After the fat man and the little girl left the remote border town, they walked into the jungle in one direction.
After cautiously confirming that no one else had followed them, the fat man and the little girl exchanged a glance and then removed their disguises, revealing themselves to be Akimichi Chōza and Yūhi Kurenai, who had infiltrated a few days ago.
Chōza said to Kurenai, "The information has already been passed to the contact. Now we just head to the designated meeting point and wait for Ryoma and Asuma to retrieve the intelligence that needs to be sent back to the village, and then we can leave the Land of Grass."
Kurenai nodded, and immediately she and Chōza advanced swiftly toward the meeting point.
The two young vagabonds from earlier were none other than the disguised Ryoma and Asuma.
They had also just obtained the intelligence to be sent back to the village from the Konoha spy and intelligence operative, and were now hurrying toward the assembly point.
The exchange and transmission of intelligence often occurred in seemingly insignificant, mundane events.
Intelligence operatives naturally did not have the word 'ninja' written across their faces; they concealed themselves, survived, took root, and even started their own businesses in a city, but these were all, without exception, shields and camouflage for their identities.
In a chaotic border town like this, you might never truly know the real identity of those around you.
Even if that person was your friend, your teacher, or even your lover.
The intelligence personnel and spies stationed outside their villages by each ninja village were, without exception, elite operatives in this field from their respective villages.
Yet they lived in this turbulent era, having chosen, for the sake of their villages, to leave the homelands where their ancestors had lived, arriving in a place that might be completely foreign, where everything had to be started over, and where they might be discovered at any moment and lose their lives on the spot.
They took root here, acquiring all kinds of information for Konoha and transmitting various intelligence.
In Ryoma's view, these people were more like Konoha's 'roots' than Danzo and his Root organization he led.
These people truly dedicated their entire lives to Konoha, transforming themselves into nutrients to nurture Konoha, the towering tree standing in plain sight.
In comparison, Danzo and Root, who disappeared somewhere whenever Konoha faced a crisis, seemed somewhat inferior.
They were the true root heroes of Konoha.
After confirming no tails were following, Ryoma and Asuma also reverted to their original appearances and quickly arrived at the predetermined meeting point.
Chōza and Kurenai had already arrived and were waiting there for news from Ryoma and the others.
Ryoma and Asuma jumped down from the trees and reported the situation to Chōza.
"Chōza-sensei, the contact's signal was correct. We've obtained the intelligence."
Chōza nodded approvingly and said to Ryoma, "The intelligence is on you now, so you will be its primary protector."
"If a fight breaks out, I will be the enemy's main target. When necessary, ensuring the intelligence is safely delivered to the village is the top priority. Do you understand what I mean, Ryoma?"
Ryoma looked at Chōza's earnest gaze, hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Subsequently, Ryoma said to Chōza, "Chōza-sensei, during this contact, the operative also gave me another piece of information outside the mission parameters. However, the operative indicated they couldn't confirm its authenticity. But because the matter was significant, they thought we should evaluate it."
Chōza looked at Ryoma doubtfully and asked, "What information?"
Ryoma replied, "According to the operative, a group of Iwagakure ninja may soon transport a very important shipment of war supplies through the Land of Grass to the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain. The target is very likely our Konoha!"
"However, the operative's meaning was that the ninja who sourced this intelligence was already severely injured when they obtained it. They passed on part of the information and then succumbed to their injuries. The remaining content of the intelligence was extrapolated based on recently relayed internal information about the Land of Earth. So its authenticity still needs verification."
Upon hearing this, Chōza pondered for a moment, then said, "Alright, I understand the situation. We'll first infiltrate back to the Land of Fire. Once we reach the Fire Country border, I will faithfully report this matter to the border commander and have them pay close attention to this situation."
"Our team's primary mission now is to deliver this mission's intelligence back to the village. Alright, if there are no issues, we will follow the original planned route to withdraw from the Land of Grass."
"Yes!" *3
...
Ryoma and his three companions cautiously retreated toward the border of the Land of Fire.
After two days of travel, although still within the Land of Grass, they had essentially escaped the area of Kusagakure.
Just as Ryoma and the others were about to breathe a sigh of relief, Ryoma, at the very front of the formation, suddenly raised his hand and halted.
Asuma and Kurenai also stopped beside Ryoma.
Chōza, bringing up the rear, saw this and asked Ryoma, "What is it, Ryoma? Have you spotted something?"
Ryoma said to Chōza, "Chōza-sensei, several of the snakes I sent out for reconnaissance to the west have been eliminated. I can rule out the possibility of them being preyed upon by other wild animals, because the information transmitted back before their deaths detected chakra flow. And it seems there are quite a few people."
"Most importantly, this group is already very close to us, and their direction of advance is our current position. They will be here soon."
Chōza, hearing this, made an immediate decision. "Conceal yourselves first. Observe the situation before deciding on subsequent actions."
With that, Ryoma and his three companions vanished instantly, each concealing their presence not far from one another, silently awaiting the arrival of that group.
Before long, several horse-drawn carts, seemingly loaded with very heavy cargo, appeared in Ryoma and the others' line of sight.
Besides the drivers steering the carts, many ninja were dispersed around the convoy.
Judging by the forehead protectors they wore, they were indeed Iwa-nin!
It seemed the intelligence was accurate; Iwagakure was indeed preparing to transport something to the Fire Country border.
Chōza also fell into a certain dilemma. If the intelligence was correct, it proved that the cargo being transported here was highly likely intended by Iwa-nin to be used against Konoha's ninja.
Yet they themselves also had a mission to complete.
But having stumbled upon them like this, they couldn't continue along their original path, as it was impossible to determine if there were follow-up forces behind this convoy.
And taking a detour meant Chōza and the others' arrival at the Fire Country border would be further delayed; whether the intelligence would still be timely by then was uncertain. If Iwa-nin launched a sudden assault during this process, the ninja at Konoha's border, caught unprepared, would surely suffer.
The result would be catastrophic losses!
Chōza observed the transport unit, estimating about twenty people, with only what appeared to be one jōnin at the front and one at the rear of the convoy. The rest were mostly genin, along with a few chūnin.
After glancing at Ryoma and the other two beside him, Chōza saw the affirming looks directed at him from Ryoma, Asuma, and Kurenai.
His own gaze grew increasingly resolute.
He rapidly signaled tactical hand signs to Ryoma and the others, arranging the battle plan to be executed shortly.
Team Six decided to launch an interdiction here against Iwa-nin's transport convoy.
The objective was to destroy the supplies Iwa-nin were transporting and simultaneously annihilate the Iwa-nin completely!
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