"Ryugasaki Yamaichi… Jinnin Village… What's the link between the two?" Kakashi frowned, trying to piece the connection. Yet, despite his analytical instincts, the clues were thin, and no firm conclusion presented itself.
Still, Kakashi was certain: Ryugasaki Yamaichi and Jinnin Village shared an unusual relationship.
Earlier that day, when Jinnin Village was mentioned, Yamaichi's face briefly faltered. Though he quickly masked it, Kakashi caught the micro-expression.
Kakashi's attention had been sharply fixed on Yamaichi throughout the interaction. As a trained shinobi—and the famed Copy Ninja at that—he missed no such subtleties.
He couldn't say for sure what was going on, but Kakashi had a sinking feeling something significant was about to erupt. Why else would an experienced merchant, escorted by a Konoha jōnin, express such unease over a lesser-known village?
From what Kakashi recalled, Jinnin Village—located in a disputed border region between the Land of Wind and smaller territories—was barely a blip on the shinobi world's radar. Its numbers were modest: fewer than a hundred ninjas in total, of which perhaps three were jōnin-level, and fewer than ten were chūnin. The rest were likely genin.
With such limited strength, attacking a well-guarded merchant convoy was strategically unwise—unless they were desperate, or there was more to this than met the eye.
Raiding a caravan with Konoha's involvement would require at least two jōnin to even consider success. A solo operation, even from a jōnin, would be suicide without considerable leverage or insider knowledge.
Of course, exceptions existed. There were always outliers with monstrous strength—Bai Ye, Orochimaru, or the Uchiha before their fall—but such cases were rare.
Still, a minor village like Jinnin didn't have the resources or legacy to produce outliers at that level. Something else had to be at play.
Kakashi couldn't put his finger on it yet.
He unsheathed Chidori Cutter—a sword gifted to him after the Land of Iron's negotiations with Mifune. He gently wiped the blade with a white cloth, a habit formed over the last month. So far, it had only been stained once—with Orochimaru's blood. A powerful baptism, one could say. The bar had been set high.
Since then, Kakashi had contemplated Mifune's words about the "will of the blade." What did it mean for a shinobi to wield a sword not just for war, but with purpose? Was it to protect, to punish, to survive?
He swung the blade twice into the air—empty gestures, perhaps, but filled with silent questioning.
To protect comrades? To preserve oneself? Or was it both?
Kakashi didn't yet have an answer. Right now, all he could do was gather strength—strength to survive and protect, in that order.
Eventually, setting the blade aside, he studied a few sealing technique scrolls—still deciphering the nuances of Uzumaki-derived barriers—then laid down to rest. He would be traveling tomorrow, and the comforts of a bed were not something to take for granted on missions.
At dawn, Kakashi woke to the sounds of loading carts. Ryugasaki Yamaichi's caravan was busy preparing. Yamaichi himself, despite his age, was at the forefront, directing his men with efficiency.
"Mr. Kakashi! You're awake," he greeted cheerfully. "How was your rest?"
"Not bad. Thank you, Mr. Ryugasaki," Kakashi responded calmly.
"Excellent! Let's get some breakfast. We'll head out right after."
"Understood."
After a quick meal, the group—twenty-one in total, including guards and porters—set off toward Sand City in the Land of Wind. The convoy moved smoothly across dusty terrain, with Kakashi maintaining a constant state of alert.
It was Kakashi's first formal escort mission since the incident with Orochimaru. He couldn't afford oversight. Experience was built through cautious repetition—and Kakashi, though a genius, knew the value of slow mastery.
Though he seemed to sit idly atop a cargo box with eyes closed, Kakashi was far from resting. Every five minutes, he would release a modest wave of chakra—just enough to sense any shifts in the surrounding terrain.
It wasn't much—only a ten-meter radius—but it was a start. Without formal sensor-nin training, this was the best he could do.
Each pulse helped him not only scout but hone his chakra control. These micro-releases helped refine his precision, a skill crucial not only in combat but for techniques like medical ninjutsu, sealing arts, and especially advanced jutsu like the Rasengan or Chidori.
He had already mastered tree-climbing and water-walking—the basic chakra exercises—but those were elementary now. This was the next step.
Kakashi also experimented with sensing natural energy—senjutsu chakra. But unlike Jiraiya or Naruto, he lacked access to the toads of Mount Myōboku, and their specialized oils that made initial sensing easier.
Even if he did detect it, Kakashi knew better than to absorb it without training. The risk of petrification or chakra overload was too high. Still, it intrigued him—one day, perhaps.
Days passed in such reflective rhythm. Eventually, the group neared the border of the Land of Fire.
"Everyone, pick up the pace!" Ryugasaki called. "Once we cross that forest ahead, we'll be in the Land of Wind!"
Then, walking up beside Kakashi, he lowered his voice.
"Mr. Kakashi… the terrain ahead is ideal for an ambush. I suspect the Jinnin Village shinobi are lying in wait. We must be extra cautious."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. Over the past few days, he had observed Ryugasaki closely. Despite his polished, courteous manner, there was something behind the eyes—something unspoken.
He was a man of cultivated demeanor, no doubt. But Kakashi had seen deeper.
"Mr. Ryugasaki," Kakashi said evenly, "I'm well aware this mission isn't as simple as it appeared on the surface. You're not just worried about the cargo, are you? Your real target is the ninjas from Jinnin Village… isn't it?"
Ryugasaki stiffened. "You… how could you possibly know?"
"It wasn't hard to notice," Kakashi said. "Back in earlier terrain—also perfect for ambush—you were calm. Now you're tense. And you seem to have insider knowledge about Jinnin Village's tactics. My guess? You have someone on the inside. An informant."
Ryugasaki was silent.
Kakashi sighed. "I won't intervene. But know this: Konoha's shinobi aren't tools for personal revenge. Don't involve us in your vendettas. Understand?"
"You really are sharp, Mr. Kakashi…" Ryugasaki exhaled deeply. "Yes, I do have personal history with those shinobi. But I knew Konoha would never take an assassination request against another village—not even a minor one. And I can't afford that kind of commission anyway. That's why I framed this as a simple escort."
Kakashi nodded. Indeed, Konoha's mission protocols—especially post-Third Shinobi War—strictly avoided direct conflict with other ninja villages unless provoked. Even a small skirmish risked escalation.
Still, if an enemy shinobi interfered during an official escort mission, self-defense was fully sanctioned.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed as they reached the forest's edge.
Soon, he'd find out just how much Ryugasaki Yamaichi's secrets were worth.