Reiki soon sensed the presence trailing him. Without hesitation, he activated the "Evil Ghost" jutsu and sprinted toward Morishita and the team.
"How did we lose him?!"
The leader of the Root squad, Blade, wore a mask of disbelief. Their advanced tracking and perception techniques shouldn't have let a medical ninja slip away so easily. Yet, Reiki's presence had vanished without warning.
"Master Blade, should we continue the pursuit? We know where the team is, but... what's the plan?" one of his subordinates asked, their voice tinged with hesitation.
Blade clenched his fists. The pursuit wasn't just about tracking a Konoha ninja. This was personal—his brother had died attempting to capture Reiki. But after a moment's consideration, Blade nodded.
"I know. Let's go."
The team dissolved into the forest shadows.
…
Reiki arrived back at Morishita's side, his shadow clone seamlessly merging with him.
"Your target, Ikegish, is in this village," Morishita announced. "This time, we'll engage immediately. No pursuit contact, as he critically injured his teammates when he deserted."
With that, Morishita vanished, signaling the others to follow.
Night fell over the small village, casting long, eerie shadows. Shops were shut tight, and the streets were deserted. The four ninjas made their way to a modest chamber of commerce.
"He's inside," Hyuga Oyo confirmed after a quick scan. "Third room on the west side. There's one unidentified ninja with him."
"Understood. Hyuga Oyo, if the other ninja interferes, restrain them. I'll handle the primary target," Morishita said before vanishing like a ghost.
Within seconds, sounds of combat erupted from the building.
"It's done. Let's go," Morishita's voice called, reappearing as swiftly as he had left. His blade dripped with blood, signaling the mission's completion. The entire operation had taken less than ten seconds.
The four ninjas melted back into the night, leaving behind the chamber of commerce in turmoil. The village would be sleepless tonight.
…
Later, in a dense forest, Morishita called for a brief rest.
"Reiki, Asuma, what did you learn from this mission?" he asked.
"Efficiency," Reiki replied. "The mission's success depended on intelligence gathering, situational analysis, and a swift execution. In this case, eliminating the target and withdrawing immediately was the most effective approach."
Morishita nodded approvingly. "Well said. The village has rules for a reason; they maintain order and purpose."
Asuma chimed in, "I think Reiki covered it well."
Morishita's expression softened slightly. "Reiki, I know your sense of justice, but never forget to stay within the bounds of our mission. Asuma, you did well too, but remember: when we return to Konoha, you'll need to document this mission report. Make it thorough."
"Yes, sir!" Asuma responded.
"Good. You three wait at the designated location. I'll retrieve the scroll for our final task before returning to Konoha." Morishita disappeared into the night.
Reiki watched him go, his mind replaying the night's events. Morishita's efficiency, honed from years in ANBU and as a bodyguard to Sarutobi Hiruzen, was unparalleled.
"Let's head to the meeting point," Hyuga Oyo said, guiding the two younger ninjas through the forest. They soon settled into a clearing, waiting for Morishita's return.
"Reiki," Hyuga Oyo began hesitantly. "The patriarch asked me to pass on a message. When we get back, he'd like you to visit the Hyuga clan. The matter we discussed earlier was approved in the family meeting."
Reiki raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Sure, if we're not assigned another task right away, I'll come by."
He couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity. The Hyuga's invitation was likely an opportunity to deepen alliances—and for Reiki, it might mean valuable training and insights.
"Who's there?" Hyuga Oyo's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. His Byakugan activated, scanning the area.
"Roy, Asuma, stay close. There might be an enemy approaching," Hyuga Oyo warned, sensing a chakra signature rapidly retreating. The tactical retreat spoke of a cautious and skilled enemy, making them more dangerous.
"Boom!" A sudden explosion rocked the forest. It was followed by the appearance of two more formidable chakra signatures. One of them was so immense that Hyuga Oyo paled slightly.
"We have to move now! Leave a note for Captain Morishita and return to Konoha," Hyuga Oyo ordered, eyes wide with urgency.
"Understood," Reiki and Asuma said, following Hyuga Oyo's lead.
Suddenly, kunai rained down around them, each tied with a detonating tag.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The path ahead erupted in fiery chaos, cutting off their escape.
"Five more enemies approaching!" Hyuga Oyo called out, scanning furiously. "Reiki, Asuma, stay close!"
Reiki gripped his kunai, eyes narrowing. "Prepare for battle, Asuma. This isn't a test."
Through his system scan, Reiki noted that all five opponents had been flagged with a faint blue glow, indicating minor but real injuries. Even in this dire moment, his mind registered their status.
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 410 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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