While Sasuke was attacking the black market, the other student teams were also employing their skills, gathering information on the targets listed in the wanted roster.
In less than a week, dozens of rogue shinobi had been successfully captured by the student teams.
As a result, rumors quickly spread of a mysterious force secretly hunting down the rogue shinobi active in the Land of Hot Springs.
These rogue shinobi, many carrying bounties of varying amounts, hadn't survived pursuit and thrived outside the law by mere luck—they possessed considerable skill and vigilance.
Upon catching wind of the situation, some rogue shinobi fled the Land of Hot Springs, while others hid even deeper.
This caused the student teams' capture progress to slow dramatically.
Many teams tracked their targets for days only to come up empty-handed. Some even fell into traps set by the rogue shinobi, and if not for the Jonin squads watching over them, they might have lost their lives.
"We need to form an alliance!"
Shikamaru, chewing on a blade of foxtail grass, sighed.
"Uh-huh!"
Choji and Ino nodded repeatedly.
Their team had capitalized on the early window when they first entered the Land of Hot Springs, before the rogue shinobi were fully alerted, and successfully ambushed and captured a few, earning some points.
But afterward, capturing rogue shinobi became increasingly difficult.
Just earlier, they had tirelessly tracked a target for an entire day, only to discover it was a decoy set by the rogue shinobi, who had long since escaped.
At this stage, the student teams' initial advantage of surprise was fading, and the true test of intelligence analysis and gathering had begun.
Shikamaru's team had been keeping an eye on Hinata's team, so after reaching an agreement, they quickly located Hinata, Kiba, and Shino, who were resting.
Thanks to their near-maxed-out scouting abilities, Hinata, Kiba, and Shino had performed well, capturing two Genin-level rogue shinobi without sustaining any injuries.
Upon meeting them, Shikamaru immediately explained their intent.
"An alliance?!"
Kiba was surprised.
The usually reserved Shino nodded. "It's indeed a good option!"
With the rogue shinobi either fleeing or hiding, student teams were bound to end up targeting the same individuals, either by chance or through direct competition.
At this point, competition between teams intensified rapidly. Weaker teams risked being eliminated by those led by geniuses.
In Shino's view, whether it was Shikamaru's trio or their own, they would likely be defeated if they faced a genius-led team. Only by forming an alliance and combining their strengths could they hold their own against such teams.
Seeing Shino's agreement, Hinata had no objections, and Kiba asked, "How do we split the points?"
Shikamaru suggested, "Evenly?"
Since both teams were close friends from the academy and the points would be split fairly, they quickly agreed and began joint operations.
At a seaside in the Land of Hot Springs, crash!
As a sea of trees surged forward, a fishing boat that had escaped into the water was lifted by the branches. Everyone on board was ensnared by vines and flung onto the beach, landing in a dizzy heap!
Kimimaro approached a scarred middle-aged man, compared him to the wanted list, and said, "Wind Blade Kojirou, rogue shinobi from the Hidden Waterfall Village, 100 points!"
Yakumo smiled, dispelling her Wood Release, then asked Shion, "How many points do we have now?"
Shion flipped open her notebook, added the 100 points, and grinned. "With this one, we've captured eight rogue shinobi—two Jonin-level and six Chunin-level, totaling 285 points!"
Jonin-level rogue shinobi were worth around 100 points, while Chunin-level ones ranged from 10 to 20 points.
Yakumo asked, "Who's next?"
Shion quickly replied, "Kojuro, rogue shinobi from the Hidden Rain Village, Jonin-level, 104 points! He was last spotted near Star Valley, not far from here!"
"Let's go!"
Without hesitation, Yakumo left the unconscious Wind Blade Kojirou to the hidden proctor team and led her team swiftly toward Star Valley.
In Star Valley, boom, boom, boom!
A series of explosions echoed through the valley, causing the cliffs on both sides to crumble and collapse. In no time, Star Valley was buried in rubble and shrouded in dust.
Swish!
A figure landed on a cliff, coldly gazing at the valley below. "Just a bunch of Hidden Leaf brats, and they dare to come after me!"
Clearly, this figure overlooking the valley was none other than Kojuro.
He had deliberately leaked his presence in Star Valley, as it was a carefully set trap.
After waiting a moment and seeing no movement from the valley, Kojuro prepared to leave.
Just then, he turned his head, spotting three figures rapidly approaching from the distance.
Kojuro's expression darkened. "They just keep coming, huh?"
Unless necessary, he preferred not to clash with the Hidden Leaf. But as a rogue shinobi, he wouldn't go down without a fight when pursued.
Boom.
As Kojuro prepared to confront the approaching trio, a loud rumble came from the valley. Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura leaped out, landing on the cliff opposite him.
Seeing that Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura, who had fallen into his trap, were merely disheveled with no visible injuries, Kojuro was shocked, thinking, These Hidden Leaf kids aren't ordinary!
Realizing another trio was approaching, he sensed trouble brewing.
But as Kojuro braced for a six-on-one fight, Sasuke, spotting Yakumo's team, ignored him entirely and charged forward, shouting, "This guy's ours!"
Yakumo didn't back down. "Whoever takes him down gets the credit!"
Instantly, the two teams clashed fiercely.
Kojuro, left on the sidelines, was stunned, then humiliated. But witnessing the intensity of their battle, his heart raced with fear, and he lost all will to fight, fleeing in disgrace.
After a long while, Kojuro reached a hidden underground cave, muttering, "Good thing En Oyashiro set up this hideout for me, or I'd really be done for this time!"
"Is that so…?"
Suddenly, a languid voice echoed from the depths of the dark cave.