DHUM
DHUM
The footsteps of Kumo Shinobi etched themselves on the soil of the foreign land. The forest didn't budge, as if nothing or no one was in it.
They moved silently, like snakes in a well — despite their numbers, they moved with coordination. At the front was a man, his humongous frame marred with different scars — a testament to his battle prowess.
His eyes were youthful yet defiant.He marched forward, silently stepping over patches of earth that did not contain soft soil.
Soft soil acted as a signature — a clear proof of something moving. So A, being sent by his father, did not want to disappoint him.
He turned towards his second-in-command, a white-haired Kumo Shinobi with a slim body and a sword scabbard hung on his waist. "How far do you think the camp should be?"
His voice, a whisper in the wind, reached the Kumo Shinobi's ear. The man narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the different markers around him.
"Considering it is supposed to be a super rainy region, sir, I believe we must not be far," he spoke, his hands lightly touching the wet leaves.
The Land of Fire was unlike any other land in the world — it was humongous, a colossal entity that dwarfed others in comparison.As much as the Kumo Shinobi prided themselves on their land, even they understood that simple fact.
So it wasn't unusual for different regions to have different climates — the mining region they were headed to was situated in a place where rain usually fell.
A's smirk widened. And with rain... comes lightning.
Sweeping his hand, he whispered, "Let's continue."
SWISH
SWISH
.....
Feeling the mighty sun on his back, he couldn't help but sigh.For Kyojiro, it had been the same ever since the past few hours.
His expression soured. First I travelled so long to meet this poisonous traitor... he couldn't help but give a stank eye to the Sannin upfront.
And before I could even get to rest, this man already snatched me for another project... His eyes drooped down. At this rate, he thought it would have been better if he had chosen the Uchiha camp.
"Lord Orochimaru, if I may ask — where are we headed?" Kyojiro spoke, his head slightly tilted.
Orochimaru acted oblivious. The Sannin treated Kyojiro as dust — as if his words had just hit an iron wall and crumbled.
Kyojiro narrowed his eyes — the heat of the sun making his usual gentle temperament slowly but steadily erode. At this rate, I'll be a hot skewer by the time I reach wherever this guy wants me to go.
Despite being alone with such a dangerous man, Kyojiro wasn't scared.He shouldn't do anything till the end of the war... and most of all — he still wants to be Hokage.
However, shaking him out of his thoughts, Orochimaru's indifferent voice rang out. "Remember the Kumo offense?"
Kyojiro nodded. "Yeah?" His head tilted. I was in it, of course I remember.
Orochimaru continued, "Well, that might have been Leaf's loss if Jiraiya hadn't interfered." He slightly looked back, his slitted eyes focusing on the Uchiha. "Well, it's a basic rule — at the start of a war, no leader sends Kage-level Ninjas to the field."
Kyojiro nodded. It's like chess — once someone uses their queen, the other player has to open theirs as well... usually, anyways.
Connecting the dots, Kyojiro muttered, "Since Sensei has appeared, it means the war will escalate, right?" He narrowed his eyes. "But that still doesn't answer where we're going. If that's the case, why aren't we moving to the frontlines?"
As both ninjas stepped on another tree branch, their speed picked up subconsciously.
"That's because the Raikage isn't foolish. Frontlines are a dogfight — real battles occur in places of importance,"Orochimaru continued. "Hiruzen-sensei has sent us to such a place."
Kyojiro nodded. That... does make sense.
Just then, Kyojiro couldn't help but hear the Sannin's last words.
"I just hope... we reach on time."
........
The squad sent by the Hokage had already pushed themselves to their maximum speed. Similar to them, multiple other squads were sent to different areas — places of importance, so to say.
Considering the Kumo would have to sneak into the nation, they couldn't possibly bring a large squad, which meant their attack would consist of elites.
The squad leader couldn't help but tighten his brows. It's either going to be a big loss for the Kumo... or...
A shinobi from his group spoke, his voice low yet audible. "Sir, how far?"
The leader nodded. "We have reached, boy — about a minute or two more."
His mind remembered the Hokage's words as well. A Sannin is going to be joining us... No way can the Kumo Shinobi take that on.
They rushed through the trees, their feet landing on the branches akin to an ape's natural stance.The wind brushed against their faces. The sun was close to setting now, and it seemed they had reached just in time.
Finally out in the clearing, the leader stopped himself. His eyes darted across the field. At the far corner was a minefield — simple workers going in and out.
There were a few worker houses as well as camps for their employers.
A soft sigh escaped his lips. Now, all we need to do is ensure fortifications in this place.
Yet before he could even move, a soft rustle occurred from the opposite direction.The trees, which acted like a blind screen, gave way. The workers, who had relaxed at the appearance of the Konoha Ninjas, tensed up.
From within the trees — from the daunting darkness — came similar dark men. Their muscles outlined their beings, their hair in different shades — some a contrasting white while others were bald.
Yet amidst the front was a man the leader recognized in an instant.
It wasn't as if he was famous — but because his face was the exact youthful replica of the hardened Shinobi the leader had seen once.
Is that... the son of the Third Raikage?