Through the dense forest, Ryu, Enjomi Kaori, and Mukai Kohinata leapt from branch to branch, a blur of motion against the green. Mukai, a new Elite Jonin, maintained a vigilant position just behind the other two.
Suddenly, Mukai slowed down and spoke, "Someone is following us."
Ryu nodded calmly and said, "You are really good, Mr. Kohinata. You sensed them from this far."
Mukai's gaze flickered towards Ryu. "You know about them?" he asked.
"Yes," Ryu replied. "They are ANBU ninjas Lord Hokage has assigned to protect me."
"They were outside the average chakra-sensing range," Ryu thought. "But he was able to sense them. Like my secretary, you're also hiding your presence very well, Mr. Kohinata, but I already know your secret."
"Don't worry about them," Ryu said, sensing Mukai's tension.
Mukai tilted his head slightly. "If ANBU are guarding you, then why hire me?" he enquired.
"That's because they cannot reveal themselves to me," Ryu explained. "So Grandpa hired a regular Jonin ninja to guard me in close proximity. He didn't expect an elite Jonin like you to accept the mission instead."
"Just how connected is this kid?" Mukai thought. "I'm guessing Lord Hokage also knows about this boy's talent and decided to protect him. Even Lady Tsunade failed to treat Tetsuo-senpai, but he came up with a way to save him."
Mukai recalled the chaotic scene in the hospital, the feeling of helplessness as Tsunade deemed the situation impossible, and the sudden appearance of this child who found a creative solution. "I'm not surprised that Lord Hokage is this careful in protecting this boy. This boy has the potential to become the next Lady Tsunade. He's also self-made rich if the rumours are true.After the mission, Mukai decided, I will ask him to take a look at my son's condition."
It took them a day of travel to reach the border. They rested in one of the border outposts for a few hours, allowing them a chance to sleep. Kohinata's known ninjas staffed the outpost, allowing them all to somewhat relax before entering into a foreign nation.
After their brief rest, they continued their journey and soon entered the Land of Rivers.
Team Ro had been following Ryu Hamura and his companions through the Land of Fire and into the Land of Rivers.
Hidden within the dense foliage of the foreign forest, Team Ro, i.e., Captain Ro, Kakashi Hatake, Yugao Uzuki, and their Inuzuka tracker, accompanied by his loyal ninken, kept a distant watch over Ryu and his team.
The ninja dog, a dark-furred hound with intelligent eyes, moved with a quiet intensity like other ninjas, its nose occasionally twitching as it helped track Ryu's group from a distance by picking up the familiar scent of Kaori, the secret ANBU.
Suddenly, Captain Ro, who had been moving slightly ahead, raised his hand, signalling a halt. His posture, usually relaxed despite their speed, had become rigid with alert tension. His eyes, beneath his mask, seemed to pierce the very air around them.
"What is it, Captain Ro?" Kakashi asked, his voice a low murmur that carried only to his teammates.
"Ambush," Captain Ro replied, his voice a low rumble. "Coming from all sides. They were waiting for us."
"A Yamanaka sensor", Kakashi thought, "is an invaluable asset in any squad, and Captain Ro is one of our best – a veteran fighter whose abilities perfectly complement our team's composition."
The Inuzuka ninja beside them, his mask unable to hide the tension in his jaw, added, "Definitely more than a standard team. My senses tell me... at least two dozen are spread out." His ninken growled softly, confirming its master's warning.
Captain Ro nodded and said, "As per their chakra, many Jonin among them."
Yugao said, "Two dozen!! This will not be a simple mission. Just what the kid did — they sent two dozen for him," as her hand was already moving towards her sword.
The air crackled with chakra as the ambushers launched their assault. Exploding tags detonated in calculated patterns, ninjutsu tore through the trees, and shuriken and kunai rained down from multiple directions. Team Ro dispersed instantly, moving to counter the attack.
With his Sharingan already activated behind his mask, Kakashi executed some hand seals through the chaos.
Kakashi countered the exploding paper bomb and lightning bolt jutsus aimed at his team with a quick [Water Style: Water Wall]; the rushing water blocked the blast and neutralised the flames. He then deflected shuriken with a kunai, blocking an enemy kunai and tried to slash him, but he couldn't kill him.
Kakashi flickered behind earlier attackers, aiming to neutralise them swiftly, only to be intercepted by another enemy.
