Shinji stood alone where the battle had ended, his gaze fixed on the trees where the swordsman had vanished.
The wind stirred the leaves above him.
Then he turned and walked back toward the forest path.
Fifty meters away, three genin waited exactly where he had ordered them.
Daichi spotted him first.
"S-Sensei!"
The boy hurried forward.
"Are you alright?!"
Shinji gave a small nod.
"Yes."
Ayame crossed her arms.
"That guy left?"
"Yes."
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You didn't chase him."
Shinji shook his head.
"No."
He walked past them toward the road.
"The mission comes first."
The genin followed immediately.
Back on the trail, the diplomat and his guards were waiting anxiously beside the wagons.
The moment Shinji appeared, the man rushed forward.
"You're alive!"
Shinji gave him a calm look.
"Yes."
The diplomat glanced nervously toward the forest.
"…The attacker?"
"Gone."
The man visibly relaxed.
"Thank the Hokage…"
Shinji gestured toward the road.
"We continue moving."
The convoy started forward again.
The wheels of the wagon creaked softly as they rolled along the dirt path.
For a while, no one spoke.
Then Daichi finally broke the silence.
"…Was that really one of the Seven Swordsmen?"
Shinji walked beside the wagon, eyes scanning the forest line.
"Yes."
Daichi ran a hand through his messy hair.
"Great."
Ayame glanced at Shinji.
"You knew who he was immediately."
"Yes."
"Kubikiribōchō," she said.
"The executioner's blade."
Ren added quietly,
"One of the weapons of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."
Shinji nodded once.
Daichi looked between them.
"So we just ran into a legendary killer."
Shinji shrugged slightly.
"Yes."
Daichi groaned.
"Why is everyone so calm about that?"
The monkey summon walking beside Shinji snorted.
"You kids should see the lunatics that come out of the Kirigakure training system."
Ayame glanced at the summon.
"…Is he going to keep following us?"
"For a while," Shinji said.
The monkey rested its iron staff across its shoulders.
"Someone's gotta make sure the kid doesn't do anything stupid."
Shinji ignored that.
They walked another few minutes before Ren spoke again.
"…He'll come back."
It wasn't a question.
Shinji nodded.
"Yes."
The forest path stretched quietly ahead of them.
Daichi sighed.
"Fantastic."
Ayame looked thoughtful.
"…You told us to fall back immediately."
"Yes."
"You didn't even consider letting us assist."
Shinji looked at her briefly.
"No."
Daichi blinked.
"…Not even a little?"
"No."
The answer was simple.
Direct.
Ren frowned slightly.
"Because we're genin."
"Yes."
Daichi scratched the back of his neck.
"Okay that's fair but still a little harsh."
Shinji stopped walking.
The convoy slowed as well.
He turned to face the three of them.
"Listen carefully."
They straightened immediately.
"That swordsman," Shinji said calmly, "has fought and killed jonin for years."
The weight of those words hung in the air.
"No amount of training I can give you in a few days will change that."
Ayame nodded slowly.
"That's what I thought."
Daichi sighed.
"So if he shows up again…"
"You stay out of the fight."
Ren finished the thought.
"…And focus on the mission."
Shinji nodded once.
"Correct."
The convoy began moving again.
After a moment Daichi spoke again.
"…Then what's the training for?"
Shinji answered without looking back.
"To keep you alive."
Ayame raised an eyebrow.
"…That sounds reassuring."
"It's supposed to be."
Ren looked ahead at the road stretching toward the horizon.
"The Land of Rivers border is still two days away."
"Yes."
Daichi groaned again.
"So we're training tonight, aren't we."
"Yes."
The monkey grinned.
"Oh this is gonna be fun."
Daichi immediately looked suspicious.
"…Why do I feel like I'm about to regret this mission?"
Shinji allowed the faintest hint of a smirk.
"You will."
The convoy continued down the forest road as the sun slowly began to sink toward the horizon.
Ahead of them lay the unstable territory of the Land of Rivers.