Chapter 161 – Can't Hold On Much Longer
"A few people actually managed to avoid being trapped by the barrier?"
This was already the second time Mizuki had seen the Four Violet Flames Formation recently. It wasn't particularly lethal, but its restrictive power was formidable. The key point was that it was extremely difficult to break from the outside. Unless the users' chakra was depleted from within, the formation was virtually indestructible.
This kind of barrier was perfect for ambushes, and this time the Akatsuki's plan was clearly meticulously orchestrated. Through a series of coincidences and manipulations, they had forced the main forces of the three villages to gather in one place, ready to catch them all in a single strike. Capturing Deidara, rescuing him, and seizing a Jinchūriki—they were clearly willing to reveal more trump cards to achieve these goals.
"Four Violet Flames Formation combined with the Mirror Attacker Technique... they really thought this through. They're dragging out the fight, exploiting Kakuzu and Hidan's undead stamina to maximize attrition. It's a kill tactic using a small elite force to wipe out a larger one..."
By the time Mizuki arrived, it was already too late. Other than a handful of survivors, most had been sealed inside.
"Captain Mizuki, you're finally here…"
As he neared the battlefield, three survivors greeted him: Yura from Sunagakure, Kurotsuchi from Iwagakure, and Hyuga Neji from Konoha. These were the only ones who had escaped the barrier.
Yura, the highest-ranking among them, immediately began complaining.
"It's unfortunate. We walked right into their trap. If we had more high-level ninjas, maybe things would be different…"
"Is that so?" Mizuki didn't respond directly. He turned to Neji and asked,
"What happened? A trap like that—how did it escape your Byakugan?"
If there was chakra activity, the Byakugan should've detected it.
"It's not that I couldn't see it—it's that I didn't realize they were part of the enemy's backup plan," Neji explained. "Each village had two traitors, and they triggered the barrier the moment we regrouped…"
"So the defenses were first breached from within, huh?"
Mizuki sighed heavily. This entire mission had been aimed at rooting out traitors, and yet the enemy had exploited multiple gaps. Thankfully, the true goal of the mission hadn't been revealed—only a handful of people even knew the full truth.
This wasn't anyone's fault. Mizuki had brought Neji and Shino precisely to prevent this kind of scenario. That it still happened only showed how deep the enemy's plan ran.
Seeing Neji's downcast expression, Mizuki reassured him gently,
"This isn't your fault. I miscalculated—it's on me. Don't let it get to you."
"…Okay."
Neji nodded quietly, clearly disheartened. His first S-rank mission had begun with nervous excitement, and was now ending in frustrated helplessness.
"I just hope Shino and the others are alright."
"No need to worry too much," Mizuki replied.
"Aoba's strong. He should be fine for now. And Shino is an Aburame—he won't fight head-on, and his survival skills are top-tier. Our priority now is breaking this barrier."
The Four Violet Flames Formation was extremely troublesome. Unless the users canceled it themselves, breaking it from outside was nearly impossible.
In theory, powerful jōnin could break through by spamming high-powered jutsu, draining the users' chakra—but that would take time.
And time was the one thing they didn't have.
If the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen were here, his mastery of all five elements might've allowed him to crack it. But Mizuki, even in Sage Mode, didn't have that kind of overwhelming technique arsenal.
Fire Release, his specialty, was weak against a barrier also infused with fire chakra.
"How the hell does every major trap seem to come from Konoha techniques? This damn barrier's all over the place."
Mizuki understood the dangers of this jutsu. Though few had the skill to master it, the technique had been passed down through Leaf shinobi, and had spread far and wide.
Orochimaru and his people knowing it made sense—it was a Leaf technique. Akatsuki knowing it was also understandable, considering the legacy of Uchiha Madara and how much Obito had inherited from him.
If Obito could recreate high-level sealing techniques, then learning a mere barrier jutsu was child's play.
During the Chunin Exams, Sarutobi Hiruzen had been trapped inside one of these.
Now it was Mizuki's turn to deal with the fallout.
"At least the barrier is huge—maybe its strength is weaker. But maintaining something this large requires insane chakra."
Mizuki guessed that the users weren't top-tier shinobi.
They'd likely used artificial stimulants or forbidden techniques to maintain the jutsu, sacrificing themselves in the process.
Even Kurotsuchi, usually carefree, now looked genuinely worried.
"Mizuki, how do we break the barrier? You're supposed to be an expert in seals and barriers, right? Don't you have a way?"
