Wuyang Valley

After a night of rest, Soji's team got up early the next morning. After eating the breakfast Kushina Uzumaki had prepared, they set off toward the valley to the northwest, where ninjas from other villages were suspected to be hiding, bidding farewell to Jiraiya's wave.

"Follow the plan we arranged yesterday," Minato Namikaze said as they ran, acting as the team's temporary captain.

"Understood!"

Soji and the other two nodded in agreement.

As they neared the mouth of the valley, they stopped at the same time and cautiously advanced step by step.

"We're here. Homura, I'm counting on you. If anything unexpected happens, send a signal. Don't try to tough it out. We'll rush over to support you immediately." The ever-smiling Minato Namikaze wore a rare expression of seriousness and caution as he looked at Uchiha Homura.

After all, as the team's temporary captain, with Jiraiya absent, he had to be responsible not only for the mission but also for his teammates' lives.

Moreover, everyone on the team was an important friend he had met along the way as he grew up. He did not want anyone to be injured or killed during their first mission under his leadership.

"Don't worry, Minato. I guarantee I'll complete the mission perfectly," Uchiha Homura replied confidently.

Despite his confidence, Uchiha Homura was no mindless brute. After answering Minato Namikaze, he carefully checked the ninja tools he carried.

Then he took a deep breath and headed toward the valley entrance with determination.

According to what Jiraiya had learned from those bandits yesterday, this entrance led to a place called Wuyang Valley.

As its name implied, it was a valley that sunlight could not reach.

From the entrance, all they could see was a pitch-black valley path. On both sides stood sheer cliffs seventy or eighty meters high, covered in herbs, moss, mushrooms, and other vegetation that could survive in darkness.

The entire valley was shaped like an hourglass, with the entrance at its narrow middle. Soji's group and the hidden ninjas were on opposite sides of it.

The side where Soji's group stood was densely forested, and sunlight easily filtered through gaps between the trees.

As for the unknown ninjas, they were hiding on the other side, where even sunlight could not penetrate.

Once Uchiha Homura's figure had completely disappeared into the valley path, Soji and the other two steadied themselves. They exchanged glances and began their operation.

They swiftly placed Explosive Tags around the entrance and set up all kinds of traps.

First, this was to prevent the enemy from escaping. Second, if the enemy proved too powerful and they could not defeat them, these traps could buy them time to flee.

"Kushina, I'll leave the rear to you. Likewise, if anything happens, send a signal immediately. We'll withdraw as quickly as possible." Minato Namikaze instructed Kushina Uzumaki, who was staying behind with concern in her eyes.

"Mm. You need to be careful too. If things can't be done, prioritize your own safety, understand? After all, don't forget that your most important mission is to protect me." By the end, seemingly trying to ease the oppressive atmosphere and comfort herself, Kushina Uzumaki revealed a rare vulnerable side.

For someone as strong-willed as Kushina Uzumaki, this was truly unbelievable. At first, she had even refused the arrangement to remain behind.

But someone had to take on this role. To put it bluntly—

If Soji and the others were wiped out in the valley, Kushina Uzumaki would have to immediately bring the news back to Jiraiya.

No matter how distinguished the others' identities were, in the eyes of Konoha's higher-ups, none of them were worth as much as Kushina Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Only after the others persuaded her did Kushina Uzumaki reluctantly accept the arrangement.

That made Soji and the others breathe a sigh of relief.

After all, when stubborn people got hung up on something, not even ten oxen could pull them back!

And Kushina Uzumaki's personality could sometimes be even more boyish than a boy's.

"Yeah, we remember. Our team's first mission is to protect you, Kushina, so we'll definitely come back safely." Minato Namikaze gave Kushina Uzumaki a reassuring smile.

Then, around fifteen minutes after Uchiha Homura entered the valley, Minato and Soji also advanced toward the entrance, leaving behind Kushina Uzumaki, whose worry remained impossible to hide.

"Byakugan!"

At the valley entrance, Soji directly activated his Byakugan and looked into the depths of the valley.

"Just as expected, Homura has drawn the attention of all the ninjas in the valley. Now we can quietly follow him."

In the black-and-white world observed through Soji's Byakugan, every ninja in the valley had their attention fixed on Uchiha Homura, who was still walking deeper inside.

They paid no attention whatsoever to Soji and Minato, who were quietly following around two thousand meters behind Uchiha Homura. More accurately, they had not seen them at all.

"Looks like the plan is working!"

After hearing Soji's words, Minato Namikaze visibly let out a breath of relief.

This was the first step of the plan. Its smooth execution meant that, so far, everything remained under control.

If the first step had already failed, there would be no point thinking about anything that came after. They could just call it game over.

Soji then relayed the positions and approximate strength of the enemies he had observed through his Byakugan to Minato Namikaze.

A person's strength could generally be judged from the amount of Chakra they possessed.

For example, if a genin and a jonin stood before Soji, he could clearly see through his Byakugan that the jonin's Chakra reserves utterly eclipsed the genin's.

That was one reason Soji could estimate the strength of those ninjas.

