Kapitel 190: 189-I Know
The sun hung high in the sky, casting sharp shadows across the village gates as Renjiro stood waiting for his squad. His usual calm demeanour was laced with a hint of contemplation.
'I need to do something about my appearance,' he thought. His red hair and distinctive features were unmistakable markers of his identity, making anonymity a challenge. Other than Kushina and his late father, Renjiro had never seen anyone else with Redhair.
'Should I cut it? No, that wouldn't suffice, at least for this mission. Considering the current situation, I'll need to completely change my appearance,' he concluded.
As these thoughts played through his mind, Kudo arrived, his expression respectful yet curious. "Renjiro-sama," he greeted, bowing slightly. Renjiro acknowledged him with a nod, offering a rare smile.
"Good to see you, Kudo. How's patrolling the village been?" Renjiro asked, striking up a casual conversation. The question was more than just small talk; it was a subtle way of gauging the morale and state of readiness within the squad.
Kudo shrugged lightly, a relaxed smile on his face. "It's been quiet, mostly. A few minor disturbances, but nothing we couldn't handle. It's given me some time to work on my sensory skills, though."
"That's good to hear," Renjiro responded.
As they spoke, the other four squad members arrived in quick succession. They all greeted Renjiro with respectful nods and a few murmured greetings, standing in a loose semicircle around him.
"Are you all ready?" Renjiro asked.
The question was simple, yet it conveyed a deeper meaning. The mission details had been kept vague, emphasizing the need for preparedness and adaptability.
'I haven't even told them what the mission is but we agreed that they should be prepared for anything, so I am sure they will be fine.' Renjiro thought.
"We're ready," Tora spoke for the group, his voice steady. The others nodded in agreement, their eyes fixed on Renjiro, waiting for the mission brief.
Renjiro took a deep breath, crossing his arms as he looked at each of them. "Our mission is an escort. We're to safely escort the Fire Daimyo's son to Tanigure, the village hidden in the valleys in the Land of Rivers." He paused, letting the information sink in. "This is a high-profile mission, and we must be vigilant at all times."
Akira was the first to voice a question. "Are there any known threats or groups we should be aware of?"
Renjiro nodded. "Intelligence suggests the possibility of rogue ninja or bandits. We can't rule out more organized threats either, given the Daimyo's position. Our priority is to get the boy to Tanigakure safely, without drawing unnecessary attention."
Miki frowned thoughtfully. "Do we have any information on the terrain we'll be travelling through?"
"The route will take us through a mix of forest and river valleys. It's relatively straightforward, but we need to be cautious of ambush points or anything else," Renjiro explained, appreciating her attention to detail.
Tora, looking slightly confused, thought, 'Then shouldn't he have told us this earlier?'
Renjiro smiled as he saw Tora's face, "Part of the mission is to test our ability to adapt to changing circumstances. You should always be prepared for anything."
Before they set off, Renjiro reached into his bag and pulled out a set of plain white animal masks, handing one to each of them.
"You will need to wear these," he instructed. The masks were simple, ordinary, and designed to obscure their identities.
The squad members exchanged puzzled glances as they took the masks. Miki's thoughts mirrored the confusion on their faces.
'Are we taking on an ANBU mission?' she wondered. The masks were reminiscent of the ones used by the elite ANBU Black Ops, though less distinctive.
As they donned their masks, Renjiro activated the Transformation Jutsu, his appearance shifting. His red hair turned jet-black, and he seemed to grow taller. The transformation was subtle yet effective, altering his look enough to avoid easy recognition.
Kudo, adjusting his mask, couldn't help but ask, "Why the disguise, Renjiro-sama?"
Renjiro's eyes, now a darker hue, glanced at him. "Just in case," he replied cryptically, offering no further explanation.
His answer left Kudo and the others curious and slightly uneasy, but they knew better than to press the matter. '
Just in case what?' Kudo thought, but he quickly refocused, reminding himself of the task ahead.
With their disguises in place, the squad set off from the village gates, their pace brisk and steady. The journey to the capital of the Land of Fire was uneventful, the familiar landscape passing by in a blur of green and brown.
It took them two hours to reach the capital, a bustling city where the power and wealth of the Fire Country were most evident. As they approached the grand estate of the Fire Daimyo, they were quickly ushered through the gates by the vigilant guards, their disguised presence causing no small amount of curiosity and suspicion.
They were led to a spacious reception room, where a middle-aged man with an air of authority awaited them. His robes were richly embroidered, and he bore a striking resemblance to the young boy standing beside him, who looked no older than twelve.
The boy had an expression of curiosity and a hint of apprehension, clearly aware of the importance of the situation.
The man, whom they recognized as the Daimyo, greeted them with a nod. "Welcome. I trust you are the team assigned to escort my son to Tanigure?"
Renjiro stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Yes, Daimyo-sama. We are here to ensure his safe passage."
"Good. I trust your village has chosen its best for this task."
Renjiro nodded confidently. "We will not disappoint, Daimyo-sama."
The Daimyo turned to his son, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "This is my son, Akihiko. I trust you will keep him safe."
Akihiko looked at the masked figures with wide eyes, clearly both intrigued and nervous.
"We will protect him with our lives," Renjiro replied. It was a bit cringe, even for him, but Renjiro felt that he should say it because this was the Fire Daimyo after all.
As they prepared to leave the Daimyo's estate, Renjiro had a brief conversation with the head guard who was also going to accompany them, He was a stern man with greying hair and a vigilant gaze.
"We appreciate your assistance," he said, his voice steady. "Our orders are to keep the young master safe, and your presence adds a valuable safeguard."
Renjiro nodded, his expression calm. "We'll stay out of sight, but we'll be nearby. If anything happens that you can't handle, we'll step in."
The head guard acknowledged this with a curt nod. "Understood. Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
'Well, it doesn't hurt to be cautious,' Renjiro mused, reflecting on the Daimyo's decision to enlist Konoha's help. 'If I were in the same position, I would do the same.'
With the arrangements made, the convoy departed the capital, heading south toward Tanigakure. The route they took was well-travelled but not without its risks.
The Land of Rivers, a place of shifting alliances and hidden dangers, was known for its unpredictable terrain and occasional rogue elements.
'I am even surprised Iwaat allowed me to take this mission with the way they wanted me to only take missions in countries that are allied with Konoha.' Renjiro thought.
As they travelled, Renjiro and his squad maintained a discreet distance behind the Daimyo's entourage. They stayed just within earshot, close enough to intervene if necessary, but far enough to remain unseen.
The journey was uneventful at first, the only sounds being the rustle of leaves and the soft footfalls of the guards and shinobi.
As they crossed into the Land of Rivers, the terrain began to change. The forests grew denser, and the paths more winding.
It was then that Kudo caught up to Renjiro. Leaning in close, he whispered, "Renjiro-sama, a group is approaching us. They're keeping their distance for now, but they're closing in."
Renjiro didn't show any signs of surprise. His expression remained calm, his voice steady as he replied,
"I know."
He had sensed the group earlier, their presence a subtle disturbance in the otherwise tranquil surroundings. He had decided not to act immediately, opting instead to observe and assess the situation.
"We'll only interfere if the Daimyo's guards can't handle them."
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