Kurenai, Asuma, and the rest of the squad tiheir jourward toward the borders of the Land of Fire.

  Along the way, Kyoioticed traces left by other shinobi.

  They were faint…

  But no matter how careful one was, every step left a mark.

  Shinobi operated with precisio some minor details always betrayed them. For example—

  Crushed leaves oh.

  "Sensei, is this left by Kirigakure shinobi?"

  "Not sure yet. We'll o observe further. Let's keep moving in this dire."

  Kyoichi didn't jump to clusions.

  It could just as well be their own people.

  They tirag.

  Shisui, Asuma, and Kurenai maintained full alertness, sing their surroundings for any signs.

  Thanks to their experien the "battle royale" exam, their coordination had improved signifitly. As they moved, they instinctively kept formation, maintaining vigince while ensuring they could support each other at a moment’s notice.

  Along the way, they found additional traces—

  A slight disturban the branches above.

  Following the trail, they advanced further.

  Before long—

  "Sensei, we've tracked them down, but… I think it's one of ours," Kurenai reported.

  She sensed Might Guy ahead.

  "Let's go ask him."

  Kyoiodded.

  He had a feeling things weren’t that simple—Guy might also be trag someone.

  Further ahead—

  Swoosh!

  A blur of green shot out from the trees, ung a flying kick.

  Bam!

  With a sirike, Kyoichi sent Might Guy flying.

  It took Guy a moment to realize what had happened.

  "Kyoichi-sensei? I was hiding behind the tree and didn't see clearly—I thought you were an enemy!"

  Guy scratched his head sheepishly.

  Given his years of "tough love" training under Might Duy, Kyoichi’s kick barely fazed him. He patted off the dust and stood up with ease.

  Theuro the others, his eyes slightly unfocused.

  Guy reized them but… couldn't quite recall their names.

  "Were you patrolling this way, or were you trag someone?"

  Kyoichi cut straight to the point—

  He knew Guy didn't need unnecessary pleasantries.

  "Kyoichi-sensei, we were following a trail, but whe here, the tracks were wiped , so we lost the lead."

  As Guy finished speaking—

  Rustling sounds came from the trees.

  Moments ter—

  Hayama Shirakumo, Ebisu, and Genma Shiranui appeared.

  Seeing the situation, Hayama sighed and rubbed his temples.

  He had a good guess at what had happened.

  "Guy, you o firm your targets before attag. What if, iure, you mistake an ally for an enemy when you're even stronger?"

  "Hahaha, looks like this isn’t the first time."

  Kyoichi couldn't help but ugh.

  In the A took Might Guy years to finally remember Kisame, nearly driving the Mist Swordsman mad. He had also failed tnize Obit their sed enter in the in Exams.

  It seemed—

  His strength had e at the cost of his memory.

  Nothing to be jealous of!

  "Yes! I will do better ime!"

  Guy scratched his head again.

  Shisui and the others stifled their ughter.

  This guy…

  Even after making in, he was still so unreliable. pared to him, Kurenai seemed far more like a real in.

  "Hayama-sa's focus ouation at hand."

  Kyoichi cleared his throat.

  Guy’s blunder wasn't a big deal. Most of the time, he was dependable enough, so there was o dwell on minor slip-ups.

  Hayama gave a brief report—

  They had been trag from the other side.

  However…

  The results were the same. The trail pletely va this location.

  "The enemy is exceptionally cautious. It's likely that this is a rendezvous point for Kirigakure shinobi, which is why they were so thh in erasing any traces."

  Hayama had been in the Anbu before, frequently handling missions like this, so his assessment was experienced and precise.

  "If we wait here, do you think they’ll return to this spot?" Kyoichi asked after some thought.

  He genuinely didn’t know.

  No shame in asking.

  Hayama shook his head. "Assassination squads ge infiltration ara points regurly to avoid ambushes. Waiting here would be fruitless."

  "What a shame..."

  Kyoichi frowned, eling his chakra to s the surroundings again. But just like before, the only chakra signatures beloo their two teams—no additional preseected.

  However…

  Chakra sensing wasn't foolproof.

  Kirigakure shinobi could hide uer and suppress their chakra, making them incredibly difficult to detect.

  Not to mention—

  The Hozuki .

  Their Hydrification Teique wasn’t a Kekkei Genkai, yet it surpassed many bloodline abilities. Once liquefied, they were nearly uable. Finding them would be a serious challenge.

  Kyoichi frowned. He needed a pn.

  Looking around—

  Two teams, eight people…

  And not a single Lightning Release user among them.

  He was screwed.

  He should’ve borrowed Kakashi.

  Then again—

  That thought was fleeting.

  Right now, Kakashi was still sulking from the in Exam debacle. Talking to him was either met with cold silence or a sharp remark.

  Not worth the trouble.

  That said—

  Dealing with the Hozuki didn’t necessarily require Lightning Release users.

  He had the Raijin Sword, after all.

  More importantly…

  There were sealing teiques.

  After some sideration, Kyoichi spoke: "Let's spread out and check for any overlooked clues. That way, we strategize more effectively."

  "Uood!"

  Hayama responded with disciplined precision.

  As a former Anbu member, his loyalty to the Third Hokage was absolute. Sihe Third had appointed Kyoichi as a ander, he would treat him as such—by the book, without a hint of disrespect.

  The two teams dispersed to search, but under Kyoichi’s instrus, they stayed within reasonable rao support each other.

  Hayama remained tral, ensuring he could assist a a moment's notice.

  As for Kyoichi—

  He moved alone.

  More importantly, he wasn’t wearing a Jonin fk jacket today—just a simple, casual outfit, making him look no different from a regur in or even a Genin.

  Before separating from the group, he even donned a mask. bined with his silver hair, he now looked like a supersized version of Kakashi.

  Hayama g him and immediately uood Kyoichi’s i—

  Bait.

  Though the ces were slim, it was still worth a try.

  Kyoichi thought the same.

  If he could draw them out, great. If not, no harm done.

  Of course—

  He made it look natural, gradually veering from the team toward the river.

  Kirigakure shinobi preferred to hide in water.

  This was real fishing.

  Kyoichi sharpened his senses, sing for chakra fluctuations.

  He followed the river for quite a distance.

  Then—

  A faint, nearly imperceptible disturban the water.

  Almost uable.

  But…

  Kyoichi had exteer Release training, and his chakra sensing was formidable. He instantly locked onto it.

  No one else was nearby.

  Hozuki ?

  Without hesitation, he formed seals at lightning speed.

  Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!

  Two walls of earth shot up from either side of the river, cutting it off pletely.

  But he wasn’t done. His hands blurred through more seals.

  Earth Release: Earth-Style Rampart!

  With the two walls as boundaries, the entire se of the river—water, riverbed, and surrounding terrain—rose into the air, pletely severed from the rest of the water.

  "My god…"

  From afar, Guy watched in shock.

  That Earth Release…

  Was absolutely insane!

  Gcell