Off Feeling

Late on the 4th night, a carriage departed the Senju Clan Compound.

The carriage's doors and windows were shut tight.

Inside the carriage were only two people: the aged Uzumaki Mito and the young Uzumaki Princess, Kushina.

Senju Rin, Tsunade, and all the Jonin of the Senju Clan followed them in the darkness.

Behind the Senju contingent was the Konoha Anbu.

Yagami thought to himself, Is the transfer of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki finally about to begin?

To prevent the Nine-Tails from rampaging and destroying the village, the higher-ups and the Senju Clan decided to conduct the crucial sealing transfer on Ushioka Mountain, ten kilometers northwest of the village.

Yagami looked at the carriage in the middle of the road.

If I die by Uzumaki Mito's hand, will I gain some heaven-defying abilities?

The Uzumaki Sage Body? The Uzumaki Sealing Secret Technique? Or even some of the Nine-Tails' abilities?

He felt a little excited just thinking about it.

Today was the 4th, and there were still 11 days until the full moon on the 15th. If he actively sought death, he would have to endure for 11 days upon his next revival.

Given the tense atmosphere within the Anbu right now, enduring for 11 days would be difficult. It wouldn't be good if he died on some Anbu mission.

Living a long life is the most important thing. It's best not to take risks.

As Yagami was lost in thought, the Black Gorilla Squad Commander retreated from the front of the Anbu formation, turned, and signaled to the three squads behind him.

The Black Gorilla Squad broke away from the main force and accelerated northward.

Yagami looked back at Uzumaki Mito's carriage, puzzled. What is their squad going to do?

Not only the Black Gorilla Squad but also two other squads scattered, disappearing in different directions.

After walking a few kilometers, the Black Gorilla Squad Commander gathered the squad leaders and said:

"Your three squads have all been secretly passing information outwards. The Senju Clan will be holding a funeral for Uzumaki Mito tomorrow.

According to border intelligence, a very powerful force has broken through the blockade on the Land of Fire's border and entered the country's interior.

Our squad's mission is to find that force, confirm their identity, and investigate whether their objective is Uzumaki Mito.

Aries, your squad is the main reconnaissance force. The other two squads will be responsible for combat."

The ninja wearing the Aries mask was from the Hyuga Clan and was a reconnaissance ninja the Black Gorilla Squad Commander had painstakingly secured.

The Black Gorilla Squad arrived at Ushioka Mountain earlier and began scouting the surroundings, using the mountain as a starting point.

An hour later, Aries suddenly signaled.

"Four suspicious individuals detected in the 9 o'clock direction!

Their chakra levels are immense, and they are moving very fast."

The Black Gorilla Squad quickly moved to confirm the identity of the suspicious individuals.

When the main ninja force marches, they deploy numerous intelligence ninjas to gather information for the main force and detect enemies in advance.

Those four suspicious individuals were likely a reconnaissance squad infiltrating the main force.

The Black Gorilla Squad rapidly closed in.

The Aries Squad was at the rear, the Fox Squad and the Leaf Monkey Squad were on the flanks, and the Black Gorilla Squad Commander was in the center.

Aries shouted, "The enemy has spotted us! They're changing direction and heading towards us!"

The Black Gorilla said:

"This is the interior of the Land of Fire. Don't waste time, fight with all your might, and defeat them in one fell swoop!

Purple Cat, prepare! Gather intelligence from the brains of the corpses!"

Purple Cat, who was named, felt a little nervous.

This was the first time she had encountered a strong enemy since joining the Anbu.

Enemies capable of breaking through the border defenses and penetrating deep into the Land of Fire must be powerful.

"Here they come! It's Earth Style: Earth Dragon!"

A massive earth dragon charged forward with great momentum, smashing through more than ten large trees along its path.

What a terrifying ninjutsu.

This ninjutsu alone proved that the opponents had a Jonin.

Apart from the direct disciples of the higher-ups, most Jonin had personal ambitions and would not remain incognito in the Anbu for extended periods.

Jonin preferred to operate in the open, accumulating mission experience and reputation.

The Anbu were absolutely loyal, but the number of Jonin was not large.

Facing a Jonin, the Black Gorilla felt a bit uneasy. He was a Special Jonin, and there was a gap between him and a Jonin.

Despite his unease, he could not retreat.

They leaped to either side, dodging the Earth Style: Earth Dragon that was charging from a distance.

