Ambushed

Two days later, at four in the morning, Neji opened his eyes and came to the small forest alone to study Black Lightning.

[You performed chakra refinement, related insights have increased.]

[You practiced Lightning Release chakra nature transformation, related insights have increased.]

[You attempted to integrate Yang Release chakra into Lightning Release chakra, related insights have increased.]

[Congratulations, you have learned Lightning Release Secret Technique: Black Lightning Lv1 (1/500)]

As several messages popped up on the panel, Neji finally mastered the Black Lightning he had been longing for. Savage black currents coiled around his palm, and he could clearly feel that for the same amount of Lightning Release chakra gathered, Black Lightning's power was more than double that of ordinary currents.

This was the ultimate power of chakra nature transformation.

"Neji?"

Yugito, who had just woken up, saw Neji emerging from the small forest ahead of schedule and approached him with some surprise.

Neji had been getting up punctually at four in the morning these past few days, training for three hours, and then eating before setting off.

This time, he was more than an hour early.

Neji, confused by Yugito's stare, touched his face and asked, "Captain, what's wrong? Is there something dirty on my face?"

Yugito narrowed her eyes and said, "Did you break through in your training?"

Neji nodded at her words, "Hard work pays off. I've gained some insight."

"Congratulations!"

Yugito guessed that Neji's "little insight" was probably not simple.

It was likely the completion of a powerful ninjutsu.

As days passed, Neji used Shadow Clones to keep watch while his main body either practiced chakra or trained his Byakugan. The journey was not boring.

After the fifth day, the supply team finally left the Land of Lightning.

"Small countries are unstable, everyone be on high alert."

Yugito reminded them, standing on top of a wagon.

After the supply team entered the Land of Iron, Neji keenly noticed that the surrounding guards had become vigilant, and even the patrol teams had increased by two groups.

Neji dismissed his Shadow Clones and focused his main body on observing his surroundings.

Not long after, the supply team encountered the first wave of attacks.

From the hills on both sides, dozens of raggedly dressed bandits suddenly appeared, brandishing farming tools and rushing forward with a clamor, attacking the last supply wagon.

These bandits were disorganized and undisciplined, a mere rabble.

Before Yugito even made a move, they were dealt with by the patrolling guards.

Neji had observed the dozens of people gathered on the hillsides from afar with his Byakugan.

However, he couldn't detect any chakra reactions from them.

They were holding farming tools, and there were only a few dozen of them. Neji mistook them for farmers doing their work.

Therefore, after a brief warning to the guards, he didn't pay them much mind.

Who would have thought that such a small group would dare to attack the supply team.

They were probably starving!

After Takayama Tokugawa's explanation, Neji suddenly understood.

Those people were indeed bandits, but they were also farmers.

When merchant caravans passed by, they were bandits; when no caravans passed by, they were civilians.

After a brief rest, the supply team continued its journey.

Over the next few days, the supply team was attacked by six more waves of bandits.

Even though no casualties were sustained, the atmosphere within the team became increasingly somber.

Leaving the Land of Iron and entering the Land of Frost, the atmosphere grew even more tense.

The Land of Iron was a samurai nation that rejected ninjas, so the supply team had only encountered bandits. However, the situation in the Land of Frost was different from the previous Land of Waterfall.

In a hidden valley in the Land of Frost.

"I've confirmed it. The supply team has entered the Land of Frost. The escort is a two-person team from Kumogakure. Their strength is unknown."

A middle-aged ninja with a scar on his forehead reported respectfully.

"A two-person team?"

The rogue ninja from Iwagakure leading them raised an eyebrow.

A typical Genin team from the Five Great Nations consisted of one Chunin leading three Genin. A Jonin team, composed of graduates, had one Jonin leading three Chunin. A two-person team configuration meant at least a Chunin.

His mercenary team, totaling ten people, consisted of two Special Jonin, three Chunin, and five Genin.

This power is not to be underestimated.

"If it's two Chunin, the commission remains the same. If there's one Jonin, you'll have to pay more."

After a moment's thought, the rogue Iwagakure ninja spoke, turning to look at the employer beside him.

The employer was about the same age as Takayama Tokugawa and bore a six or seven-tenths resemblance to him. He wore round-rimmed glasses and looked refined.

"As long as the mission is completed, money is not an issue. But if it's not completed, you won't get a single cent."

"It's a deal."

The rogue Iwagakure ninja said with a grim expression.

Even so, he had already made up his mind. If the mission was completed, it would be good for both him and the employer. If it wasn't, he would kill the employer.

Either way, he wouldn't have made the trip for nothing. He was determined to get the money.

Killing an employer was a major taboo, a violation of the rules of the trade. It would make it difficult to continue working as a mercenary afterward.

But these rules were made for prominent figures.

He was an unknown nobody. If he killed the employer, made a hefty sum of money, and threw away his forehead protector, he could change his identity and go straight.

The supply convoy traveled through the Land of Frost for two days without incident. Unlike in the Land of Iron, where they were attacked frequently, everyone let their guard down.

On this day, the blood-red sunset hid behind the mountaintops, casting its afterglow upon the land.

Neji suddenly found Takayama Tokugawa and signaled him to rest on the spot.

It was still early, but Takayama Tokugawa dared not disobey the ninja lord, so he ordered the guards to set up camp.

Neji leaped onto the roof of the foremost carriage, spinning a kunai with his slender index finger, his gaze fixed on the surrounding woods.

The next instant.

Boom, boom, boom, boom!!!!

A series of explosions rang out.

"Explosive Tags! It's ninja!" Takayama Tokugawa's face changed drastically.

The Explosive Tags had limited power, and since they didn't detonate within the convoy, they didn't cause any casualties. However, the horses were startled and bolted, pulling the supply carts everywhere.

Without giving the guards much time to react, hundreds of bandits rushed out of the dense forest, charging forward with fierce momentum.

There were differences among bandits as well. Unlike the part-time bandits in the Land of Iron, this group of bandits in the Land of Frost were hardened individuals who had seen bloodshed. They fought the guards to a standstill.

Neji's eyes narrowed slightly. He released a Shadow Clone to protect Takayama Tokugawa, while his main body rushed out at extreme speed.

This was because he had discovered six ninja disguised as bandits, heading for a particular carriage.

The young woman and the boy were inside that carriage.

Judging by their chakra levels, there was one Jonin, two Chunin, and three Genin.

Black lightning crackled in his palm. Neji used the Body Flicker Technique to move rapidly, executing a sidestep to appear behind a Chunin.

"Lightning Release: Black Lightning."

A piercing, sharp thunderous roar erupted.

The Chunin felt a sharp pain in his chest, and then saw a hand wielding Black Lightning emerge from his chest.

"This brat?"

The rogue Iwagakure ninja's expression shifted slightly.

His comrade was a Chunin. While his combat power might not compare to Chunin from the great ninja villages, he was still a genuine Chunin.

And yet, he was instantly killed by the enemy.