Naruto: The Unbreakable Will of a Sannin's Student

"Then let's go quickly, sensei," Chin Youje urged.

After Sunset.

A carriage with dried bloodstains sped along the forest road, kicking up clouds of dust. Inside the bumpy carriage, the faint whimper of a puppy could be heard.

In the trees surrounding the carriage.

Swoosh..

Swoosh...

Swoosh....

three figures moved stealthily, constantly shifting their positions as guards. Kota was inside the carriage, protecting the Shibauchi family.

"Sensei, at this pace, we can probably reach Hanagakure by dawn, right?" Chin Youje asked Gurenji Tatsuya, who was leading the way.

"That's great! When I get back, I can use the money I earn this time to buy a bigger house for my family and make sure my sister and father have plenty of good food to eat," Chin Youje couldn't help but smile, recalling the excitement of his family when he had just graduated from the Ninja Academy.

Sunagakure is located in a desert, with very little arable land, so most people have to purchase their food.

The lives of the civilians in Sunagakure were even harsher. Villagers without ninja talent could only eke out a living through hard labor. Chin Youje's family was one such low-income household. His mother had died on the road due to exhaustion, and his father had accidentally broken his leg after years of strenuous work. Chin Youje passing the Sunagakure ninja selection had been a godsend to their family.

As a Genin of Sunagakure, he could earn significant mission rewards. He remembered the last time he went out on a mission, his five-year-old sister had leaned against the doorframe, saying, "Brother, come back soon."

"When I come back, I'll make sure you and Dad have something delicious," Chin Youje had promised, turning to give his sister one last look before heading straight to the assembly point.

Thinking of his sister's slightly weathered face, constantly exposed to the harsh desert wind and sand, Chin Youje instinctively touched the facial cream in the ninja tool pouch on his back.

He couldn't help but remember the conversation before they had set off. "Ms. Midori, how do you manage to have such lovely skin?" Chin Youje had asked Hyuga Ritsu hesitantly.

"It's like this – please don't misunderstand – I have a younger sister who works outdoors all year round, and her face is often dry and cracked," Chin Youje had quickly explained, looking a bit flustered as he spoke to the graceful Hyuga Ritsu in front of him.

"Oh, I understand. Wait a moment, I'll give you a small container of face cream you can give to your sister," Hyuga Ritsu had said, climbing into the carriage. She rummaged around for a moment before taking out a small jar of skin cream and placing it in Chin Youje's hand.

"This is what Miss Midori gave me." Thinking of Hyuga Ritsu's kindness, Chin Youje felt a warmth spread through him. He recalled the moment she had placed the cream in his hand, her soft, small hand briefly brushing against his palm, rough with years of training. He instinctively brought his right hand to his nose, imagining he could still detect a faint fragrance.

Crack!!

Suddenly, a rope snapped taut in the middle of the road.

The white horse pulling the cart tripped over its front hoof.

Boom!

The carriage overturned violently in the middle of the road.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

More than a dozen shuriken rained down on the carriage from all directions.

Thud-thud-thud.

The carriage was instantly riddled with shuriken, and several pierced through the windows, flying into the interior.

"Enemy attack!" Gurenji Tatsuya, Aoi Takuma, and Chin Youje immediately positioned themselves defensively in front of the overturned carriage. The three of them stood ready, shielding the driver, Takuto.

"Mr. Shibauchi, are you alright?" Gurenji Tatsuya called out.

"Ms. Midori!" Aoi Takuma shouted, his voice filled with alarm, though he kept his gaze fixed on the direction from which the shuriken had come, not daring to look back at the carriage.

Bang! The carriage door was kicked open from the inside.

"Ahem, so you've finally arrived?" Nakajima Sodai, still disguised with a large false belly, climbed out of the wreckage.

Hyuga Ritsu and Okamoto Dousuke followed closely behind, emerging from the overturned carriage.

"Gurenji-san, Kota was struck in the head by a shuriken… he's gone," Okamoto Dousuke reported grimly after clambering out of the carriage.

"Someone is truly intent on killing me! You must protect me!" Nakajima Sodai, feigning panic, stumbled to stand behind Gurenji Tatsuya and the others.

"Ms. Midori, please rest assured, I will protect you with my life!" Chin Youje vowed without looking back, his eyes scanning the surrounding woods.

"Junichiro Shibauchi, what exactly is your business? Why would a ninja risk incurring the wrath of Sunagakure and venture into the Land of Wind to assassinate you?" Gurenji Tatsuya demanded, his voice laced with suspicion.

"I… I'm just an ordinary merchant. I don't know why anyone would want to kill me." The disguised Nakajima Sodai looked convincingly panicked, his voice trembling with fear.

"Impossible! If you're not forthcoming, then we have no choice but to abandon this mission," Gurenji Tatsuya said coldly. This was a matter of life and death. They couldn't protect someone if they didn't know the real threat, especially for a mission taken privately.

"Alright, alright… it's like this…" Nakajima Sodai began, making a subtle gesture with his right hand.

Slash! A sudden sound ripped through the air.

Byakugan!

"Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!"

Realizing Nakajima Sodai's true intentions, Hyuga Ritsu immediately tore off the hem of her disguise and adopted the Gentle Fist fighting stance.

Bang!, Bang!!, Bang!!!

In a swift flurry of motion, the Thirty-Two Palms of the Eight Trigrams struck the astonished Chin Youje all over his body, not a single strike missed its mark.

"Secret Technique: Bug Cocoon!" "Water Style: Water Whip!"

Aburame Takuto formed a hand seal, and a swarm of parasitic insects surged towards the remaining Sand Village Genin, Aoi Takuma. Aburame Takuto himself also rushed forward.

A ball of water instantly materialized in Okamoto Dousuke's hand. With precise chakra control, it transformed into more than a dozen sharp water whips, lashing out rapidly towards Aoi Takuma.

"Konoha Shadow Dance!" A sickle appeared in Nakajima Sodai's hand, transforming into a deadly blade as he lunged towards Gurenji Tatsuya.

Gurenji Tatsuya was caught completely off guard by the senior ninja's ambush and had no time to react. He was struck dozens of times on his limbs, leaving him unable to move.

Gurenji Tatsuya, his limbs injured and bleeding, lay helplessly beside Chin Youje, whose chakra flow had been sealed by the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms. Blood slowly seeped out, staining the ground.

"Cough… cough… Ms. Midori, you…"

Chin Youje, coughing up blood, looked at Hyuga Ritsu, still reeling from the sudden turn of events.

On the other side, Aburame Takuto, kunai in hand, advanced on the remaining Sand Village Genin, Aoi Takuma.

Aoi Takuma, caught within the "Bug Cocoon," swung his own kunai wildly, managing to kill countless parasitic insects.

He nimbly dodged the water whips launched by Okamoto Dousuke with a series of quick leaps.

"Wind Style: Pressure Wave!" Aoi Takuma unleashed a powerful gust of wind, blowing away the remaining parasitic insects that were trying to surround him. As the insects scattered, Aoi Takuma stood his ground and flung his kunai at Aburame Takuto.

Substitution Jutsu! A kunai suddenly appeared stuck in a log where Aoi Takuma had been standing moments before.

Swish! Aoi Takuma reappeared directly to the left, precisely where Aburame Takuto's substitution log had manifested. "Wind Style: Sickle Weasel!" A sharp gust of wind, like an invisible blade, instantly sliced through Aburame Takuto's legs.

"Ah!" The intense pain caused Aburame Takuto to cry out.

Aoi Takuma swiftly pulled a kunai from his ninja tool pouch and lunged to stab it towards Aburame Takuto's head.