Their conversation ended shortly afterward. Masasane was about to leave the tent when a voice called out.
"Masasane, can I have some of your time? I have something to discuss with you." Asami's tone held the weight of authority, commanding and firm—something Masasane didn't take lightly.
"What's the matter, Asami?" he asked, tilting his head.
Asami paused for a moment, as though gathering her thoughts. "Sensei, haven't you noticed all the little inconsistencies surrounding Mitsuoki and his friends?"
Masasane raised an eyebrow, mildly intrigued. "What do you mean?"
"Haven't you noticed how Mitsuoki and his retinue avoid major population centres? And how often he decides to take detours that serve no logistical purpose?"
Masasane scratched his head in contemplation. "I thought the same thing at times, but strange things happen on missions. There's no need to overthink everything."
Asami, however, stood her ground. "They do, but not to this degree. Mitsuoki and his group are actively trying to avoid detection."
Masasane shrugged. "And? That kind of behavior isn't uncommon. Many shinobi, especially high-ranking ones, value secrecy."
"This isn't just secrecy, Sensei. Didn't you hear what the guards said back at the main gate? We were the third team dispatched to Iwagakure."
"I fail to see the issue, Asami," Masasane replied, visibly unconcerned.
Asami narrowed her eyes. Masasane wasn't taking her concerns seriously. "Sensei, who were these other teams? What were their missions? Don't you find it odd that we weren't briefed properly? It's your duty to know."
Masasane's brow furrowed as he considered her words. "I think... one team escorted a wealthy landowner. The other was assigned to protect a delegation of Iwa diplomats. You don't think…"
"That we were tricked? That we're being used as cover? Yes, I do. I don't have definitive proof, but I suspect that we're the ones escorting the real diplomats, and the other two teams are just bait to distract or draw out attackers."
Masasane sighed deeply, brushing off the conclusion. "Asami, you're overthinking this. You're seeing enemies where none exist."
"You don't believe me?" Asami asked in disbelief. Once again, her observations were dismissed as paranoia.
"Look, Asami, everything you've said is speculation. I'm not saying you're wrong, but as a jonin, I have to rely on verified information. That said, I do appreciate your insight. Don't worry—if there's danger, I'll protect you. I'm a jonin for a reason, and I'm still your sensei. You can count on me." He gave her a smile before exiting the tent.
"I hope so, Masasane. I really hope so." Asami clenched her fist, anger rising. "It's not my survival I'm worried about." She had done her part, but clearly, it wasn't enough.
As night fell, Asami crawled into her sleeping bag. The day had drained her, and exhaustion overtook her quickly. Somewhere in the forest, a crow sat perched on a high branch, its gaze fixed on the camp. Silent, watchful, and waiting.
—
Amegakure's iconic skyline loomed ahead—towers of steel and iron stretching toward the heavens, jagged like blades. Skyscrapers rose from the muddy terrain, casting long shadows under the ever-present clouds. The route Mitsuoki selected led them directly through the heart of the city—a controversial and risky decision. Ame was not a place for the faint of heart.
The notorious rain never ceased. It poured and poured, unrelenting. Everyone was soaked to the bone, their travel-worn cloaks heavy with moisture. Everyone, that is, except for Asami. She strolled beneath a black umbrella coated with protective chakra, dry and composed despite the storm.
But she hardly noticed the rain—her attention was elsewhere. Two figures had been tailing them since they crossed Amegakure's borders. They hadn't made visual contact, but their chakra signatures were immense. Too immense. Their suppressed chakra radiated with lethal intensity, making their presence unmistakable to a trained sensor like her.
"..." Asami grumbled under her breath, displeased.
"Asami?"
She turned slightly. "What's up, Aritame?"
Aritame wore a drenched raincoat, shoulders slouched under its weight. "How come you're still completely dry? We're soaked like drowned rats."
Asami gave him a small smile. "It's the umbrella."
"The umbrella?" He stared at her blankly, clearly skeptical.
"It's a very special umbrella…" she said with a mischievous grin.
But her words trailed off. Her senses flared in alarm.
She barely reacted in time.
Shuriken flew from the mist with blinding speed. Asami moved swiftly, her umbrella snapping open and glowing with hardened chakra. She twisted her wrist, angling it just right. The shield of chakra extended outward, forming a defensive dome.
The shuriken struck with force, but the umbrella held. Sparks flew as metal clashed against chakra. Dust and mist swirled violently. Aritame and Yukihiro ducked behind her, shielded from harm.
Masasane, seasoned jonin that he was, moved deftly, weaving through the barrage with well-practiced grace. He needed no protection.
The barrage ended. Her shield dissolved into purple mist, fading into the rain. Aritame and Yukihiro were unharmed, but not everyone was as lucky.
The rest of the convoy had been annihilated.
Corpses littered the muddy road. Severed limbs and broken bodies lay strewn about like discarded dolls. Crimson mixed with rainwater, flowing in thin rivers across the ground. They had died instantly, never knowing what hit them.
Aritame and Yukihiro drew their kunai, their hands trembling slightly, but their resolve firming. From the mist, two figures emerged. One held an enormous sword draped in cloth. The other was silent, still, and infinitely more terrifying.
They both wore black cloaks decorated with red clouds.
Asami's eyes sharpened, her grip tightening on the umbrella.
The swordsman grinned, flashing his shark-like teeth. "Tracking down the real ambassador took longer than I expected. But hey, third time's the charm, right, Itachi?"
Itachi didn't respond. His face was unreadable, his presence chilling.
"You know, you're no fun," the swordsman muttered. "You should really try to lighten up once in a while."
Asami didn't recognize the swordsman, but she recognized the man beside him. So did Masasane.
His face went pale. His hands trembled.
Itachi Uchiha.
ANBU operative. Clan killer. Rogue ninja. S-rank criminal.
This was going to be a very, very ugly fight.