Although the thought had crossed his mind, Shita Genichi wasn't foolish enough to go looking for the man outright. He didn't even intend to ask around.
"Everyone, this is where you'll be staying. If you need anything, just let me know. I'll be right next door."
Mui smiled as he led Shita Genichi and the others into a courtyard.
Hatake Sakumo nodded. "Sorry for the trouble!"
Mui bowed, then left the courtyard.
Hatake Sakumo immediately gave an order. "Two to a room. Don't go out unless necessary."
Shita Genichi and the others nodded.
Uchiha Langyi shared a room with Yamanaka En, while Shita Genichi shared one with Hatake Sakumo.
Hatake Sakumo didn't return to his room to rest, though. Instead, he sat upright in the living room.
Shita Genichi returned to his room and fell asleep as soon as he lay down.
In the room next door, Uchiha Langyi and Yamanaka En did the same.
At four in the afternoon, Shita Genichi woke up well rested. After washing up, he relieved his teacher, Hatake Sakumo, and sat in the living room, forming the Kai Hand Seal with both hands as he contemplated the power hidden within the All Mantra.
At five, Uchiha Langyi and Yamanaka En got up as well.
After washing up, the two sparred in Taijutsu in the courtyard, careful not to disturb Shita Genichi.
At six in the evening, Mui appeared again, bringing people to deliver a lavish meal.
Shita Genichi and the others didn't touch it. Uchiha Langyi and Yamanaka En went out together and bought some food instead.
At eight that night, Hatake Sakumo woke up too, and the four members of the squad ate together.
Not long after they finished, Mui appeared again and invited Hatake Sakumo to a meeting.
At nine that night, Hatake Sakumo returned. Yamanaka En hurriedly asked, "Captain, who's the notorious criminal we're escorting? What kind of person is he from Kumogakure?"
"He's a Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai ninja from Kumogakure," Hatake Sakumo replied.
Kekkei Genkai!
Shita Genichi and the other two were all taken aback.
Shita Genichi vaguely remembered the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai ninja from Kumogakure, but couldn't recall his name.
"It sounds like this mission won't be easy. A Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai ninja must be a Jonin, right?" Yamanaka En said.
Hatake Sakumo nodded. "Be extremely cautious during the mission."
"Although Kusagakure has a secret technique that prevents prisoners from using chakra, we can't afford to be careless."
"En, you'll be responsible for protecting the prisoner at close range."
Yamanaka En nodded.
Protecting him was just another way of saying he had to keep him in check.
Shita Genichi then asked, "Teacher, do we have any information on this Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai ninja?"
"Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai is formed by combining the nature transformations of Lightning Release and Earth Release, giving chakra magnetic properties," Hatake Sakumo explained.
"The Third Kazekage of Sunagakure is another ninja in the Ninja World who has mastered Magnet Release."
"I've heard Sunagakure has also produced a rising star who's mastered Magnet Release."
"As for the one from Kumogakure, his name is Toroi. He's skilled at using Magnet Release chakra to give people and ninja tools magnetic properties, allowing him to make weapons automatically track and attack his enemies."
Shita Genichi immediately understood. It was the principle of magnetic attraction.
"So we mustn't let him touch us," Yamanaka En said.
Shita Genichi added, "That includes indirect contact, like through his weapons."
Uchiha Langyi was even more direct. "If that guy resists or tries to escape, En, just kill him."
Shita Genichi nodded in agreement.
No one's life mattered more than his own and his comrades'!
Hatake Sakumo agreed with Uchiha Langyi. "In short, this mission's first priority is our safety. Whether the target reaches Hozuki Castle comes second."
"Yes!"
The three of them nodded.
Shita Genichi, however, had another idea: get some blood from Toroi.
If possible, he'd take some bone marrow too.
The chances of finding a compatible match were slim, but what if he got lucky?
The night passed without incident.
At eight the next morning, after breakfast, Shita Genichi and the others met up with the team escorting the notorious criminal at the entrance to Kusagakure.
Kusagakure had two squads, and Mui, who had greeted Shita Genichi and the others earlier, was in one of them.
The two squads had eight people in total, but only one was a Jonin. Of the rest, three were Chunin and four were Genin.
This wasn't based on any obvious indicator of rank. Shita Genichi had figured it out by observing how they spoke and behaved.
It was important information, too.
They had no idea how many people Kumogakure would send, or who they'd be. So it was important to have a general idea of their own side's strength.
Unfortunately, Kusagakure wouldn't share information about the two squads taking part in the mission.
Of course,
even if they had, they couldn't trust it completely.
After leaving the village, they headed north, crossing the border at the northern edge of the Land of Grass. Then they followed the border between the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Earth all the way north, until they reached the coast.
The route wasn't especially long. At a ninja's normal pace, they could have reached the port in half a day.
But with a notorious criminal in tow, they naturally had to slow down.
As for how they transported the prisoner, they used a lidded wooden barrel, much like the one the Sound Four had used to take Uchiha Sasuke away.
At noon, the group stopped to rest near the border of the Land of Grass.
They set out again at one in the afternoon. Once they left the Land of Grass, they entered dangerous territory.
Sure enough,
at three in the afternoon, Yamanaka En was the first to raise the alarm. "Captain, someone's approaching!"
"1, 2, 3... 6 people!"
Hatake Sakumo immediately gave an order. "Langyi, you and En will work together."
Uchiha Langyi nodded and picked up speed, catching up with Yamanaka En ahead.
Before long, figures appeared in the woods to their right.
"Lord White Fang, leave them to us!" shouted Wudang, a Kusagakure Jonin. He then broke away from the group with three Chunin and rushed toward the three enemies who had appeared on the right.
A moment later, the sound of an explosion came from behind them.
"Captain, someone's blocking the road ahead!" Yamanaka En shouted.
"Enter the Land of Earth!" Hatake Sakumo barked.
Yamanaka En and the other five immediately escorted the prisoner across the border into the Land of Earth.
Hatake Sakumo and Shita Genichi sped up, quickly passing them.
After a short distance, three figures appeared ahead.
Their outfits made it clear they were from Kumogakure.
There were three of them: one stood on a tree branch, while the other two stood on the ground, forming a triangle.
Shita Genichi was behind Hatake Sakumo, who was in front.
Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!
Shita Genichi suddenly appeared behind Hatake Sakumo and completed the jutsu.
In an instant, all three Kumogakure ninjas lost their sight and were plunged into absolute darkness.
"It's Genjutsu!"
"Be careful!"
The Kumogakure ninjas shouted as Hatake Sakumo split into three figures, the short blade in his hand gleaming with a brilliant white light.
Clang!
Ting!
Thud!
Shita Genichi saw it clearly.
One Kumogakure ninja blocked Hatake Sakumo's attack. Another had his blade cleaved in two. Blood blossomed across the third man's chest.
It had all happened in an instant.
But the one who died had still fulfilled his purpose: he'd helped the other two break free of the Genjutsu.
Before you continue