A natural limestone cave above a nearby river.
After hearing about Nagato's past with Baixing, Hyūga Suzuka's eyes welled up with tears.
What a pitiful child.
"Why…
didn't the village repeatedly emphasize that civilians must not be harmed? Why did something like this still happen…?" Suzuka asked softly.
"Because this is war, Chūnin Suzuka." Baixing listened calmly to Nagato's story, then glanced at him. Nagato didn't seem guarded at all—but Baixing could faintly sense a dangerous aura coming from him.
The Rinnegan… it's already awakened.
"I'm a ninja of Konoha. I can't help you with everything. Many things… you'll have to struggle through on your own."
Beside Baixing, Nagato was holding the little dog and gently stroking its head. Konan and Yahiko stood farther away, half-hidden behind a rock wall, poking their heads out to observe Nagato and the Konoha ninja. Baixing glanced back and lightly waved to signal goodwill—startling the two of them so badly they immediately shrank back.
"Konan, you don't think Nagato is a Konoha spy, do you?" Yahiko asked seriously.
Konan puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms. "How could that be? Nagato's parents were killed by Konoha ninja!"
"But he's standing so close to that Konoha ninja who looks super strong. It just feels… weird."
The two whispered to each other for a while. Meanwhile, Baixing finished his farewell with Nagato. He didn't leave anything behind, only telling him one piece of information: the war between the Hidden Rain and Konoha was nearing its end.
If there was a chance to meet again in the future, Baixing said he would come visit him. Nagato's eyes filled with longing.
Just before Baixing and Hyūga Suzuka used Body Flicker to leave, Nagato suddenly spoke.
"Um…
Could you teach us ninjutsu, Brother Baixing?"
"..."
The two froze mid-step.
Baixing fell silent. Beside him, Suzuka frowned slightly.
—No matter how pitiful foreign orphans might be, it was impossible to teach them power that could one day be used to kill one's own comrades, turning them into enemy ninja.
Suzuka timidly glanced at Baixing, wanting him to refuse, but her personality kept her from speaking up.
Baixing understood Suzuka's meaning. And he truly had no time to teach Nagato.
From that cool, retreating figure, Baixing's voice carried back.
"I'm sorry.
The war isn't over yet. If it were discovered that you were taught by Konoha ninja, you'd be killed by the Hidden Rain."
"No! We… we…"
The innocent Nagato didn't even know what a spy was, and his introverted nature left him unable to find the right words.
"That's enough." Yahiko stepped forward with Konan. "He just doesn't want us to become enemies."
"And besides—
we don't need it anyway~ bleh!"
"Bleh!" Konan echoed.
"..." Baixing looked at their childish faces, fell silent for a moment, then said, "The fighting on the battlefield may grow more intense soon. Be careful."
As Baixing vanished with Body Flicker, Suzuka glanced back once more before following.
Whoosh—
Even after they'd been gone for a while, Nagato still stood there, staring blankly at the spot where they disappeared.
"They're gone," Konan said.
Yahiko nodded. "We should head back too. Konoha ninja really can't be relied on."
Noticing Nagato's lonely expression, Yahiko patted his shoulder. "You didn't actually want to learn ninjutsu, did you?"
The red-haired, introverted boy lowered his head slightly, as if his thoughts had been exposed.
"But that ninja really was handsome~" Konan said dreamily. "And his movement was so fast you couldn't even see it. He must be super strong! Maybe one of those jōnin everyone talks about in town."
"If only I could become a ninja too~"
After traveling some distance away from the three children, Hyūga Suzuka finally spoke in a low voice.
"Captain… letting them go—won't that leak our plan? That plan determines the final battle between us and the Hidden Rain."
Leaping between tree trunks, the scenery blurring past—
Baixing stopped on a branch and turned to look at Suzuka.
"No. But we may be in danger now."
Suzuka was confused. "Why?"
The next second, she understood.
"Water Release: Rain Manipulation Technique!"
Baixing grabbed Suzuka and pulled her away from the tree.
Countless rain droplets slammed into the trunk—crack!—the thick tree shattered in half under the controlled water.
Thud thud thud!
Footsteps echoed through the forest.
Where Baixing looked, dark figures darted through the trees.
"Byakugan!"
Suzuka's vision turned black and white, her field of view expanding forward.
Three tall figures landed on three trees ahead.
Each wore a Hidden Rain gas mask, waterproof combat gear, and the distinctive Rain forehead protector.
Behind them, slightly ahead, stood a man clad in samurai-like plated armor—clearly the one who had just used Water Release.
His chakra was on a completely different level from the other three.
