The Land of Hot Water, a small nation north of the Land of Fire, was renowned for its pleasant climate, abundant hot springs, and restorative resorts. Its hidden village, Yugakure, was negligible in strength—barely better than nothing, a fact widely known. Consequently, when shinobi were needed, the locals typically hired from the major villages.
"If only we could stay and rest here for a few days," one shinobi sighed.
"Yeah, too bad we're stuck with this grind. Gotta head straight back to the village," another chimed in.
"It'd be nice if we were Jonin. They seem to have more free time."
"Don't be stupid. Jonin have it worse. You think they just sit around the village daydreaming?" the captain retorted.
"Heh, sorry Captain. Just wishful thinking..."
A squad of Konoha shinobi had just arrived in the Land of Hot Water to complete a mission. Unfortunately, tight deadlines meant they were rushing in and rushing right back out, with no chance to enjoy the local amenities. The team was a standard four-person squad: two Chunin and two Genin. They had just completed a merchant escort, guarding a caravan all the way from the Fire Daimyo's capital city to the Land of Hot Water. In the years immediately following the last Great Shinobi War, public order across the nations remained unstable. Bandits, roving gangs, and opportunistic ronin—practitioners of the burgeoning "get rich quick" trades—were rampant, leading to a surge in demand for escort missions.
The old adage about might making right held true. I have strength, you have valuables—why shouldn't I take them? Public safety couldn't rely on innate human decency; there were always bad apples, especially among masterless shinobi.
The leader of this particular Konoha squad was a Chunin named Jingū Maki.
With the mission accomplished, all that remained was the journey home. Compared to the trip out, their moods were considerably lighter.
However, just as they approached the border, about to cross back into the Land of Fire, Jingū suddenly heard a distinct voice echo in her mind, seemingly from her own headband: "Someone is tracking you."
The abrupt, unfamiliar voice brought the squad to an instant halt. Three pairs of eyes snapped towards their captain. The voice hadn't been hers, yet it had clearly originated from her.
Jingū raised a hand, signaling her team to remain calm. "Daigo-sama," she subvocalized, her voice low but steady, "Can you confirm? How many are tracking us?"
"Confirmed," Daigo's voice replied in Jingū's mind. "They've been on your tail since the capital city. It's just one individual... but their hostile intent is palpable."
Ideally, a standard squad would include both a medic and a scout. In reality, such well-rounded teams were rare. Both roles required scarce resources—scouting demanded innate talent, while medical ninjutsu required extensive, difficult training.
"Apologies," Daigo added. "Even with several upgrades to my signal transmission range, this location is near the absolute limit of my perception. I couldn't detect their trail any sooner."
Jingū shook her head slightly. How could this be Daigo's fault? Without her warning, they'd still be completely unaware of the danger tailing them.
"Double time! Withdraw towards the Land of Fire border!" Jingū issued the new command.
For a single individual to pursue a four-person squad so brazenly suggested immense confidence in their own strength. Assuming they weren't insane, this implied significant ability. Jingū's immediate response was tactical: disengage and avoid combat if possible. Her team—two Chunin, two Genin, none with particularly outstanding abilities—lacked the power for a serious engagement. They could handle bandits or run-of-the-mill ronin, but this pursuer was clearly in a different league.
The squad surged forward, crossing swiftly into the Land of Fire. Normally, an enemy might hesitate to pursue them across the border into a major nation's territory, but...
"They're accelerating too," Daigo warned urgently. "Faster than you. They'll intercept you within ten minutes." The Konoha team's sudden burst of speed had likely alerted the pursuer that they'd been detected, prompting a more reckless, direct approach.
"Can't shake them?" Jingū confirmed grimly. "Should we find advantageous ground and prepare an ambush?"
"Can you reach a high vantage point?" Daigo suggested. "They should enter visual range shortly."
"Affirmative."
Jingū led her team swiftly towards a nearby rocky outcrop offering a clear view. Pausing briefly at the summit, she scanned their back trail. A moment later, a figure emerged in the distance, closing fast. The moment Jingū saw the pursuer, Daigo, sharing her vision, saw them too.
"Based on appearance," Daigo reported instantly, "likely Kiri missing-nin. Name: Kaguya Jikki."
"Certainty? Strength, abilities?" Jingū pressed.
"Ninety percent plus confidence, assuming Kirigakure's intel is accurate. Jonin-level. Classified as an elite Jonin, exceptionally skilled in taijutsu. Possesses the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai. Notorious for extreme cruelty."
This wasn't the time to question why a Kiri missing-nin was targeting Konoha shinobi. Under the brutal "Bloody Mist" regime, many Kiri ninja had become mentally unstable. Besides, missing-nin often needed no reason to attack shinobi from other villages. From Daigo's concise summary, Jingū understood immediately: this Kaguya Jikki was far beyond her squad's ability to handle. For most shinobi, an enemy specializing in taijutsu was often the most dangerous opponent.
"Scatter and retreat," Daigo advised, her tone grim. "My apologies, Captain, but you're outside my effective chakra transfer range." At this distance, Daigo couldn't project the necessary chakra volume to provide meaningful battlefield support. Scattering was a desperate measure, a last resort. While it offered a slim chance for someone to escape, it also increased the likelihood of being hunted down individually. Still, Daigo reasoned, it was better than the certainty of being wiped out as a group.
Jingū understood the grim calculus, but she decisively shook her head.
"I'll hold her off. You three, prioritize withdrawal!"
"Captain! If we fight together, we stand a chance!" one of the Chunin protested. Honestly, her subordinates were bewildered. They understood a powerful enemy was pursuing them, but who had their captain been conversing with? And why did she place such absolute faith in this unseen intelligence source?
"Follow your orders! Remember the Shinobi Rules!" Jingū snapped, her hands already flashing through seals.
Invoking the Rules left no room for argument. Her subordinates grit their teeth, turned, and fled. Their only thought was to get back and summon reinforcements, a self-deceiving hope given the vast distance to Konoha, but it was the only hope they had.
As her team retreated, Jingū slammed her palm on the ground. Poof! A ninja hound appeared in a cloud of smoke. She gave the ninken's head a quick pat before removing a small pouch tied around its collar. The pouch contained a month's worth of painstakingly accumulated chakra crystals.
Jingū's eyes narrowed, fixed intently on the rapidly approaching figure of Kaguya Jikki. She began popping the small, glowing crystals into her mouth, one after another. A surge of power coursed through her as her chakra levels climbed dramatically.
"We're both kunoichi," she murmured, a fierce determination hardening her gaze. "I won't go down easily..."