The morning breeze carried a hint of coolness as it swept along the northern exit of Sunagakure.
Shira tightened the brand-new Forehead Protector around her waist, feeling the cool, solid metal texture with her hands.
He arrived at the meeting point ahead of time, dressed in light travel clothes, with a backpack full of necessities and a small amount of emergency rations on his back.
Soon, several figures appeared silently in front of him.
The one in the lead was naturally I Fūgetsu, who remained as calm as ever, nodding as his eyes swept over Shira.
Behind him were three unfamiliar ninjas, two men and one woman, all wearing standard Sunagakure ninja vests. Their demeanor was calm and capable, clearly indicating that they were experienced Chunin.
One of them was a tall, thin man with a cold expression, carrying two long swords crossed on his back; his name was Arai.
The other man was relatively muscular, with a cynical smile on his face, but his knuckles were large and his steps were steady, clearly indicating that he was a master of Taijutsu or Earth Release. His name was Tetsuo.
The last one is a female ninja, with short, neat hair, a calm gaze, and several bulging ninja tool pouches and scroll boxes hanging from her waist, suggesting she is skilled in traps or intelligence analysis. Her name is Aoi.
"Everyone's here." I Fūgetsu's voice broke the silence. "This is Shira, a newly Genin, a temporary member of this mission. His Taijutsu and wilderness survival skills will be helpful."
He briefly introduced Shira to the three Chunin without offering further explanation.
Arai glanced coldly at Shira, his gaze lingering for a moment on the Forehead Protector on her waist. He seemed to Genin in the team, but he didn't say anything more.
Tetsuo grinned at Shira as a greeting. Kui nodded businesslike, her gaze already fixed on the vast desert to the north.
"Let's go." Without wasting words, I Fūgetsu turned around first and her figure swept away like the wind. Arai, Tetsuo, and Aoi immediately followed closely behind, their movements swift and silent, showing a high degree of teamwork.
Shira took a deep breath, without activating the Seven Heavens Breathing Method, but used the breathing rhythm of the Seven Heavens Breathing Method to exert force with her feet, steadily keeping up with the speed of the group and not falling behind.
Like ghosts in the desert, the group traveled north at high speed and silently. After leaving Sunagakure, the landscape gradually changed from rolling sand dunes to an even more desolate Gobi desert covered with wind-eroded rocks.
After traveling for half a day, I Fūgetsu took a short break under a sheltered rock wall and unfolded a simple map of the Shinobi World.
"The objective of this mission," I Fūgetsu pointed precisely at an area on the map northeast of the Land of Wind, bordering the Land of Land of Rivers, then moved north, crossing the brown area marking the Land of Fire, and pointed to a small country further north—the " Land of Grass."
"Pursue two rogue Jonin, Nighthawk and Fang. Seven days ago, they stole part of the village's defense deployment map and Puppet Technique research scroll, and fled north."
"Latest intelligence indicates that they were last seen within the Land of Grass, and are likely attempting to cross it to seek refuge in the Land of Grass Land of Waterfalls further north, or to make contact with some powerful force."
I Fūgetsu's tone was icy. "Our mission is to intercept and eliminate them before they cause greater damage or leak information, and to retrieve the scroll. The situation in the Land of Grass is complex; although it is not strong, it is xenophobic and chaotic. We must proceed with caution to avoid creating unnecessary complications."
Shira felt a slight chill. This was his first time officially carrying out a mission that might involve killing. He quickly suppressed his emotions and focused his attention on the details of the mission.
The Land of Grass, the Kusagakure?
These two place names were like keys, instantly unlocking his long-forgotten memories.
An image of a girl with bright red hair, round-framed glasses, always covered in wounds but possessing astonishing resilience suddenly flashed into his mind—
Karin, and her mother who also possesses the physique of the Uzumaki Clan!
Based on fragmented information from the original work, Karin and her mother were very likely stuck in the Land of Grass during this period, and may even have been in the Kusagakure, acting as blood donation centers!
The Uzumaki Clan's immense Chakra, Mind's Eye of the Kagura, and their incredibly powerful Sealing Jutsu —holy crap!
Thinking of this, Shira's heart skipped a beat, and an unprecedented idea struck him like lightning.
If Shukaku inside Gaara goes berserk again, or if Rasa isn't in the village, who can control it?
Chiyo and Ebizo getting old. Who in the village is more suitable as a reserve force to prevent and suppress Shukaku than someone with the Uzumaki Bloodline who is naturally skilled in Sealing Jutsu? There seems to be someone, but it's not a sure thing.
Bringing back Karin and her mother was not only to save two poor people, but also to provide Sunagakure Gaara a crucial layer of insurance.
The value of this idea may even surpass the immediate task of pursuing the missing-nin.
Shira's breathing quickened slightly, but his face remained perfectly calm. He forced himself to calm down.
"Bring them back if possible." He emphasized to himself that the mission priority remained the pursuit of the missing-nin. If the missing-nin's whereabouts conflicted with Karin's location, or if the rescue operation would lead to mission failure and the team being in dire straits, he had to obey orders first.
The Uzumaki mother and daughter are important, but not so important that he would risk everything and violate ninja principles. He needs to confirm the information and find an opportunity first. After all, his teammates' lives matter too.
"Is there a problem?" I Fūgetsu keenly noticed the subtle change in Shira's expression and glanced over.
The three Chunin also looked at Shira.
Shira immediately shook her head, her tone calm. "No, Captain. It's just that it's my first time carrying out a mission of this level, so I'm a little nervous. I'll stay with the team and follow orders."
I Fūgetsu gave him a deep look, seemingly seeing through his concealment, but didn't press him, simply nodding. "Very good. Remember, be cautious in all actions within the Land of Grass. After resting, continue your journey."
The team set off again, shooting northward like an arrow.
Shira followed in the group, but her gaze involuntarily drifted back to the small " Land of Grass " on the map.
His inner world was no longer as calm as it appeared on the surface.
This journey north seems to have an additional hidden meaning besides pursuing the missing-nin.
He needed to remain vigilant at all times, paying attention to any clues that might be related to the Uzumaki Clan.