39. The Spy Revealed, Kiri Ninjas Attack

The new camp was built not far from the sea, much smaller than the one Shinji remembered from the battles with Iwa ninjas.

After all, there were only about five hundred people in total, and even fewer when excluding those out on missions. 

The mercenaries weren't stationed within the camp.

When Shinji and his team arrived escorting the supply convoy, they noticed a different atmosphere compared to before. 

The ninjas here seemed much more relaxed.

Shikaku came to welcome them, as Minato had again volunteered to lead a mission.

"How's the situation now?" Hiashi asked Shikaku.

Shikaku immediately sighed and replied, "The enemy keeps hiding and evading us. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen have caused our forces a lot of trouble. I suspect the enemy camp is somewhere at sea, but that's Kiri's territory, and we don't have the confidence to advance recklessly."

Not to mention that Konoha didn't have much fighting power to spare. 

Fighting a group of water jutsu specialists at sea would be nothing short of foolish.

Hiashi and Hizashi followed Shikaku into the main tent, while Shinji and Kaito remained outside.

Noticing Shinji's gaze sweeping across the camp, Kaito asked with a slight smile, "What are you looking for?"

Shinji replied, "Just seeing if there's anyone I recognize."

Kaito almost suggested using the Byakugan before realizing how stupid that would sound when he noticed Shinji's pitch-black eyes.

Instead, he said, "Let's walk around for a bit."

There were plenty of people with free time in the camp, gathering in small groups to chat and pass the time. 

Others hurried about, busy with their work.

Unfortunately, Shinji didn't see anyone he recognized. 

Anime and reality were quite different. Apart from distinctively dressed characters like Kakashi or Guy, Shinji wouldn't necessarily recognize others even if they stood right in front of him.

They were only stopping briefly at the camp. 

Once their mission was complete, they could return directly to the village.

As the two were strolling around, a ninja rushed back to the camp at high speed, heading straight for the main tent without stopping.

This caught many people's attention.

Moments later, Shikaku, Hiashi, and the others all emerged from the main tent.

Kaito and Shinji approached them.

Hiashi told them, "You two wait here," before leaving the camp with Shikaku and Inoichi.

"What happened, Lord Hizashi?" Kaito asked.

Hizashi's expression turned contemplative. "They said they caught a suspicious person."

As he spoke, he glanced at Shinji beside him, noting his calm demeanor.

About half an hour later, Shikaku and the others returned with someone whose entire body was bound with sealing jutsu and tightly restrained.

Kaito exclaimed in surprise, "This person..."

He discovered that the captive was wearing Konoha's battle uniform.

Hizashi responded concisely: "A spy."

People crowded around to look, but Shikaku ordered them to disperse.

Inoichi said, "This person has a mental barrier technique setup in his mind. Breaking through it won't be easy. It's best to hand him over to the Hokage for the Interrogation Division to handle."

He could certainly break through such a barrier himself, but it was obvious this spy had backers and his exposure alone wasn't the end of things. 

It was better to let the Hokage handle such matters.

Shikaku felt extremely surprised. 

The ninja who had returned with the report said they discovered this person alone at the seaside doing something suspicious. 

When questioned, he stammered and hesitated. After a thorough search, they found a secret message at the shore containing detailed information about Konoha's camp.

When the spy realized he was exposed, he tried to escape but was immediately subdued.

Without doubt, he was the traitor!

But Shikaku instinctively felt something was off. 

Strange! It was too strange!

It was as if the previously untraceable traitor had now deliberately exposed himself!

Inoichi said he could extract information from the spy's mind, but Shikaku stopped him, saying they should escort the prisoner back to the village for the Hokage to handle.

"Hiashi, I'll have to trouble you with this," Shikaku said to Hiashi, wanting him to escort the prisoner back while returning to the village.

"Don't worry, I'll personally deliver this man to the Hokage."

With that, the team of more than a dozen people who had delivered supplies reorganized themselves. 

Led by Hiashi, they headed back along the same route, taking the spy with them.

After they left, Inoichi said to Shikaku, "Now we can finally get to the bottom of this traitor issue."

Shikaku only replied, "Let's hope so."

Inoichi asked further, "Who do you think is behind this?"

Shikaku furrowed his brows in silence, as the image of someone he had long suspected flashed through his mind.

"Hard to say."

…

Hiashi's team had encountered no enemies on their way to the camp.

The return journey was similarly uneventful. Without supply wagons and only one prisoner to escort, it was much easier, and they moved considerably faster through the forest.

But this peaceful journey somewhat disappointed Hiashi, who had harbored some …intentions. 

He glanced back at Shinji, who was maintaining a steady pace in the middle of the group.

When they reached a river, Hiashi ordered everyone to stop and rest, to eat and replenish their energy.

Kaito stood guard at the perimeter, while Shinji, without a Byakugan, sat alone under a tree eating.

"Should we give him something to eat? We can't let him starve to death," Hizashi asked Hiashi, referring to the spy.

"It hasn't been that long. He won't starve."

"Then at least give him some water." Hizashi unfastened his water bottle and walked toward the completely restrained prisoner.

The man lay motionless on the ground, as if unconscious.

His hands and feet were bound, his body covered with sealing jutsu, and his eyes and mouth wrapped with black tape, leaving only his nose free to breathe.

Suddenly, Kaito returned at high speed: "Lord Hiashi, a group of Kiri ninjas is heading this way—twenty-four of them."

The announcement startled everyone.

Hiashi immediately activated his Byakugan to investigate, his expression growing grave.

"Remove all traces. Retreat immediately!"

Everyone abandoned their rest, quickly rising to withdraw. Hizashi carried the spy on his back, following at the rear of the group.

However, these Kiri ninjas seemed to have locked onto them somehow, relentlessly pursuing the Konoha team, drawing ever closer.

"They've locked onto us. They must have sensor-type ninjas," Kaito told Hiashi.

Hiashi's eyes flickered as he considered their next strategy.

Twenty-four enemies against their seventeen.

They had a chance of winning in combat, but they also had a mission to complete.

While he was deliberating, mist suddenly rose in the forest. 

It was only afternoon, and such a phenomenon was highly unusual.

At that moment, a thundering noise came from the winding river nearby, a water dragon surging along it at incredible speed.

Hiashi immediately countered with an Eight Trigrams Air Palm, striking directly at the approaching water dragon. 

The air pressure burst it into splashing water.

"Keep away from the river! Prepare for battle!" Hiashi commanded sharply, alerting the team.

The mist grew thicker. 

Hizashi moved to Shinji's side and said quietly, "Shinji."

"Do what you need to do. Don't worry about me," Shinji replied calmly.

Shuriken flew from behind, nearly grazing Shinji's cheek, but his expression remained unchanged, his eyes steadily fixed forward.

Carrying the spy on his back, Hizashi's figure gradually disappeared into the thick mist.