The Missing Squad 7

The moment Silver laid eyes on the battered Anbu operative, something immediately felt off. He wasn't the one who had fired the flare—this much was clear. The operative's condition, too, was more than just a simple casualty from a fight. His posture, his expression, it all screamed that he was no longer in control of the situation.

Silver's instincts kicked in, and his gaze snapped to the injured Anbu's face. His mind immediately ran through the possibilities of who would have been capable of bringing down an elite Konoha operative in this manner. The answer came to him quickly.

He saw the distinctive markings on the man's cloak, identifying him as one of the Yotsuki Clan from Kumogakure. An S-rank shinobi. Silver's eyes narrowed. He knew this face. He'd seen it before—in the Bingo Book.

This was no ordinary shinobi.

The man in front of him was a member of the Ginkaku Force, Kumogakure's elite covert unit. His name was Kaito Yotsuki, and he was one of the most dangerous individuals in the shinobi world, with a bounty of 30 million ryo on his head. The sheer price on his life told Silver all he needed to know.

A member of the Ginkaku Force was not someone who made mistakes. Their entire purpose was to operate in the shadows, taking on missions that were far too dangerous for regular shinobi—covert operations, assassination, destabilizing enemy nations from within. And this one, Kaito Yotsuki, had clearly been working his own agenda.

Silver's thoughts raced as he scanned the area again, his sharp eyes catching the faintest signs of movement in the trees. "It's a trap," Silver muttered under his breath. His mind connected the dots quickly. The Anbu operative hadn't just sent out the flare as a distress signal; it was part of a setup. This wasn't an accidental confrontation; it was meticulously planned.

The operative on the ground, struggling to stay conscious, managed to rasp out, "Ginkaku Force... Yotsuki... They're all... coming..."

Silver's gaze hardened. Kaito Yotsuki had orchestrated this whole ambush—he was a pawn in a larger game. And now, Silver's team was caught in the crossfire.

Aiko, Ryota, Hiroshi, and Kaori quickly fell into defensive formation, their sharp eyes scanning the perimeter as they prepared for the worst. They knew better than to wait for Silver's orders—they knew this was going to be a fight to the death.

Silver's hand shifted to his Kusanagi sword, the cold steel familiar in his grip. His mind calculated the enemy's strength. There would be no mercy here. Ginkaku Force operatives were ruthless, trained to overwhelm and strike with precision. They were merciless, and Silver had no intention of letting them get away with whatever scheme they were trying to pull.

Suddenly, the air grew tense. The ground underfoot seemed to tremble with the weight of approaching enemies. It was a faint vibration at first, but it quickly became unmistakable: dozens of footsteps, closing in from every direction. They had been surrounded.

Silver's eyes darted through the trees, scanning for any sign of their attackers. And then, just beyond the treeline, he saw them—shadowy figures moving quickly and silently. A total of ten figures, five of whom were unmistakably Jonin-level shinobi. There was no question anymore—this was no ordinary ambush. This was the Ginkaku Force, here for a purpose far beyond a simple attack.

Silver tightened his grip on the hilt of his Kusanagi sword, his mind working through the battle ahead. He could already feel the tension rising, his senses on high alert. He had been in enough life-or-death situations to know how to keep a cool head, and now was no different.

"We're surrounded," Silver said quietly, but his voice was steady. He turned to his team. "Focus. Protect the injured operative at all costs."

Aiko gave him a quick nod, and Ryota followed suit, his eyes narrowed and calculating. Hiroshi and Kaori were already positioning themselves, preparing for the incoming attack. Their training and experience would help them hold their ground—there was no turning back now.

The first of the Ginkaku Force operatives emerged from the shadows, and Silver could see the grim determination on their faces. This would not be an easy fight. Silver's mind sharpened as he prepared to engage, knowing that Kaito Yotsuki and his forces were not only here for a confrontation—they were here to make a statement. But Silver had no intention of letting them succeed.

As the Ginkaku Force advanced, Silver's voice rang out, cold and commanding. "Move out!"