pdf-ebookys Chapter 12 Guardian
Chapter 12 Guardian
The moon was dark and the clouds were heavy; occasionally, the cries of crows could be heard from the dense forest.
A dark figure crept through the forest. He suddenly crouched down and listened carefully to pinpoint the direction from which the sound was coming.
The sense of danger in my heart disappeared.
The man got up and continued walking carefully, each step landing precisely in time with the cawing of crows, before silently disappearing into the darkness.
As a spy for the Hidden Sand Village, Nishikawa Tsuyoshi has been infiltrating Konoha for ten years.
He couldn't quite remember how old he was when he arrived in Konoha; it seemed like he was still a child.
For the first year, he lived in constant fear and was often awakened by nightmares.
He feared that one day he would wake up to find the fearsome secret forces standing at the head of his bed.
The worst fears didn't come true; he successfully remained hidden.
One year, two years...
Without a mission, he remained silent, like an orphan forgotten in a corner.
Gradually, he adapted to life in Konoha and even grew into a ninja.
Just when he thought life would continue like this,
An order from the Sand Village suddenly arrived.
The idler was awakened.
Nishikawa Tsuji looked up, his gaze piercing through the gaps in the branches and leaves, only to see the pitch-black night.
The images of my hometown have faded and become somewhat blurry in my memory.
It's been so long since I've been back; I wonder if the home I remember is still there.
My father has already sacrificed himself, but the vow I made as a boy to pay for his father's crimes with my own blood still echoes in my ears.
If I hadn't chosen this path, I could have stayed by my mother's side forever.
Thinking of his mother, Nishikawa Tsutomu smiled for a moment.
Perhaps completing this mission will allow me to go home and reunite with my mother.
The night is still long.
The soft sound of footsteps landed, yet it was clear in the silent forest.
Nishikawa Tsuji was suddenly startled.
wrong!
It's too quiet.
Even the chirping of insects has disappeared.
When did it start?
A chill ran down his spine, and he drew the long sword from his waist.
"Cijian, come back with me. It's not too late to turn back now."
Kojiro Higashino emerged from behind the big tree and blocked his way.
Nishikawa Tsuyoshi's feelings were somewhat complicated at this moment, and his gaze toward Higashino Kojiro contained a hint of reluctance.
The two have been close friends since their teenage years.
Having gone through growth, graduation, and battles together, their friendship withstood the test of blood and fire.
I remember Kojiro Higashino carrying his wounded self on his back for a day and a night, finally escaping the enemy's clutches.
She herself once shielded him from a kunai flying from the shadows with her own body.
Perhaps this is the bond that Konoha often promotes.
His hand holding the knife trembled slightly, but the reluctance in his eyes was replaced by an even stronger conviction the next moment.
"You shouldn't have come tonight. You know... of all the people in Konoha, you're the one I least want to kill."
His voice was low and deep, and as the last word fell, the hand holding the knife stopped trembling.
"brush!"
The sound of a sharp blade being drawn carried far.
Once close partners, now they turn against each other with swords drawn.
"I didn't want you to die at someone else's hands, so I came."
Kojiro Higashino looked somewhat sorrowful, with a faint, bitter smile on his face.
"Perhaps we were all born in the wrong era."
"Gah—"
A crow's caw broke the silence of the long night.
Suddenly, sparks flew from the clash of metal in the dark forest.
-
The Land of Wind, Sand Village.
There were guards every ten steps and sentries every five steps outside the secret meeting room.
Further out, several ninja squads patrolled in different areas.
The walls of the conference room were covered with runes to prevent any ninjutsu from spying on them.
Inside the room, only four people sat silently at the table.
"Intelligence has come back from the front that our spies have successfully stolen the layout map of the Konoha camp. Now you two need to decide who will infiltrate behind enemy lines and bring the map out."
As soon as Elder Chiyo finished speaking, the two young men sitting opposite her immediately expressed their opinions.
"Holy crap!" x2
Luo Sha and Ye Cang spoke almost simultaneously, their competitive intent obvious.
Chiyo nodded in satisfaction, looking at the two young people with admiration.
"This mission is very dangerous. Orochimaru is no ordinary person. You should be aware of the current situation of the Sand Village. Therefore, this operation must succeed."
As for what would happen if they failed, Chiyo didn't say, but everyone present knew perfectly well what would happen.
"Please rest assured, Elder, I will risk my life to bring back the intelligence."
Yekura stood up and solemnly expressed his stance to Elder Chiyo, demonstrating an unwavering determination.
"What's the use of just working hard? The key is who has a better chance of bringing the intelligence back."
"you!"
Luo Sha ignored Ye Cang and looked at Elder Chiyo with a resolute gaze.
"I'll go. My abilities are better suited for combat in complex environments than Yekura's, and I have a greater chance of bringing back intelligence."
"No, I disagree! You mean you're better than me? How about we have a fight, and whoever wins gets to play?"
Elder Chiyo raised her hand to interrupt the argument between the two.
"Let Luo Sha lead the team. His abilities are indeed more suitable for operations behind enemy lines than yours."
Chiyo then gave Yokura a task.
"After Rasa infiltrates, you will be in charge of the main battle. The more fiercely you fight, the higher Rasa's chances of success will be. So... your position is also very important."
Once the matter was settled, even if Yekura had some complaints, she could only accept the order.
