My Techniques are a bit off

Three Days Later, Land of Rivers Border

The carriage trundled along at an unhurried pace, accompanied by three armored samurai.

Link stood on the edge of the carriage, leaning against the rear of the vehicle. He wore Konoha's signature green flak jacket and a neatly positioned forehead protector.

"Since we left Tanzaku Town, someone's been tailing us," Gaara said abruptly, walking beside the carriage. His tone was calm but purposeful. "Shall I eliminate them?"

"No," Link replied, shaking his head. "Let them follow for now. We'll deal with them all at once later."

Due to the chaos in the Land of Rivers and the nature of this mission, the daimyo's son had struggled to find willing attendants for the journey into the war-torn territory. Only three loyal samurai had accompanied him, making the group look modest and unassuming.

The group's smaller size minimized their visibility. One carriage, seven guards, and the daimyo's son remained concealed inside.

Even with the relatively well-maintained roads of the Land of Fire, the path was rugged and riddled with potholes. The carriage creaked and swayed, unable to gain much speed.

Still, the roads here were functional, bordered by forests and wilderness. Occasionally, they encountered other travelers, such as carts carrying goods or refugees fleeing the turmoil in the Land of Rivers.

After about thirty minutes, the carriage approached Kikyo Castle. Once a critical defensive structure during the wars between Konoha and Sunagakure, the castle was now abandoned, left as a relic of a bygone era of conflict. Like Tanzaku Castle, it had been rendered obsolete in times of peace.

The castle's current use was limited to hosting Anbu patrols, ensuring that the area remained secure.

At around ten in the morning, the group passed the castle without stopping and soon crossed into the Land of Rivers.

The terrain beyond the border was much the same—dense forests, rivers, and rolling hills.

Is no one patrolling the border?

Link frowned. Borders in smaller nations were often fluid, especially those bordering major powers. While infiltration might be difficult to prevent, symbolic defenses were necessary to deter direct invasions.

The absence of such defenses suggested the nation's precarious state.

After traversing a stretch of forest, they approached a canyon. Beyond it lay the nearest city on the border.

"Many people are approaching," Gaara said calmly, one hand covering his eye as he surveyed the distance.

An ambush in the canyon?

Link wasn't surprised. "I'll leave it to you. Can you handle it?"

"Yes," Gaara replied, vanishing in a swirl of sand.

The three samurai tensed, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.

Minutes later, as the carriage swayed through the canyon, Gaara returned, unharmed.

Whatever their intentions were, those who targeted the client had paid the ultimate price.

Link gave Gaara a nod of approval. Even without Shukaku, Gaara was undeniably formidable. His skill in ninjutsu and hand signs placed him at a special jonin level, and his immense chakra reserves only bolstered his potential. His narrow specialization was his main drawback, but it was clear he had grown significantly.

By midday, the group reached a small town.

"Crackling..."

From a distance, they saw smoke rising from damaged buildings. No civilians were in sight.

While wars between ninjas often spared the lower classes, internal conflicts like this one were devastating for commoners. Bandits, rogue samurai, and criminals preyed on the weak without restraint. By contrast, high-level ninja tended to ignore civilians, focusing their violence on other shinobi.

After consulting with the daimyo's son, Link decided to bypass the town. Given its desolation, it was unlikely they would find officials or accommodations.

Skirting the area, they came across a field where corpses, clothing, and debris were burning in a large bonfire. The acrid stench of burning flesh and plastic filled the air.

Two monks sat cross-legged near the fire, hands clasped in prayer, reciting sutras. Judging by their attire, they were ninja monks from the Land of Fire, likely assisting with the cleanup.

Link made brief eye contact with one of the monks and nodded respectfully before leading the group around the perimeter of the clearing.

The three samurai accompanying the group seemed visibly shaken. Their expressions were somber, reflecting their dismay at the state of their homeland.

Urged on by the daimyo's son, the group quickened their pace. Yet, as night fell, they still hadn't reached the next town and were forced to camp in the forest.

The samurai, exhausted after walking in armor all day, were in no condition to continue through the night.

…

Back in Konoha, at a secluded building.

"Is Orochimaru too afraid to face me himself?" Danzo's tone was cold and biting. With newfound political support and funding, he had begun reclaiming the aura of the "Darkness of the Shinobi World."

Kabuto removed his hood and tossed a scroll onto the table. "It's been a while, Lord Danzo," he said, his voice measured.

"So it's you." Danzo's lips curled into a smile. "I didn't expect you to be one of Orochimaru's people."

The Root operatives beside him retrieved the scroll and stepped back.

Danzo's eyes glinted with malice. Kabuto had once been a sharp blade under his command, privy to countless secrets that could harm Konoha.

As his gaze darkened, more Root operatives emerged from the shadows, silently encircling Kabuto and the cloaked figure behind him.

"As per our agreement—"

Kabuto seemed oblivious to the threat, continuing, "Will you uphold your end of the bargain and provide the information on Link?"

Danzo's expression remained unchanged, though he hesitated to give the order to attack. Orochimaru's insights into curse marks were too tempting to dismiss lightly. Would it be worth breaking this fragile alliance for the sake of Konoha?

~~~

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