Chapter 26

According to common sense, the Hidden Mist should not be able to cross over.

Yet this thick fog before them is truly inexplicable.

After all, at this time of year, fog should not form under normal circumstances.

"Could it be a coincidence?" Kudou Shin spoke up. "We have been monitoring the sea nonstop; how could the Hidden Mist sneak right under our noses?"

Ishikawa Ki showed utter disdain, shrugged immediately, and spoke in a sarcastic tone.

"Heh, making a mountain out of a molehill."

"I just told Nara that a mere wisp of fog proves nothing."

"But he wouldn't listen, so I have no choice."

Nara Kazama's expression remained unchanged.

He did not care in the slightest about their two's suspicion and disbelief.

The only one he truly cared about was Uchiha Jin.

Yes.

Although talking about bonds in this cannon-fodder squad is pure nonsense.

Still, having traveled together, the two had developed some acquaintance.

More importantly, they both knew each other's secrets; in that situation, at the very least, they formed an alliance of interest.

Compared to the other two, they could at least maintain basic trust with one another.

"I plan to go investigate," Nara Kazama said. "Jin-kun, do Itachi want to come?"

Regarding Ishikawa Ki's sarcasm, Nara Kazama chose to simply ignore it.

Instead,

he looked directly at Uchiha Jin.

Uchiha Jin frowned slightly between his brows.

But after thinking for a moment, he agreed.

"Very well, let us go take a look."

"Otherwise, we certainly won't be able to sleep well tonight!"

Immediately after,

the two looked at Kudou Shin.

He was the captain; their departure required his approval.

Kudou Shin narrowed his eyes slightly, glanced at the two, and then nodded.

"Very well, I agree."

"I also feel something is amiss, so I will go investigate as well."

"Ishikawa Ki, will Itachi come?"

Kudo Shin was no fool.

Though he did not understand why Nara Kazama and Uchiha Jin had made such a judgment, having experienced war, he knew one thing.

The great clans were different from commoners!

They had more means and received more information.

Since both had made the same judgment, it was better to believe it existed than to dismiss it.

As for Ishikawa Ki?

He could not be bothered to care whether he lived or died; what did it have to do with him?

Precisely for this reason.

He had not invoked his authority as captain, but instead used a tone of consultation.

Ishikawa Ki, however, did not understand these subtleties and simply shrugged.

"I do not think a mere thick fog means anything. I have no desire to suffer in the dead of night."

Kudo Shin nodded.

Dismissing Ishikawa Ki's sarcasm, he immediately turned to look at Nara Kazama and Uchiha Jin.

"Let us go," Uchiha Jin said.

Nara Kazama nodded.

After the three reached an agreement, they quietly advanced into the depths of the thick fog.

In the forest.

They moved with extreme caution, making not the slightest sound.

"Stop, something is wrong ahead," Nara Kazama said.

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Jin and Kudo Shin immediately halted.

Though they sensed nothing, since Nara Kazama had spoken, they naturally chose to trust him.

After all, as a member of the Nara clan, he surely possessed his own secret techniques.

Nara Kazama formed hand seals with both hands.

"Shadow Neck-Binding Technique!"

Whoosh!

A pitch-black shadow formed beneath him, moving at utmost speed, and surged straight ahead.

Moments later.

Nara Kazama spoke in a low voice: "A standard Hidden Mist squad. I have controlled one of them."

"Act!" Uchiha Jin said coldly. "Kill the other two and leave the one under control."

"We will pry more information from his mouth."

Kudo Shin and Nara Kazama naturally had no objection.

Immediately.

Uchiha Jin wasted no words and charged forward; Kudo Shin naturally followed closely behind.

In merely five seconds, Uchiha Jin spotted three figures.

He did not even bother using ninjutsu, simply drawing a kunai.

He hurled it directly, piercing the throat of one Hidden Mist ninja.

"Enemy attack!"

A Hidden Mist ninja shouted.

But before he could truly locate the enemy, Uchiha appeared behind him and slit his throat with another kunai.

Ten seconds later.

