Chapter 314

In the deep night of the Hidden Cloud Village, Yamato’s team quietly withdrew.

They did not retrieve the barrier, for it was a one-time-use device, specially crafted for this operation, and would naturally dissipate at dawn.

But just then.

As Yamato’s team prepared to return to Lei Huche’s home, they suddenly encountered another group on the road.

Lei Huche’s scalp prickled, and he instinctively prepared to strike.

Yamato quickly grabbed his hand and whispered softly, “Allies. Don’t move!”

“What?” Lei Huche froze.

Yamato simply explained: “An entire mid-sized unit participated in this operation in the Hidden Cloud Village—Itachi’re just one part of it. We never intended to act so boldly, but we didn’t expect the Hidden Cloud Village to be this pathetic. Even at this hour, not a single patrol unit is on duty.”

Lei Huche’s lip twitched, unsure what to say.

Patrol unit?

In the past, the Hidden Cloud would never have been so careless—but who could blame them now, when the village is at its most chaotic?

Sigh.

After a helpless sigh, Lei Huche began to explain.

“How do I put it about the Hidden Cloud?”

“Everything began when the Fourth Raikage died and the Eight-Tails’ jinchuriki was captured. As if with their deaths, the entire Hidden Cloud’s spirit and backbone were shattered.”

“Now, with the sudden death of the Fifth Raikage, the village has fractured into several factions.”

“No one can convince another. No one has a viable plan. No one knows what to do next.”

“So now, everyone’s just giving up.”

“Add to that the Akatsuki’s operations across the ninja world, and our Hidden Leaf has only been acting covertly, showing no overt aggression—so naturally, no one has cared to maintain daily order.”

“Right now, everyone in the Hidden Cloud is secretly vying for power!”

“Each faction builds its own little circle. Forget regular patrols—even daily governance is being ignored.”

“...”

Lei Huche muttered like someone complaining, laying bare the Hidden Cloud’s recent internal state.

After listening, Yamato’s lip twitched too.

In short, this whole situation was impossible to judge.

After that, they walked in silence.

Yet on the route back to Lei Huche’s home, though it took less than twenty minutes, they encountered twelve Hidden Leaf Anbu squads along the way.

Lei Huche: “...”

He was numb, utterly speechless.

It seemed the Hidden Cloud’s collapse exceeded even his imagination.

Damn!

The Hidden Leaf Anbu were strolling through the Hidden Cloud Village as if it were their own backyard, yet not a single person inside the Hidden Cloud seemed to notice...

Was this because the Hidden Leaf was too powerful—or because the Hidden Cloud was this pathetic?

He didn’t know, and he didn’t care to think.

But a voice suddenly rose in his heart: the Hidden Cloud had lost all cohesion. He could already faintly see its impending collapse.

To be honest...

His mood was not good.

Though he knew he was a Hidden Leaf spy, he had grown up within the Hidden Cloud, and long ago, he had come to see it as his homeland.

Now, watching his homeland slowly crumble, his emotions were deeply complex.

The long night slowly passed.

The entire Hidden Leaf Anbu mid-sized unit—fifty-seven Anbu squads—moved through the Hidden Cloud without stirring a single ripple.

When the long night ended, the Hidden Cloud remained eerily calm.

The next morning, early.

As the Hidden Cloud’s citizens awoke, the hidden barriers slowly faded—and screams erupted everywhere.

Countless homes were utterly destroyed; corpses lay scattered everywhere; the air reeked of thick blood.

The entire Hidden Cloud was in total chaos.

The newly formed factions within the Hidden Cloud reacted differently: some sneered in contempt, others turned pale.

Those who sneered had lost few people.

Those who turned pale had lost many.

In an instant,

paranoia gripped the entire Hidden Cloud. No one suspected the Hidden Leaf—everyone assumed it was internal power struggles.

Lei Huche entered the Hidden Cloud Anbu with a grim expression and immediately gathered his loyal subordinates. Without a word, he went straight to his faction’s leader.

Yes!

Though he was merely a Hidden Leaf spy, he had held the position of Anbu mid-sized unit commander in the Hidden Cloud—meaning he had factional backing above him.

His superior was Yeyue Han.

An elder of the Yeyue Clan, he firmly controlled the Hidden Cloud’s technology division, the ninja academy, and the Caizheng Force, and commanded every ninja of the Yeyue Clan, plus countless others secretly loyal to him from across the Hidden Cloud Village.

In his faction, Lei Huche was merely a minor figure.

Had the Fourth Raikage, Lei Yingai, not died, Lei Huche wouldn’t have had the Zige to even meet him. But now, with so many powerful figures dead—including the Fourth Raikage himself—Lei Huche had risen unexpectedly to become one of his key generals.

“Lei Huche, Itachi’ve done well.”

“The Anbu is in chaos right now. Your superior, Leimen Zhen, died last night. I need Itachi to immediately take control of your squad.”

“I’ll assign Itachi two Yeyue Clan jōnin and ten elite chūnin under your command. All Yeyue Clan resources within the Anbu will now fully support your rise to squad commander, replacing Leimen Zhen.”

“Itachi may kill if necessary, but control the internal impact—avoid public areas when doing so.”

“Go.”

“I give Itachi one week. Don’t disappoint me.”

“Once Itachi’ve firmly secured the position of Anbu squad commander, the Yeyue Clan’s secret technique repository will be fully open to Itachi, and Itachi’ll be permitted to marry a Yeyue Clan member.”

“...”

Yeyue Han gave no idle words—he issued the orders immediately.

Of course,

while entrusting Lei Huche with great responsibility, he also dangled a grand promise—and genuinely granted him some Yeyue Clan authority.

And yet,

though Lei Huche inwardly sneered, he outwardly showed deep respect, even feigned excitement, made all the necessary assurances, then departed with the Yeyue Clan’s men and his own loyalists, heading straight for the Hidden Cloud Anbu.

Only from the depths of his eyes could one glimpse his faint disdain and mockery toward the Yeyue Clan.

Yes!

In the past, he might have truly been thrilled—after all, becoming one of the Yeyue Clan’s own would have been a great honor for any Hidden Cloud ninja.

But now, it was different.

The Hidden Cloud was already completely pathetic. And the Hidden Leaf Anbu had already intervened.

The Hidden Cloud...

Was doomed.