Rogue Ninja Interception

Ten minutes later, when Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki returned to the rendezvous point, drenched in sweat after searching the east district, this was the scene that greeted them:

Uchiha Ryūha was leaning against the wall, panting, with a bamboo cage strapped to his back.

His hair was slightly disheveled, his clothes were dusted with grime, and the white cat inside the cage was scratching at the bars with visible impatience.

"I... I found it..." Ryūha said "laboriously," pointing toward the cage.

Haruno Kazuya froze for a moment before rushing over to confirm. "It really is Tama! Ryūha-kun, you're amazing! How did you find it?"

"Just lucky... It was hiding behind a woodpile in a courtyard over there. It took quite a bit of effort to corner it..." Ryūha said with a "wry smile."

Since he had already garnered the special attention of the Third Hokage, he might as well play the part of a normal Konoha genius.

Fujiwara Itsuki gave a thumbs-up in admiration. "That's impressive! We searched for ages and didn't even see a single hair."

At this moment, Matsumoto Ryūichi approached from the other side. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes when he saw the cat in the cage, but it was quickly replaced by cold indifference.

"Twenty minutes spent; the efficiency is mediocre," he critiqued. "Furthermore, looking this disheveled, there must have been issues with your capture process. Uchiha Ryūha, write a report on the capture process when we return, detailing your mistakes and shortcomings."

"Yes, teacher." Ryūha lowered his head in "shame."

"Mission complete, return to the village." Matsumoto Ryūichi turned, paused for a moment, and added, "We aren't taking the original route. We'll detour through the Black Pine Forest to the north. The terrain there is complex and wild beasts occasionally appear; it will be perfect for training your wilderness navigation skills and vigilance."

Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki, suspecting nothing, immediately agreed.

Ryūha picked up the cage and followed at the rear, his gaze flickering behind his lenses.

Black Pine Forest...

That was a notorious lawless zone on the border of the Land of Fire, known for its treacherous terrain and frequent sightings of rogue ninja and bandits.

A standard D-rank mission return route would never detour through such a place.

What was Matsumoto Ryūichi planning?

A test? Or...

Ryūha glanced at Matsumoto Ryūichi's back.

The Jonin's Chakra flow was steady, his heartbeat was normal; it seemed he really was just "training them while they were at it."

However, the clasp on his kunai pouch had been undone at some point.

Black Pine Forest.

Towering ancient trees blocked out the sunlight, leaving the forest dim. A thick layer of fallen leaves covered the ground, making their footsteps soft and silent.

The occasional caw of a crow only added to the eerie atmosphere.

"Watch your footing, maintain a triangular formation, five meters apart," Matsumoto Ryūichi commanded in a low voice.

"Kazuya, front left; Itsuki, front right; Ryūha, center rear. Be ready to respond to any sudden situations at all times."

"Yes!"

Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki were visibly tense, their hands gripping their kunai as their eyes scanned the surroundings.

Ryūha carried the cat cage, walking with an air of nonchalance, but his Reiatsu perception had already spread outward.

Fifty meters away, behind a tree on the left, a heartbeat quickened.

Thirty meters, in the bushes to the front right, breathing was being suppressed.

Twenty meters, in the canopy overhead, there was a metallic glint.

Three... no, four.

Ryūha pushed up his glasses, his pace remaining steady.

Matsumoto Ryūichi walked at the very front, his spine taut.

He had noticed it too.

Just then—

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Several sounds of projectiles cutting through the air erupted from three directions simultaneously!

The poison-tipped kunai gleamed with a ghostly blue light in the dim forest, their angles vicious as they aimed directly for the hearts, necks, and thighs of Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki!

"Watch out!" Matsumoto Ryūichi barked, spinning instantly to flick out three shuriken.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The shuriken precisely deflected the kunai aimed at his two disciples.

But a fourth kunai shot toward Fujiwara Itsuki's ribs from an incredibly hidden angle, and Matsumoto Ryūichi was already too far away to intervene!

"Itsuki!" Haruno Kazuya screamed in terror.

Fujiwara Itsuki could not react in time; he could only watch helplessly as that cold glint magnified before his eyes.

Cling.

A soft sound rang out.

