Luring X: First Step

For the next stretch of time, Yue disappeared.

Even when patrolling with his father, he would slip away alone and head to the Land of Rain to carry out his plan.

His plan was simple: disguise himself as one of Akatsuki and provoke organizations that were not official forces of the Land of Rain.

During his time at the outpost, he had thoroughly figured out the village's border deployments. Before parting with Sousuke, the two had also avoided many routes in order to reach the outskirts of the Land of Grass's border safely. Furthermore, during his stay in the Land of Rain, he had gradually come to understand the country. As a result, Yue could easily travel back and forth between the two nations.

He left early and returned late.

One reason things went so smoothly was the Land of Grass's foreign policy.

To put it bluntly, Amegakure had never considered the Land of Grass a threat. Therefore, its defenses along the region bordering the Land of Grass were relatively lax.

As for Kusagakure, there was even less to say.

Along this entire stretch bordering the Land of Rain, there were only two frontline outposts.

That meant just two squads, a dozen or so people.

At first, Yue had continued scouting the area, looking for the right opportunity to strike.

Until one day, when the time was right, he took the first step.

It was a rainy afternoon, with drizzle falling without end.

A convoy was escorting a large number of people forward.

A closer look revealed that these people were ragged and mostly barefoot, seemingly refugees... young and old alike. Yet they were being driven along like livestock. There were seven or eight guards accompanying the convoy. Some wore forehead protectors, while others did not, but judging from their movements and equipment, they were clearly no ordinary people.

"Be careful. There's been word lately that Akatsuki members have been spotted around here."

"Several squads were ambushed before."

"Akatsuki?"

The convoy leader vigilantly scanned the surroundings.

But the air was thick with mist and rain, making it difficult to see clearly.

"Hm? I heard that Akatsuki Organization's current area of activity was..."

A man had only gotten halfway through his sentence when, as if guided by some unseen force, a shadow appeared behind him.

A sharp long blade rested against his neck.

With a wet slice.

The blade swept across, and the man fell at once.

"Enemy!"

The convoy leader reacted quickly, instantly throwing several kunai at the black figure flickering through the rain. Another companion nearby lunged forward as well, weapon in hand, exchanging several ringing blows with the mysterious attacker. Their blades clashed, scattering sparks.

But the enemy was agile and did not seem interested in a direct fight.

Using the confusion in visibility caused by the rain, he found an opening and immediately darted away.

He severely wounded another man, piercing his lower abdomen with the tip of his blade.

At that moment, everyone guarding the convoy rushed toward the enemy.

One rogue ninja used Earth Release, moving swiftly through the ground like a fish. In an instant, he reached beneath the black-clad man's feet and grabbed his ankle. At the same time, another man slashed down at him. Their cooperation achieved the desired result, and blood sprayed through the rain.

The mysterious black-clad man had been injured.

Yet he forcibly broke free from the ankle that had been restrained. After retreating several steps, he turned and fled without hesitation.

He had no intention of continuing the fight.

"Did you get a clear look?"

"I did. He really is one of Akatsuki... He's injured!"

"Chase him! Don't let him escape!"

Yue ran swiftly, his face cold and expressionless.

From time to time, he swung his injured arm, deliberately leaving blood behind to create the illusion that his wound was serious.

He had deliberately allowed himself to be injured in order to bait them.

The local forces within the Land of Rain now hated Akatsuki Organization to the bone, because Akatsuki's appearance had damaged their interests.

Moreover, he had repeatedly ruined this group's business. The boss behind them surely wanted nothing more than to get rid of him. This time, the number of guards had clearly increased, and their strength had improved considerably as well.

Yue also knew that for these hired men and rogue ninja, killing an Akatsuki member would earn them a considerable bounty.

He stopped and looked back. After waiting a moment and seeing the people behind him catch up through the curtain of rain, he resumed running.

After some time, he disappeared into a stretch of rolling hills in the distance.

"Boss, that's the Land of Grass ahead..."

One of the pursuers instinctively stopped and looked toward their leader.

"Why would an Akatsuki member run into the Land of Grass? Could this be an ambush?"

"The Land of Grass... Hmph, I think he's just panicking and running wherever he can. This is the border. You all know what the people of the Land of Grass are like—they might as well let anyone come and go. Judging by how much blood he's lost, he won't last much longer. If Amegakure finds him, he definitely won't have a good time."

"But... why is there only one Akatsuki member?"

"Is he trying to test us?"

"Kill this one first."

The leader pondered for a moment, not daring to waste any more time for fear that the man would get too far away.

With that, he took the lead and shot toward the Land of Grass.

The others immediately followed.

They seemed to hold little fear toward the Land of Grass.

On the other side, Yue had arrived in advance. Standing nearby was his father, Fuma Ryoma, who had been waiting there for him.

"They're coming."

Yue took off the Akatsuki clothes and stuffed them into his backpack.

At the same time, he wrapped his wound in bandages, disguising it.

"As expected... they really don't consider this another country's territory."

Yue said coldly.

Before long, several sounds approached through the woods.

The people pursuing him appeared one after another.

"The blood trail disappeared... Did he hide?"

"Search!"

The leader ordered.

They also saw the two Kusagakure ninja before them, one adult and one child.

"This is the territory of the Land of Grass. You gentlemen are not from the Land of Grass, are you?" Fuma Ryoma demanded.

"So what if we aren't?"

The leader sneered.

"If you are carrying out some special mission, please show documents from your village. If you are merely passing through the Land of Grass, use the proper road... You cannot trespass like this." Fuma Ryoma had already taken a combat stance. "By the rules, you are to be expelled."

"Heh."

The leader grinned. "We're looking for an injured man who ran here, dressed all in black. Once we find him, we'll leave on our own."

"Did you two see him?"

"Leave immediately!"

"Hey... Look here!"

Another man called out, pointing at the forehead protector on his brow.

A clear slash marked the forehead protector, emphasizing his identity as a rogue ninja.

Since he was a rogue ninja, the implication was already obvious.

After exchanging silent looks, Fuma Ryoma flung out his shuriken in the next instant.

"Kill them. Don't let them contact reinforcements."

The leader spoke viciously.

Clearly, he knew there had to be a Kusagakure outpost nearby.

There were five of them. Three had gone to search for the nonexistent "Akatsuki," so the situation now was two against two.