[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha":3,"chapter-starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-chapter-22":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starting Off with Horse and Sword in Konoha",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2349073,4591,"Chapter 22: The Strange Hidden Grass Village!","starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-chapter-22",22,"\u003Cp>After eliminating a group of enemies, the rest of the journey passed without incident, and Fujinaka Genma’s team arrived at the Hidden Grass Village without delay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though both were ninja villages, the Hidden Grass Village paled in comparison to the Hidden Leaf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even during wartime, the Hidden Leaf maintained a relatively peaceful atmosphere within its walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Hidden Grass Village gave off a restless, agitated feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Fujinaka Genma paid it no mind—he was merely an outsider here on a mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikura Yajuan and Sarutobi Hikari went to meet the Hidden Grass Village’s leadership, while Fujinaka Genma’s six-man team rested at the temporary base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are Itachi splitting off shadow clones, Genma?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the base, Ebisu stared in shock at Fujinaka Genma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This isn’t the Hidden Leaf. We should be cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma explained briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ebisu thought for a moment and said, “Should we take turns setting up hidden sentries?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ebisu, Itachi’re too naive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hyuga Mio couldn’t help but say, “We’re in the Hidden Grass Village—setting up hidden sentries here would be incredibly rude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ebisu’s lip twitched, and he nodded helplessly: “Mio, Itachi’re right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this, Fujinaka Genma couldn’t help but smile inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kakashi had made the same arrangements as Fujinaka Genma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His two teammates thought it was overkill, but they were already used to Kakashi’s rigid, rule-bound habits and didn’t bother to interfere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kakashi offered no explanation—he simply did as he pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, Mikura Yajuan and Sarutobi Hikari returned and began assigning tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our mission this time is to help the Hidden Grass Village guard a secret site—we’re responsible for the outer perimeter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikura Yajuan assigned personnel: “We eight will split into three teams. Genma, Itachi and Kakashi form one team alone. The three teams will rotate guard duty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this had been prearranged by Mikura Yajuan and Sarutobi Hikari—the exact same configuration as last year’s joint operation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma had no objections; partnering with Kakashi was easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After assigning teams, Sarutobi Hikari spoke: “We’re in a foreign land. Even though we’re on the outer perimeter, we must remain vigilant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If enemies infiltrate, we’ll be the first to face them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of Kakashi’s teammates couldn’t help but say, “Sensei Hikari, isn’t it unlikely enemies could sneak in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a ninja village!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sarutobi Hikari hesitated—he couldn’t directly voice his distrust of the Hidden Grass Village, since it was an ally of the Hidden Leaf—so he merely warned: “As ninja, we must consider every possibility!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Fujinaka Genma sensed something unusual. When the two teams split up, he asked quietly: “Sensei Yajuan, is something wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikura Yajuan wasn’t surprised. Back in their room, seeing Hyuga Mio and Ebisu also curious, he said: “We haven’t found anything concrete yet, but the Hidden Grass Village seems to be hiding something from us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could our intelligence have been leaked before we arrived?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ebisu adjusted his sunglasses and ventured a bold guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma patted his shoulder: “Ebisu, Itachi’ve improved a lot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ebisu immediately smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikura Yajuan smiled faintly—having smart subordinates made his job far easier, especially with Sarutobi Hikari’s team as a contrast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We don’t need to concern ourselves with the Hidden Grass Village’s affairs—just complete the mission!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikura Yajuan instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After resting most of the day, the mission began at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first half of the night, Fujinaka Genma and Kakashi were deployed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The site to be guarded was inside the mountain behind the Hidden Grass Village—relatively easy to defend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After discussing with Kakashi, they set up a visible and hidden position within the woods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma took the visible post, but it was merely a shadow clone—his real body hid at a nearby observation point, monitoring the clone’s surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This cautious approach even earned quiet admiration from Kakashi, hidden in the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not admiration for Fujinaka Genma’s cleverness—but for his chakra reserves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During missions, especially risky ones like this, he dared not waste chakra carelessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of stakeout was excruciatingly dull, but Fujinaka Genma was accustomed to it. Before he knew it, it was 10 p.m.—two hours until relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chirp! Chirp!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, bird calls echoed from the woods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma, eyes closed and hidden, instantly opened them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bird calls were Kakashi’s signal—his nose was sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to Kakashi, his sensory abilities were slightly inferior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze flashed like lightning—he saw two dark figures rapidly approaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One headed straight for his shadow clone, the other for Kakashi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Either something’s off, or there’s a sensory ninja.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma stayed hidden, watching the enemy advance toward his shadow clone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, it was the former.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This mission was suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their positions—his and Kakashi’s—were known to the enemy with perfect clarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, despite the infiltration, the Hidden Grass Village remained utterly calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the enemy too strong—or was the Hidden Grass Village too weak?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma narrowed his eyes, watching the enemy slip past the shadow clone’s blind spot and hurl concealed weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poison needles!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Puff!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without surprise, the shadow clone collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom! The collapsed clone turned into a log.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Substitute Technique!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, a massive fireball surged from the side, scorching grass and trees, cracking the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad ninja was startled but unshaken—he retreated, leapt into the air, and landed on a branch, evading the shadow clone’s fire jutsu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White lightning crackled over his body as he shot forward like a streak of white lightning, slicing through the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad ninja turned to see Fujinaka Genma attacking from the side—stunned into stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma moved too fast—he had no time to react properly, only to brace himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ting!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kunai split in two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma's figure slipped past the enemy, his chakra blade effortlessly cutting through the kunai, the edge slicing beneath the man’s armpit, releasing a foul stench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smell of flesh and skin carbonized by high-frequency lightning blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Agh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad ninja screamed, staggered, and the next second, a fire jutsu struck him—he became a flaming torch, falling from the branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the shadow clone’s attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, the ninja fighting Kakashi heard his comrade’s scream and froze: “Two brats? How are they this tough? Yamato… he…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panicked, and sensing more reinforcements approaching, the black-clad ninja abandoned Kakashi and retreated swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kakashi moved to pursue, but Fujinaka Genma shouted: “Kakashi, don’t chase! Remember our mission!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kakashi halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, numerous Hidden Grass ninja arrived, confirmed the situation, and dispatched a group to pursue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of them, a jōnin with glasses, smiled warmly at Fujinaka Genma and Kakashi: “No wonder Itachi’re Hidden Leaf elites—when I was your age, I was just a clueless genin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma instantly wore a gentle, innocent smile: “Senior, we’re genin too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The enemy only retreated because they underestimated us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hidden Grass jōnin’s smile faltered slightly, then he chuckled: “Ah, I see. Either way, we owe Itachi thanks!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hidden Grass ninja quickly withdrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kakashi watched their retreating backs and said: “These Hidden Grass ninja are off. Genma, we must be even more careful from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>",1182,"2026-06-21T02:29:34.312Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2a1d5edd25458f19aa7c9a79f0eda86f7a56e8b089f30a0054fd7970f8124b74","starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-chapter-23","starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-chapter-21",157,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-cover.jpg"]