Disturbance at the Border

After returning to the Anbu dormitory, Ling's unease did not fade. He checked that the doors and windows were shut, then set up a simple alarm barrier around the room-something he had learned from the Sealing Squad's basic textbooks during his recovery.

He kept the Jōgan's passive perception at its lowest level of consumption, like an invisible net covering the room and its surroundings. After the ordeal of the Land of Rain mission and his deliberate practice during this period, Ling had become quite adept at controlling this passive perception, allowing him to monitor his surroundings for long stretches without excessively draining his mental energy.

He sat at his desk with a report borrowed from the archives spread before him, detailing the geography of the Land of Fire's borders and a summary of recent unusual incidents. This was his habit-between missions, he learned as much as possible about terrain that might become a battlefield and potential threats.

But at that moment, his attention was not entirely on the report.

That fleeting, malicious scrutiny at the edge of the training ground was like a tiny thorn lodged in his heart. It had been too well concealed, so well that even a veteran Anbu like Fox seemed not to have noticed. Without the Jōgan's unique sensitivity to energy, he would have dismissed it as his imagination too.

Was it the remnants of Root? If so, their surveillance methods were far too sophisticated. Or... had another force begun watching him too? Akatsuki? The force that mysterious man belonged to? Or the organization behind the gray-clad man that supposedly sought to "revive ancient powers"?

There were too many possibilities and too little information to judge. Ling gently rubbed between his brows, feeling slightly fatigued. The aching pressure inside his eyes had yet to fade completely, reminding him of the price of power.

He decided to set the question aside for now. Whoever lurked in the shadows, improving his strength and vigilance could never hurt. Rather than passively guessing, he would prepare himself and meet whatever came.

Over the next few days, training proceeded as planned. Fox arranged more targeted team exercises, ranging from basic offensive and defensive coordination to reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance, infiltration and withdrawal in complex environments. The coordination between Ling, Xi, and Azure Phoenix, who participated remotely through a special communication device, steadily improved with each drill.

Xi's performance particularly surprised Ling. Although she lacked systematic ninja combat training, the Uzumaki Clan's naturally enormous chakra reserves and fine sensitivity to energy allowed her to play an unexpectedly effective supporting role. She could detect distant enemies gathering chakra in advance and determine the type and approximate trajectory of their ninjutsu; she could precisely sense the energy nodes of barriers and traps; she could even interfere with an opponent's chakra perception to a degree through subtle vibrations in her own chakra-a trick that had caught even Fox at a slight disadvantage during training.

"Your sensory talent surpasses even that of many outstanding ninja from the Hyuga Clan," Fox remarked after one training session, undisguised approval in her voice. "If you combine it with systematic ninjutsu study and taijutsu training, you'll become an exceptional sensory ninja."

A faint blush rose on Xi's face. Receiving recognition from a veteran Anbu like Fox was an enormous encouragement to her. "I'll work even harder."

Ling benefited greatly as well. Working with Xi allowed him to focus more of his attention on combat itself, bringing out the Sharingan's advantages in close combat and tactical insight. At the same time, he tried sharing his understanding of precise chakra control with Xi, helping her use her enormous reserves more efficiently.

However, their peaceful training routine did not last long.

Five days later, in the early hours of the morning, an emergency assembly signal came directly into Ling's room through the Communication Talisman. It contained only a brief command: "Return immediately."

Ling snapped awake, changed into his Anbu uniform as quickly as possible, put on his mask, and rushed toward the squad's designated assembly point-Tactical Room Seven on the third underground level of Anbu headquarters.

When he arrived, Fox and Xi were already there. Azure Phoenix's image was also projected onto the wall through a communication technique formula. The atmosphere was grave.

"We just received an urgent report from the border patrol." Fox wasted no words and went straight to the point, activating the holographic map in the center of the tactical room. The map lit up, displaying the detailed terrain along the Land of Fire's northeastern border.

