Although tensions exist in the current Ninja World, and minor conflicts flare up between nations, the Fourth Great Ninja War has not erupted yet, and the major countries remain at peace for the time being. As a result, the Land of Rain, although historically war-torn, maintains an uneasy calm.
On a narrow path in the Land of Rain, a group of four figures—one adult and three younger individuals—moved through the steady rainfall.
Despite their disguised appearance, any experienced ninja could recognize them as a four-man squad. Given their mission, gathering intelligence separately was necessary, as moving together could draw unwanted attention.
The group halted outside a small village. Uenome, their team leader, gestured for the others—Hinata Keita, Akane, and Hoshinohara—to gather around. In a low voice, he began, "Our intelligence suggests signs of enemy ninja activity in this village. Its proximity to the Land of Wind makes it possible that Suna shinobi are present."
"Byakugan!" Keita immediately activated his bloodline ability. It was the first time Mitsuno-chan, the youngest member, had seen the Byakugan in action. Veins bulged around Keita's eyes, and Mitsuno-chan couldn't help but notice how intense it appeared, more so than he had imagined from stories.
"There are chakra signatures in seven different locations," Keita reported quietly.
Uenome took out a pen and hastily sketched a map of the village. "Keita, mark the chakra locations," he instructed.
Once Keita had done so, Uenome continued, "Akane, Hoshinohara, you will each investigate one target. Keita, you'll take on two, and I'll cover the remaining three. Your priority is to determine their allegiance. Any further analysis will have to wait until our debriefing at 5 PM."
"Understood!" the three responded in unison.
The plan was reasonable. Akane and Hoshinohara weren't specialized in intelligence gathering, so handling a single target each would suffice. Uenome, being the most skilled, would take on the bulk of the work.
With a quick hand signal, Uenome directed the squad to disperse, and in an instant, they vanished into the rain-drenched forest.
Though the village was small, it was bustling. Shops lined the streets, and locals mingled with traders from neighboring countries. The Land of Rain, situated at the intersection of major nations, had become a battlefield in times of war, but in times of peace, it was a key trading route for merchants.
Asakura, keeping a low profile, wandered toward his assigned target—a small caravan guarded by four ninjas. The leader, wearing the unmistakable Suna forehead protector, made no effort to hide his identity. This brazenness was typical, as wearing a Great Ninja Village's emblem often acted as a deterrent against smaller factions.
On the surface, the group appeared to be on a standard escort mission, nothing out of the ordinary. But reporting such mundane information could raise doubts about Asakura's abilities.
The caravan guards were eating lunch at a restaurant, giving Asakura an opportunity. He adjusted his clothing, entered the establishment, and ordered, "Five rice balls and a bowl of sweet red bean soup, please."
Asakura, wary of any sensory-type ninjas among the Suna squad, refrained from using any jutsu to mask his identity, relying instead on his natural appearance as a child to blend in. He played the part of a hungry kid indulging in sweets.
The Suna ninjas were cautious, keeping their conversations to a minimum. What struck Asakura as odd, however, was the lack of interaction among the merchants themselves. This behavior was unusual for traders, who typically engaged in constant negotiation and discussion.
After finishing his meal and paying, Asakura left the restaurant without a glance back, careful not to linger or arouse suspicion.
To ensure he wasn't being followed, he spent the next hour meandering through the village, sampling street food, before eventually heading to the rendezvous point.
By 5 PM, the team had reassembled to share their findings.
"Just some wandering ninjas, nothing special," Hoshinohara reported.
Keita spoke next. "One of my targets was a lone ninja from the Land of Rain. The second group consisted of three Suna ninjas. Based on my Byakugan's observations, one of them is likely a Jonin."
"A Jonin?" Uenome's expression grew serious. Jonin-level ninjas rarely left their village without significant purpose. As a Jonin himself from Konoha, Uenome knew that his mission in the Land of Rain was to gather intelligence on potential threats from other villages, ensuring no war was imminent.
Turning to Asakura, Uenome asked, "What about you?"
"I investigated a caravan guarded by a group of Suna ninjas. The leader is a Chunin, and the others are likely Genin. What's strange is the merchants' behavior—they barely spoke to one another. It's possible they're carrying something extremely valuable, or they themselves are disguised as ninjas. They also didn't leave the village when I did, which is suspicious," Asakura explained.
"As for the targets I checked, they were just local Urenin—not of immediate concern," Uenome replied. "The seven Suna ninjas spotted by Keita and Asakura are worth investigating. Their presence here signals a deeper motive."
Surveying his team, Uenome made the next move. "Tonight, Keita and I will infiltrate the town to gather more intelligence on the Suna group. Akane, you will stand by as backup. If things get out of hand, I'll request reinforcements from the village. Avoid engaging unless absolutely necessary."
"Understood!" the team replied firmly.