"C-Captain, it's a Hidden Rain jōnin squad!" Suzuka blurted out, immediately suspecting Nagato and the others. "We were betrayed! Those damn kids!"
Hearing the words children and betrayed, the Rain jōnin frowned slightly.
—They'd only received a report saying enemy ninja might be present in this forest.
And now, sure enough, there were Konoha ninja here—perhaps even Konoha-trained orphan spies.
"So you're the one who's been collecting intel for Konoha in the Land of Rain and slipping past our pursuit every time," the Rain jōnin sneered.
"The so-called Black Ghost."
He rested his hand on his sword, a cruel smile on his face.
"A mere genin, yet a Level-Three Intelligence Commander.
Genin Baixing."
Baixing sighed inwardly.
So I've become famous already, huh…
Over the past month, Konoha Intelligence Team One had failed to detect pursuit, leading to their base being attacked and the team scattered—nearly wiped out.
That team included one Level-Three Commander, one jōnin, and two special jōnin—four jōnin in total.
Only one special jōnin had escaped back to camp to report it.
Baixing's information was likely leaked around the same time.
Meanwhile, on the Rain Country front, the Combat Division—including Jiraiya and Orochimaru as Level-Two Commanders—had all moved in, as had Tsunade from the Medical Division.
The strategy was to draw Rain forces away along multiple fronts, then dispatch elite units straight into the Hidden Rain Village to assassinate Hanzō.
Most intelligence teams were already withdrawing.
Only Baixing's Team Two remained, finishing one final reconnaissance mission.
—A Level-Three Commander naturally carried heavier responsibilities.
Once this mission ended, Baixing's command career would end as well. He'd return to the village and enjoy life:
less than one month counted as one full month—two months' base pay, two million ryō, plus post-tax mission rewards, totaling roughly 3.5 million ryō.
Equivalent to the pre-tax reward of three and a half S-rank missions.
However—
It didn't look like he'd be going back to enjoy anything.
All four Rain ninja ahead were at full strength, and that jōnin was no pushover.
"Well, looks like it's my turn," Baixing chuckled. He tossed the scroll in his arms to Suzuka.
Suzuka stared at him in disbelief. "Captain—"
"I've been on the battlefield this long and barely encountered enemies," Baixing said calmly, even mockingly, despite being surrounded.
"Come to think of it… your Rain pursuit squads aren't very impressive. Over a month, and you still couldn't even find my shadow."
The Rain chūnin bristled with anger.
The Rain jōnin, however, calmly eyed the scroll in Suzuka's hands.
"Exchanging intel right in front of us?
Do you think I'd fall for that?"
Suzuka immediately understood Baixing's intent.
Split up. Deliver the real intel.
"I understand, Captain," she said calmly. She knew the scroll she carried wasn't real—but if it meant sacrificing herself for the captain, so be it.
"Then I'll take my leave!"
Whoosh—
Suzuka dashed off in another direction.
Baixing pulled out another fake scroll, tucked it back into his clothes, and sneered.
The Rain jōnin glanced briefly at Suzuka's escape route, then locked his gaze on Baixing.
"You three—go capture that woman! She has the Byakugan. Don't screw it up."
"Yes!" ×3
As they prepared to move, Baixing rapidly formed seals.
"I never planned on letting you chase her."
"Guard up!!" the Rain jōnin roared.
The chūnin halted instantly, tense.
The Rain jōnin carefully observed Baixing's hand seals—over twenty already—but the surroundings were completely still.
In the next instant, the jōnin clenched his fist, danger flashing in his eyes.
"Is this supposed to be fun?"
"Not really," Baixing said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "But it works."
Chakra surges. Complex hand seals. Incomprehensible patterns.
Scary, isn't it?
"Heh."
Rain pattered softly as the Rain jōnin drew his blade, white light reflecting off his face.
Jōnin-level pressure spread outward.
The chūnin behind him swallowed nervously.
Captain Seiu was angry.
"My name is Seiu.
You've heard of me, right?"
Baixing's pupils shrank slightly.
Vice-captain of the Rain pursuit force. Water Release and swordsmanship specialist. Elite jōnin.
The man who wiped out Intelligence Team One.
"…Damn. So it's you."
"Looks like I won't be escaping this time."
Baixing sighed, putting on a hopeless, resigned expression—of course, for anyone who might be watching.
He'd checked his entire route thoroughly. There were no signs of ninja movement.
The only possible leak would've been Nagato's group.
But clearly… it wasn't them.
From Seiu's words—
Hidden Rain again…
Such a familiar script.
Baixing glanced back, silently wishing Suzuka luck.
"Ready to die?" Seiu snarled.
"The intel must be on you, you sly fox."
