Crimson spshed across his vision.

  A thick, metallic stench rushed up his nose.

  This was Kyōen’s first time killing someone.

  He froze for just a moment.

  The next instant—a bde sshed past his eyes.

  Kakashi’s White Fang short bde fshed like the wind, striking down another attacking shinobi.

  “Don’t zone out!” Kakashi snapped as he darted toward the next enemy.

  Kyōen snapped back to his senses.

  That’s right—

  This was a battlefield. There was no time to hesitate.

  Thankfully, Yūhi Kurenai’s genjutsu and Kakashi’s swordsmanship had covered for him, keeping him from being overwhelmed.

  Kyōen steadied himself.

  “Kakashi, work with me.”

  Kakashi raised an eyebrow, not fully understanding, but he caught on to what Kyōen wanted.

  He quickly formed hand seals.

  Lightning Style: Ground Surge!

  Even before Kakashi’s jutsu completed, Kyōen had already surged ahead.

  A massive stream of water gushed from his mouth, transforming into a surging wave that crashed toward the enemy.

  Several shinobi flickered away just in time—

  But a few weren't so lucky.

  Then, a surge of electricity spread across the soaked battlefield.

  “AAAHHH!”

  The high-voltage current rippled through the water, making those caught in it convulse violently as pained screams echoed through the alley.

  Kyōen had already canceled his jutsu.

  The shinobi attacking them were swift and ruthless. Upon seeing their comrades paralyzed, they didn’t try to rescue them—

  Shffft!

  Instead, a barrage of metal senbon needles rained down, piercing the helpless bodies.

  Kyōen and Kakashi immediately used substitution jutsu and repositioned with flicker technique.

  By the time things fell silent, the remaining enemies had vanished without a trace.

  From a distance, Shizune stood stunned.

  She’d had only a vague idea of Kyōen’s abilities before, but now—

  No wonder he became Jiraiya-sama’s disciple!

  So fast.

  Such powerful Water Release…

  “He must’ve trained for years to master that level of Suiton,” she murmured.

  Kurenai gnced at her and sighed. “Took him half a month.”

  “Eh?!”

  Shizune stared in disbelief.

  Half a month?

  Impossible!

  Most chūnin couldn’t even pull that off.

  Kurenai paused to sense the surroundings.

  “They fled quickly. Let’s check if Kyōen and Kakashi are injured.”

  “R-Right!”

  Snapped out of her daze, Shizune quickly followed.

  “Are you two okay?” Kurenai called out as they approached.

  She was still holding Kyōen’s leg weights—

  And they were ridiculously heavy!

  “We’re fine. Shizune, can you check if any of them are still alive?” Kyōen said.

  Several of the shinobi electrocuted moments ago now y sprawled across the ground.

  “Understood.”

  Shizune nodded and stepped toward the colpsed enemies behind the old wall.

  Kyōen and Kakashi fnked her from both sides, guarding against any enemies who might be pying dead.

  Unfortunately—

  Shizune checked a few… but all of them had stopped breathing.

  “There’s poison on the needles!”

  After a few more seconds…

  “This one’s still breathing—barely! He needs immediate medical attention!”

  “I’ll get Lady Tsunade!”

  Kakashi sheathed his bde and turned to head back.

  If they could save even one, they might be able to extract some intel.

  Shizune hesitated for a second but didn’t expin further—she just focused on stabilizing the survivor’s vitals and trying to draw out the poison.

  But sadly—

  She hadn’t fully mastered the Fine Extraction Technique yet.

  Moments ter, Jiraiya and Kakashi returned—Tsunade trailing behind, but not coming all the way over.

  Jiraiya gnced at the injured shinobi.

  “Don’t waste your chakra. He’s beyond saving.”

  He knelt beside the body, then looked at Kyōen.

  “You and Kakashi fought them directly. You should have the best sense of their style. Any thoughts on where they’re from?”

  Kyōen nodded.

  “Their techniques and movements resemble Sunagakure shinobi, but… I don’t think this was their doing. One of them shouted something about trading us for a ‘young master.’ But with those skills, could they really just be rogue ninja?”

  He expined his reasoning.

  It didn’t add up.

  Suna had taken heavy losses in the Second Shinobi World War. Their current priority would be rebuilding, not picking fights.

  Plus—

  The Third Kazekage was still alive and well. Why provoke Konoha now?

  Jiraiya said nothing and instead began sealing the bodies into a scroll for ter analysis.

  “Let’s bring them back to the vilge. Someone might be able to trace their origins.”

  Even he couldn’t discern their exact background.

  Outside, Tsunade asked coolly, “What’s the situation?”

  “Hard to say,” Jiraiya replied. “Doesn’t seem like typical rogue ninja behavior. Could be a false fg—someone trying to pin this on Suna and start a war.”

  That was also Kakashi’s assessment.

  Their overly conspicuous tactics made them seem suspiciously not like true assassins.

  But—

  A thought struck Kyōen.

  This might be my chance.

  He raised his hand.

  “Sensei.”

  “Go on.”

  “We only just arrived at Tanzaku Town today. The mission was just a simple C-rank. The Land of Rivers doesn’t even have real shinobi, and Hirakawa Ken isn’t some high-profile target.”

  He gnced toward Tsunade, voice slightly hesitant.

  “What if… they were after Lady Tsunade?”

  Tsunade’s brow twitched.

  “You think trash like that could take me down?”

  “Of course not. But… maybe Shizune.”

  Kyōen began ying out his logic more clearly.

  “I’ve heard a few things… over the past year or so you’ve been traveling. I assume the debt with Aokabakan isn’t the only one?”

  Tsunade’s face darkened.

  This brat!

  How did everyone know about her one vice?!

  She shot a sharp gre at Jiraiya.

  He raised his hands in defense.

  “Wasn’t me!”

  “So you’re saying they targeted Shizune to bckmail me into paying off debts?”

  “Maybe. Or perhaps they had other motives—like forcing you to research ninjutsu for them, or teach them your techniques.”

  Kyōen id out the possibilities.

  They hadn’t captured the wandering samurai group earlier—

  So someone could’ve used them to gather intel.

  Tsunade fell silent.

  It wasn’t a ridiculous theory.

  Outsiders might not know her full situation—but Shizune, always by her side, could be used as leverage.

  Jiraiya’s face grew serious.

  “Tsunade, Kyōen has a point. You know your situation. You should consider Shizune’s safety.”

  “Lady Tsunade…”

  Shizune’s face paled.

  Was Tsunade going to send her back to Konoha?

  “Shizune, maybe it’s best if you return to the vilge.”

  “But Tsunade,” Jiraiya cut in, “you’re not exactly safe traveling alone either.”

  His tone hardened.

  “You should come back too. Just think of it as a visit. I’ll talk to the old man and investigate this incident. Once things settle down, you can leave again.”

  Tsunade hesitated.

  Over the past year, Shizune had managed most of her daily affairs.

  Without her…

  It would honestly be a pain.

  “Even if Shizune returns, she won’t be immediately assigned to a team, right? What would she do—go back to the academy?” Kyōen added in a quiet voice.

  Jiraiya discreetly gave him a thumbs-up behind Tsunade’s back.

  Clever kid—he’s got Tsunade wrapped around his finger.

  Sure, Shizune was technically a companion. But Tsunade clearly saw her as family—

  Otherwise, she wouldn’t have traveled with just her.

  Tsunade’s gre turned toward Kyōen, full of suspicion.

  But she had to admit—

  He’d hit the nail on the head.

  “…It’s te. Regardless, we’ll rest here in Tanzaku Town for the night.”