That kunai was struck away by another just three inches from Fujiwara Itsuki's ribs, pinning itself into the trunk of a nearby tree.

Cold sweat instantly soaked Fujiwara Itsuki's back, and his legs went weak, nearly causing him to collapse.

Matsumoto Ryūichi whipped his head around to look at Uchiha Ryūha.

Uchiha Ryūha maintained his throwing posture, his expression calm.

"Nice reaction." Matsumoto Ryūichi gave Uchiha Ryūha a deep look before shouting sharply, "Enemy attack! Back-to-back formation!"

The three of them immediately formed a triangular perimeter, shielding Uchiha Ryūha in the center—after all, he was still carrying the cat cage.

"Heh, heh, heh, little brats from Konoha, and with a Jonin leading the way?"

A sinister, chilling laugh echoed from the forest.

Four figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding Team Seven in a fan formation.

They wore tattered ninja armor, and their forehead protectors all bore deep scratches—the mark of rogue ninjas.

The leader was a burly, one-eyed man with a hideous scar across his face, a sight that made Matsumoto Ryūichi knit his brows tightly.

He had seen this man on a wanted poster at the black market; it was Mikami Guiyu from Amegakure, who had possessed the strength of an elite Chunin even before he defected.

It would be difficult to win quickly this time; in his estimation, the strongest among his team was barely at a Chunin level.

How did they run into an elite Chunin?

As for the other three, they were all Genin, their eyes fierce, gripping blood-stained kunai and katanas.

"We're in luck," Mikami Guiyu licked his lips. "Kill you lot, and your gear and money will be ours. Oh, and that little cat, it looks quite valuable."

"Mikami Guiyu..." Matsumoto Ryūichi's expression turned grave.

"Kazuya, Itsuki, protect yourselves and Uchiha Ryūha. I'll handle the leader; you two hold off the other three. Once I finish him, I'll come to support you. Remember, focus on stalling—do not engage head-on!"

"Understood!" Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki's voices trembled, but they gritted their teeth and assumed combat stances.

"Attack!"

Mikami Guiyu let out a savage laugh and lunged at Matsumoto Ryūichi first.

The other three rogue ninjas shrieked and charged toward Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki.

The battle erupted instantly!

Matsumoto Ryūichi and Mikami Guiyu clashed, kunai and katana colliding with sparks flying everywhere.

Although Matsumoto Ryūichi was a Jonin, he was the type who had climbed the ranks through sheer seniority and mission count. His strength was among the most mediocre of the Jonin tier.

Meanwhile, Mikami Guiyu unleashed multiple ninjutsu in quick succession to pin his opponent down.

For a moment, neither side could gain the upper hand.

On the other side, Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki were in dire straits.

They were only newly graduated Genin; facing three rogue ninjas who lived by the blade, they were already using everything they had just to parry.

Haruno Kazuya's Substitution Technique was easily seen through, and Fujiwara Itsuki's taijutsu was hampered by the enemy's suicidal, life-for-a-life fighting style.

In less than half a minute, both of them had sustained several wounds.

Though not deep, the blood flowed freely, and their movements began to slow.

"Haha, is that all the little brats from Konoha have?"

"Kill them!"

A rogue ninja grinned hideously, his katana swinging down viciously toward Haruno Kazuya's neck!

"Kazuya!" Fujiwara Itsuki tried to rescue him, but was held back firmly by the other two.

Haruno Kazuya's face turned deathly pale; the kunai in his hand could never block such a heavy, powerful strike.

"Uchiha Ryūha!" Matsumoto Ryūichi, catching a glimpse of this scene amidst the fierce battle, felt his eyes split with rage and roared, "Use your genjutsu to control them! What are you waiting for!"

Uchiha Ryūha raised his head and adjusted his glasses.

Then, amidst Matsumoto Ryūichi's anxious roar, Haruno Kazuya's desperate gaze, and the rogue ninja's savage grin—

He slowly raised his right hand.

His palm was aimed directly at the rogue ninja swinging his blade at Haruno Kazuya.

No hand seals.

There wasn't even a sign of Chakra fluctuation.

He simply looked at his opponent calmly, as if watching a droplet of water destined to evaporate.

Time, in this moment, seemed to stretch into infinity.