Wood Release Acquired

"...Lin Cheng! Do you really have to go this far? This is a four-person mission!"

After a moment of silence, Kakashi's mouth twitched, and he complained.

"I don't like surprises! Better to crush them outright!"

Shrugging, Lin Cheng carried the other man toward the border.

"Let's go! The second half of the mission is to take him back, dead or alive, isn't it?"

"...Tenzō! Let's go!"

"Oh—oh!"

Coming back to his senses, Tenzō hurried to catch up with the other three.

The group then crossed the border between the two countries and headed into the Land of Wind.

After traveling all day, night fell!

Looking around at the desolate landscape, Kakashi nodded to Tenzō.

Tenzō immediately understood what Kakashi meant.

"Wood Release: Four-Pillar Prison Technique!"

As Tenzō completed the jutsu, a house suddenly appeared beneath their feet, which had been nothing but yellow sand moments before.

Only a small section of wall showed above the sand; the rest was buried beneath it.

"Everyone, come in and rest!"

After greeting them, Tenzō opened the door and went inside first.

Lin Cheng and the other two followed close behind, rushing in and shutting the door.

"I have to say, Tenzō's jutsu is really convenient!"

Sitting on the wooden floor, Lin Cheng nodded in admiration.

"Yeah! Whenever Tenzō and I go on a mission together, we always get to rest in comfort!"

Kakashi nodded in agreement.

"That's nothing! Lin Cheng is the one who really impresses me!

The mission target was so troublesome, but Lin Cheng killed him in an instant!"

Tenzō shook his head. His taciturn nature made it clear that he envied Lin Cheng's strength even more.

Meanwhile, Kimimaro, who had remained silent, stuck out his tongue inwardly.

He knew that his brother had surely copied Tenzō's jutsu, too.

Thinking of how his brother had learned so many jutsu but couldn't use them because of his concerns, Kimimaro felt sorry for Lin Cheng.

Sigh... Where could you find a younger brother who's so considerate of his older brother? I'm the best!

The night passed without incident. After breakfast at dawn, the four set off again, continuing their journey deeper into the Land of Wind.

They traveled through the sandstorms for nearly seven days before finally nearing the Land of Wind's ninja village—

Sunagakure!

Word had arrived that the mission team from their allied nation, Konoha, was returning with the body of a missing-nin from the village.

Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage at the time, actually left the village personally to greet them!

"Greetings, Lord Kazekage!"

"Everyone from Konoha, thanks for your hard work! You managed to capture one of our village's missing-nin alive and bring him back.

All four of you must be elite ninja from Konoha!

Since we have some time, how about a spar?"

"Uh... Lord Kazekage, our mission is complete, so we can't stay. As for sparring, we'll have to decline."

Sensing that something was wrong, Kakashi immediately refused without hesitation.

"That distinctive silver-gray hair of yours reminds me of someone from your village—Sakumo Hatake!

I imagine you must be related to him!"

"Thank you for the praise, Lord Fourth Kazekage! You're right—he was my father. But he passed away many years ago!

There's no need to bring him up.

Besides, our mission is complete, so we should be going!"

Hearing Kakashi's reluctance, a fleeting trace of murderous intent flashed in the Fourth Kazekage Rasa's eyes.

"Now that your mission is complete, there's no harm in staying a little longer!

Surely it isn't asking too much for me to see what a descendant of Sakumo Hatake can do in a spar?

If you're worried that I, Rasa, will bully you, the four of you can fight me together!

I'm sure Konoha's ninja aren't cowards who fear death! Besides, it's only a spar!"

Everything Rasa said made it seem as though he didn't take Konoha seriously.