Mizuki glanced at her and replied calmly,
"Everyone knows combining two chakra natures can create a Kekkei Genkai. But how many can actually do it?"
"So… you don't have a way either?"
Kurotsuchi looked crushed.
"There is a method. But not one I can use. And it might not be safer than breaking the barrier directly."
Mizuki referred, of course, to the One-Tail Shukaku.
The Four Violet Flames Formation, no matter how strong, couldn't contain a Tailed Beast. But releasing Shukaku was risky—it could easily go berserk and kill indiscriminately.
And once it was loose, who it attacked first was anyone's guess.
"Hey, don't ignore me like I'm not here," Yura interjected sourly.
"I'm a jōnin from an allied village, you know?"
"Allied?" Mizuki finally turned his head as if just noticing him.
"Yura… tell me. How exactly did you manage to avoid the trap?"
Neji avoiding the trap made sense—his Byakugan allowed for fast reaction and evasion.
Kurotsuchi's survival was a mystery, but perhaps luck or hidden ability helped—she was, after all, destined to be Tsuchikage someday.
But Yura?
That was too convenient.
One coincidence was luck. Two was suspicious.
But three? That was manipulation.
"So, clearly this guy played a key role in triggering the barrier…"
Mizuki hadn't yet pinned down exactly how, but he was certain Yura had helped set this up.
The mind-controlling Subconscious Puppet Technique was nearly undetectable. Without obvious signs, no one would suspect it.
And Mizuki knew about it—giving him a massive intelligence advantage.
"I don't know," Yura said innocently. "Pretty scary enemies, huh? Strong and clever… we just underestimated them. Especially those traitors…"
"Yeah, you're very lucky," Mizuki said with a smile.
"Thanks for your hard work."
He didn't plan to expose Yura just yet.
As long as he played dumb, Mizuki could use this knowledge to his advantage later.
Just then, Sasori arrived—late as always.
"Well then, Konoha's Mizuki," he said smoothly.
"Are you ready to surrender now? After everything I told you earlier, surely you understand the situation. Want to reconsider?"
"No need. I still believe we have a chance to win. You guys aren't guaranteed victory yet."
"In that case… I won't hold back anymore."
Sasori's tone carried a hint of regret.
"Even now, you won't give up. Should I admire your resolve or mock your wasted effort? Is this all your will amounts to—clinging to your comrades and village?"
"If your idea of ambition is to give up being human, then your so-called 'gain' is meaningless. A world of puppets… is that really what enthralls you?"
"Who said I'm alone?" Sasori replied with a chuckle.
"I have plenty of companions. All my puppets are with me."
"…You really don't understand a thing."
"Then let's finish this with one last fight. Though your allies inside the barrier… they won't last much longer."
"Oh? Is that so? Don't underestimate them."
"I'm not. You're the one underestimating Kakuzu and Hidan. Do you really think what you've seen so far is all they're capable of? Killing those two… even I find it hard."
"Then I guess I'll just pretend I didn't hear that."
Mizuki stopped talking.
The barrier wasn't down, and with Sasori still alive, he couldn't afford to help the trapped ninja inside.
"Unless I drive Sasori off, there's no way to break through to the others."
Mizuki had anticipated a hard mission, but this was harder than expected.
He'd hoped to stay in the background—but ended up targeted by Sasori, while Akatsuki revealed ambition far beyond what he imagined.
But it made sense.
Akatsuki was still understaffed, weaker than they would be in three years.
Their members barely trusted each other.
After a string of failed missions, their reputation had suffered, and morale was dropping.
Nagato needed a decisive success to inspire faith.
Capturing a Tailed Beast would do just that.
Once again, Mizuki clashed with Sasori.
For safety's sake, he refused help from Kurotsuchi and Yura, instructing them to attack the barrier instead and drain the casters' chakra.
Neji was ordered to monitor the interior and report any changes.
Mizuki, meanwhile, stopped using chakra-intensive Sage jutsu, switching to raw nature energy constructs—like massive arms—similar to Naruto's Nine-Tails chakra arms.
From above and below, he tried again and again to snatch Sasori or his puppet.
Not long after their battle resumed, a massive tanuki-like figure appeared inside the Four Violet Flames Formation.
A sand arm slammed into the barrier wall with tremendous force—nearly breaking it.
Mizuki froze.
"What…? The situation turned this fast?
They couldn't hold out for even this long?
If Shukaku breaks loose now…
I'M the one in the most danger!
Damn it!"
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