After graduating, Hatake Kakashi had been constantly busy with missions. Following the outbreak of the Third Great Ninja War, he had joined Minato's elite unit and moved swiftly across the battlefield. His experience as a shinobi was already vast for someone his age—after all, he had been promoted to Special-Jōnin at only twelve.
That was exactly why locating him now, hidden somewhere deep within the borders of the Land of Water, was a task bordering on impossible.
Especially when Asahi had to operate under limitations. His only allies in the field were Sarutobi Asuma and Yuhi Kurenai—capable shinobi, no doubt, but neither of them was a sensory-type. Worse yet, Asahi couldn't even tell them his true objective: locating Kakashi's whereabouts before Kirigakure could execute their plans.
After three hours of scouting through the rugged terrain and mist-covered forests, Asahi managed to locate and mark multiple secure locations using the Flying Thunder God Technique. At each site, he etched the specialized kunai seal—discreet, hidden, and always within range.
'A cunning rabbit has three burrows', he reminded himself, quoting the old shinobi proverb. With these new fallback positions established, he could ensure that if their main cave was compromised by Kirigakure forces, they wouldn't be cornered.
By the time Asahi returned to the cave, the moon had begun its descent, casting a dim silver glow over the forest canopy. He passed through a genjutsu-warded entrance and stepped inside.
Asuma and Kurenai were already waiting. Both looked up the moment Asahi entered, and a visible sense of relief washed over their faces.
Still alert, Asahi narrowed his eyes. "Why are you here?"
Asuma gave a casual shrug. "We're on a mission. What about you?"
In enemy territory, such questions weren't asked for curiosity's sake—they were a form of secret verification. Since the trio had split up, they had established a covert protocol. A shrug meant 'safe and secure, situation normal'. Scratching the head would mean 'danger, prepare to retreat'.
The beauty of this system was that it relied on natural body language—habits that couldn't be faked without deep familiarity.
Asahi shrugged in return. "Same."
With the signal verified, he moved deeper into the cave and sat beside the smoldering fire pit. "Did you find anything useful?"
"No luck." Asuma replied with a shake of his head. "Didn't even see any other Konoha teams. We did spot a group of Kirigakure shinobi though. I was going to tail them, but there was a Jōnin among them. Too risky."
Asahi's eyes narrowed. "A Jōnin-level operative this deep in the territory? Our other teams must already be making moves."
"What about you?" Kurenai asked. "Any progress?"
Asahi shook his head. "No significant findings. But I've planted Flying Thunder God seals in multiple fallback spots. Even if we're exposed, I'll be able to get us out."
Kurenai exhaled in relief. "That makes our mission much safer."
"Still, don't let your guard down." Asahi warned. "Things change fast on the battlefield. One mistake can cost your life."
Asuma leaned forward. "Say, Asahi, what if we do what we discussed before? Track a Kirigakure patrol back to their base? That might be our best chance at pinpointing the village."
Asahi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It's worth trying. But remember—none of us are sensory-type. If the enemy detects chakra signatures, they'll know we're following them. And if they figure out I use the Flying Thunder God Technique, they'll tighten their defenses."
"Understood." Kurenai nodded.
"Alright. Let's rest. We'll rotate the watch."
That night passed without incident.
The next morning, the team ate a light meal of preserved rations before preparing to set out again. Their new objective: locate, observe, and tail a Mist patrol squad—ideally one with lower-ranking members and no sensory ninja.
Tracking an enemy unit in hostile territory was a demanding task. First, they needed to assess the composition of the patrol unit—strength levels, specialties, whether any members had detection capabilities. Then, they had to observe the patrol's rotation cycles to determine hand-off points. Finally, they needed to intercept any code phrases or signals used during exchanges.
Fortunately, all three were trained by Konoha's elite instructors. It didn't take long before they had eyes on multiple Kirigakure patrols.
After three days of patient observation, Asahi finally selected a target.
The patrol consisted of four members—two Chūnin and two Genin—with no sign of a sensory specialist. Their behavior was erratic, filled with mutual suspicion. Like most shinobi raised under the "Blood Mist" regime, they trusted no one, not even comrades on the same mission. Snide remarks and side-eyes were exchanged constantly. This mistrust made them formidable in combat but vulnerable to external manipulation.
Still, more information was needed.
For the next twenty-four hours, Asahi and his companions trailed the patrol discreetly, observing their shift changes and route habits.
They finally locked down the key timings—three o'clock in the afternoon, and again at three in the morning.
That night, the trio gathered inside the cave to finalize the plan.
"We now know their routine." Asahi said. "Tomorrow at 0300, we move. I propose a wide outflank. The three of us will shadow them from different vectors, keeping a visual line and using exploding tags to signal emergencies."
"I'm in." Kurenai said firmly.
"Sounds solid." Asuma added, nodding.
This approach maximized flexibility. If one of them were spotted, it wouldn't immediately compromise the others. Most patrols would attempt to trap the discovered intruder, thinking it was part of a team. That would allow the other two to remain hidden and continue the pursuit or assist in the escape.
Two more days passed in preparation.
Then came the moment.
At precisely three in the morning, the target patrol arrived at the shift-change location. Words were exchanged in gruff tones, and the replacement team disappeared into the mist.
As soon as the original unit began its return journey, Asahi gave a subtle hand sign.
'Now.'
The three of them fanned out, shadows among shadows.
At first, everything proceeded smoothly. The Kirigakure patrol advanced slowly through dense woods, making no special effort to conceal themselves. Their minds were likely already on their report debriefing and mission rewards. They showed no concern for counter-tracking.
A fatal flaw.
Had they been more cautious, had they even marginally trusted one another, they might have sensed something. But they didn't.
And then—boom!
A sharp crack echoed in the distance, followed by a bright red flare of chakra-infused fire.
Asahi's instincts screamed. 'An exploding tag!'
His pupils narrowed.
Someone had been discovered.
*****
Support me on my pat reon and gain early access to my creations.
https://www.pat reon.com/RroY28 (remove the space)
You can access up to 30 advanced chapters.