Chapter 15: Crisis – The Ambush of Kumogakure

As he observed the five paralyzed individuals, Kazuyama slowly revealed himself, stepping into view. Despite the apparent success of his technique, he still sought confirmation from Chōmei.

"Chōmei, you're sure they can't see me right now, right?" he asked cautiously.

"Absolutely not. Don't worry! If it doesn't work, just try it yourself," Chōmei replied confidently.

To test the waters, Kazuyama crouched in front of one of the Kumo ninja and waved his hand. There was no reaction. He nodded to himself, reassured, but quickly added, "No, Chōmei, they're all paralyzed like this. Even if he could see, he wouldn't be able to react."

The situation felt awkward for a moment, but trusting his partner, Kazuyama pressed on. He began searching through the belongings of the incapacitated Kumo ninja without hesitation.

Money? Take it.

Ninja tools? Take those too.

Hmm? What's this?

While rummaging through one of them, he found a scroll. His curiosity piqued, Kazuyama unrolled it and read the contents. It didn't take long for him to understand its significance.

The scroll detailed Kumo's dual mission: not only earning commissions from the Land of Hot Water but also assimilating Yugakure's ninjas into their ranks. According to the document, Kumo had already recruited eight Yugakure ninjas.

"Tsk," Kazuyama muttered, shaking his head. "I have to admit, that's a clever move."

He considered the implications. Yugakure, the ninja village of the Land of Hot Water, had suffered ever since the Daimyō slashed its funding. Many ninjas there were struggling, and Kumo's intervention offered them a fresh opportunity. It was a calculated strategy that could tip the balance of power in the region.

Satisfied with his findings, Kazuyama gathered the loot he'd taken and left the paralyzed ninja behind. Knowing the effects of the paralysis would last over a day, he had no intention of wasting further time on them. He activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and returned near his camp, hurrying to rejoin his team.

As he arrived, Heichi Yamanaka noticed him and greeted him with evident relief and anticipation.

"Kazuyama, what's the news? Did you get any useful information?" he asked eagerly.

Without a word, Kazuyama handed over the scroll he had just read. The moment Heichi and the others saw its contents, their expressions shifted drastically. Mizunokawa and Hironobu, who had previously doubted and underestimated Kazuyama, were particularly impacted.

In such a short time, he had obtained valuable intelligence and returned unscathed. Their perception of Kazuyama began to shift, respect gradually replacing their earlier disdain.

"Damn Kumo, they actually have such grand plans." Heichi's expression darkened after reading the scroll, and he couldn't help but curse aloud.

"What is it, Captain?" Hironobu asked, his concern evident.

"You can see for yourselves." Heichi handed over the scroll.

As Mizunokawa and Hironobu read the contents, their expressions shifted to alarm.

"This is outrageous!" Mizunokawa exclaimed.

"Calm down, you three," Kazuyama said evenly. "This is only a small team."

 "I dare say the number of Kumo ninja in the Land of Hot Water is much larger than we've seen so far. Perhaps there are even elite forces from Kumogakure here."

Kazuyama remained composed, his face betraying none of the tension. He had already processed the situation earlier. What occupied his thoughts now was whether they could successfully return with the intelligence they had uncovered.

"In that case, we should leave immediately and deliver this information to Lord Hokage," Mizunokawa suggested urgently.

Before the idea could take root, Heichi's expression suddenly twisted. "Hurry up and go! We've been exposed!"

As a sensory ninja of the Yamanaka Clan, he had detected a large group converging on their position. Panic surged within him. Damn it, how could this happen?

At Heichi's warning, Mizunokawa and Hironobu immediately turned accusatory glares toward Kazuyama.

"It's you! You must have revealed our whereabouts!" Hironobu barked.

Kazuyama's face remained impassive. He had absolute confidence in his Transparent Escape Technique, but the blame still stung. "Is there still time for bickering?" he asked sharply. "Aren't we running yet?"

His reminder jolted them out of their argument. The three fell silent and quickly began retreating the way they came.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Scurrying rats from Konoha!"

Suddenly, several figures emerged, launching an ambush.

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

"Lightning Release: Ground Walk!"

Fireballs and streaks of lightning streaked toward them, blocking their escape routes.

"Damn, they're fast!" Heichi said, his voice tinged with horror. But years of ANBU training kicked in, and his reactions were swift. He hurled dozens of shurikens toward the attackers, aiming to disrupt their advance.

Mizunokawa and Hironobu wasted no time, dodging the incoming attacks before immediately countering with their own.

"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"

Mizunokawa unleashed sharp wind blades that sliced through the air with lethal precision. Meanwhile, Hironobu charged headlong at the enemy, a kunai gripped tightly in his hand.

"Kazuyama, we have to escape. I can sense a very strong chakra in the crowd behind me," Chōmei said, his tone grave.

"Kazuyama, we need to get out of here. I can sense incredibly strong chakra in the crowd behind us," Chōmei said, his tone serious.

"Whoever's coming isn't here with good intentions," he added, using his chakra and Hive Mind to gauge the situation.

Even without Chōmei's warning, Kazuyama understood the danger. The squad that had ambushed them wasn't ordinary—it was far more formidable than the Chūnin squad he had previously faced.

If Kazuyama wanted to escape, it would be simple. His Transparent Escape Technique had rendered him completely invisible, even to a sensory ninja. But what about Heichi Yamanaka and the others? Mizunokawa and Hironobu Yoshimori could be ignored, but Heichi was a friend.

Kazuyama knew this wasn't a time for hesitation. It seemed he would have to intervene. Just as he prepared to activate the Flying Thunder God Technique, a sudden scream cut through the chaos.

"No good!"

The scream came from Mizunokawa. Heichi and Hironobu turned instantly, their eyes widening in shock.

Before them stood a burly man wreathed in lightning, his hand gripping Mizunokawa's head and lifting him effortlessly off the ground.

"Three rats from Konoha. Adai, didn't you say there were four?" the man growled, his rough voice tinged with doubt.

Beside him was a ninja with a horizontal scar across his closed eyes. He was obviously blind, yet his posture and demeanor marked him as a sensory specialist.

"I'm sorry, Lord A," the blind ninja said. "The perception of the fourth person has disappeared. Either he's dead, or he's fled hundreds of meters away."

The burly man—none other than A, the son of the Third Raikage—narrowed his eyes.

His towering figure and the sheer force of his chakra radiated overwhelming pressure. Heichi and Hironobu felt the weight of it like a crushing boulder.

"Damn," Heichi muttered bitterly, forcing a smile. "Even the Raikage's son has been dispatched. Looks like this is the end."

Hironobu said nothing, gripping a kunai in each hand with grim determination.

"I don't care who you are. Let Mizunokawa go!" he roared, suddenly charging at A.

"Hmph, pathetic Konoha ninja."

A didn't even blink. Lightning armor crackled around him as he unleashed a devastating punch.

Boom!

Hironobu was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth along with fragments of something unidentifiable. A's strike had shattered his internal organs in a single blow.