It took Kei Yamanaka less than fifteen minutes to return two ninja technique scrolls.
With the [Blue-Tier Skill] [The Expert King of the Ninja World] enhancing his speed-reading and memory capacity, he had actually slowed himself down by taking fifteen minutes.
If he wanted to hurry, he could've just stuffed the scroll content into his Memory Palace and reviewed it later at his leisure.
Leaving the rather oppressive scroll archives, Kei asked a staff member on the first floor and learned that Shikaku Nara was once again on duty at the Mission Assignment Office today.
Not wanting to make an extra trip, he promptly opened his umbrella and headed straight toward the intelligence division.
After all, he would definitely see Shikaku Nara no later than tomorrow evening. Checking those sealed classified files also required finding the right opportunity and timing. Whether it was a day sooner or later didn't really matter.
Instead, it made more sense to visit the intelligence division first and ask the staff there whether they had any intel on the mountainous grave site.
The light morning drizzle gradually intensified as time passed.
Raindrops poured down, splattering against the umbrella's surface and sending up tiny splashes.
Walking through the chilly rain,
Kei twirled the handle of his umbrella, watching the rainwater spray from its edges, while thinking about the [Bringer-of-Darkness Technique] he had just read. His mood lifted slightly.
The Bringer-of-Darkness Technique could disable Sharingan eyes with three tomoe or below, and its principle—being difficult to break—was simpler than he'd imagined.
This technique was indeed a genjutsu, true enough.
But its creator had been quite sneaky by incorporating sealing techniques into it.
So when the technique was cast, the target would first see darkness approaching like tentacles from all around, quickly wrapping them up and causing them to lose sight of light. That first step was actually laying the groundwork for the seal.
One of the five senses—the sense of sight—was impaired by the illusion, after which illusionary energy formed a simple seal on the outer layer.
Who would even think of something like that?
Trying to dispel the genjutsu using standard methods alone wouldn't undo the sealing technique at all.
For most people, if they were caught in this illusion, unless they had overwhelming brute strength, the only option would be to violently break through the genjutsu-based seal.
Otherwise, one could only hope their teammates defeat the caster quickly.
"That's a brilliant approach…"
Kei mused inwardly.
Using genjutsu energy to construct a seal while simultaneously performing an illusion.
Though the operational difficulty was astronomical—even just sealing sight elevated the ninjutsu's rank to A-level,
did he really lack in chakra control?
After acquiring the [Zero-Frames Start] B-tier skill, he could now maintain an SS-ranked forbidden jutsu like Water Release Rasengan for over thirty seconds.
So casting a genjutsu while simultaneously manipulating Yin Release chakra from a distance to form a simple sealing formula—
it couldn't possibly be harder than the Water Release Rasengan, right?
"While using Little Flying Stick, maybe I can layer a basic formation? Huh…"
Suddenly, a scene flashed in Kei's mind—a dark figure bound to a table.
Adult Kakashi Hatake stood behind him, hands shaped in the Tora Seal, keenly observing.
Whoosh~
That's brutal—way too brutal!
Kei Yamanaka rubbed his arms, trying to shake off the chills running down his spine.
Even a Genjutsu version of [One Thousand Years of Death] could give most people lasting psychological trauma—why not at least let them have a head start?
What's the difference? It's like Naruto using a Kunai for a [Thousand Years of Death] while sticking an Explosive Tag on the target's back!
Even African hyenas aren't this ruthless!
As he thought randomly to himself, Kei casually made his way straight to the Intelligence Division.
He greeted the two usual guards at the entrance.
Without hesitation, he thrust his umbrella into one of their hands, telling them to hold it for a moment before slipping straight into the Intelligence Division's information room, the section responsible for compiling and summarizing intelligence reports.
From the perspective of Konoha's administrative structure, the Analysis Team Kei previously belonged to fell under the jurisdiction of the Intelligence Division.
Having worked in the Analysis Team for so long,
he naturally knew the Intelligence Division inside out.
"Back so soon and heading straight here? Don't you worry Hayato will drag you into another mission?"
Sanshoku, the current head of the Intelligence Room, noticed someone entering. He pushed up his thick glasses and, upon recognizing the visitor, couldn't help but tease him.
He was a full eleven years older than Kei
and had worked within the Intelligence Division for nearly fifteen years.
When Kei first joined the Analysis Team,
in Sanshoku's eyes, he was still practically a child.
Now, in the blink of an eye,
Kei had grown into someone already at marrying age.
"As long as I get my answers quickly and bolt out fast enough, he won't catch me."
Smiling broadly, Kei casually approached Sanshoku and plopped himself down on a nearby chair.
Intelligence Division, huh?
Coming here felt like stepping into his second home.
"You know the rules—we'll answer whatever we can."
Sanshoku chuckled lightly, temporarily setting aside the documents he'd been organizing and turning his attention fully toward Kei.
"Senior, do you know the exact location of the mountainous grave site in the Land of Iron?"
"Let me think… Ah, right… Hmm… Here it is—you've got clearance, so go ahead and read."
Sanshoku stood up and walked over to a file cabinet marked "Konoha Year 40." After rummaging through rows of numbered files, he finally pulled out a sealed document bag, dusted it off slightly, and handed it directly to Kei.
"Team Chappy—the investigation report on the death incidents in the Land of Iron?"
Kei glanced at the file title before opening the long-sealed envelope.
Inside was first a hand-drawn map of the Land of Iron, clearly marking the specific location and range of the mountainous grave site.
Among the rest of the documents were several hand-drawn sketches of the grave site itself.
These looked almost identical to the scenes stored in Kei's [Memory Palace]!
The written records detailed everything that happened six years ago at the mountainous grave site, including the investigation results and final conclusions.
"Chappy—Konoha Jonin, specialized in Sensor Ninjutsu and notoriously cautious? Tch!"
Kei Yamanaka didn't even need to look at the reports beneath to understand what had happened.
Chappy, as a sensor-type ninja, probably passed by the mountainous grave site and, out of curiosity—or perhaps simply in line with his personality—activated his Sensor Ninjutsu to scan the surrounding area.
Either he sensed something strange and decided to investigate further, only to be killed by Madara Uchiha.
Or Madara detected the probing of the sensor jutsu and actively came out to eliminate him.
As for the subsequent investigators, they were likely trapped or manipulated through Madara's Genjutsu or other techniques.
"I've found you now, Madara Uchiha!"
Kei instinctively licked his lips, feeling thrilled beyond measure.
He had really only come here on a hunch, not expecting much.
Who would've thought that this place, which wasn't discovered until the Fourth Great Ninja War in the main storyline, was actually so easily located by him?
And if Madara had already been there six years ago,
and specifically dealt with those Konoha ninjas sent to investigate the mountainous grave site,
then before the Third Great Ninja War started—before he even selected Obito as his successor, indoctrinating and training him—he probably wouldn't have moved from there.
As long as he set the Flying Thunder God markers correctly
and lined up enough backup plans,
if they could handle him, they'd capture the old man and take him down, pounding him into submission!
If not, well, they'd just steal the techniques and retreat!
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