Naruto calmly moved a branch out of his line of sight so he could look out into the small clearing where his targets would pass. Behind him, Ginchiko, Hidetada, Hinata, Guan, Mika and Shino, who had requested to join in this mission rested, along with a squad of over thirty Kiri jounin.
Guan was a large man, with a large but well groomed mustache and goatee. He wielded a single, two edged broadsword. He had a height of about six feet, wore green battle robes with steel chest armor over it, which was painted green and engraved with gold flame like designs. He had long black hair which was held in a top knot.
His apprentice Mika was the exact opposite, whereas his appearance could be considered a large tiger, hers was a small swan. She couldn't be any bigger than five three rather lithe and agile looking. She wore a blue shirt which left her belly exposed, her pants were also blue and somewhat baggy. Two swords were on either side of her waist. They resembled a cross between a Samurai sword and a western stile rapier. She was built for speed not power. She had silver flowing hair and red eyes, which only hinted at the crazed bloodlust beneath the serene exterior.
"Alright Uzumaki, what's the big idea dragging us out here without even an explanation?" Hidetada spoke, his expression showing his annoyance and resentment for the young man that called himself his commander.
Naruto let the branch fall back to its natural position as he turned to the ninja. He once again let his eyes scan over the group before he spoke. "It has recently become known to me that the Mizukage has grown alarmed with the number of ninja he has lost over the last fourteen days, therefore he has decided to go and request Kumo for aid in disposing of you. He will be passing by this route with a team thirty to fourty Anbu as his personal guard. We are here to make sure he does not reach his destination."
"Thirty to fourty Anbu…the coward would leave his people naked and unguarded?" Guan spoke from his place on one of the tree branches.
Shino adjusted his glasses into place, while he had no delusions that he could take on a fully trained Anbu head on, his role was much more support than anything. His Kikaichu were already on two of the Anbu that were approaching and were already absorbing miniscule amounts of chakra, by the time they actually arrived those two Anbu would have already lost 1/15th of their chakra by his estimation. The rest of his hive was here with him, ready to be unleashed once the battle began. "What is the plan?"
"The plan is simple, We will divide the troops in two groups of fifteen. Hinata, and Mika will lead one, while Guan and Shino lead another. You will herd the Mizukage in my direction, where Ginchiko, Hidetada and myself will ambush him."
The two aforementioned members of the seven swordsmen exchanged a glance which clearly said. "This is our chance."
Of course, that would be so much easier if he wasn't planning their downfall as well.
He spared a glance to Shino and Hinata and then to a hidden spot in the forest where Kakashi and Kurenai were hiding under his orders. The two of them were to guard both Hinata and Shino respectively. They were only to interfere if they truly believed one of them was about to die, while he couldn't afford to have either one of them die, he also couldn't afford to have them appear as if they needed baby sitting.
Kakashi had reported that the training he had given Hinata throughout the two weeks he had given her before he undertook this mission that she was at a level of mid-chuunin without the Byakugan, with it, she was high chuunin to possibly even low jounin. Shino's physical abilities placed him to low chuunin already with his intellect added to it, he was probably mid chuunin, but he couldn't be sure.
Guan was easily above both of them in skill, his apprentice Mika however, from what he could sense was relatively at the same level, but, from the reports of her blood crazed induced state when she entered a battle could make her very unpredictable thus, very dangerous.
Hinata spoke. "But, how can you be certain the Mizukage will flee instead of fight. If the first group attacks and the Mizukage decides to fight them himself then the first group will easily be destroyed?"
"From the reports I've received, the Mizukage is not one for bravery or camaraderie, the chances that he choose to fight the first group head on, especially an ambush, are much lower than the chance that he will instead attempt to flee towards either safety or to the borders of Kumo, either way we will mannage to catch him, or reduce his forces significantly.
His eyes snapped towards Hidetada and Ginchiko as the two again shared a look. "You have your orders. Get to your positions."
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