Inside the command tent, the three commanders—Nara Rokaku, Hatake Sakumo, and Tsunade—were all present.
Hatake Sakumo asked everyone else to leave, leaving only the three commanders.
Nara Rokaku's gaze was lowered.
After reading the report, Tsunade tossed it in front of Nara Rokaku.
She thought it was something major, but it turned out to be just a scandal within the Nara clan.
"Clan Head Rokaku, while the affairs of the Jonin Commander and headquarters are important, one must not neglect the guidance of the younger generation within the shinobi clans. To think there are Nara shinobi using their shadow secret technique to treat teammates as puppets. Your clan's technique development is certainly... imaginative."
Nara Rokaku's voice was heavy as he said, "I have already requested the Anbu to execute these few bad apples. Please rest assured, Princess Tsunade, I will never condone such actions."
Tsunade turned and left, not wanting to be involved in these sordid affairs.
Nara Rokaku looked at Hatake Sakumo and said, "Thank you for your report, Deputy Commander Sakumo. If not for you, these bad apples would have continued to harm other Konoha compatriots."
Hatake Sakumo said:
"At least 15 Konoha shinobi have died at the hands of these individuals.
This is no small matter.
Every Konoha shinobi is prepared to give their life for the village. Their lives are precious and should not be lost without a clear reason.
I am glad Commander Rokaku could place righteousness above family loyalty. Otherwise, more Konoha shinobi would have died by their hands."
After Hatake Sakumo also left the tent, Nara Umeka entered and came to Nara Rokaku's side.
"Clan Head..." she said, "I apologize for letting Hatake Sakumo get ahead of us. My internal clan investigation was also about to yield results."
Nara Rokaku said:
"It's not your fault; Hatake Sakumo acted too quickly.
Unnoticed, Hatake Sakumo's followers have grown increasingly numerous, capable of silently investigating our Nara clan's scandal.
Today, he came with ironclad evidence; I had no choice but to concede.
I will report this matter exactly as it is to the Hokage-sama and request that he be wary of the forces gathering around Hatake Sakumo."
Nara Umeka said, "Clan Head, then I will go complete the other investigation mission. The Suna-nin have replicated the gliders; I will investigate their replication level."
"Go ahead."
After everyone left, Nara Rokaku stared at Hatake Sakumo's report, his eyes cold and dangerous.
There was a vast difference between the Nara clan investigating and handling the matter themselves and having Hatake Sakumo uncover the evidence and throw it in their faces.
--
Yōkō gathered his three squads and assigned one assassination target to each squad; he would take one target himself.
"The mission scroll contains intelligence on the assassination targets. Ensure the assassinations are completed within two days." Yōkō said:
"Pay close attention: the targets have special status. You must not expose your special abilities. You can only use taijutsu, tools, and explosive tags for the assassination.
When taking action, disguise yourselves as Suna-nin or Rain-nin."
Yōkō specifically kept Purple Cat behind and said to her separately:
"Purple Cat, you've already seen the scroll. The assassination target is a Nara clan shinobi.
Within the village, Ino–Shika–Chō are one entity. But in the Anbu, there is no 'Ino–Shika–Chō'; there are only successful or failed missions."
Purple Cat said: "Captain, I made my resolution when I entered the Anbu. You needn't worry. Whether it's a Nara shinobi or a Yamanaka shinobi, if it's an Anbu mission, I will definitely complete it."
"Good, go ahead."
After the three squads left, Yōkō glanced at the information about his target on the scroll and also left the camp.
The target was named Nara Da, a Special Jonin. He was currently leading a squad operating on the front lines.
Most of the time, the conflict between Konoha and Suna occurred along the lengthy frontline, with different squads interweaving, ambushing, and depleting the enemy's strength.
When Kage-level shinobi were involved, gathering shinobi together for extended periods was foolish, as a single large-scale ninjutsu could cause massive casualties.
Making full use of the frontline's width, with ambushes and counter-ambushes, assassinations and counter-assassinations, reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance, was the norm of shinobi village warfare.
