Deep in the forest, the campfire crackled, its light illuminating several faces.
"Renya-kun, isn't the roast rabbit ready yet?" Sarutobi Hiruzen sniffed the rich aroma of meat, practically drooling.
Shimura Danzō sat with his eyes closed, pretending not to care, though the movement of his throat betrayed him.
Renya turned the rabbit skewered on a branch, fat dripping into the flames with a "sizzle."
These rabbits had been caught along the way, meant for tonight's dinner.
The Land of Fire was quite far from the Land of Lightning — it would take about three days on the road. They were expected to arrive in Kumogakure by tomorrow afternoon.
Turning Koharu rested her chin in her hands, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the mouthwatering golden-brown rabbit.
"Renya-kun, your cooking really is amazing."
"Turn it slower, you'll burn it," Senju Tobirama said in a low voice from where he sat on the ground.
He was very particular about what he ate, especially disliking burnt food, believing the charred taste ruined the natural flavor.
"Got it, old man." Renya slowed his movements at the comment.
"Is it ready yet? I'm starving." Uchiha Kagami held a kunai, ready to carve up the meat.
"It should be ready soon, don't rush." Mitokado Homura smiled.
Renya wasn't just roasting rabbit — there was also fish and vegetables like mushrooms.
"The grilled fish and vegetables are ready." Renya handed the skewered fish and vegetables stuck into the ground to the others in turn.
Senju Tobirama took the fish and vegetables and began eating elegantly, but his gaze still lingered on the rabbit.
Compared to grilled fish, he preferred rabbit meat.
They'd had mostly fish while camping, so this was a welcome change.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others were the same, their eyes fixed openly on the rabbit.
"Want to try the Sarutobi clan's special seasoning?" Hiruzen seemed to remember something and pulled a small porcelain bottle from his ninja pouch.
"Hiruzen, trying to poison us again?" Shimura Danzō snorted. "Keep that stuff for yourself."
Uchiha Kagami and Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement.
"We don't need it."
During one mission, they'd tried the Sarutobi clan's special sauce — the mission ended in failure.
They couldn't say exactly why, but it wasn't a pleasant memory.
Turning Koharu had originally wanted to try it, but hearing them speak, she immediately dropped the idea.
Seeing everyone refuse, Hiruzen grew visibly anxious.
"Come on, just try it. It's really good."
He passed the bottle to each of them in turn, but no one took it.
"Hiruzen, you'd better enjoy that 'good stuff' yourself." Renya eyed the bottle warily, feeling it couldn't be anything good.
"Fine." Hiruzen sighed and poured the sauce over his grilled fish.
Everyone's eyes shifted to the green paste coating the fish.
Even Senju Tobirama furrowed his brows, wondering if that stuff was really edible.
Under their curious gazes, Hiruzen took a big bite of the fish and immediately smiled in satisfaction.
"Mm, delicious!"
Seeing this, Turning Koharu grew curious and couldn't help asking:
"Hiruzen, is it really that good?"
"It really is. Koharu, try some." Hiruzen enthusiastically handed her the bottle.
Koharu poured the sauce over her fish, then took a bite — and instantly stuck out her tongue, overcome by the spiciness.
"Cough, cough! Hiruzen, you liar!"
"I knew this would happen…" Shimura Danzō snorted.
"Hiruzen, stop sharing your sauce." Uchiha Kagami and Mitokado Homura spoke in unison.
The two of them had been burned badly by that sauce before, leaving lingering psychological trauma.
"But it tastes fine to me…" Hiruzen scratched his head, baffled by their dislike.
Senju Tobirama glanced at his noisy students, the corner of his mouth barely curving upward.
But then, he suddenly dropped the smile, instinctively turning his gaze in a certain direction.
Renya also caught movement in the distance and activated his Sharingan.
"What is it?" Shimura Danzō noticed Renya's reaction and mouthed the words.
This was a habit they'd developed after years of working together.
Renya gave a slight shake of his head, signaling him to stay calm.
Without making a show of it, he looked toward the distance — and with the clarity of his Sharingan, he saw three figures lurking behind a tree trunk, slowly closing in.
Not only that, but assassins were appearing all around them — at least ten by rough count…
"Koharu." Renya suddenly raised his voice. "Give me some of Hiruzen's special sauce."
Koharu blinked, then immediately understood.
"Okay, Renya-kun."
Renya stuck the rabbit into the ground so it wouldn't burn when the fight broke out.
Senju Tobirama watched their actions without stepping in.
He had sensed the assassins' approach long ago but had said nothing, wanting to see how his students would react.
Fortunately, Renya and the others did not disappoint. At the first sign of danger, they avoided startling the enemy, instead deliberately exposing an opening and waiting for them to close in.
The campfire crackled. On the surface, Renya was spreading sauce on vegetables — in reality, he was calculating the assassins' distance.
Hiruzen had already set down his food, his hands forming seals.
Danzō's right hand, hidden in his sleeve, gripped a kunai.
Uchiha Kagami and Mitokado Homura subtly shifted positions, silently surrounding Senju Tobirama.
One hundred meters… fifty… thirty… the assassins drew closer.
"Now!" Renya shouted, pulling the Banana Palm Fan from his back and swinging it toward the nearby brush.
Almost at the same instant, several dark figures shot out from the trees, kunai aimed straight at those by the fire.
Two assassins who had just leapt out never expected Renya to strike first — caught off guard, they were hit by the Wind Release attack.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Hiruzen's Fire Release had long been ready, and the moment he saw the enemy, he unleashed it without hesitation.
Three fire dragons roared from the campfire before him, forcing back two attackers.
At that moment, several kunai wreathed in lightning shot in from different angles — their target, the one in the middle: Senju Tobirama.
Tobirama didn't move at all.
Just as the assassins thought they had him, Uchiha Kagami, Mitokado Homura, Turning Koharu, and Shimura Danzō moved in unison, using ninjutsu to block the incoming kunai.
Renya's katana flashed from its sheath, slicing through the night.
Clang—
A flying kunai was cut from the air.
"… today is your death day!"
Three assassins appeared at once, lightning crackling in their hands as they aimed for Renya's vitals!
Everyone realized instantly — from the start, the assassins' target had been Renya, not Tobirama-sensei!
"Renya, watch out!"
Facing their attacks, Renya's eyes turned cold, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Just you lot… and you think you can kill me?"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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