Outside the town, the rain was falling harder and harder.
It was a sign that the rainy season was about to begin!
Especially here in the Land of Rain—the rain was heavier than in other places.
The rainwater gathered and flowed downstream, converging in the Land of Rivers and forming one river after another.
Four figures in raincoats ran at full speed.
As they ran, raindrops dotted Ogawara's face.
A drop smacked against his face.
Iga Kawaji looked at Gong Yi suspiciously and couldn't help asking, "Gong Yi, your... your strength?"
Gong Yi froze for a moment, then suddenly remembered.
To get back quickly and avoid Kazama Heitetsu, he had kept his Gravity Technique at around eight times normal.
In this state, his speed and strength were close to Jonin level.
Especially in the eyes of a ninja like Iga Kawaji, who had come from the Anbu, it was easy to judge his strength.
Gong Yi's expression darkened.
If Iga Kawaji could tell, there was no way that brown-haired man hadn't noticed.
And Gong Yi knew that man!
Rasa of Sunagakure, the future Fourth Kazekage! Gaara of the Sand Waterfall's father!
At the thought, Gong Yi's heart turned cold. He had assumed Rasa wouldn't catch up.
Almost instantly, he realized there was more to it.
Why had Rasa shown himself in town? He'd heard earlier that Rasa had gone to Amegakure to visit Hanzo of the Salamander.
So there had to be some other reason he'd been forced to come out, despite the risk of other villages discovering his movements.
A signal flare!
The signal flare Shaquan had fired before he died!
Gong Yi didn't know what kind of signal flare it was, but it would certainly draw the attention of the Sunagakure ninja.
If Rasa had shown himself, then Kazama Heitetsu, who was even closer, had no reason not to come out too.
The two towns weren't far apart. At Kazama Heitetsu's speed—
Gong Yi gritted his teeth and growled, "Captain, split up and run!"
Iga Kawaji's heart jolted. Gong Yi hadn't answered his question; he'd simply told them to "run"!
And Rasa had appeared out of nowhere just moments ago!
Gong Yi spoke again. "Qianzong, Yuan, don't run. Find somewhere hidden and lie low. Do everything you can to cover your tracks. Return to the village quietly after a day—no, after five days."
After saying this, Gong Yi looked at Iga Kawaji.
There was no time to explain.
Iga Kawaji gave Gong Yi a long look. While Hyuga Senso and Ogawara were still stunned, he suddenly waved his hand.
"Do as Gong Yi said. Take these two scrolls, too. If danger comes, Qianzong, you decide whether to use them!"
With that, Iga Kawaji darted off to the right and behind them, moving so fast it was hard to believe.
"What are you standing around for? Run! There's a big river to the east. Ogawara, you know Water Release—go that way!"
Ogawara stared blankly at Gong Yi's fierce expression. Hyuga Senso tugged him along.
"Come with me."
Gong Yi stopped where he was and closed his eyes. Then he opened them and ran to the left.
Hyuga Senso pulled Ogawara along, running with all his strength. The veins around his eyes stood out, and his Byakugan was already activated.
"Qianzong, what's going on?"
As they ran through the rain, Ogawara asked in confusion.
Hyuga Senso kept track of their direction, doing his best not to follow the same route as Gong Yi and the others.
"I don't know, but I think it has something to do with the person the captain ran into earlier."
Ogawara didn't understand. Then his mouth fell open, and the wind blew rainwater right into it.
"The captain ran off to the right and behind us. He's staying behind again!"
The Iga squad had only just formed, and this was their first mission. How could the captain be staying behind again?
But Hyuga Senso knew what Ogawara meant.
Their previous two captains had both died staying behind to cover their retreat. And now, this captain was going to—
He thought of what the captain had told them before they set out.
"First, you should call me Captain, not Sir."
"Second, the village's mission is indeed the highest priority. But while carrying it out, I'll do everything I can to keep you safe. Of course, you can't hold me back, either. Work hard to do what you've been assigned."
"Lastly, if you're unhappy with the village's decisions, you shouldn't question them. You should work hard to change them!"
Hyuga Senso's vision blurred. He didn't know whether it was because of the rain or the wind blowing into his face.
He instinctively glanced back.
The captain had gone to cover their retreat. Gong Yi had told the two of them to hide and return to the village after a few days. But what about Gong Yi?
It was all because he was too weak!
If I were stronger, I'd be the one on the path Gong Yi was taking right now!
In a low-lying spot, rainwater gathered into a stream and flowed toward the river ahead.
Hyuga Senso and Ogawara hid inside. Using Ogawara's Water Release, they drained all the water from beneath a patch of ground.
Then the two of them sealed the opening with stones and dirt, taking care not to release any trace of Chakra.
Hyuga Senso deactivated his Byakugan and took the two Ninjutsu scrolls Iga Kawaji had given him. He quickly replenished his depleted Chakra.
Ogawara looked panicked. Suddenly, he blurted out, "Blood! It's blood!"
Hyuga Senso looked over. There were several bright red smears on Ogawara's face and lips.
Washed by the rain, they looked like vivid flowers.
Ogawara's body trembled. "I recognize the smell of blood. I know Medical Ninjutsu. I've treated people's wounds before. Even diluted by the rain, I can recognize it. It's blood!"
"The captain was with us the whole time. He wasn't injured. I even asked him if he needed my help."
"This isn't the captain's blood. Then whose is it?"
Hyuga Senso closed his eyes. Gong Yi's face as they parted appeared in his mind.
Gritting his teeth, growling, his expression fierce.
I hope this isn't goodbye forever!
"Rasa!"
"Kazama Heitetsu!"
"Where are your people? And where's Shaquan?"
"Shaquan is dead. The others couldn't keep up with me. They're still behind."
"Dead? Killed by that brat?"
The question was asked in a tone of certainty.
Kazama Heitetsu's expression darkened. "He overheard my secret conversation with Kitsuchi. We can't let him get away."
Rasa stood in the open wilderness. His unique Magnet Release let him sense fragments of information in the natural magnetic field.
The rain was heavy, but it couldn't wash away every trace of information.
"They're from Konoha."
Kazama Heitetsu's expression turned completely dark. "Then we absolutely can't let them go. Kill them all!"
"They split up and ran in three directions. They're a squad, led by a man from the Anbu. He'll probably be troublesome. You've never seen him, so I'll go after him."
"Another group headed toward the Land of Rivers. They're two little Genin. Leave a message for your men to chase them."
"As for the brat who seems to be a Jonin..."
Kazama Heitetsu gritted his teeth. "I'll go. He killed my subordinate. I won't let him make it back alive."
Rasa grunted and took off after the lingering traces.
"Leave no survivors!"
"Leave no survivors!"
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