The next morning, the sky was faintly lit.
In the clearing in front of Camp No. 3, four figures were already waiting.
Asuma Sarutobi leaned against a large tree, a blade of grass in his mouth, his arms crossed over his chest.
Shiranui Genma and Ebisu stood to the side, their expressions solemn.
The only one who seemed impatient was a short purple-haired girl, pacing back and forth with a toothpick in her mouth.
"Hey, Asuma."
"How much longer do we have to wait? Everyone's here, why aren't we leaving yet?"
Anko Mitarashi put her hands on her hips, her voice full of chattering complaints.
Asuma Sarutobi spat out the blade of grass.
"I told you, our squad captain hasn't arrived yet."
Anko Mitarashi pointed at him, looking puzzled.
"Aren't you the captain?"
"I'm the squad leader, not the overall captain for this mission."
Asuma explained.
Anko Mitarashi's curiosity was piqued.
"Oh? There's an overall captain? Who is it? Are they really strong?"
Asuma Sarutobi shook his head: "Minato-sama didn't say, so I don't know either."
A gentle breeze swept past.
Several emerald green leaves swirled down from the branches.
A figure appeared silently before everyone.
Anko Mitarashi was feeling bored when she turned around and happened to see the newcomer.
Her eyes lit up, and she immediately shouted happily: "Stupid Handsome Senior!"
"What are you doing here?"
She and Kurenai Yuhi were inseparable best friends, so she naturally knew Aokawa.
Although she often complained to Kurenai Yuhi that Aokawa wasn't strong enough.
But he was handsome, after all.
Therefore, her impression of Aokawa was quite good.
Aokawa hadn't even had a chance to speak.
Anko Mitarashi seemed to remember something and clapped her hands in sudden realization.
"I remember! With this new policy, all senior Ninja Academy Students can graduate, so you, the eternal Ninja Academy Student, have finally graduated!"
"Congratulations, congratulations, now you can also go out on missions."
Aokawa's face darkened slightly.
This Little Red Bean, she just had to bring up his shortcomings as soon as they met.
He flashed in front of the girl, bent a finger, and flicked her smooth forehead.
"I am your captain."
With a crisp thud.
"Ouch!"
Anko Mitarashi covered her forehead, her eyes watering as she glared at him.
When Asuma Sarutobi saw that the newcomer was Aokawa, the expression on his face became somewhat complex.
There was admiration, but also a hint of unwillingness.
Shiranui Genma and Ebisu, however, immediately straightened their bodies and respectfully called out.
"Aokawa-sama."
They couldn't forget who had saved them from Nii Yugito.
Anko Mitarashi, clutching her forehead, was stunned.
She looked at Asuma's complex expression, then at the respectful Genma and Ebisu.
Finally, her gaze returned to the young man her age in front of her.
Captain?
It was him?
This stupid senior, who was in the same class as her and always stuck with Kurenai?
A strong sense of defiance immediately rose in her heart.
In such a dangerous mission deep behind enemy lines, being handsome wouldn't feed them.
What was wrong with Asuma and the others? Why were they so respectful to this guy?
Judging by Asuma's expression, he clearly didn't know the truth about this stupid senior.
Her eyes darted around, and a strange smile spread across her lips.
Her figure flashed, and she suddenly attacked.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Several black venomous snakes suddenly shot out from her wide sleeves, hissing and biting towards Aokawa's throat.
"I am a Disciple of the Sannin!"
"If you want to be my captain, you'll have to show some strength first!"
"Anko, stop!" Asuma Sarutobi and the others were greatly alarmed, wanting to stop her, but it was already too late.
The speed of those snakes was astonishing, and they were about to bite their target.
However, the next moment.
A calm voice drifted from behind Anko Mitarashi.
"How much... strength is enough?"
The voice wasn't loud, but it exploded in Anko Mitarashi's ear like a clap of thunder.
Her body stiffened, and her pupils suddenly contracted.
How is that possible!
Where is he?
A chill shot from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head.
She instinctively gave up control of the snakes, abruptly drew the Kunai from her waist, and without looking, stabbed behind her.
Aokawa's figure had appeared there at some unknown point.
Facing this ruthless strike, he didn't even dodge.
He merely extended two fingers casually.
Precisely clamping the tip of the Kunai.
Anko Mitarashi used all her strength, but the Kunai remained motionless.
Immediately after, Aokawa flicked his wrist lightly.
A subtle force was transmitted along the metal handle of the Kunai.
Anko Mitarashi felt a sudden numbness in her wrist, and her fingers involuntarily loosened.
The Kunai flew out of her hand.
The next second.
The cold blade of the weapon that had just belonged to her was now pressed tightly against her fair neck.
"Good speed."
Aokawa retracted the Kunai, his voice still calm and unruffled.
"But your Killing Intent is too strong, and your intentions are too obvious."
Anko Mitarashi stood frozen, not daring to move.
The lingering cold metallic touch on her neck made her scalp tingle.
Cold sweat instantly soaked the clothes on her back.
Only at this moment did she truly realize how vast the gap between her and the other party was.
Aokawa reached out and patted her shoulder, leaning close to her ear: "No need to be surprised."
"After all... your Sannin teacher didn't react in time last time either."
Asuma Sarutobi, Shiranui Genma, and Ebisu were all shocked.
They knew Aokawa was strong, but they hadn't expected that, without using any Bloodline Limit, he had reached such a terrifying level with taijutsu alone.
Aokawa ignored the petrified Anko Mitarashi and unfurled the scroll Minato Namikaze had given him.
"We have two missions."
"One is to map the terrain along the way, and the other is to bypass Kazegake Valley to the west, cross the border, and scout Kumogakure's newly built supply transfer station."
"Confirm the location, and don't alert anyone."
"Asuma, you will lead the team and make decisions from now on. I will only provide support from the shadows and won't interfere with anything else, understood?"
He scanned them, his gaze calm and strong.
"Yes, understood!" They all responded in unison.
"Then make your own arrangements." Aokawa tossed the scroll to Asuma Sarutobi.
Immediately after, without waiting for their response, his figure once again dissolved into countless leaves and vanished.
This time, no one raised any objections.
Asuma Sarutobi took out a map and began to plan the mission route based on the mission information.
Anko Mitarashi watched the sky full of leaves, her eyes wide, finally understanding how this guy had suddenly appeared earlier.
At the same time, her eyes were filled with confusion and bewilderment.
How... how did this guy suddenly become so powerful?
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