020 Arrives

"The information has been sent out. I believe the leader will be here soon!"

Watching the night outside, Mujie's expression turned speechless as well.

He had not expected it.

After finding this group from the Uzumaki Clan, they had actually run into ninjas who had come to encircle and suppress them?

These were not the ninjas hired by the merchants they had encountered on their trip to the Land of Hot Water.

They were a group of genuine elite ninjas!

It seemed... taking those people away last time had already drawn the attention of whoever was behind this?

That was why they had sent so many ninjas this time!

He looked again at the gaunt, sallow-faced members of the Uzumaki Clan behind him and let out a melancholy sigh.

Honestly, if it had not been for the leader's orders, he would not have wanted the Land of Grass to recruit these Rogue Ninjas.

There was far too much trouble!

And no one knew whether spies were hiding among them.

But since the leader had given the order, he could only obey.

And besides...

He had already said that was not something he had given Yahiko!

Yahiko had taken it himself!

Yet he had still been blamed for it.

So unfair!

And afterward, he had even been sent out here!

It was so cold outside!

If it had not been for Teacher Ooki's rare signed book, he would not even have wanted to come out.

But now...

He figured he was done for.

At that moment.

"Whoosh—"

A sharp sound rang out.

Everyone's expressions changed again as they looked around...

A group of tightly wrapped figures wearing animal masks appeared before them, surrounding them. "Uzumaki Clan... come with us!"

They seemed to be deliberately concealing their identities.

"..."

Mujie, Jiang He, and the others froze, their faces turning ashen as they looked at the jonin surrounding them.

Damn!

So soon!

And there were this many jonin?!

Mujie's face darkened with hesitation, but in the end, he sighed inwardly.

It seemed...

There was no point even trying to run now.

He could tell at a glance that these people were different from ordinary ninjas. They were ninjas specialized in killing!

The Assassination Department?

This was Konoha... Could they be ninjas from Konoha's Assassination Department?!

He glanced at the Uzumaki Clan behind him and thought that Wu Wei and Yahiko, those two little brats, should be able to take care of themselves! Just remember not to steal books this time, and burn the books for their old man!

With a righteous expression on his face, he was just about to step forward.

"Cough, cough! Let this old man do it!" The gaunt, pale-faced Uzumaki elder stepped forward.

It was obvious at a glance that the old man was already seriously injured.

He looked deeply at the Kusagakure ninja who had suddenly appeared and wanted to take them away. "I'll hold them back. The Uzumaki Clan..." He closed his eyes. "I'll leave them to you!"

Honestly.

If Jiang He and the others had not sent word that his elder brother was in the Land of Grass, and if they had not suddenly come under attack, he would not have agreed so rashly to go to the Land of Grass.

After all, who knew whether it was a trap?

A trap aimed at the Uzumaki Clan.

This guy...

He did not look like a good person at all!

Especially when he thought of Kusagakure ninjas' reputation, he became even more suspicious.

But they had no choice at all now!

As soon as he finished speaking.

"Sorry to trouble you! Please make sure to stop them." Mujie agreed without hesitation, waving his hand without a shred of integrity. "Don't worry, the Land of Grass has always kept its word and never lies! Go, go, go! Let's hurry! Once you reach the Land of Grass, you'll have good days ahead!"

"..."

Hearing that, Uzumaki Haruhito's mouth twitched, and for a moment, he wondered whether he had made the wrong decision.

Kept its word?

The Land of Grass?

Who was he trying to fool?!

However.

"Attack!"

Without any hesitation, the encircling ninjas gave the order. Uzumaki Haruhito could only quickly move to stop them.

But there were ten jonin in total, while he... had been seriously wounded during their flight, with no time to recuperate. His body was already exhausted and starving. How could he possibly stop them?

He was quickly forced into a disadvantage.

At that moment.

One of the enemy ninjas appeared behind him with a long blade in hand. Uzumaki Haruhito's expression hardened. Seeing the other ninjas closing in, he formed hand seals, his eyes filled with determination.

He could only use that.

With a savage expression, he said, "In that case, let me show you the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Technique, feared throughout the ninja world!"

However.

Before he could finish forming the seals.

Suddenly.

Bang!

A massive boulder smashed toward several of the ninjas. Their faces changed. "Retreat—"

Unfortunately, it was too late!

The enormous rock struck with tremendous force, sending them flying!

The three of them immediately spat out blood.

The elder's pressure was temporarily eased!

But those three did not seem to be dead yet?!

Everyone was stunned.

Who was it?

But when they looked toward where the rock had been thrown from... there was no one in sight!

"Leader?" Even Mujie froze for a moment, but he soon denied it himself and shook his head. "No! It wasn't the leader. If it were the leader... they'd probably already be dead!"

Although the leader smiled all day long, loved making grand claims, and bragged about making the Land of Grass the sixth great nation and surpassing the Land of Fire, he was not a softhearted person.

Back then, he had slaughtered every ninja faction in the Land of Grass that refused to submit. Only then did the chaos in the Land of Grass end, and the Land of Grass was rebuilt.

Back then, he had seen at a glance that the leader was no ordinary person, but a dragon among men, which was why he had followed the leader without hesitation!

It was absolutely not just because a kunai had been held to his throat!

"Damn! What am I do... What are you all doing? Run!"

As soon as he said that.

Everyone came to their senses and hurried to keep running.

However.

They were surrounded once again.

There was nothing they could do.

There were too many enemy ninjas, and every one of them looked formidable. Meanwhile, they had to flee while bringing along a group of ordinary people!

And this time...

No massive boulder appeared.

Mujie sighed and muttered, "This time, we're really finished. I forgot to remind Wu Wei and Yahiko to burn Teacher Ooki's new book for his old man!"

The remaining jonin of the Uzumaki Clan exchanged glances, their eyes filled with loss and melancholy.

They had thought that once they reached the Land of Grass, they would no longer have to wander. They had thought good days would come once they reached the Land of Grass, but...

It seemed they truly would not have to wander anymore.

They only hoped the Third Elder and the others were truly living as happily and peacefully as they had seen in that movie!

They stepped forward.

This time, they did not tell the ordinary clansmen to flee again.

These people...

Had no intention of letting them go!

But.

Where had they come from?!

"Surrender yourselves!" The mysterious ninja looked at them and said in an icy, emotionless tone, "I do not wish to kill you."

"..."

It looked like they intended to capture them alive.

But why?

For experiments?

Or for the Uzumaki Clan's physique and Sealing Jutsu?!

But none of that mattered now. Their hands swiftly formed seals. Even if they died, they would make these people see the Uzumaki Clan's strength when suddenly.

"Infinite Paper Sword!"

A calm yet familiar voice rang out. A man as shameless as Mujie immediately withdrew his ninjutsu and ducked back, joy appearing on his face. "Hurry! Hurry, everyone hide!"

As soon as he said that.

Everyone froze.

Before the Uzumaki Clan or the mysterious ninjas could react.

A figure appeared in the pitch-black sky, a pair of wings fluttering behind him. Countless paper swords flew out and shot toward the group of ninjas!

"The leader... has arrived!"

At the same time, in a dim area not far away, a figure walked down the street. His chest bounced with each step as he yawned, though his eyes carried a faint trace of gravity.

Who... was it?