Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 159: Escape!

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Reaching the top of the attic, Tonari found the bloated Finance Minister kneeling motionlessly on the floor. There was no blood—he had died from poisoning.

An open hidden compartment in front of him revealed an assortment of treasures: gold, silver, jewelry, and stacks of banknotes, each with an impressively high value.

These were the spoils the Finance Minister had embezzled from the nation's coffers—a considerable fortune.

"What's the big deal? It's just some money..."

Tonari approached the hidden compartment, casually flipping through a stack of banknotes. His tone was dismissive, but his hands worked swiftly to collect and secure the loot.

Silver, watching Tonari's practiced movements, rolled its eyes.

Although it had only been a year since Silver started working with Tonari, it had learned much about him through Blue's shared experiences and personal observation. Silver had come to understand Tonari's nature well.

Knowing Tonari's priorities, Silver immediately informed him about the hidden treasure when it learned of it from the Finance Minister.

Tonari quickly swept everything into his possession, leaving no gem or coin behind.

At the bottom of the hidden compartment was a particularly ornate wooden box.

Opening it, Tonari discovered irregularly shaped metallic stones glinting faintly.

He picked one up, inspecting it closely.

He didn't recognize the material, but its placement in the most secure part of the hidden compartment spoke volumes about its value.

The Finance Minister, a man obsessed with wealth, had treasured these stones even more than the vast riches above.

Water Country, isolated as it was, still managed to produce the legendary Seven Ninja Swords, crafted from extraordinary materials.

"Seems like I'll be able to reforge my old friend sooner than expected. This Finance Minister is a real treasure trove," Tonari muttered, pocketing the metallic stones with satisfaction.

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Outside, the sounds of battle began to subside.

Tonari grabbed a sharp blade from a fallen soldier and decapitated the Finance Minister with a single strike. He wrapped the head in cloth, securing it as proof of their mission's success.

After summoning Silver back, Tonari leapt from the window and found Minato waiting below.

"Mission accomplished?" Minato asked.

Tonari grinned and waved the cloth-wrapped head.

Seeing the confirmation, Minato smiled as well.

Looking around at the aftermath, Tonari spotted the defeated Mist Village Jonin lying lifelessly on the ground.

Tonari gave Minato a thumbs up. Taking down a Jonin was no small feat, and it spoke volumes about Minato's strength.

Both Tonari and Minato had now proven they possessed Jonin-level skills, with advantages that set them apart from ordinary Jonin.

At just over fifteen years old, Minato's talent was undeniable. Under Jiraiya's guidance, his potential had been fully unlocked.

Even without the Flying Thunder God Technique, Minato's talent and determination would likely see him reach Kage-level strength in the future.

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"Let's move. I can sense six formidable presences heading this way from the city center. Coupled with the mobilization of elite soldiers, staying here would be disastrous," Tonari said.

Without hesitation, the two leapt onto the rooftops, following their preplanned escape route out of the capital.

Water Country's capital was heavily guarded by skilled ninja, constantly protecting the Daimyo. These ninja were no trifling opponents.

Furthermore, the soldiers who had fallen so easily earlier were not representative of all Water Country's warriors.

Though overshadowed by ninja, samurai still existed in considerable numbers. While they lacked the ninja's ability to harness chakra, their martial prowess was not to be underestimated.

Being caught by either the pursuing ninja or the surrounding soldiers would mean significant trouble.

What began as a covert assassination had now escalated into a chaotic escape.

Until they crossed the border and left Water Country, the mission wasn't truly over.

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The two sped toward the border without stopping.

Given the commotion they had caused in the capital, it was certain that Mist Village had already been informed. Elite ninja were likely en route, and border defenses would undoubtedly be bolstered.

The deaths of two Jonin and two Chunin highlighted the strength of Tonari and Minato. The ninja sent to pursue them would not be weak.

"Minato, tell me straight—have you mastered 'Blink' yet?" Tonari asked during their escape.

Minato paused. "Blink?"

"Do you mean the Body Flicker Technique?"

That answered his question—Minato hadn't yet mastered it.

"Great, so we'll have to rely on raw speed. Here's hoping we get some backup along the way," Tonari muttered.

Without the ability to "Blink," their escape would be considerably harder.

But this was part of the test.

Assassination missions didn't just evaluate skills like intelligence gathering, strategy, and adaptability. They also tested a ninja's ability to handle pursuit and escape.

Successfully returning to Konoha would mark the true completion of their Jonin exam.

"If we're caught, we keep running—don't turn back to fight," Minato cautioned. "If we're pinned down, the reinforcements will swarm us."

Tonari waved him off. "Relax. Between the two of us, I'm the one more scared of dying. You won't catch me stopping to fight unless I have no other choice."

Hearing that, Minato thought it over and realized Tonari had a point. He dropped the subject, focusing on their escape.

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Not long after they left, a shadowy figure, half-black and half-white, emerged from the ground.

"Those two in Water Country? Stirring up Mist Village? Interesting..."

"Who are they? You seem familiar with them."

"You've only just been born. There's much you don't know. Watch and learn."

"Oh."

"That boy remains an enigma. Perhaps I'll use Mist's forces to probe him further..."

The strange figure melted back into the ground, leaving no trace behind.

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Meanwhile, six ninja stood atop the city walls, their leader staring in the direction of Tonari and Minato's escape.

"You three, stay and guard the Daimyo. The rest, follow me!"

"Understood!"

Three ninja immediately turned back, while the others set off in pursuit.

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The chase was relentless. Despite their speed and agility, Tonari and Minato couldn't shake the feeling that danger was ever-present.

"Something's off," Minato said. "At this rate, we'll exhaust our chakra before we reach the border. We'll be sitting ducks, caught between the pursuers and the border guards."

Tonari nodded. "Then let's change tactics. We rest and recover some chakra, then deal with these trackers before moving on. I don't believe they're in any better shape than we are after all this."

Minato hesitated but eventually agreed. Constantly running without a plan wasn't viable.

The two found a secluded spot, stopped running, and began recovering their chakra.

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Soon enough, a team of Mist Village Anbu arrived, led by a seasoned squad captain.

"Hold position. They're just ahead, likely recovering their strength. Stay alert—they're dangerous," the captain ordered.

"Understood!"

Despite their caution, they couldn't anticipate the traps Tonari and Minato had prepared.

As explosions ripped through the forest, the Anbu found themselves outmaneuvered, the tables turned.

Tonari and Minato capitalized on their advantage, launching a coordinated attack that overwhelmed their pursuers.

The forest fell silent once more, the smoldering remains of the ambush marking their success.

But both knew this was just the beginning.

"The hard part starts now," Tonari said grimly.

Minato nodded. "Let's finish this."

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