TEAM 4 of the Mist embarked on their mission, skillfully navigating the forested terrain, leaping between trees and keeping to the shadows. Yuri, the seasoned leader, spearheaded their advance, with Sezaki and Doremi shadowing her while Yaragi remained vigilant at the rear, serving as their lookout.
"Yuri-Sensei, where are we headed?" Yaragi's voice carried from the rear, curiosity lacing his inquiry.
Yuri's steps were assured as she provided her squad with a glimpse of their destination. "Our first destination will be our neighbouring country. There have been no sightings of Zabuza in the Land of Water, so we'll shift our focus to the Land of Fire."
"Fire?" Sezaki's voice bore a hint of apprehension. "Won't we be in danger there? I've heard they're not particularly fond of Mist Ninja."
Yuri's agreement was resolute, her distaste for Leaf Ninja evident in her tone. "Well, we don't hold them in high regard either," she remarked with a hint of scorn. "If anyone causes trouble, eliminate them."
Her squad nodded in unwavering agreement, their expressions hardening with a shared sense of determination. Their journey brought them to the shore, where they stood overlooking the sea that separated the Land of Water from the Land of Fire. Without hesitation, they boarded a rowboat, ready to cross into the neighbouring country.
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AFTER SEVERAL hours of traversing the open waters and land of the foreign land, Team 4 finally stopped for a break. Positioned at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Waves, the Mist Ninjas were prepared to begin their search. Yuri's strategic choice was driven by the knowledge that the Land of Waves lacked the presence of ninjas, making the Land of Fire a more likely hunting ground for their elusive targets.
With unwavering determination, the squad sprang into action. They navigated the dense forest, leaping effortlessly from branch to branch, their eyes sharp, and senses alert. Time seemed to blur as they scoured the terrain, searching for any trace of their elusive targets.
Hours passed with an unsettling silence prevailing, but their perseverance remained undeterred. Then, a subtle change in the environment caught their attention, prompting a cautious pause.
A puddle on the dirt path. On a sunny day when there has not been a glimpse of rain in days.
Mist Ninja, surely. Yuri thought.
She paused her movements, holding a clenched fist up to halt her genin as well. Her eyes scanned the area with a scrutinising glare. Why are there Mist Ninjas here? Did the Council lie about a lack of hunter nin available for their current task? Or was this evidence of rouge nin? Millions of questions whirled around her head, not coming to a single answer as all were probable.
She moved her gaze to the right quickly, seeing a large clump hidden in the bushes behind the trees. Squinting, she saw that they were Mist Ninja. Rogue ones. She furrowed her brow even further.
What happened here?
"Let's go," Yuri ordered, advancing. After around a few hours, they came across a battlefield near a river in the Land of Waves, after no sight of their target in the previous land. Water was splashed across the majority of the surrounding land, trees dented with great force and discarded weapons.
"What do you think happened here?" Doremi asked, her gaze scanning the destroyed environment.
"Opposing ninja, I suspect," Sezaki answered. "Possibly our target was here?" She directed her question to her sensei. But Yuri didn't answer as she was too focused on her surroundings.
Clearly, a Mist Ninja was put against someone from a different village. Leaf? Rain? Stone? The real question why was there another Mist Ninja so far from Kirigakure? Unless they were rogue. Like Zabuza.
"Yuri-Sensei," Yaragi's hushed voice broke the silence. "Ninja," Yaragi whispered, his keen eyes trained on a group of four ninjas coming from the Village Hidden in the Leaf, escorting an unidentified gentleman. They could only presume that these were ninjas from said village. There were several miles ahead of the suspicious puddle but still, insight as the path was straight.
Yuri crouched silently, her eyes narrowing as she examined the specks of the group ahead. The trio of younger Leaf Ninja displayed a diversity of styles and appearances. Among them, a petite girl with pink hair wore a red short-sleeved qipao adorned with a large white circle on the back and sleeves, paired with dark blue shorts. Her dark blue forehead protector sat similarly on her crown, mirroring Yuri's. One of the boys sported spiked midnight blue hair — nearly black — as he dressed in a high-collared shirt of a similar hue, coupled with cream-coloured shorts. The third boy boasted bright yellow hair and donned a vibrant orange and blue jumpsuit. Both boys proudly displayed their forehead protectors in a suitable position.
However, it was the squad leader who stole Yuri's attention and made her suspicions correct. A tall man with grey hair, he wore the classic Jōnin uniform of the Leaf Village, with a mask concealing his mouth and nose. His left eye remained hidden beneath his blue forehead protector.
Recognition surged within Yuri as she gazed upon him. He was the man who had scarred her face—not once, but twice. She seethed with a mixture of anger and resentment, memories of her younger days, when he and his old squad had subjected her and her comrades to relentless torment, flooding back to the surface. It was a long-held grudge that had shaped her, and now, at last, she had the upper hand. His squad appeared considerably less experienced than hers, a fact that bolstered her pride.
Raising her hand, Yuri signalled her squad to crouch by her side, allowing her to speak to them in hushed tones. "We're going to engage those Leaf Ninja," she declared, her voice laden with purpose.
Doremi's fists clenched eagerly as she contemplated her target. "I'll take on the traffic cone," she grinned, her words dripping with malice, referring to the yellow-haired boy.
Yuri nodded in approval. "Excellent choice, Doremi. Yaragi, you'll confront the girl. She's likely their healer." Yaragi nodded in agreement. A healer; a role frequently assigned to the lone female member of a squad, whether by choice or tradition. But Yuri won't be bound by those expectations. "And Sezaki, you'll engage the blue one."
The squad absorbed her directives with unwavering resolve. Their leader's plan was clear, and their shared determination to execute it flawlessly was palpable.
Yuri's voice lowered to a barely audible whisper as she shared her final intention.
"Leave their sensei to me."
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