"I hear you Konoha ninja, especially ones at your level, always carry some good stuff.
Hand over your ninjutsu scrolls, your money, and..."
His greedy gaze swept over the ninja tool pouch at Kakashi's waist, then the goods belonging to Mishima Heihachi, who stood protected behind him.
"That merchant's cargo. Give us everything, and we might leave your corpses intact."
"Just the three of you?" Kakashi's voice was calm, but icy killing intent already radiated from him.
He assessed their strength in an instant-the scar-faced man and the short one were probably jonin, while the big man was slightly weaker, but close to special jonin level.
Three rogue ninja, and seasoned criminals by the look of them. They would not be easy to handle.
More importantly, they had chosen this spot for an ambush. There were very likely more than three of them.
"Three? Of course not." The scar-faced man gave a sinister chuckle and clapped his hands.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Four more figures darted from the shadows on the cliff to the right and at the entrance to the pass behind them, landing on either side of the caravan and at its rear.
Together with the three in front, they completely surrounded Team Seven and the caravan.
Though these four did not feel as powerful as the first three, they were all at chunin level, their eyes vicious and their weapons gleaming coldly.
Seven against four, with two jonin, one special jonin, and four chunin on the enemy's side.
On his side, Kakashi was the only jonin, accompanied by three freshly graduated genin and a merchant and his guards who would only hold them back.
In an instant, the situation became critical.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura's face went pale, her voice trembling.
Naruto clenched his fists. There was no fear