To go out on a mission to investigate an enemy spy, only to accidentally let your own comrade fall into their hands, with their life now hanging in the balance...
Anko Mitarashi stood in the Hokage's office, her face flush with shame as she reported the situation to the Third Hokage.
"You're saying he looks about eighty percent like Kakashi? And he has a Sharingan as well?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage. He has long bangs, but the eye that was visible was clearly a Sharingan. That's why Kurenai-nee's genjutsu was reflected back at her, leading to her capture..."
"Alright, I understand. You're dismissed. I will organize a support team immediately. Hmm, who should I send..."
The Third Hokage thought with a headache. If it were Itachi, things might be a bit better. But he feared it was the other one.
Itachi would be concerned about Sasuke still being in the village. But the other one had no ties, no attachments. He was capable of anything.
This person had survived an assassination attempt by Danzo's Root squadron and had even wiped out the entire team. His strength was undeniable, and he likely had no weaknesses.
A ninja with no weaknesses was the most feared opponent. Even a well-coordinated team of specialists would have difficulty being effective against such an enemy.
For example, if it had been Gai who was hunted by Torune Aburame in the desert back then, Gai would have been doomed. Torune had secretly poisoned the air, water, and food. Aside from his taijutsu, Gai had many weaknesses and would never have survived an assassination by a Root team.
In the anime, you often saw foolish villains confronting their enemies head-on. In the real world of ninja, that would never happen. Assassination was the true essence of a shinobi.
This was also why the samurai of the Land of Iron held the ninja profession in such contempt.
Bang—
The door to the Hokage's office was suddenly thrown open by a rugged-looking man. The Anbu guards hidden in the shadows remained silent, making no move to interfere. This man's identity was special.
"Old man! I heard Kurenai was captured by the enemy! Tell me it's not true!"
Asuma Sarutobi slammed his hands on the desk, demanding an answer from Hiruzen.
"Sit down. Why are you so agitated? As a ninja, you must handle all problems with a calm mind. Otherwise, how will you take over in the future..."
"Cut the crap! Hurry up and send someone to rescue Kurenai! I'm going on ahead!"
Asuma paid no mind to his old man's words. If he had, he never would have run away from home to become one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja in the first place. He was lucky he was the Hokage's son. Anyone else would have been branded a rogue ninja long ago. Did he think a hidden village was a place you could just come and go as you please?
Asuma stormed out. Having confirmed that the woman he loved had been captured, he ran off without even gathering any intelligence on the enemy.
The Third Hokage was left with a dark expression. But for the safety of his foolish son, he still waved his hand.
"Have Anbu Squads Five and Six follow him."
The Anbu answered directly to the Hokage, and one had to be at least chunin-level to join.
After a moment's thought, he still felt it wasn't enough. He needed to add some special talents. "Get me Nara Shikaku. See if Choza and Inoichi are in the village. And get Kakashi and Gai as well..."
Unfortunately for him, both Danzo and Itachi had their own agendas. Neither of them had ever told the Third Hokage that the person they were after might have already awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
After leaving the Hokage's office, Asuma grabbed Anko, and together they left the village to search for Kurenai. To pass the comprehensive exams to become a jonin, one needed a certain set of all-around skills, one of which was tracking.
Anko, who had been frantic with worry, felt a sense of relief seeing Asuma. Since the Third Hokage knew, he would definitely send people to protect his son. There was no need to worry.
After leaving the village, the two of them first went to the site of the battle, carefully searching for any useful clues.
Then they followed the direction Uchiha Nagi had taken.
"It looks like they split up here. One path goes toward the Land of Iron, the other in a different direction. And the one who took Kurenai isn't even trying to hide his tracks."
Asuma knelt on the ground, examining the hoof prints left in the dirt. It was clear that on Uchiha Nagi's side, the horse was carrying two adults, as the prints were deeper.
The complex physics and mathematics exams required for the jonin rank now showed their worth. Asuma measured the size and depth of the hoof prints, and in his mind, he instantly pictured a horse carrying two people.
The other tracks, which were lighter, likely belonged to a child or someone of lighter weight—two of them.
"Asuma, I found this..." Anko's small snake had found a strand of hair. The scent on it was Kurenai's.
"He took Kurenai this way. That bastard isn't even trying to cover his tracks. Is he provoking Konoha?" Anko said, angrily clutching the strand of hair. The thought of how he had given her springy backside a firm smack made her flush with a mixture of shame and anger.
In her entire life, no man had ever dared to treat her like that. Anko's fiery personality, her tendency to summon poisonous snakes, and her status as Orochimaru's student had made all the men around her keep their distance. No one had ever pursued her. And yet that man...
"Let's go. We'll catch up."
Without another word, the two of them began to pursue Uchiha Nagi and Kurenai. Before long, Anko's snake found another strand of hair. It was Kurenai's...
