Haruto Saito left, leaving Tsunade and the others to continue their discussion.
In reality, many of the assassination plans Jiraiya and Orochimaru had considered were feasible, but Tsunade had rejected all of them. The reason was simple: Jiraiya and Orochimaru only considered the probability of mission success—if there was a 50% chance of killing the target, they deemed it doable.
But Tsunade thought differently. She not only wanted Haruto to have a greater chance of successfully assassinating the target, but she also wanted him to retreat safely without being discovered.
She was genuinely worried that Haruto might die during this mission.
Perhaps she was overly concerned.
Even Tsunade herself hadn't realized how much she feared for Haruto's life.
Outside, the noise from the street grew louder and closer.
"Make way!"
"The Lord is coming!"
"Move aside!"
"Don't block the road!"
The commotion filtered through the windows, drawing the attention of the three inside. Orochimaru pulled his hood lower and quickly stepped to the window to take a look. He immediately recognized Kaguya Rakuba.
He retreated from the window and said in a low voice, "Kaguya Rakuba is outside... and Mudashi is with him."
"Oh?"
"Let's take a look!"
Jiraiya and Tsunade also moved to the window, their disguises in place. Tsunade wore a straw hat, and Jiraiya used a mask to partially obscure his face.
Through the window, they saw Kaguya Rakuba and Mudashi inspecting the street, followed by a group of attendants.
The two seemed to be getting along well. Mudashi was gesturing as he introduced the buildings around them.
"Looks like the deal is done," Jiraiya murmured. "This village is about to fall under the Mist's control."
Tsunade continued watching but suddenly blinked and turned to Jiraiya. "Where's Haruto?"
"He went out, didn't he? Probably to the bathroom," Jiraiya said absentmindedly—then his expression stiffened. His eyes widened as he looked at Tsunade.
Haruto had been at the window earlier. He must have seen Kaguya Rakuba approaching from the street.
So, if he suddenly went out...
Was he planning an assassination?!
"He wouldn't be that reckless, would he?" Jiraiya muttered, but even he didn't sound confident.
"Damn it! How many stupid things has that brat done already?!" Tsunade cursed angrily.
Orochimaru suddenly closed his eyes. A few seconds later, he opened them again and said coldly, "Haruto is no longer in this building."
Orochimaru knew many sinister and forbidden techniques, including unique sensory abilities.
"Damn that reckless fool! We have to find him!" Tsunade growled in a low voice.
The three vanished from the window.
A few minutes later – Nightfall in Ryusui Village
On the rooftop of a gambling hall, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru appeared, their figures hidden in the shadows.
"Did you find him?" Tsunade asked urgently.
"No," Jiraiya replied.
"Nothing," Orochimaru added.
"That damn brat! He's going to drive me crazy!" Tsunade was losing her patience, her anxiety peaking.
"We should focus on Kaguya Rakuba," Jiraiya suggested. "If Haruto is going after him, he'll be nearby."
"Right! Let's move!" Tsunade said immediately.
Ryusui Village – Northern Second Street
This street specialized in selling dried seafood—dried fish, squid strips, scallops, fish glue, and dried shrimp. There were no fresh seafood vendors here.
Along the roadside, a few small stalls sold snacks made from seafood.
A limping figure emerged from a dark alleyway.
Haruto Saito had changed his appearance yet again. He now wore coarse linen clothes and wooden sandals, his pants rolled up, and a bloodstained bandage wrapped around his head, covering his right eye. Only his left eye remained visible—still a deep crimson.
His body was filthy, making him look like a battered vagrant from a remote village. His movements were sluggish as if he had been badly beaten.
Haruto shuffled over to a street stall and peered down at the dried squid and grilled fish snacks with his one visible eye.
"Go, go! No beggars loitering here!" the stall owner, a short man with a mustache, waved him off impatiently.
"I... I have money," Haruto mumbled, pretending to be timid and socially awkward. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a few coins.
"Fine, fine, hurry up and pick something," the vendor grumbled, seeing the money.
Haruto kept his coins clenched in his palm, slowly scanning the options.
The noise from the street grew louder.
From the north, Kaguya Rakuba and Mudashi approached with their entourage.
They moved arrogantly through the street, taking up the entire road and forcing others to make way for them.
Haruto glanced toward them.
Name: Kaguya Rakuba
Affiliation: Water Country, Mist Village – Vanguard Corps, Fourth Squad Captain, Kaguya Clan Elder
Reputation: 15,781 points
Status: Hostile
A peak-level Jonin!
Although he was the weakest among top-tier Jonin, he was still a highly regarded warrior—borderline Kage-level. Normally, assassinating someone of this caliber would be classified as an S-rank mission.
However, Haruto knew that Kaguya Rakuba was sick. His condition was unstable, making him vulnerable.
Walking beside him was Mudashi, an elderly samurai with Jonin-level strength and a reputation of over 6,000 points.
"Ha ha ha! Lord Rakuba, look at this street," Mudashi's booming laughter echoed. "The business here is always thriving. Once your village offers us protection, it will flourish even more! More merchants will come, and tax revenue could even double!"
The two were now less than thirty meters away.
Haruto turned his gaze back to the stall.
Meanwhile – On a rooftop overlooking the street
Three figures crouched behind the roof's ridge, watching.
"The two closest to Kaguya Rakuba are Jonin-level," Orochimaru observed.
"Do you see that reckless brat?" Tsunade asked with a frown.
"Not yet..." Jiraiya scanned the street—then suddenly gasped. "Wait! Look at that guy with the bandages. The one who looks like a villager. Could that be Haruto?"
Tsunade immediately locked onto the figure and her expression darkened.
"It's him!" she confirmed, her voice tense. "Damn it, he's too close! How do we get him out of there?"
At this point, Kaguya Rakuba was less than five meters from Haruto.
Haruto still had his back turned, picking through the stall's wares.
Kaguya Rakuba, engrossed in conversation, strolled by with his guards.
Neither side seemed to acknowledge the other.
"He wouldn't be reckless enough to strike now, right?" Jiraiya muttered, barely believing what he was seeing.
Tsunade clenched her fists. She wanted to rush in and drag Haruto away, but that would expose all of them.
"Stay calm, brat. Don't be impulsive!" Tsunade pleaded internally.
Kaguya Rakuba passed behind Haruto. If Haruto didn't move, one of the guards would likely bump into him—or shove him aside.
Then, in that exact moment—
Haruto suddenly staggered as if he had lost his balance.
He turned, his movements clumsy, and stumbled straight into Kaguya Rakuba.
Tsunade was stunned.
This was the dumbest assassination attempt she had ever witnessed!