All the clues were connected in a thread in my mind. The strange behavior of Tokugawa in the canyon, the bandit leader's suicide by taking poison, the calmness along the way, and Tokugawa's increasingly exaggerated performances... all of this was to paralyze them, and to send him, the "descendant of the Senju Clan", to this cemetery prepared for him.
Kusagakure... What do they want to do? Replicate the power of First Hokage? Or is it just to kill a potential threat? Or are they just pawns? Are there other major powers behind them?
These thoughts flashed through his mind and were immediately suppressed by him. Now was not the time to think about these things.
He could feel that at least three cold and professional gazes had locked onto him.
"Haha, thank you for your hard work, Tokugawa." One of the Kusagakure Jonin chuckled, his tone full of disdain, "The reward will be sent to your family."
Before he finished speaking, a cold light flashed in the hand of another Jonin beside him, and a Kunai quietly wiped Tokugawa's neck.
The smile on Tokugawa's face froze in an instant. He covered his throat in disbelief, and blood gushed out from between his fingers. He said "ho ho" twice, and with endless regret and unwillingness, he fell down softly, his eyes widened.
"Shisui, Little Chen."
Maruboshi Kosuke's voice brought the two teenagers back to their attention.
I saw him slowly walking forward and taking off the big black pot that was always on his back. With a loud "clang" sound, he slammed it onto the ground in front of him, stirring up a cloud of dust.
He raised his head, and his eyes, which had always seemed a little cloudy, became as sharp as an eagle at this moment, as if they could pierce the thick fog and penetrate people's hearts. His body, which was not very tall, was like an insurmountable mountain at this moment.
"You two, try to hold off those Chunin and Genin, and protect yourself first."
There was unquestionable majesty and determination in his hoarse voice.
"These two guys, leave me these old bones."
The two Kusagakure Jonin looked at each other and saw a hint of contempt in each other's eyes. A dying Konoha Genin? Dare to speak out wild words?
However, Maruboshi Kosuke's next words instantly solidified the contempt on their faces.
He grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth. His voice was not loud, but it carried a huge weight and resounded through the silent forest.
"Anyone who wants to touch our Konoha should first step over my old corpse!"
The moment he finished speaking, his old body sank suddenly, and the ground beneath his feet cracked. His whole body was like an out-of-arms shell, and he took the initiative to face the two Jonin!
"Seeking death!"
Kusagakure Jonin roared angrily, fighting broke out instantly!
"Little Chen, be careful!" Shisui roared, his body swayed, and he was fighting with the four Chunin who rushed up. Kakkō and the sword light flashed alternately in the mist.
The remaining three Chunin formed a triangle, tightly surrounding Senju Chen in the center.
They did not rush to attack, but took steady steps, slowly shrinking the encirclement. Their eyes, positions, and breathing rhythms all remained surprisingly consistent. They were like three hungry wolves working in unison, looking for the most fatal flaw in their prey.
Senju Chen took a deep breath, and the cold air made his mind clearer. He looked at the three enemies in front of him, without any fear in his heart, but instead felt a boiling fighting spirit.
Since you have set up this situation for me.
Then be prepared for me to overturn the chessboard!
The dense fog was like a damp and cold shroud, wrapping the entire forest airtightly.
Three Kusagakure Chunin's stance was cunning and experienced, forming a perfect equilateral triangle, locking Senju Chen firmly in the center. They were not in a hurry to attack, but were like three experienced wolves, walking with almost silent steps, slowly shrinking the encirclement. Their breathing, heartbeat, and even the murderous aura emanating from their bodies were all adjusted to an astonishingly synchronized frequency, and invisible pressure came from all directions like a tide.
Senju Chen's face showed exactly the tension and fear that a six-year-old child should have. His lips were tightly pursed, and the little hand holding Kunai was even trembling slightly. His big eyes were scanning uneasily in the thick fog, like a young animal that was forced into a desperate situation.
These three people are real ninjas, not comparable to those bandits and bandits before. Their target from the beginning was not the caravan supplies, but themselves. The Explosive Tag trap was just to divide the battlefield and use the momentum of the explosion to cover up their true advance route.
Separate the three of you, keep yourself away from Mr. Kosuke and Shisui, and then surround and kill them with an overwhelming number of people... It's a textbook killing tactic.
Unfortunately, they chose the wrong opponent.
"Do it!"
One of them Chunin shouted lowly, and the three of them moved at the same time!
The ninja on the left held Hand Seals with both hands, and a water bomb roared towards him; the ninja on the right was short, like a poisonous snake gliding close to the ground, and the short knife in his hand was directly at his lower body; the ninja on the front jumped high and dropped three Kunai from the air in the shape of a "pin", blocking all his escape routes.
The upper, middle, and lower channels attack at the same time, and the coordination is perfect.
"Ah!" Senju Chen let out a panicked scream, rolled his body backwards in embarrassment, narrowly dodging water bombs and Kunai in the air. But the cold light of the short sword of the ninja who rushed into the lower body was already close at hand!
Senju Chen seemed to be frightened out of his wits, and backed away on his hands and knees, his movements were panicked and without any order.
A trace of disdain flashed in the eyes of that Chunin. He exerted force on his feet and became three points faster. The tip of the knife was directly at Senju Chen's throat!
In the midst of this flash of lightning, Senju Chen's retreating steps suddenly stopped, he stumbled, and his body fell to the side. This seemed to be a panicked mistake, but it happened to allow the fatal knife to scratch the tip of his nose.
"Huh?" The Chunin was stunned. He didn't expect this kid to be so lucky.
And Senju Chen took advantage of the momentum of falling, put his hands on the wet mud ground, and rolled his body to distance himself. At the same time, he threw several Shuriken randomly, without even aiming.
Panting heavily, he rolled and crawled back towards the depths of the forest. He looked completely frightened and just wanted to run away.
"Chase! Don't let him get away!"
The three Chunin chased after him without hesitation. In their opinion, the kid in front of them was simply a novice with almost zero actual combat experience and an even more fragile temperament. As long as they were forced a little, he was just a lamb to be slaughtered.
Senju Chen was running hastily in the forest. He seemed to be in a panic, but the placement of every step and every turn were accurately calculated in his mind.
He led the three of them deeper and deeper, gradually away from the main battlefield where the sound of explosions and the sound of gold and iron intertwined.
That's almost it, here it is.