Xuan Zhe nodded. "I get it. You're saying the Hokage sent that guy to kill us."
"That's right."
"Then there's no point hiding. Even if we die, we'll take one of them down with us." Xuan Zhe gritted his teeth. "I'll sound him out first. He probably won't attack me outright. And don't even think about running. If you try anything, you'll be the first one I deal with, and your companions won't survive either."
"My companions?" Shan Zhi frowned. "Aren't they your men?"
"Of course they're my men. They're all our brothers." With that, Xuan Zhe stepped forward. "All right, let's move."
Shan Zhi said no more. He knew running now would do no good.
The others followed Xuan Zhe east through Konoha. Soon, they reached the wall beneath the east gate. It stood over ten meters tall, built entirely of massive stones. It looked sturdy enough to withstand fierce winds and waves.
Xuan Zhe stopped. "Shan Zhi, let's hide here. I'm betting that mysterious man won't find his way over."
"That's our only option." Shan Zhi nodded, then added, "But we can't just sit around waiting."
"How about this? Take me east, and we'll find those companions of yours first. Have them send word to your father. If he's willing to join forces with us, why should we fear some mysterious man?" Xuan Zhe said bluntly.
"All right, I'll lead the way," Shan Zhi agreed.
At eight the following night, the six of them finally stopped beside a stream west of Konoha.
Shan Zhi plopped down on the ground and said to Xuan Zhe and another man, "Let's rest here for a bit."
"All right, Shan Zhi." The man answered, then asked tentatively, "But do you really think that man is your master?"
"Hard to say, but it's