Qifeng returned to his residence.
He did not actually have much to prepare. Everything he needed was on him, whether ninja tools or Ration Pills. Over the past two months, he had acquired countless supplies. He believed that even if he went out for a month, he would not starve to death.
The only reason he had returned was to use up today's corpse-looting attempts.
Ever since learning his lesson last time, he generally saved three attempts for the evening. If no special corpses were delivered, he would simply search through a white corpse.
He had no idea how many days this mission would take, so he might as well use them all and avoid wasting them.
No matter how small a mosquito was, it was still meat.
He did not really want to leave Konoha, leave the Morgue and this comfortable life. He just wanted to keep idling away like this, preferably without ever being sent to the battlefield during the Third Great Ninja War.
But since this mission concerned the corpses of Konoha Ninja, he was not quite as resistant to it.
He only hoped the mission would go as Hiruzen Sarutobi had said, without any accidents.
After putting away his item rewards, he arrived at Konoha's Great Gate, where Kakashi and two other ninjas had already been waiting for some time.
"You're late," Kakashi said expressionlessly.
"Hehe, sorry, sorry. I accidentally lost my way on the road of life," Qifeng explained with a foolish grin, borrowing one of Kakashi's future "profound sayings."
"..."
Kakashi snorted and could not be bothered to argue over the matter any further.
Qifeng had actually been looking forward to seeing his expression change. When he noticed Kakashi's eye twitch slightly, he secretly shook his head.
No matter how cold Kakashi tried to act, he was still only a child. A very talented child.
"The mission is urgent. We'll discuss the details on the way."
With that, after presenting his proof of departure from the village, Kakashi took off first.
Qifeng and the other two followed close behind.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had already briefly explained the mission's general contents. Their conversation was mostly about getting to know one another.
Aside from Kakashi, Qifeng gained a certain understanding of the other two ninjas.
The male ninja was Ito Ki, a Chunin and a sensory-type ninja who had completed five missions with Kakashi.
The female ninja was Imai Kuriyama, a Genin and a Medical Ninja who had completed three missions with Kakashi.
So, the people who teamed up with Kakashi either could not stand his personality and methods and left, or they had died during missions.
Influenced by the suicide of his father, Konoha White Fang Hatake Sakumo, Kakashi had become obsessively devoted to missions. In his eyes, missions came before everything else, and ninjas who failed to complete their missions were trash.
It was precisely because of this that Danzo believed the current Kakashi was better suited for Root. He could help Kakashi perfectly release the darkness in his heart.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi firmly believed that Kakashi's heart was still full of sunlight. He merely needed someone to open that window.
The sun set, and the moon rose.
Traveling at full speed, the four-person squad arrived at the eastern border of the Land of Fire.
"The closer we get to the border, the more dangerous it becomes. Ki, scouting is up to you."
As the captain, Kakashi began assigning everyone's responsibilities.
"Alright."
"Kuriyama, if a fight breaks out, avoid direct combat as much as possible and look for opportunities to provide support."
"Understood."
After giving instructions to the two of them, Kakashi glanced at the honest-looking Qifeng and pressed his lips together. "Use your own judgment. It would be best if you can restrain one person."
"Got it."
Qifeng naturally had no objections.
"I'll handle the front," Kakashi declared, taking on the most difficult part himself.
With a sweep of his hand, he left the Land of Fire.
The group gradually slowed down, recovering their stamina as they advanced.
Elsewhere.
Within a forest in the Land of Hot Water, four mist ninja dressed in dark ninja attire suddenly appeared.
"These Konoha Ninja can really run. They were heavily wounded by Lord Jinin Akebino, yet they still managed to flee ashore."
"They were already at death's door. They might even be dead by now. We just need to retrieve the intelligence and complete the mission."
"The intelligence this time probably isn't simple. If Lord Suikazan Fuguki hadn't restrained them, Konoha would have already surrounded and wiped us out."
The mist ninja stood atop the trees, joking with one another. They seemed to feel little pressure about entering the Land of Hot Water.
After all, while the Land of Hot Water had a decent amount of territory, the Hidden Mist Village was truly not much of a force in the entire Shinobi World.
"Shut up!"
One mist ninja who had been crouching on a tree while wiping a longsword stood and spoke. The others immediately fell silent.
The gleaming blade reflected a chilling cold light beneath the moonlight.
Clang!
The longsword slid back into its sheath.
