Iwagakure Shinobi Attack!

The day Team 11 gathered again, their squad leader, Kurama Heiji, brought good news.

The bandit corpses they had brought back from their previous mission had been confirmed as Sunagakure Chunin. They had gathered the bandit gang under orders from Sunagakure, infiltrating the Land of Fire to cause destruction. Besides him, many other Sand Shinobi had also infiltrated the Land of Fire on similar missions. Based on intelligence gleaned from the corpses, several accomplices had already been identified, and assault teams and Anbu had been dispatched to eliminate and investigate them.

Since Team 11's mission had involved Chunin, and the corpses they brought back contained important intelligence that would help Konoha pull out Sunagakure's spies, the mission had been rated as a B-rank Mission.

"Wow! So our very first mission was actually a B-rank Mission!" Inuzuka Yoru was stunned by the sudden surprise. He and little Ranmaru excitedly started dancing.

Jiogan and Kurama Feiyun were also delighted. Completing a B-rank Mission on their very first mission was the kind of record not just anyone could achieve.

"Next, I'll explain our second mission. We are to escort a merchant from the Land of Rice and his caravan back to the Land of Hot Water. The client is already waiting for us at the Konoha Gate. Let's get moving. Don't keep him waiting too long." After explaining the mission, Kurama Heiji led the three of them out of the Mission Hall and toward the gate.

The Land of Rice lay north of the Land of Fire and bordered it. There was no shinobi village within the country. Otogakure, which Orochimaru would establish in the Land of Rice, was still something that would happen nearly Fifty years after Konoha's founding.

After meeting up with the caravan at the gate and submitting the mission authorization to the guards at the Konoha Gate, they set out with the caravan toward the North of Konoha.

Because they were escorting a caravan this time, they would be traveling by carriage the entire way and mostly taking main roads, so the mission would take longer.

The difficult part of the mission would be the bandits, rogue ninja, and Ronin they might encounter along the way.

The closer they got to the border, the more chaotic things became. There were several small countries north of the Land of Fire, and the region was also a battleground for the great nations. Ordinary merchants who did not hire ninja escorts usually lost both their money and their lives.

Not long after leaving Konoha, Kurama Heiji gathered the three of them to discuss their operational plan.

"Jiogan, we don't need to rush this mission, and it will take quite a while. Don't let your guard down. Escort missions have never stayed peaceful from beginning to end." Kurama Heiji warned.

"Mm, I understand, Heiji-sensei. Yoru, you and Ranmaru will take the front of the convoy. Keep sensing the area around the caravan at all times. Sound the alarm immediately if you find anything!" Jiogan nodded and spoke to Inuzuka Yoru.

"I'm the strongest and the fastest, so I'll stay at the very rear of the caravan to guard against attacks and encirclement from behind. Heiji-sensei and Feiyun will hide among the caravan and remain in step with it at all times," Jiogan continued.

Kurama Heiji nodded, indicating that they would follow Jiogan's plan. Jiogan and Inuzuka Yoru immediately flashed into position. Their mission had officially begun!

Sure enough, burdened by the carriages and goods, the caravan moved very slowly. By Jiogan's calculations, even if nothing happened along the way, it would still take five days to escort the caravan to its destination in the Land of Rice.

Still, the journey would not be boring. On the second day, they encountered bandits and Ronin attempting a robbery, but Inuzuka Yoru handled them all by himself.

On the fourth day, when they were nearing the border between Konoha and the Land of Rice, they encountered a small scattered unit of Iwagakure Shinobi harassing Konoha's border: two Chunin and three Genin.

Having penetrated deep into Konoha's rear and run short on supplies, the Iwagakure Shinobi had set their sights on the goods being escorted by Team 11.

The instant Inuzuka Yoru caught the scent of danger, he sounded the alarm!

Seeing that someone had raised the alarm and that the caravan was closing ranks, the leader of the Iwagakure Shinobi immediately realized there was a Sensor Ninja among them. He promptly ordered an attack on the caravan to seize its supplies!

