Under the deepening moonlight, Konoha was still illuminated by the fires of reconstruction. At this time, various tasks weighed heavily on people's shoulders. In the gray gloom that follows a disaster, some began the countdown to the next dawn early, while others, refusing to accept defeat, reached out to grasp the past they still wished to protect.
At some point, a special mission was issued, and one group of people rushed out, stepping into the territory of the forest under the moonlight.
Team 7 and Jiraiya, who had accepted the mission to 'Retrieve Logan', departed after a brief preparation, moving into the forest along the last direction observed by the ANBU. At this moment, everyone's expressions were grim.
Kakashi summoned his Ninken, which was in the form of a regular dog, "Pakkun, can you track Hattori's scent?"
"Why did Hattori also become an enemy...? No problem, it's in that direction."
"Great. Let's go bring him back." Kakashi said solemnly.
With differences in relationships and experiences, everyone's moods are different. The group advanced with all their might towards Logan's departing figure, but what they didn't know was that, on the other end of the path, two figures with black cloaks adorned with red clouds were also steadily approaching.
In the silent moonlit night, both sides unknowingly shared the same sentiment, uttering the phrase, 'Let's go bring him back.' What happened next would be a massive, unexpected collision of bodies and minds.
…
Outside the boundaries of Konoha Village's control, Logan, the central figure in the dispute, wore a troubled expression as he slowly distanced himself from Konoha Village.
"This feels like a huge mess." Logan muttered in distress. He recalled his escape from the village after Orochimaru exposed his identity and sighed, feeling that many things seemed to be converging.
The initial escape had gone relatively smoothly. After Logan admitted to being a member of the Akatsuki, Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and the others clearly failed to react in time. By the time he used his Lightning Release to accelerate and leave the venue far behind, only a few ANBU had belatedly pursued him.
Orochimaru, who had retreated shortly after him, took advantage of the opportunity and indirectly alleviated some of Logan's pressure. Just moments before, they were fighting fiercely, but now they were practically helping each other.
At that time, Konoha was still engaged in various skirmishes and encounters, with communication disruptions and a shortage of personnel. Logan left the village with almost no resistance. Some Ninjas even nodded in acknowledgment when they saw him, clearing a path.
Of course, that was a good thing, and Logan took advantage of the village's preoccupation and its inability to pursue him, allowing him to easily bypass what should have been the most difficult hurdle after his defection was exposed.
"But still…"
As Logan traveled through the forest, he raised his left hand with a sigh. The mark of the Divine Bird Contract on the back of his hand emitted a faint red glow in the moonlight. A weak, intermittent heat radiated from the mark, obstructing the flow of Chakra through his Chakra Pathway, "Why is this thing acting up now?"
Logan forced himself to leap onto a tree branch, but his speed and distance were far below his full potential, even less than his usual pace.
Having fought a long battle with Orochimaru, Logan had indeed consumed a lot of Chakra. But, following the universal storytelling cliche of 'the critical moment always ends on a cliffhanger', Logan had somewhat predictably returned to Earth.
In the modern world's urban hustle and bustle, peace was still the norm. Logan dreamily carried his school bag, spending seven days diligently restoring his depleted Chakra. As a student, he was free from any other pressures, as the academic workload was no burden for him and was more like a passing cloud. So, when the new passage flickered open, Logan was once again full of energy, racing outside the village.
But, as luck would have it, an unexpected complication arose. The summoning contract Logan had signed not long ago began the process of 'Spirit Cleansing'.
What exactly is 'Spirit Cleansing'?
It sounds very grand, and it's actually a unique feature of the Divine Bird Clan's contract, as no other Summoned Beasts have it. On the large plaza atop that giant parasol tree, Logan was informed that this was a blessing granted by the Divine Bird Clan to its contract holders. It enables the contract holder to become more attuned to the Divine Birds, increasing the success rate of summoning them and learning their Senjutsu. It also enhances the contract holder's constitution, making them more compatible with the fire element.
In essence, it's a high-level, exclusive benefit of the Divine Bird Clan. After completing the Spirit Cleansing, Logan would officially fight alongside the Sacred Birds. It sounds a lot like the legendary 'Bone Marrow Cleansing', doesn't it? However, the Spirit Cleansing doesn't excrete any black impurities or cause pain.
The onset time varies from person to person and is very brief, causing only a mild heat sensation. Logan would get passive bonuses when using Fire Release Ninjutsu in the future, and it is beneficial in every way with no drawbacks. The only problem was that it happened at the wrong time.
Due to this, Logan's Chakra wasn't flowing smoothly at this critical moment, greatly slowing down his pace and preventing him from putting much distance between himself and Konoha Village.
"But this state should be ending soon." Logan muttered as he clenched his left hand. He glanced back in the direction he had come from, with no pursuers from Konoha had appeared so far, "For a Missing-nin, this kind of calm process is a bit… unnerving."
It's understandable that Konoha, in a special period, couldn't demonstrate the usual efficiency of a major ninja village. Still, Logan remained vigilant. He knew that with the trouble he had caused, as long as he hadn't left the Land of Fire, he wasn't truly safe.
"Besides..." Logan pressed his hand against a rough tree trunk, using the leverage to jump to the next tree. The moonlight filtering through the foliage passed over him one by one, "The Akatsuki duo is on their way. But I really don't want to see that shark face."
After leaving the village, Logan had informed Pain, who was far away in the Amegakure, of his situation. Pain, through the Magic Lantern Body Technique, contemplated for a moment and then made a decision that Logan hadn't anticipated. He actually ordered Itachi and Kisame, who were conveniently already in the Land of Fire, to come and pick Logan up...
Logan remembered that Itachi and Kisame were supposed to visit Konoha after the Konoha Crush Plan, but the butterfly effect seemed to have amplified events and spread them further.
Coinciding with the weakening effects of the 'Spirit Cleansing', Logan felt a growing concern over how things were deviating from his knowledge. Yet, given his precarious situation and the real risk of being overtaken and beaten, he reluctantly decided not to refuse their support.
Though he wasn't sure how things would unfold after the plot diverged, Logan knew that if he were caught and brought back to Konoha, it would be the end for him. A thorough investigation would inevitably expose his activities, confirming his crimes and sealing his fate. Logan had no intention of testing the numerous restrictions of being detained.
Thinking of Itachi, Logan felt a bit nostalgic. It had been a long time since he last saw the young man who used to visit him in the quiet of night. Back then, with an uncertain future ahead, they had both spoken of mutual care and concern in their own reserved ways. Now, fate had dramatically brought them to the same side.
"I just hope that brooding kid doesn't come over here." Yu Xiaobai muttered to himself, "Naruto, you should sleep a little longer after your battle. Don't make a fuss about chasing me… And surely Hiruzen wouldn't recklessly send Team 7 after me, right? I'm too formidable for them, and that would be irresponsible."
There was a constant rustle in the forest, and the two approaching parties were now very close.