…
Five covered wagons stood in a loose column formation, each reinforced with thick wooden plating and marked with Konoha's supply seal.
Several civilians lingered nearby, speaking in low voices while making final checks.
Before Murakami could continue his assessment, a voice called out.
"You're the last team."
The speaker was one of the Jonin attached to the operation.
He looked to be in his early thirties, broad-shouldered, with a thin scar running across his jawline.
Unlike Kaito, he carried himself with the posture of someone accustomed to command.
"Hmm." Murakami simply nodded. "Haruki Murakami, reporting for team Kaito."
Giving an excuse at this point would be pointless and shifting blame was not something he was keen on doing.
Since they were already late, they could only own it with indifference.
The Jonin sighed and shook his head before turning toward the assembled Genin. "Listen carefully."
Conversations immediately died.
"The mission details you've received are accurate but incomplete."
That got everyone's attention as he walked toward the nearest wagon and placed a hand against its side.
"This convoy is transporting medical supplies, ration scrolls, weapons components and communication equipment."
His eyes swept across the group.
"Destination is Kanzashi Supply Village."
A few blank looks appeared on the faces of most of the Genin.
The Jonin wasn't surprised.
"Most of you haven't heard of it."
Hideki immediately raised a hand.
"I haven't."
"That was implied."
A few of the other shinobi smirked.
The Jonin continued. "Kanzashi isn't a civilian settlement." He tapped the wagon. "It's a logistics hub."
That changed the atmosphere slightly. "Konoha forces operating in the western sectors receive a significant portion of their supplies through Kanzashi."
Everyone reacted to this information in their own way. Sora adjusted his glasses while Murakami remained silent.
The implication of this information was obvious; These weren't merchant goods but war supplies.
The Jonin continued. "Ordinarily, a convoy like this would receive fewer but high level escorts."
His expression hardened slightly. "Ordinarily, we wouldn't be fighting a war."
Nobody spoke and he continued. "The route remains classified as relatively safe."
He paused.
"Relatively." He repeated.
Several Genin visibly disliked that word.
Murakami was no different and he understood why. Nothing good ever followed "relatively safe."
The Jonin pointed toward the teams. "My team will take point."
He indicated the three Genin beside him. "They'll handle vanguard reconnaissance."
His finger shifted. "Hatake's team takes right flank security."
Sakumo nodded once.
Finally, his finger moved toward Murakami.
"Murakami's team handles rear security and convoy response."
Hideki groaned immediately. "Rear guard always gets attacked."
The Jonin looked at him with squinted eyes. "Excellent observation."
Hideki brightened. "Really?"
"No."
The boy deflated.
Sora looked away in embarrassment while Murakami decided remaining silent was the best course of action.
The briefing continued for several minutes with the Jonin going through their travel schedule, emergency signals, night watch rotations, and fallback procedures.
Everything important enough to be known regarding an escort mission.
Only after the operational details were finalized did the atmosphere relax slightly.
Several Genin began introducing themselves.
One of the vanguard Genin walked toward Murakami.
"You're Murakami, right?"
Murakami nodded. Inwardly though, he couldn't help categorising the kid as an idiot. He had obviously introduced himself earlier and the Jonin leader had just called him specifically… Why ask a question with an obvious answer.
The boy looked mildly impressed. "I heard about you from the academy instructors."
Hideki immediately inserted himself into the conversation. "See? I told you you're famous."
Murakami looked at him. "You never said that."
"I implied it on so many occasions."
"You didn't." Murakami said coldly.
Hideki flinched slightly but wasn't about to back down. "I thought it out very loudly."
Nearby, one of Sakumo's teammates laughed.
Even Sora's lips twitched slightly.
Sakumo himself remained silent to their exchange, something Murakami noticed.
The rest of the Genin introduced themselves, until only Sakumo was left.
Murakami's gaze drifted toward the white-haired boy and at almost the same moment, Sakumo looked over and their eyes met briefly before they both looked away.
No words were exchanged as none were necessary.
To Murakami, Sakumo was Hatake, and to Sakumo, Murakami was Murakami.
Simple as that.
A few minutes later, the final paperwork arrived and the gate personnel began verifying authorization scrolls.
One by one, signatures were checked, mission seals were confirmed and the convoy manifests were inspected.
Only after everything had been reviewed was the convoy allowed to begin its journey.
The morning sunlight spilled through the gate and beyond it stretched the road leading out of Konohagakure.
The civilians grew noticeably quieter and the Genin straightened.
Even the atmosphere seemed to change.
