Mist

The fierce wind whipped the branches back and forth. Everywhere they looked was a sea of white mist, and within that vast whiteness, deadly danger seemed to be drawing near.

Someone on Konoha's side used Wind Release in an attempt to disperse the thick fog, but it quickly gathered again. Clearly, ordinary Wind Release could not drive it away.

Whoosh!

The sound of something sharp slicing through the air rang out. A kunai flew in from nowhere, aimed precisely at Shin's back of the head.

Yet just as the kunai was about to strike Shin, it suddenly veered off course on its own. It circled widely around him as though drawn by some force before landing steadily in his hand.

Startled, doubtful voices faintly rose from somewhere within the mist.

The kunai spun lightly between his fingers. The next second, Shin's sprinting figure came to an abrupt halt, and the scenery racing past his eyes froze in that instant.

He landed on a high branch, and the kunai in his hand shot out in an instant, piercing through the thick fog with a brief whistle through the air.

Thud!

A moment later came the dull sound of someone hitting the ground.

Within this dense mist, Shin's visibility was extremely low without the Byakugan, but he knew the position of everyone around him perfectly well.

Those familiar and unfamiliar currents of Chakra were like flames flickering endlessly in the darkness, exceptionally conspicuous!

He had read those sensing-related books countless times and had never stopped training.

Shin heard a noisy sound again, like rushing water.

A torrent suddenly surged out of the dense mist, spinning rapidly like a sharp spear as it stabbed straight toward his position.

This Water Release was not as spectacular as the Water Dragon Bullet he had seen earlier. Shin stood where he was without moving, showing no intention of dodging. Yet when the current reached within inches of him, it was abruptly blocked by layers of invisible barriers!

The rushing water could only splash away to the sides.

Shin calmly watched the stream before him, not a trace of moisture on his body as he silently gauged the Chakra being consumed within him.

Shin suddenly leaped forward, charging directly toward the direction from which the water had come. A transparent barrier seemed to stand before him, pushing aside every attack from the current.

The enemy had not expected Shin to use such a method to locate him. Watching his Water Release prove completely useless, panic rose in his heart. After that brief distraction, he no longer had time to escape.

Within the thick mist, the Mist Ninja vaguely caught sight of a cold, indifferent face. Then his neck was seized in a crushing grip.

He struggled desperately, his face turning red as only hoarse "hk, hk" sounds escaped him. What terrified him even more was that the Chakra within his body began to move out of control, battering against his meridians and internal organs.

Finally, after a dull sound, the man before Shin went completely still and was casually tossed to the ground.

Shin glanced at the corpse by his feet and frowned slightly before looking away.

How miserable.

I won't use that move next time.

Someone in the forest used Fire Release, and the intense heat evaporated the mist, but it was quickly extinguished by Water Release.

Weapons clashed with ringing metallic cries. Explosive tags detonated, and screams and shouts rose one after another.

Shin continued running through the thick mist, engaging the next enemy.

However, the encounter did not last long. The dense fog soon began to dissipate, and visibility gradually cleared.

The strength displayed by Hiashi and Hizashi somewhat exceeded the Mist Ninjas' expectations. The Hidden Mist Technique was as good as useless against them, causing no hindrance whatsoever while instead hampering the Mist Ninjas themselves.

The combined attacks of many Mist Ninjas not only failed to work, but all of them were killed by the two brothers.

By the time all sound had ceased, the mist had finally dispersed as well.

The forest felt several degrees colder.

All twenty-four Mist Ninjas had become corpses lying on the ground or hanging from tree branches.

The entire area bore the marks of devastation caused by ninjutsu and explosive tags. Quite a few shallow pools had formed on the ground, while deep craters marked the places where Earth Release had been used.

Konoha's side was not in much better shape. Many people had suffered severe injuries and were receiving treatment from the medical ninjas in the team.

One person had also died, and many gathered around his body in silent mourning.

The team transporting supplies consisted of experienced, exceptional ninjas. Only when faced with this kind of sudden encounter did they display such formidable adaptability.

Hiashi turned his gaze toward Shin, who was completely unharmed aside from a few bloodstains on his clothes, and his eyes shifted slightly.

Logically, without the Byakugan, Shin should have been the weakest among them...

Sensing Hiashi's gaze, Shin gave him a slight bow.

Hiashi withdrew his gaze and prepared to walk toward the dead companion's body.

"Lord Hiashi!" At that moment, Hizashi's anxious cry suddenly rang out. He was beside the traitor they had been escorting.

Hiashi's heart lurched. He immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to appear at Hizashi's side.

The traitor, still tightly bound on the ground, had already stopped breathing. Numerous kunai were embedded in his body, and blood had pooled all around him.

Hiashi's face instantly darkened. "How did this happen?!"

Hizashi immediately dropped to his knees in apology. "I'm sorry, Lord Hiashi. It was my fault. I was carrying him, but when I saw you surrounded and attacked by so many people..."

Hiashi's expression was as dark as water, cold light flashing again and again in his pale eyes.

Hizashi was his guard. No matter what mission Hiashi undertook, Hizashi would remain at his side. To Hizashi, nothing mattered more than protecting Hiashi.

Hiashi understood this well. Protecting him was Hizashi's mission and duty. He could not blame Hizashi for it.

No one around them spoke. Their temporary mission on the return journey had been to escort this traitor, yet he had died on the way.

Hiashi knew very well what this traitor represented.

The one behind him was a heinous criminal of Konoha, and they had been escorting him back to Konoha precisely to expose that person!

How was he supposed to explain this to the Hokage? How was he supposed to explain it to Shikaku and Minato...

Before leaving, he had solemnly promised Shikaku that he would see it through.

Hiashi stood still for a long time, until Kamado hesitantly stepped forward and called out, "Lord Hiashi?"

Hiashi let out a heavy breath, then said to Hizashi, "Get up."

"No one wanted this to happen. We encountered enemies on the road, and surviving was already fortunate enough. The mission failed, and that is my responsibility as the team leader."

Hizashi hurriedly said, "How can I let Lord Hiashi bear this alone?! It was clearly my fault!"

The others beside them also spoke up, saying it was everyone's shared responsibility and should not be borne by Captain Hiashi alone.

Irritated, Hiashi said, "Enough. Clean up the battlefield, bring Renji's body, and return to the village first."

Then he caught sight of Shin standing some distance away. He seemed entirely detached from the matter, merely standing there quietly as he watched the traitor's corpse.

It rained, the power went out, so this update came late. I'll post one more chapter.

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