After Kouske left the hall. The clan head looked at the elders who were in their early 50s.
Mitsuhide: Didn't I tell you that we should support him? Look, he performed even better than our expectations. If we have given him more support then he might have shown more results. You guys refused some of his demands, saying for a child we can not spend so many resources. But the results say for themselves, not only he created a forbidden clone Jutsu, he also created a potential S-Rank Jutsu.
1st-elder: You do not need to say more. We know. But if you think about it, no one would be crazy enough to believe a child when that child asks for so many things like access to all the clan's scrolls and even funds to do experimentation with medical jutsu etc. Who would believe it? Still, we can provide more support to him from now on. But you have to be clear with him that he should share his results with the clan.
2nd-elder: That is right.
A female attendant comes in and everybody stops speaking, then the attendant presents a scroll to the clan head. It has only been 3 mins and the scroll is here. This means Kouske already wrote the Jutsu and expected that he would have to give it to them. The clan head took it and started reading. After he read it, he gave it to the 1st-elder, then all others also read one by one. It took an hour and half for all of them to read it.
Mitsuhide: The child is too smart. He already wrote his original jutsu in a scroll and was ready to use it to get some benefits. Well, as long as it benefits the clan, I guess it is okay.
1st-elder: You are missing the point. He is six years old and has such intellect. We should nourish him and provide more opportunities to him.
2nd-elder: After this mission, I think we should send him to a battlefield. With his intellect, I am sure he won't die. I think he might be a nightmare for the enemies. It will also be a good advertisement for our clan. Maybe more people will hire us.
Mitsuhide: hmm....Let's first let him finish his current mission. It won't be easy. Although, chances of him engaging in combat is less but all of us know that things rarely go as the way we expect them to.
…
[Next Morning]
Tsuchimikado was in his carriage, there were some other carriages around them. Also, 10 shinobis from the Fuma clan are surrounding the carriages from all sides. Kouske was also there and his face was hopeless right now. Let's look into his mind.
FFFFFUUUUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKK...I AM SO FFFFFUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKKEEEEDDDDDD.
That is Nobuhisa-san right. He is the father of Naohiro. He is my father's rival and his son is my rival. Moreover, I FUCKING FUCKED HIS SON MULTIPLE TIMES. MY FIRST MISSION IS WITH HIM? I AM SO DEAD. I HAVE TO KEEP MY GUARD UP AND MAKE SURE THAT I AM NOT ATTACKED FROM BACK. ALTHOUGH, WE ARE PART OF THE SAME CLAN, BUT HUMAN NATURE SOMETIMES OVERCOMES LOGIC AND JEALOUSY IS ONE OF THE CORE EMOTIONS OF HUMANS. THE OTHER PERSON IS ALSO MOTHER OF ONE OF THE KID IN MY BATCH. I BELIEVE HE WAS THE ONE WHOES FACE I CHANGED BY PUNCHING THE SHIT OUT OF HIM. CLAN HEAD, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING? DON'T YOU REALISE, I MIGHT DIE EVEN IF I DO NOT ENGAGE IN COMBAT.
Mitsuhide: Tsuchimikado-sama, the other sensors you requested have already left. They will rendezvous with the Fuma Clan on the battlefield. They will help the Fuma clan from the surprise attacks of the Aburame Clan.
WHAT? ABURAME CLAN? THAT IS OUR ENEMY? FUCK...FOR FUCK SAKE. THAT CLAN IS CREEPY AS HELL. WITH THEIR INSECTS THEY CAN SPY ON US AND EVEN A SENSOR WILL NOT NECESSARY NOTICE. WHY WAS I NOT TOLD? IS IT BECAUSE I AM TOO YOUNG? FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKK
Tsuchimikado: hum...I hope this is enough as a support. Their surprise attacks at our pantry has resulted in quite a loss for me. So much food that was stored was lost. They have also attacked my farmlands. To be frank, If I do not win against the other diamyo, then I can not get over my loss. As I believe in 2 months at best normal people would find shortage of food. If the situation escalates then normal people can rise up again me. I think this is what the other diamyo wants. I believe she also has hired the Inuzuka clan famed for their ferociousness. But Aburame clan is more difficult to deal with as with their insects they are one of the deadliest shinobi out there.