"Approximately three hours ago, border outpost B-7, located on the boundary between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fire, failed to make its routine communication. Fifteen minutes later, the backup emergency channel received a final, incomplete message from the outpost: 'Encountered unknown enemy... energy... erosion... requesting reinfor...' Communication then cut out."

On the holographic map, the point representing B-7 Outpost turned a glaring red.

"A rapid-response squad reached the outskirts of the outpost an hour and a half later and found it completely engulfed in a... peculiar gray mist. Any squad member who tried entering the mist experienced rapid chakra loss and mental lethargy. The mist itself also caused severe interference, rendering conventional sensory methods almost useless. The squad found signs of battle around the perimeter, but no bodies or traces of the ten ninja stationed inside."

"Gray mist... chakra erosion..." Azure Phoenix's projected image murmured thoughtfully. "It sounds like some kind of barrier or poisonous-mist ninjutsu, but making an entire border squad vanish without a sound is no ordinary feat."

"According to the intelligence department's preliminary analysis," Fox continued, "the mist's characteristics do not match any known ninjutsu used by any nation or organization. But two points deserve attention. First, the incident occurred less than eighty kilometers in a straight line from Tanzaku Town, where Root remnants were previously active. Second, preliminary spectral analysis of the residual energy fluctuations at the scene showed a faint similarity to some of the energy frequencies detected at the Ryūmyaku Node in the Land of Rain and... on the black scroll Crow brought back."

Ling's heart sank. That ancient, evil energy again?

Xi also paled, unconsciously clenching her hands.

"Our mission." Fox's voice was cold and decisive. "Depart immediately for B-7 Outpost. Primary objectives: determine the truth behind the mist, search for survivors, and assess the threat level. Secondary objectives: collect energy samples from the scene and establish whether this is connected to known threats-Akatsuki, the remnants of Root, and their associated forces. Mission rank: S, provisional. Azure Phoenix will provide remote sensory support and analysis from the rear base. Crow, Xi, and I will form the frontline investigation squad."

S-rank! Just because a border outpost had gone silent and an unidentified mist had appeared? Ling immediately realized that the higher-ups attached far more importance to this matter than was apparent. That faint energy similarity was probably the key.

"Given the mist's unusual nature and potential danger," Fox said, looking at Ling and Xi, "Crow, your Sharingan and special sensory ability may help you see through its interference. Xi, you're sensitive to energy. We need you to help analyze the mist's composition and possible ways to counter it. Everyone, wear the highest-grade gas masks and chakra-filtering talismans, and carry sufficient antidotes and energy supplements. We don't have much time. The mist is slowly expanding."

"Understood!" Ling and Xi answered together.

There was no time for any further preparations. After collecting their specially made equipment from the armory, the three immediately used Konoha's emergency teleportation array to reach the border fortress nearest the incident. They then mounted the swift horses prepared for them and galloped toward B-7 Outpost.

On horseback, Ling could feel the pitch-black fragment against his chest seemingly warming slightly, as though reacting to the target they were approaching. This was certainly no good omen.

Two hours later, as dawn began to break, they reached high ground about five kilometers from the outpost. From there, they could already see the valley ahead shrouded in thick gray mist that looked almost solid. Its edges rolled slowly, like something alive. The mist covered a larger area than the report had described. It had already spread beyond the hollow where the outpost stood and begun encroaching on the surrounding mountain forests. Every tree and plant it touched took on a sickly, ashen hue, drained of vitality.

The rapid-response squad that had arrived earlier was establishing a perimeter. Its captain was a Special Jōnin with a grave expression.

"What's the situation?" Fox dismounted and asked directly.

"The mist is spreading faster," the captain reported. "We tried Wind Release and Water Release, but neither could disperse or dilute it. Instead, they triggered violent reactions, causing the mist to attack the caster. Fire Release worked slightly better, but the consumption was enormous. It could only temporarily force back a small patch of mist, not eliminate it. The biggest problem is that this mist seems able to absorb chakra. Any ninjutsu used inside it becomes far less effective and lasts much less time. We sent in two reconnaissance puppets, but lost contact before they made it fifty meters."