"Handing over a scroll in front of us—did you really think I'd fall for it?!"
Hidden White Zetsu: "..."
I can testify—the scroll was on him earlier. Not sure about now.
For a split second, Baixing's face showed shock, as if exposed—but he quickly suppressed it.
"Think whatever you want. You can go verify with my teammate."
"Send your three men to deal with me."
That look, those words, only strengthened Seiu's confidence.
"If it were really on her, would a Konoha ninja say something like that?"
"So much for a mysterious commander. Turns out you're just a coward!"
Seiu grew even angrier at Baixing's shameless calm.
Rain ninja might not share Konoha's bonds, but they'd never sell out comrades in a dead-end situation.
"You—
are a disgrace to ninja!!"
He formed a seal with one hand.
"Ninja Art: Rain Fog Technique!"
The mist thickened. Rain sounds dulled, swallowed by the fog.
As the jutsu completed, Suzuka suddenly halted.
No one was chasing her.
Through her Byakugan, she clearly saw Baixing—and his deception.
The scroll he'd given her lacked Team Two's special markings.
The one staying behind—
Was Baixing himself.
"…Captain."
Gritting her teeth, she finally turned and sprinted toward the Konoha camp.
Not long after she left, a black-and-white Venus flytrap creature slowly emerged from a tree.
"Like the Hidden Mist Technique?" White Zetsu said.
"That genin should be dead this time."
"Not necessarily," Black Zetsu replied coldly. "That man is no ordinary genin."
"No normal commander would constantly relocate bases."
"Intelligence Team One was easily wiped out by White Zetsu clones posing as Rain ninja."
"But Intelligence Team Two kept moving under this cautious man, preventing accurate intel transfer."
"Without real strength, who'd dare take such risks on the battlefield?"
"True," White Zetsu said. "Still, Konoha has finally committed to a decisive battle. Nagato should be much safer now."
"Let's witness the end of this great war."
Black Zetsu sneered. "Wars don't end that easily. Iwagakure has already deployed against the Grass Country. Once logistics are in place, let's see if Konoha can handle it."
"But either way, once this campaign ends, Iwa's forces in Rain Country will withdraw."
Baixing noticed none of this.
His Sixth Sense could only vaguely locate the four Rain ninja ahead.
Vision inside the fog was nearly useless.
Rain fell softly, tapping faintly against everything.
Seiu activated Body Flicker, moving swiftly through the mist, blade aimed at Baixing's right hand.
He wanted to kill this Konoha traitor slowly and cruelly.
"Die!"
Three seconds to form the fog.
One more second—
Seiu appeared right in front of Baixing.
He could even see Baixing's panicked face.
Clang—
"What?!"
His blade was blocked—by Baixing's kunai.
"I thought you'd be stronger," Baixing said lightly. Their strength was evenly matched. After a brief clash, they separated.
But Baixing felt something was off.
This guy… shouldn't be this weak.
"I get it now!" Seiu suddenly realized.
"You're not a genin!"
"This assassination technique would catch even ordinary jōnin off guard—and you saw through it!"
"Heh. Ever consider that I might be a sensor-type ninja?"
"…So that's it."
Seiu finally understood how Baixing kept evading Rain pursuit.
"But it doesn't matter. You're dead."
"Even if you sense my attack direction, you can't keep sensing continuously."
No sensory ability worked well under nonstop high-speed attacks.
In the end—
You still die.
"Oh." Baixing replied casually and hurled kunai and shuriken.
Whoosh!
Seiu shifted slightly. The weapons whizzed past him.
"Forgot to mention—inside this mist, I also have basic sensing ability."
"Curse your weakness!"
"..."
Baixing's shadow clone fell silent.
You really love showing off. If I weren't trying to escape quietly, I wouldn't even bother with you.
Among those thrown weapons, one kunai was special.
Not Flying Thunder God.
—An explosive tag.
BOOM!!
In the explosion, the Rain jōnin burst into water.
Of course, it was a Water Clone.
The real Seiu had already switched positions.
"At this range—how dare he—damn it!"
Seiu realized the truth.
That Baixing was fake!!
His sensing only covered his immediate surroundings. He hadn't detected the real Baixing switching places and burrowing underground.
The explosion allowed Baixing to shift from cautious movement to reckless speed.
By the time the dust settled, Baixing had already exited the forest.
At the same moment, he sensed his shadow clone lasting only two exchanges before being destroyed.
Of course—intentionally.
Otherwise, killing the opponent would've been trivial.
But—
He was a genin.
Running away was reasonable.
One-shotting an elite jōnin?
That'd be insane.
That kind of report would get him promoted on the spot.
And besides—
It was finally time to experience his first international vacation.
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