Naruto: Rise of Otogakure

After this failed ambush, the priority no longer was about the delivery of the carriage.

The scales were now much higher. As long as the information reached the clan, then elders would be involved and a war would break out.

However, just news about an ambush was inefficient. They needed to understand and investigate what happened to the Chimei Clan.

"The mission has changed. Sakura, Genji, you guys escort our people safely to the clan. Taki, you come with me. We need to investigate the whereabouts of the Chimei people who were supposed to meet us. I am afraid that if they were killed, a war will break out", Yumi said

Yumi was an experienced leader. She knew what it was all about.

If the Kaonashi clan had truly attacked the Chimei Clan, then, as an ally of the Chimei Clan, the Kinzoku clan would declare war. With their current strength, the Kaonashi did not stand a chance. After all, they were not fighters to the core, but rather, information gatherer.

However, if they had attacked only their convoy, then it could be mitigated with a large compensation. This is why the information was crucial.

Taki did not answer, visibly still shaken by the previous battle, and the death of Eiji.

"Take me with you", Genji's voice broke out the silence

"No, this is out of the question", Yumi said, meeting Genji's eyes with a fierce expression. 

There was no way she would let a six-years-old take over such a dangerous mission.

"Why?", Genji continued, "Just because you are the daughter of Elder Nakamoro does not give you right to go against the family's rules. I am clearly stronger than Taki, both in mind and in combat. Plus, for an investigation mission, my genjutsu skills could come in handy"

Sakura tried to voice out her opinion, but Yumi cut him short: "I apologize, Genji...I treated you as a young clansman seed, whereas I should have treated for the shinobi you are. I accept your proposition"

Sakura's eyes widened in shock: "You can't do tha-"

"My decision is final, Sakura. Genji is right, the stakes are too high. I cannot take anyone below Genji's level"

"Then, take me!", Sakura shouted, "Am I not worthy enough? Did I not put enough effort into my training?"

Yumi's eyes did not even flinch: "Sakura...You know Genji better than anyone. His achievements in the previous battles exceed even mine. He was the one warning us about the danger, he was the one who took the initiative to put them all under a genjutsu, he was the one to take on an elite genin by himself! This is not about effort, Sakura"

Sakura's eyes became teary, but Genji did not provide any support.

These kind of events fueled strength of characters. And if Sakura wanted to stay in his life, and serve his ambitions, she needed to become stronger.

Genji finished looting the level 20 shinobi, and moved on.

He had gotten a new jutsu scroll.

Shurikenjutsu: Shadow Shuriken [D]

Although shurikenjutsu was quite unpopular and arguably weak in comparison to elemental jutsu, if he could alternate between vacuum futon shuriken and shadow shuriken, it would make him much more versatile and lethal...

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[Chimei Clan]

The Chimei clan was small. With only one hundred samurai or so, they could only keep their territory thanks to alliances and historical ties to other clans such as the Kinzoku Clan.

Besides their strong kenjutsu skills, the Chimei clan also possessed a unique hidden shinobi art. Unfortunately, since it could not be used in combat, most people did not know of it. Actually, most people from within the clan did not know about it.

They also possessed a seal they marked all infants with, a seal that communicated vital signals.

It allowed them to know the life status of any clansman.

And...

The patriarch observed with horror that the squad they had dispatched to receive the Kinzoku Clan Convoy had been...annihilated.

No survivor.

Not even one.

Since the convoy was important, representing months' worth of weapon supplies, this was a hard blow. Besides the economic loss, it was the loss of trusted clansmen: they had dispatched 2 chunin-level samurai, and 10 genin-level samurai. Furthermore, if they attacked their clansmen, then it was highly likely that the targets were not Chimei clansmen but...the Kinzoku convoy.

If they were to die...then the alliance between the Chimei clan and the Kinzoku clan was in great danger. After all, they were attacked on a neutral point under their protection.

Toru Chimei, Supreme Elder and patriarch of the Chimei clan, stood up and equipped his samurai armour for the first time in the past two years.

"They dared to disturb my peace"