Mitsuhide: Do not worry, Tsuchimikado-sama. If they want to do more damage then they will attack with lots of insects again. If they only use several insects then of course even a sensor can not sense them as they could be just normal bugs. But when lots of insects gather and these insects eat chakra then our sensors will be able to alert you and your shinobis. Same is true if they try to go after you.
Tsuchimikado: I am leaving now. I need to hire another clan that is proficient in fire-style. Although, Fuma clan can fight against Inuzuka, they are not a good match against Aburame. I came here running with my family because I feared we would be killed in a surprise attack by the Aburame. They are truly silent and deadly assassins. Coach-man, let's leave.
The carriages started leaving.
…
[5 Hours Later]
During this whole time, Kouske was on full alert. He was constantly spreading his sensing field and sensing everything around him. His range is 200 meters. Which is better than average as the average is 100 meters. The elites of the clan can sense up to 400-500 meters. But he knows a talented Yamanaka could probably sense 1 km easily. He still has a lot to improve. He is specially wary of attacks from behind. Especially from his clansmen.
THINGS HAVE GONE TO SHIT FROM THE START. I WILL SURVIVE SOMEHOW, THEN I WILL COME BACK AND TRY TO POSTPONE MY DEPLOYMENT ON A MISSION AGAIN FOR SOMETIME. I WILL IMPROVE MYSELF IN THE MEANTIME. hmm...something is strange. I sense chakra although it is scattered. Hmm...the chakra is like a fire-fly in my mind. The special jutsu I created to visualise my surroundings in mind when I spread my sensor field, this is the first time I have felt and visualised results like this. hmm..the fire-flies are flying away. hmm....DON'T TELL ME. FUCK. FFFFFFUUUUUUCCCCCKKKKIIIIIINGGGGGG FUCK. WE WERE BEING SPIED ON. THE INSECTS PROBABLY RETURNED TO NOTIFY THEIR MASTER. THERE IS GONNA BE AN AMBUSH. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 5 HOURS. S**T, S**T, S**T, S**T. HOW MANY ARE THERE? THEY ARE OUTSIDE MY RANGE. WHAT ABOUT MY OTHER CLANSMEN? HAVE THEY NOTICED? OF COURSE NOT. THEIR EXPRESSION SAYS THEY DON'T KNOW S**T. THEY DO NOT HAVE A JUTSU THAT ALLOWS THEM TO VISUALISE THEIR SURROUNDING WHEN THEY SPREAD THEIR SENSOR FIELD. ALTHOUGH, IT IS MY FAULT I HAVE KEPT THIS SECRET. BUT I DO NOT PLAN TO SHARE IT. IT WILL SAVE MY LIFE IN THE FUTURE I JUST KNOW IT. NOW HOW THE FUCK SHOULD I TELL EVERYONE THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN AMBUSH SOON? I CAN NOT TELL THEM ABOUT THIS SPECIAL JUTSU. I ALSO DO NOT KNOW HOW FAR WE ARE FROM THE AMBUSH POINT. FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT A MAP OR SOMETHING.
Kouske: umm...Nobuhisa-san, do you not think we will be attacked by the Aburame clan soon?
Nobuhisa: kid, call me Nobuhisa-sama. Also, if they attack I will sense them. I am not like you. My range is 500 meters. I will be the first in our clan to increase this. I am experimenting after reading a scroll that I got from a dead Yamanaka. I will leave your father in dust and I will become the next clan head after Mitsuhide-sama.
Nobuhisa the black haired guy said to the child while looking at him in disgust. He is in his mid-twenties. The kunoichi of the clan, who is the mother of a kid I beat up, also looked at me with serious eyes. She is close to her thirties.
FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, THIS EGO-MANIAC. I ONLY GAVE HIM AN ADVICE AND HE FUCKING TOLD ME HIS FUTURE GOAL AND RAISED A DEATH FLAG FOR HIMSELF. SO WHAT DO I DO NOW? SHOULD I JUST LET HIM DIE? I THINK THAT SEEMS LIKE A VIABLE OPTION. BUT THE PROBLEM IS, A SUCCESSFUL AMBUSH MEANS THAT EVERYONE GETTING AMBUSHED SHOULD EITHER DIE OR CAPTURED. NOW THEY COULD CAPTURE THE DIAMYO AND HIS FAMILY BUT I BELIEVE WE AS HIS SHINOBI WILL BE KILLED. S**T, S**T, S**T. I NEED TO THINK OF SOMETHING. CAN I SAVE ONLY MYSELF? WITHOUT KNOWING THE ENEMY'S NUMBER, IT WOULD BE STUPID OF ME TO THINK THAT I COULD RUN BY MYSELF. ALSO, IF I RUN AND GET SURROUNDED THEN I AM SURELY DEAD. BUT MY CLAN WILL LOSE A REGULAR CLIENT. MY REPUTATION WILL ALSO TAKE A HIT. I NEED TO CONVINCE EVERYONE SOMEHOW OR I KNOW WE WILL DIE IN AN AMBUSH.
While thinking all of this, his face keeps changing. The kunoichi noticed it.
kunoichi: Kouske, tell me why do you think we will get attacked soon?
Kouske: hmm...My spid....I mean my sixth sense is tingling. I am getting a foreboding that we will be ambushed.
kunoichi raised an eyebrow then she brought her hand to her chin and started thinking.
Nobuhisa: hah, as if a child like you has a sense like this. This is your first mission and you have not been in any real battle yet.
kunoichi: Nobuhisa, he is a genius and no matter how much you hate him you can not deny that. We should seriously consider his words.
Nobuhisa: Tsubame-sama, even if he is a genius, we are on a real mission and we as veterans hold more experience than him.
Oya.....Why is this ego-maniac respectful? Tsubame? hmm....where have I heard this name? OH....SHIT, THIS IS THE NAME OF THE YOUNGER SISTER OF THE CLAN HEAD. MEANING THIS KUNOICHI IS CLAN HEAD'S SISTER. MAYBE I CAN CONVINCE HER TO LISTEN TO ME.
Kouske: Tsubame-sama, I am getting a real bad feeling. If you allow me then maybe I can prove that we might get ambushed.
Tsubame: How will you prove it?
Kouske: First, by information, do we know if there is any location ahead that will be a good point to ambush someone? Also, 500 meters is a distance that a shinobi can cover in like 2-4 mins at top speed without using any Jutsu. So if they are outside the range and are ready, then before we will be able to prepare ourselves, they will be onto us.
Tsubame: There is no special ambush point. It is just forest everywhere like right now.
Kouske: hmm...So no place to ambush? then they could prepare a trap and attack us while we trigger it. Their jutsu will reach us faster than them, also, if the Inuzuka clan is also involved then they are much faster than a normal shinobi.
Tsubame: Nobuhisa, what he is saying is true. But Kouske, I know you are hiding something. Because all the terrain has been the same till now. It is the same for quite a while ahead so why only now do you think we will get ambushed.
S**t, SHE IS ONE PERCEPTIVE KUNOICHI. Also, I do not know whether we will get attacked now or later in the night. We have just been walking as we have to guard the carriages. The carriages can not move fast in this forest because a proper road does not exist. So, how do I reply? Should I tell some of the truth? If I was an Aburame clan member what would I do? what if Aburame is with Inuzuka? What strategy can I employ? Do I even know everything about them to guess their strategy? S**t, looks like I have to uncover one of my trump cards. Although I wanted to avoid this, living takes more priority.
Kouske: I am just getting a feeling. Tsubame-sama, how about you stop the caravan for a while and I can get more information for you.
Tsubame: Explain how? I can not stop the caravan unless you tell me what you want to do?
Kouske: Well, there is this jutsu that I created. I can talk to some normal animals through this jutsu. So I can convince some birds to fly ahead and do some scouting for us.
