"Let's go first. Stay sharp and have your crows spread out for reconnaissance."
Jingyi gestured for Yamashiro Aoba to follow.
The immediate area around Konoha was relatively safe, but dangers often lurked outside the village's borders. The Land of Fire, while prosperous, wasn't without its threats, especially during the turbulent times of the Third Shinobi World War.
Yamashiro Aoba nodded and followed quietly.
Once outside the village gates, Aoba's crows dispersed into the sky, each acting as his eyes and ears, gathering intel over a wide radius.
Jingyi took a more direct approach.
He knelt and placed his hand on the ground. His chakra perception technique spread outwards, probing for any disturbances in the vicinity. The immediate area returned clear.
"Sensei, no signs of enemy presence for now."
"Good. This sector's clear, but we can't drop our guard yet. My chakra sense has its limits at this range. We'll rely on your crows to monitor the wider perimeter."
"Understood!"
They moved ahead to scout.
Shortly after, the Daimyo's escort team exited the village.
This young Daimyo of the Land of Fire looked around and immediately noticed the unusually dense presence of crows in the sky. Though intrigued, he chose not to inquire at first.
However, when his gaze landed on Jingyi, curiosity got the better of him. He leaned toward Namikaze Minato, who was walking beside the carriage.
"Minato Jonin, who is that shinobi?"
"Your Excellency, his name is Jingyi. He's one of Konoha's newer elite, and his strength is on par with mine."
The Daimyo raised an eyebrow.
"Not from the Senju clan?"
He frowned slightly, sensing something familiar in Jingyi's figure.
Minato smiled politely. "His grandmother was from Tobirama-sama's direct bloodline."
The Daimyo was startled.
"So he is of Senju descent after all..."
He studied Jingyi from afar. With that silver hair and composed back, he certainly evoked memories of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
"To think the Second Hokage's lineage continues... Does he have a teacher?"
Minato replied, "jingyi was largely self-taught using the notes and scrolls left behind by his grandmother. Recently, he's been acknowledged by Lady Tsunade herself and has even formed a contract with the Shikkotsu Forest."
The Daimyo's expression relaxed.
"Self-taught... Such talent at a young age. Impressive."
With a satisfied sigh, he retreated back into the carriage.
---
They traveled further.
Suddenly, a crow descended toward them, and Yamashiro Aoba hurried to catch up.
"Sensei, something's wrong."
Jingyi immediately understood that Yamashiro Aoba's reconnaissance crows had picked up something.
"Footprints," Yamashiro Aoba reported, "leading along the river... but they're erratic, almost deliberate."
"Could be a trap," Jingyi muttered after inspecting the scene.
The tracks were fragmented classic signs of someone trying to obscure their trail, perhaps using silent killing techniques.
"It's possible they're hiding underwater, suppressing chakra signatures using Mist Village's concealment techniques."
Jingyi analyzed calmly.
He smiled faintly. "If they're from Kirigakure, I welcome it."
Jingyi's clone had been studying Hidden Mist Village's assassination techniques for some time. Since obtaining a variant of Shibuki no Mai, he had reverse-engineered much of their methodology.
"I know their tricks better than they do."
The convoy moved on, oblivious to the lurking danger.
---
Ahead.
The Daimyo admired the recovering prosperity of the Land of Fire, yet his attention often drifted toward jingyi.
Even if he bore no Senju name, to be acknowledged by Tsunade herself was no small feat. The Senju clan's direct line had long integrated into Konoha, their family name rarely flaunted.
For someone to stand out now... He must be exceptional.
Suddenly, a scream broke his thoughts.
Fog rolled in rapidly Kirigakure's Silent Killing Mist Technique.
Though no shinobi, the Daimyo recognized the famed assassination mist. It spread thick and fast, blanketing everything in a suffocating gray.
Minato, along with Sarutobi Asuma and Uchiha Obito, quickly formed a protective formation around the carriage.
"They're bold to attempt this against Konoha's escort team..." Minato muttered.
---
Near the river.
A body floated up,blood blooming in the water.
Jingyi appeared, sword drawn.
"Sensei, their forehead protector has scratches."
"Means nothing. Focus on the surroundings. I'll pursue the enemy directly."
Without hesitation, Jingyi vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.
Yamashiro Aoba was left trembling.
He had little direct combat experience against Mist-style assassins. The heavy fog disoriented him, every splash of water sending shivers down his spine.
Hidden in the mist, a Mist ANBU assassin waited patiently.
Jingyi's absence left only a young, seemingly inexperienced boy.
An easy target.
The enemy lunged silently from the river.
But before the assassin's blade reached Yamashiro Aoba, a faint slash cut through his neck.
"? ? ?"
Blood sprayed into the mist.
Confused, the Mist Ninja collapsed, never understanding what happened.
Yamashiro Aoba gasped. The attacker's death had been so sudden, he barely registered it. His teacher's silent assassination technique had struck faster than he could comprehend.
"Sensei... you're still here?"
He realized Jingyi had never truly left him undefended.
---
Elsewhere in the fog.
The last Mist ANBU realized his comrades had been eliminated. He recalled tales of Second Mizukage's Phantom Techniques, yet this man's methods were eerily similar, perhaps even more terrifying.
Knowing the mission had failed, he attempted to escape, forming seals to summon a Water Shark Bullet Technique to cover his retreat.
The water surged, swallowing the corpses.
But as he moved to flee along the river
The entire riverbed erupted upward.
Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!
But this wasn't a mere defensive wall,Jingyi manipulated the terrain itself, cutting off escape routes.
"This... This isn't just a jonin escort..."
The Mist ANBU cursed.
His only choice now was to fight or be captured.