Ambushed

It wasn't just Yahiko who fell deep in thought. Konan did too; the girl was a little more perceptive.

Could Rasa also be a member of the Celestial organization? If so, what identity did he use within it?

Himura Kenshin, or perhaps the mysterious man who had attacked the Iwagakure forces last time?

If Rasa really was part of the Celestial organization, then he was already the acting Kazekage of Sunagakure. The organization's power was truly terrifying.

Who else in the Shinobi World might be part of the Celestial organization? Were these people secretly manipulating the Shinobi World really trying to maintain peace?

Yahiko and Konan walked on in silence, turning these questions over and over in their minds until they got themselves tangled up in them.

The Land of Rain and the Land of Wind could be considered neighboring countries. A stretch of land along their shared border perfectly blended the climates of both countries.

It was hot and rainy, with dense forests; its climate resembled the tropical rainforests near the equator on Earth in his previous life.

Rasa had changed into black clothes early on. He wore a red-and-black cloak and a conical hat, his appearance putting him a cut above ordinary ninja.

After all, he didn't need to dodge and weave to cut people down. As a human artillery platform, he could wear outfits that would hinder other people's movement without affecting his combat ability.

Deep in the rainforest, his boots trampled clumps of grass and splashed through puddles. Rasa suddenly stopped and looked ahead.

"What's wrong?" Seeing Rasa stop, Yahiko asked, bewildered.

"There's an ambush three hundred meters ahead, from the nine o'clock direction to the three o'clock direction.

"There are around thirty-five to forty people. At least three are Jonin; the rest are all Chunin."

Rasa spoke calmly, then continued forward as if nothing were amiss, deliberately walking into the enemy's trap.

Yahiko and Konan turned pale with shock. Someone had actually set an ambush for them. More than thirty Chunin and three Jonin—no ordinary village could field that kind of force.

Admittedly, the Akatsuki organization in its current state could barely put together a team of similar size. But few people would send their entire force out on a single mission.

Aside from Ōnoki, that dogmatic, aggressive Tsuchikage, not a single leader in the Shinobi World would carry out an operation with such high risks.

Most people calculated the odds of failure before they considered victory, keeping the risks of a failed mission within manageable limits.

Most terrifying of all, Rasa had detected the enemy from three hundred meters away. Given that the ambushers were determined to stay hidden and suppress their chakra fluctuations, most ninja would be impressive if they could spot them from thirty meters away.

Thirty meters was the standard range for a Shuriken attack.

Yet Rasa had not only extended that range tenfold; he had also accurately identified the enemy's positions and approximate strength.

Yahiko had no reason to doubt that Rasa was making it up.

Konan suddenly realized something and hurried to Rasa's side. She lowered her head and hastily explained in a quiet voice, "Lord Rasa, please don't misunderstand.

"The ambushers have nothing to do with us. We didn't know about them. We really just wanted to invite you to the Peace Conference in the Land of Rain."

Only then did Yahiko realize it. What if Rasa thought they were working with the ambushers? What would he do? Wouldn't he kill the two of them on the spot?

They'd invited him to attend a conference, only for him to be attacked along the way. Now they had a whole lot of explaining to do.

Before Yahiko could say anything, Rasa reached out and smoothed the slightly tousled hair over Konan's forehead, mussed by her hurried steps. He gently patted her head.

He said softly, "Of course I know this isn't your fault.

"Someone must have let our whereabouts slip by accident. There are still quite a few people in the Shinobi World who want me dead.

"For now, act as if nothing happened and follow behind me."

"Mm."

Konan nodded lightly and obediently followed right behind Rasa, keeping her eyes trained on their surroundings without making it obvious.

Yahiko felt a little disheartened. Not because Rasa had charmed Konan, but because Rasa was about to be attacked while on his way to attend the Peace Conference.

What an ironic story. Could people really never understand one another?

Yahiko hurried after them, wondering what would happen next. Hopefully Rasa's sensing was wrong—but there was no way it could be.

If he wasn't sure, would he have confidently named the enemy's exact numbers and positions?

Since that was settled, getting to see how the legendary Magnet Release user Rasa, the Kage Level powerhouse who had recently risen to fame, dealt with his enemies would at least make up for some of his regrets.

The principle behind the Akatsuki organization Yahiko had founded was to seek peace without relying on extreme force, not to oppose force altogether. The difference was like that between an international women's rights organization and the chauvinistic "feminists" of China.

Now Rasa was being assassinated. He was simply striking back in self-defense; Yahiko knew there was no issue with him killing every last enemy.

The three fell silent. After walking another two hundred meters or so, Yahiko and Konan could feel their hearts about to leap into their throats.

Death itself wasn't frightening. Waiting for death was.

They considered several times urging Rasa to take another route, but then remembered the rumors about his abilities—an army of one—and held their tongues.

"They're here," Rasa said impassively.

From the directions he had indicated, more than a dozen ninja suddenly burst out and attacked. Kunai, Shuriken, Senbon, and all kinds of ninjutsu hurtled through the forest toward the three of them.

A barrage of attacks.

Yahiko and Konan were aghast. The directions were exactly right. As for the discrepancy in numbers, some of the enemy must still be hiding.

A multi-stage attack—a common tactic for ninja squads—could deliver a thunderous blow while the enemy was reacting to the first wave.

This didn't look like a ragtag bunch. They were probably ninja from a major power, organized and disciplined.

The Electromagnetic Force spread out, attempting to control the incoming weapons, but the response was exceptionally weak. Rasa furrowed his brow. They weren't metal.

Had they really prepared so specifically to counter him? The Electromagnetic Force could do more than control metal. It could control anything and everything; it was just that his ability was still too weak.

But that didn't matter.

Rasa narrowed his eyes slightly. His vast chakra surged out, transforming into countless grains of Gold Dust that covered the ground beneath his feet, forming a sea of gold.

Magnet Release: Gold Dust was still useful for the time being. At the very least, with his current Electromagnetic Force, he couldn't yet convert energy into matter or vice versa.

Electromagnetic Force, move!

An endless sea of Gold Dust rose up and gathered into a vast canopy in front of the three of them, blocking every attack. Weapons and ninjutsu pounded against it, raising no more than the slightest ripples.

Impenetrable.

Yahiko and Konan marveled at its defensive power. Most importantly, he didn't need to form Hand Seals; in an instant, he had stopped the enemy's attack.

They were no longer as panicked. An inexplicable calm settled over them, as if standing behind this man meant they didn't have to worry about any hardship or danger.

The ninja who had ambushed Rasa hesitated. Their first concentrated attack had been completely blocked, and their high-hardness wooden weapons hadn't worked at all.

What should they do next?

Please recommend this novel... The second update will be a little late. My home is on the third floor, and a fire broke out on the first floor this afternoon. The fire trucks even came...

I was asleep in the afternoon when someone knocked on my door and shouted, "Anyone home?" I opened it, but couldn't see anyone... Only later did I realize someone had been yelling for me to evacuate.