Ambush

Chapter 9: Ambush

Team 4's journey to the Land of Hot Water began uneventfully, with the first half of the trip marked by peaceful landscapes and the occasional bandit attack. However, the caravan guards proved capable, allowing Team 4 to remain spectators.

As they rested in one of the carriages, Kakashi and Hikari chatted with Shin, who was silently observing their surroundings, trying to suppress his growing excitement for his first C-rank mission.

Unbeknownst to them, danger loomed nearby. A group of 12 ninjas clad in black—Danzo's operatives—trailed the caravan, tracking them with the aid of an Aburame clan member's insects. This team, consisting of seven chunin and five jonin, was tasked with testing Shin's abilities and assessing the strength of his Kekkei Genkai.

However, before the Root operatives could act, another group emerged from the shadows and surrounded the caravan. Their leader, a tall figure cloaked in dark robes, barked, "Hand over Lady Komi and her son, and the rest of you will be spared!"

Sakumo's eyes narrowed as his grip tightened on his blade. Turning to the caravan leader, his voice dropped into a cold fury. "You never told us the wife of the Land of Hot Water's daimyo was part of this caravan. Why was this information hidden?"

The caravan leader stammered, his face pale. "I—w-we thought it would be safer if no one knew…"

"We'll discuss this later," Sakumo growled. He then commanded, "Hikari, Kakashi—guard the daimyo's wife and son. Shin, support me against these attackers. Stay sharp."

Shin nodded, excitement and tension flickering in his gaze. He knew this was his chance to prove himself, but he also understood that a single mistake could cost lives.

Sakumo leapt into action, charging the nearest enemy. His swift movements and precision forced the attackers into defensive positions. Meanwhile, Shin activated Dantalion's Power, summoning multiple portals glowing with blue light. The mysterious technique immediately caught the enemy leader's attention.

"That boy! Focus on him!" the leader shouted. "He's the key to that strange jutsu!"

Three enemy ninjas broke away from the group and charged toward Shin. Kakashi and Hikari, hearing the command, hesitated.

"Do we help him or stay here?" Hikari whispered.

"We can't leave the daimyo's family unguarded," Kakashi replied, though his fists clenched with frustration.

Sakumo, fending off four jonin simultaneously, glanced toward Shin and shouted, "Kakashi, assist Shin!"

But Shin called back confidently, "No! I've got this. Focus on your fight, sensei—I'll hold them off!"

The three enemy ninjas attacked simultaneously. One threw a barrage of shuriken, while the other two launched a combined water and wind jutsu. Shin reacted swiftly, weaving his hands to manipulate the portals. The shuriken vanished into one portal and reappeared through another, deflecting harmlessly into the ground.

Then came the elemental jutsu. Shin created a larger portal, redirecting the water and wind attacks back toward their casters. The returning torrent caught the water-user off guard, forcing him to leap away. The wind-user, however, wasn't as lucky—the redirected attack cleaved through him, severing his body in half.

The battlefield fell silent for a moment, stunned by the sight. Even the remaining attackers hesitated, realizing the danger of Shin's abilities.

From their hidden vantage point, the Root operatives watched intently.

"This Kekkei Genkai… it's more powerful than we anticipated," the Aburame operative muttered, his insects buzzing with agitation. "We must report this to Lord Danzo immediately."

He motioned for four of his comrades to retreat and deliver the information. The remaining operatives stayed to continue observing, their eyes fixed on Shin as he prepared to face the remaining two attackers.

Shin's heart raced, adrenaline surging through his veins. One enemy down, two to go. He knew he had to end this quickly—he couldn't afford to let them overwhelm him.

The two surviving attackers exchanged glances, clearly wary after seeing their comrade's fate. They shifted their approach, one circling to Shin's left while the other flanked his right.

Shin smirked, his confidence growing. Let's see how you handle this…

Waving his hands, Shin activated Bararaq Sei. Twin rope darts, crackling with white lightning, materialized in his grip. He unleashed them with precision, the twin snakes darting through the air with deadly grace.

The attackers dodged and counterattacked, launching fire and earth jutsu toward Shin. But with the portals and his rope darts working in tandem, Shin deflected their attacks effortlessly, keeping them on the defensive.

The battle was far from over, but Shin's prowess was becoming undeniable. Even amidst the chaos, a small part of him couldn't help but feel exhilarated. This is what I've been training for.

From afar, Sakumo spared a brief glance toward Shin's fight. Despite the danger, a faint smile tugged at his lips. The boy's holding his own… Kenshin, you should be proud.

But Sakumo knew this was only the beginning. With enemies on all sides and the Root operatives watching from the shadows, the real danger was yet to come.