After the group traveled for four hours, they rested briefly and resupplied, before moving for another two hours and finally reaching the Land of Fire border.
A Konoha Ninja was hidden in a tree ahead.
A Root Ninja exchanged secret signals with him, a complex series of lip-reading and hand gestures.
After confirmation, the ninja gestured, allowing the group to pass.
“Go.” Danzo led the group, zigzagging to avoid one trap after another, taking a full five minutes to reach the border camp.
Five or six green-vested ninjas were gathered around a pot, preparing lunch.
One of them was particularly noticeable: long red hair, face paint, a large, stout body with a round belly, and a large character “Food” written on his clothes.
He was clearly from the Akimichi Clan.
Seeing Danzo, he gave a simple smile.
“Oh, it’s Danzo, and Orochimaru.
With you all joining, we’ll have more confidence in holding the border.” Danzo took a letter from his robe, and handed it to him.
“Here is a secret letter from Hiruzen.” Akimichi Torifu wiped his hands clean and took the letter.
After reading it, he tore it up and threw it into the fire.
He clapped his hands and smiled.
“Then the matters at the front will be entrusted to you.” “Just doing our respective duties.” Danzo nodded, then led his Root members to continue their journey to the next camp, leaving Orochimaru and his subordinates behind.
Orochimaru spoke a few words with Akimichi Torifu, then waved his hand, calling Ryosuke and the other two.
“Hmm?
Why are there little kids?” Akimichi Torifu asked in surprise.
Orochimaru patted the heads of the three, smiling, “These three are my students.
They’re quite good.
I’m leaving them here for some training.
Please look after them, Torifu-senpai.” Akimichi Torifu agreed, “Alright, it’s been a long time since I’ve guided new recruits, you can safely leave them to me.” Orochimaru gave the three a few quick instructions, then hurried forward, entering the war zone alone.
Ryosuke, Nawaki, and Shibi looked at each other, speechless for a moment.
— — — In the misty late night.
Ryosuke, Nawaki, and Shibi lay prone on the hillside, their bodies covered by long grass, peering through the gaps between the blades at the forest below.
This was already their third night standing guard here.
“Do you think, just guarding like this, it’s useful?
I feel like it’s not very useful.” Nawaki, who considered himself a ninja and disciplined himself as one, finally couldn’t resist slacking off during the mission and asked Ryosuke, who was lying three meters away.
“It’s best if it’s useless.
If it’s useful, it’s bad.” Ryosuke replied.
“It’s good if it’s useless…” Nawaki pondered for a moment and understood Ryosuke’s words.
Indeed, “it’s good if it’s useless,” for if their post proved useful, wouldn’t that mean enemies had invaded?
Nawaki suppressed his impatience and continued his watch.
Ryosuke frowned, looking at the forest below, feeling a strange sensation in his heart.
Gusts of cold wind rustled through the forest, and the mist rose, enveloping the entire forest in a white haze, a strange aura permeating the surroundings.
“Something’s wrong.” Ryosuke’s eyes darted around, scanning the looming trees like a radar.
“Shibi, have your insects found anything?” He asked Shibi, who was beside him.
“No.” Shibi’s reply was concise.
Rustle!
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from ahead.
Ryosuke’s pupils contracted as he listened intently, observing closely.
The misty forest gave him the answer—leaves rustled, now to the left, now to the right.
Ryosuke’s eyes suddenly widened.
He saw something strange appear ahead.
It was a mass of white.
Was it the wind, or… Ryosuke was utterly horrified and he immediately held his breath.
“Ryosuke.
Shibi.” Nawaki whispered a warning to the two, he had clearly noticed something amiss as well.
“Yes, get ready.
If the situation is not right, issue the alarm immediately.” Ryosuke held a Kunai in his right hand, and his left hand was already grasping a Shuriken, prepared for battle.
The insects Shibi sent out gave no feedback, either truly nothing was happening, or the enemy had bypassed the insects’ reconnaissance.
If it was the latter, then it would be big trouble.
Rustle, rustle, rustle…
The exceptionally condensed mist twisted and deformed, then suddenly coalesced into a giant snake, its enormous white eyes staring intently at Ryosuke and his companions.
What is this thing?
Without giving Ryosuke and his companions time to react, the white snake lunged towards them.
Ryosuke reacted sharply and shouted, “Sound the alarm!” Then he sprang up from the grass.
With a whoosh, the Shuriken in his left hand was thrown out.
Three Shuriken met the white snake, but with a “poof,” the Shuriken passed through the snake, dispersing it.
The Shuriken, without losing momentum, struck a tree twenty meters away, with three clanging sounds, causing the tree to shake.
However, the white snake was made of mist.
After scattering, it swirled and reformed, still lunging forward.
Clearly, Ryosuke’s attack was ineffective.
The white snake lunged and bit.
Shibi raised his arms, sending out a cloud of insects to block the white snake.
Poof!
The white snake crashed into the insect wall and exploded, scattering into a thick mist that enveloped Ryosuke and the two others.
Whoosh!
The three reacted extremely quickly, swiftly standing back-to-back in a triangular formation, guarding the surroundings.
“Shibi, it’s up to you.” Ryosuke whispered.
The mist was thick, making it impossible to see one’s hand in front of their face.
Without sensory abilities, they could only rely on Shibi’s insects.
Shibi had already responded.
The swarm of insects spread out into a circle, flying around to serve as the first line of defense.
Rustle…
Rustle…
Footsteps came and went, now far, now near, now left, now right, impossible to pinpoint, making the eerie mist even more bizarre.
Ame Ninja?
Suna Ninja?
Or what kind of enemy?
Ryosuke gripped his Kunai, his ears filled with the pounding of his heart, his nerves tightly strung.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
There was only footsteps, no enemy attack.
Not good!
A trick!
Ryosuke’s mind buzzed and he immediately shouted, “Scatter the insects!
Don’t let the enemy slip away!” The thick fog was merely a diversion, the enemy’s true objective was to bypass them—to invade!
Shibi reacted instantly, pushing his hands out, and the buzzing swarm of insects flew outwards.
“Damn it!” Nawaki grew anxious, instantly forming hand signs and spitting out a waterfall, the surging current pushing the mist away.
“Where are they?” Nawaki twisted his neck but there was no enemy to be seen.
“Could they have already bypassed us and run far away?” Impossible, unless the enemy could fly, how could they leave no trace?
So they must be hiding.
Where would they hide?
Shibi said, “No trace of the enemy found within 200 meters.” What’s going on?
The disadvantage of inexperience was fully exposed.
The three boys were at a loss as to what to do for a moment.
Should they split up to search for the enemy’s traces, or continue to hold their post, or return to the camp to report the situation?
“What should we do?” Nawaki had just spoken when his mouth dropped open, and he pointed into the distance, a look of shock on his face.
Ryosuke hastily turned to look, only to see huge flames and thick smoke rising in the distance, followed by the sound of explosions.
That was the camp!
“No way, the main camp was ambushed?” Ryosuke was utterly shocked, immediately feeling a ridiculous sense of homelessness.
“Quick, go back and support!” Nawaki grew anxious, he wanted to return to the camp to provide support.
“No, with Torifu-san there, there won’t be any problems.
We’ll just stay here to prevent the enemy from using a feint.
We’ve already suffered one loss, we can’t afford another mishap.” Ryosuke was very firm about holding their position.
Shibi said, “No need to go, the enemy is here.” “What?” Nawaki and Ryosuke were both startled, anxiously pressing, “Where is the enemy?” “500 meters ahead, they’re coming.” (End of Chapter)