"Ninjutsu—Hidden Mist Technique!"
Above the once-calm sea, six voices rang out at the same time, followed by six heads surfacing—men and women alike, each with different appearances.
Their movements were almost perfectly synchronized. White mist slowly spilled from their mouths.
Rather than creating a dense fog all at once, the mist spread gradually. Compared to an instant, overwhelming blanket of fog, this method was far more effective at lowering an enemy's suspicion.
—Provided there were no Uchiha present.
"Enemy presence!"
"Stop rowing immediately!"
"You—stay alert in all directions!"
"Yes!" ×5
The two ferrymen were terrified. Their bodies trembled as they dropped their oars onto the deck, hugged their heads, and curled up with their eyes shut tight, afraid that the ninjas outside would slaughter them at any moment.
Yūhi Shinku and Shiranui Kumo stood up at once, eyes scanning the surroundings. Each drew a kunai and held it ready, forming a triangular defensive formation, alert for enemies that could appear from any angle.
"It's Kirigakure's assassination technique—Hidden Mist,"
Bai Xing said gravely from the other boat as he rose to his feet and swept his gaze across the fog.
"We have to use Wind Release to disperse the mist, or the situation will turn against us!"
"Understood."
Beside him, Nawaki began forming seals. A C-rank Wind Release that normally required six hand signs—he shortened it to just three.
The brown-haired boy took a deep breath, then exhaled forcefully.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Whooo—!
Wind chakra surged through his body, erupting from his mouth as an invisible, roaring gale that tried to shove the surrounding mist backward.
But this fog wasn't the work of a single Kirigakure ninja.
There were six of them.
Among them—two jōnin.
"About time."
One of the jōnin, a white-haired young man, fully surfaced and stood atop the water.
He wore the uniform of Kirigakure's assassination forces. A mask with intricate patterns covered his face, and a ninja blade was strapped to his back. His gaze pierced the mist ahead.
"It's time to finish them."
Another Kirigakure jōnin emerged beside him, his voice deep and heavy, like that of a man in his forties.
"There are six ninjas inside, plus two civilians. One jōnin, one chūnin."
"Leave the jōnin alive."
"Kill the rest."
Just like that, he decided how many would survive this mission.
The masked young man glanced sideways at him.
"Why not just leave one genin alive instead?"
His tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction as he continued mockingly,
"What, you don't think I—Hōzuki Shirooni—can kill a jōnin? No way, right? No way~?"
"Leaving only the jōnin alive makes the story more believable," the other jōnin replied calmly, ignoring the taunt.
"Besides, the chūnin and the jōnin look very similar. They're likely related."
"That will only deepen their hatred toward Uzushiogakure."
The masked youth chuckled softly.
"Or maybe they'll just hate us Kirigakure more."
"Enough talk. Move."
"If there are multiple Wind Release specialists among the Konoha ninjas, the advantage we created will be broken."
"And then making them believe they survived by sheer luck will become much harder."
"Understood."
"Leave it to me."
Before disappearing into the mist, the young assassin added lightly,
"After all… I'm a ninja of the Hōzuki clan~!"
Inside the fog, Nawaki's lips were practically raw from blowing. Yet the mist in front of him—and all around—showed no sign of thinning.
"Alright, stop blowing already," Bai Xing said, watching Nawaki pant with his tongue out after using Wind Release twice, clearly draining a fair amount of chakra.
"I'm afraid you'll suffocate before the fog clears."
Two C-rank Wind Release techniques failing to disperse the mist meant only one thing:
at least one jōnin—or several chūnin—were maintaining it together.
And they hadn't stopped yet.
"Senior Kurenai, we need to retreat!"
Bai Xing made the call directly. If they didn't withdraw now, the Kirigakure ninjas would soon infiltrate their formation.
Yūhi Kurenai frowned slightly and glanced at the location where the information scroll was secured.
"Bai Xing, this is a mission. Retreating so easily—"
Bai Xing cut her off outright, just as he had once interrupted his own teacher.
"Senior Kurenai!"
"These are Kirigakure ninjas skilled in Water Release! We also have two civilians to protect. If there are two or more enemy jōnin, can you really handle that?!"
The moment those words fell—
Everyone's heart lurched.
Yūhi Shinku looked at her uncle with visible fear in her eyes. Shiranui Kumo didn't even dare look over.
Sure enough, Kurenai's expression darkened.
This mission's overall commander was her.
Bai Xing had no authority to command her.
Rank aside—even in terms of "strength," Bai Xing had no such qualification.
"A ninja's duty is to obey orders."
The admiration in her eyes vanished, replaced by cold resolve.
"The village's missions are absolute. Especially this one—it concerns matters of great importance to the village."
"We cannot retreat."
"..."
"Then what if I take Team One and retreat on my own?"
"Then go," Kurenai said softly, closing her eyes for a brief moment before reopening them, her gaze calm.
"But my team will not leave until the mission is completed."
"Now, I'll give you an order."
She turned her head and looked straight at Bai Xing.
"Team One is to return and report to the village. Inform them that Team Kurenai was attacked by Kirigakure ninjas."
"Say that I ordered your retreat."
After saying that, Kurenai turned her back to Bai Xing and roared,
"Go! What are you waiting for?!"
"Kumo, get Mr. Hosokawa onto Bai Xing's boat and cover their retreat!"
"Yes!"
"Shinku, you also—"
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
In the thick white fog where visibility was nearly zero, four cold, razor-sharp shuriken arced through the air like crescent moons, flying straight toward Yūhi Shinku.
"First one."
Within the mist, Hōzuki Shirooni had already judged the chūnin's death.
At a jōnin's speed, with multiple Hidden Mist techniques interfering, only someone like Kakashi—with a Sharingan—or a Byakugan user could react in time.
Ordinary jōnin wouldn't.
Let alone—
A jōnin who specialized only in genjutsu.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Shinku crossed her arms over her head and squeezed her eyes shut. She heard the sounds of metal colliding near her ears.
Even if she heard the weapons approaching, her body couldn't react in time—only instinct remained.
Several seconds passed.
Shinku finally opened her eyes and looked up—only to see a familiar back standing in front of her, shielding her completely.
"So it's true,"
Yūhi Kurenai said slowly.
"Your strength… was never that of a genin."
That attack—
even she hadn't reacted in time.
Yet Bai Xing had noticed it.
And he had blocked the Kirigakure jōnin's strike for her niece in the very first moment.
"What a hassle."
Bai Xing didn't answer Kurenai directly. His face was icy as he stared into the endless white fog ahead.
"Senior Kurenai, it looks like my wish to retreat…"
"…is officially over."
He tightened his grip slightly and spoke in a low voice:
"The Kirigakure jōnin have already arrived."
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