Rogue Ninja of Hidden Mist

"Teacher Kurenai Yuhi was urgently recalled to Konoha last night for another mission, so I'll be leading this mission alone. Understood?"

Early the next morning, Kakashi Hatake announced the news on the spot when they gathered.

"Got it." Kiba Inuzuka listlessly scratched Akamaru beside him.

"Understood." Shino Aburame was as sparing with words as ever.

"We'll do our best, Teacher Kakashi!" Hinata Hyuga still looked like a little angel.

"Master Tazuna, there are no towns or villages on the road from Hot Springs Town to the coast. The people trying to assassinate you will most likely lie in ambush along the way, so for safety's sake, please refrain from drinking." Kakashi Hatake spoke calmly.

"Alright, alright." Tazuna loosened his grip on the flask he had just picked up. The journey was long, and he had specially bought some loose-brewed sake. It seemed he would not get to enjoy it after all.

The group left Hot Springs Town and headed toward the coast.

The Land of Waves was an island nation, so they needed to take a boat to get there. The road leading to the coast was an uninhabited region, with almost no one passing through except merchant caravans year-round.

For the genin, who were venturing so far outside the village for the first time, everything drew their curious gazes.

Kiba Inuzuka rode Akamaru at the very front, since the big dog was brimming with energy.

Shino Aburame sent his insects out to collect pollen. Even Hinata Hyuga was captivated by the lush scenery.

Over on Team 7's side, Naruto Uzumaki was bouncing around like a monkey.

Sasuke Uchiha and Qingchuan Tianming, meanwhile, had an entirely different style.

Tianming's attention remained spread across the surroundings. He was not watching the scenery, but every movement around them.

Sasuke Uchiha simply found all the leaping about boring. But seeing Tianming being so serious, he began trying to sense the surroundings as well.

"Teacher Kakashi, everyone, please wait a moment." At that moment, Shino Aburame suddenly spoke up.

"What is it?" Everyone stopped and turned back in confusion.

Shino Aburame snapped his fingers, and the insects he had released into the nearby forest flew back.

"The moisture is wrong. The humidity is wrong." Shino Aburame slowly said as he looked at an insect on his fingertip.

"Shino, are you acting weird again?" Kiba Inuzuka grumbled from up ahead.

The two had never gotten along particularly well. Kiba Inuzuka thought Shino Aburame was a gloomy guy who played with disgusting bugs.

Shino Aburame ignored Kiba Inuzuka's jab and walked over to Kakashi Hatake. "Teacher Kakashi, the plants on both sides of the road have been flourishing all along our journey, but the issue is the moisture. Although the vegetation here is dense, the air is dry."

"In other words, this environment should not allow the insects to come into contact with so much water." Shino Aburame adjusted his sunglasses as he analyzed the situation.

Kakashi Hatake understood instantly and hurriedly shouted at Kiba Inuzuka ahead, "Danger!"

At that moment, sharp whistling sounds tore through the air as countless kunai and shuriken shot out from the forest.

Before Kiba Inuzuka could react, Akamaru pushed off with all four legs and leaped out of the attack range.

The spot where Akamaru had just been standing was instantly filled with concealed weapons.

"Kiba Inuzuka, get behind me." Kakashi Hatake stepped forward, frowning as he stared solemnly at the white mist suddenly gathering ahead. "The enemy is here! Prepare for battle!"

Upon receiving the order, the seven genin each pulled shuriken from their packs and readied themselves.

Tianming's gaze shifted. Suddenly, he wanted to see what Kakashi looked like when he was sliced apart.

"Oh my, oh my. It was quite troublesome when you were hiding in Konoha, but I never expected you to deliver yourself right to our door." The mist gradually dispersed ahead, revealing four figures. The leader held a sickle blade and wore a mocking expression.

"They're ninja." Tazuna immediately panicked.

Kakashi Hatake narrowed his eyes at the four figures in the mist. "Judging by your appearance, are you rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist Village?"

Rogue ninja! A problem every nation had to contend with.

Some ninja, driven by selfish desires, betrayed their own ninja way and committed evil across the Five Great Nations. These were rogue ninja, thorns in the eyes of every hidden village.

"Oho, the Konoha jonin has sharp eyes. But are you really carrying out a mission with these little brats? Or did you come out for a spring picnic?" The Hidden Mist rogue ninja licked his cracked lips, looking utterly confident that he had them all in hand.

"Stop looking down on us! We're ninja too!" Naruto Uzumaki said angrily.

"You rogue ninja will regret underestimating us, right, Akamaru?" Kiba Inuzuka was also seething after nearly being caught off guard.

"Then let's begin. Taking care of you will let us report back." At the rogue ninja leader's command, the three rogue ninja behind him attacked from different directions.

"So fast!" Kakashi Hatake muttered in surprise as two iron chains lashed toward him from an extremely strange angle.

Clang!

Kakashi Hatake drew a shuriken and, in a flash, jammed it against the chains before driving it into the ground. The immense pulling force dragged the two Hidden Mist ninja toward him, and Kakashi Hatake kicked each of them away.

"As expected of a Konoha jonin." The two suffered no serious injuries from the kicks. They turned into mist and vanished once more.

On the other side, mist gathered behind the isolated Tazuna, and a large hand reached out.

"Trying to grab someone right in front of me? Aren't you getting ahead of yourself?" Tianming snorted coldly, and the shuriken in his hand shot out!