Mizukage's Pokémon Ninja Scroll

Chapter 23 Unexpected Situations

The group of five boarded a fishing boat and, under the cover of night, arrived near an inconspicuous, nameless island.

However, even before getting close, the group was basically certain that this was the place.

Because on this remote island, which isn't even marked on a map, there's a small camp built around a simple harbor.

Firelight flickered at the harbor, where several small boats were moored. Further in, various oddly shaped wooden and stone houses were scattered haphazardly among the sparse woods, and figures could be vaguely seen moving around the camp.

Fortunately, Daz's fishing boat wasn't very big. Seeing this, he began to slow down the boat from a distance, while lowering his voice to say something.

"Master Ninja, the pirate ship doesn't seem to be here. Those who survived the pirate attack in the village said that the pirates were sailing a medium-sized sailing ship."

The group naturally saw the situation at the port.

"The pirate ship may have sailed away. Judging from the architectural style, we shouldn't have come to the wrong place." Jianchuan Ju frowned after saying this. It would be fine if the pirate ship had just set sail.

However, if the pirates plunder Apple Village and never return, then rescuing the mission target will undoubtedly be much more difficult.

After all, it hasn't been more than ten days since Apple Village was attacked, and the pirate ship is very likely still sailing.

"Let's go to the island first. Mr. Daz, don't go near the port. Saile a little further east and find a secluded spot to dock. There are still pirates on the island; don't disturb them."

Perhaps worried that his three disciples' lack of experience might hinder the rescue, Qing took the initiative to speak up and make arrangements at this critical moment.

Although a certain assessment of the situation has been made, further investigation is needed to determine the specific details of the camp and whether the mission objective is on the island.

Since the Jonin leading the team had already made the arrangements, no one had any objections.

Daz then carefully turned the boat around, while keeping the engine noise as low as possible, and slowly steered the fishing boat toward a shallow beach in the blind spot to the east of the harbor.

However, just as the small boat was about to slowly approach the shore, a sudden, urgent warning came from Tachibana Kenkawa's mind, the level of danger being no less than when he was enveloped by Mei Terumi's water surge.

Without time to waste, Tachibana hurriedly said to Ao beside him, "Captain, there's danger! Use sensory ninjutsu!"

Before the small boat even stopped, he immediately pulled a kunai from his ninja tool bag and jumped ashore.

As a Jonin who had experienced countless dangers, Ao naturally did not hesitate at this moment.

After witnessing Tachibana's series of unusual actions, he closed his eyes, formed the "Un" hand seal with one hand, and began to concentrate his mind, starting to use his sensory ninjutsu.

Seeing this, Zabuza and Mei Terumi didn't say anything. Instead, they jumped off the boat in perfect unison and formed a swastika pattern with Tachibana to protect the small boat behind them.

A faint, invisible ripple spread outwards from Qing's body.

The enemy, hidden in the shadows, naturally noticed the three little ones' wary posture and Ao's sensory ninjutsu.

Before Ao, who had already discovered their hiding place, could launch any attack, two masked ninjas emerged from behind a boulder on the shallows.

Judging from their figures, they should be a man and a woman, both dressed as members of the Hidden Mist Village's assassination squad, wearing ANBU vests and face masks with the Hidden Mist Village emblem printed on their foreheads.

It's true that only the Hidden Mist Village's Anbu are so naive as to print the village's symbol on their masks, as if they're afraid that when they do something bad, others won't know which village it is.

The two walked out so openly and naturally, without any aggressive posture, seemingly without any hostility.

However, the 'danger premonition' in Jianchuan Ju's mind still hadn't stopped, so he didn't dare to relax at all.

The male ninja ignored the three children who were still on guard and instead spoke directly towards Qing.

"Blue Jonin, we are on an ANBU mission, searching for a group of missing people from the Land of Water. We do not wish to have a conflict with you."

Seeing that the other party was dressed as an ANBU member and directly identified Qing, the group lowered their guard slightly, but still gripped their weapons and waited for Qing's orders.

After a moment's thought, Qing explained the situation.

"I am leading my squad on a C-level mission. I have no intention of offending you, and it will not affect your mission."

After all, Kirigakure wasn't all harmony, and Ao didn't want to have any conflicts with these ANBU members during the mission.

The two members of the secret service didn't seem to want to linger either, and didn't react to the words. They simply glanced at the group, then turned and quickly disappeared behind the island without a word.

Seeing that the other party had finally left, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and put away their weapons.

The three little ones were still waiting for Qing's next orders, but Qing stood there motionless with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Teacher Ao?" Mei Terumi called out as she approached Ao.

After being awakened by Mei Terumi, Ao spoke to everyone with a somewhat solemn expression.

"Those two are acting strangely. Anbu members don't just reveal mission details to anyone! And in my perception, the woman is clearly a Jonin, but the one speaking is a Chunin!"

Seeing Ao's doubts, and recalling the previous frantic alarms from the "danger premonition," Tachibana Kenkawa also became suspicious of the two people, and continued to speculate along with Ao's words.

"There aren't many female Jonin in the village to begin with. Maybe that Jonin just happened to be someone Ao-sensei knew, and didn't want to reveal her identity by speaking?"

"Impersonating an Anbu?" Mei Terumi and Zabuza exclaimed in surprise.

Qing didn't continue her analysis, but instead turned to look at Daz, who was still somewhat confused about the situation.

"Mr. Daz, you should go back to the village first. Leave the rescue to us; it's not safe for you to stay here."

"Then I'll have to trouble you ninja masters."

Daz knew he was no use here as an ordinary person. He immediately unlocked the chains, leaving the empty ship behind, and returned to port alone.

Upon seeing Daz start the engine, Qing immediately ordered his three disciples, "Ming, you lead the team to continue the mission. I'll go catch up with those two and check on the situation."

"There won't be too many pirates left on the island. If the mission is completed, wait for me to return near the port. If you encounter any danger, fire a signal flare immediately."

"Yes, Captain," the three answered in unison.

After saying that, Qing was still a little worried, so she added another sentence.

"It's okay if the mission objective isn't on the island. After you deal with the remaining pirates, wait for me to return before we consider how to find the pirate ship."

"Don't worry, Ms. Qing. We can handle these ordinary pirates." Mei Terumi wrinkled her nose and said with some dissatisfaction.

Seeing that Terumi Mei spoke confidently, Ao didn't say anything more.

He turned around and quickly chased after the two people who had just left.

(End of this chapter)