First Mission

Hidden Mist Village, ANBU Headquarters, Director's Office.

"Is it really okay for our squad to handle this mission?" Feng asked worriedly.

"Feng, don't worry. Their abilities are more than enough for this mission. Go!" Jian, the ANBU director and also the captain commander, replied with complete confidence.

Under normal circumstances, an ANBU squad consisted of one Jonin, one elite Chunin, and two Chunin. Yet Feng's Sixth Squad had an exceptional two Jonin. Feng understood that his squad's composition could be called luxurious among all ANBU squads, but two of its members were newcomers who had never carried out an ANBU mission. He still felt somewhat uneasy.

At the First Training Ground, Qing Si, Yagura, and Qian Nai were discussing their combat methods and abilities in detail, getting to know one another.

At that moment, Feng appeared before the three of them in a Body Flicker.

"Check your equipment. The mission location is the capital of the Land of Water. Gather at Passage Six in fifteen minutes. Dismissed!"

Upon hearing the order, they quickly dispersed. Qing Si put on his mask and gray Hidden Mist vest, then donned a dark cyan-black battle robe bearing the Hidden Mist insignia. Once he was ready, he swiftly ran toward the passage.

"Move out!" Feng ordered after the others arrived one after another.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Four sounds tore through the air, and the four figures vanished from where they stood.

"The mission was issued by the Land of Water's daimyo residence. The target is to secretly eliminate one of the Land of Water's generals. This involves political infighting within the capital, so Hidden Mist Village cannot intervene directly. Since the order was likely given personally by the daimyo, the assassination can only be carried out by us in the ANBU. We must not leave behind the slightest trace." While traveling, Feng explained the details of the mission to the three of them.

"We already have detailed intelligence on the target, but to be absolutely certain, we'll conduct another reconnaissance after reaching the capital." Feng spoke cautiously, unwilling to blindly trust the information supplied by the daimyo residence.

"Yes!" the three answered in unison.

Even the weakest among them was already a Chunin. Traveling at full speed, they needed only two days to reach the capital of the Land of Water by the following evening. As the city that controlled the economic lifeline of the Land of Water, it was exceptionally prosperous. Though it was already late, the streets remained bustling with voices.

"Rest for the night first. Tomorrow, we'll split up and gather intelligence." After casually finding an inn to stay at, Feng made the decision.

The four of them were here to carry out an assassination, and their target was an important figure in the Land of Water. To be safe, they had better not visit Hidden Mist Village's official office in the Land of Water. Although the ANBU also had a base in the capital, they likewise did not go there in order to leave behind no clues whatsoever.

The next day, after fully resting, the four began gathering intelligence.

Feng was responsible for personally scouting the defenses of the general's residence. Qing Si was responsible for planning the retreat route, while Yagura and Qian Nai were tasked with gathering information about the general himself.

Before long, Feng quietly returned. Qing Si, who had been observing the surrounding routes, also returned to their lodgings afterward.

"Did you find anything?" Qing Si asked.

"The defenses are extremely tight. Soldiers patrol everywhere, and warriors guard all the key locations. There should be ninjas lurking in the shadows as well. I was afraid of alerting them, so I didn't investigate too deeply. Tonight, we'll scout it again together. We'll need your and Yagura's sensory abilities." Feng's tone carried a hint of gravity.

With defenses this tight, silently completing the assassination and retreating without being discovered by the guards would be exceedingly difficult.

Around noon, Yagura and Qian Nai, who had gone out to gather intelligence, also returned.

"Our guess was right. There's a ninety-nine percent chance that the mission was personally issued by the daimyo!" Qian Nai opened with a bombshell.

"We learned from one of the Land of Water daimyo's trusted subordinates that this general and the daimyo had been repeatedly arguing lately. The general controlled a large number of troops and privately maintained quite a few warriors, posing a tangible threat to the daimyo's rule. On top of that, their political views were completely opposed, so the daimyo wanted to use Hidden Mist Village to get rid of him," Yagura added.

"So that's how it is! It seems this general is also afraid that the daimyo will make a move against him in secret. No wonder his residence is defended so tightly!" Feng's expression turned unpleasant.

"Damn daimyo!" Feng, who came from the ANBU, was loyal only to the Mizukage and held no respect for the daimyo.

Unable to reach a conclusion, they decided to wait until night and scout the general's residence once more before making further plans.

After nightfall, Feng led Qing Si and Yagura quietly into the general's residence.

Three dark figures lay silently prone atop the roof of the guardhouse by the side gate of the general's residence. Feng signaled Qing Si and Yagura with his eyes to begin sensing.

Yagura formed hand seals with both hands. His chakra fluctuated slightly as his sensory ability rapidly spread over the general's residence.

Qing Si's movements were even simpler. He half-closed his eyes and remained still as the chakra throughout his body gradually became active. He pressed the joined index and middle fingers of his right hand against a roof tile. In an instant, the situation within the general's residence appeared in Qing Si's mind as though he had gained a god's-eye view.

Ninja Art: Chakra Sensory Technique!