Chapter 140: Tracking the Enemy
Team Renjiro passed through the Konoha gate and headed toward their destination.
They stopped only once for a meal and spent the rest of the time running at full speed without using chakra.
At seven in the evening, they arrived at a patrol outpost. Kaito looked at the installation, his eye twitching. He thought,
Is this even an outpost? This is basically a small village!
The outpost was massive. At its center stood a two-story building surrounded by numerous smaller houses. The entire compound was enclosed by a wooden fence.
As soon as they arrived, a burly man appeared before them with a broad smile.
"Renjiro! How have you been?"
Renjiro smiled back.
"I'm doing well, Seiichi. Come meet my students."
Akimichi Seiichi looked at the three young chunin and said,
"I heard that three talented genin were promoted to chunin in this exam. Congratulations on your swift advancement."
The three thanked him politely. Renjiro made introductions.
"This is Kaito, Uchiha Mieko, and Hyuga Hodaka."
He gestured to the large man. "This is Akimichi Seiichi. He used to be my teammate, is a jonin, and currently serves as captain of all patrol teams on the eastern coast."
The three looked at him with increased respect. The eastern coast of the Land of Fire stretched for hundreds of kilometers! Kaito was curious.
How did an Akimichi end up on a team with a Senju?
Renjiro asked,
"Seiichi, what's the latest on those Kirigakure ninja?"
Akimichi Seiichi replied,
"We've tracked them several times, but they keep escaping. My assessment is that one squad entered our territory while fleeing pursuit, and the other squad has been hunting them within the Land of Fire. However, neither group has approached us directly, so we must treat them all as hostiles."
Renjiro nodded. He looked at his students. "Do you want to rest tonight, or track them down and engage?"
Mieko immediately replied,
"Sensei, let's attack tonight!"
Hodaka considered briefly and agreed. He wasn't tired either.
Kaito looked at Seiichi. "Have we engaged with either team?"
Seiichi nodded. "We fought one group once and the other four times. However, they always managed to escape using pre-set traps. Since they wear masks, we can't identify them."
Kaito asked,
"Masks? Are they—"
Seiichi interrupted, "No, they don't operate like ANBU. If they were ANBU, this would be an S-rank mission."
Kaito nodded. "Are they injured or fatigued?"
Seiichi replied,
"No serious injuries. Only minor wounds and exhaustion from operating behind enemy lines for several days."
While answering, Seiichi silently approved of Kaito's analytical approach. Kaito looked at Renjiro.
"Sensei, let's attack tonight. It's best to capture them before they can escape the Land of Fire."
Renjiro nodded. Mieko snorted. "That's what I said from the beginning!"
Kaito ignored her childish comment.
Seiichi said,
"Alright. You focus on capturing them, and I'll ensure they can't escape. Take Inuzuka Hoka with you—he'll provide detailed intelligence."
Renjiro nodded. Inuzuka Hoka stepped forward, a fierce-looking ninja dog at his side. Hoka was a chunin in his twenties. The group departed.
After traveling for some time, they arrived outside a village. Inuzuka Hoka said,
"This is Tsumagoi Village. They were last spotted near here."
Renjiro nodded, looking at his students.
Kaito shook his head. "Sensei, there's no one within a one-kilometer radius."
Hodaka and Mieko activated their dojutsu. Mieko found nothing. Hodaka searched for several minutes before speaking. "Six hundred meters east, Sensei."
They immediately moved in that direction. Upon arrival, they found a large hollow in a tree trunk—big enough to conceal several people.
Hodaka entered and retrieved several blood-stained bandages. He reported,
"Looks like they rested here for a while."
He handed the bloodied bandages to Inuzuka Hoka and his dog. Meanwhile, Mieko activated her Sharingan and began scanning the area.
After a moment, she announced,
"Found a trail!"
She immediately began following it. The group advanced about four kilometers, but Kaito, Hodaka, and even Hoka found no additional clues.
They arrived at a small pond. Mieko frowned.
"Their trail ends here."
Hodaka scanned with his Byakugan. "I don't see anyone."
Hoka added,
"We can't pick up their scent either."
Kaito frowned.
"Nothing within my sensory range either."
Renjiro smiled and formed hand seals.
"Your tracking and detection abilities are excellent, but I've never taught you about sealing jutsu. Let this be a lesson: never underestimate sealing techniques! Even if you don't detect anyone, never let your guard down."
He slammed his hands on the ground. "Earth Release: Earth Flow Rapids!"
Renjiro channeled massive amounts of chakra into the ground. The entire pond became unstable.
Soon, a sharp stone spire appeared at the pond's center and began rising. Beneath it, a needle-shaped mountain was forming! That sharp point was its peak!
Renjiro said calmly,
"Of course, even with all precautions, it doesn't mean enemies can't track you."
Just as the mountain rose, Kaito suddenly sensed six ninja! Hodaka and Hoka detected them too.
Six ninja burst from the pond, attempting to escape!
Seeing them, Renjiro caused needle-like stone projectiles to shoot from the mountain toward them.
Two of the ninja rapidly formed hand seals. A water wall and earth wall formed in succession, defending against the barrage.
Kaito, Mieko, and Hodaka moved to attack, but Renjiro stopped them.
He looked at the enemy. They stared back. Both sides entered a standoff.
Kaito observed carefully. All six wore masks. They appeared to be in their twenties to thirties. Two possessed jonin-level chakra, while the rest had chunin-level reserves.
Renjiro asked coldly,
"State your names and your purpose for entering the Land of Fire."
Some of the Kirigakure ninja recognized Renjiro and immediately tensed!
Renjiro threatened,
"Surrender and identify yourselves, or..."
He released an overwhelming killing intent and continued,
"Die!"
Kazuki, the leader of the six Kirigakure ninja, said,
"Senju Renjiro, we only want safe passage back to Kirigakure. Let us pass, and we'll leave. Otherwise, don't think you'll emerge unscathed!"
He was attempting to compromise. He actually still wanted to pursue the Kirigakure rogues, but he hadn't expected to encounter someone as formidable as Renjiro!
Renjiro ignored his threat.
"Kill them!"
The moment he spoke, Kaito, Mieko, and Hodaka sprang into action!
Before Renjiro's command was fully spoken, Kaito launched Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
Mieko instantly formed hand seals and in less than a second, launched Fire Release: Fireball into the wind stream.
Hodaka gathered chakra in his palm, preparing to use Vacuum Palm.
The Kirigakure ninja hadn't expected the young chunin behind Renjiro to attack with such speed and coordination.
However, they'd been on high alert for days!
As soon as Kaito moved, Kazuki formed hand seals, and a water wall appeared between them.
Due to the speed, Kaito had no time to enhance his technique's power. The water wall successfully blocked the wind as three more water barriers formed.
However, moments later, raging flames spread with the wind!
The Earth Release user was about to construct an earth wall when Kazuki shouted,
"Scatter!"
The group immediately dispersed in different directions. The instant they moved, the ground beneath their feet transformed into deadly spikes and spears.
Seeing this, Kazuki remembered the dozens of Kirigakure ninja killed by this very technique.
Renjiro frowned. He hadn't expected his attack to miss entirely. He quickly created a shadow clone.
"They've scattered. Each of you find an opponent and eliminate them, then assist the others."
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