Spy?

Hatake Sakumo ultimately accepted Sarutobi Toru's money, though he said he was only borrowing it for now and would definitely pay it back someday.

Sarutobi Toru did not mind and went straight back to conducting his economic survey.

By the time Sarutobi Toru had filled half a notebook with records and arrived at the city gate, the others were already waiting there.

Seeing that Sarutobi Toru had rejoined them, Danzo nodded and led the group out.

This time, they were much more careful. After all, they had the Daimyo's Commission in hand. If anything went wrong, it would undoubtedly leave the Daimyo with the impression that they were incompetent.

"But in truth, this has no practical significance. There's no benefit to it, and it would only draw Konoha's hatred. Konoha would suffer, at most, a loss of face. Even the other major nations would not do something so harmful to others and useless to themselves."

Mm, under normal circumstances, Sarutobi Toru's analysis was correct. But sometimes, abnormal situations arose.

In the dense forest, several bounty hunters were studying a map.

"Boss, who's so well-connected this time that they even marked out their travel route?"

"Hmph, probably someone from their own ninja village. Those big ninja villages are all like this—glamorous on the outside, but a complete mess within!"

"Are we really not going to run into trouble attacking Konoha ninja in the Land of Fire?"

"What trouble? It's just a Chunin squad. We kill them and run. By the time Konoha reacts, we'll already be out of the Land of Fire!"

"And it's 20 Million Ryo! With that money, we won't have to worry for the rest of our lives!"

At the mention of 20 Million Ryo, greed appeared in the eyes of the other four bounty ninja, and they immediately cast aside their lingering doubts.

In the dense forest, the four-man squad advanced. Suddenly, Hatake Sakumo paused and made a hand signal. Sarutobi Toru and Hiruko, following behind him, stopped at once as well.

"Careful—" Before Hatake Sakumo could finish, a boom rang out, and Shimura Danzō, who had been walking in front, was swallowed by a burst of fire.

"Teacher Danzo!" Hiruko cried out in anguish. Hatake Sakumo gripped his blade with a grave expression, while Sarutobi Toru looked strange, with a hint of amusement mixed in.

As the Explosive Tag detonated, more than a dozen Kunai and Shuriken flew out, all aimed at the most flustered Hiruko.

"Damn it!" Hiruko's initial panic had already cost him the initiative. Though he quickly reacted and dodged most of the Shuriken, two still sliced open wounds on him.

Five figures dressed as rogue ninja suddenly leaped out. Two held back Sarutobi Toru and Hatake Sakumo, while the other three lunged at Hiruko, clearly intending to eliminate the weakest one first.

"So I'm being underestimated," Sarutobi Toru said faintly. It was unclear who he was speaking to. Then his body flickered, and he vanished before the charging rogue ninja.

"What?!" The rogue ninja's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly stopped and raised his sword in guard.

"Too slow. You're already dead. Is there any point guarding now?" A cold voice came from behind him. The rogue ninja's heart trembled, and he hurriedly lunged several steps forward before daring to turn around.

The young ninja stood with his back to him, utterly indifferent to his guard. He was watching his besieged companion with great interest. The rogue ninja sighed in relief, but resentment and anger rose within him.

He had wanted to shout, "Don't underestimate me!" But when he opened his mouth, only a hissing sound came out.

The smell of blood suddenly surged up. Scarlet blood spurted from the artery in his neck. He tried to raise a hand to cover it, but his hand fell limply before it even reached halfway.

Before darkness swallowed him, he finally understood the boy's words. "So I really was already dead..."

On Hatake Sakumo's side, the rogue ninja who saw his companion instantly killed was thrown into a panic and immediately cut in two with a single slash. Sakumo carefully wiped his newly bought short blade with a white cloth. After sheathing it, he fixed a bright-eyed stare on Sarutobi Toru, his gaze filled with fighting spirit, completely ignoring Hiruko's dangerous situation.

However, the remaining three rogue ninja did not dare delay any longer. They threw down several smoke bombs and prepared to retreat.

"Don't think you can escape!" Hiruko, who had been suppressed the entire time, shouted angrily. Unfortunately, his spirit was willing but his body was weak. He felt utterly drained and could not catch up to them at all.

The instant the three fled, Hatake Sakumo, who had been watching from the sidelines, drew his blade, used the Body Flicker Technique, and flashed forward. One rogue ninja let out a miserable cry and was cut in two.

Sarutobi Toru curled his lip and casually threw two Shuriken, sending them straight at the backs of the other two.

One rogue ninja twisted aside and dodged the Shuriken. The other turned and deflected his Shuriken with a flick of his Kunai.

In an instant, Sarutobi Toru's figure flashed to the positions of the two Shuriken, then returned to where he had been.

The two fleeing rogue ninja continued leaping forward from momentum, then fell from the trees like birds struck by arrows. Pools of blood spread across the ground.

Hatake Sakumo's eyes narrowed as he stared at Sarutobi Toru in surprise. At the same time, a cry of shock came from the bushes. "The Flying Thunder God Technique!"

Sarutobi Toru said helplessly, "Teacher Danzo, that act was way too fake! Aside from Hiruko, neither Sakumo nor I fell for it!"

Hearing Danzo's voice, Hiruko, who was currently lying on the ground unable to move, felt utterly miserable. Was I the only one fooled? What happened to our Bonds? You liars!

Danzo snorted and walked out of the forest. "I merely wanted to see what the two of you were made of. Sakumo went through the same experience back then. As my disciples, naturally neither of you would be exempt!"

Still, he had never expected to force out even the Flying Thunder God Technique. Are Genin these days all this monstrous? Danzo thought to himself.

"Your performance truly exceeded my expectations. You're far better than that so-called genius over there!"

Hiruko: That's not me, I didn't say that, don't make things up! When did I become a genius? I've always been a nobody!

"As for you, Hiruko! All I can say is, fortunately, this is no longer wartime. Otherwise, you would already be dead!"

Sarutobi Toru took out an antidote and poured it into Hiruko's mouth. "Teacher Danzo, if you keep talking, Hiruko really will become a dead man!"

Only after the medicine entered his mouth did Hiruko feel like he had come back to life. "Damn it, you even used poison. How despicable!"

Then, under Danzo's deathly glare, he shrank back.

"Battles between ninja have only life and death. The dead have no need to care about honor!"

"Yes, Teacher! I was wrong this time. I'll correct it from now on!"

Sakumo, who was searching the enemy corpses, suddenly spoke. "Teacher, come look at this!"

As he spoke, Hatake Sakumo unfolded a map marked with their travel route in precise detail.

"Teacher," Hatake Sakumo said gravely, "I suspect there is a spy in Konoha! Otherwise, they could not possibly have obtained such an accurate map of our route! How many people knew your travel route, Teacher?"