It was as if he was deliberately leaving a trail for them, afraid they wouldn't be able to find him.
"Wait, Asuma. It seems like he's deliberately luring us to rescue Kurenai. Maybe we should wait for the support team to arrive..." Before Anko Mitarashi could finish, Asuma was already gone.
If he were so easily calmed, he wouldn't have impulsively run off to become a daimyo's bodyguard.
If it had been anyone else, Asuma wouldn't be so agitated. But it just had to be Kurenai...
He had been pursuing her for a long time. Kurenai didn't actually like his rugged type; she preferred handsome men like Kakashi. Unfortunately, due to his psychological issues, Kakashi had no interest in women. And with Gai constantly by his side comforting him, he was on the verge of being bent.
Plus, she wasn't getting any younger. In the ninja world, where you could get married at thirteen or fourteen, Kurenai in her early twenties, was already considered relatively old.
So, she had recently started to accept Asuma's advances. Now that his future wife had been captured, Asuma was naturally frantic. Ninja were a group of people with psychological problems. Who knew what unspeakable things the enemy might do to Kurenai after capturing her?
Asuma felt like a lush green pasture was about to sprout on his head...
Uchiha Nagi was leisurely sitting by a campfire, roasting a rabbit. He had to admit, the Land of Fire was truly bountiful. The forests were teeming with animals and rich in resources. As long as you knew a little about wilderness survival, you'd never have to worry about starving.
This rabbit had been unlucky enough to hop right in front of him. A single kunai had sent it on its way, and it had then become his lunch.
"A little more cumin, a sprinkle of pepper, and a dash of cooking wine, and it'll be perfect," Uchiha Nagi said as he turned the rabbit, occasionally basting it with seasonings.
It had been a day since he'd captured Kurenai. Apart from a few words at the beginning, she had been silent ever since, lost in who knows what thoughts. Uchiha Nagi didn't mind. He was happy for the peace and quiet.
However, at that moment, Kurenai suddenly began to squirm, looking very uncomfortable.
"Hm? Are you hungry? You want some? If you want some, you should say so. If you don't say anything, how will I know you're hungry? And if you don't say anything, how will you know I'm not willing to share my food with you?" Uchiha Nagi glanced at her and said with a faint smile.
"Go on, do you want water or meat? If you want one of those candle-like soldier pills, I have some of those too..."
"Shut up! Who wants that stuff!" Kurenai snapped, blushing with shame and anger.
"Fine, don't have any." Uchiha Nagi shrugged. Ninja weren't like ordinary people; they could go two or three days without food or water and not die. He paid her no more mind.
After a while, the rabbit was cooked, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Uchiha Nagi tore off a rabbit leg and took a big bite. Mmm, the aroma was overwhelming, his mouth filling with juices. The meat was crisp and tender.
"Hey, you really don't want any? I'm not going to poison the meat, you know..."
Uchiha Nagi turned to ask Kurenai, only to see her face was as red as an apple. When she saw him looking, she turned her head away in shame and anger.
Hm?!
What's going on? Does she need to use the bathroom? Can't hold it in? Uchiha Nagi glanced down at Kurenai's lower body and noticed a faint red stain on her pants. Realization dawned.
Oh, her 'friend' has come to visit.
With a sigh, he got up, walked over to Kurenai, and untied her ropes.
"You..." Kurenai looked at him, completely baffled.
"You fool. If something's wrong, you can just say so. I may be a rogue ninja, but I still consider myself a normal man who doesn't bully women," Uchiha Nagi said with a smile. After untying Kurenai, he took out a scroll and opened it.
After a puff of smoke, some of his personal daily necessities were revealed: clothes, drinking water, bowls, basins, towels, and so on.
"I don't have any sanitary pads, but here's a clean, unused towel. You can make do with it," Uchiha Nagi said, handing her a towel.
"Pah! Who would use your towel?!" Kurenai was both ashamed and annoyed. What girl these days used a towel to welcome her "friend"? Was he an idiot?
"Suit yourself. Why would a man like me carry that stuff around? Here, these are clean pants. You can change into them," Uchiha Nagi said, then turned his body away, his back to Kurenai.
Although ninja on missions didn't usually fuss over such things, he still gave Kurenai her respect. At the very least, he couldn't be so crass as to stare at a woman while she was changing her pants...
Now untied, Kurenai hesitated for a moment. Looking at Uchiha Nagi's turned back, she roughly understood his intentions, and a strange feeling welled up inside her.
Though she was embarrassed, the sticky discomfort in her lower body was very unpleasant. In the end, she gave in.
In a small, soft voice, she said, "Don't... don't turn around..."
Uchiha Nagi rolled his eyes. Who's interested? With his looks, he could have beautiful women throwing themselves at him wherever he went. And after seeing all sorts of blockbusters in his past life, what hadn't he seen? Was he really supposed to be interested in some inexperienced young girl? Or a maiden, for that matter?