"By the way, why are you coming with us on this mission?"
"Sigh… your dad doesn't trust you, so he sent me to follow you guys."
Hearing this, Ay snorted in displeasure, crossed his arms, and said nothing more.
Seriously, after losing to Uchiha Yuzuru last time, his father didn't even trust him anymore.
He had used the opportunity of taking a mission to go out and relax with Killer B, and now he even had Uchiha Yuzuru watching over him.
One day, he would defeat Uchiha Yuzuru to prove himself.
Seeing that the two had stopped talking, the short, stout man sitting at the front of the carriage said, "Gentlemen, it's almost noon. Shall we eat something before continuing our journey?"
Ay said indifferently, "You're the employer, we'll do as you say."
The short, stout man wiped the sweat from his forehead and cautiously said, "Then let's stop for a bit."
"I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Shiraishi Yuta, and the purpose of this trip is to escort goods to the Land of Frost."
Ay impatiently said, "All of this is explained in the mission details, no need to repeat it."
Shiraishi Yuta immediately lowered his head and started eating his dry rations.
Uchiha Yuzuru glared at Ay and said disapprovingly, "Be more polite to the employer, otherwise the business that Kumogakure finally managed to snatch will be gone in a few days."
Ay threw a military ration pill into his mouth and said blandly, "Got it."
"Then smile."
"Uchiha Yuzuru, don't push your luck!"
"I'm your uncle. If you don't listen, I'll tell the Third Raikage."
Ay took a deep breath and forced a smile onto his face.
Before the smile could fully form, Uchiha Yuzuru waved his hand, "Don't bother smiling, it's really damn ugly."
I'll endure!
Ay clenched his fists, making them crackle, trying hard not to act impulsively.
Otherwise, getting beaten up would only make him more frustrated.
Killer B suddenly started gesticulating, "New inspiration, my big brother is an idiot!"
"Yo~ Bakayaro, Konoyaro!"
"Hahahahaha…"
Looking at Ay, who looked like he had eaten something foul, Uchiha Yuzuru couldn't help but burst out laughing.
That's for mocking me just now! I'll infuriate you!
After laughing, Uchiha Yuzuru asked Shiraishi Yuta, "Employer Yuta, you seem to have something you want to say, right?"
Shiraishi Yuta glanced at Ay, who had run off to the side, and then said, "Um… for this escort mission, will it really only be settled according to the C-rank mission reward?"
He had only posted a C-rank mission, and Kumogakure had actually assigned Ay, Killer B, and Uchiha Yuzuru to escort it.
He had heard stories of Ay and Killer B in taverns and knew that they were currently recognized as the strongest ninja in Kumogakure.
And that young man was Uchiha Yuzuru, who had recently caused a stir by successfully leading the Uchiha defection from Konoha… This kind of lineup made Shiraishi Yuta feel like he had inadvertently become involved in some huge vortex, always feeling like his life was in danger.
Otherwise, for a simple C-rank mission, there would be no need to deploy such powerful individuals, right?
Seemingly sensing Shiraishi Yuta's worries, Uchiha Yuzuru reassured him, "Don't worry, we are always fair in our dealings, and we will absolutely guarantee your safety."
Hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's promise, Shiraishi Yuta breathed a sigh of relief.
With the guarantee of such a powerful individual, he shouldn't be in any life-threatening danger, right?
After eating and resting for a short while, the group set off again.
Stopping and starting along the way, they soon arrived at the border between the Land of Rice Fields and the Land of Frost.
— — — — —
Ay and Killer B walked in front, Uchiha Yuzuru walked behind, and the three of them protected the carriage in the center.
Suddenly, the sound of a wire snapping rang out.
Immediately after, explosive tags detonated, and flames engulfed the carriage, along with Uchiha Yuzuru and the others.
Three ninja wearing Konoha headbands emerged from the nearby fields.
One of them said coldly, "Let these blind fools who hired Kumogakure ninja repent in hell."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Uchiha Yuzuru, Ay, and Killer B walked over from a distance, "You wouldn't think such a clumsy trap could deceive us, would you?"
Hearing this, the Konoha ninja raised an eyebrow, "You discovered us beforehand, were those just shadow clones?"
Ay clenched his fists, his eyes filled with rage, "Finally, I can vent properly! You rats who only hide your heads and show your tails!"
Hearing Ay's provocative words, one of the Konoha ninja said somewhat proudly, "You only dodged one trap, and you think you've won?"
After the Konoha ninja finished speaking, six more ninja wearing Konoha headbands appeared, surrounding Uchiha Yuzuru, Ay, and Killer B.
"You… are surrounded!"
Uchiha Yuzuru ignored them, merely saying, "Nine people, three squads. One squad for each of us."
Ay nodded, "I have no problem."
Killer B said nothing, still holding a pencil and staring intently at the notebook in his hand, seemingly still immersed in his own world.
"Go!"
The moment Uchiha Yuzuru finished speaking, Ay's figure had already vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already in front of a Konoha squad.
"Lightning Release: Lariat!"
Before one of the Konoha ninja could react, his body was picked up and slammed hard onto the ground.
Bang!
Looking at his companion, whose brains were splattered and body was surrounded by lightning, the other two Konoha ninja picked up their kunai and lunged at Ay's heart.
Ay sneered, punching the ninja in front of him, shattering his bones and tendons.
Behind him, the last Konoha ninja's attack couldn't even break through his Lightning Release Armor.
"H-how is this possible?!"
Crack!
The Konoha ninja's neck was twisted, and in just a few short seconds, an entire squad was wiped out.
On the other side, three Konoha ninja continuously threw shuriken, kunai, and explosive tags at Killer B.
Boom!
With a huge explosion, the ground trembled.
But before the three ninja could rejoice, a thick octopus tail whipped out from the smoke, instantly caving in the chest of one of the Konoha ninja.
"W-what kind of monster is this?!"
The other two Konoha ninja looked at the giant octopus tentacles growing from Killer B's body, their faces filled with terror.
Killer B raised his hands, his body beginning to sway rhythmically, "Freely using the power of a Tailed Beast, this old man is an illusion existing in reality, you should firmly remember the name of Kumogakure's perfect Jinchuriki…"
"Bee~"
With a casual flick, a pencil imbued with Lightning Release chakra pierced through the forehead of one of the Konoha ninja.
"Perfect… Jinchuriki?"
"You're kidding, right? How can a Jinchuriki use the power of a Tailed Beast as they please?!"
Hearing the Konoha ninja's desperate question, Killer B pointed to Uchiha Yuzuru nearby, "Sharingan can suppress the Tailed Beast, making it effortless to use its power."
"Bakayaro, Konoyaro~"
After speaking, he looked at Uchiha Yuzuru somewhat strangely, "Why haven't you made your move yet?"
Originally, according to the plan, the three Konoha ninja Uchiha Yuzuru was responsible for dealing with had already picked up the sole remaining companion from Killer B's squad and were rapidly fleeing into the distant dense forest.
Uchiha Yuzuru remained unmoved by this, merely saying blandly, "I have my plan."
Hearing this, Killer B didn't ask any further questions.
For him, getting out to relax was the most important thing.
He didn't care about a few insignificant Konoha ninja escaping.
However, unlike Killer B, the hot-tempered Ay angrily waved his hand, "Cut the act! I'm going to kill all of them!"
Just as he was about to give chase, countless senbon-like projectiles shot towards him.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"