Northern Border of the Land of Rivers.
On a Gobi desert area, Nara Da's squad was resting sheltered from the wind between two large rocks only two meters apart.
Genin Hachimar said:
"Captain, we don't need to rest. Don't worry about us. The Suna-nin we're chasing have six wounded but only two escorts.
If we kill those wounded, we might even get an A-rank mission reward."
Nara Da seemed uninterested and perfunctorily said:
"Don't rush. The closer we are to the prey, the more careful we must be. Those wounded can't run fast."
Nara Da thought to himself that among the wounded were two puppet masters. As long as a puppet master's fingers could move, they still had combat ability; he couldn't be careless.
He looked at the Genin Hachimar who had just spoken with a complex gaze.
Hachimar was very eager and lively, but unfortunately, his strength was relatively weak.
During the upcoming battle... he would make him braver than he imagined.
After resting, Nara Da's squad continued deeper into the Gobi desert.
Hachimar discovered dried brownish-red bloodstains on the ground.
Following the direction of the bloodstains, Nara Da's squad continued the pursuit. Soon, they spotted the Suna-nin near a few rocks.
Two Suna-nin were standing, six were lying on the ground.
Nara Da gestured, ordering all his subordinates to attack.
The Genin excitedly charged towards the Suna-nin, holding their kunai.
With so many wounded, the Genin believed this would be their easiest fight yet.
However, one of the wounded, semi-reclining against a rock, raised a hand.
Two puppets suddenly burst from the ground behind the three Konoha Genin.
The Suna-nin wounded had actually set a trap.
With puppets behind and Suna-nin ahead, the three Genin found themselves in a bitter fight.
Nara Da appeared nearby and shouted to Hachimar: "Don't resist! Your taijutsu is too poor; let me control you!"
"Yes! Captain!"
Hachimar relaxed his body, allowing Nara Da's Shadow Imitation Technique to control him.
Subsequently, he and Nara Da together dodged the puppet's attacks.
He found his movements faster and more concise, praising, "As expected of the Captain! So impressive!"
Nara Da controlled Hachimar, and after dodging the puppets, they charged towards the wounded.
The distance between them was over thirty meters, charging forward parallel to each other.
Hachimar was facing the Suna-nin wounded directly, while Nara Da was positioned to the side.
Hachimar felt something was wrong. He watched in horror as more and more wounded shakily got to their feet.
Rushing close to the wounded, one wounded raised a kunai and thrust it. Hachimar found he wasn't making any evasive movement.
"Captain! Control me quickly!"
Not only was he not dodging, but his hands were also reaching for the throat of a Suna-nin who had just stood up.
Hachimar's gaze swept to the side and discovered Squad Leader Nara Da had no intention of dodging either; he seemed willing to risk injury to grapple with the newly risen Suna-nin wounded.
Wasn't this trading his own life for a chance to lock down the enemy?
Just then, a black figure suddenly shot out from the ground beneath Nara Da.
Nara Da instinctively jumped backward.
As he jumped, Hachimar, under the control of the Shadow Imitation Technique, also jumped backward, dodging the Suna-nin's kunai.
The kunai glinted with a bluish-purple hue of poison, making Hachimar break out in a cold sweat.
The Genin suddenly found he could move again. He quickly turned his head and saw Squad Leader Nara Da with a kunai stabbed into his abdomen.
Blood gushed from Nara Da's abdomen as he stared in shock at the Rain-nin wearing a gas mask.
Why was a Rain-nin here?
The Rain-nin moved with extreme speed, delivering a sweeping kick that sent Nara Da flying towards the Suna-nin wounded.
The kick was powerful and heavy; Nara Da's body flew out like a cannonball.
While killing Nara Da, his corpse also crushed two Suna-nin wounded to death.
Yōkō glanced at the rigid Konoha Genin Hachimar, thinking to himself, this is all I can do for you. Helping you further wouldn't look like a Rain-nin assassinating Nara Da.
Good luck, rookie.
***
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(Chapter End)