Fox nodded and turned to Ling and Xi. "Crow, observe it with your eyes. Xi, sense the mist's energy."

Ling took a deep breath, slowly mobilized his chakra, and carefully activated his Sharingan, keeping it in its basic perceptive mode. He did not dare use Purifying Erosion Power lightly, but even so, the enhanced vision and ability to see chakra provided by the Sharingan were enough to reveal many details ordinary people could not perceive.

In his vision, the gray mist presented a bizarre sight. It was not evenly distributed, but consisted of countless tiny gray particles that seemed alive. These particles moved in a slow, complex pattern, connected by even finer threads of dark-purple energy. The entire mist-covered area resembled an enormous, evil living barrier.

What alarmed him even more was that he could indeed sense an extremely faint trace in those dark-purple energy threads resembling the "flavor" of the fragment against his chest and the Ryūmyaku energy in the Land of Rain. But it was murkier, more chaotic, and filled with negative emotions-pain, despair, madness.

"The mist consists of active particles connected by an internal energy network. Its structure resembles a barrier or a domain," Ling reported gravely. "The energy's nature... carries intense negative emotions and corrosive properties. It resembles a certain ancient, evil energy I encountered before, but it's more... 'unclean.'"

Meanwhile, Xi closed her eyes, formed hand seals, and carefully extended her perception toward the edge of the mist. Her brows drew tightly together, and her face grew even paler.

"Chaotic... extremely chaotic energy..." she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. "It isn't just eroding chakra... I can feel... contamination on the level of the soul... The mist is filled with agonized wails and maddened thoughts... It's actively devouring life energy and the mind..."

Her eyes flew open, her dark-red irises filled with horror. "This mist... seems conscious! It's growing, and it's hungry!"

Conscious mist? Contamination that devoured life and the mind?

Fox's gaze beneath her mask was extremely grave. This was more troublesome than anticipated.

"Can you determine where its core is? Or find a way to enter without being eroded?" she asked them.

Ling concentrated again, his Sharingan tracking the flow of the energy network inside the mist. After a moment, he pointed deep into it, toward the approximate center of the outpost. "The energy network converges in that direction. That may be the source or the core. As for a way in..."

He was thinking quickly as well. Conventional ninjutsu was ineffective, and physical isolation, such as Earth Release, would probably also be eroded. The Sharingan could perceive the energy network; perhaps it could help them avoid the areas of densest erosion? But the risk remained enormous.

Just then, Xi seemed to make up her mind. "Perhaps... I can try. Our Uzumaki Clan's chakra naturally has a strong resistance and affinity toward sealing and barrier energies. I can try forming a temporary protective layer with my chakra to cover all three of us. It might resist some of the erosion. But I'll need Mr. Crow to guide us away from the nodes where the energy is most violent."

Fox looked at Xi. "How long can you maintain it? How strong will it be?"

"I'm not completely certain," Xi admitted. "But with my current chakra reserves, I might be able to sustain it for twenty minutes at full effort. As for its strength... I can only guarantee that we won't be completely eroded in a short time. Prolonged exposure is definitely out of the question, and it will constantly consume my chakra and mental energy."

"Twenty minutes..." Fox quickly calculated the distance from the edge to the suspected core. "Barely enough for a round trip, with no time to spare. The risk is high."

"Staying here is more dangerous," Ling said. "The mist is spreading. If we can't find the source and deal with it soon, the consequences will be unthinkable once it spreads farther or triggers some other change." He recalled the terrifying sight of the Ryūmyaku running out of control in the Land of Rain.

Fox fell silent for a few seconds, then made her decision. "We'll use Xi's plan. Crow, you'll guide us along the safest route and keep watch throughout. Xi, you'll maintain our protection. I'll handle any physical enemies and unexpected situations. Azure Phoenix, stay in contact and be ready to provide support at any time."

"Understood!" everyone replied.

