BOOM!
A flash of white streaked across the dark night, followed by an explosive roar that shook the heavens and earth.
Iga Kawaji stood with his hands behind his back beneath the eaves. Behind him, Ogawara chattered animatedly while Hyuga Senso sat nearby, listening with a smile.
Their three-day mission was complete. Thanks to the Byakugan's reconnaissance abilities, Hyuga Senso's team had successfully gathered information on the ninja stationed in the small town.
Overall, everything was normal.
As usual, most of the outsiders were lower- and middle-ranked ninja escorting merchant caravans.
The captain had said it was the same in the cities of the Land of Rain.
Although the mission had received an A-rank rating, its actual danger level was, just as the captain had said, only C-rank.
Once they got back, their share of the mission reward would surely be substantial.
After all, it was a mission to gather intelligence on a country and its hidden village.
The rewards for A-rank missions generally ranged from 150,000 to two million ryo.
Several teams would be rated, then the reward would be divided among the members of each team. The captain would get a little more, but the rest should still receive a fair amount.
Well, I could buy my little sister a set of art supplies, restock my ninja tools, and treat myself to a few good meals. I'd still have plenty left to save.
Although Hyuga Senso was taciturn, he was actually quite resourceful.
Glancing at the captain's back, Hyuga Senso recalled that the captain had said he would treat everyone to barbecue once they got back.
That'll save me some money, too!
Ogawara waved a hand in front of Hyuga Senso's eyes. "Did you overuse your Byakugan, Senso? Are you tired? You haven't said a word."
Hyuga Senso shook his head. He had recovered most of his strength, and his eyes felt much better than before.
Ogawara muttered, "What's taking that rookie so long? I told you, you should've sent me. He's on his own, and he has no mission experience. Something could easily go wrong. I don't want to get used to another new teammate."
Hyuga Senso said softly, "He's different from us."
"How's he different? He's just like Kakashi, the top student in his class. That doesn't mean he's stronger than Kakashi."
"That's hard to say."
"Huh? Senso, you think highly of Gong Yi?"
"He's stronger than me. I'm sure of it."
Ogawara's mouth fell open. Then he pursed his lips. "Your eyes are better than mine, so you should be able to judge more accurately. Fine, he's strong. Then he'd better hurry back. I hate waiting."
No one liked waiting. Iga Kawaji was no exception.
Watching the rain grow heavier, he sighed.
"Looks like we won't be leaving tonight. Let's wait for Gong Yi to get back, spend the night here, and leave in the morning!"
Tap, tap, tap.
Footsteps sounded on the stone-paved street, unhurried and unconcerned.
Iga Kawaji's expression changed abruptly!
A brown-haired man emerged from the darkness, smiling as he looked at Iga Kawaji.
"From Konoha?"
Outside the bathhouse, Kitsuchi stood at the entrance, gazing into the lifeless night. He bared his teeth in a grin.
"Come on. The cooperation has been settled. The rest has nothing to do with us."
One of his subordinates stepped forward. "Sir, we still haven't dealt with that little spy we overheard earlier, the one from Sunagakure. It doesn't seem right to just leave."
Kitsuchi patted him on the shoulder with a hand as broad as a fan. "Cunyan, that's not our concern."
Cunyan lowered his voice. "What if Konoha finds out?"
Kitsuchi chuckled. "So what if they do? The Third Hokage is old, and the White Fang of Konoha killed himself! The Uchiha and Hyuga clans are at odds. Iwagakure has nothing to fear from Konoha as it is now."
"What about the three who are known as the Sannin?"
"Jiraiya is a layabout, Tsunade never leaves the hospital, and Orochimaru is absorbed in his research. Even if they show up, does that mean Iwagakure has no one to fight them?"
"Besides, there's no telling whether Konoha will find out. Kazama Heitetsu went out personally. Unless the other side sent someone at Kage Level, who could escape?"
Iga Kawaji frowned deeply, watching the brown-haired man before him as if facing a formidable enemy.
"Rasa!"
The brown-haired man walked closer. When he was about three meters away, he asked curiously, "Konoha doesn't have anyone by your name, but you're no weakling. So does that mean you came from that place?"
The sentence was phrased as a question, but his tone was certain!
That place had to be the Anbu directly under the Hokage!
Iga Kawaji didn't answer. He watched the other man warily.
"A ninja from Sunagakure comes to the Land of Rain."
Rasa pointed at him. "And a ninja from Konoha comes to the Land of Rain!"
After that, both men fell silent.
Then the wind began to howl.
Iga Kawaji's expression shifted, and Rasa couldn't help frowning.
The newcomer was strong, at least Jonin-level. Friend or foe, he couldn't tell!
Gong Yi emerged from the street corner and looked at the two men, tightening his grip.
Iga's expression eased slightly. He was puzzled by the sense he'd had earlier. The speed had clearly belonged to a Jonin rushing over, yet it was Gong Yi who had appeared.
Of course, that was a good thing.
Though Iga could probably escape from Rasa on his own, there was no guarantee that Senso and Yuan would survive.
If Gong Yi really had Jonin-level strength, Rasa probably wouldn't dare attack.
"You're back?"
Gong Yi nodded, then spoke without even looking at Rasa. "Let's go!"
Iga Kawaji stared at him for a moment. They weren't resting—they were leaving right away?
Then his eyes narrowed, and he glanced at Gong Yi.
"Let's go!"
Hyuga Senso and Ogawara emerged from the house, tense with nerves. They caught up with Gong Yi and headed out of town.
Rasa stood beneath the eaves, watching the four of them walk away, his expression calm.
"The signal flare from Sunagakure was a warning. The Konoha Jonin who just faced me down showed no signs of having fought, so it couldn't have been him. Then who did Kazama and the others run into to make them send up a warning flare?"
A breeze swept by, and the wind chime beneath the eaves rang out.
Rasa's nostrils twitched.
Whoosh.
The scent of blood!
Rasa slammed a palm against the wall, leaving a golden handprint.
"It was that kid!"
"He has strength approaching Jonin level!"
"He fought!"
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