Stripping

The campfire burned fiercely, its flames leaping as if tearing a hole in the dark curtain that enveloped the night.

"Ninja Tool Bag?"

Ingetsu shifted his gaze from the forest, focusing on the mission rewards.

Still, as mission rewards.

They always had something peculiar about them.

Take the Black Moon Ninja Sword, for instance. It could alter chakra's nature transformation without hand seals, infusing it with various chakra natures to achieve different attack effects.

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Then there was the Green Medicine. After drinking it, one could recover both spirit and body. Additionally, it granted the ability to control plants and enhanced one's strength.

Ninja Tool Bag...

Ingetsu found himself slightly intrigued by its unique properties.

The mission's condition was to lead a group and infiltrate a Tsuchigumo Clan merchant caravan, with no further objectives.

The mission was quite simple.

The Uchiha rogue ninja squad could disguise themselves and enter the mountains, hiding in the shadows to deal with any unknown dangers ahead.

Killing two birds with one stone.

Not far away, over a dozen figures emerged from the forest. Their shadows flickered in the faint moonlight as they swaggered towards the campfire.

Ingetsu, clad in his black robe and hood, seemed to blend into the night. He glanced towards the forest, his brow twitching slightly before relaxing.

Is this... a delivery service?

"Hello, excuse me, are you here alone?" The guard captain, Sōsen, approached Ingetsu, who was wearing the hooded black robe, and asked.

Around the campfire, only Ingetsu remained, along with half a roasted wild boar on a metal rack to the side. No one else was present.

Sōsen spoke politely, but his expression was nonchalant. He casually scanned the area around the campfire, his gaze eventually landing on the roasted boar.

Catching the scent, Sōsen instinctively swallowed. Soon, he noticed signs on the grass indicating someone had been sitting or lying there.

This aligned with his perception of refugees.

Refugees in the Ninja World were quite formidable.

They usually didn't travel alone.

"They'll be back soon."

Ingetsu replied calmly.

Sōsen chuckled and pointed towards the forest they had just passed, asking, "Do you know what happened in that forest?"

"No."

Seeing the other's indifferent response, Sōsen didn't get angry. He simply raised his right hand, waved, signaling his subordinates to take the meat, and said with a smile:

"Alright, alright, so your roasted meat, I..."

Before Sōsen's subordinates could act.

Ingetsu's voice, calm and steady, cut in:

"They're back."

"Who's back?" Sōsen asked, confused.

"Ah--ah--ah--"

Suddenly, a strange sound echoed from the forest, followed by muffled groans and gasps from the woods behind them.

Sōsen's smile froze, his face contorting in shock. He and his dozen or so guards turned around.

Everyone watched in horror as Hotaru, the young lady of the Tsuchigumo Clan, along with the Great Elder, other clan members, and the entire guard detail, were being driven towards them by over ten individuals wielding Ninja Swords.

Many guards within the caravan groaned in pain, clearly having just been dealt a heavy blow.

"This..."

Sōsen immediately thought of a possibility. In the mere few minutes they had left the forest.

A battle had erupted within.

Their caravan of fifty people hadn't even lasted until their return before these individuals took control.

It's over!

This was Sōsen's first thought. In the next moment, all members of the caravan were brought to the campfire.

Sōsen then turned around in terror, looking at the black-robed figure who had faced away from them the entire time.

"Captain Sōsen, save us!"

Hotaru was being grabbed by the arm by a baby-faced individual, a Ninja Sword held at her neck as she was roughly pushed forward.

The inexperienced young girl was utterly terrified.

As Hotaru cried out.

The caravan members seemed to see hope, and their gazes turned to the man who had previously claimed to be Orochimaru's equal.

"Save us, Captain Sōsen!"

"Captain Sōsen, you're the man who can fight S-Rank Rogue Ninja Orochimaru to a draw!"

"Captain Sōsen, show them what you've got!"

Hope flickered in the eyes of the caravan members.

They knew very well that they had encountered powerful rogue ninja or bandits right at their doorstep.

