"Teacher, there are indeed foreign shinobi ahead, but they don't seem hostile," yuhi Kurenai reported with a puzzled expression.
These ninja didn't make any moves to engage. Every time Team 7 approached, the unknown shinobi retreated, deliberately avoiding confrontation.
"You're holding the kunai and the intel scroll."
Jingyi handed Asuma a special kunai marked with the Flying Thunder God seal. "This is Minato-sensei's technique. Go meet up with him and hand over the scroll. I'll scout ahead."
"Sensei, are you sure? You could take it with you, or Minato-sensei could back you up..." Asuma hesitated, concern showing on his face.
Jingyi patted her shoulder. "It's fine. I'm just gathering intel. If it turns dangerous, I can escape."
With that, he dashed forward.
---
Meanwhile, nearby
Minato Namikaze had already sensed foreign chakra signatures. If it were just him and Kakashi, he'd have gone to investigate. But with Obito and Rin both still inexperienced he had to reconsider.
"Sensei, should I go check it out?" Kakashi asked in a low voice.
At this point, he was already a Chūnin and the most capable among the students.
Minato shook his head. "Our mission is to eliminate bandits disrupting the region. These shinobi aren't our concern for now. Let's avoid unnecessary conflict."
Suddenly, he sensed a familiar signal the Flying Thunder God kunai.
He landed silently, focused his chakra, and sensed the familiar mark. A hint of relief appeared on his face.
"Is something wrong, Sensei?" Rin asked.
"No, it's alright. Reinforcements are approaching likely Team 1. They brought my marked kunai. They're here to support us."
"Support? Is our mission that serious?" Obito asked, clearly confused.
"We'll know once they arrive," Minato replied, keeping his concerns to himself. The chakra presence ahead was unusual, and he didn't want to act rashly.
Moments later, Asuma and her teammates arrived.
"Minato-sensei, we're under orders from the village to assist and deliver intel regarding activity in the Land of Rivers. This scroll is sealed," Asuma said, handing it over.
Minato noted the seal indicating top-priority intelligence and unsealed it on the spot.
After skimming the contents, his expression turned grim.
"Amegakure...!"
The Land of Wind had withdrawn from the River territory after suffering heavy losses at Kikyo Pass. They wouldn't risk another front so soon. That left only one possibility the shinobi ahead were from the Land of Rain.
During the Second Shinobi War, Amegakure had been devastated, but with Hanzō the Salamander at the helm, they remained a dangerous power unofficially considered on par with the Five Great Nations.
Minato weighed the implications.
"Jingyi went to scout?"
"Yes. He told us to regroup with you and follow your command," Kurenai confirmed.
"Alright. First, we verify the bandits' presence and strength. Then we'll reassess. The River Country mission was reassigned to us after the Wind Daimyō's withdrawal. I don't plan to abandon it unless we're forced to."
---
Ahead
Freed from the burden of leading Genin, Jingyi moved swiftly through the terrain. He soon spotted the evasive shinobi. Their gear and movement patterns matched those of Amegakure ninja.
No doubt about it they were from the Hidden Rain.
They noticed his pursuit and increased their speed clearly trained, and likely led by a capable shinobi.
Jingyi remained cautious, suppressing his chakra and scanning the area. He sensed two individuals who hadn't moved hidden within an unusually ordinary-looking tree, altered subtly with ninjutsu.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Konan," he thought.
Her chakra signature was unmistakable paper-thin and sharp, yet quiet like mist.
He stepped forward, feigning ignorance until suddenly, thousands of paper sheets burst from the tree, swirling toward him in a deadly wave.
Sharp, but lacking explosive tags.
"She's holding back..."
Still, they were dangerous enough to wound.
Jingyi swiftly formed hand seals. "Water Style: Water Wall!"
Torrents of water surged up, shielding him from the barrage.
"Konan, Yahiko retreat!" a voice shouted.
Yahiko, realizing the opponent was no ordinary Konoha shinobi, took Konan and fled. He hadn't brought Nagato, knowing the Rinnegan's power could escalate a conflict too far.
But they didn't get far.
A dragon of water roared behind them Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique! and burst through their path, scattering the detonating tags.
"That's… fast!" Yahiko was stunned.
The Water Dragon Bullet required complex hand seals, yet Jingyi had cast it in seconds. Modified. Streamlined.
A shield of origami sprang up from Konan, slowing the attack, but
Flash.
A silver-haired figure landed before them in a blur, lightning crackling along the blade in his hand.
Not Minato he had blonde hair.
"Who are you?" Yahiko asked warily.
" Jingyi. Jōnin of Konoha. State your identity and purpose in the Land of Rivers."
Jingyi knew exactly who they were but protocol mattered.
Yahiko hesitated. Konan remained quiet.
He evaluated their odds. They couldn't outrun this man. And without Nagato, they likely couldn't overpower him either.
After a tense pause, he finally said:
"We are shinobi from Amegakure. We mean no harm to Konoha. We're here to deal with bandits disrupting the region."