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The dense forest on both sides of the official road was very quiet.
Even the chirping of insects and birds disappeared, leaving only the rustling of wind through the leaves.
A black shadow drifted down from a treetop dozens of meters high, landing silently.
The moment he touched the ground, another black shadow rose from the shadows on the ground.
There were no words between the two of them.
A set of extremely complex hand seals was completed in an instant.
"Area Three is clear."
"Received, continue to maintain the alert perimeter."
As the hand seals ended, one figure sank into the ground, and the other pressed against a tree trunk, once again merging with the environment.
They were Shin's Shadow Guard.
And at the edge of their reconnaissance range, another group of shinobi was also performing the same rigorous vigilance.
A Hyuga clansman stood on high ground, his Byakugan activated, his gaze piercing through layers of branches and leaves.
Fine sweat seeped from his forehead, his concentration highly focused.
"Captain, two chakra signatures detected on the west side," a sensory shinobi suddenly spoke.
The Hyuga clansman didn't turn around, his voice steady. "They're our own, let them through."
A moment later, two shinobi wearing Konoha headbands appeared before the squad.
"What's the situation?" the Hyuga captain asked.
"All clear."
"Good, continue to search in a fan shape to the south. Don't let up."
"Yes!"
The daimyo's convoy proceeded slowly under such strict vigilance.
Shadow Guard and Konoha's Anbu.
They occasionally crossed paths in the shadows of the forest.
No words.
Only a glance, a very soft sound, and they confirmed each other's identities, then separated, disappearing into the dense forest.
Cooperation, yet clearly separated.
Tense, yet orderly.
The entire area was covered in an invisible killing aura.
Inside the carriage, however, the atmosphere was starkly different from the tension outside.
Shin woke up.
Uchiha Kasumi quickly poured out the cooled tea and replaced it with fresh tea, the fragrance of her breath carrying a tempting warmth.
"My lord, your complexion doesn't seem very good," she noticed that Shin's gaze was much more serious than before.
Across from her, Kurenai Yuhi, after her initial nervousness, gradually relaxed under Kasumi's deliberate friendliness.
But as a genjutsu shinobi, she was even more sensitive to changes in atmosphere.
She felt that the daimyo beside her, who had been smiling just moments ago, seemed to have become much more silent.
Shin leaned back on the cushion, his fingers gently tapping on his knee.
But those familiar with him would know this was his habit when thinking.
The time was almost noon.
The convoy was moving very slowly.
According to the plan, they were currently in the most dangerous section of the journey, ideal for an ambush.
Here, the mountains gradually rose, and the trees became denser.
The official road was narrow. If attacked, the convoy would be difficult to move.
It was an excellent place for an attack.
But surprisingly, nothing happened.
Those Kumogakure desperadoes seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Something was wrong.
Shin's brows furrowed.
He connected all the clues in his mind again.
Kumogakure detoured through the Land of Water, making a long-distance raid, not hesitating to sacrifice four jonin, just to infiltrate a small team of over ten people.
Such a huge price surely meant their objective was not small.
From Kumogakure's route, it should also be aimed at him.
But why hadn't they appeared yet?
Looking at the entire Land of Fire, besides him, the daimyo, who else was worth Kumogakure assassinating?
Minato?
No!
Let alone whether they could kill him, even if they could, it would only make the war worse, and Konoha would never rest.
This would be of no benefit to the Land of Lightning, which was already under a three-way attack.
Only by killing him, plunging the Land of Fire into a power vacuum, would the three-country alliance collapse on its own.
This was their only chance to turn the tide.
The logic was sound.
The plan was also reasonable.
But why were they still inactive?
Did they give up?
Even less likely!
After paying such a huge price, were they just coming to the Land of Fire for sightseeing?
What exactly were they waiting for?
Shin's tapping speed suddenly quickened, his thoughts racing.
From his departure from the city until now, this journey, solely guarded by the Guardian Shinobi Twelve and Shadow Guard, was when the defensive strength was weakest!
Once they met up with Konoha's relief forces, the escort strength would instantly grow.
Trying to assassinate then would be a fool's errand.
Therefore, the best time to act was before the meeting!
But Kumogakure still hadn't appeared.
Unless... Shin's breathing paused for a moment, a startling thought surfacing in his mind.
Unless he was never their target.
The mission of that infiltration squad was not assassination.
But... something else.
What mission was worth exchanging for the lives of four elite jonin?
What mission required a small team to infiltrate deep into the Land of Fire to complete?
Attack Konoha?
A dozen people to assault a shinobi village guarded by Minato, Tsunade, and Hiruzen?
That would be suicide.
Then only one answer remained.
That Kumogakure squad was not the whole force.
They were the advance team!
Their prolonged absence was crucial preparation for a larger plan!
A plan that would allow Kumogakure's main force to bypass all defenses and appear directly at Konoha!
And his grand tour, far from luring out the fish, had instead become a smokescreen to help the enemy hide.
Crack!
Shin's eyes suddenly opened, his gaze cold and sharp, the teacup in his hand already crushed.
This conclusion was absurd.
Nothing like this had happened in the original story either.
But after eliminating all impossibilities, whatever remains, however incredible, must be the truth.
No matter what Kumogakure's plan was, no matter how they bypassed the defenses.
He had already wasted too much time due to his arrogance.
Thinking of this, Shin couldn't help but grit his teeth.
Just then, the voice of a Shadow Guard came from outside the carriage. "My lord, Konoha's meeting force has been spotted ahead."
"Understood."
Shin's voice was as calm as ever, without any noticeable ripple.
He lifted the curtain.
In the distance, hundreds of Konoha shinobi stood ready.
Leading them was Genma Shiranui, with a senbon in his mouth and a carefree expression.
Seeing the daimyo's carriage, Genma immediately stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and said in a loud voice. "Konoha jonin Genma Shiranui, by order of the Fourth Hokage, leads this team to escort the daimyo!"
Behind him, a hundred elites knelt in unison, their movements neat, their aura like a rainbow.
Lowering the curtain, Shin said to the two women. "We're going to speed up now. Hold on tight."
Then the carriage curtain was suddenly pulled open.
Shin's figure appeared on the carriage, looking down at the kneeling crowd.
"Thank you for your hard work!" His voice was not loud. "Since we've met up, let's proceed at full speed, target Konoha."
The order was given.
But it stunned everyone.
Just now they were moving slowly, and now...
"Daimyo-sama!" Genma looked up, confused. "If we speed up now, the formation will be disrupted, and defenses will have gaps!"
"The assassins have not yet..."
He didn't finish his sentence. He stopped himself.
Shin just looked at him quietly.
But it was this calm gaze that made Genma feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
He instantly lowered his head and roared. "Understood!"
Nara Shikato watched this scene, his expression immediately becoming serious, and he instantly understood something.
They, the Guardian Shinobi, knew why this trip was happening.
For this daimyo to abandon all pretense and plans... a terrifying thought emerged, and he couldn't help but tremble all over.
Something big has happened!
"What are you still standing around for!" He immediately yelled at the other Guardian Shinobi beside him. "Do you want to collect Konoha's corpses?! Hurry!"
The words "collect corpses" hit the Guardian Shinobi like a heavy hammer, and a strange fear instantly struck them.
The entire convoy immediately sped up.
The Guardian Shinobi guarded both sides of the main carriage!
A hundred Konoha elites led the way.
The Shadow Guard no longer concealed themselves, protecting the rear of the convoy.
The wind howled.
The entire forest was filled only with the rolling of carriage wheels and the sound of countless shinobi swiftly passing through the air.