Kakashi was not bothered; he knew he was outnumbered but still moved with a chilling efficiency, his Sharingan reading and predicting their movements, noting the signs of skilled, elite ninjas among the attackers.
Yugao moved like a phantom, gracefully executing her kenjutsu in a deadly dance of precision and skill. Her sword flashed, a silver blur cutting through the ranks of the attackers. Her speed was exceptional, allowing her to engage multiple opponents simultaneously, relying on sharp, precise strikes to incapacitate rather than kill outright.
All enemies are expecting a killing attack but non-lethal attacks are often missed due to carelessness. Yugao was trained to create such moments.
Captain Ro, while maintaining his broad-range sensing to keep track of the battlefield, engaged directly with several opponents. His fighting style was solid, grounded in powerful taijutsu and effective ninjutsu that complemented his sensory abilities.
He sensed only half of the enemy were engaging while half were just watching them. Keeping an eye out for them while fighting was not an easy task, even for a sensor.
The Inuzuka ninja fought in tandem with his ninken, watching each other's backs; their combined attacks utilised enhanced senses and coordinated movements to overwhelm their targets.
The Cloud Ninjas outnumbered Team Ro, moving to neutralise and subdue, but soon realised they were facing not typical ninjas but highly skilled ANBU elites.
The intensity of the fight escalated rapidly, becoming a fierce confrontation. As Kakashi parried a kunai, his gaze met the eyes of a large, bulky ninja leading a smaller group.
Kakashi defeated a Jonin ninja with his Lightning Blade as soon as he had the chance. He was unable to kill him but was able to remove him from the battle by cutting his hand.
The enemy ninja, recognising Kakashi by his distinctive hair and lightning jutsu, widened his eyes in realisation. It was Kaminari, the leader of the Jisatsu Squad.
"The Copy Ninja! Hatake Kakashi!" Kaminari thought, his eyes blazing with a dangerous mix of ambition and ruthlessness. "That eye... the Sharingan! If I could get that..."
A twisted calculation crossed his mind, contemplating how possessing the Sharingan could potentially reduce his prison sentence significantly if offered to the Cloud Village. But as he watched Kakashi's effortless deflection and the efficiency of Team Ro, the idea died quickly.
Another enemy The enemy he slashed threw some paper bombs tied to kunai, and Kakashi used [Earth Style – Earth Wall Jutsu] to create sturdy barriers, blocking incoming attacks, and Body Flicker to appear before him. The enemy slashed him, but Kakashi disappeared into a cloud of smoke.
The enemy was then hit from behind, and he could only utter a single word before dying, "Shadow Clone".
The enemy exploded when he finally died. But the real Kakashi appeared elsewhere and tried to take out another enemy but failed.
Kaminari thought, "That earth wall was also a distraction to hide clones. He knows he will also be a target for his Sharingan eye. He is prepared for it and uses it as an opportunity. He is also careful with suicide attacks."
"No," Kaminari thought, assessing their strength. "Kakashi Hatake is not to be trifled with. Getting that eye would be too risky."
In a sudden turn of events, one of Kaminari's subordinates, a sensor, urgently called out, "Kaminari-sama! Another team is approaching fast!"
Kaminari's eyes narrowed as he thought, "Another ANBU team? The Hokage is more cautious than Onnen anticipated."
His mission was not to deal with Kakashi and his team, so he had to move quickly.
"Let the team designated to fight ANBU fight the ANBU, alone!" Kaminari said, "They are also former Cloud ANBU; they will buy us time. Let's chase the boy."
With that command, Kaminari turned and sped away, taking a few jonin and other ninjas with him, leaving the designated teams to engage Team-Ro.
Kakashi saw them run towards where Ryu's group had gone. A jolt of alarm went through him.
Kakashi attempted to pursue, but the remaining Cloud ninjas surged forward, blocking his path, forcing him to engage them directly. He was needed here, the fight far from over.
"Damn it!" Kakashi thought, a flash of frustration crossing his face beneath his mask. "They're going after Ryu!"
Kakashi watched as Kaminari and the main group disappeared into the trees, regretting that he couldn't stop them and was held back by the remaining enemy forces.
The confrontation between Team-Ro and the rogue Cloud Ninjas intensified into a desperate struggle to fend off the ambushers.
The other ANBU team arrived to rescue them before any severe injuries occurred, but by then, Kaminari and his main force had already departed.
##PoWeR StOnEs##
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