Xi took a deep breath and began forming hand seals. Pale-red Uzumaki chakra, brimming with vitality, surged from her body and slowly formed an ellipsoidal, translucent pale-red shield around the three of them. Vortex-shaped runes could faintly be seen flowing across its surface.

Ling could feel that this shield did indeed repel the surrounding gray mist. When the mist particles touched it, they were bounced away or partially dissolved.

"Let's go." Fox took the lead, stepping into the gray mist.

Ling followed close behind, his Sharingan scanning ahead with absolute concentration. His mind raced as he plotted a relatively "safe" route based on the density and flow of the energy network. In his vision, the gray sea of death stood in stark contrast to their pale-red boat of life, and they were steering that tiny vessel toward the unknown, dangerous core deep within the mist.

Visibility inside the mist was extremely low. Even with the Sharingan, his field of vision was severely restricted. Faint whispers and howls filled with suffering seemed to echo beside his ears, drilling into his mind and trying to disrupt his concentration. The ground beneath their feet was soft and sticky, as though its vitality had been eroded away.

With every step forward, they could see the pale-red light flickering faintly and being depleted wherever the shield touched the mist. Fine beads of sweat began to form on Xi's forehead. Maintaining the shield was clearly taking a considerable toll.

Suddenly, Ling's Sharingan caught an abnormally violent surge in the mist ahead!

"Watch out! Left side!"

His warning had barely left his lips when the mist on their left abruptly condensed into several thick tentacles made of gray particles, which lashed viciously against the pale-red shield!

Thud! Thud!

The shield shook violently, its light dimming for an instant! Xi gave a muffled groan and paled further, but clenched her teeth and increased her chakra output, stabilizing the shield.

Fox reacted even faster. The instant the tentacles appeared, she had already hurled several shuriken infused with lightning release chakra!

Crackle!

Lightning flashed as the shuriken pierced the tentacles, but only part of them broke apart. They quickly absorbed the surrounding mist and re-formed!

"Physical and elemental attacks have limited effect! Avoid it!" Fox shouted.

Ling immediately changed course, leading the squad around that active patch of mist. Yet as they ventured deeper, the mist grew noticeably more aggressive. Condensations of mist in various forms-tentacles, sharp claws, even vague humanoid shapes-attacked constantly from the fog, battering their wavering protective shield.

Xi's breathing grew increasingly rapid, and the chakra output needed to maintain the shield was nearing her limit. The pale-red shield began to shrink, its color growing fainter.

"How much farther?" Fox asked, her voice still calm.

"About two hundred meters ahead, at the energy convergence!" Ling stared intently at the increasingly clear dark-purple energy core in his vision, pulsing like a heart. It was located where the outpost's main building stood, emitting evil fluctuations that made his heart tremble.

But under the increasingly dense attacks from the mist, those two hundred meters seemed especially long.

Just as they struggled to within roughly a hundred meters of the core, something suddenly changed!

The mist ahead abruptly parted to either side, and a figure slowly "walked" out of it.

It was someone wearing a tattered border-outpost ninja uniform, but his face was twisted, his eyes hollow, and his skin had the same ashen hue as the mist. Thick gray mist and dark-purple energy threads coiled around his body. His movements were stiff, yet possessed a bizarre coordination.

What tightened Ling's heart even more was that he sensed evil energy from this "person" that shared the mist's origin but was far more concentrated and powerful, as well as... a faint chakra signature belonging to the organization of that gray-clad man from before!

"An outpost guard... contaminated and controlled..." Xi's voice carried fear.

"More than one." Ling looked around with his Sharingan. Seven or eight more "figures" in the same state slowly emerged from the mist, loosely surrounding them.

These ninja, eroded and controlled by the mist, "looked" toward them with hollow eyes and slowly raised their arms. Gray mist gathered in their hands, taking the shapes of various weapons.

Behind them, the dark-purple energy core abruptly began pulsing faster, as though stimulated by their arrival.

Powerful enemies stood ahead, the mist blocked their retreat, and their protective shield was on the verge of collapse.

Once again, they were trapped in a desperate situation.