Generally speaking, an ANBU squad leader is at least at the level of a Jōnin or Elite Jōnin. Hatake Sakumo designated Ren's unit as a "Hehe Squad"—an internal joke more than anything—primarily for safety reasons.
The squad leader, Hyūga Sōji, known for his Byakugan, held the reputation of being the Leaf's top sensor.
On missions, his skill virtually guaranteed the team would never be caught off guard.
With his perception and escape route planning, he made sure they were always one step ahead of danger.
Although Sōji was an Elite Jōnin, the Hyūga clan's limitation in using elemental ninjutsu meant his mission scope was more streamlined.
He was a calculated strategist—analyze first, act second. And if anything went sideways, his reactions were razor sharp.
His team included an Uchiha Jōnin known as Uchiha Canon Fodder 1, who was decent, if not particularly remarkable.
Then there was Hatake Fan, a distant nephew of Sakumo, with top-tier kenjutsu skills.
Though not officially ranked as such, he likely had the capabilities of a Tokubetsu Jōnin.
The last member, Matsushita—an unfortunate name for a civilian-born Elite Chūnin—had the weakest combat ability in the group.
But what he lacked in raw strength, he made up for in smarts.
He specialized in ambush tactics. Despite a few past missions where intelligence failures nearly doomed the team, it was always Matsushita's quick-thinking plans that bailed everyone out.
The man had a brain wired for assassination and evasion.
Ren had picked up all this background knowledge already.
At present, they were moving in swift formation across the vast canopy of the forest.
Up ahead, Hyūga Sōji had just closed his Byakugan.
"We're approaching the border of the Land of Wind," he announced, voice calm but firm.
"Stay alert. Byakugan drains chakra with extended use, so I'll only activate it for 60 seconds every five minutes. The rest is on all of you. Understood?"
"Got it!" the team responded in unison.
Even Ren nodded solemnly. Sure, back in Konoha, he could afford to act cocky—but outside, in the wilds bordering enemy territory? Yeah, now wasn't the time for games.
Before their departure, Uchiha Canon Fodder 1*had been regularly arguing with Matsushita and picking fights with Ren too.
But since they'd left Konoha, he'd toned it down dramatically.
"Can Ren keep up physically?" Canon Fodder 1 asked. "If not, just say so. Don't push yourself."
"I'm fine. Chakra's stable, stamina full. We have a mission to complete," Ren replied calmly.
He landed on a sturdy branch and kicked off with a flash of faint blue chakra from the soles of his feet, accelerating without any real energy drain.
Over the last day, Ren had started to understand Canon Fodder 1's personality.
Classic Uchiha. Arrogant, dramatic, always carrying himself like he was destined for greatness. But beneath that ego was a ninja who knew how to prioritize.
When it came to missions, Canon Fodder 1 showed solid judgment and a respect for team coordination.
Their mission this time was an assassination. Not extremely difficult—but definitely not a cakewalk either.
Their target was a group of Kirigakure diplomats, the same group Orochimaru had earlier impersonated in that little stunt at the tavern near Sunagakure.
Apparently, the negotiations had wrapped up. The Kirigakure envoy had departed the Hidden Sand a few days ago, and Konoha's spies had gotten the word via a carrier bird.
Based on travel speed projections, the group would take five days to reach the Wind Country border.
Normally, it wouldn't take so long—but their lead negotiator was an elderly shinobi with barely Genin-level strength. Because of that, their pace was much slower.
"Per Orochimaru's report," Sōji briefed, "the group includes one Jōnin from the Hōzuki clan, one Elite Jōnin from the Yuki clan, and two Elite Chūnin. The negotiator—old man Genin-level—can be ignored. The plan: I'll handle the Yuki Elite Jōnin, Matsushita will manage traps and support, Hatake and Little Ren, you'll take the two Chūnin. Canon Fodder 1, you support whoever's struggling. Got it?"
"The Kirigakure envoy is heading to Kyushu Harbor at the Wind Country's edge to board a vessel. That's where we hit them. In a desert full of sand and stone, their Water Style techniques will be handicapped."
"True," Sōji nodded. "Yuki clan users lose edge without water. My Gentle Fist can suppress him quickly. As for the Hōzuki, even with the Hiding in Mist Technique or Hydrification, Sharingan and the terrain work in our favor."
"The only issue," Canon Fodder 1 cut in, "is timing. How long until we reach them?"
"They'll arrive in one day," Matsushita answered. "We can make it in the same time, but we need an additional half-day to prep ambush points, set traps, and establish escape routes. That means we need to arrive half a day earlier. So, we push now."
"Little Ren, still good?" Fan asked.
"Let's speed up," Ren confirmed.
The squad picked up the pace, chakra flickering across trees and sand alike, cutting time like razors.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the border in the desert flats of the Wind Country…
"Hey hey hey... We purposely made a show of leaving Sunagakure. Think they took the bait?" the Hōzuki Jōnin asked, his voice slithering with amusement.
"Hmph," growled the Yuki Elite Jōnin. "With the ruckus in the Wind Country lately, you think Konoha's blind? Hell, for all we know, that quiet guy who sat behind you during negotiations was a Konoha plant."
"Please," the Hōzuki scoffed. "I literally pulled out a kettle and drank in front of him—hell, I even insulted the food, loudly. Any spy would have flinched at least a little. That guy didn't blink. Dead giveaway that he was just some stuffy bureaucrat."
"Whatever," the Yuki muttered. "Debating it is pointless. You two, reinforce the Trapped Water Barrier. Full Moon—keep launching the Waterfall Technique. We've got enough stored in the barrier to last two days. Let's make it hell for them when they get here."
At that moment, the Yuki Elite Jōnin closed his eyes and smiled coldly. "Let's catch Konoha's little assassins with their pants down."
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