The sound of footsteps echoed softly.
The group continued forward, their pace steady and unhurried.
Yet beneath this seemingly calm atmosphere, a faint tension lingered — subtle, but undeniable.
This time, the formation of the team had shifted ever so slightly.
Hinata and Shino Aburame walked beside Genya, while Kurenai Yūhi had fallen to the rear, keeping stride with Tazuna.
Though no one showed any outward signs of unease, Tazuna's sharp instincts told him something was off.
Especially Kurenai — she was subtly positioning herself in front of him, as if to shield him.
The gesture made Tazuna's heart tighten.
He adjusted his glasses nervously, tilted his head slightly, and whispered near Kurenai's ear, "Is there danger ahead?"
His tone was cautious, almost trembling, and as he spoke, his eyes flicked warily toward the path ahead.
By the end of his sentence, his voice had become barely audible.
Anxiety churned in his chest. He couldn't die — not yet. The bridge of the Land of Waves was still unfinished.
If he died now, the people of the Land of Waves would lose all hope.
Sensing his fear, Kurenai turned her head slightly and whispered, "Don't worry. With me here, nothing will happen to you. Just stay close and act natural."
Her voice was gentle yet carried an undeniable firmness. After a brief pause, she added, "Don't let anyone notice your fear. Genya and the others will handle any shinobi who try to ambush us."
Confidence filled her tone.
She knew well that with Genya leading them — even if only Hinata and Shino were by his side — those hidden assassins in the shadows might not stand a chance.
Especially Hinata. Ever since she returned from the Land of Lightning, her strength had grown at an astonishing pace.
At times, the chakra that surged faintly from her body even made Kurenai's heart tremble.
Because of that, Kurenai remained calm and composed. All she needed to do was ensure Tazuna stayed out of harm's way — everything else, she trusted Genya and the others to handle.
The team continued moving forward. Up ahead, Hinata, Genya, and Aburame Shino walked together, chatting and laughing as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
But just as the peaceful moment stretched on, ripples began to spread across a puddle in front of them.
At first, the ripples were faint, almost unnoticeable. But soon, they grew larger and stronger, the water trembling with soft, rhythmic waves.
Splash—
Suddenly, a head wearing a breathing mask emerged from the puddle.
Cold, predatory eyes immediately locked onto Genya.
The masked ninja sprang from the water in one swift motion, a chain covered in sharp thorns snapping forward like a venomous snake, wrapping straight toward Genya.
Genya didn't seem to sense the danger at all. He stood where he was, letting the chain coil around his body.
The barbed thorns shimmered with a deadly, icy gleam.
"Got him… Not the target, but killing one's good enough!" the ninja sneered, yanking hard on the chain.
Based on his countless assassination missions, that pull alone was usually enough to tear a normal ninja into three pieces.
But this time, the chain didn't budge.
"Huh?" The assassin froze, confusion flashing through his mind. He'd carried out countless ambushes, but never encountered something like this.
Does he have some kind of defensive weapon? he wondered, his mind racing through possible explanations before deciding Genya must be protected by some hidden tool.
What he didn't notice was that the chain had never actually touched Genya's body.
Between the barbs and his skin, there was a thin, invisible gap — a barrier so subtle it rendered the attack completely useless.
"Attacking Genya… you're asking for death!"
Before the assassin could recover from his shock, Hinata's figure appeared in front of him like a ghost.
Her movements were blindingly fast. With a sharp spin, she unleashed a powerful whip kick straight into his chest.
Bang!
A terrifying force exploded from the impact. The assassin didn't even have time to react before his body was sent flying.
He crashed to the ground several meters away, sliding across the dirt before finally stopping.
But the fight wasn't over. More figures emerged from the puddle — several more masked ninjas. One rushed to his fallen comrade, while the other two charged straight at Hinata.
Hinata remained calm, meeting the first attacker head-on. Her strikes were precise and fluid, each motion a blend of raw power and the refined technique of the Hyūga clan.
Her movements were smooth and flawless, every blow honed through endless training. Within moments, her opponent was already being overwhelmed.
Seeing this, another enemy circled silently behind her, preparing to strike from the rear.
But before he could make his move, several tiny insects crept up the back of his neck without a sound.
He felt a faint itch and frowned slightly.
"Hmm? Why are there bugs here?" He instinctively reached out to swat them, but before his hand even touched his neck, the bugs bit down hard.
Immediately, the bugs' bodies began to swell at a visible speed.
In the blink of an eye, they had grown to the size of a soccer ball.
"Ah!" The sharp pain made the ninja scream involuntarily. He felt his blood being drained rapidly, and his strength fading with it.
He tried to use chakra to repel the bugs, but the moment his palm touched one, it suddenly exploded.
Splash!
Blood sprayed everywhere, covering the ninja instantly.
His face turned pale as paper, and he swayed unsteadily.
In that instant, the bugs had drained so much of his blood that his body was nearly exhausted.
"Shino, your bug ability is pretty impressive!" Genya, still restrained by chains, couldn't help but praise Shino's performance.
His tone was calm and casual, as if he didn't see the danger in front of him at all.
Shino pushed up his small sunglasses, a faint smile flashing beneath the lenses, and explained softly, "These bloodthirsty bugs are mutated by me. They're very special and rare."
"That's already pretty good." Genya smiled and continued, "Among the bugs you sent me, do any have this special type?"
Shino nodded. "Yes."
Genya's smile grew even brighter. "Then when we return, we might have plenty of these bugs."
A spark appeared in Shino's eyes. He understood exactly what Genya meant.
After this mission, his bugs might have successfully evolved.
Meanwhile, the ninja who had been kicked away by Hinata was being helped up by his comrades.
He held his chest, his expression grim as he looked at Genya, and whispered to his companion, "He probably has defensive weapons on him. We need to be careful."
His companion nodded, his eyes sharpening with vigilance.
They knew this opponent was not someone to underestimate.
****
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