Chapter 8

Deep into the night, in a cave in the Land of Fire, Kakashi and Xia Yan sat there.

After a day of running, they had reached the nearest town to Konoha.

However, Xia Yan did not intend to enter. They had just taken a "head" from the extremely vicious and already Shadow-level Kakuzu.

They had actually taken the head in the truest sense, and Kakuzu would likely not be able to accept this.

Even though they had run fast enough, Xia Yan felt that someone like Kakuzu, who valued money so much, would not let them go, and catching up was inevitable.

They were able to take the head only because Kakuzu was careless and did not take them seriously at all.

This gave them a small chance to complete the mission.

But if they were caught, they would face a fully committed Kakuzu, and Xia Yan did not think they could handle him.

Not entering the town, they eliminated various traces along the way, even using shadow clones to run in different directions to confuse Kakuzu.

As someone who had fought on the battlefield for nearly nine years and had been in the Anbu for almost six years, they were well-versed in such matters.

Kakashi, however, was still a bit puzzled. He did not understand why Xia Yan was being so cautious.

"Captain," Kakashi slowly stirred the instant food in his hand, glancing at the guard dog at the cave entrance, and could not help but ask, "Isn't it a bit too cautious?"

"It's rest time now, just call me Xia Yan." Xia Yan stretched slightly and then said gently, "It's always better to be cautious, because we're not dealing with something simple."

"Didn't he die?" Kakashi frowned, that guy had been pierced through the heart by his Chidori!

He did not think someone with a pierced heart could still be alive.

Ninja defenses were actually quite limited; even a senbon, if it hit a vital point, would cause immediate death.

No one was an exception, and no one could be lucky.

"Dead?" Xia Yan shook his head lightly and continued with a gentle expression, "Kakashi, that guy didn't die."

At this, Xia Yan paused, looking at Kakashi who was about to ask. He smiled and shook his head.

"Are you confused?

Actually, you just joined the Anbu, and the normal procedure should be to familiarize yourself with various intelligence first, then gradually take on missions.

I don't know if it was the Fourth Hokage's request or the captain's decision, but you were directly assigned to this mission with me.

Kakuzu is a very dangerous person. According to intelligence, he once faced six elite jounin, each worth over 30 million in the black market, and eliminated all of them.

In that operation, he was also pierced through the heart, and the final result was that he received nearly 200 million in the black market exchange!

You did pierce his heart, but I don't think someone like him would die so easily."

Xia Yan spoke slowly, and Kakashi listened intently.

When Xia Yan mentioned the normal Anbu procedure, he observed Kakashi's expression and state.

In the cave, they had already removed their masks, but Kakashi still wore his traditional mask.

Unfortunately, Xia Yan did not see any abnormality in Kakashi's eyes; he remained very calm.

Honestly, he hoped Kakashi would show some reaction.

However, when Xia Yan mentioned the later part, Kakashi finally showed some reaction. He seemed surprised by Kakuzu's strength and how he could still be alive with a pierced heart.

He also realized that if Kakuzu was indeed still alive, as Xia Yan suggested, then the bounty hunter was likely still out there!

Kakashi was not stupid; he naturally noticed that the guy did not take them seriously during the fight and did not consider them a threat.

If he was still alive and Kakashi thought he had killed him, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Thinking about this, Kakashi nodded lightly, "I understand, Captain. So you took advantage of his paralysis to cut off the target's head and quickly retreated?"

"Yes," Xia Yan smiled, "Although we encountered some unexpected events, it's good to review the intelligence when we return. It will greatly benefit our missions."

Intelligence is key.

In the world of ninjas, once you know your enemy's intelligence and they know nothing about you, you will have the upper hand and can even take them by surprise.

Moreover, what Xia Yan said was not just speculation; it was recorded intelligence in the Anbu.

These pieces of intelligence were scattered, and Xia Yan was confident he had seen them before.

He was not worried that Kakashi would not find these things if he investigated.

Looking at Kakashi, who nodded silently without speaking, Xia Yan's face remained gentle, but he sighed inwardly.

Why don't you think about why you were thrown into a mission without following the usual procedures?

However, seeing that Kakashi did not think about it, he did not bother to say more. His intention was merely to remind Kakashi.

That is, "The Anbu is deep, and you might not be able to handle it."

The Fourth Hokage had just taken office and did not have a solid base. The entire Konoha was still under the control of the Third Hokage.

Not to mention, the Anbu still followed the Third Hokage's orders, and the Anbu captain was still the Third Hokage's most loyal person.

This was a sensitive time. Even if the Fourth Hokage had a good reason to bring Kakashi into the Anbu, it still triggered the nerves of the Third Hokage's people.

So eager?

So eager to gain control of the Anbu?

In their eyes, Kakashi's entry into the Anbu was not for any other reason but a signal.

If not, he would not have been given a warning by the captain upon joining.

Shaking his head indifferently, if Kakashi did not realize it, then so be it. He would give him some friendly reminders later.

Xia Yan was not particularly interested in the power struggle between the Third and Fourth Hokages. If he had to choose, he would rather support the Third Hokage.

After all, the old man still had over ten years left, while the Fourth Hokage had only a little over a year.

However, if he could cause some unrest early on, it would not be a bad thing for Xia Yan.

After all, his family was looking forward to the Third Hokage's downfall, and Xia Yan was, to some extent, a spy.

"As an Anbu, I spend my days clearing out spies. You just didn't expect that I am one too..."

...