"Nope, I am happy to be here behind you."
…
Reko smiled, why would he want to lead the mission? He was very happy to be watching her from the back.
Also, he needed to be looking out for root members as they were likely to appear. He was still not aware of the mission that Danzo wanted him to complete.
So, being a little careful could not hurt.
'No one's here as of yet. I should have learned a sensory technique, my bad.'
Reko tried looking around, searching for the unwanted presence of those shadow figures. Unfortunately, he could not.
He did not have a method.
When he had the chance, he chose techniques without giving his sensory skills a thought.
At the moment, he had three new techniques for use.
"Hiding like a mole technique."
A technique which allowed him to travel underground, quite a fast escape technique.
"Water wall"
A defensive technique from water release. It required no further explanation.
"Body flicker"
A very famous movement technique which was useful in battles. Although, the level of jutsu was quite low and Reko will have to put in a lot of effort for him to be able to use it in combat.
As useful as they were, neither of them had any use at the moment. He could only try to be cautious.
He wished to learn more techniques but he did not have another charge as of yet. He was preparing for a Jonin level charge.
"Right. It's decided then.
We are already done with preparations. So, just keep an eye from the back."
Kurenai instructed, satisfied with Reko's understanding nature.
'What are the chances of the enemy being Jonins? Would they dare? With two leaf shinobis here??'
'Honestly, they would!!'
She kept walking, maintaining her pace with the noble's carriage as Reko followed her.
'The noble is of the same mind. Hmm'
Reko observed the noble looking at Kurenai with his lecherous eyes. It was a pretty tough job for a man to ignore Kurenai. Being a normal person, the noble did not dare make a move though.
After a while, Kurenai observed the surroundings, deciding on a good spot before signalling the rest to stop.
"Let's take a break. The retainers look exhausted."
She informed Reko, they needed a break.
"Sure."
Reko agreed without hesitation. He was able to tell from his intuition that trouble was coming.
Throw!
"Kurenai!!"
Reko looked shocked as he prepared himself for combat. A flying kunai had come in speed, aimed at Kurenai's heart.
"It's just a scratch. I am fine."
Kurenai used her shoulder to shield against the kunai. However, the kunai dropped down after making contact with Kurenai instead of stabbing and drawing her blood.
'The bandage on her body shielded her from the attack. Those bandages do possess a use after all.'
Her shoulder blade was lightly scratched but would not trouble her fighting skills. The kunai had only caused one side of her dress to be damaged and did not cause any trouble for Kurenai.
[Finish the enemies in under five minutes.]
+1000 chakra.
"I will protect the client. You deal with the enemy."
As Kurenai said this, her left hand held a kunai while her right hand tore off her damaged dress from the top, revealing her upper body covered with bandages.
She was covered in bandages from her shoulders to her waist.
'It will be difficult for him to stand guard. I am not really sure about his defense skills. His offensive skills however…'
She was aware of the offensive technique that Reko had. His one shot kill was the first thing that came to her mind after she saw him in this mission.
She was not confident in Reko defending and safeguarding the noblemen but fighting against the enemies seemed to be Reko's forte.
Kurenai slowly backed against the carriage carrying the noblemen, trying to get close to the noble.
"Gladly."
Reko was a little dazed after finally getting a mission. He had waited for a very long time for this. So, it took him a pause of a second to respond.
Not to mention Kurenai's act of tearing off her top to reveal the skin tight bandaging underneath. It would have been impossible to not pause.
'They are masked. I have no idea about their allegiance.'
But as soon as he heard Kurenai, he began to think of a strategy. He did not have much time, only five minutes and the number of enemies in front appeared to be four only.
Reko could see the levels of the enemies. They were close to a Jonin but did not exceed the level sixty.
'Level 49? But his speed is really high.'
The one who had thrown the kunai at Kurenai was not even a Tokubetsu Jonin. Among the four, level 49 was highest, the other three were 45, 45, and 47.
"What are you doing?? Come here and guard me!!"
The noble shouted in panic from inside the carriage. He could hear Kurenai and found her orders to be really risky.
'Why is that idiot woman ordering the young guy to go on offensive??'
'It will be far better just to guard around my carriage. They are here for me, my head!!'
He was the client!
It was obvious that he should be guarded by both the shinobis he had hired. He did not need them to go and pursue the enemies and leave him vulnerable, risking his life.
Reko ignored the noblemen's shouting and focused on the enemies.
*Great Annihilation fire*
Looking at the three of them rushing at him, Reko used the A rank technique, quickly forming hand signs..
The fire release technique formed a massive wave, encompassing all three of the enemies.
'Great range, but they dodged it. I should have practiced this to increase the pace of hand signs.'
Reko could guess that this fire release technique did not eliminate the enemies. The jutsu could only act as a buffer.
His speed of forming hand signs was slow, resulting in an easy dodge by the enemies.
As soon as Reko thought of this problem, he instantly decided to use his trump card. However, the trio were not going to give him time to prepare. They aimed and shot the kunai at Reko.
Stab!
Stab! Stab! Stab!
*Curse Mode*
Kunai came rushing at Reko, thirsting for blood. Reko did not dare parry or dodge them. Instead, he took it head on. As quickly as the kunai came at him, he formed an earth wall, causing the kunai to get stuck in the wall.
First kunai, then second, third, and finally the fourth!
Reko jumped back, flipping in the air to get away from the wall he had formed. An instant later, the wall crumbled into dust from the explosion.
Thanks to Reko quickly activating his curse mark, the debris from the explosion did not manage to pierce his defense.
It did hurt though.
Still under the cover of explosion, Reko moved his hands almost instinctively. Just two hand signs and one of his shadow clones was already standing in front of him.
Without wasting a second, Reko threw the shadow clone in the enemy's direction. The clone had a kunai in its left hand as he dived through the dust while his right hand held a Rasengan, spinning wildly..
At the moment Kurenai was fighting against one opponent only. She was easily able to defend the noble.
'She is holding up well. She is not using her stronger techniques, probably to look out for more enemies.'
Kurenai was still not going all out. She had not used her Genjutsu techniques. The solo enemy was unable to push her that hard.
Also, she was wary of more enemies joining the four guys. So, she did not want to use her techniques which would leave both her and the noblemen's life at the enemy's mercy.
'Did it hit? No, they are a team and they shy away from close range combat.'
Looking back at the wall of dust, Reko searched for any signs of the enemy's defeat. He had thrown his shadow clone armed with a Rasengan, there had to be some progress.
Boom!!
Just as he was about to feel disappointed, he heard his Rasengan go off. The familiar noise, he could not forget that noise.
"Aaaggghh-!!!"
A chilling cry of pain came from behind the wall of dust, the dust from explosion was slowly settling down as it had only been a second or two after the paper bombs hidden with kunai had exploded.
Not only Reko, Kurenai and the enemy fighting her also glanced at the source of the soul chilling scream. The look in their eyes changed.
The first blood was drawn and now it was time to give it their all.
The enemy in front of Kurenai rushed at her without hesitation. He had been avoiding close combat, but this time he rushed at Kurenai.
His eyes had anger, anger for the death of his comrade.
"Stone fist!!"
The enemy shouted, moving his fingers to form signs. His hands became covered in hard rock as he threw punches at Kurenai.
"Aghh!"
Kurenai grunted in pain, she had been caught unprepared by the attack.
"Flower petal escape"
Her figure dissolved into petals as the enemy punched her in the abdomen.
...
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