His eyes were filled with frost as he said in a low voice, "Find those Konoha Ninja, retrieve the intelligence, and leave!"
Given the current relationship between Konoha and Kirigakure, once they were discovered, they might truly never make it back.
If Suikazan Fuguki had not kept Konoha's ninjas occupied, their operation would never have gone so smoothly.
"Finding them won't be hard. I could smell that bloody stench from far away."
"Hehe, Konoha isn't as familiar with the smell of blood as we are."
"It's here!"
At a secluded tree hollow, four figures appeared.
They were Qifeng's group of four.
They looked at the tree hollow with complicated expressions.
Outside the hollow, a highly concealed special marker had been carved. This was a special mark Konoha Ninja received whenever they went on missions, and it was also part of the information that had led them here.
Ito Ki shook his head grimly.
Seeing his reaction, the others' expressions grew increasingly unpleasant.
They were already dead.
Kakashi stepped forward, disarmed several traps set outside the hollow, and entered. Inside, he saw the corpses of three Konoha Ninja.
"Qifeng, come in."
At his words, Qifeng entered as well.
Three ninja corpses, their bodies covered in blood, lay amid pools of steadily flowing blood. Their bodies were covered in blade wounds, including several fatal injuries.
To escape from Kirigakure to the Land of Hot Water with such injuries, they had already reached their limits.
Qifeng also saw yellow and green points of light flickering on their corpses.
It had been a squad composed entirely of Jonin and Chunin. They had probably all excelled in sensory abilities and stealth; otherwise, infiltrating Kirigakure would not have been easy.
At the same time, Qifeng noticed that one of the Chunin had the Flame Fan of the Uchiha Clan embroidered on his clothes.
"Someone's here!"
Before he could store the corpses, Ito Ki, who was outside the tree hollow, immediately shouted.
Qifeng's expression changed. Without time to think, he quickly took out a Sealing Scroll and stored the three corpses.
He cautiously exited the tree hollow and saw Kakashi's group of three standing ready for battle.
"Did you store them?" Kakashi asked in a low voice.
Qifeng merely nodded.
"Go!"
Without hesitation, the four of them turned and left at the same time.
Their mission was to bring back the corpses, not confront hostile ninjas head-on. Now that they had found the bodies, retreating to the Land of Fire's border would mean safety.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
But before they had gone far, several sharp gusts shot toward them from behind. Rapidly spinning shuriken sealed off the four of their footholds.
They had no choice but to stop.
They stood on the ground with their backs against one another, guarding against a sudden attack.
Whoosh!
Four mist ninja appeared in the trees around them, their icy gazes locking onto the group.
There was no conversation, no discussion. When ninjas from different villages met, there was only one outcome: battle!
It would not end until one side had been completely killed.
"Fight!"
Kakashi made his decision immediately. Without waiting for a response, he charged forward at incredible speed.
Ito Ki and Imai Kuriyama followed close behind. They needed to create an opportunity for Qifeng to escape the encirclement.
"Heh, so they're just a bunch of Konoha brats."
Kusaribe Yamato chuckled as he calmly drew his ninja blade in the face of Kakashi's charge.
But the next second, his expression changed.
Kakashi's speed suddenly surged. With the ninja blade White Fang in hand, he became a streak of silver light. Killing intent burst forth as he clearly intended to exploit the mist ninja's contempt and swiftly kill one of them.
However, while he was fast, someone else was no slower. A mist ninja wielding a longsword blocked his path. It was the leader of this mist ninja squad, Tsukishiro Shin'ya.
Staring at the White Fang in Kakashi's hand, his expression was exceptionally excited. "You're the son of White Fang, aren't you? Konoha's prodigy?"
At the same time, Ito Ki and Imai Kuriyama clashed with the mist ninja in an instant.
Naturally, Qifeng was no exception.
The mist ninja who had just been Kakashi's target met him, his face twisted viciously.
"I didn't expect a bunch of Konoha brats to have some ability."
"You're not bad yourself." Qifeng assumed a stance.
Hearing the compliment, Kusaribe Yamato smiled freely.
"Our Bloody Mist isn't like your Konoha—"
Before he could finish, he saw Qifeng retreat without hesitation, running away as fast as he could.
"Damn it!"
Kakashi had said it himself. Qifeng did not need to do anything; restraining one person would be best.
This was the very essence of restraint!
Before you continue