Chapter 81 — Infiltrating the Enemy Camp
[Earth Nature Transformation Lv0 (52/100)]
Taichi stared at the panel. His Earth-nature transformation progress was already more than halfway filled. Of course he was reluctant to spend a precious skill point… but wasn't this exactly when skill points were meant to be used? If not now, then when?
He gave up the point. The panel shifted instantly.
[Earth Nature Transformation Lv1 (52/100)]
The skill jumped a full level, and a violent flood of earth-aligned insight erupted in Taichi's mind. For a moment, he felt as if he were standing in an endless field of soil and stone, absorbing the essence of the earth itself. Even within that chaotic torrent of sensation, he desperately grasped at the pieces he needed.
It sounded like a long process, but in reality it all happened in a single instant.
And the moment his nature transformation improved, all the training he had accumulated in Earth Release burst forth. His hands formed the seals for Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage.
The first attempt failed—yet the experience shot up.
The second attempt also failed—but the panel showed he was just one step away.
[You practiced Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage. Comprehension increased!]
[Skill experience +2]
[Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage Lv0 (99/100)]
Beside him, Yōhei watched Taichi loop through the hand seals again and again while absolutely nothing happened. He couldn't help asking:
"Taichi, what are you even doing?"
Yōhei scratched his head, suddenly freezing as a thought struck him. His eyes widened.
"Don't tell me you're learning another new jutsu!?"
Before the last word left his mouth, Taichi finished his third sequence of seals—and this time—
[Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage Lv1 (1/100)]
Half of Taichi's body sank directly into the earth.
Yōhei stared, mouth hanging open.
"Y-you— I— wh— what—"
He pointed at Taichi, then at himself, looking as if his spirit had vaporized. Was the gap really that big?
Taichi ignored Yōhei's breakdown and issued instructions calmly:
"I'm going underground to scout. You stay outside and cover me. If I get discovered—"
Before he even finished, his body slipped fully into the soil.
Yōhei snapped back to full alert, eyes locked on the cave entrance, fingers constantly twitching through seal practice to ensure he could react and cast instantly.
—
Underground, Taichi moved like a fish gliding through water. Since this was his first time using the technique for real, he deliberately burrowed deeper than necessary, afraid the enemy might sense him.
Fortunately, his high spiritual stat paid off. Even deep underground, his perception spread through the earth in a unique way, allowing him to keep track of what was happening above.
Slowly, he slid beneath the cave entrance. Taichi deliberately slowed his movement further, terrified of making the slightest sound or tremor that might alert the enemy.
The cave turned out to be surprisingly deep—the entrance tunnel alone stretched for more than ten meters. No wonder no one had found this hideout.
Once he passed the long passage, he emerged beneath a vast cavern. This section had clearly been excavated and expanded by human effort.
Dozens of shinobi were gathered inside—at least thirty by a rough count. And among them were several who gave off the unmistakable pressure of jōnin-level elites.
"Santai, what took you so long? Don't tell me you got caught and turned traitor?"
A green-haired ninja snapped at the newcomer—clearly itching for somewhere to vent the anger of losing his younger brother.
"I swear I didn't, boss!" Santai wailed immediately. "You know how timid I am! After I escaped, I was terrified someone was following me, so I made tons of detours before coming back. That's why I'm this late!"
The green-haired shinobi clearly knew his subordinate's cowardly reputation. As much as anger burned inside him, he reluctantly accepted the excuse and forced himself to hold it in.
"Alright, you lot."
A mocking voice rang out across the cavern.
"Why the long faces? It was just a tiny watchpoint. You left with a whole squad, and you came crawling back with only two or three scared kittens. Hahaha!"
"What did you say, you bastard? If you've got guts, step outside and fight me one-on-one! I'll beat you until your own guts come out!"
The green-haired man exploded instantly, thrilled to finally find an outlet for his rage.
"Takagi, calm down. This isn't the time to fight."
A red-haired shinobi wedged himself between the two before fists—or kunai—started flying.
"Don't underestimate Konoha. That's why we lost. And don't forget—they got reinforcements. That's the only reason the outcome was that bad."