Tsubame: That is a good jutsu. So why haven't you told the clan head about it?
Kouske: Well....I...Umm....I think I forgot to tell him?
Kouske said while making the face of an innocent child.
Tsubame: Okay, I will stop the caravan. For how long?
Kouske: How about an hour? We have been moving for 5 hours now. Even if we rest for an hour I do not think Tsuchimikado-sama will have a problem.
Tsubame: Fine.
Tsubame went to the diamyo's carriage and asked him to stop the caravan for an hour. She explained they needed to gather some information and see whether there is ambush ahead. At first diamyo wasn't happy but after hearing her reason. He decided to follow her advice. Tsubame came back.
Tsubame: Done. Now show me this Jutsu.
Kouske did 4 hand signs and ended up with a ram seal. He closed his eyes and focused.
[Kouske thought in his mind: Animal Telepathy Jutsu]
Nobuhisa: It has been two minutes already.
Tsubame: Let's just watch and give him more time.
After a while, about 12 birds from sparrows to owls to pigeons came flying and they landed on Kouske.
Kouske: I have to convince these birds and provide them with a reward for them to listen. Also, these birds were about 50 meters away. So, these birds will do the scouting but when they return we have to feed them. The Owls want some rats and for pigeons and sparrows they want worms.
Kouske said and looked expectantly at both of his clansmen.
Tsubame: Nobuhisa, get to work. Catch some rats and find some worms. I believe you can find worms in mud close to the roots of some trees. Also, rats should be around here somewhere. You can not believe there are no rats in a forest.
Nobuhisa: What? Why me?
Tsubame: Just do it.
Nobuhisa left in anger.
Tsubame: Now begin.
Kouske looked towards the bird.
Kouske: Okay guys, if you want food then go. I have told you guys directions. You have 30 mins.
The birds flew away. After 45 mins, all the birds came back. They landed on ground and were looking at Kouske not moving. It was quite scary.
Tsubame: Are you talking with them through your mind?
Kouske: No, they want food first.
Tsubame: Nobuhisa feed them.
Nobuhisa fed them while being angry. The diamyo and other shinobi from the Fuma clan were looking with interest. After the birds ate. They started cooing and chirping in their languages.
Kouske: hmm...hm...Okay.....I see.....No I do not want to know about what you saw in a room in a nearby village where you could hear strange noises between a male and a female. Hmmm...No....even if you saw a panty thief ignore that. Give me important information, important. Hmm....No, ignore the women bathing in the lake. You guys, I told you to look for scary shinobis. Those having bugs in their body or having dogs around. WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU GUYS DOING?
The birds stopped and then twisted their heads left or right. As if they were thinking. Then they started chirping and singing again. Tsubame and other female Fuma clan shinobis looked at the birds in disgust. Diamyo, Nobuhisa and other male Fuma clan members looked at the birds excitedly.
Kouske: aha....Nice, Nice, that is what I was saying. Okay, good, good. Yes, Okay. Good. Okay. Ok you guys can leave now.
After that the birds flew away.
Kouske: Tsubame-sama, the birds saw some people with scary looking dogs eating in a village inn a little away from here. They also felt people with scary chakra in their body but the chakra was moving. These people had insects crawling on their skin or some insects flying around them. About 2 are 800 meters from us. In total, there are about 10 from Aburame and 6 from Inuzuka. Aside from the two infront of us the rest are in a village further away eating or resting. I think they will ambush us in the dark as they are not preparing for it now.
Diamyo and everyone outside was shocked. The children of diamyo became scared and clung to their mother. The shinobis became tense.
Tsubame: Kouske, you are sure right? I do not have to tell you that we only saw birds chirping to you.
Kouske: Tsubame-sama, normal animals are really sensitive to their surroundings. They can sense chakra as well. Why do you think normal animals run first and away from any source of danger? They have some level of intelligence. You can trust me and animals do not lie. They do not know what lying is.
Tsubame: Tsuchimikado-sama looks like we have to make some changes.