Of course, nothing was absolute. Chakra reserves reflected the strength of most ninjas, but certain special cases could not be measured by Chakra alone.

Some ninjas possessed special bloodlines or secret techniques. Even if your Chakra reserves far exceeded theirs, you might still be no match for them.

A typical example was Hidan. He only possessed the strength of an Elite Jonin, but with his immortality and the cursed technique Blood Death Ritual, even a Kage-level expert could be killed if they fell for it!

Then there were burst-type fighters like Might Guy. He had the strength of an Elite Jonin in his normal state, but after opening the Eight Inner Gates, he could instantly unleash power on par with the Six Paths level. In the Original Storyline, he had nearly kicked his way straight to the ending!

The opposite example was most members of the Otsutsuki Clan. They possessed powerful Chakra, but the strength they displayed often fell short of expectations.

At this point in time, Might Guy had not even been born yet. Hidan's mother probably had not even gotten pregnant with him, though Soji had no idea whether she was married. As for the Otsutsuki Clan, there was not even a trace of them yet, and they were not something Soji needed to worry about.

Soji only needed to tell Minato everything useful he observed. He did not believe he would encounter such special ninjas here!

"There are thirty-one ninjas in the entire valley. Most have Chakra reserves only equivalent to genin level. Six are at chunin level, only one is at jonin level, and the remaining twenty-four only have genin-level Chakra reserves." Minato Namikaze softly repeated the information Soji had given him.

"Based on what I can see with my Byakugan, Homura shouldn't be in any mortal danger." After observing the situation inside the valley, Soji finally let go of his concern for Uchiha Homura.

With Uchiha Homura's chunin strength that was nearing jonin level, combined with his two-tomoe Sharingan, he even had a chance of winning against that lone jonin.

In a valley filled mostly with genin and chunin, he would have no trouble keeping himself safe.

"Then we'll wait until those ninjas attack Homura, and we'll play the mantis stalking the cicada while the oriole waits behind. We have the enemy's information. Now we just need an opportunity." Minato Namikaze made the arrangements.

Soji nodded in agreement. This was the safest approach.

Although Soji was confident that if he and Minato openly stepped out now and joined forces with Uchiha Homura, they could wipe out those ninjas—

Why make things difficult when they could resolve it easily?

Besides, if they simply rushed in and fought now, Uchiha Homura definitely would not be happy.

After all, in his eyes, he could handle such a minor situation himself.

More importantly, after all that planning, simply charging in for a brawl—

That did not fit the team's purpose, nor did it fit the meaning of a ninja completing a mission.

Ninjas should complete missions with the smallest cost and the highest efficiency!

"I just hope Homura can make the disguise we arranged for him, gathering herbs in the valley, look convincing enough." This was Soji's only concern now.

It had been Soji's suggestion.

Otherwise, if a Konoha Ninja casually walked into Wuyang Valley, a place that saw no people all year round, how could those ninjas not be suspicious?

They had Uchiha Homura wear a Konoha forehead protector, carry a herb basket on his back, and pretend to be a Konoha genin assigned a D-rank mission by the village to gather medicinal herbs outside.

Only then would the ninjas inside believe that Uchiha Homura was truly carrying out the mission alone.

After all, some missions did not require an entire team.

That would waste too many of the village's ninja resources, especially for such a low-level mission.

For a mission like this, even sending two genin would be wasteful.

If more than two ninjas were sent, other ninja villages would definitely think Konoha's higher-ups had lost their minds.

Even if they had plenty of resources, that was no way to use them. Wouldn't it be better to have the extra ninjas build houses?

Even delivering takeout would be better than sending two ninjas to gather herbs in a place with barely any danger!

Therefore, sending one Konoha genin to such a remote and harmless place to carry out a D-rank herb-gathering mission was perfectly reasonable!

Thus, those ninjas did not give this "perfectly reasonable" scene much thought.

They truly never considered that two ninjas were following two thousand meters behind Uchiha Homura, while another ninja lay in ambush at the valley entrance.

What was more, the average strength of those ninjas was above chunin level...

"Well, Soji, have a little faith in Homura. When it comes to something this important, I'm sure he won't make that kind of mistake." Minato Namikaze smiled and comforted Soji.

Strangely enough, after hearing Minato Namikaze's words, Soji's restless emotions calmed down.

As expected of Minato. He always had a presence that put people at ease.

At the same time, he made everyone trust him so completely.

After Minato Namikaze said that, the two fell silent and quietly waited for what would happen next.

In this environment, it was better to speak as little as possible.

Although they had kept their voices low and concealed themselves well—

Neither of them could guarantee that an accident would not happen.

If they were discovered, all their previous efforts would be wasted.

Uchiha Homura ahead of them would also fall into tremendous danger at once.

The enemy would definitely try to kill Uchiha Homura, who had ventured deep into the valley, before dealing with the two of them.

For now, the enemy probably believed Uchiha Homura was a turtle in a jar.

They would not necessarily go all out with everyone from the start.

So his safety was still well assured.

Time gradually passed as Soji and Minato waited.