190-Gut Feeling

"For now, just erase your chakra signatures and prepare yourselves,"

Renjiro instructed his squad. His words were met with silent nods as the squad members followed the directive. This ensured they could remain undetected, even by seasoned sensors, until the moment they chose to reveal themselves.

Ahead, the convoy moved at a steady pace. The guards scanned their surroundings with keen eyes. Their hands rested close to their weapons, ready to spring into action at the first sign of trouble.

The young Daimyo's son, Akihiko, sat inside a luxurious carriage, occasionally peering out with a mixture of curiosity and boredom.

Akihiko was blissfully unaware of the potential danger lurking in the shadows, his innocence a stark contrast to the seasoned guards surrounding him.

'Haven't they realized it yet?'

Renjiro wondered as he observed the convoy's guards. Despite their vigilance, there wasn't much change in their actions, suggesting they had yet to sense the impending threat.

As the convoy ventured deeper into the Land of Rivers, the atmosphere grew more oppressive. The usual sounds of wildlife had faded away, replaced by an eerie silence.

Then it swiftly happened. From the shadows of the trees, a group of rogue ninja emerged, their movements swift and precise.

Renjiro could tell at a glance that these were not mere bandits; they were skilled shinobi, their formation and approach displaying a high level of training that you wouldn't expect bandits to have.

"Formation!"

The head guard of the convoy reacted immediately, shouting. The guards moved in unison, forming a protective circle around the carriage.

The rogue shinobis were armed and ready, but they hadn't made any overtly aggressive moves yet. The head guard stepped forward, his voice firm as he demanded,

"State your business. This is a convoy of the Fire Daimyo. Identify yourselves."

Renjiro's eyes narrowed as he observed the head guard's approach. 'Why is he doing that? Or is he that confident because we are here?'

He wondered if the guard's willingness to negotiate was born out of a genuine desire to avoid conflict or misplaced confidence in the unseen support from his squad.

The leader of the rogue ninja, a tall figure with a prominent scar running across his face, stepped forward. His eyes were cold and calculating,

"We have no quarrel with you," he said, his voice low and even. "We're here for the boy. Hand him over, and no one gets hurt."

The head guard's resolve did not waver. "You will not lay a hand on the young master," he declared, drawing a kunai with steely determination.

The rest of the guards followed suit, weapons at the ready. The rogue ninja leader smirked, clearly unimpressed by the display of defiance.

"Very well," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Have it your way."

With a swift motion, he signalled his comrades, and the attack began. The rogue shinobis moved with deadly precision, launching a coordinated assault on the Daimyo's guards.

Steel clashed against steel, the air filled with the sharp sounds of combat and the crackling energy of jutsus being used. The guards fought valiantly, but it quickly became apparent they were outnumbered and at a disadvantage. They were up against close to fifty enemies, while they numbered only twelve.

Renjiro watched intently as he said,

"Get ready,"

Just as the guards seemed to be faltering, Renjiro made his decision. With a swift hand signal, his squad joined the fray.

Renjiro, wielding a sabre, moved through the chaos with deadly grace. He had chosen this weapon deliberately, hoping it would help safeguard his identity.

His squad followed his lead, their movements synchronized and efficient. They struck with precision, their training and experience evident in every action.

The rogue ninja leader, noticing the new arrivals, shouted in surprise,

"Who are you?" His voice was a mix of confusion and anger, clearly taken aback by the sudden appearance of the masked figures.

"Death," Renjiro replied coldly, his voice cutting through as he lunged at the leader, his sabre aimed to incapacitate him. However, to his astonishment, the figure dissolved into water, revealing itself to be a mere clone.

'What?'

Renjiro thought, momentarily caught off guard. It was a clever ruse however, Renjiro didn't dwell on it. He quickly shifted his focus to the next target, ensuring the battle's momentum stayed in their favour.

The skirmish was brief but intense. The rogue ninja, outmatched and overwhelmed, quickly realized they were no match for Renjiro's team.

One by one, they were killed. The Daimyo's guards, emboldened by the arrival of the Konoha shinobi, rallied and supported their allies, ensuring a swift end to the confrontation.

As the dust settled, their leader was nowhere to be seen which bothered Renjiro a lot.

'Did he escape?' He wondered.

The Daimyo's guards quickly secured the area, ensuring there were no lingering threats.

 Akihiko, who had been safely shielded in the carriage, emerged, his eyes wide with shock and awe. The young boy looked around, trying to comprehend the sudden violence and its abrupt end.

Renjiro approached the young boy. He crouched down to Akihiko's level, his voice gentle but firm.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Akihiko nodded, clearly shaken but unharmed. "Yes, thank you," he murmured, his voice trembling slightly.

Despite the fear in his eyes, there was no visible harm to him. The masked shinobi had appeared out of nowhere, rescuing him from a situation he barely understood.

Renjiro gave a reassuring smile, though it was hidden behind his mask. "You're safe now. Let's continue our journey." He stood up, signalling to his squad to regroup.

The convoy quickly reorganized, the guards more vigilant than ever. The atmosphere was tense but relieved, the danger a stark reminder of the challenges they faced.

As they continued their journey, Renjiro couldn't shake the lingering doubt in his mind.

'Was that just a safeguard measure?' he wondered, considering the possibility that the leader had anticipated interference and planned accordingly.

The presence of a clone suggested a level of preparedness that was unsettling.

'My gut feeling is telling me that there's more to this. That wasn't just him being cautious.' Renjiro thought.

The rest of the journey passed without incident, the convoy moving at a steady pace towards Tanigakure. Akihiko was to attend a ceremony, a significant event that would take several weeks, so there was no need for them to stay there as the mission's objective was just to ensure his safe arrival and then leave his security to the villagers of Tanigakure.

They were well aware that any harm coming to the Fire Daimyo's son would lead to severe repercussions, potentially even war with the Land of Fire. Which was something both parties involved did not want.

As the convoy entered Tanigakure, Renjiro and his squad maintained their discreet presence, ensuring Akihiko's safe passage into the village. Once the young master was settled in, Renjiro approached the head of the village's guard. They exchanged a few words, confirming the arrangements for Akihiko's stay and security.

As Renjiro and his squad departed from Tanigakure, he detected something with his chakra field.

'Again?' Renjiro thought, a mixture of irritation and concern surfacing in his mind. The mission had been successfully completed, yet it seemed their troubles were far from over.

=====

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