Just moments ago, the guards and the Tsuchigumo Clan members had barely exchanged a glance with these attackers before being rendered completely incapable of fighting.

Under these circumstances.

It seemed only this guard captain, who had once fought Orochimaru to a draw, could save their lives.

Thus, everyone, like a drowning person, desperately reached out for the nearest straw, regardless of how awkward the grasp might be.

"Quiet, quiet!"

Sōsen's heart was a complex mix of emotions. Amidst the goading and flattery, his cheeks burned as he shouted twice at the top of his lungs.

"Captain Sōsen is preparing to act, everyone be quiet, we'll be saved soon!"

Seeing Sōsen preparing to make his move, the caravan members became filled with anticipation and immediately fell silent.

With this captain making a move.

They were sure to be saved!

Under a multitude of expectant gazes, Sōsen took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and slowly walked towards Ingetsu.

Perhaps... he could talk to their leader.

Spend a little money.

And still save these people's lives. He could only hope they were the type to rob for money but not kill.

"Damn it!!"

Sōsen muttered as he walked, unable to comprehend how such a powerful group had appeared in Mount Katsuragi!

Only when he reached the side of the black-robed man and saw the stranger's familiar yet unfamiliar profile under the black hood.

"It's... you!!!"

Sōsen's pupils widened abruptly, his scalp tingled, and his whole body trembled.

With trembling hands, he pulled out a newspaper from his pocket and used the campfire to compare the photo on the wanted poster with the person before him.

After a long while, Sōsen's face turned ashen as he accepted reality. He now regretted his own loose tongue.

He had only mentioned the person in passing on the road, and now this S-Rank Rogue Ninja had actually appeared in Mount Katsuragi!!

"What happened to our barbecue?"

Ingetsu glanced at him and asked calmly.

Sōsen's gaze was vacant, his mouth twitched:

"Your... barbecue, I think it's very good. Look, the skin is crispy but not burnt, the fat is fragrant but not greasy..."

Ingetsu interrupted his rambling and asked, "You really fought Orochimaru to a draw?"

"I was bragging."

"Alright, hands behind your head, squat down here."

Ingetsu slowly stood up, pulled down his hood, his face hidden in shadow, and turned to face the caravan of the Tsuchigumo Clan.

"Got it!"

Sōsen didn't hesitate. He raised his hands high, then clasped them behind his head, and slowly squatted down.

Seeing that the other party was so agreeable.

Sōsen felt a sense of relief.

"What happened?"

This scene stunned the caravan members.

Their proud guard captain... had his hands behind his head and was squatting???

This wasn't the start they expected!

"Captain Sōsen..."

Hotaru's pupils widened, filled with disbelief. She stood there dumbfounded, something within her collapsing and shattering.

"I knew this guy was unreliable!"

The Great Elder of the Tsuchigumo Clan was furious, his face filled with disdain. He was so disgusted he almost spat at Sōsen.

"Captain Sōsen, what are you doing? Where's the courage you showed when facing Orochimaru?"

A member of the Tsuchigumo Clan asked, unwilling to give up.

Sōsen replied irritably:

"What do you know? Bravely surrendering is also a form of courage!"

"You..."

The Tsuchigumo Clan members and the guards were stunned, thinking to themselves, Is this guy for real?

The Uchiha squad, including Kurenai Yuhi, Nonō, and others, had all disguised themselves using transformation jutsu.

Before the merchant caravan reached the plains, they were awakened by Ingetsu and lay in wait in the forest, seizing the opportunity. Within minutes, they had control of the caravan.

"Big brother, I caught a pretty girl. Looks like she's of age."

Tamao pushed Hotaru forward.

Hotaru stared fearfully at the man in the black robe.

Ingetsu merely glanced at her, his expression shifting slightly. He then looked at Uchiha Mikoto, who was closest, and said indifferently, "Come here and take off her clothes!"

The scenes with the Shin three were cut. No need to be stubborn, let's write Naruto properly.