The red-haired shinobi turned his glare toward the group.
"And another thing—our intel was wrong. Didn't the employer say their reinforcements wouldn't arrive for three days at minimum? So how did they show up early? Hijikata—you're the one who communicates with the client. Do you have an explanation?"
He exaggerated deliberately—the supply squad they encountered was framed as a "reinforcement unit." And although the difference wasn't that big in practice, words mattered. Just like that, the entire cavern shifted its attention.
More than thirty sets of eyes fell on Hijikata.
In a ninja operation, bad intel means death. No one ever takes that lightly.
Even the loudmouth who had been mocking earlier now stared sharply at him.
Hijikata broke into a cold sweat. Clearly, he hadn't expected things to go this way.
"I'll report it to the employer. But everyone relax—our client is a Great Shinobi Village. Their credibility is solid. If this failure truly stems from faulty intel… the employer will compensate us fully."
Hijikata spoke as sincerely as he could.
The moment he finished, the cavern erupted again.
"Gathering this many shinobi for a mission, and the first operation already fails—are we still going to continue?"
"Big Shinobi Village? Look at his filthy earth-country vibe. He's obviously an Iwa puppet."
"Do you have a death wish saying that out loud?"
"We've got so many shinobi—why not just rush the outpost and wipe it instantly?"
"Don't get fooled by the headcount. We only have four jōnin. Konoha's already alert. From here on, it's going to be battlefield reconnaissance and attrition."
"Aren't we going to get hunted down by Konoha after this?"
"Who cares? After this job, we switch countries, enjoy the payout, and start over as heroes!"
The cavern filled with chaotic chatter—useful information mixed with noise, all flooding into Taichi's perception.
Suddenly a commanding voice cut through the chaos:
"Enough. All of you accepted this bounty mission, so I'll give the next orders now. Since the first probe failed, we abandon the assault on the outpost itself. Instead, our new objective is to eliminate their patrol squads and their supply couriers."
"Our next priority is simple—kill as many Konoha shinobi as possible."
The moment Taichi heard the plan, his heart tightened.
A large number of enemy shinobi spreading out to hunt isolated, unprepared Konoha ninjas… anyone caught alone would die instantly. Especially the supply squads—not every team had a jōnin commander like theirs.
"Who's there? Get out!"
A sudden roar came from Hijikata.
His hands blurred through seals—Earth Release: Splitting Earth Spikes.
Taichi's blood ran cold the moment he heard the shout. His emotions earlier must have caused a fluctuation in chakra—and of all things, there had to be a jōnin Earth-Release specialist right here.
He thrust himself upward, breaking through the soil just as the jutsu erupted.
The place where he had been submerged was shredded by countless earthen spikes—piercing everything from every direction.
A bead of cold sweat rolled down Taichi's forehead.
Had he been even a heartbeat slower, he would be a skewer—if he were lucky.
"You bastard—it's you?! Die for me!"
Takagi, the green-haired shinobi, recognized him instantly and went berserk. This was the kid who killed his brother—and now he had chased them here. New hatred and old hatred stacked instantly.
"You rats—Konoha's reinforcements have already arrived! You're all dead!"
Taichi might have been small, but his mouth was anything but. He unleashed a verbal explosion, sending half the cavern into stunned confusion.
Then he turned and ran without hesitation.
Fortunately, he had stayed near the entrance since he entered—escaping would be easy.
"He's bluffing! Don't fall for it—catch him! Don't let the brat escape!"
Hijikata shouted from the rear, snapping everyone out of their momentary panic.
Only then did they realize they had been fooled.
There was no way this kid had time to send out any message.
A swarm of shinobi charged after Taichi, the thunderous footsteps echoing like a mob ready to grind him into paste.
Sprinting ahead, Taichi heard the avalanche of footsteps behind him and wanted to cry.
He'd kicked an entire hornet's nest!
The exit was finally in sight—but suddenly someone appeared in the mouth of the cave.
The man's hands snapped through seals—
and a massive fireball roared from his mouth straight toward Taichi.