Kudo Shin finally arrived, looking at the two Hidden Mist corpses before him, his body shivering with cold.

He felt a wave of relief.

Fortunately, he had listened to the two of them; otherwise, if they had sneaked up on the guard post, he might still have been asleep.

Just thinking of that outcome made him feel icy cold all over.

While Kudo Shin stood dazed, Nara Kazama also arrived, immediately breaking the limbs of the controlled Hidden Mist ninja before dispersing the Nara clan's secret technique.

"Speak."

"How many Hidden Mist forces were deployed this time? How did Itachi sneak over?"

"What is your plan?"

"..."

However, unfortunately.

This Hidden Mist ninja was remarkably stubborn; he merely shot a hateful glance at everyone and then said disdainfully.

"I will not say anything. Kill me!"

Nara Kazama's expression remained calm.

He ignored the Hidden Mist ninja and instead looked at Uchiha Jin and the others.

"I am not from the Yamanaka clan; I have no method to extract memories directly."

"However, our Nara clan has other methods to achieve the same effect."

"The scene will be somewhat bloody. Lord Jin and Captain, Itachi should step aside for now."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Jin immediately understood and headed straight for a spot not far away.

He knew they were about to deploy a secret technique!

Such family-hereditary arts naturally could not be witnessed by outsiders.

His words just now were merely for show.

Bloody?

As ninja, how could they possibly fear such a thing?

Kudo Shin was not foolish either.

Although he did not react immediately, seeing Uchiha Jin move, he naturally followed behind him.

Once the two reached a spot not far away, Kudo Shin asked.

"What Fuma said must have had another meaning, right?"

Uchiha Jin nodded. "He is about to use a family secret technique; it is inconvenient for us to witness it."

Kudo Shin looked as if he suddenly understood.

That explained it!

Although he was a Chunin and the captain of this squad.

Yet, in reality.

He increasingly felt that his abilities were lacking.

Conversely.

Whether it was Uchiha Jin or Nara Fuma, both were far stronger than him.

Truly worthy of being children of great clans!

These were not even family geniuses, just the rejects of Class B.

Of course.

He felt no jealousy.

He knew the limitations of being a commoner; no one could change that.

Instead, he would do his best to get along with the two, for only then could he maximize his chances of survival.

As for someone like Ishikawa Ki, he did not even deign to speak to him.

Because he knew such a person would not live long.

Time passed slowly.

About ten minutes later, Nara Fuma walked over.

However, by this time, his expression had become extremely grim.

"The situation is very dire."

"According to that Mist ninja, they had hidden in the Land of Whirlpools half a month ago."

"And at this moment, a full four thousand ninja are concealed within the Land of Whirlpools."

Hiss!

Hearing this, everyone felt their scalps go numb.

Even Uchiha Jin now looked deathly pale.

Although he was confident in his abilities, he had no guarantee of protecting himself against an assault by four thousand ninja.

"W-what do we do?" Kudo Shin panicked.

Nara Fuma's face was also gloomy, and he said angrily, "The most critical issue is that without orders, we cannot even retreat voluntarily, for doing so would be equivalent to defection!"

Yes.

He was panicked too.

This was a full four thousand ninja!

His meager ability to hide was utterly useless against such a massive number.

They could simply exhaust him to death!

This news was like a mountain pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.

He could not think of much else and looked directly at Uchiha Jin.

"Lord Jin, the situation is very dire."

"At this point, hiding is meaningless; we must fight for our lives now."

"Do Itachi have any way to handle this?"

Upon hearing this, Kudo Shin also looked at Uchiha Jin.

Faced with this life-or-death news, he no longer cared that he was the captain.

Surviving was the only thing that mattered.

Thinking thus, he immediately spoke up.

"From now on, we will follow Lord Jin's orders."

"I will be in complete obedience."

Yes.

He knew his own worth; under normal circumstances, he could still act the part of a captain.

But faced with such a perilous situation, he had long lost his composure.

He knew that Uchiha Jin and Nara Fuma were at least far stronger than himself.

So.

Being quite sensible, he immediately took his proper place.