"I agree." Shinji responded calmly.
Kakashi was stunned, not expecting Shinji to answer so readily.
"However, I must go with you." Shinji ignored the gazes within the main tent and spoke his next sentence.
As soon as he said this, Asuma and Kakashi immediately interjected, "No."
Kakashi's expression was serious. It wasn't that he didn't trust Shinji's strength, but rather that he couldn't do that.
Any clear-headed Jonin knew Hiruzen's plan. He couldn't possibly let Shinji delve deep into the enemy's camp.
"You are the deputy commander, there's no reason for you to risk your life." Asuma exhaled a deep puff of smoke. He stated his reason for not letting Shinji participate from another perspective.
"Nonsense, as long as Kakashi is still here, it will be fine." Shinji rolled his eyes, speechless.
Inside the main tent, even the two border officials noticed a slight difference.
Asuma's opposition was normal, but even Kakashi's refusal was very unusual.
Unless—
"Kakashi, don't overthink it."
Shinji waved his hand and said, "Remember the Iwa ninjas? We must hurry now, or I'm afraid something bad will happen."
Hearing Shinji say this, Kakashi fell silent.
Shinji slowly spoke to everyone in the main tent, "Moreover, even without this reason, we can't delay any longer. It's snowing, and besides the Suna ninjas, we will also be anxious."
"Although we don't lack supplies, fighting in icy and snowy conditions is also a challenge for us."
Even Asuma, who had initially objected, fell silent.
The attack on the Suna ninjas' provisions must succeed in one strike. If they wanted to try again later, it wouldn't be a matter of dispatching a small squad.
"Report!"
Just as everyone in the main tent was considering, a Chunin rushed in, shouting with a panicked expression.
"The Sunagakure forces are on the move, starting to press towards the border line!"
Kakashi's face darkened, it had really come true.
"Shinji, Asuma, you two lead the team forward. You must complete the mission!" Kakashi ordered Shinji and Asuma.
"Yes!"
"Everyone, take your positions!"
Shinji and Asuma walked out of the main tent.
'The snowstorm has grown even heavier. No wonder Sunagakure couldn't sit still.' Shinji thought as he looked at the scene of falling snow.
"Hey, kid, this kind of mission isn't something to take lightly." Asuma, who was beside him, said unhappily.
He wanted to take over the mission precisely to prevent Shinji from going. The best outcome for such a matter was to send someone with high strength. However, at this stage, Shinji was that person.
"Come on, I don't want the old man to experience the pain of a white-haired person sending off a black-haired person in his old age."
After Shinji finished speaking, he continued, "What are your arrangements for personnel?"
Asuma fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, "It's best to have Special Jonin with reconnaissance abilities, and not too many. You and I, plus two more people, will suffice."
This was the optimal solution Asuma could think of. If it succeeded, everyone would be happy. If it failed, Konoha wouldn't suffer too heavy a loss.
"I do have two candidates." Shinji said.
These two people were naturally Yushu and Muta from the last mission. One knew Medical Ninjutsu, and the other was an excellent scout. Using them was too convenient, and it solved most of the problems.
Asuma realized who Shinji was talking about and nodded, saying, "Okay, hurry up and prepare."
"Alright."
After Shinji nodded, he left first.
Asuma watched his departing back, smoking his cigarette faster.
—
Whoosh—
Inside a valley, four figures in white cloaks sped past.
Shinji led the way, with Asuma, Yushu, and Muta silently following behind him. Their mission this time was not easy.
The Suna ninjas' provisions were originally in the rear, and now the Sunagakure army had already set out.
Shinji and the others could not be careless. They followed the border of the Land of Rivers, preparing to bypass the Suna ninjas' detection range. After all, once discovered, any subsequent actions would be impossible.
"Shinji-sama, there's a Chakra movement one kilometer ahead." Muta, who was running, suddenly spoke.
As a member of the Aburame clan, the maximum range of his insects was two kilometers. Along the way, he had already helped Shinji and the others avoid several waves of Sunagakure scouts.
Shinji lightly tapped his feet and arrived at a hidden cave above the valley.
Asuma and the others arrived one after another. As soon as Yushu entered, she immediately began to set up at the cave entrance.
In a moment, a transparent barrier covered the entrance of the cave, then merged with the surrounding mountain walls.
"It's done." Yushu clapped her hands.
Even Asuma couldn't help but marvel. "This trick of yours is not simple."
Regarding this concealment skill, although there were other ways to achieve it, none were as easy as Yushu's.
Yushu waved her hand and said, "Asuma, don't say that. This also requires a certain amount of Fuinjutsu theory."
Yushu and Asuma were old acquaintances. They were the same age and were classmates in the Academy at the time.
Hearing Yushu say this, Asuma nodded.
Fuinjutsu was not difficult, but it was impossible for every squad to have someone with this talent. And to achieve this, at least the basics had to be solid. This cut off the conditions for its widespread adoption throughout Konoha.
"Muta, how is it?" Shinji, who was beside him, asked Muta.
"They haven't gone far. Instead, they're getting closer." Muta said with a solemn expression.
Asuma, hearing this, immediately stood up and went to the cave entrance to stand guard.
Yushu, on the other hand, unsealed a huge scroll and came to Asuma's other side.
Shinji frowned, then formed a hand seal with one hand and slammed it onto the ground. An isolation barrier immediately unfolded.
They were already this far, and they had all avoided the scouts' positions along the way. Yet, someone was still coming towards their location, which meant that there was a sensory ninja present in that team. And the range of their perception was not low.
"Muta, disconnect from the insects first." Shinji thought of another possibility and said.
Muta, hearing this, was stunned, then realized.
He was being targeted!
This made Muta, as a member of the Aburame clan, very embarrassed, as his clan was the veteran in this aspect. He didn't expect to hit a snag today.
Inside the cave, several people were on guard.
One kilometer, even in snowy weather, was just a short distance for a ninja.