One of the Ninja Codes: Protect your intelligence. You can talk about your abilities, but you don't have to reveal everything; it's best if the limits of what you can achieve are known only to yourself.
Limited concealment can not only protect yourself but also better protect your comrades.
In the Ninja World, a small bit of concealed information won't kill anyone; what will kill you is bragging and making promises about things you can't do.
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For example, when Higashino Shin first graduated, he told his teacher that his sensing distance was a radius of 3 kilometers, but he was lying—his actual sensing distance at that time was about 4 kilometers.
Four months have passed since graduation. Especially after arriving at the Eastern Front, the speed of his Natural Energy training slightly increased, and two days ago, he successfully achieved Ice Release Fusion, which boosted his Chakra reserves a little. Therefore, his current sensing limit is about a 6-kilometer radius.
In other words, their sensing distances were similar, and he had been constantly dancing around the edge of Chukichi's sensing range.
For the remainder of the time, Higashino Shin led two teams and quickly circled to the other side of the Kirigakure squad. He then acted like an elusive ghost, appearing here one moment and showing his face there the next.
The headcount was never consistent. Sometimes he used his ability to conceal one or two people, and sometimes he used Shadow Clones to make the team appear larger. Even when they were detected by the enemy, he covered everyone's bodies with Chakra to simulate unfamiliar fluctuations, preventing any weaknesses from being exposed.
In Chukichi's perception, the Konoha search teams in this direction seemed overly concentrated.
If only one or two teams were blocking the way, he could have quickly dealt with them, erased the traces, and fled. But given the current situation, it was obvious that a large number of Konoha Ninja had gathered there for some unknown reason, forcing him to take a detour to reach the target mission point.
Although constantly correcting their direction made him frantic enough to want to kill someone, he endured it for the sake of the mission.
Completing the mission is the Ninja's duty. No matter how cruel the training they received in the Hidden Mist Village was, this iron rule was engraved in their minds like a steel stamp.
It's quite strange that even renegades like Zabuza and Kisame still survived by taking missions while operating in the Ninja World.
Perhaps, deep down, they still craved order; even as renegades, they adhered to this principle.
The only one who truly went insane was probably Raiga Kurosuki.
It was true that Chukichi had a short temper, but he was also a highly cautious individual. As the surrounding vegetation gradually decreased, he slowly realized that something was wrong.
It wasn't until they arrived at a valley that was rocky, dry, and sparse with grass and trees that they finally confirmed they had fallen into the trap set by those Konoha bastards.
This place looked just like the Land of Earth. In the heavily vegetated Land of Fire, this kind of terrain is rare and usually only found in famous locations.
The most famous stone valley is called the Valley of the End.
Now, not just Chukichi, but the other Kirigakure Ninja also sensed the grim prospects.
Someone pulled out a map they carried and compared it, exclaiming in surprise, "This is Kusagakure Valley! Not only are there no rivers nearby, but even villages and towns for ordinary people are scarce, Lord Chukichi..."
The person beside him also asked, "Lord Chukichi, what is going on?"
No one could see the look in Chukichi's eyes behind his red glasses at that moment. He glanced expressionlessly at the sky and ordered, "Speed up and leave this place."
However, he stopped after running less than a few hundred meters.
The Kirigakure Ninja beside him asked, "Lord Chukichi?"
Chukichi sighed, examining the surrounding environment. "Everyone, we are surrounded. Before the ambush circle closes, prepare to break out. Run eastward. If we can find a populated village or town, that would be even better. We might still be able to reach the Land of Waves base alive that way."
At this, everyone became agitated. Ignoring their desire to complain about Chukichi, who was leading the team, they started running wildly.
---
Northwest of Kusagakure Valley, Higashino Shin and his eight companions merged with another search team.
It was Aoba Yamashiro's squad. His teammates were the highly motivated Asuma Sarutobi and the adorable Kurenai Yuhi. The clan crest on the Jonin leader's clothing indicated that he was also from the Sarutobi Clan.
Theoretically, after the three Genin members of a squad become Chunin, they can operate independently of their former Jonin, but this is not a strict rule; it depends entirely on the choice of both parties.
As for the group accompanying them to ensure their safety, there were only three people. The leader was none other than Nara Suzaku, the Staff Officer of the Eastern Front, whose teammates were a fat man and a handsome middle-aged man with orange hair.
This was a traditional Konoha Ino–Shika–Chō formation.
As an ally of the Sarutobi Clan, Nara Suzaku had to come personally to feel assured of Asuma's safety.
Although the Third Hokage often said that if Asuma died in battle, it would only prove that his talent was mediocre, this was just talk; no one should take it seriously. Anyone who believed it was an idiot.
At this moment, Higashino Shin, who was using his sensing ability, suddenly said, "The enemy has realized they're caught in the encirclement and are starting to break out directly to the east."
Nara Suzaku sneered, "Just as expected. That reaction is exactly what we predicted. Unfortunately for them, that direction is not easy to break through."
Asuma Sarutobi was overjoyed upon hearing their conversation. "Then what are we still doing here? We can't let the enemy escape!"
After saying this, the guy accelerated and chased after them wildly.
"Huh? Asuma, wait!" Kurenai Yuhi stretched out a weak Er-Kang Hand, but how could she stop her comrade who was so eager to gain merit?
"I knew this would happen!" Nara Suzaku pressed his hand against his forehead, having no choice but to urge everyone to accelerate and follow closely.
"I'll top your lung!" Higashino Shin couldn't help but curse a Guangdong National Essence phrase internally. Nothing good ever comes from encountering such rebellious, hot-blooded youths.
Nara Suzaku's meaning was clearly obvious: Command Center had anticipated the enemy's next move, and there must be powerful Ninja stationed in the east. They only needed to wait for the encirclement to be completed to eliminate the enemy with minimal cost.
Asuma wasn't stupid. Did he not understand? No, he understood, but he didn't want to miss the opportunity to achieve a great accomplishment.
Is this what everyone who lives under the shadow of the Hokage turns out like? Just like Konohamaru Sarutobi later on, always wanting to defeat his grandfather, prove his talent, and gain recognition.
You couldn't say he was exactly the same as Asuma now, but they certainly shared the same lineage.
While accelerating the pursuit, Nara Suzaku asked, "Shin, we have 15 people now. Can your ability conceal everyone so we aren't detected by the enemy's Sensory Ninja?"
"Although the number is a bit large, it won't be a problem, Senior Suzaku!"
"Very well. Since we have to engage, we will act as a Surprise Force and hit them when they least expect it!"
A distance of several dozen kilometers is not too far for Ninja moving at full speed. Higashino Shin and his group of fifteen passed through the forest, crossed the desolate Kusagakure Valley, and then plunged back into the woods.
Once they emerged from the forest again, they would see a small, bustling town not far ahead.
But a great battle had already erupted there.
Chukichi was deliberately running in this direction with 40 Kirigakure elites. He naturally knew Konoha Ninja were blocking the way, but there was no other option; this was the best choice. Only by rushing into the town and causing chaos would they have a chance to slip away, even if only a few.
Even if only one escaped, it was better than being completely wiped out.
But the Konoha Ninja blocking their path were primarily the Uchiha Clan, led personally by Uchiha Fugaku, who delivered a devastating blow.
For a moment, Kunai and shuriken flew everywhere, Explosive Tags and Great Fireball Jutsu exploded violently, and the clash between Fire Release and Water Release filled the area outside the town with mist.
Seeing that this path was blocked, Chukichi seized the chaos to signal a few familiar comrades to turn around and flee, conveniently using the remaining Kirigakure Ninja as decoys to buy him time to escape in a different direction.