Half a month after leaving Konoha, the team has penetrated deep into the hinterland of Land of Fire.
The dense forest was gradually replaced by rugged rocks and low shrubs, and the road under their feet became increasingly rugged. According to the map, they were about to enter a narrow strip of land called "Wind-Weeping Canyon" by the locals.
"Cheer up, everyone." Maruboshi Kosuke's voice sounded from the front of the team. He stopped and glanced sharply at the entrance of the canyon ahead, which was like the bloody mouth of a giant beast. "This kind of terrain is the easiest to be ambushed."
His words made the originally relaxed caravan guards immediately become nervous, and they all tightened their weapons.
Shisui also put away the curiosity on his face, his expression became focused, and his hand subconsciously pressed on the short knife at his waist.
Senju Chen observed the Tokugawa businessman calmly. Sure enough, after hearing Maruboshi Kosuke's reminder, Tokugawa's face did not show the tension it should have. Instead, there was a fleeting strangeness deep in his eyes that only Senju Chen could capture.
What is he expecting? Or is he afraid of something?
Thoughts were racing in Senju Chen's mind, but his face remained innocent and harmless. He walked to Tokugawa's carriage, raised his head, and asked in a child's unique clear voice, "Mr. Tokugawa, you seem to be nervous? Don't worry, with Mr. Kosuke here with us, nothing will happen."
"Ah... yes, yes!" Tokugawa was startled by this sudden question, and quickly squeezed out a smile that was uglier than crying, "There are three ninja masters here, I... of course I can rest assured, hehe, don't worry..."
As he spoke, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeves, his movements looking particularly stiff.
The team slowly drove into the canyon.
There are towering cliffs on both sides, squeezing the sky into a long and narrow blue ribbon. The howling mountain wind echoes in the valley, making a whining sound like a ghost crying. A depressing atmosphere envelopes everyone.
Just when the team reached the narrowest part of the canyon, a sudden change occurred!
"Kill--!"
With a rough shout, dozens of figures suddenly jumped out from the cliffs on both sides and from behind the pile of rocks in front!
These people were in ragged clothes, and the weapons in their hands were also colorful Eight Gates, including rusty machetes, sharpened sticks, and some even holding agricultural hoes. They looked like a standard rabble.
"Enemy attack..."
The guards of the caravan instantly became confused and drew their weapons in panic, but were so frightened by the opponent's momentum that they could not even maintain their formation.
"Don't panic, everyone!"
Maruboshi Kosuke's violent shout was like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone's hearts. He did not look at the frightened guards, but gave concise and clear instructions to the two teenagers around him.
"Shisui, charge forward and disrupt their position, but don't rush in!"
"Little Chen, use your magic to control the flanks and don't let them get close to the caravan!"
"Yes!"
Shisui's eyes were full of fighting spirit, and without any hesitation, his figure instantly turned into an afterimage, like an unsheathed sharp blade, thrust straight into the enemy's formation!
"Fire Release·Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Several fireballs were spit out from his mouth and hit accurately where the bandits were densest. The instant explosion and flames halted the charging momentum of the group of bandits.
At the same time, Senju Chen hands quickly Hand Seals.
"Wood Release·Strangled by thorns!"
On the ground, dozens of tough vines sprouted out of the ground, like poisonous snakes with life, and wrapped around the bandits who were outflanking them at extremely fast speeds. The spikes on the vines easily scratched their skin, and the sudden restraint and pain made them scream in agony, and the formation completely collapsed.
One is for frontal charge, and the other is for field control and suppression.
Two teenagers as young as six years old turned a seemingly dangerous ambush into a one-sided suppression in the blink of an eye.
Although he was attacked by bandits, the businessman did not show any panic and stood at the front of the guard.
Staring straight at Senju Chen and Shisui, the businessman's eyes lit up when he saw Senju Chen releasing Wood Release. Then he pretended to be panicked and hid among the guards and never came out again.
And the real killing has just begun.
The figure of Maruboshi Kosuke disappeared from the place like a ghost.
He did not use any gorgeous Ninjutsu, but relied on the purest Taijutsu and his ultimate grasp of the battlefield to shuttle through the chaotic group of bandits.
Every time he dodged, he was accompanied by a muffled groan.
His movements were so fast that people couldn't see clearly. They only saw a gray shadow passing by, and then a bandit fell silently. His attacks were extremely precise, either hitting the sleeping point on the back of the neck, or hitting the wrist hard with the Kunai knife handle to make the opponent's weapon drop.
