The old man is really something. Leaving such a treasure unused, insisting on locking it away to gather mold!" Jiraiya slammed his fist onto the desk, making the ink bottle wobble and splashing black ink onto the map, creating a small stain.
His voice was kept extremely low, filled with exhaustion and confusion. "The Uchiha Clan is so useful. Sharingan for reconnaissance, Fire Release for breakthroughs—what can't they do? Just because of some groundless suspicions, he's confined the entire clan to the Village. If that isn't cutting off one's own arm, I don't know what is."
He remembered his last report in the Village. The Sandaime sat in the Hokage chair, stroking a crystal ball, and said heavily, "The Uchiha's centrifugal force is growing stronger; we must be on guard."
But in Jiraiya's eyes, the more they were suppressed, the stronger that centrifugal force became!
If only they could trust the Uchiha like they trusted Shine and give them more opportunities, how could the front lines be so short-handed?
Complaints aside, the mission still had to be done.
Jiraiya sighed and picked up his pen again. His eyes scanned the troop roster with difficulty before he finally gritted his teeth and filled in three names under the "Eastern Reconnaissance" column, adding a note: "Dispatch two additional Chunin for support." This was the strongest configuration he could muster, yet he still felt uneasy, feeling that it was more than just a step below Shine.
The wind outside the tent grew stronger, making the canvas flap loudly. Looking at the dense red flags on the map, Jiraiya felt for the first time that this war would be hard to fight.
The night was as dark as ink, soaking the silhouette of the Grass Ninja Village into a blurry outline.
Burning torches were stuck into the wooden fences surrounding the Village, their orange light casting mottled shadows on the rammed earth walls. Every thirty paces, a Grass Ninja patrolled back and forth, the sound of boots on the gravel road exceptionally clear in the silent night. This was a small Ninja Village heavily guarded due to war, yet it hid a "treasure" Shine was determined to obtain.
In the dense forest three hundred meters away, five dark figures crouched behind bushes like panthers blending into the shadows.
Uchiha Qi knelt on one knee, pressing his right hand against the damp earth. His Chakra spread out quietly, sensing the fluctuations of the patrolling soldiers ahead.
He turned his head to look at Xiu beside him, his gaze filled with clear trust. Before leaving, Shine had instructed that Xiu would lead the tactical deployment, with him and Genki assisting.
"Xiu, the patrol density is higher than expected. There's also a team of hidden sentries changing shifts every ten minutes; the risk of a direct intrusion is too high." Qi's voice was extremely low, audible only to those beside him. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan opened quietly, taking in every detail of the distant torchlight. "Furthermore, the Chakra fluctuations are densest in the northeast of the Village. That's likely where important prisoners are held."
Hearing this, Xiu leaned forward slightly, his fingertips quickly sketching a simple terrain map on the ground, the torchlight reflecting off his tense profile.
He was the most experienced squad leader among the ten. At this moment, his brow furrowed as his mind raced. "The patrols are ordinary Chunin, and the hidden sentries should be Jonin-level, but there's a seven-second blind spot during their shift changes—enough for us to infiltrate.
Besides, a small Village is just a small Village. Their so-called Jonin might not even match an Elite Chunin from the Five Great Villages!"
He looked up, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his voice steady as iron. "Qi, Genki, you two will focus on reconnaissance and interrogation.
Genki, use Auditory Genjutsu to interfere with the patrols' senses. Qi, take the opportunity to snatch someone into the forest and use Genjutsu to force out the specific location where Uzumaki Karin and her mother are held—
Remember, only ask for the location. Don't reveal our identities. After questioning, use Memory-erasing Genjutsu to clear their minds. Leave them alive to avoid alerting the enemy."
Hearing this, Genki quietly brought a short flute to his lips, his fingers pressing lightly on the holes, signaling his understanding with a look. His Auditory Genjutsu could be triggered by subtle flute sounds, plunging the target into brief hallucinations, perfect for a stealthy assault.
Qi gripped the Kunai at his waist, the tomoe in his Sharingan spinning slightly, already prepared for the surprise attack.
"Crimson, your task is defense." Xiu turned to the gentle-looking female Ninja, his tone becoming more detailed. "Set up three lines of traps along the path from here to the river on the east side of the Village. The first line should be tripwires triggering poison needles. The second will be your special 'Paralysis Mist' porcelain jars. The third will serve as an escape marker—use scratches of the uchiha clan crest as a signal. Once we break through with the targets, you'll meet us here and use Medical Ninjutsu to treat any potential injuries."
Crimson nodded and took out a dozen small porcelain jars and a roll of poison-soaked hemp rope from her pouch. Her fingers flew as she tied the jars to the rope, her skillful movements bringing a sense of security. She was not only skilled at healing but had also mastered the art of setting defensive traps.
Finally, Xiu looked at the consistently silent Yue beside him. "Yue, your sensing range is five hundred meters. Stay here and rendezvous with me.
Once Qi and Genki find the location, use your sensing to lock onto the Uzumaki mother and daughter's Chakra. Then, coordinate with Genki's Genjutsu to cover Qi while he rescues them.
Remember, control them with Genjutsu as soon as you see them. Don't talk. They've been imprisoned for many days and might be wary of strangers; a single second's delay could lead to trouble."
"Yue and I will bring up the rear to clear out pursuers. Qi, once you, Genki, and the Uzumaki pair break out of the Village, retreat immediately toward the Ruins of the Land of Whirlpools. The traps along the way will buy us time."
Xiu's gaze swept over the group, his tone suddenly sharpening. "Core mission: see them alive, or see their bodies—no, everyone must evacuate safely with the targets! Any questions?"
"None!" Four voices rang out simultaneously, without a hint of hesitation.
Fighting spirit burned in Qi's eyes, Genki's fingers were already on his flute, Crimson stood up with her trap supplies, and Yue closed his eyes, his Chakra sensing range quietly expanding to monitor the entire Grass Ninja Village.
"Good! Move out!" At Xiu's command, Crimson moved first, her figure gliding through the bushes like a butterfly toward the rendezvous point, her skirt brushing against the grass without making a sound.
Immediately after, Qi and Genki were like two bolts of black lightning. Taking advantage of the moment the patrols turned around, they slid noiselessly toward the Grass Ninja Village's wooden fence, the Crimson of their Sharingan flashing momentarily in the night.
Xiu and Yue remained crouched in place. Yue's brow furrowed slightly. "The third barracks on the east side. There are two faint Chakra fluctuations; their vitality is very weak. It should be the prisoners. There's also a Jonin-level Chakra guarding the door—a Hidden Sentry."
A cold arc curled at the corner of Xiu's mouth as he gripped his Kunai. "Wait for their signal. Tonight, it's time to settle this score with the Grass Ninja Village."
In the night, there was only the crackling of burning torches and the distant footsteps of patrols. No one noticed that a rescue operation, precise to the extreme, had quietly begun.
...
Advance chapter available on pãtrêon Got1808