The next morning, Hidden Grass Village was on high alert. Ninja patrols moved continuously through the long, winding streets, their eyes scanning for any sign of the intruders. The tension was palpable, and even the faintest disturbance drew wary glances.
From the back door of an inn, a car quietly rolled out, the engine humming softly. Inside, Yugito peeked out through the curtain, her brow furrowed as she watched the vigilant Grass Ninjas. "Neji… do you think this will work?"
Neji, sitting confidently behind the wheel, gave a calm nod. They were about to attempt Yugito's audacious plan: lure several Grass Ninjas into a controlled distraction, creating the perfect opportunity for Neji and the two women to escape the village. Yet, Neji had his own daring idea—to simply drive boldly through the village's main entrance, trusting his skill and reputation to carry them through.
Yugito hesitated. It seemed reckless, but she finally decided that the risk was worth taking. If they could pass unnoticed, it would be ideal. If not, Neji would simply fight his way out.
"Don't panic. Just watch my performance," Neji said with the calm determination of a seasoned veteran. He cracked his whip sharply, and the carriage surged forward, heading straight for the village entrance.
At the entrance, over a dozen Grass Ninjas were stationed, checking each person leaving the village with meticulous care. Neji's sharp eyes landed on Katsushiro, standing at the gate. His expression was unreadable, a mix of suspicion and discipline.
"Get out of the car," Katsushiro ordered.
Neji smirked slightly, stepping out gracefully. As he approached one of the patrol ninjas, he raised his hand in a swift motion and delivered a controlled slap to the ninja's face. The man collapsed to the ground with a stunned expression.
"Cow!" Neji barked, pointing to his Kumogakure forehead protector like an enraged Taikun from an old drama. "You told me to get out of the car—are you blind? Can't you recognize me?"
The Grass Ninja, now both angry and embarrassed, scrambled to his feet, his companions shouting in indignation. "This is outrageous! How can you hit someone like that?"
Neji merely picked up a pebble, flung it lightly, and said with a smirk, "This is how we do things in Kumogakure. Still not convinced?"
Just then, Katsushiro approached. "Captain, you're just in time. This Kumogakure ninja bumped into someone," he said calmly. The Grass Ninja guarding the gate hung his head, ashamed.
Katsushiro studied Neji carefully, then addressed the situation diplomatically. "One-handed clapping is not allowed. Why did he only hit you and no one else? Figure it out yourselves."
The Grass Ninja could barely respond, his mouth twitching in frustration. Katsushiro turned to Neji with a polite smile. "Little brother, don't mind him. He's ignorant."
Neji's expression softened slightly, though his eyes remained sharp. "Little brother?" he repeated.
Katsushiro shook his head slightly and asked, "May I ask why you came to Hidden Grass Village?"
Neji raised an eyebrow arrogantly. "Logically, with your position, you are not entitled to know." Yet, without expression, he produced a mission certificate, flicking it open just enough for Katsushiro to glimpse, before closing it swiftly.
Katsushiro considered it briefly. "Little brother… to be honest, our village was infiltrated by unknown foreign ninjas last night. To prevent them from disguising themselves and escaping, we must inspect your vehicle. I apologize for the inconvenience."
Neji, seeing the genuine concern in Katsushiro's eyes, relented. "Fine. Caution is sensible. You may inspect it."
The curtain was drawn back. Katsushiro peered inside the spacious vehicle. Only a woman with long, flowing hair sat serenely on the bench, her expression calm. There was no one else visible.
"Are the suspects inside?" Katsushiro asked.
"No," Neji replied smoothly.
Katsushiro gave a small nod. "My condolences, then. Take care." With a wave, he allowed the carriage to proceed.
As the car moved away, the Grass Ninja who had been slapped muttered, "Captain, shouldn't we have searched the vehicle to ensure everything was in order?"
"You're correct," Katsushiro said with a faint smile, squinting at the retreating vehicle. Then, changing the subject, he added quietly, "But rules are secondary to life. In the Ninja World, there's an old saying: 'Do not provoke a Kumogakure ninja in our village.' And…" He lowered his voice. "There are things you may not understand. The infiltrators were certainly not Kumogakure ninjas."
The Grass Ninja paused thoughtfully, absorbing Katsushiro's words. He placed a hand on Katsushiro's shoulder. "Understood, sir. I will guard the gate well."
Meanwhile, hidden in a secret compartment at the back of the carriage, Kana and her mother emerged. Kana touched her chest, her face pale with lingering fear. "That was too close. I was terrified of being discovered by those Grass Ninjas."
Neji cracked his whip lightly, grinning triumphantly. "I told you to relax early, milady. My plan was flawless."
Hugging her arms, Yugito rolled her eyes. "Flawless? The Grass Ninjas were simply incompetent. If we were Kumogakure ninjas, we would have been discovered long ago."
Neji ignored her remarks and turned to Karin, calling out, "Karin, come sit on your brother's lap. I'll teach you to drive."
---
Days passed without a trace of the intruders. Long Lin, observing the situation, realized that the fleeing suspects were likely Kana and her mother. Despite the village's heightened alert, they had vanished without a trace.
"To escape under such conditions with a defenseless mother and daughter… Konoha truly has exceptional ninjas," Long Lin murmured, letting out a long sigh. He had his doubts, yet he chose not to dwell too deeply. After all, the Ninja World was full of extraordinary abilities.
Suddenly, a sharp cry echoed from above. Looking skyward, Long Lin saw five massive eagles circling high above, their wingspans over three meters.
He furrowed his brows. It was Wugou returning.
The air was pierced by the sound of rushing wind as five figures descended from the sky, landing in the open field below. One was a young man with a stern face and determined demeanor—Wugou, elite Jonin of Hidden Grass Village and leader of the Grass Root lineage.
The other four wore animal-themed masks—monkey, ox, sheep, and dog—and were high-ranking ninjas of Hidden Grass Village. Katsushiro approached Wugou with respect. "Wugou, you've finally returned."
"During my absence, the village changed. Everything relied on you," Wugou said, his expression cold, almost unapproachable. Yet those who interacted with him knew he was gentle and fair, despite his intimidating presence.
Long Lin chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Longshe was constantly pushing me to guide your training. I returned first for that reason."
Conflict between Grass Root and Grass Flower had always been inevitable, and it was rare for Long Lin, leader of Grass Flower, to intervene in such matters.
Wugou, reaching into his ninja toolkit, produced a small paper lantern. "This is a small gift Wugou asked me to bring to Longshe."
Though the ideological conflict between Grass Root and Grass Flower ran deep, the two leaders shared a personal bond. They were childhood friends, close as siblings, and their families intertwined innocently through generations.
"This… I will thank Wugou on Longshe's behalf," Long Lin said, accepting the lantern with a smile. After a respectful farewell, he departed.
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