Naruto: From Novice to Grave

One of the ninja's rules: Protect your own information. You can talk about your abilities, but you don't have to reveal everything. It's best if only you know the limits of what you can do.

Limited concealment can not only protect oneself, but also better protect one's companions.

In the ninja world, hiding a little bit of information won't kill anyone; it's boasting and making empty promises that you can't keep that promise that will.

For example, when he first graduated, Makoto Higashino told his teacher that his perception range was a radius of 3 kilometers, but he was lying; at that time, his perception range was actually around 4 kilometers.

Four months have passed since graduation. Especially after arriving at the Eastern Front, his cultivation speed of natural energy has accelerated slightly. Two days ago, he successfully fused with Ice Release, which increased his chakra reserves a bit. Therefore, his current perception limit is a radius of about 6 kilometers.

In other words, the perceived distance between the two sides was about the same, and he kept bobbing back and forth on the edge of Zhongji's perception.

In the following time, Higashino Makoto led the two teams to the other side of the Mist Ninja team at top speed, and then, like a ghost, appeared here and there.

The number of people was different each time. He would either use his abilities to conceal one or two people, or use shadow clones to make the team have more people. Even when the other side sensed him, he would cover everyone's bodies with chakra to simulate unfamiliar fluctuations and avoid revealing any flaws.

According to Zhongji, the Konoha search teams in this direction seem to be too densely packed.

If it were just one or two teams blocking the way, he could quickly deal with them, erase all traces, and escape. But in this situation, it's clear that something has happened there, and a large number of Konoha ninjas have gathered, forcing him to lead his team on a long detour to reach the target mission point.

Although constantly correcting his course made him so impatient that he wanted to kill someone, he held back for the sake of the mission.

Completing missions is a ninja's duty. No matter how brutal the training they received in Kirigakure from childhood was, this ironclad rule was engraved in their minds like a steel stamp.

Even though Zabuza and Kisame defected, they still survived by completing missions while living in the ninja world, which is quite amazing.

Perhaps, deep down, they still yearn for order, and even in their defection, they adhere to this principle.

The only one who truly suffers from mental illness is probably Raiga Kurosuki.

Zhongji is indeed quick-tempered, but he is also a very vigilant person. As the surrounding vegetation gradually thinned out, he slowly noticed something was wrong.

It wasn't until they arrived at a valley with many rocks, little water, and sparse grass and forests that they finally realized they had fallen into the trap set by those bastards from Konoha.

This place looks like the Land of Earth. In the lush Land of Fire, this kind of terrain is rare, and it's usually found in well-known places.

The most famous rocky valley is called the Valley of the End.

Now, not only Chukichi, but also the other Mist Ninja realized that the future was not good.

After pulling out a map and comparing it with his own, someone exclaimed in surprise, "This is Kusanagi Valley! There are hardly any rivers nearby, and even ordinary villages are rare. Lord Nakayoshi..."

Those around him asked, "Lord Nakayoshi, what's going on?"

No one could see what was on Nakaji's face as he wore red glasses. He glanced at the sky expressionlessly and ordered, "Speed ​​up and get out of here."

He stopped after running only a few hundred meters.

A nearby Mist Ninja asked, "Lord Chukichi?"

Zhongji sighed, surveyed the surroundings, and said, "Everyone, we're surrounded. Before the ambush closes, let's prepare to break out. Head east. If we can find a village or town with inhabitants, that would be even better; perhaps then we can reach the stronghold in the Land of Waves alive."

Now, everyone was in a panic. Forget about blaming the team leader, Zhong Ji, and started running like crazy.

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Northwest of Kusanagi Valley, Higashino Shinpachi and another search team met up.

It was the squad that Yamashiro Aoba belonged to. His teammates were the energetic Sarutobi Asuma and the adorable Yuhi Kurenai. The clan crest on the Jonin's uniform indicated that he also came from the Sarutobi clan.

In theory, after three members of a genin squad become chunin, they can act independently without their original jonin status, but this is not a hard and fast rule and depends entirely on the choice of both parties.

As for those who followed and protected them, there were only three people. The leader was none other than Nara Suzaku, the staff officer on the Eastern Front. His teammates were a fat man and a handsome middle-aged man with orange hair.

This is a traditional Konoha combination of Ino-Shika-Cho.

As an ally of the Sarutobi clan, Suzaku Nara had no choice but to come in person to ensure Asuma's safety.

Although the Third Hokage often said that if Asuma died in battle, it would mean that his talent was nothing special, just listen to that and don't take it seriously. Only a fool would believe it.

At that moment, Higashino Makoto, who was sensing something, suddenly said, "The enemy has realized they're surrounded and is starting to break out to the due east."

Nara Suzaku sneered, "Just as I expected, the same reaction. It's a pity that it's not an easy place to break through."

Sarutobi Asuma was overjoyed upon hearing their conversation: "Then what are we still doing here? We can't let the enemy get away!"

After saying that, the guy sped up and chased after the other guy.

"Huh? Asuma, wait!" Kurenai Yuhi stretched out her weak Erkang hand, but she couldn't stop her eager-to-do companion.

"I knew it!" Nara Suzaku rubbed his forehead, and had no choice but to urge everyone to speed up and catch up.

"I'll fucking kill you!" Higashino couldn't help but curse inwardly. It was definitely no good to encounter such a rebellious and hot-blooded teenager.

Nara Suzaku's words made it very clear that the command had anticipated the enemy's subsequent actions. There must be a powerful figure in the east, and they only needed to wait for the encirclement to be in place to eliminate the enemy at minimal cost.

Asma wasn't stupid; was he just ignorant? No, he understood, but he didn't want to miss the opportunity to make a great contribution.

Is this what it means to live in the shadow of the Hokage? Just like Sarutobi Konohamaru in the future, always thinking about defeating his grandfather, proving his talent, and gaining recognition from others.

While not exactly the same as Asuma at this time, they are certainly of the same lineage.

During the accelerated pursuit, Nara Suzaku asked, "Shin, we now have 15 people. Can your ability conceal us from being detected by the enemy's sensory ninjas?"

"Although there are quite a few of you, it's alright, Senior Suzaku!"

"Very well, since we have no choice but to go, let's act as a surprise force and catch them off guard!"

A distance of several dozen kilometers is not too far for ninjas at full speed. Higashino and his group of fifteen crossed the forest, passed through a desolate valley called Kusanagi, and then went back into the forest.

Once you emerge from the forest, you'll see a bustling town not far ahead.

But at that moment, a great battle had already broken out there.

Zhongji led 40 elite Mist Ninja specifically in this direction. He naturally knew that there were Konoha ninja blocking their way, but there was no other way. This was the best option. Only by rushing into the town and causing chaos could they have a chance to slip away in the confusion.

Even just one is better than being wiped out.

But blocking their way were Konoha ninjas, mainly from the Uchiha clan, led by Fugaku Uchiha himself, who dealt them a crushing blow.

For a moment, no swords flew wildly from his hands, and explosive fireballs exploded wildly. The collision of fire and water techniques caused fog to spread outside the town.

Seeing that this road was blocked, Zhongji took advantage of the chaos to call a few familiar companions to turn around and run away, using the remaining Mist Ninja as scapegoats to buy him a chance to escape in another direction.