Ambushed by Jūzō Biwa!

Sen's smile stretched so wide it nearly reached his ears.

I can't see it, but my system definitely can!

Though he thought this, he said aloud, "Of course it's because Minato got stronger! I'm happy for him! It feels a bit like our Uchiha clan's Sharingan."

Jiraiya didn't reply. His heart was entirely focused on Minato, his precious disciple.

He walked forward, helped Minato up, and said with satisfaction, "Minato, from today onward, practice this state more. If your body can maintain this state for a long time, you'll have the chance to learn that jutsu invented by the Second Hokage."

He looked at Minato, more and more pleased the longer he looked.

Gifted, pure-hearted, he was simply the perfect candidate for a disciple!

Much better than someone who, even when grilling barbecue, was thinking about learning a few tricks from Orochimaru!

"His reaction is so fast, how can he still not dodge my punch?" Kushina walked forward, asking in confusion.

Jiraiya and Minato both wore expressions of utter resignation.

Sen chuckled. Ah, Minato, you sacrifice too much for team harmony.

Jiraiya also looked helpless and replied, "Kushina, you should thank Minato more..."

Just then, an Anbu ninja wearing a mask landed silently before them.

"Jiraiya-senpai, there's a new mission."

Jiraiya took the scroll and his expression instantly turned grave as he read it.

"Do you remember the Lookout Island we landed on last time?"

The three nodded, and Sen asked, "Are we counter-attacking?"

Jiraiya shook his head and pointed to a smaller island next to Lookout Island on the map. "Not yet. It's this subsidiary island that sent back the intel. It said 'everything is normal.'"

"Isn't normal a good thing? Why do we need to confirm?" Minato was the first to notice the contradiction.

Jiraiya explained, "Normally, during peacetime, only one or two pieces of intel would be sent back on time. But we've already entered a state of war, so the 'sleeper agents' in each outpost have awakened."

Seeing the confusion on their faces, Jiraiya continued, "These sleeper agents contact Anbu on a one-way channel to confirm the authenticity of intel. These agents haven't sent back any intel for several days, so..."

Jiraiya sighed. "This outpost has actually already fallen to the enemy. The real purpose of this mission is to ascertain the enemy's numbers and scale, to facilitate subsequent combat strategies."

"I see," Kushina nodded. "It seems what we learned in school was truly just the tip of the iceberg."

Jiraiya glanced at the sky. "In that case, everyone go back and rest. We depart precisely six hours from now, at midnight."

He watched as Sen and the others took calming medicine, then turned and walked towards the logistics department, his brow furrowed even tighter.

This kind of reconnaissance mission theoretically shouldn't fall to their team, especially since Sen hadn't even awakened his Sharingan. Orochimaru knew this intel, so why make this arrangement?

Night fell, and moonlight cast its glow upon the undulating sea.

Four figures sprinted across the water's surface as if it were solid ground.

"I'll say it again!" Jiraiya, leading the way, turned back to admonish them. "This is a stealth infiltration, not a frontal assault! Once you've confirmed the intel, return the way you came immediately! The distance between the two islands is 15 kilometers. If your chakra runs low, eat the Soldier Pills we gave you!"

Jiraiya looked at the still somewhat groggy group and shouted, "Kushina, what's the plan if we're discovered? Repeat it!"

Kushina immediately perked up. "If we're discovered, we can escape towards Lookout Island. Although it's over 30 nautical miles away, there are still plenty of uninhabited islands along the way to rest.

In short, execute the mission, and never give up hope, no matter what!"

Jiraiya turned back. If Kushina could answer correctly, then the remaining two would have no problem.

"Very good!"

Several tens of minutes later, the target island was visible in the distance.

The island was no more than half a square kilometer in area. Lights were sweeping across it, and occasionally two ninja could be seen patrolling.

The group, having surfaced from their underwater infiltration, floated on the water. Minato said, "It's still over a hundred meters. Let's just dive across. According to the plan, we'll land on the cliff on the northwest side."

Just as he was about to dive, Jiraiya grabbed him.

Minato was about to ask why when he saw over a dozen Mist Ninja standing on the water's surface, their weapons glinting in the moonlight.

It was a trap!

"Fall back!" Jiraiya immediately ordered.

His combat experience far surpassed theirs. Just from a single glance, he knew there were at least four Chunin and nine Genin present, which meant there was definitely a Jonin here as well!

As they prepared to retreat, huge splashes erupted from the sea behind them, and three ninja had cut off their escape route!

Leading them was Jūzō Biwa, carrying the Kubikiribōchō on his back.

He slung the greatsword over his shoulder, its blade dripping seawater, a mocking smile on his face. "Just as the intel said. White-haired Jiraiya, black-haired Uchiha Sen, and... two insignificant characters."

The four immediately formed a defensive circle, back to back.

They all felt a sense of unease. After all, they were on the sea, and the four of them were at a disadvantage.

"How did you know our intel!" Jiraiya exclaimed, both shocked and furious.

Suikazan Fuguki escaped. It wasn't strange that his own intel was leaked, but for the enemy to know the names of Sen and the others!

"Oh, that? Shimura Danzō told us," Jūzō Biwa said with a smile, revealing a secret that would cause a storm in Konoha. "I never expected a Uchiha brat, about my age, to be worth five million Ryo.

My mission is to bring back Uchiha Sen's head.

As for the three of you, I'll cut off your legs and send you back to Konoha. You'll have plenty of time to investigate then."

"What do you mean?! Shimura Danzō is one of Konoha's own, how could he possibly collude with you people? Stop trying to deceive us!" Jiraiya questioned loudly.

"Whether it's deceit or not, you'll find out when you're crawling back to him with your legs cut off, won't you?" Jūzō Biwa said, then immediately waved his hand to give an order, "Attack!"

"Don't let him deceive your minds!" Minato shouted as a warning.

Jiraiya immediately steadied his mind, quickly confirming Sen was unaffected, and roared, "Use the C-Rank Tactic!"

The four backed-to-back, forming hand seals simultaneously!

Jiraiya: "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

Minato: "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

Sen: "Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Kushina: "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

The combined ninjutsu, a fusion of Fire Style and Wind Style, erupted on the sea's surface. The flames and wind, which had been acting independently, seemed to come alive. The fire licked greedily at the oxygen provided by the wind, while the wind whipped the flames, spreading them wildly in all directions.

In an instant, a massive sea of fire spanning dozens of meters took shape above the waves. The fiery waves rolled and roared, dyeing the moonlight a scorching golden-red, even burning the air itself, as if threatening to boil the very seawater in the area.

Seeing this, Jūzō Biwa's pupils contracted, and he immediately shouted, "This is a combined ninjutsu! Everyone, dive underwater to take cover!"