CHAPTER 47

Giant Wood City wasn't particularly remarkable—it was simply a hub for buying and selling lumber. But that didn't stop a group of kids who hadn't seen much of the world from being excited. Nawaki Senju had practically explored every corner of Giant Wood City over the past two days, never seeming to tire of it.

Yes, they were still just children. Despite possessing considerable strength and even having killed multiple people, they were only ten years old.

This was just one of the many distortions of the shinobi world. Even now, things were better than they had been during the Warring States period when it was common for four-year-olds to be thrown onto the battlefield. At least now, the major shinobi villages refrained from sending children into battle at such a young age. Even in times of war, they would usually ensure that a child attended the Academy for at least a year before deploying them—though that meant as young as six.

These brutal practices had created tragedy after tragedy, producing generations of warped individuals.

But that had little to do with Uchiha Kiyo. Having experienced the teachings of a stable society, he maintained a healthy and logical mindset.

After two days, the caravan completed loading its cargo. Compared to when they had arrived, their return journey was bound to be much slower. If all went well, it would take at least fifteen days to reach Konoha.

With the third squad serving as guards, the caravan finally set out on its journey back to the Land of Fire.

"In half a month, we should reach Konoha without issue. This time, we've secured enough wood to last a year. We'll be relying on you for protection during this time," said Ishimura Yukito, the caravan leader.

He had witnessed the remnants of the battle where Nobuto Yagi and his team were defeated, and though he hadn't seen the fight firsthand, he knew these three young shinobi were powerful. Seeing such capable ninjas at the age of ten left an impression on him. In his view, barring any unexpected accidents, these three would surely become prominent figures in the future. It wouldn't hurt to build a good relationship with them now.

"You don't have to be so formal," Uchiha Kiyo replied, though he wasn't entirely sure what Ishimura Yukito's true intentions were. "Since we accepted this mission, it's our duty."

Just as the conversation continued, Uchiha Kiyo suddenly fell silent, his senses alert.

"Something's wrong," he muttered. Then, raising his voice, he instructed, "Find cover, quickly."

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Ishimura Yukito immediately ordered the convoy to halt. The merchants and workers swiftly took shelter, ensuring that they wouldn't be caught in the middle of whatever was about to happen.

At that moment, Orochimaru appeared from the shadows and approached the three young shinobi. His presence immediately heightened the tension in the air.

"I don't know which faction you belong to, but since you've appeared, there's no point in hiding," Orochimaru said coldly, his golden eyes scanning the dense forest.

Being an elite Jōnin, Orochimaru quickly pinpointed the enemy's location, his gaze locking onto a specific spot within the trees.

As if realizing they had been discovered, the enemy ceased their concealment and stepped into view.

Four figures emerged—shinobi dressed in the standard attire of Iwagakure.

"Damn it, what are the chances of running into Iwa-nin here?" Uchiha Kiyo cursed inwardly.

He could only hope they wouldn't escalate into conflict. This was the Land of Earth, after all. They had no home-field advantage here.

The opposing team was composed of one older Jōnin and three younger Genin, a composition nearly identical to their own squad. However, one of the Genin stood out.

A large, stocky boy—probably around eleven or twelve—wore a red ninja hat and a tight red battle suit that left his right arm exposed. With his sheer size, Uchiha Kiyo almost mistook him for someone much older. Looking closely, he could see that despite his mature build, the boy was still quite young.

"This outfit… that face… wait, isn't that Kitsuchi? The future commander of the Iwa forces in the Fourth Great Ninja War?" Uchiha Kiyo speculated, recalling the character from the original manga.

On the other side, the Iwa Jōnin narrowed his eyes as he recognized Orochimaru. Although the Sannin were not yet as renowned as they would later become, they were still the direct disciples of the Third Hokage, making them notable figures. Every major shinobi village had basic intel on them. The Jōnin's expression hardened.

"This is the Land of Earth. What are Konoha shinobi doing here?" the Iwa-nin demanded. His tone held no attempt at diplomacy.

Though he knew Orochimaru's reputation, he wasn't about to back down. He wanted to test their strength. Moreover, relations between Iwagakure and Konoha were already tense. If he managed to capture or kill a promising Konoha shinobi, it could shift the balance in future negotiations.

Hearing the hostility in his voice, the third squad tensed, preparing for battle.

Orochimaru, however, wasted no time. Without hesitation, he formed a seal.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Compared to the same jutsu used by Sarutobi Sho earlier, Orochimaru's version was far more powerful. A massive gust of wind howled forward, uprooting trees and sending debris flying.

The sheer force of the attack made the Iwa Jōnin realize the danger he was in. His hands flew through seals in response.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

A thick wall of stone erupted from the ground, absorbing the brunt of Orochimaru's wind blast.

Perhaps by mutual understanding, both Orochimaru and the Iwa Jōnin leaped into the forest, separating themselves from their squads to engage in their own battle.

The Iwa Jōnin, whose name was Tsuishi, was no ordinary opponent. He had been personally assigned to train Kitsuchi by Onoki himself. His experience and skill made him a formidable fighter. As the battle unfolded, he matched Orochimaru blow for blow.

But the longer they fought, the more unsettled Tsuishi became. He was at his physical peak, yet Orochimaru—who was still so young—was already fighting on equal footing.

"This boy is a monster," Tsuishi thought grimly.

If he was already this powerful now, how strong would he become in a few years? A shinobi like this would be a serious threat to Iwagakure in the future.

Determined, Tsuishi intensified his attacks, striking with lethal intent. But his opponent was Orochimaru—known even among the Sannin for his near-immortality.

Even when Tsuishi thought he had landed a fatal blow, Orochimaru would shed his damaged skin like a snake, emerging completely unscathed.

Seeing this ability in action, Tsuishi was dumbfounded.

"How the hell do you fight something like that?"

Meanwhile, back at the road, with Orochimaru and Tsuishi gone, the tension between the remaining squads lifted. Without the oppressive presence of the two elite Jōnin, they could finally move freely.

"Alright, let's get moving," Uchiha Kiyo instructed. "Nawaki Senju, Sarutobi Sho—you two handle the other two Genin. I'll take on the big guy."

The Iwa-nin team wasn't about to back down either. In an instant, the battlefield erupted into chaos as the two squads clashed.