Ambush

Konoha Main Gate

Eiji, Tsunade, and Kushina were waiting there.

The sound of horses' hooves came from afar, and soon a magnificent carriage came into view, with warriors in fine armor riding alongside. Finally, the coachman slowed down and stopped the carriage in front of everyone.

The curtain of the carriage compartment was lifted, and a dignified young woman with long, straight black hair lightly jumped down from the carriage. The person who came was Imagawa Sayuri.

"Miss Kushina, Eiji, Lady Tsunade, we meet again."

After bowing deeply, Sayuri explained the purpose of her visit.

Mito Uzumaki contacted the Daimyo to explain that Kushina would also be participating in this Bride Training.

Upon learning that Eiji was also in Konoha, Sayuri made a request, so her father, Imagawa Yoshiteru, allowed Sayuri to go with him in the carriage.

After exchanging pleasantries, Sayuri expressed her deep admiration for Eiji's achievements during the Raikage's attack on Konoha, and also conveyed her father's wish that Eiji would have the opportunity to visit the Daimyo's Palace.

Then, Kushina and Sayuri boarded the carriage together.

"Eiji, Tsunade- neechan, please be careful over there too!"

Kushina poked her head out of the carriage and waved to the two of them.

"Don't worry, I don't need to say anything. Eiji is quite capable too."

Tsunade said, ruffling Eiji's hair.

"As for you, there's no need to be so humble just to pass the test. If they knew you were Eiji's fiancée, they might all try to curry favor with you. Use his name when necessary, don't hide it. If all else fails, just shut them up with your fists!"

"Yes, I will!"

Kushina finished speaking, she clenched her little fist and made a fighting gesture.

As the horses neighed loudly, the carriage, accompanied by the sounds of hooves and wheels rolling on the ground, gradually disappeared from sight.

"So, next up is the young lady's academic journey? Don't you think it'll be a very interesting experience?"

Tsunade looked at Eiji and teased him.

"I don't think this means anything to Kushina, and does the Ninja world really need these things?"

Eiji shrugged.

Honestly, he couldn't imagine Kushina quietly serving her husband tea and wine like Sayuri; he just hoped she wouldn't be too fierce when she was angry.

"If you say these things in front of Kushina, she might beat you up."

"Tsunade will keep this a secret, right?"

"That's hard to say."

Then Tsunade and Eiji exchanged a glance, and she placed her hand on Eiji's shoulder.

"Alright, it's getting late. We should head back to the Frontline. If we delay any longer, the number of wounded might increase significantly."

Eiji nodded, and the two figures instantly disappeared through the Konoha Main Gate.

◇

Five horse-drawn carriages loaded with goods traveled along a deserted path in the woods.

The rustling and clattering sounds of the wheels crushing fallen leaves and mud filled the air as a dozen or so Ninjas in green jackets and Konoha Forehead Protector followed the carriage procession on foot, looking rather bored.

"Ugh, so boring--"

A tall, thin, and seemingly young Konoha Ninja yawned, then put his hands behind his head and grumbled.

"Stop complaining. Compared to Ninjas fighting on the Frontline, transporting goods in the rear can earn you merits. This is a pretty easy job."

A middle-aged Ninja glanced at him and said, "If you look closely, you can see a scar on his face. According to him, he was accidentally cut by the enemy during an escort mission."

"But you can't make much money this way. I do this to earn money."

"Alright, stop complaining. This shipment is extremely important. If anything goes wrong... Hey, are you trying to break it by sitting on it like that?"

"Uh, sorry, I'll be right down."

The Ninja was sitting cross-legged on top of the goods covered by burlap when he heard what the captain said, so he jumped off the carriage and onto the ground.

The carriage emitted a series of crisp, clanging sounds.

"Be careful, those are precious medical supplies. It would be a big problem if they broke."

The Konoha Ninja driving ahead gave a warning.

"Let's get it to its destination quickly, then hurry back to Konoha to continue transporting the next batch of goods—uh!"

Before the coachman could finish speaking, a Shuriken flew out of the forest at high speed and struck him precisely in the temple!

Blood splattered on his head, and the Konoha Ninja instantly lost consciousness and fell from his horse to the ground.

"What? Enemies?!"

All the Konoha Ninjas tensed up instantly, and then Shuriken rained down from the Forest, turning two more Konoha Ninjas into pincushions in an instant!

The horse neighed and was about to flee when a Kunai pierced its forehead, killing it instantly. The horse collapsed to its knees!

The air was thick with the suffocating stench of blood. In just a few dozen seconds, only the tall, thin young Konoha Ninja remained standing.

All the Compatriots he had just been chatting with had died tragically. He could even see one of them with his eyes open, looking as if he had died with his eyes wide open.

He drew his Kunai from his waist and held it in front of him, glancing around as cold sweat dripped down his forehead.

"Who are you? Show yourself!"

As his voice fell, twenty or thirty figures suddenly emerged from the forest, dressed in gray-brown ninja outfits and wearing Sand Village ninja headbands.

A large number of Sand Village ninjas appeared before him, making him instantly realize that he had no chance of winning.

"Damn it, you Sunagakure, how did you find out our transport route!?"

A Sand Village ninja carrying a huge ninja sword (note: this is not the Executioner's Blade) emerged from the crowd. He had long black hair combed back and red markings painted on both sides of his face, and his expression was indifferent.

"You no longer need to know, because this war will be a resounding victory for Sunagakure."

He reached up and took the Ninja Blade from his back, gripped it tightly with both hands, and raised it high above his head.

One knife fell--

Blood splattered everywhere, and flocks of Crows cried out as they flew up from the forest into the sky.

After Sunagakure attacked Konoha's transport convoy, Sunagakure began inspecting the goods on the wagons.

When the burlap lining was lifted, a large quantity of medicines, packaged in glass bottles, gleamed in the sunlight and jingled softly.

"Hey, another batch of medical supplies, lucky me!"

The Sand Village ninja who stepped forward to investigate smirked slightly.

"As expected of Lord Saki, this is the third batch already! If we destroy these medical supplies, Konoha will be helpless against our poison!"

A Sand Village ninja took out a bottle of anesthetic, tossed it high into the air, caught it with his hand, and said something.

"Lord Saki truly deserves to be called a hero of our Sunagakure. With Lord Saki's intellect and Chiyo Chiyo's concocted poison, and with the strongest Kazekage, the Lord Third, overseeing the rear, our Sunagakure is sure to achieve victory this time!"