Son of a Noble?

How could a noble's son have chakra inside him?

And such special chakra at that?

There was definitely something wrong here.

After all, the so-called nobles of the Land of Fire were nothing more than ordinary people with no talent for being shinobi.

"Yuichi, stay close to these ninja brothers and sisters, understand?" another samurai said, crouching down and patting the boy's head, his tone carrying a trace of barely perceptible gentleness.

Fujii Yuta nodded and said softly, "I understand, Uncle Kuroda."

The two samurai gave Yamashiro Aoba a few more instructions, nothing more than telling him to be careful on the road and ensure the "young master's" safety, before hurrying away.

"All right, let's move out." Yamashiro Aoba glanced at Fujii Yuta, then at Lan, and said in a low voice, "Our destination is White Scale Valley on the border. We still have two days of travel. Everyone, stay alert."

"White Scale Valley?" When Lan heard the name, his gaze narrowed slightly.

He had some impression of that place.

During the Second Shinobi World War, it had been a strategic stronghold repeatedly contested by the Land of Fire and the Hidden Stone Village.

It was said that the terrain there was complicated, the valleys deep and secluded, and... quite a few things left behind from the war were buried there.

They were sending a "noble's son" to a place like that?

This mission was getting more and more suspicious.

The team set out again.

With Fujii Yuta added this time, the atmosphere in the team became even more stifling.

Inuzuka Tsume and Aburame Shibi were clearly still brooding over what had happened yesterday, and neither said much along the way.

Yamashiro Aoba constantly watched the surrounding environment, seeming somewhat tense.

Fujii Yuta kept his head lowered the whole time, silently following in the middle of the team. Occasionally, he would secretly glance at Lan, his eyes carrying a trace of curiosity and fear.

Lan still walked at the very front. He looked careless, but in truth, his ki perception remained on maximum alert at all times.

He could sense that ever since they left the small-town outpost, several vague gazes had been spying on them from the shadows.

The owners of those gazes had hidden themselves well, and their chakra fluctuations were also very faint. They were clearly scouts who had received professional training.

"Looks like this 'escort' mission really isn't simple after all," Lan said, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smile.

Who were these scouts coming for?

Were they coming for their Hidden Leaf Village squad?

Or... were they coming for this "noble's son," Fujii Yuta?

The answer was obvious.

At dusk, they made camp in an abandoned cave.

Yamashiro Aoba lit a bonfire, Inuzuka Tsume took out rations and distributed them to everyone, while Aburame Shibi set up Parasitic Destruction Insects around the cave as a perimeter alarm.

Fujii Yuta took the rations and ate in small bites, seeming a little restrained.

"Hey, brat," Inuzuka Tsume could not help saying to Lan, "why are you so quiet today? Not as arrogant as yesterday?"

Lan glanced at her and said nothing.

Talking to this kind of "trash" was simply a waste of time.

Inuzuka Tsume got nowhere and snorted coldly, no longer paying him any attention.

Night deepened.

According to their previous "agreement," Yamashiro Aoba would keep watch for the first half of the night, Inuzuka Tsume from midnight until dawn, and Aburame Shibi for the final shift.

Lan found a corner far from the bonfire, sat cross-legged, and began to train.

He did not open the "Gate of Opening." He only silently circulated the Saiyan Chakra in his body, familiarizing himself with the feeling after ki and chakra had merged.

At the same time, his ki perception always covered the entire cave, as well as the area within a hundred meters around it.

Suddenly, his perception caught two faint chakra fluctuations approaching the cave.

It was Yamashiro Aoba and the boy called Fujii Yuta.

Lan did not open his eyes and merely continued "training," but his attention focused on them.

"Are you all right?" Yamashiro Aoba's voice was very low, his tone calm.

"...I'm fine." Fujii Yuta's voice was somewhat hoarse.

"Everything has already been arranged over at White Scale Valley. Once you arrive, someone will receive you," Yamashiro Aoba continued. "You may run into some 'trouble' on the road, but don't worry. We will protect your safety."

"Trouble?" Fujii Yuta's voice carried a trace of trembling. "Is it... is it people from the Hidden Stone Village?"

"...Maybe." Yamashiro Aoba fell silent for a moment, then said, "But you don't need to worry. Those people are only coming to 'test' things a little. They won't really do anything to you."

"Test..." Fujii Yuta repeated the word softly, his tone filled with unease.

"You only need to cooperate with us and play the role of the 'noble's son' well." Yamashiro Aoba patted his shoulder. "This is the decision of the village's higher-ups. For the sake of the Hidden Leaf Village, we have wronged you."

"I understand..." Fujii Yuta's voice was so low it was almost inaudible.

The two said a few more words, then Yamashiro Aoba turned and left.

Fujii Yuta stood alone in the corner, looking at the night sky outside the cave, his small figure seeming especially lonely.

In another corner of the cave, Lan slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze was cold, and the corner of his mouth carried a trace of mockery.

"So that's how it is."

White Scale Valley, the Hidden Stone Village's secret armory.

A noble's son, the bait.

A joint decision by Lord Hokage and Lord Danzo.

When all of this was connected, the truth became very obvious.

The so-called "escort mission" was nothing but a trap.

And their temporary squad, himself included, was merely part of this plan.

Heh, I'm afraid this Aoba doesn't know the full picture either. That old fox the Third, and Danzo too... Lan sneered inwardly.

Using a child as bait. Trust them to come up with that.

Lan turned his gaze toward Fujii Yuta in the corner.

That boy looked only about ten years old.

Was he really doing this willingly?

Or... had he been forced?

More likely, he was an orphan brainwashed by Root.

Lan thought of his own parents.

They had also been sacrificed.

For the Hidden Leaf Village.

What a grand and righteous excuse.

And now, they were going to use another child's safety to exchange for the so-called "interests of the Hidden Leaf Village"?

A nameless anger quietly rose in Lan's heart.

It was not because he had been treated like a pawn.

It was because this act of using a child made him feel disgusted.

"Hidden Leaf Village... Will of Fire..." Lan murmured softly, his eyes filled with disdain.

He stood and walked toward Fujii Yuta.

Fujii Yuta heard the footsteps and was startled. He quickly turned around, and when he saw that it was Lan, his face turned even paler. He subconsciously took a step back.

"What... what do you want?" he asked nervously.

Lan did not speak. He only looked at him quietly.

Under the gaze of the One-Tomoe Sharingan, all of Fujii Yuta's subtle expressions had nowhere to hide.

Fear, unease, and a trace of deeply hidden... despair.

"You're not some noble's son," Lan suddenly said, his voice flat, yet carrying an unquestionable force.

Fujii Yuta's whole body shook, and his face instantly turned as pale as paper.

"I... I don't know what you're talking about..." he stammered, his eyes dodging.