The safety of Konoha ended beyond those gates.
The Jonin leader stepped forward. "Move out."
The first wagon rolled ahead and the convoy began moving.
And with it, the mission truly began.
…
The escort formation settled quickly with the Jonin-led team moving ahead of the convoy, their leader taking point while his three Genin spread out behind him.
Sakumo's team drifted toward the right flank as instructed while Murakami's team remained near the rear.
Hideki looked around as they traveled. "This is it?"
Murakami glanced at him. "This is what?"
"The mission." Hideki gestured vaguely at the road. "We walk beside wagons."
Sora adjusted his glasses. "That's generally how escort missions work."
Hideki looked betrayed. "I was promised danger."
"You were promised a mission."
"Same thing."
"Not remotely."
Their exchange continued while the convoy left the village behind.
The civilian drivers visibly relaxed after the first hour. Something Murakami inadvertently noticed as the convoy continued northwest for most of the morning.
Occasionally they passed civilian travelers heading toward Konoha.
A merchant cart.
A farmer transporting produce.
Two lumber workers returning from a nearby cutting site.
Each was briefly checked by the vanguard before being allowed to continue.
Nothing unusual or suspicious.
Murakami sensed all this from the rear and it only served to make him more cautious rather than less.
Shinobi were basically Ninjas.
They rarely announced themselves before they attacked, so an inspection would definitely be the least of their worries when on an infiltration mission.
Who infiltrates a stronghold without preparations?
A fool, that's who.
And high rank ninjas tasked with infiltration are no fool.
Around midday, the Jonin called for a brief halt near a small stream.
The wagons were pulled off the road, the civilian drivers watered the horses while the shinobi teams spread out naturally.
Some sat while others remained standing.
Murakami sat cross-legged on an elevated rock platform and used the opportunity to study the surrounding terrain.
This went on for a while until a shadow fell across him causing Murakami to look up.
Hatake Sakumo stood nearby.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then Sakumo glanced toward the forest. "You check every position."
It wasn't a question, more like an observed fact.
Murakami nodded. "Someone should."
He wasn't bothered by the fact. He was a sensor, so even if he wasn't actively showing it off, he still needed to do what he should.
Sakumo considered that, then nodded once. "True."
Silence returned. Oddly enough, it wasn't uncomfortable.
Murakami had noticed something similar during their previous encounter. Sakumo wasn't particularly talkative and neither was he.
After another moment, Sakumo spoke again. "You think we'll be attacked?"
Murakami answered honestly. "I think the village wouldn't assign three teams if they expected nothing."
Sakumo's expression didn't change, but Murakami noticed the slight narrowing of his eyes.
"That's what I thought too."
Before either could continue, Hideki appeared carrying a canteen. "There you are."
His eyes bounced between them. "...Were you two having one of those silent genius conversations again?"
Neither responded.
Hideki pointed accusingly. "See? You're doing it right now."
For the first time, Murakami thought he saw the faintest hint of amusement in Sakumo's expression.
It vanished almost immediately.
"Break is over," Sakumo said, then walked away.
Hideki stared as he left. "...He's even worse than you."
Who uses such a lame excuse to excuse himself? It hasn't even been 10 minutes since the Jonin leader called for a break and he definitely hadn't called for a break over.
For all the times Hideki could consider Murakami to be a snob, Murakami wasn't as snobbish as this.
'Is this a genius perk?' He couldn't help but ponder seriously. It was one thing if it was Murakami, a low-key terrifying genius, but here is Sakumo.
The previous year's best graduating Genin.
Murakami, unaware of what was going through Hideki's head, considered his words, then said. "He probably hears that often."
"You…" Hideki just sighed and threw the canteen at Murakami who caught it. "...just drink up."
…
The convoy resumed movement shortly afterward and hours passed.
The road gradually narrowed due to the thickening of the forest.
The number of travelers had also decreased at this point.
By late afternoon, they reached the first major waypoint marked on the mission scroll.
A small settlement known as Takemura Hamlet, a little more than a collection of houses, a stable, and a roadside inn.
The Jonin raised a hand and the convoy slowed. "We stop here for the night."
The civilians visibly brightened at this announcement.
Murakami's eyes drifted toward the western horizon.
The sun was beginning its slow descent down the horizon. 'One day down.' he mused.
Several more remained before they reached Kanzashi Supply Village.
And so far, the journey had been uneventful so far but Murakami wasn't reassured by that.
If anything, it made him more alert, but for now, the first stage of the journey was over.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
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