The forest under the night was a bit more eerie and unknown than during the day. The three of them did not stop for a moment, and they shuttled through the forest at high speed, like three ghosts blending into the night. The blood and excitement of the battle were cooling down along with the body temperature, and were replaced by the fatigue that penetrated into the bone marrow and the heaviness of the rest of the life after the disaster.
The moist smell of rotten leaves in the air seemed to be mixed with a hint of blood, which constantly stimulated their tense nerves.
After running for an unknown amount of time, Maruboshi Kosuke stopped at the foot of a hidden mountain wall, pushed aside the hanging vines, and revealed a dry cave that only one person could bend down to enter.
"I'll rest here tonight." His voice was hoarse, filled with irrepressible exhaustion, "I'm going to take care of the wound, you two, be careful."
In the cave, a small bonfire was lit. The orange light dissipated some of the chill and reflected the different emotions on the faces of the three people.
Maruboshi Kosuke unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a series of criss-crossing wounds. The deepest part could almost see his ribs. But he seemed to feel no pain. He took out the powder and bandages from the medical scroll in his arms with an expressionless face, and skillfully treated his wounds. The silence and tenacity made Shisui on the side feel nervous.
Senju Chen silently added a few pieces of dry firewood to the fire, making Kakkō more prosperous.
"You two, tell me." Maruboshi Kosuke finally bandaged the wound. He leaned against the cold stone wall and glanced at the two children. "What do you think of this mission?"
The look in his eyes no longer showed the gentleness of an elder looking at a junior, but the scrutiny and sharpness of a senior ninja when conducting a post-war review.
But both of them knew that this was Mr. Kosuke's test for them.
Shisui clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the exertion. He spoke first, with anger still lingering in his voice. "This is a scam! It has been from the beginning! That C-Rank Mission is simply a cover, and their goal is to come to us!"
Maruboshi Kosuke nodded, did not speak, but turned his gaze to Senju Chen, who was extremely calm from beginning to end.
Senju Chen's eyes fell on the dancing flames, and his voice was as steady as a child who had just experienced a life-and-death struggle. " The location of the ambush is too precise, and the enemy's configuration is also very problematic. Two Jonin, five Chunin, three Genin... Such a lineup is not to wipe out a bandit group, but to ensure that we can all be annihilated, and even... capture specific targets alive."
"Capture alive..." Shisui muttered to himself. He remembered the businessman's last roar, and his face instantly turned pale. "Their target... is you Little Chen!"
"That's right." Maruboshi Kosuke took over, his voice as low as iron, "Senju Clan's last bloodline, Wood Release who awakened Lord First Hokage... I'm afraid this news has been leaked from the village."
The air in the cave seemed to solidify at this moment.
It is self-evident what a Senju member with Wood Release means to other ninja villages. He is not only a genius, but also a symbol, a terrifying shadow that may change the pattern of Shinobi World again.
"... Is there a traitor in the village?" Shisui's voice was hard. He couldn't believe that someone in the impregnable Konoha would betray such important information.
"The killed businessman Tokugawa should be the chess piece planted by other countries in Land of Fire. This mission was a game they set up by cooperating with the moles in the village." Maruboshi Kosuke's eyes became extremely deep. "The good thing is that this operation failed and all their exposed chess pieces were cleared. In a short time, it will be difficult for them to organize an ambush of the same scale again."
He paused, changed the topic, and his tone became more solemn. "But the downside is that they know our vigilance. Next time... the force they send will only be stronger, and their methods will only be more concealed."
Hearing what Maruboshi Kosuke said, Shisui glanced at Senju Chen worriedly, only to find that the other person's expression had always been calm.
"Tomorrow morning, we will return to the village immediately." Maruboshi Kosuke made the final decision, "This matter must be reported to Third Lord Hokage immediately."
It's late at night, and it's Senju Chen's turn to keep vigil.
Both Maruboshi Kosuke and Shisui have fallen into a deep sleep, and their even breathing echoes in the cave. The bonfire is crackling, and sparks are flying in the air, flickering on and off.
Senju Chen leaned against the entrance of the cave, looking through the night into the deep and boundless forest. His brain was reviewing everything that happened during the day with extremely high efficiency.
This was his first real life-and-death fight.
It's not a sparring session with your companions, it's not a showdown with bandits, it's a real life-and-death fight with the enemy ninja.
In fact, his heart was far less peaceful than what appeared on his face.
Thoughts of nausea, discomfort, guilt, and fear were actually constantly attacking his mind.
He still remembers the feeling of tearing flesh and blood through the hilt of the sword when Sword of the Thunder God stabbed into the enemy's chest; he still remembers the crisp sound of bones breaking when Wood Release's vines strangled the enemy; and he still remembers the complicated look in the enemy's eyes that was mixed with fear, despair and unwillingness before he died.
It turns out that this is the battlefield. There is no right or wrong, no reasons, only positions. When we meet, it is life and death. This world of the weak and the strong is more naked and cruel than he imagined.
He felt the power in his body that became more abundant and condensed due to the system absorbing Chakra from several ninjas.
There are also the battlefield experiences of these ninjas. These experiences have allowed him to quickly absorb the knowledge taught by Mr. Kosuke this month, as well as some theoretical knowledge in books, and make it his own, just like his own life experience.
Sure enough, the battlefield is the best place to quickly become stronger.
He remembered the notification sound that sounded in his mind when he used Wood Clone to tie up that Kusagakure Jonin.
With a thought, he sank into his system panel.
[Ding! The target character 'Wuzhi' has been detected to have severe mood swings, and the list of stealable abilities has been refreshed!]
[A: Clone Technique]
[B: Water Release: Water Dragon Technique]
[C: Kusakage Style Explosive Palm]
The situation was urgent at that time, and he had no time to pay attention to it. Now it seems that these abilities are not very attractive to him. Clone Technique is just an ordinary clone, far inferior to his Wood Clone; Water Dragon Technique is good, but he does not major in Water Release; as for Taijutsu, it is not worth mentioning.
However, what really caught his attention was the name - "Wuzhi".
Before this, although the system could steal abilities, this was the first time he noticed the character's name.
Senju Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, and a bold guess formed in his mind. The system may be able to directly identify the target's true identity information.
This discovery suddenly made him a little excited.
What does this mean?
This means that in the future, when he faces a businessman who calls himself "Yamada", the system may tell him that this person's name is "Kakuzu". When he faces a ninja wearing a mask, the system may be able to directly reveal the identity of the other person.
Deception, disguise, false names... these most commonly used tricks in the ninja world may become meaningless in front of him.
This is no longer just a combat assistance system, but an absolutely real "name detector"!
It can be said that as long as he wants to, no one can hide his identity from him in the future.
That so and so, do you dare to agree to calling me by your real name...