Asuma Sarutobi took a deep breath.
He forcibly suppressed the complex thoughts churning in his mind, snapping back to reality from the shock brought by those dancing leaves.
He unfolded the map and, in his capacity as captain, assigned the marching formation with a voice that feigned composure.
"Genma, you take the lead and scout ahead."
"Ebisu, stay in the center and keep a sharp lookout on our surroundings."
"Anko, bring up the rear."
Shiranui Genma and Ebisu exchanged a glance, nodded professionally, and left to carry out their orders.
This hastily assembled squad officially stepped into the peril-filled border jungle amidst a subtle and tense atmosphere.
And at the moment they set out...
Several kilometers ahead of the team, at a high point with an excellent vantage...
Aokawa sat cross-legged atop the canopy of a towering tree, his figure perfectly concealed by the dense foliage.
His eyes were closed, and the veins at his temples were slightly bulging.
His Byakugan vision was already active, providing an invisible god-like perspective.
Everything in the jungle below—the rustle of leaves, the chirping of insects and birds—transformed into the clearest patterns within his mind.
The movements of Asuma's squad, as well as the lethal killing intent hidden in the shadows along their route, were all within his sight.
About an hour after the team delved deep into the jungle...
They arrived at an area with exceptionally dense vegetation, where sunlight was filtered by layers of canopy, casting mottled shadows on the ground and making it appear somewhat dim.
Asuma Sarutobi raised his hand, signaling the team to stop.
Relying on the knowledge he learned at the Ninja Academy and his limited mission experience, he carefully observed the terrain ahead and judged that there were no anomalies.
Just as he was about to order them to proceed...
A single emerald-green leaf drifted down from above without warning.
It spun in the air and, with an unnaturally slight tremor, silently caught on an extremely thin metal wire that almost blended into the soil on the ground.
"Stop!"
Shiranui Genma, who used Senbon year-round and was extremely sensitive to wire-type weapons, had his pupils shrink and immediately reached out to stop everyone.
He crouched down and cautiously brushed aside the weeds by his feet.
A cold-glinting metal wire suddenly appeared; the other end of the wire was connected to several Explosive Tags stuck to the inner side of a tree trunk.
Asuma Sarutobi and Ebisu were instantly broken into a cold sweat.
If they had just walked through... the consequences would have been unthinkable.
They quickly bypassed the trap.
The team continued forward.
With the previous lesson learned, everyone became even more cautious.
Soon, they arrived at an open, rocky slope.
With jagged rocks and complex terrain, it was an excellent spot for an ambush.
Asuma Sarutobi became exceptionally careful; he had the team stop at the bottom of the slope while he took out binoculars to carefully observe every rock that might hide someone.
He observed for a full ten minutes.
"The rocks on the left route are more weathered, with less cover, making it relatively safer."
He made his judgment and was about to order them to detour from the left.
Suddenly.
A strange whirlwind blew across the cliff face on the left for no reason.
The wind wasn't strong, yet it kicked up dust from the ground, forming a blurry outline in mid-air that resembled some kind of giant bear trap.
That outline existed for only a moment before dispersing with the wind.
Asuma Sarutobi's heart skipped a beat.
A strong sense of foreboding surged in his heart.
He almost blurted out: "Change of route! Go right!"
Although the route on the right was harder to traverse and more susceptible to ambushes from above, that image from a moment ago made him not dare to take any chances.
Anko Mitarashi was somewhat puzzled, but seeing Asuma's solemn expression, she kept her mouth shut and followed the team as they moved to the right.
When they breathlessly bypassed the rocky slope and looked back at the left route they had been about to take...
Everyone gasped.
In the crevices of the rocks on the left cliff, there was actually a giant linked trap hidden and disguised with Earth Release!
Dozens of massive rocks were connected by Chakra Threads; once someone stepped in, the entire cliff face would collapse, completely burying everything below.
This time, even Anko Mitarashi couldn't bring herself to smile.
She looked at Asuma, who had a face full of lingering fear, and for the first time, a look of genuine solemnity appeared in her eyes.
Asuma Sarutobi felt that his back was already soaked through.
He vaguely felt that this could no longer be explained by simple "luck."
Once is a coincidence.
But twice?
He looked around, searching for that figure who had disappeared since they set out.
But within his perception, there was no one around.
"Could I have really discovered it myself?" Asuma Sarutobi felt somewhat uncertain.
He clenched his fists and cheered himself up in his heart: "I have to have confidence in myself!"
...At dusk.
After experiencing several instances of "luck," be they real or perceived, this physically and mentally exhausted squad finally arrived at the designated reconnaissance point on the edge of Kazegake Valley.
Looking down at the massive, mist-shrouded, and bottomless canyon, Asuma Sarutobi and the others breathed a long sigh of relief.
Their tired faces all showed the joy of completing the first stage of the mission.
Asuma spread out the map, looking at the marching route he had marked in red—which had been proven "safe" by facts—and a strong sense of accomplishment and confidence welled up in his heart.
It seemed he was a natural-born commander after all.
However.
At the very moment their spirits were most relaxed...
From the nearby woods, dyed golden by the setting sun, came the clear sound of footsteps.
"Who's there?!"
Shiranui Genma immediately gripped a Senbon between his fingers and shouted sharply.
Several figures wearing Konoha standard-issue vests and Konoha headbands walked out of the forest.
The leading Ninja saw Asuma and the others, his expression solemn, and he barked in a low voice: "We are Team 7, responsible for the eastern route. Which squad are you? State your names."
Asuma Sarutobi looked at the other's Konoha headband and then at the familiar standard-issue vests they were wearing, and subconsciously felt a sense of relief.
The faces of Shiranui Genma and Ebisu showed an even greater sense of ease, as if they had survived a disaster.
On this border line where one could lose their life at any moment, nothing was more reassuring than meeting "one's own people."
Despite this, the previous experiences of brushing past the Shinigami several times still caused Asuma to maintain a final sliver of vigilance.
He took a step forward on his own initiative.
"Third Reconnaissance Squad. Captain, Asuma Sarutobi."
The leading Ninja showed a warm smile.
"So it's Captain Asuma. We are Team 7; we just finished scouting the eastern route and are preparing to return to camp."
This answer sounded flawless.
But Asuma Sarutobi did not completely let down his guard.
He asked in a conversational tone, seemingly at random.
"Was the eastern route smooth?"
"I heard that Supply Point No. 2 was harassed by a small Kumogakure unit the day before yesterday. How is the situation now?"
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"