Naruto Kitsune

"So you failed, Ryugan." A man said to the blue-haired boy.

He possessed a slim face with a prominent jawline with a visible black line around the lower area of his eyes and a brown hair that was swept to the back.

His name was Hoki and he was the leader of the four celestial symbol man.

"Ha. I know I should have sent Kujaku or Suiko instead."

He lamented.

"It's not exactly defeat. I just retreated because I didn't want to suffer needless injuries. They still have a Jonin with them."

Ryugan said in a laid-back manner.

"Do you think you will lose?" Hoki asked.

"No. But I think I need backup. I don't want to suffer any kind of needless injuries. From a blind spot."

"Fine. You can go to Suiko and tell him to follow your orders. But remember we can't let them back to the village with the news that we tried to attack the Shinobis of Konoha."

Ryugan nodded.

*****

In the Takumi village.

"This sucks. I want to sleep on a bed or at least some kind of soft surface." Tate complained while lying on a rug in a small hut.

"Still It's surprising how none of the villagers didn't offer us any shelter even if we offered them money. Do you think that there is some kind of foul play?"

"Tsurugi. Don't say such things."

Hayama stopped Tsurigi and Tate as he did not want anyone to hear their conversation.

He then pulled out an empty tailsman from his pouch.

He used a kunai to cut a small part of his fighter to make himself bleed. And started to write something on the talisman.

[If anyone is spying on us we might get into trouble. We still need to stay in this village for about two days to finish a mission that the third has assigned to me.]

The note said.

Shiro nodded.

Tsurigi and Tate do not seem to be very on board with staying in this village but they also nod.

After all, even if they are dissatisfied the mission still takes priority.

As they were taught that those who abandon their mission are considered scum and will be treated badly by the villagers.

If the villagers find out that they have abandoned the mission, no matter the circumstances they will become outcasts that will have trouble even buying food.

And not only that the decision that they make will not only impact them but also their loved ones such as family.

"This is getting late. Let's sleep."

Hayama said. He has to rest to recover his lost energy as he will need it when he has to investigate the seven ninja swordsman of the mist.

Tate noticed that Tsurugi was not preparing to sleep.

"Hey. Aren't you going to sleep?"

"Both Shiro and Sensei said one of us needs to stay guard in case of an enemy attack. So they ask me to stay and guard them while they sleep. And in turn, they will let me sleep next morning with Shiro and you guarding me."

"I get about having to stay on guard but both of us? Don't we need to help Sensei with the mission?" Tate asked.

"The mission is only for Hayama-sensei. Our is already done when the carriage arrived the village."

Shiro who was already lying on his back said to Tate.

"Exactly. All we have to do now is to wait for Hayama sensei to finish his job and then we can go back to the village."

"So everything is fine? Then I am going to sleep. Oh. Tsurugi. If you feel that someone is spying on us then wake up immediately." Tate said.

"Of course I will. What do you think standing guard even means?" She replied with some sarcasm.

*****

"Hmm. So they are going to split up the next day."

Ryugan said while observing team 1 from a place not very far away.

"It would be a great time to strike. While the children are separated from the Jonin. Hey, Suiko. You follow the jonin and finish him off I will take care of the three children."

"Hey. Why are you getting the easy part?"

A tall man with brown hair who was wielding a mace said to Ryugan.

"I just have an unfinished business with one of them. And it's not like your infinite armour is going to be broken by a normal Jonin."

"That is true. But I am going to take a larger portion of the money for this task because I have to fight a stronger one."

"Fine. It's not like I care anyway. Once we finish them off Konoha will cut off their relationship with the merchant group who will have no choice but to hire our services."

The goal of them was not just the contract with the merchant group but the merchant group itself.

In the future, they were planning to revive their village founder by using the tail beasts and rage war on the shinobi world.

But it was a long-term plan so they were planning to start small first by taking over the business that they have in the village's terrority for financial gain for the future.

Small things matter when you are planning to do something big after all.

"Hmm. Should I go and get Kujaku for this mission? This is a jonin after all." Suiko muttered to himself.

But it was not in a low voice so Ryugan could hear it.

"Most of the strongest Jonins from Konoha died when the war occurred. And the nine-tails attack didn't help them either. Since this guy is taking care of kids and not in an elite squad, I am sure you can handle him with no problem."

"That is true. I am the strongest among all four of us except for Hoki."

"Huh? What gives you that ridiculous idea?" Ryugan said in anger.

It was full of aggression but it was still not loud enough to alert Team 1 who were resting.

"Your sword is useless against my armour. Is it not?" he asked.

"I am not going to continue this useless conversation anymore," Ryugan said even though he did not want to admit this he knew that he was weaker than Suiko.