique, Tonari awkwardly disguised himself as a Kumogakure ninja. According to Orochimaru, the original owner of this identity had been a low-ranking ninja on a mission.

Orochimaru had wiped out the entire team, which was led by a female chunin. Orochimaru now wore her face as his disguise.

If not for Orochimaru's penchant for flicking his tongue out constantly, his impersonation would have been flawless.

Furthermore, Orochimaru had deliberately chosen a ninja who knew a bit of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, making it easier for Tonari to stay in character and avoid suspicion.

"This disguise is primarily to avoid unnecessary trouble. Don't rely on it too much, especially since you're not yet familiar with it," Orochimaru advised.

Having extensive experience in infiltration missions, Orochimaru was keenly aware of potential pitfalls.

"I understand," Tonari nodded.

"Let's move out. First, locate the Eight-Tails jinchūriki. Don't act rashly. Confirm his identity and, if possible, find his weaknesses.

"Every night, we'll meet back here to exchange information. If it's inconvenient, use a summoning snake to communicate."

Tonari nodded again.

The two disappeared from the spot.

Unbeknownst to Kumogakure, two Konoha ninjas had silently infiltrated their village.

In truth, every major hidden village had spies from rival villages, whether they were ninja or civilians. Even Konoha wasn't immune to infiltration.

Root and ANBU maintained ongoing missions to uncover and eliminate enemy spies within the village.

By separating, Orochimaru and Tonari enhanced their chances of avoiding detection while allowing for greater freedom of action.

Tonari wandered aimlessly through Kumogakure, observing its layout.

Compared to Konoha, Kumogakure was less prosperous. However, it was leagues ahead of smaller villages like Kusagakure and Amegakure.

As night deepened, Tonari found a secluded alleyway.

"Summoning Technique!"

Bang!

A small puff of smoke revealed Little Blue, Tonari's loyal ninja cat.

"Meow—"

Little Blue arched its back and fluffed its fur, startled by Tonari's altered appearance.

Seeing the confusion in Little Blue's eyes, Tonari chuckled and peeled off part of his mask to reveal his true face.

Little Blue's eyes sparkled with recognition. It leaped into his arms, purring affectionately.

"Alright, Little Blue. We have an important mission now."

At Tonari's words, Little Blue's expression grew serious.

"We're in Kumogakure, one of the major villages where we haven't been able to establish our intelligence network. Conceal your chakra and gather the stray cats in the village. Train them as we've practiced, so they can serve as our eyes and ears."

"Meow!"

Little Blue nodded and disappeared into the shadows.

After extensive training, Little Blue had become an exceptional ninja cat, making it the perfect agent for expanding their intelligence network.

Additionally, the stray cats could assist in locating the Eight-Tails jinchūriki.

At this point, the Eight-Tails jinchūriki was likely Būrubi, the predecessor of Killer B. Known for his flamboyant hairstyle, Būrubi had initially shown promise as a jinchūriki but gradually succumbed to psychological pressure.

---

Three days later, Orochimaru's expert intelligence-gathering skills had uncovered Būrubi's identity, habits, and routine.

Unlike Konoha, which concealed Kushina and Tonari's jinchūriki status, Kumogakure openly acknowledged its jinchūriki as symbols of strength. This openness made Būrubi easier to locate.

After exchanging information, the pair devised a plan of action.

This was no ordinary S-rank mission. Infiltrating an enemy village and targeting its jinchūriki carried immense risks.

"Let's go," Orochimaru said, glancing at Kumogakure's hospital in the distance.

The hospital, a relatively new structure, was a response to Konoha's success with medical ninjas. However, its quality and resources were untested.

Tonari followed, and Orochimaru transformed into a snake, slithering into his sleeve.

Once inside, it was evident that the hospital lacked sufficient staffing or security.

The pair entered without resistance, heading straight to the top floor.

Tonari summoned his courage and pushed open the door to a consultation room.

The smell of disinfectant hit his nose.

"Can I help you?" asked the doctor inside.

Tonari's expression changed instantly.

"Shadow Snake Hands!"

The doctor froze in horror, his mouth opening to scream, only to be silenced by a snake.

In moments, Tonari subdued the medical staff, using the Face-Stealing Technique to assume the doctor's identity. Donning a white coat, he prepared to await his target.

Unexpectedly, the first visitor is not Būrubi but someone familiar: Dekai!

Full name, Dekai. After three days in Kumogakure, Tonari had pieced it together—this was none other than the future Fourth Raikage, son of the Third Raikage.

---

Read up to 20 chapter ahead of time on patreon.com/Legendryweeb

{please give this novel 5 Star review and power stone}

*Thank you*