No move is superfluous, no blow is fatal.
He was like the most efficient harvesting machine. In less than a minute, he knocked most of the bandits to the ground, leaving only the leader with a sinister face, whose neck was held by Shisui with a short knife.
The battle ended so quickly that the guards of the caravan were still stunned on the spot, unable to react.
They looked at the bandits moaning and rolling on the ground, and then at the three Konoha Ninja who were unharmed, their eyes full of shock and awe.
"Ancient... Mr. Kosuke, all... are all solved?" Shisui still had some unfinished thoughts. He looked at the bandit leader who had been restrained by him and asked excitedly.
Maruboshi Kosuke nodded and walked up to the leader, his eyes unwavering. "Tell me, who sent you here?"
The bandit leader spat bloody spit on the ground, with a fierce look on his face. "Bah! I just don't like you Fat Sheeps, and I just want to steal a fortune! If you want to kill or behead me, it's up to you!"
"Really?" Maruboshi Kosuke's tone did not change at all. He stretched out his hand and pinched the leader's arm gently.
"Crack!"
The crisp sound of broken bones was particularly harsh in the silent canyon.
"Ah--!"
The severe pain made the leader howl like a slaughtering pig, and cold sweat instantly soaked his forehead.
"I ask again, who sent you here?" Kosuke's voice was still calm, as if what he was crushing was not human bones, but a dead branch.
The leader was twitching in pain, but the ferocity in his eyes was replaced by a deeper fear. He gritted his teeth tightly, and just when he seemed to be about to let go, a flash of determination suddenly flashed in his eyes.
He tilted his neck and bit his teeth hard!
"Not good!"
Senju Chen's heart rang with alarm bells, and he sensed something was wrong the moment the other person's eyes changed.
But, it's too late.
A stream of black blood overflowed from the corner of the bandit leader's mouth. His body stiffened suddenly, the look in his eyes quickly dissipated, and he fell limply, completely lifeless.
The air froze instantly.
Shisui stared blankly at the corpse at his feet, the excitement and pride on his face disappeared, replaced by shock and confusion. "He... he committed suicide?"
Maruboshi Kosuke Slowly squatted down, opened the corpse's mouth, and looked at the broken fangs. For the first time, an extremely solemn look appeared on the weather-beaten face.
"Mr. Kosuke." Senju Chen's voice broke the silence. He walked to Kosuke and looked at the body.
"There is something wrong with this man. Ordinary bandits seek wealth, not life. When caught, at most they will confess and beg for mercy. If not, they will just pay for their lives. There is no way they would have such a will to die, let alone hide poison sacs in their teeth in advance!"
"Then who is this person?" Shisui was stunned listening to Senju Chen's analysis.
"I guess this person is a ninja, the bandit is just disguising, and he took the poison to avoid exposing the information."
Maruboshi Kosuke stood up, nodded heavily, and spoke hoarsely, "Little Chen is right. The actions of this group of people may seem chaotic, but there is a faint order between advance and retreat, and they are trained."
After hearing the analysis of the two people, Shisui took a deep breath, and he finally understood the seriousness of the matter.
"It seems that we need to have a serious talk with Mr. Tokugawa"
The three returned to the team and found their employer Tokugawa. As soon as they met, the businessman praised them all.
"Konoha Ninja is really powerful. He defeated those bandits in three strokes, five divisions and two. Those thieves are so disgusting. Are they all dead? We can't let them run away."
"Don't worry, Mr. Tokugawa, those bandits are all dead. The bandit leader committed suicide, and there is no one left alive."
"Mr. Tokugawa, does anyone else know your whereabouts when you go to Land of Grass this time? Besides silk, what other items are there in this shipment?" Maruboshi Kosuke asked Tokugawa cautiously
"What do you mean? Those robbers came for me?"
"I set out this time on an impromptu basis, and I am a businessman. This time I just brought silk to Land of Grass for sale. I have no other items except silk."
Just when Maruboshi Kosuke asked Tokugawa, Senju Chen keenly captured a detail from the corner of his eye.
When the Tokugawa businessman heard the news that the bandit leader had committed suicide, his tense shoulders made a subtle movement to relax. He also loosened his grip on the corner of his clothes. Although the extremely anxious look on his face was quickly covered up with panic, he could clearly see the "relief" in that moment.
There is definitely something wrong with this Tokugawa.