When Jiogan saw Inuzuka Yoru's warning, he immediately rushed over. Inuzuka Yoru said, "There are five of them. They're all ninja, and two are Chunin!"

Jiogan was startled as well. He had not expected such a formidable group of robbers. They had probably run into a small enemy unit.

Because he often spoke with Might Duy, Jiogan knew the situation along the Land of Fire's border regions well. He understood that they had encountered an enemy harassment unit.

"Don't overthink it. Prepare for battle immediately!" Kurama Heiji's voice rang out. He knew Team 11 would have a hard time dealing with this enemy harassment squad. He would have to act personally this time, or their side would suffer severe losses and casualties.

The moment he finished speaking, a dense barrage of stones shot out of the forest toward the caravan. Jiogan immediately used Water Wall, blocking every stone.

After that wave of attacks, the five attackers revealed themselves!

"Iwagakure Shinobi!" Jiogan and the others immediately identified their opponents.

"I didn't expect such a large caravan to be escorted by a bunch of brats. Kids, running into us means your lives are short!" the leading Iwagakure Chunin snarled.

But as soon as he finished speaking, a voice called out, "Ninja Art: Hell Viewing Technique!" The five Iwagakure Shinobi instantly fell into an illusion. Kurama Heiji, an Elite Jonin, had personally taken action.

The moment it succeeded, Jiogan reacted quickly. Several Kunai and shuriken flew toward the Iwagakure Shinobi. The leading Iwagakure Shinobi reacted quickly despite being caught in the illusion, immediately biting his tongue to break free. However, a Kunai still struck him. He swiftly retreated, while the other four were not so fortunate and were cut down by Jiogan!

Seeing four of his men wiped out in a single exchange and himself injured, the leading Iwagakure Shinobi immediately realized his opponents were dangerous. He decisively turned and fled.

Jiogan immediately gave chase!

"Feiyun, Yoru, the two of you stay behind and protect the caravan. Keep watch here. Jiogan and I will pursue the enemy!" Kurama Heiji instructed Kurama Feiyun and Inuzuka Yoru.

"Yes, Heiji-sensei!" The two nodded.

The Iwagakure Shinobi had been deeply stabbed by a Kunai. Though he was a Chunin, his speed had been affected. Jiogan's Taijutsu Skill was high, and he quickly caught up. He threw several Kunai in succession, sealing off the Iwagakure Shinobi's route and forcing him to stop and face him.

"Brat, you're courting death!" Seeing that he could not escape, the Iwagakure Shinobi immediately used Earth Release: Earth Spear. Stone spears thrust out from the ground, and Jiogan hurriedly dodged aside.

At the same time, he used Water Release: Water Gun. A Water Ball containing Chakra shot toward the Iwagakure Shinobi. The Iwagakure Shinobi dodged aside as well, then threw a Kunai wrapped with an Explosive Tag at Jiogan!

Jiogan immediately used Water Wall. The Kunai embedded itself in the Water Wall, then exploded with a boom, blasting the wall into vapor and briefly obscuring their vision.

Seeing that his attack had failed, the Iwagakure Shinobi tried to turn and flee again. Jiogan immediately threw several more shuriken. This time, they struck the Iwagakure Shinobi in the back. He cried out miserably and fell.

Seeing that he had succeeded, Jiogan wanted to flash over to the corpse. But he suddenly felt a sense of danger and forcibly halted his steps. Sensing something, Jiogan used Water Release: Water Gun again. This time, the Water Gun struck the Iwagakure Shinobi's body dead on, but the body instantly turned into chunks of earth and stone!

So that's where that inexplicable sense of danger came from! He had used an Earth Clone long ago and was waiting to ambush me! Jiogan was secretly alarmed. As expected of a Chunin chosen for a harassment unit. He was battle-hardened and experienced!