Chapter 50: The Cloud Village Assassination Squad – Poor Hayate Gets Roped In Again
But who could blame her?
For years, she had traveled with Tsunade, meeting only gamblers, debt collectors, and thugs. Whether it was the bald loan sharks or ugly mercenaries, none of the men she'd encountered were worth a second glance.
Then Kazuya appeared.
Compared to the riffraff they usually met, Kazuya practically glowed in contrast.
He had talent, and strength, and even managed to suppress Tsunade in battle—an impossible feat in Shizune's eyes!
He was kind, and generous, and even paid for their inn stay for an extra month before leaving. Truly a good man.
And, most importantly, he was handsome.
All these traits had left quite an impression on the 18-year-old Shizune, who was around the same age as Kurenai. How could she not feel a bit smitten with such an eligible man?
Kazuya, meanwhile, raced toward the ambush site at top speed.
As he closed in, the weight of the upcoming battle hung in the air. He knew he had to reach the two squads fast, especially with elite Cloud ninjas on the move.
His mind, however, wandered back to the goodbyes. Even though Shizune was left behind, it was clear her interest was piqued.
After all, in the world of ninja, power, and personality left lasting impressions—and Kazuya certainly had both.
"Humph!" Tsunade huffed.
Seeing the longing look in Shizune's eyes, she immediately knew what was going on in the young woman's heart. That little rascal, Kazuya, still causing a stir even after leaving!
Tsunade gritted her teeth. The next time they met, she'd make sure to reclaim her dignity with her fists! As one of the Legendary Sannins, she wasn't about to lose without a fight!
In the Land of Lightning...
Positioned northeast of the Land of Fire, the Land of Lightning was separated by the smaller countries of the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Frost.
After countless wars, the Great Shinobi Villages had become strategic. They always aimed to move the battlefield into smaller nations, sparing their lands from the ravages of war. During the Second Shinobi World War, the various powers fought fiercely within the Land of Rain. In the Third War, smaller countries like the Land of Hot Water, Land of Frost, Land of Fields, and Land of Valleys weren't spared, with their territories left in ruins. Meanwhile, the five great nations suffered minimal damage on home soil.
This time, the same strategy was in play.
The Hidden Cloud Village had amassed elite troops in the Land of Frost, preparing to put pressure on Konoha. In response, Konoha quickly dispatched their forces to the Land of Frost to face them.
To reinforce their troops, Konoha had to pass through the Land of Hot Water. The Hidden Cloud ninjas, always crafty, had set ambushes along this crucial route.
Unfortunately, Yūhi Kurenai and Kakashi's squads had terrible luck.
En route to the Land of Frost, they were ambushed by elite Cloud ninjas. Their enemies were formidable, and despite a valiant effort, the Konoha forces soon found themselves overwhelmed. Some were even gravely injured. Forced to retreat, they barely managed to hide.
At this moment, deep within a dense forest...
A large tree hollow served as a temporary hideout, its entrance sealed with a chakra barrier to block detection. Inside, several wounded Konoha Anbu members rested in the dim light. Two lay on the ground in critical condition, while the remaining five didn't look much better.
In the center sat two squad leaders, Yūhi Kurenai and Kakashi.
Kurenai, wearing her cat-face mask, was mostly unscathed, though her chakra reserves were down to 40%. Her strength was nearly spent. Kakashi, on the other hand, looked much worse. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, and though still capable of fighting, his appearance was ragged.
"Captain, our barrier won't hold for much longer. The enemy could find us at any moment!" Uzuki Yugao warned, panting as she set explosive tags around the entrance.
Meanwhile, lying on the ground, Moonlight Hayate was barely clinging to life.
Hayate had rotten luck. During the mission to capture Orochimaru, he'd been seriously injured. Freshly discharged from the hospital, his first mission back saw him getting critically wounded by the Cloud ninjas. It seemed that fate wasn't on his side. In the original timeline, he'd been killed by a top Sand ninja after overhearing the wrong conversation. Some people are just unlucky.
"This is bad…" Kurenai said, her voice heavy with frustration.
The ambushing Cloud ninjas were a squad of 20, with five elite Jonin among them—far too powerful to face head-on. Konoha's two Anbu squads had nearly been wiped out on first contact. If they hadn't retreated in time, they'd have been surrounded.
"We don't have a choice but to break through again," Kakashi added, glancing at his fallen comrades.
In the past, Kakashi might have considered leaving his wounded allies behind to save himself. But ever since hearing those words from Kazuya, his mindset had changed.
"The night gave us dark eyes, but I must seek out the light!" Kakashi's expression hardened with resolve.
No matter how slim the chance, he would find a way to save his comrades. He would not abandon them, just like Kazuya had once told him: never abandon your comrades, never give up!
At the same time, in the same forest, several ninjas from the Hidden Cloud Village, each wearing the Cloud forehead protector, were searching for Kurenai, Kakashi, and their squads.
"Those Konoha Anbu must have set up some kind of barrier to block our sensory techniques," the Cloud ninja captain growled. "Form up in C formation, but don't stray too far. Remember, they still have Jonin among them—stay sharp!"
The leader's gaze flicked over to a petite but striking female ninja beside him. "Samui, stay vigilant. We're dealing with Konoha ninjas here—let your guard down, and you'll lose your life."
"Yes," the blonde ninja named Samui replied in a calm, icy tone.
Despite her youthful appearance and petite build, Samui had a cold, fierce aura, with short, striking blonde hair that made her stand out. But right now, a faint trace of anger clouded her beautiful face.
Earlier, the Konoha Anbu had managed to break through from her side of the defense. It was a serious blow to her pride.
As they continued searching, one of the Cloud ninjas voiced a concern: "We should be cautious. Those Konoha Anbu might try a desperate counterattack, and we're not far from the Land of Fire. Their reinforcements could arrive at any moment."
The captain of the Cloud ninjas clenched his teeth. "I know. But we must buy time for the main battlefront. Killer Bee and Yugito Nii have already arrived. With them, we'll crush Konoha's forces."
"For real?" one of the Cloud ninjas exclaimed, eyes wide. "Both Killer Bee and Yugito Nii are here?"
The group immediately grew more energized, excited at the prospect of their famous Jinchuriki joining the fight.
"Exactly! So we need to delay Konoha's reinforcements at all costs—understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
In an instant, the Cloud ninjas' bloodlust intensified. In the Hidden Cloud, they were all war fanatics—fighting was in their blood.