Water Shadow

Night.

The vast starry sky shimmered with a mysterious radiance.

In a cleared patch of open ground, the bonfire crackled and spat sparks into the air.

The caravan was moving at a decent pace. After a full day on the road, they had already crossed most of the borderlands, though the port was still some distance away.

"Probably another two or three days."

That was what the lead coachman had said.

Jiang Rui lifted his eyelids slightly. Feeling lazy, he did not want to move even when he heard rustling from the bushes nearby.

As they neared the border, the moisture in the air grew heavier. Since the area was uninhabited, mosquitoes, insects, birds, and wild beasts became increasingly common, irritating everyone to no end.

"The guards can drive off ordinary beasts." Muto Koji glanced at the completely unmoving Jiang Rui and said irritably, "Near the border is usually where wandering ninja, Rogue Ninja, and ninja from other villages cross paths. If you do the math, it's about time we ran into some."

Jiang Rui paid no mind to Scarface's targeting. Not to mention that intelligence-gathering ninja would have to be out of their minds to rob a caravan, even if someone came, it was still uncertain who would end up eating whom.

Hui Lingzi, however, looked up at Jiang Rui and said quietly, "They're mainly bandits and robbers. Koji, go take a look."

"They are, after all, the guards protecting me. It would not be good if too many died."

At that, Muto Koji shook his head without speaking.

Letting a ninja of unknown affiliation stay alone with Hui Lingzi? That was impossible.

"Didn't you say you were protecting Lady Hui?" He turned and tossed the problem to Jiang Rui.

"No rush."

Jiang Rui stared at the bonfire. They were only two hunting dogs drawn by the scent. He would wait a little longer, at least until they brought the Hunter over.

Not long after, several flashes appeared in the distance, but the sounds had stopped.

Muto Koji frowned at the sight.

"Bandit signals..."

Naturally, he saw through Jiang Rui's intentions and grew irritated. If they simply dealt with the scouts, the enemy would naturally not dare make a move.

Yet Jiang Rui had deliberately allowed them to reach the mistaken conclusion that they could attack. Muto Koji could not help suspecting that Jiang Rui had some scheme in mind.

Cooperation naturally required showing a certain foundation of strength.

Jiang Rui looked at the girl across from him, who sat motionless and stared at the bonfire, waiting for her order.

The dozen or so remaining Samurai and servants around them knew nothing. They continued chatting among themselves, while some softly sang in chorus.

Until several more screams and a mass of footsteps came from the distance.

They belonged to several young guards standing watch as scouts.

"To be honest, I thought they'd come in the second half of the night." Jiang Rui muttered softly, then rose and stepped forward.

The remaining guards swiftly shielded Muto Koji and Hui Lingzi behind them. Their orderly formation made it obvious they had been trained.

"With so few assets left, better save them."

After a day of getting acquainted, Jiang Rui naturally knew that aside from a handful of hired men, the rest of the guards were Samurai raised by Hui Lingzi's family.

Tch. Wouldn't it be better to raise a few ninja? What was the point of raising a bunch of Samurai?

Still, he did not complain in front of Hui Lingzi. After all, this was a tradition passed down from before Chakra even existed.

Samurai spirit and all that.

Two groups of men rapidly spread out, forming an angled pincer to surround the caravan. Their leader shouted as well:

"Everybody squat down... Hand over the goods and stuff..."

Without another word, Jiang Rui puffed out his cheeks and theatrically formed several hand seals—

Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!

A towering wave swept forth!

"Damn it, why is there a ninja here?!"

"Run!!"

"Run my ass! Are all of you really scared of one little brat?"

"Save me! Save me! Whoever saves me can be the second-in-command...!!"

The bandits were instantly scattered and swallowed by the flood, hurriedly retreating. Unfortunately, they could not outrun the crashing waves.

Jiang Rui frowned. The killing power seemed insufficient. After thinking for a moment, he formed a few more seals, while secretly using Water Blade Manipulation to finish them off.

Hmm... Water Release... Water Style: Clear Ripple? Water Style: Hard Vortex Water Blade?

Jiang Rui pondered which one he should pretend to use.

In the darkness, his blue hair fluttered in the wind. Before him, curtains of water stretched endlessly through the air, along with towering waves.

The Samurai behind him stared blankly, unable to keep from feeling dejected and disheartened.

So this was a ninja...

Hui Lingzi was slightly surprised. Unlike most commoners, who had only heard of ninja and rarely seen them, she had often encountered ninja to some extent. Though she had also lived in the civilian districts of the Land of Fire rather than in a Ninja Village.

She glanced at Muto Koji beside her. His face was already filled with deep vigilance.

At that moment, Jiang Rui lifted his chin and ran back with a beaming smile, asking,

"Scarface, what do you think?"

He seemed to be provoking Muto Koji, yet his eyes were on Hui Lingzi.

The latter pondered for a moment before finally giving an imperceptible nod.

If Jiang Rui had not been watching her the entire time, he might have thought she had ignored him.

Scarface, on the other hand, said in a low voice:

"Are you a ninja from Mist?"

"What, knowing Water Release means you're from Mist?!" Jiang Rui retorted disdainfully. "It's not like many of you Konoha people can make fireballs either!!"

"Hmph."

Muto Koji snorted and stopped making a fool of himself. Konoha did indeed have a group famous for Fire Release, but that was the Uchiha Clan.

Most of the rest were quite varied. Still, Konoha's representative symbols were the major clans, the two great ocular techniques, and the vanished Wood Release.

"Yawn." Seeing Scarface stop talking, Jiang Rui rubbed his eyes in boredom and stepped into the carriage.

"Remember to keep watch, Scarface."

Even so, once Jiang Rui entered the carriage, his golden eyes quietly remained fixed on the door.

Great Sage, if there is even the slightest disturbance, immediately enter combat mode.

"Understood!"

Early the next morning, Jiang Rui stretched lazily after getting up, only to find the servants and Samurai cleaning up the battlefield.

Jiang Rui took a few looks, then lost interest.

Tch, all poor bastards.

The following days were peaceful. Aside from the guards becoming more respectful toward him, Muto Koji's initial wariness of him gradually eased as well. Although he still did not particularly like Jiang Rui, he at least spoke to him now.

Sometimes, he even talked about things he had seen and heard in Konoha.

The familiarity that came from living together day and night could sometimes be truly frightening, even when the other person was your enemy.

Almost there...

It was about time to make a move.

Jiang Rui lightly tapped on the carriage window, seemingly lost in thought.

Moisture slowly spread from beneath his feet... gradually creeping toward the other side.

The cool and quiet girl suddenly looked up and asked:

"We'll be there soon. After all these days, I still haven't asked what you're going to the Land of Water for."

"Why ask that all of a sudden?" Jiang Rui was taken aback.

"It's nothing. It's fine if it's inconvenient to say."

"It's actually nothing much."

Jiang Rui smiled and said softly,

"I'm going to become the next..."

He paused, looking at Hui Lingzi very seriously.

"Water Shadow!"