Confronting a Future Kage-Level Expert (Second Update)

BOOM!

A flash of white light tore through the pitch-black night, followed by an earth-shaking explosion.

Iga Kawaji stood under the eaves with his hands behind his back. Behind him, Ogawara's lively voice filled the air, while Hyuga Senso sat nearby, listening with a smile.

The three-day mission was complete. Relying on the reconnaissance capabilities of the Byakugan, Hyuga Senso's squad had successfully mapped out the ninja distribution in the small town.

Overall, everything was normal.

The number of ninjas from other villages was the same as usual, mostly low-to-mid-level shinobi guarding merchant caravans.

According to their captain, the situation inside the cities of the Land of Rain was much the same.

Although this mission carried an A-rank rating, the danger level was, as the captain had noted, truly only C-rank.

Once they returned, the split of the mission reward would surely be substantial.

After all, it was a mission to gather intelligence on other nations and ninja villages.

A-rank mission rewards generally ranged from 150,000 to 2,000,000 ryo.

After the squad split the total, and then divided it among themselves, the captain would take the larger share, but the remainder would still be a significant sum.

Hmm, I could buy a set of painting supplies for my sister, restock my own ninja tools, treat myself to a few good meals, and still have plenty left to save.

Though Hyuga Senso was a man of few words, his mind was actually quite sharp.

Glancing at the captain's back, Hyuga Senso recalled that the captain had promised to treat everyone to grilled meat once they returned.

That's another expense saved!

Ogawara reached out and waved a hand in front of Hyuga Senso's face. "You've been overusing your Byakugan, Senso. Are you tired? Why are you so quiet?"

Hyuga Senso shook his head; he had mostly recovered, and his eyes felt much better than before.

Ogawara muttered, "Why is that rookie so slow? I told them I should have gone instead. He's alone and lacks mission experience; it's easy for things to go wrong. I really don't want to have to get used to new teammates."

Hyuga Senso said softly, "He is different from us."

"What's so different? Isn't he just like Kakashi, a top student from the academy? It's not like he's necessarily stronger than Kakashi."

"That's hard to say for sure."

"Huh? Senso, you think highly of Gong Yi?"

"He is stronger than me. I'm certain of that."

Ogawara's mouth fell open, then he curled his lip. "Your eyes are better than mine, so your judgment should be more accurate. Fine, if he's that strong, then he'd better get back soon. I don't like waiting for people."

No one likes waiting, and Iga Kawaji was no exception.

Gazing at the intensifying rain, he sighed.

"It doesn't look like we'll be leaving tonight. Once Gong Yi returns, we'll rest here for the night before heading out!"

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Footsteps echoed against the bluestone pavement along the street, unhurried and bold.

Iga Kawaji's expression shifted instantly!

A man with brown hair emerged from the darkness, looking toward Iga Kawaji with a smile on his face.

"From Konoha?"

Outside the bathhouse, Kitsuchi stood at the entrance, staring into the lifeless night, and cracked a grin.

"Let's go. The cooperation is settled; other matters have nothing to do with us."

A subordinate stepped forward. "Sir, that brat who was eavesdropping earlier—the one from Sunagakure—hasn't been dealt with yet. Leaving like this doesn't seem right."

Kitsuchi patted his shoulder with a hand as large as a palm-leaf fan. "Cunyan, that's not for us to worry about."

Cunyan whispered, "What if Konoha finds out about this?"

Kitsuchi let out a mocking laugh. "So what if they do? The Third Hokage is old, and the White Fang of Konoha has committed suicide! The Uchiha and Hyuga clans are at odds. My Iwagakure has nothing to fear from the Konoha of today."

"And what about the three known as the Sannin?"

"Jiraiya is a loafer, Tsunade never leaves the hospital, and Orochimaru is obsessed with his research. Even if they did stand up, does my Iwagakure lack men of its own?"

"Besides, whether Konoha finds out is another matter entirely. Kazama Heitetsu has gone out personally. Unless they send a Kage-level figure, who could possibly escape?"

Iga Kawaji furrowed his brows, eyeing the brown-haired man before him as if facing a formidable enemy.

"Rasa!"

The brown-haired man walked closer. When he was within three meters, he asked with curiosity, "Konoha doesn't have anyone like you on record, yet your strength is not weak. That means you must be someone from that place, right?"

He used a question, but his tone was one of certainty!

That place could only be the Anbu directly under the Hokage!

Iga Kawaji did not answer, watching his opponent with caution.

"People from Sunagakure have come to the Land of Rain."

Rasa pointed at him. "And people from Konoha have come to the Land of Rain as well!"

After these words, both fell into silence.

Until the sound of wind arose.

Iga Kawaji's expression shifted slightly, and Rasa could not help but frown.

The newcomer's strength was not weak, likely at the level of a Jonin; it was unclear whether they were friend or foe!

Gong Yi stepped out from the street corner, looking at the two men, his palm tightening.

Iga's expression relaxed slightly, feeling somewhat puzzled by his earlier intuition; that speed was clearly characteristic of a Jonin in a rush, yet the person who appeared was Gong Yi.

Of course, this was a good thing.

While he was confident he could escape Rasa's grasp on his own, whether Hyuga Senso and Ogawara could survive was another matter.

If Gong Yi truly possessed Jonin-level strength, Rasa would likely not dare to make a move.

"You're back?"

Gong Yi nodded, then, without even glancing at Rasa, said, "Let's go!"

Iga Kawaji was momentarily stunned. No rest? Leaving immediately?

Immediately after, his eyes narrowed as he took another look at Gong Yi.

"We're leaving!"

Hyuga Senso and Ogawara stepped out of the house, incredibly tense, then joined up with Gong Yi and headed out of the town.

Rasa stood under the eaves, watching the four of them slowly depart with a calm expression.

"The Sunagakure Ninja signal flare was a warning. The Konoha Jonin I was just confronting shows no signs of having fought, so it shouldn't be him. Then who could Kazama and the others have encountered to force them to fire a warning flare?"

A light breeze blew, and the wind chimes under the eaves tinkled.

Rasa's nostrils flared.

Whoosh.

It was the scent of blood!

Rasa slammed his palm hard against the wall, leaving a golden handprint behind.

"It was that brat!"

"He has strength approaching that of a Jonin!"

"He has fought!"