I Have a Plan

Within his perception, over a dozen human-shaped chakra signatures were gathered several kilometers away, moving rapidly toward the north.

At the location where the signal flare had risen, several chakra signatures were fading out.

Clearly, a Konoha squad had encountered a small unit of infiltrating Sand Ninja. After a brutal battle, the Konoha squad had been wiped out, and the victorious Sand Ninja were now retreating.

Withdrawing his perception, Sen Chisato smoothly slipped into his role as a Konoha ninja, his face filled with grief as he relayed the information.

Sarutobi Hakuba and the other two fell silent.

After a moment of thought, Sarutobi Hakuba said, "The north... they must be planning to escape into the Land of Rain. We absolutely cannot let them succeed!"

If this unit of Sand Ninja entered the Land of Rain and the Konoha ninja pursued them inside, it would escalate tensions between Konoha and the Land of Rain—which was likely the very conspiracy behind the Sand Ninja's operation.

"Sen Chisato, stay behind to clear the battlefield and bring the bodies of the Sand Ninja back to the main camp. As for the rest of us, we will pursue the enemy!"

Sarutobi Hakuba issued his orders swiftly, then patted Sen Chisato on the shoulder, looking as if he were entrusting him with his final arrangements. "Once you return to the camp, explain the situation to Lord Orochimaru, then bring reinforcements to support us!"

He wore the expression of someone saying, "Our lives are in your hands."

Watching the grave-faced Sarutobi Hakuba, Sen Chisato rolled his eyes internally.

Old man, are you serious?

Look at your own capabilities—this isn't how you go about committing suicide.

You could barely handle a seven-man squad, and now you want to pursue a unit of over a dozen men while short-handed?

Are you kidding me!

Sen Chisato silently formed hand seals, and with a few "poof" sounds, he created three Shadow Clones.

"This should suffice."

Sarutobi Hakuba frowned and shook his head. "No, this is too dangerous. I cannot let you risk your life with us."

This was the true reason he had wanted to leave Sen Chisato behind.

But Sen Chisato had no intention of accepting this kindness.

If Sarutobi Hakuba and the others died while he was away, the loss would be far too great.

He had been coveting their corpses for a long time.

And if they succeeded without his participation, how would he get his hands on the merit and the system rewards the Sand Ninja were practically delivering to his doorstep?

"Uncle, don't look down on me. I am a true Konoha ninja as well!"

Sen Chisato said with a solemn face, "Those bastards killed our comrades from the village. If I can't stop them and send them to hell with my own hands, I will feel guilty for the rest of my life!"

His eyes were filled with sorrow, rage, and persistence; the fervor he displayed for the village and his comrades was almost too intense to look at.

Yet Sarutobi Hakuba remained hesitant, even more reluctant to let Sen Chisato participate.

Such a genius youth, still possessing such a burning heart—he was a "bud" far more precious than that brat Kakashi.

Seeing this, Sen Chisato smiled and said, "Besides, with my chakra reserves and ninjutsu level, I can provide large-scale coverage under certain conditions. In that regard, Uncle, you aren't even as good as I am."

"But..." Sarutobi Hakuba started to say something else, but Maruboshi Kosuke spoke up.

"Let Chisato-kun go. His strength is already at the level of a Jonin; he only lacks experience. A new bud must weather the wind and rain."

The old man's usual kindly smile vanished. He opened his squinted eyes, revealing a piercing sharpness, and his words carried weight. "Besides, you have this old man here. If we truly encounter danger, I will risk my life to protect Chisato-kun!"

Hyuga Hihi also added, "Sen Chisato's chakra reserves are the largest among us—more than the three of us combined."

Sarutobi Hakuba took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"In that case, the mission is changed! Pursuit becomes interception. Full speed ahead—we must stop them before they enter the Land of Rain!"

He had finally been persuaded, and he decisively altered the plan to be more cautious in hopes of reducing the danger.

"Yes!"

None of the three had any objections. They followed Sarutobi Hakuba and immediately began their advance.

They sprinted at top speed, relying on Sen Chisato's perception to constantly adjust their route, until the four of them finally arrived at the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Rivers ahead of the Sand Ninja unit.

"They're coming, three kilometers away." Maintaining his Perception Technique, Sen Chisato reported the situation.

Sarutobi Hakuba nodded, looked around, and said, "Jungle warfare—as the intercepting party, we have a slight advantage."

"Maruboshi Kosuke and I will set up traps. Hyuga Hihi, be ready to take over perception. Once they are within range of your Byakugan, you identify the specific situation and report back. Choose your hiding spots and prepare for an ambush!"

Three kilometers was too short a distance; at a ninja's speed, they had very little time to prepare.

But every extra trap laid increased their chances of success.

They had no time to waste and moved to act.

"Wait."

Sen Chisato suddenly said, "They've changed direction!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expression shifted.

Sen Chisato didn't offer much explanation, heading directly in the direction the Sand Ninja were now moving, and the other three followed immediately.

Passing through the forest, a stream appeared before the four of them.

The stream was shallow, its bed covered in pebbles of varying sizes, and the banks on either side were low yet completely barren, offering no place to hide.

This made Sarutobi Hakuba's expression turn grim, to the point where he even considered retreating.

As a ninja, one should not fear sacrifice for the sake of a mission, but there was a brat here they were unwilling to sacrifice!

Sen Chisato was unaware of his thoughts; after taking a look, he spoke up, "I have a plan."

Seeing the three of them look his way, he quickly added, "Uncle Sarutobi, you stay here to block them. Don't worry about exposing your position; you just need to draw their attention and make them pause for a moment."

"Uncle Hyuga, guard the downstream. As soon as we make our move, cut off the stream immediately." He pointed to a bend in the river not far downstream, where one bank had a higher drop-off from the water's surface; as long as that bank was collapsed, the entire stream could be blocked.

"Can you do it?" he asked.

"I can," Hyuga Hihi nodded.

"As for the old man and me, we will lie in ambush upstream. Once they stop, we will launch our attack." Sen Chisato gestured to himself and Maruboshi Kosuke.

"Water Style?" Sarutobi Hakuba considered it for two seconds before agreeing outright.

"Let's do it! I'll deepen and widen the riverbed to try and hold them back."

Having just gone through a battle, he only had half his chakra left. But to stop this unit of Sand Ninja, he didn't intend to hold anything back.

Besides, since Sen Chisato wasn't in the intercepting position, the chances of escaping if they truly couldn't hold them back were quite high.

Even now, he was still thinking about Sen Chisato's safety.

Wait!

Sarutobi Hakuba suddenly realized, wasn't he the captain? How did that brat end up formulating the battle plan and issuing the orders?

Looking up, he saw that Sen Chisato and the others had already begun to act according to the plan.

"Well, whatever," Sarutobi Hakuba chuckled softly. "At any rate, the kid did a decent job."

Calculating his remaining chakra, he formed hand seals, created two Shadow Clones, and found a few rocks to hide behind.

Dozens of seconds later, on the opposite bank of the stream, the figures of the Sand Ninja emerged from the forest.