"Alright, you two go and get ready."
"yes!"
After the two left, Hai Laozang, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up to remind them:
"Sister, the position of Wind Shadow should not remain vacant for too long."
"You mean to choose a Kazekage from these two young men?"
"Are there any other options?"
Chiyo paused for a moment, then shook her head with a wry smile.
"You always see right through me, but you wouldn't take the position of Wind Shadow."
Ebizo tucked his hands into his sleeves, looking like an old man next door.
"Let the younger generation take their place. We're too old to steer this chariot."
"Yes, the young people these days are really amazing. Sometimes I'm a little jealous of Konoha. There are always geniuses emerging."
Since the Third Kazekage disappeared, Chiyo and Ebizo were entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Sand Village.
At that time, the interior of the Sand Village was like a powder keg filled with explosives, with the constant danger of exploding.
Going to war with Konoha was a last resort, a desperate measure.
At that time, Sunagakure desperately needed an outlet for its pent-up emotions, and there was no better place than Konoha.
Chiyo knew that as long as she started a group, someone would definitely join.
The biggest crisis has passed; now it's time to prepare for the second crisis.
"Ebizo, who do you think is more suitable for the position of Kazekage, Rasa or Yekura?"
"Rasa!"
Chiyo was not surprised by her brother's answer, but she didn't understand why he was so certain.
Why? Tell me your thoughts.
Hai Laozang, still looking half-asleep, lazily replied:
"Rasa is ruthless. Pakura is an excellent ninja, but not an excellent Kage."
As he spoke, he raised his sleepy eyes and glanced at Chiyo.
"Sister, you already have someone in mind. Make a decision. Sand Village can't afford a second upheaval."
Chiyo was well aware of her younger brother's words.
"Yes, the Sand Village is indeed vulnerable to turmoil."
It was precisely because of Rasa's ruthlessness that Chiyo hesitated to make a decision.
Once Rasa inherits the position of Kazekage, he will not tolerate Pakura, who has the title of Sand Village Hero and is extremely popular.
For the sake of the future of Sunagakure, Chiyo, persuaded by her younger brother, made a choice.
-
Mo Jingxian wiped the blood off the knife and sheathed it.
A wild boar lay dead in a pool of blood.
He couldn't even remember how many times he had been attacked.
It has been about a week since we set off from Konoha, and we have already covered most of the journey.
Far from Konoha Village, small groups of bandits and wild beasts constantly harass people, keeping their nerves on edge for a moment.
They left the wild boar on the vehicle and the group continued on its way.
After spending a few days together, he had become familiar with the other ninjas in the team.
Take, for example, this genin next to me, Harukita.
"Immortal, are you really a genuine ninja? You finished off such a big guy with just one strike..."
Chun Shutian was two years older than him. He leaned closer to Mo Jingxian, gesturing as he spoke, and was a bit of a chatterbox.
"Be careful the captain sees this and yells at you. Go back to your position."
"What are you afraid of? We'll reach the main camp in two days. We'll be safe then. The enemy won't..."
"boom!"
An explosion came from several miles away. Mo Jingxian recognized the sound; it was a detonation tag.
The moment the blade is in hand, the body instinctively assumes a defensive stance.
Chun Shutian was still standing there, dumbfounded.
Where did the explosion come from?
"Go back and hold your position."
"oh oh!"
Haruki finally realized what was happening and hurriedly ran towards the front of the group.
An explosion rang out, and then nothing more.
The convoy waited in place for a while, and the ninjas who had been scouting the perimeter returned to report.
"There were traces of explosive tags three miles away, but no suspicious persons were found."
Captain Yamashiro Shiraku immediately gave the order:
"Everyone, proceed at full speed. Except for Chunin Haneda, all other ninjas shall maintain a five-kilometer perimeter."
Upon receiving the order, Mo Jingxian immediately stepped onto the tree trunk and disappeared into the distance.
Four genin patrolled the perimeter of the convoy, with Yamashiro Shiroku leading the way, and the convoy sped towards the Land of Rivers' main camp.
The leaves pattered against his body as Mo Jingxian activated the active mist, covering an area of 50 meters.
The team ran at full speed for nearly ten minutes.
He suddenly heard the sound of weapons clashing not far behind him.
Immediately afterwards, a blurry shadow appeared in the mist's perception.
Instead of acting rashly, he immediately pulled out a signal flare and fired it into the sky.
"Do you think you can wait for reinforcements?"
The enemy's threats did not sway him in the slightest; he turned and fled cleanly and swiftly.
Mo Jingxian had not forgotten what the Mountain City Jonin had said: if there was any danger, come to him immediately.
The enemy's strength and number are unknown; he must be insane to recklessly charge in.
The enemy was like a shadow, relentlessly pursuing him.
In Mo Jingxian's perception, two figures were rapidly approaching each other, even faster than he was.
A "tap-tap" sound rang out.
Before he could understand why, the attack came suddenly.
They're puppets!
He relied on the active mist to detect the attack first.
Its body leaped back and forth between the trees in a zigzag pattern.
Countless fine needles grazed his heels and stuck into the trees. If you looked closely, you could see the needle tips occasionally flashing a cold, eerie blue light.
The hidden weapon was clearly coated with a deadly poison.
Mo Jingxian, who was running, suddenly stopped.
Not far ahead, another puppet blocked his path...