The mission this time is to find out the distribution of Kirigakure strongholds in this area.
They have completed the south one, and there are two more to go to the east and north.
The road is not far, but it is difficult to walk. There are bushes and gravel everywhere, and you have to take detours in some places.
Ebisu is walking at the front. He has the best sneaking skills and can detect the movement ahead in advance.
Genma Shiranui was walking in the middle, holding Senbon in his mouth, looking around.
Might Guy walked at the back, his steps were very light, not as light as a person of his size should be.
The stronghold in the east is larger than the one in the south, with about fifty people living there.
They lay down behind the bushes, and Ebisu drew a simple diagram in a notebook, marking the location of the tent, the location of the sentry, and several routes in and out.
Genma Shiranui counted the number of people and added a few strokes to the picture of Ebisu.
Might Guy was lying on the ground, staring at the movement in the stronghold through the gaps in the bushes. He saw two Kirigakure Ninja moving a box of things. The box was very heavy, and it was difficult for both of them to carry it.
He thought it was probably Explosive Tag or Kunai.
The northern stronghold is by a small river. It is the smallest of the three strongholds, with only about twenty people.
It was almost dark when they arrived, and the three of them sped up.
Ebisu drew pictures, Genma Shiranui had several people, and Might Guy stared at the movement, and they cooperated very well.
In less than half an hour, all the required information was collected.
"Okay."
"Mission accomplished."
Ebisu put the notebook into the backpack, zipped it up, and said, "Go back."
The three people returned along the original road.
It was already dark, the moon had not yet risen, and it was very dark in the woods.
But they didn't need to show off. They had walked this road twice, and with the blessing of ninja memory, they had already memorized it.
Ebisu walked at the front, walking much faster than during the day.
Might Guy walked at the back, thinking about what he wanted to talk to his father when he went back.
The woods widened in front, and the moonlight filtered down from the treetops, illuminating a patch of white on the ground.
Ebisu quickened his pace, walked out of the woods, and stepped into the moonlight.
Then he stopped.
His body stiffened for a moment, then he took a step back into the shadow of the woods.
Genma Shiranui and Might Guy also stopped.
In the open space outside the woods, there were seven people standing.
It is spread out, front and back, left and right, as if intentionally or unintentionally blocking all directions.
They were wearing Kirigakure uniforms, and each of them carried a knife on his waist.
Those knives are different from the ordinary Ninja Blade, each one has its own shape.
Some are wide, some are narrow, some are long, some are short, and some have barbs on them.
Seven people stood there, looking at the three teenagers in the woods.
Some people crossed their arms, some put their knives on their shoulders, some tilted their heads, and some leaned against the tree.
Their expressions are different, but their eyes are similar.
The look in your eyes when you see a prey, you don't have to worry or panic, because the prey can't run away.
"Oh oh oh."
The man standing at the front spoke with a loud voice and an exaggerated surprise.
"Isn't this Konoha's little ghost head?"
Standing at the front was a very tall man with dark yellow skin and his hair slicked back, exposing his forehead.
His face is long, with high cheekbones, deep eye sockets, thick lips, and upturned corners.
The knife on his waist is very large, with a broad blade, like an iron plate.
Biwa Jūzō Standing on the right is an extremely fat man with a face as round as a watermelon and short, brown hair that sticks to his scalp.
His eyes are very big, bulging like Toad.
He carried a large knife tightly wrapped in a white bandage on his back, with a dark blue blade exposed under the bandage and barbs on the blade.
That's the big sword·Samehada.
Suikazan Fuguki.
and...
Raiga Kurosuki: Kiba·Tooth
Kushimaru Kuriarare: Long knife·Nuibari
Jinin Akebino: Dull knife·Kabutowari
Munashi Jinpachi: Explosive knife·Shibuki
Hozuki Mangetsu: Double knife·Hiramekarei
Seven people, seven knives, seven shapes, seven murderous intentions.
The moonlight shines on those knives, and the reflected light is very cold.
"Forbearance...Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
Biwa Jūzō tilted his head and looked at the three teenagers in the woods. He put down Kubikiribōchō on his shoulders, poked the tip of the knife on the ground, and pressed the handle of the knife with both hands.
He turned his head and looked at Kushimaru Kuriarare next to him.
"OiO, oiO, oiO, are we already so famous? All the little devils in Konoha know us."
Kushimaru Kuriarare didn't speak, just snorted.
His eyes were still narrowed, but his hand was already on the handle of Nuibari.
Ebisu's lips were trembling. He wanted to say something, but his lips were trembling too much and he couldn't say a word.
His legs were shaking too, so much that he felt like he would sit down at any moment.
His hand touched the ninja tool bag, but he did not open it, because he knew that even if he opened it, took out Kunai from inside and threw it out, it would be useless.
Those are the seven strongest people Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Kirigakure, each of them has the strength of jounin or above, and each of them has killed many people.
There are three of them, one Genin, two Genin, not even Chunin.
Genma Shiranui's fingers clenched so tightly on Senbon that the knuckles turned white.
His eyes quickly scanned the seven people, from left to right, and from right to left.
The positions of the seven people standing are in front and behind. It is not a perfect circle. There is a gap between the left and right sides. It is very narrow, but it may be possible to get through.
He glanced at Ebisu and then at Kai. Ebisu was still shaking, Kai--
But...
It's hard to run away.
The difference in strength is too big.
Kai stood next to him, leaning forward slightly, clenching his hands into fists in front of him.
His eyes were fixed on Biwa Jūzō, staring at the Kubikiribōchō stuck on the ground.
His breathing was very erratic, different from usual training.
He knew he couldn't defeat these people. But he stood there and did not retreat.
Biwa Jūzō looked at the reactions of the three teenagers and raised the corners of his mouth even higher.
"That kid with Senbon in his mouth is quite calm." He looked at Ebisu again and laughed, "This is not good, my legs are shaking."
Ebisu's face turned red, but her legs were still shaking.
Biwa Jūzō looked at Kai again and looked up and down.
"The one in green clothes has a good posture. Have you practiced Taijutsu?"
Kai didn't answer. His fists clenched tighter.
Suikazan Fuguki spoke, his voice was very rough, as if something was stuck in his throat.
"Stop playing around. Kill these little devils. We received an order from Lord Kutsuki Baidiao to get rid of that old guy Mitokado Homura."
He took a step forward.
The ground shook slightly when he stepped forward. This is not an exaggeration, but his weight was too great. When he stepped on the ground, it felt like he was stepping on a drum.