Hakushi was trembling with fear, not daring to speak further.
Ruri took a medicine bottle from the cabinet, took out a few pills, and also prepared a cup of hot water.
"These are the cold pills you haven't officially launched on the market yet. Who would've thought you'd be the first user after developing them? What's your opinion on your own medicine?"
"...If possible, I'd prefer not to make any comment."
With a complex mood, Hakushi swallowed the cold medicine he had developed.
◎
On the sea route from the Land of Waves to the Land of Fire, a small boat cut through the waves, heading toward the harbor on the coast of the Land of Fire.
There were four people on the boat, all of them were ninjas from Konoha Village.
The leader was a Konoha ninja dressed in a Jonin uniform, while the other three were wearing Chunin uniforms.
This was a team comprised of one Jonin leading, with three Chunin as team members.
Even within Konoha Village, this was considered an elite squad.
Most teams consisted of one Jonin paired with three Genin, or one Jonin, one Chunin, and two Genin.
This time, their mission was to travel to the neighboring Land of Waves to annihilate an illegal rogue ninja organization that was pillaging villages throughout the Land of Waves. At the request of the Daimyo of the Land of Waves, Konoha dispatched this squad to deal with the illegal ninja organization within the Land of Waves.
Konoha was long accustomed to such situations.
Not only during the Ninja Realm wars, but even post-war, small countries lacking ninja strength were often plagued by rogue ninja organizations, and such incidents had become commonplace.
These rogue ninjas either became ninjas by chance or were renegade ninjas engaged in various illegal activities for profit.
For major nations, such ninja organizations weren't worth worrying about. Only small countries lacking power would be troubled by these issues.
Konoha deployed an elite squad consisting of one Jonin and three Chunin, and after a hard battle, this squad successfully annihilated the rogue ninja organization. Now they were preparing to set sail back to the Land of Fire.
Sitting at the bow was the leading Konoha Jonin, with long, straight black hair falling past his waist.
A headband was worn on his forehead, and his eyes were pure white.
He was a Jonin from the Hyuga Branch Family.
Known as Hyuga Shingo, even within the Hyuga Branch Family, he was a notably powerful Jonin.
Due to the thick fog that perpetually shrouded the sea around the Land of Waves, Hyuga Shingo would occasionally activate his Byakugan to monitor the surrounding sea areas, preventing any unforeseen events.
Within his Byakugan's vision, he spotted five individuals on a boat approaching from two kilometers ahead.
The Chakra levels within these people were very low, almost confirming them as ordinary civilians, posing no threat.
Moreover, they carried no weapons, only a small amount of money.
They were undoubtedly ordinary civilians heading to the Land of Waves.
Shortly, the boat carrying the five civilians approached.
Hyuga Shingo and the other three Konoha Chunin glanced at them and then paid no further attention.
As the boats brushed past each other, suddenly, the five individuals on the other boat charged forward at an astonishing speed.
Leaving only blurred afterimages, the three Konoha Chunin let out agonizing cries and fell into the sea, their whereabouts unknown.
Hyuga Shingo's expression changed abruptly, the scene before him shattered his understanding of the world. These figures didn't have much Chakra within them, so how could they possess such terrifying speed and power?
He quickly leaped away from the boat, gathering Chakra beneath his feet to stand firm on the undulating waves, assuming a Gentle Fist stance.
He could no longer be concerned about the condition of his three companions. The five individuals surrounding him were no amateurs.
Judging from the speed and strength of their previous moves, even he couldn't claim absolute victory against them combined.
"Who are you people? Why are you attacking us Konoha ninjas?"
Hyuga Shingo tried to muster his inner Chakra while attempting to use conversation as a breakthrough point, hoping to at least figure out the identities of these figures.
However, the five remained expressionless and silent throughout, only manifesting intense hostility directed at him.
"Go."
With just a simple command, the five coordinated seamlessly to surround and attack Hyuga Shingo.
Hyuga Shingo saw himself ensnared within the enemy formation yet he remained calm, drawing confidence from his extensive combat experience, Byakugan, and Gentle Fist.
However, after exchanging blows, he discovered that the strength of these five individuals was immense, and his acupoint striking was ineffective unless it hit their chests.
Incredibly, these individuals used formidable Taijutsu with utterly no reliance on Chakra.
They operated solely on their existing physical capabilities.
For many years on missions, Hyuga Shingo had never encountered such opponents.
Damn it! Hyuga Shingo couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.
This diminished the effectiveness of his Gentle Fist against them.
Most of a Hyuga ninja's strength was demonstrated through Gentle Fist and acupoint strikes.
This was a dire adversary for someone like him within the Hyuga Clan.
If he knew Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven, a special Gentle Fist Technique, there might've been a chance, as it was an Absolute Defense without blind spots, capable of repelling enemies and creating a path for escape.
But as a Branch Family member, even as a Jonin, he wasn't eligible to learn it.
It was a secret technique reserved for the Main Family and select Branch Family ninja.
Now, only the Byakugan allowed him to barely guard against sneak attacks, but prolonged engagement was still unfavorable.
"Ah!"
Ineffectual against his Gentle Fist's embedded acupoint techniques, the opponents exchanged injuries, striking him in the face and sending him flying.
Soon, two others rapidly closed in on where he'd land, one punching, the other kicking in fierce coordination.
Hyuga Shingo tumbled across the sea's surface, salty and bitter water inadvertently entering his mouth, mingling with his bloodied saliva.
His formerly dignified appearance was in ruins, and a sense of despair simmered within.
"Who... are you?"
Unwillingly, he again asked, aiming to discover these five people's identities and their reasons for attacking Konoha ninjas.
The five remained taciturn, allowing an absolute silence to envelop the sea.