Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
Night fell, and the moon was obscured by clouds.
In the western part of the Land of Fire, a canyon with only a vague mark on the map.
The terrain here was rugged and dangerous, making it a natural hiding place.
Nine figures swept into the depths of the canyon, and after confirming there were no more pursuers, they finally stopped.
"This is it."
A Kumogakure scout unrolled a map, his voice hoarse from the long pursuit.
They had detoured from the Land of Lightning to the Land of Water, then raced from the eastern Land of Fire all the way here, crossing more than half of the Land of Fire.
Even if they were made of iron, they were now nearing their limits.
A stood on a giant rock, looking around. "Quickly set up the barrier!"
"Yes!"
The remaining Kumogakure shinobi immediately took action, and several sophisticated concealment barriers were skillfully set up around the canyon.
Soon, their chakra fluctuations merged with the entire canyon, and they could no longer be detected by ordinary sensory ninjutsu.
With the barrier set up, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Their taut nerves slightly relaxed, and fatigue immediately washed over them.
Several shinobi swayed, almost collapsing to the ground.
Killer Bee gently set down Mabui, who he had been carrying on his shoulder.
The female shinobi, who had endured constant jolting during the pursuit, was now pale.
The moment she touched the ground, her legs gave out, and she finally couldn't stand, slowly sliding down to sit against the rock wall.
Killer Bee, who usually sang and danced non-stop, now stood silently beside her.
The face that always wore a playful expression now only showed seriousness.
A leaped down from the giant rock, his gaze sweeping over everyone's tired faces, and he said in a deep voice. "Rest for half an hour on the spot."
This order was unexpected.
A shinobi couldn't help but speak. "Raikage-sama, time is urgent..."
"I know time is urgent!" A interrupted. "But a group of exhausted soldiers can't do anything!"
"I need you all to recover to your best condition for the upcoming operation!"
"This is an order!"
"Yes!"
Everyone said no more.
They each found a place to sit, pulled out their soldier pills and water bottles, and began to race against time to recover their stamina.
Killer Bee and Mabui also didn't try to be strong, leaning against the rock wall, silently recovering.
An hour passed in a flash.
Seeing that everyone had recovered almost completely, A's voice sounded again. "Let's move!"
All Kumogakure shinobi instantly stood up.
Mabui walked to an open space in the center of the canyon, and a huge seal scroll was spread flat on the ground.
She took a deep breath, then formed hand seals and began to activate the incredibly complex jutsu on the scroll.
Everyone present clearly understood the core of this assassination plan.
The key lay in the reverse formation that Mabui was setting up.
This forbidden-level spatial ninjutsu could theoretically transport the main army of Kumogakure to the heart of the Land of Fire in an instant.
But theory is, after all, theory.
Such a large-scale transmission required an extremely vast amount of chakra as activation energy.
With their current nine people, it was impossible to transmit a large troop at once.
According to the plan that had been finalized before departure, in the first step, they could only open a small-scale transmission channel to transmit the first batch of ten elites who were already on standby in the village.
This number of people was like a drop in the bucket for a surprise attack on Konoha.
But the most crucial design of this formation was that it could continuously store energy.
As long as the basic structure was completed, they could continuously inject chakra into it.
The larger the amount of chakra stored, the exponentially larger the number and scale of people that could be transmitted next time!
So, from now on, they were racing against time.
They had to accumulate enough energy in the formation to transmit the main army before being found by Konoha!
The Raikage watched as the complex jutsu lit up with a faint glow as chakra was injected, and his eyes deepened.
He didn't need anyone to remind him of the risks of this plan, because it was already his all-in gamble.
"Everyone, split into three groups!"
The Raikage made a decisive decision, issuing the order that had been rehearsed countless times.
"One group for vigilance, the other two groups take turns inputting chakra into the formation!"
He looked at his silent younger brother.
"Bee, you and I, be ready to support at any time."
"Everyone else, start immediately!"
"Yes!"
No one had any objection.
Two Kumogakure shinobi immediately sat cross-legged, placing their hands on the energy nodes of the formation, and began to continuously transmit their chakra.
Sadness was suppressed, transforming into determination.
Dodai, and the sacrificed brothers... just wait.
Konoha will soon be buried with you!
We will use the head of the Fourth Hokage to pay tribute to your spirits in heaven!
At the same time, at Konoha, in the Hokage building, the office was filled with deathly silence.
Minato looked at the secret report in his hand, his brows tightly furrowed. "News from the daimyo manor, the daimyo has decided to set off early to Konoha to observe the chunin exams."
As his voice fell, it was like a thunderclap!
"What?!" Koharu exclaimed in shock. "Nonsense! This is utter nonsense!"
"Doesn't he know that he might be the target of those desperate Kumogakure thugs?!"
"Minato! Immediately write to dissuade him!" Homura slammed the table. "As the daimyo, putting himself in danger is irresponsible to the entire Land of Fire!"
Facing the anger of the two elders, Minato remained calm.
"Both elders, please calm down." Minato spoke at a steady pace. "The daimyo's escort includes all of the Guardian Shinobi Twelve!"
"And his mysterious Shadow Guard unit!"
"In addition, one hundred Konoha elites we sent to meet him will also join his escort and come together!"
A series of unit compositions were read out, instantly extinguishing the anger of the two elders!
They weren't fools!
Guardian Shinobi Twelve.
Mysterious unit.
Over a hundred Konoha elites.
This lineup was enough to protect the daimyo's safety.
These thoughts flashed through the minds of the two elders.
"The daimyo... is he using himself as bait?!" Homura's cheek twitched, his voice trembling slightly.
This sentence was like a thorn, piercing deeply into their hearts.
A sense of shame immediately welled up.
Yes, why would the daimyo do that?
Because their Konoha, the strongest village in the shinobi world, couldn't even catch a mere dozen infiltrators!
Because Hyuga Hiashi, with over a hundred elites, had his defenses easily torn apart by the enemy!
This was Konoha's failure!
It was Konoha's incompetence!
And it was a slap in the face to them, the higher-ups!
"Luring the snake out of its hole..." Homura gritted his teeth. "Luring out the snake we haven't found..."
"Killing the enemy we couldn't kill..."
"The strongest village in the shinobi world..." Koharu swayed, then slumped back into her chair, self-mockingly saying, "Yet we need the daimyo to personally clean up our mess..."
"What a huge irony..."
Minato clenched his fists, remaining silent.
As the Fourth Hokage, he felt this humiliation more deeply than anyone else!
The daimyo's decision, without a single word of blame, was more embarrassing than any reprimand!
This was a reminder to the entire Konoha—you are incompetent!
The next moment, Minato suddenly stood up, his voice no longer gentle.
"Order!"
"From now on, the village's alert rank is raised to the highest!"
"Anbu will take over the chunin exams venue and set up a triple barrier!"
"All shinobi on leave are to report back to duty! Increase patrols, and thoroughly investigate any suspicious personnel!"
He paused, then added. "Immediately draft a detailed reception plan and escort route. I want to personally review it!"
"The daimyo's safety during his time in Konoha is our top priority!"
"This time, Konoha must not make any more mistakes!"
With the orders issued, several Anbu accepted their mission and disappeared to various parts of the village.
Konoha, this war machine, was instantly activated by the news of the daimyo's impending arrival and by the Fourth Hokage's orders.