Since yesterday afternoon, Hizashi's condition had visibly declined. Dizziness, lack of focus, even the Byakugan's range had shrunk.
Sakumo noticed and called for a halt. They rested for the night, and Hizashi improved slightly.
"Dojutsu requires both chakra and Spirit. My soldier pills replenish physical energy, which can convert to Spirit, but rest is the best cure. Hizashi-senpai's high-intensity usage without proper mental recovery caused this," Taiichi diagnosed, recommending more rest.
However, Sakumo overruled him. The mission was urgent. They had to finish scouting the last two outposts by morning and meet the ANBU by afternoon.
15km to the last outpost. Hizashi couldn't keep the Byakugan active constantly, saving it for final confirmation.
5km out, Hizashi activated his eyes. Sweat beaded on his forehead immediately. Taiichi moved to support him, but Hizashi pushed him away gently.
"Last one. I can hold on."
Seeing his determination, no one argued. Finishing quickly meant resting sooner.
They moved stealthily.
"3km ahead, 2 o'clock, Sand patrol."
"4km ahead, 11 o'clock, hidden sentry."
Guided by the Byakugan, they reached 3km from the target. They hid behind a rock while Hizashi confirmed the layout.
Five minutes later, Hizashi deactivated his eyes, exhausted. "Confirmed. We can retreat."
The team moved away quickly, relieved. Hizashi even smiled faintly.
"Stop!" Taiichi hissed suddenly.
The team froze, looking at him.
"I have a sensing jutsu. 500 meters ahead, four Sand ninjas. They sensed us but aren't sure. They're approaching."
"Impossible! I checked that direction!" Hizashi started, then realized. Due to exhaustion, he had focused only on the outpost and ignored his blind spot. And he deactivated his eyes immediately after.
Guilt washed over him.
"Accidents happen. Focus on solving it," Sakumo interrupted his apology. "Can you activate the Byakugan?"
Hizashi shook his head. "Too drained."
"Taiichi, status?"
"450 meters. Approaching slowly, spread out. Haven't identified us as enemies yet."
Sakumo acted instantly. "Disguise as Sand ninjas. Approach slowly. Once in visual range, ambush and kill them. No signal flares allowed. Minato, you're the key."
They adopted casual postures, using terrain to mask their approach while closing the distance.
300m. 200m. 100m.
"Over this hill, we'll be face to face. Less than 30 meters," Taiichi warned.
Sakumo drew his tanto. Minato readied his Flying Raijin kunai. Hizashi gathered chakra.
As they crested the hill, the four Sand ninjas were at the bottom. Both sides saw each other.
The Sand ninjas were surprised to see "fellow" ninjas here. With the alliance news, their guard was down.
In that split second, Minato threw three kunai. The four Konoha ninjas flickered forward.
"Signal!" The Sand leader realized something was wrong. These "allies" were moving too fast, with killing intent.
He dodged the kunai and reached for his flare. Just as he pulled the tab, a kunai slit his throat from behind, and a hand clamped over the flare.
He died wondering how the enemy got behind him so fast. Unfair...
With the signaler down, Minato moved to the next. Sakumo and Taiichi dispatched theirs instantly.
The battle lasted seconds. Jonin vs Chunin, with surprise on the Jonin's side.
Hizashi looked at Taiichi with complex emotions. Sakumo was right. Don't underestimate him. His combat power is Jonin level too.
"Surprised?" Sakumo patted Hizashi's shoulder as they cleaned up.
"I understand now. Some people are just different. But this risk was my fault."
"You've done well. We're a team to cover each other's weaknesses. Now clean up. We need to vanish."
Later, in a hidden cave on the border.
Taiichi massaged Hizashi's head with Yang chakra, soothing his furrowed brows.
"He was too slow in the fight. Mental exhaustion affects combat," Taiichi explained. "I'm inducing deep sleep. One night, and he'll recover."
Half an hour later, Hizashi was snoring.
"Is he okay?" Sakumo asked.
"Fine. Just needs sleep."
"Good job, Taiichi. Go rest. I'll take first watch," Sakumo said.
Minato and Taiichi rested.
Around 6 PM, darkness fell. A rhythmic bird call sounded outside.
Sakumo replied with a different rhythm.
A dog-masked ANBU entered. Without a word, he tossed a scroll to Sakumo and vanished.
"Are all ANBU that... efficient?" Taiichi asked, surprised.
"Depends on the person. But generally, yes," Sakumo chuckled.
Minato set up a soundproof barrier around Hizashi. They opened the scroll.
The Sand envoy was Rousa, a high-ranking hawk. Interestingly, his hawkishness was directed at Konoha, not Stone. He was a veteran of the Second War and a puppet master second only to Chiyo.
Rousa was 52, his current strength unknown, but his puppet skills were dangerous.
His escort was a Jonin squad led by Kazekiri, an Elite Jonin wind user. One Special Jonin (sword user) and two Chunin rounded out the team.
Four Konoha Jonin-level fighters vs. three Sand Jonin-level fighters. The odds were good.
They spent an hour planning the ambush and extraction.
"Rousa is a puppeteer, so he uses poison. Take the antidote pills before the fight," Taiichi reminded them.
Plan set, they rested.
---
Sand Outpost, tens of kilometers away.
The outpost captain welcomed Rousa's delegation nervously.
"Any anomalies on the border?" Rousa asked.
"Quiet. No Stone probes recently. But... this morning, a squad from Outpost 8 went missing."
"Missing?" Rousa's eyes sharpened.
"Yes. No traces found. Just vanished."
Rousa frowned. Vanishing without a trace meant a powerful enemy.
In his tent, Rousa gathered his escorts. He handed each an antidote pill. "You heard the report. Just in case, take these if we fight. It's the antidote for my own poison."