The student teams that passed the screening swiftly advanced toward the Land of Hot Springs, each following their own route.
From a bird's-eye view, one could see the teams deliberately avoiding each other, spreading out in a fan-shaped formation.
At the center of the fan were the teams led by "geniuses" like Yakumo, Sasuke, and Neji, while weaker teams intentionally steered clear, opting for the flanks.
Trailing behind the student teams were elite Jonin squads.
These elite squads served dual roles as assessment proctors and protectors of the students' safety.
For instance, shadowing Yakumo's team was a three-man squad led by Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin.
Following Sasuke's team was a three-man squad led by Kakashi. Neji's team was tailed by a squad led by Gai.
Additionally, Asuma's squad protected Shikamaru's team, Kurenai's squad protected Hinata's team, and other Special Jonin like Anko, Genma, and Hayate were also assigned to specific student teams.
Beyond these one-on-one protective Jonin squads, the village deployed a mixed force of Anbu, intelligence, communications, and medical units, commanded by Jiraiya, another of the Legendary Sannin, to coordinate and provide support from the center.
Such a formidable lineup could easily wage a small-scale war, underscoring the village's immense emphasis on this assessment.
In the forest, Shinji, Haku, and Karin darted through the trees at high speed, their shadows flickering briefly on the dappled forest floor.
Suddenly, Karin frowned. "It feels like someone's following us?"
Thanks to her "Kagura Mind's Eye," she could precisely sense the number and distance of the Jonin squad trailing them but deliberately kept her words vague to avoid alarming Shinji.
"They're probably the proctoring squad. Ignore them!"
Shinji didn't slow his pace.
"Got it!"
Karin nodded.
She was merely reporting the situation to keep Shinji informed.
Shinji, leading the way, wasn't actually focused on the assessment. His mind was on optimizing the "Breathing Technique" and worrying about Ryuzetsu and Chino, who had recently been injected with "Blue Higanbana No. 1."
As for the assessment, he was more than familiar with the Land of Hot Springs.
Having previously hidden Yugito there, he knew exactly where rogue shinobi could hide and where to buy intelligence—like playing a game with the full map unlocked.
Swish, swish, swish.
About seven or eight kilometers behind Shinji's team, a three-man squad was rapidly pursuing.
Undoubtedly, this was the Jonin squad tasked with proctoring and protecting Shinji's team.
"These kids are way too fast, aren't they?"
"Are they really academy students?"
Two members of the squad grumbled softly as they darted through the forest.
Even for them, this breakneck pace was taxing.
Their leader, Yamato, wore a speechless expression, thinking, I thought only Yakumo, Naruto, and Sasuke were the troublesome ones in the academy, but now it looks like we need to add Uchiha Shinji to the list! According to the academy's intel, aren't Shinji's teammates supposed to be average? How is their speed this ridiculous? Are these really academy students?
Grumbling aside, the mission was critical, so Yamato steeled himself and continued the pursuit!
Days later, the student teams gradually entered the Land of Hot Springs.
Since their task was to capture rogue shinobi hiding in the region, the teams kept a low profile. Even Sasuke, eager to prove himself, disguised himself upon entry.
Sasuke posed as a young noble on a journey, with Sakura as his maid and Naruto as his attendant. The trio arrived at a small town.
Sasuke observed his surroundings and said, "A small country like the Land of Hot Springs definitely has an intelligence black market. Let's head there to gather information!"
Sakura, nervous, said, "Sasuke, but we don't have any money!"
Sasuke smirked. "Why would we need to pay?"
Naruto muttered under his breath.
Sasuke frowned. "Naruto, what are you mumbling about?"
"Why do you get to play the young noble?" Naruto grumbled, indignant. "Why am I stuck as the lackey?"
Sasuke snorted lightly.
Sakura said, "Naruto, you idiot, Sasuke is from a noble clan!"
"Enough!" Sasuke cut Sakura off. "The mission comes first!"
After some inquiries, they learned about the black market from a wandering samurai and immediately headed there.
Perhaps because they were just teenagers, the black market guards only asked a few questions before letting Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura in.
Boom!
Moments later, a loud explosion echoed from the black market, followed by shouts, groans, and pleas for mercy—a cacophony of chaos!
After a while, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura emerged from the black market, satisfied.
For Sasuke, with his awakened Mangekyo Sharingan, a place like this posed no challenge, especially with Naruto and Sakura assisting. Using his Sharingan, he quickly interrogated and extracted the information he wanted.
Sakura hesitated, whispering, "Sasuke, isn't it too risky to target a Jonin-level rogue shinobi right away?"
Sasuke coolly replied, "Do you think Yakumo, Shinji, or Neji would bother with Chunin-level small fries? There are only so many Jonin-level targets on the list. If we're even a bit slow, they'll be taken!"
Sakura tried to argue, "But…"
Sasuke cut her off. "No buts. We've already made our move. We need to act fast, or the target will catch on!"
Naruto chimed in, "Don't worry, you've got me too!"
Sakura could only nod.
Deep down, she still found it hard to adjust to the idea of academy students like them proactively taking on Jonin-level threats.
Outside the black market, Kakashi, hidden in a tree, smiled.
Sasuke's direct assault on the black market seemed reckless, but if he could handle the consequences, it was a decisive move.
After all, a black market of this level had at most one or two Chunin-level guards—enough to handle ordinary individuals or merchant groups but utterly outmatched against a Mangekyo Uchiha like Sasuke!