Setting Out

This was the route jointly decided upon by both sides after careful consideration. An Elite Jonin personally led the team, but the large quantity of supplies slowed them down considerably.

"It will take about three days. That's assuming nothing unexpected happens. If we run into trouble along the way, it will take even longer."

Konoha's Jonin came from a prominent clan—the Aburame Clan—and had accompanied them to protect Uchiha You.

The Aburame Clan was considered one of Konoha's most prestigious families, known as insect users.

Wrapped in a black cloak, he stood beside Uchiha You. If he had not stayed so close to You, no one would have noticed him. He seemed more like an outsider drifting apart from the convoy.

"If we encounter danger, stay by my side. I will ensure your safety."

He was not good with words, but his actions showed that he would do everything in his power to protect You during this mission.

"Thank you, Aburame Jonin."

Aburame Hanfeng nodded lightly. Two insects crawled out from his body and settled on Uchiha You's shoulder, invisible to the naked eye.

"These two insects can track your location."

Only after all preparations were complete did Aburame Hanfeng return to the formation.

To the sound of wagons hauling supplies, they began traveling through the night.

It was easy to tell that the convoy was divided into two factions. Though this was a joint mission, the cooperation between them had not truly been established. Neither side dared entrust its back to the other.

Konoha's Jonin gathered the remaining ninja and had them guard the rear of the supplies, while Sand Village's Elite Jonin took the lead.

There was also a group of Elite Chunin around them. Rather than staying in the center of the wagons, they spread out to the sides under the mission's orders, allowing them to detect enemies in advance.

There was a vast amount of supplies. Losing them would be no small loss for either side.

They had already left the area patrolled by Konoha and entered the borderlands, where all kinds of uncertain dangers lurked.

Within the convoy, Uchiha Shuiyun did not remain with the main force. He had moved to the rear, staring ahead with jealous eyes at You, who was being personally protected by a Jonin.

"Just wait! After you defeated me, did you ever imagine this day would come? I'll make you suffer!"

After saying that, he merged into the darkness.

Ahead of the wagons was a group of ninja, Shuiyun's destination. Their leader stood atop a tree. Upon hearing movement in the distance, he immediately raised a hand to stop the ninja beside him from acting.

The Jonin used the Body Flicker Technique and arrived beside Uchiha Shuiyun. He despised this kind of traitor from the bottom of his heart, but his words still carried a measure of concern.

"You're much slower than I expected. Looks like there are quite a lot of goods."

"The battle will proceed as we discussed. We'll intercept the supplies, and as for what you requested, I'll personally see it done."

They were ninja from the Hidden Rain Village. They had come to the Land of Fire this time to ambush and kill their target.

They were a squad directly under Hanzo's command. Among them were four Jonin, and Salamander Pufferfish was even an Elite Jonin.

A cruel expression appeared on his face as he motioned for the ninja beside him to move forward.

Only after they left did Uchiha Shuiyun reveal a wild grin. His eyes brimmed with malice as he spoke with a sickly smile.

"Uchiha You! And that damned Uchiha Clan! Since you think I'm no longer of any use, I'll make you pay the price!"

Shuiyun's eyes were undergoing a transformation. His original One-Tomoe Sharingan was changing into a Two-Tomoe Sharingan through this spiritual metamorphosis!

An Uchiha in this state was at his most dangerous, trapped in some terrifying obsession.

At that moment, however, Uchiha Shuiyun felt an endless stream of power flooding into his body, the darkness in his heart magnified without limit.

The traveling group had yet to notice that anything was wrong.

As they passed through a forest, Sand Village's Elite Jonin halted and swept his gaze across the surroundings, raising a hand to stop the convoy.

"What happened?"

The Konoha ninja in the rear looked at him with puzzled expressions.

"Jiro hasn't reported in."

The Chunin stationed outside would return every ten minutes to report on the situation.

But this time, he was one minute late. That was enough to make Sand Village's Jonin hesitate.

There could be no oversight in a mission like this. If there was one, it could only mean that enemies had appeared.

The ninja immediately drew their kunai and gathered close together, watching the surroundings warily.

Sure enough, the very next second after his warning, a thin layer of pale mist spread through the forest.

"Hidden Mist Technique!"

Aburame Hanfeng recognized the nature of the mist. To prevent assassins from suddenly emerging, countless insects crawled out from his body, forming a black barrier around himself and You.

Because of his mission, Hanfeng had no intention of supporting his teammates.

A kunai shot straight out of the mist, aimed directly at Uchiha You.

Crack!

The insects blocked the kunai, then flung it forward. It embedded itself in a tree.

Boom!

"That was close..."

Uchiha You's pupils contracted. This was no ordinary kunai; an explosive tag had been tied to it, intended to ensure a killing blow.

The commotion drew the attention of the surrounding ninja. After identifying the direction from which the kunai had been thrown, the enemy no longer remained hidden.

"An Jonin is protecting you. Killing you won't be so easy after all."

A ninja dressed in a straw rain cape slowly emerged from the mist, deep-set eyes visible beneath his conical hat.

"Rain Ninja!"

No one had expected people from the Hidden Rain Village to appear along their supply route. They did not know who had leaked the news, but now was not the time to investigate.

A fierce battle was likely inevitable today.

Since the enemy dared step out from the shadows, their apparent combat strength was at least not inferior to the alliance between the two villages.

"Does the Hidden Rain Village intend to bear the wrath of two great ninja villages? I wonder whether that Hanzo of yours has the strength for it."

Sand Village's Elite Jonin released two puppets from a summoning scroll. Judging from his fighting style, he was a puppeteer.

"Lord Hanzo can naturally deal with two great ninja villages. Sand Village has always been the weakest village. If not for the One-Tail, what right do you have to call yourselves one of the Five Great Ninja Villages?"

The influence brought by reputation in the Shinobi World far exceeded imagination.

Many merchants chose major villages for their missions, leaving the other villages with only small jobs. Without money or resources, naturally, it was difficult to train ninja.

Now, under Hanzo's leadership, the Hidden Rain Village was confident that it could become a new one of the Five Great Ninja Villages!