The Black Gorilla Squad was separated by the Earth Style: Earth Dragon.

North of the Earth Style: Earth Dragon was the Black Gorilla Squad Leader and the Leaf Monkey Squad, while the south side had the Fox Squad and the Aries Squad.

"This is bad!"

Three enemies suddenly appeared in front of the Earth Style: Earth Dragon and charged towards the Black Gorilla Squad Leader.

A full squad's combat power was strong, but half a squad facing a squad led by a Jonin was extremely dangerous.

Yagami and Aries leaped up simultaneously, and with their respective squads, jumped to the opposite side of the Earth Style: Earth Dragon.

The back of the Earth Style: Earth Dragon suddenly arched, tossing the Fox Squad and the Aries Squad into the air.

The ninjas of the two squads flew through the air, tumbling.

Yagami and Aries adjusted their bodies in mid-air, finally landing steadily, while the weaker members of the squads fell to the ground, unsteady.

Aries stared at the Stone Ninja Jonin standing relaxed opposite them, his gaze resolute as he said:

"Fox, your close-combat ability is the strongest. We will all fight to the death to create an opportunity for you to strike."

"Alright."

The Black Gorilla Squad Leader and the Leaf Monkey Squad were on the other side, engaging in a fierce battle with the three Stone Ninjas.

They had to link up with the Squad Leader, otherwise, they would be defeated one by one.

Purple Cat and another Anbu member were responsible for long-range kunai throws, while Aries charged forward first.

"Earth Style: Earth Spear!"

The Stone Ninja Jonin performed hand seals, and four stone spears instantly shot out from the ground.

"Rotation!"

Aries was very strong, using the Hyuga Clan's secret technique, Rotation.

The Earth Spears shattered upon impact with the hemispherical chakra barrier of Rotation.

The Stone Ninja Jonin was very interested, not expecting to encounter a Hyuga ninja with considerable strength.

He didn't release his hand seals, and wave after wave of Earth Spears were launched.

The ground instantly became like a hedgehog, with Earth Spears piercing out everywhere, or waiting to erupt like bamboo shoots from the ground.

Aries quickened his pace and used Rotation again, shattering several more Earth Spears.

However, the Jonin's ninjutsu was not easy to break. After using Rotation twice in a row, Aries was already panting.

Facing the relentless Earth Spears, Aries once again channeled his chakra and with difficulty, used Rotation a third time.

This time, one Earth Spear pierced through Rotation and impaled Aries' abdomen.

"Keep charging!"

An Anbu member stepped on Aries' shoulder and leaped towards the Stone Ninja Jonin.

He didn't fly far in the air before his abdomen was pierced by an Earth Spear.

Yagami leaped up next, stepping on the back of the deceased Anbu member's body in mid-air, continuing his charge towards the Stone Ninja Jonin.

Seizing the opening in the Stone Ninja Jonin's ninjutsu, Yagami finally reached him.

His ninja sword slashed down fiercely.

The Stone Ninja Jonin finally released his hand seals and raised his hand to block the ninja sword, wearing a metal arm guard.

"Cloud Style Swordsmanship!"

At the last moment of his downward slash, Yagami's sword suddenly changed to a diagonal cut, aiming for the Stone Ninja Jonin's neck.

The essence of Cloud Style Swordsmanship lay in the late execution of a feint, so late that others could not predict or react.

His eyes lit up!

The ninja sword struck the Stone Ninja Jonin's neck.

With the interference of the long-range kunai, Aries exhausting his chakra, and an Anbu member used as a stepping stone, an opportunity to strike was finally created.

However, Yagami immediately experienced despair.

The feeling was wrong!

Hitting the throat shouldn't feel like this.

The Stone Ninja Jonin suddenly collapsed, turning into a puddle of mud.

Earth Substitution!

A Rank-A substitution jutsu favored by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen!

The Stone Ninja Jonin's figure suddenly appeared behind Yagami.

Yagami bent his body sharply, dodging the kunai that the Stone Ninja Jonin thrust at his lower back.

This reaction speed was already considered exaggerated.

However, Yagami could dodge the Jonin's first attack, but not the second.

An Earth Spear emerged from underground, piercing Yagami's chest.

[Host death detected, Arc of the Crescent Moon is activating...]

Dying during an outer perimeter reconnaissance, what about the main battlefield?