At Kazuku's insistence, the mission continued.
The team adopted a diamond formation. Sarutobi Hiruzen led, using his sensory skills to detect ambushes.
Sakumo and Kazuku flanked left and right, guarding against attacks from the forest.
Uzumaki Ashina brought up the rear.
Everyone's mindset shifted.
Ashina had expected mere bandits, not Kumogakure targeting Yuna.
He'd report this to clan leader Uzumaki Ashina upon returning.
"Kumogakure has been active lately," Sarutobi mused, heightening his alertness.
It wasn't just this incident. He'd heard Cloud was reinforcing border defenses.
Since Hashirama's illness, tensions between Konoha and Cloud had grown.
Sakumo pondered his gap with Kazuku, vowing to prove himself next encounter.
"Kazuku…" Yuna, in the center, stole glances at him on her right.
She'd thought he was a nepotism ninja, but he was impressive.
Same age, yet able to repel chunin.
Wasn't he scared back then?
Curiosity about Kazuku sparked in Yuna.
For the next two days, no further Cloud attacks came.
They were halfway to the Land of Whirlpools.
But then, a man with a Cloud headband, hidden in dense branches, observed Sarutobi's group from above.
His name was Chikusho, a Kumogakure bloodline limit user.
"Didn't expect him on this escort. No wonder Noi's team failed."
After observing, Chikusho recognized the leader—Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Jonin at sixteen, Tobirama's prized student, over fifty A-rank missions, ten S-rank."
"Master of five chakra natures."
Chikusho muttered, recalling intelligence reports.
Sarutobi's strength made Noi's defeat unsurprising.
But…
Chikusho had no intention of abandoning the mission.
He pulled a scroll from his sleeve, snapping it open.
Bang!
White smoke billowed, revealing a square shuriken nearly one-and-a-half meters wide.
Then…
Chikusho aimed at Sarutobi and hurled the shuriken.
But Sarutobi was no slouch. Sensing the killing intent, he shouted for everyone to duck, rolling forward to dodge.
Thud!
The shuriken embedded in a tree trunk.
A black shadow leapt from another tree, landing on the shuriken.
"Pardon the interruption."
Chikusho steadied himself with one hand on the tree, greeting, "Konoha's finest."
As he spoke, more shadows emerged from three sides, surrounding Kazuku's group.
Undoubtedly, Kumogakure ninja.
Kazuku, Sakumo, and Ashina instinctively closed ranks, shielding Yuna.
"Six of them?" Kazuku scanned, counting Chikusho—six enemies.
"Be careful. This guy's not like the others. He's Cloud's jonin, Chikusho, with formidable strength," Sarutobi warned, recognizing him.
Ninja battles were intelligence battles.
More enemy intel meant a better position.
Sarutobi drew a kunai, eyeing Chikusho warily. To him, Chikusho was beyond Kazuku's level.
He'd handle him.
"Ashina, Kazuku, handle the rest."
Sarutobi took a deep breath, readying for battle.
Kazuku nodded, studying Chikusho.
He seemed familiar, but Kazuku couldn't place him.
Still, Sarutobi's caution spoke volumes.
This fight would be far harsher than before.
"Didn't expect to be recognized. Guess I'm a bit famous," Chikusho said, unhurried to attack.
"I respect Konoha ninja, especially the First Hokage. His sincerity is rare."
"So, I don't want to hurt you. Hand over the girl, and I'll vanish."
Avoiding bloodshed was ideal.
"You're not afraid of starting a war?!" Yuna shouted.
The oppressive atmosphere made breathing hard.
She yelled to ease her tension.
"Start a war?" Chikusho chuckled. "Ninja exist to complete missions."
"Some accept escorts; others, assassinations."
"Like yin and yang—neither can exist without the other."
"Task conflicts escalating to war? No village's Kage is that foolish."
"Besides, Uzumaki girl, you think you're a daimyo or the Hokage's granddaughter?"
"You're just a minor nation's miss. Even if I killed you here, Konoha wouldn't wage war for you."
Chikusho cut to the core.
It was true.
If one village's escort missions made others fear war, no one would take assassination jobs.
Ninja would lose their purpose.
Peace relied on order.
Without order, chaos reigned, and peace vanished.
Chikusho's words made Yuna tremble.
She wanted to be strong, but she was just a six- or seven-year-old girl, not a ninja, unexposed to such scenes.
Chikusho's killing intent made her feel death looming.
Maybe…
She'd really die!
Her heart wavered.
Could Ashina protect her this time?
Would she see her village, friends, family again?
As fear paralyzed Yuna, Kazuku's hand patted her shoulder.
She looked up, seeing his smile.
"I'll protect you, scaredy-cat."
(End of Chapter)