After officially joining the squad, life became like a tightly wound machine—never stopping, never slowing.
One mission followed another in relentless succession. Kagura barely had time to breathe, let alone reflect.
Seasons passed.
Two years slipped by in the blink of an eye.
The countless blood-soaked missions and repeated brushes with death gradually numbed his heart. The sensitivity he once possessed dulled beneath layers of experience and necessity.
This time, however, the assignment surprised him.
They were to escort a merchant caravan.
To Kagura, Root's work had always meant assassination, arson, sabotage—missions that could never see daylight.
Escort duty felt… almost ordinary.
But once he learned the details, he understood.
This caravan was far from innocent.
Root had accepted the mission for one simple reason:
The payment was extraordinarily generous.
The destination was the Land of Grass(Kusagakure), northwest of the Land of Fire.
Receiving their orders, the four-man squad immediately rendezvoused with the caravan and began the journey.
Along the road, the merchants chatted freely—sharing stories, discussing profits, laughing about trivial matters.
In stark contrast, Kagura and his teammates remained silent, scanning their surroundings without pause.
A mission required discipline.
Carelessness meant death.
They traveled day and night, enduring harsh conditions. Eventually, they crossed the border and entered the Land of Grass.
The moment they stepped into the new territory, Kagura sensed something was wrong.
Unlike the blatant danger of assassination missions, this felt different.
The surface appeared peaceful.
But beneath that calm—
Something stirred.
The roads in the Land of Grass were narrow and winding, flanked by dense forests.
Towering trees blocked much of the sunlight, casting mottled shadows that lent the journey an eerie atmosphere.
"Ten" moved at the front, eyes sharp as a hawk's. His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his blade, fingers ready.
"Chi" and "Gen" maintained formation, their vigilance honed from years in Root.
"Stop."
Ten's low command cut through the air.
The caravan halted immediately.
The merchants looked around nervously.
Ten's gaze fixed on a patch of grass ahead.
It trembled unnaturally.
The squad fanned out protectively around the caravan.
Weapons drawn.
Tension peaked.
Suddenly—
A mud-covered rabbit burst from the brush and fled.
The merchants exhaled in relief. Some even muttered complaints.
"It's just a rabbit…"
But Kagura and the others did not relax.
And they were right not to.
Moments later, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from deeper within the forest.
Metal clashed.
Armed forces were approaching.
"Prepare for combat," Ten ordered.
Shinobi clad in attire of the Land of Grass emerged from all directions, encircling the caravan.
Their leader—a tall, broad man with a scar across his face—smirked.
"Leave the caravan," he said coldly. "You may go."
The merchants paled, retreating behind the carts.
Kagura quickly assessed the situation.
These Grass shinobi had clearly been waiting.
They had allowed the caravan to enter their territory before springing the trap.
Root operatives did not negotiate.
Ten moved first.
His blade flashed like lightning. Within seconds, several enemies fell.
Each strike was precise, lethal.
Chi formed hand seals—Fire Release roared forth in a blazing wave, engulfing enemies in scorching flames.
Gen disappeared among shadows, his kunai striking like a viper.
Kagura remained composed.
With a flick of his wrist, shuriken sliced through the air, piercing throats with ruthless efficiency.
Though outnumbered, the Root squad were elite.
Battle erupted violently.
Steel clashed.
Flames roared.
Cries of pain echoed through the forest.
Yet Kagura noticed something unsettling.
The enemy seemed to be stalling.
Their attacks were aggressive—but restrained.
They were buying time.
His suspicion proved correct.
From the distance came the rumble of additional reinforcements—larger in number.
Dust rose as another shinobi unit advanced.
Kagura's brows furrowed.
Brute force would no longer suffice.
He scanned the battlefield rapidly.
Then he saw it—
One of the caravan wagons was loaded with highly flammable goods.
An idea formed instantly.
He signaled to Chi.
Their eyes met in silent understanding.
Kagura stepped forward, performing hand seals.
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
A powerful jet of water surged forth, sweeping across the field, disrupting enemy formation and drawing attention.
Meanwhile, Chi dashed toward the wagon.
Kagura infused chakra into his blade and severed the wagon's reins.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
Chi unleashed a blazing fireball that struck the cargo directly.
The wagon ignited instantly.
Flames erupted, spreading rapidly, sending waves of heat across the battlefield.
The sudden inferno forced the Grass shinobi to retreat.
Ten seized the opening.
"Break through!"
The squad carved a bloody path forward, protecting the caravan as they forced their way out of encirclement.