"Sensei, it seems there really are enemy ninjas, but they don’t appear to want to fight," Kurenai Yuhi said, puzzled.

  The enemy ninjas seemed to have no iion of engaging with Konoha. As Team 7 advahe enemy retreated step by step, seemingly avoiding direct frontation.

  "Take these kunai and the intel scroll."

  Kyoichi handed a Flying Thunder God kunai to Asuma. "This bears Minato-senpai's Flying Thunder God Teique. You three head to Minato-senpai and deliver the intel scroll. I’ll go ahead and scout."

  "Sensei, why don’t you keep it? At least Minato-sensei use it to assist you if needed..."

  Asuma looked worried. If Kyoichi went alone, what if he entered danger?

  "Don’t worry. I’m just gathering intel. If I ’t win, I still escape."

  Kyoichi patted Asuma’s shoulder reassuringly and thehe Body Flicker Teique to dash ahead.

  ---

  Ahead, Minato Namikaze had already sehe presence of these enemy ninjas. If it had been just him and Kakashi, he would’ve goo iigate directly. However, besides himself and Kakashi, his team also included Obito and Rin—new recruits inexperienced in plex bat sarios. Weighing the risks, Minato decided against probing the situation himself.

  "Sensei, let me go check things out," Kakashi suggested quietly.

  As a in, Kakashi was the sed stro oeam, after Minato himself.

  "Our mission is to clear out bandits for the vilge. These ninjas are uo that. Let’s not create unnecessary plications."

  Minato shook his head.

  At that moment, a flicker of surprise crossed his face.

  This is... my Flying Thunder God Teique.

  He crouched down and used his sensory skills to analyze the situation. After a moment, a smile broke out on his face.

  "Sensei, what’s going on?"

  Rin noticed something unusual.

  "Aeam is approag us. If I’m correct, it should be Team Ohey’re carrying my specialized kunai ao be here to provide support."

  Minato let out a small sigh of relief.

  Kyoichi is here!

  Moreover, judging by the movements of Kyoichi’s team, they’d divided their forember was scouting the enemy, while the rest came to report and coordihat meant he didn’t o personally iigate the unknown ninjas.

  "Huh? Why would they e to support us? Is our mission that dangerous?"

  Obito looked fused.

  "We’ll know ohey arrive," Minato said simply. He didn’t expin further because he himself wasn’t fully clear on the enemy’s ins. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so cautious.

  Shortly after, Asuma and the others arrived.

  "Minato-sensei, we were ordered by the vilge to provide reinforts and to update you ouation in the Land of Rivers. Here’s the intel scroll."

  Asuma handed over a sealed scroll.

  Minato said nothing, reizing the importance of the seal. This intel likely held crucial details that could impact Konoha’s strategy. He quickly used a release teique to open it. After just one gnce, his expressirim.

  "Hidden Rain!"

  During the Battle of Kikyo Pass, the Land of Wind had suffered heavy losses and was now bound by numerous treaties, making it unlikely for them to a the Land of Rivers. The current enemy was most likely from the Land of Rain.

  Although the Hidden Rain Vilge suffered greatly during the Sed Shinobi World War, its leader, Hanzo of the Samander, maintais position as the most formidable vilge outside the Five Great Nations. Such was the weight of a "demigod."

  Minato analyzed the intel and deduced much of the current situation in the ninja world. After some thought, he asked, "Kyoichi went ahead to scout?"

  "Yes. Sensei wao gather intel and instructed us to stay with you and follow your ands," Kurenai replied.

  "Uood. Given the circumstances, let’s head to the mission site first. We’ll assess the bandits’ strength aermihe steps from there."

  The mission in the Land of Rivers had previously been uhe jurisdi of the Land of Wind. After the ret war, it was reassigo Konoha. Minato was determio see it through unless absolutely necessary.

  As for the enemy ninjas up ahead, for now, he chose to trust Kyoichi’s ability.

  ---

  Without a team of genin slowing him down, Kyoichi moved quickly and soon caught up with the group of ninjas. These enemies bore the unmistakable characteristics of Hidden Rain shinobi, leaving no doubt about their identity.

  Kyoichi pursued them, but they retreated just as quickly, clearly aware of his presence.

  Looks like I’m dealing with experts.

  He grew more cautious, extending his chakra senses as he ran to ensure he didn’t walk into a trap. Notig two figures staying behind, he furrowed his brows.

  Are they pnning to hold the rear?

  As he approached, he realized the two were hiding in a seemingly ordinary tree. Upon closer iion, it became clear the tree was a cleverly crafted ninjutsu.

  Konan!

  Kyoichi instantly reized the situation. Narrowing his eyes, he pretended not to notid moved forward.

  Suddenly, tless paper sheets swirled around him, surging in from all dires like a tidal wave.

  Kyoichi quickly dised that, while the paper was sharp and overwhelming in number, none of it tained explosive tags. Konan was holding back.

  Even so, it wouldn’t stop him from retaliating. F seals rapidly, Kyoichi summoned walls of water around him.

  "Retreat! Use explosive tags for cover!"

  Yahiko immediately called out, reizing that something was off. He grabbed Konan and begareating.

  The oppo was clearly a Konoha jonin, and judging by the powerful water release jutsu just dispyed, likely ae jonin. Although Yahiko wasn’t easily intimidated, he had no i in provoking an unnecessary fight.

  Yet, before the explosive tags could fully deploy, a water dragon roared to life, crashing through the defenses and scattering the tags. It surged toward Yahiko and Konan.

  "That was fast!"

  Yahiko’s expression darkened. He specialized in water release himself and knew just how plex the seals for Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu were. Kyoichi had pleted it in a fsh—an unmistakable sign of mastery.

  "I’ll ha," Konan said calmly.

  The tree she had been hiding in disied, transf into tless sheets of paper that formed a massive shield. The water dragon crashed into the yers of paper, its force steadily dissipating.

  However, the moment, a fsh of lightning illumihe se.

  The paper shield was instantly sliced apart, and a figure nded in front of them, wielding a sword crag with lightning. His silver hair glinted uhe light, making him a striking sight.

  "Minato Namikaze? No, he’s blond. Who are you?" Yahiko asked, his face grim.

  So fast!

  The first time he was shocked was by Kyoichi’s seal speed. This time, it was his sheer agility. Yahiko hadn’t expected Konoha to have another jonin with sucredible speed apart from Minato.

  "I’m Kanda Kyoichi, a jonin from Konoha. Who are you, and why have you ehe Land of Rivers?"

  Kyoichi’s tone was sharp and formal, though he already kheir identities. However, protocol demahat he gh the motions.

  Yahiko’s palms grew sweaty. Their speed was no match for this oppo, and Kyoichi had revealed only a fra of his power. Even if he and Konan fought together, he wasn’t fident in their ces—unless Nagato joihem.

  But if they truly escated this into a life-or-death battle, it would be disastrous for both sides.

  After a long silence, Yahiko finally said, "We are shinobi from the Hidden Rain Vilge. Our mission is to clear out the bandits pguing the Land of Rivers. We mean no offeo Konoha."

  Gcell