Something Happened

Trees blurred past as they crested a hill, the destination drawing near.

Kakashi was the first to stop at a point one kilometer from their objective.

He raised a hand to signal the others to halt, pulled a map from his pack, scanned it, and said, "This is it. There is a stronghold ahead. My mission is to survey a one-kilometer radius starting from this point."

"Understood. What exactly are we doing?" Yang Xing asked, nodding first.

"The mission is simple: survey the environment and water sources. Most importantly, detect chakra signatures." Kakashi pulled several small scrolls from his tunic. "These scrolls can detect chakra fluctuations. Place them on the ground; if there is any chakra release within a 300-meter radius over the next 24 hours, the scrolls will change. Be sure to clear them later. Also, use these small vials to collect water samples. Well, I'll handle the water collection; you three focus on checking for chakra signatures."

"I understand." Yang Xing and the others nodded, each taking a scroll.

"Also, to facilitate our movement," Kakashi continued earnestly once everyone had secured their items, "we will temporarily split up. Yang Xing, take the east; Obito, the west; Rin, the south; and I will head to the north. We will regroup in half an hour in front of the largest tree ahead. Yes, that bare, withered tree."

The group nodded again and, without hesitation, dispersed at the same moment.

They transformed into four streaks of light, each heading toward their assigned survey sector.

Running through the woods, Yang Xing kept his scroll open, searching while maintaining a cautious watch.

As the minutes ticked by, the surroundings remained unnaturally quiet, which soon made Yang Xing feel a bit bored. He hadn't seen a single soul along the way, not even a bandit; it was truly dull.

No wonder it was only a B-rank mission; it was unsettlingly simple.

Though he wasn't particularly interested, Yang Xing still performed his survey with great care.

The survey was straightforward, and with no abnormalities to report, the half-hour passed by in a flash.

"Not a single anomaly. Time to head back." Glancing around, he found not even a rustle of wind. The area was eerily quiet. Without further thought, Yang Xing headed toward the rendezvous point.

His pace wasn't particularly fast, and it was clear he was the last to arrive.

Wait, it seemed someone was missing.

As he landed, Yang Xing realized only Kakashi and Obito were there.

Seeing Yang Xing land, Kakashi furrowed his brows and stepped forward to ask, "Have you seen Rin?"

"No. What's wrong? Rin hasn't returned yet?"

"Yes, there's been a complication. I can no longer sense Rin's chakra signature."

"You're kidding?" Frowning, Yang Xing looked toward the southern direction. With a flick of his toes against a branch, he dashed out without a second thought.

"Wait, Yang Xing! Don't be so impulsive. Let's consider a tactical plan first."

"Hey, you two, wait for me!"

In a patch of tall grass, a group of people stood or leaned, watching a young girl tied up like a rice dumpling nearby.

"What should we do with this brat?"

"I think we should just finish her off." A man dressed in a windbreaker gently raised his hand, clenching it into a fist, his entire body radiating killing intent.

The man was about to move, but before he could strike, he was stopped by someone leaning against a tree nearby: "Hold on. I saw other people following this brat. Let's wait until we catch those three, then finish them all at once."

"Fair enough. This operation is classified; we can't let those people from Konoha find out." The man in the windbreaker lowered his hand, frowning slightly, his tone irritated: "Still, damn it, how did these guys end up here? And this little girl... she looks like a Konoha ninja. Could it be they knew we were planning an ambush from this direction?"

"Impossible. It must be a coincidence. Regardless, they're just a few brats."

"True."

Hidden in the grass, Yang Xing, Kakashi, and Obito watched the scene ahead, holding their breath and concealing their presence.

Seeing the group dressed as ninjas from another land, even Yang Xing's brows knit tightly together.

Although he didn't know which nation these five ninjas belonged to, their chakra signatures and the dangerous aura they exuded suggested this group was not to be trifled with. However, since Rin Nohara was being held captive by them, they had no choice but to engage.

Just as Yang Xing was deep in thought, he didn't expect someone to move faster than him.

"You bastards, let Rin go!" The first to act was, of course, that idiot Obito. He raised a hand and charged forward without a second thought, his eyes red with urgency, completely ignoring the situation.

"That idiot!" Kakashi gritted his teeth, preparing to move at any moment, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on two of the ninjas nearby—it appeared those two were the strongest of the bunch.

"A brat delivered himself to our doorstep, and he's charging in so recklessly? You're looking for death." The ninja blocking Obito's path was a genin who reached out with one hand, intending to grab him.

Clearly, as a member of the Uchiha clan, his movements were quite agile.

He shifted his body just as the opponent's hand grazed him, flying through the air and landing a short distance away. The moment his feet touched the ground, Obito immediately began weaving hand signs.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

BOOM!

The power of the fireball was impressive, and the timing of the attack was well-executed. At the very least, the area within several meters where the five men stood was scorched to earth, and the front was filled with rolling smoke.

It proved that Obito's strength was not to be underestimated.

"See that, you scum? Dare to bully... wait, why? No, you guys... you bastards!" The joy on Obito's face vanished, replaced by a look of horror.

Even Kakashi and Yang Xing, watching from a distance, had their expressions shift.

The two exchanged a glance, looked back at the front, and couldn't help but mutter: "Land of Earth."

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"

A towering wall of earth rose from the flat ground, intercepting Obito's Fire Style directly; the sheer height and width of the wall were truly shocking.

"At least a Chunin—no, not an ordinary Chunin level." Kakashi gritted his teeth, his voice trembling slightly: "A Special Chunin!"

"Kid, since you've seen our ninjutsu, we can't just let you go back like this." It was clear there were two Special Chunin and three Special Genin here; the five of them moved with a swiftness that showed they were well-trained.

In almost an instant, they located Yang Xing and Kakashi, surrounding them completely.

"Stop hiding. Surrender obediently, and you might just avoid some pain."

"You guys, why are people from the Land of Earth here? This is the vicinity of Konoha." Gritting his teeth while facing two Special Chunin and two Genin, sweat began to bead on Kakashi's forehead.

The few ninjas from the Land of Earth clearly had no intention of talking; one of them shifted his gaze and, without a word, launched a direct attack.

Bang!

The long-haired ninja smashed his fist into the ground, causing gravel to explode outward, forcing Yang Xing and Kakashi to leap away to dodge. As they jumped, they barely managed to raise their hands to shield their faces from the flying debris.

The sensation of the gravel striking their arms was far from pleasant, which only proved that these individuals were indeed formidable.

The fact that they possessed such immense strength—and that it wasn't just one person—immediately put Yang Xing on high alert.

It was obvious that the ninjas knew Kakashi was the leader, as the two Special Chunin went straight for him.