Confirming Their Identities

"What happened? How could this be?"

"A powerful chakra field has appeared around that guy. He's completely in control of everything around him."

"Does that mean we have no chance of getting close to him?"

Shen Ye didn't answer Minato's question. Instead, he stepped forward until he was a centimeter from the field, folded his arms across his chest, and silently watched the man before him.

For now, all he wanted was to confirm the man's identity.

If he was a member of the Anbu, Shen Ye would immediately drag Minato away and report the matter to the Third Hokage.

If he was the man who had been hiding in the village all along, the two of them would have to prepare to give it everything they had.

"You've been watching me this whole time, haven't you? You appeared as soon as I entered the forest."

"Of course. I've been keeping my eyes on you the entire time to complete the mission Danzo assigned me."

Shen Ye frowned. That still wasn't enough to convince him. It was no secret in the village that he and Danzo were at odds.

"Don't you know your teammates were killed by someone hiding their identity in the village? What's the point of pinning all the blame on me?"

"Hmph. I'm just carrying out Lord Danzo's orders. What do I care if other people die?"

The corners of Shen Ye's mouth lifted slightly. He nodded at the man, turned, and dashed off in another direction. Though Minato had no idea what was going on, he followed close behind.

The Anbu operative stood rooted to the spot, unable to understand why Shen Ye had suddenly chosen to run.

They didn't exchange a word along the way. Only when Konoha's shinobi came into view did the two of them gradually slow down.

"Shen Ye, what happened?"

"He's one of Danzo's men. Fighting him would do neither of us any good. Looks like I'll have to ask the Third Hokage to give me justice."

Shen Ye and Minato quickened their pace and caught up with Jiraiya and Tsunade.

"What are you two doing here? The Third Hokage clearly told you not to take part in this battle."

"Lady Tsunade, this battle isn't just for the village. It's also a chance to clear Jiraiya's and my names, so no matter what, I have to take part."

Tsunade shook her head helplessly. She knew how stubborn Shen Ye was. Even if she told him to return to the village now, it would do no good.

On the contrary, away from Konoha's main force, the two young men would be in even greater danger.

"Don't fall behind!"

With tensions running high, Tsunade gave them a few words of warning before continuing onward with the group. According to the intelligence, the man was just ahead.

Time passed slowly. Everyone stayed on edge, ready to leap into battle at any moment.

Suddenly, a breeze stirred around them. Tsunade raised a hand to signal the group to stop, and the shinobi spread out, surrounding Minato and Shen Ye in the middle.

"Looks like a barrier. That guy has clearly prepared for us."

"Leave the barrier to me. I can break it easily once I find its focal point."

A nondescript-looking shinobi emerged from the crowd. Shen Ye didn't recognize him at all, but the enormous pack on his back caught his attention.

With a few leaps, the shinobi reached the edge of the barrier. He took several small devices from his pack and arranged them neatly.

"Ninja Art: Barrier-Breaking Technique!"

The battle began in silence. Ripples spread through the air around them, and Shen Ye sensed the barrier gradually fading away.

Tsunade and Jiraiya both watched their surroundings intently. Even as the barrier was about to vanish, neither showed the slightest change in expression.

Is this the composure a true shinobi needs? Staying calm in the face of danger!

"Looks like there's still a lot we can learn. This isn't just a chance for the two of us to claim credit. Learning is what matters most."

Minato nodded. At first, he'd simply assumed Shen Ye was so eager to take part because he wanted to prove himself innocent.

Now he realized his thinking had been too simplistic, and he couldn't help but think even more highly of Shen Ye.

The shinobi with the pack returned to the group. The barrier had completely disappeared, and Tsunade organized the team to continue forward.

From what Shen Ye knew of the area, if they continued ahead, they would soon leave the forest and enter the territory of another faction.

If the man really escaped into another faction's territory, capturing him would undoubtedly become more difficult.

At the edge of the forest, a man stood silently on a treetop with his arms folded across his chest, waiting. His eyes were fixed on the Konoha shinobi.

"I've been hiding for so long, and at last you've found me."

"There's no conflict between Konoha and Iwagakure. Are you trying to start a war?"

"I've left that useless village behind. Remember my name: Wu Tian!"

Tsunade frowned. The final judgment of a rogue shinobi like him wouldn't be left to Konoha. By rights, and by the rules, he had to be handed over to Iwagakure for judgment.

"Wu Tian? I've never heard of this shinobi before. Iwagakure hasn't even announced his defection."

"I get it. This guy must be an utterly ordinary shinobi, so we have nothing to worry about."

Jiraiya nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly with Shen Ye.

They couldn't afford to underestimate him, but they shouldn't overestimate him either. They had to judge the situation as realistically as possible.

But Shen Ye didn't think Wu Tian stood a chance.

Against a team made up of so many shinobi, even an unknown shinobi like him would be no match. Even the Tsuchikage would have a fight on his hands.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!"

Without giving them a chance to think, Wu Tian rapidly formed Hand Seals and summoned a muddy swamp beneath Shen Ye's feet.

Shen Ye suddenly felt the ground give way beneath him. He stumbled and nearly fell.

Luckily, Minato reacted quickly and grabbed Shen Ye's arm. They both staggered, then regained their footing.

Tsunade and Jiraiya leaped onto a tree branch and looked down at the spot where they had just been standing.

"His attacks are swift and decisive. Looks like we've run into a troublesome opponent this time."

"We've been working together for so long. What kind of opponent haven't we faced? What's there to worry about?"

Tsunade shot Jiraiya a glare, then pushed off forcefully and charged toward Wu Tian.