"Shibi-sensei, did Lord Orochimaru say exactly how to do it?" Yamanaka Kagetsu asked.
Aburame Shibi heard this and pulled out a sealing scroll, saying, "There are 1000 exploding tags inside. Lord Orochimaru wants us to place all the exploding tags on one side of the mountain peak and then detonate them. The impact from the explosions should destroy part of the mountain.
The falling rocks from this part of the mountain will completely block the supply line.
Considering the Kirigakure Ninja remaining in the rear, it would take at least a week to clear it. Without logistical support from the rear, Kirigakure Ninja definitely won't last a week, so they should choose to retreat."
After listening to Aburame Shibi, Uchiha En frowned and asked, "Shibi-sensei, Kirigakure's supply line shouldn't be the only one, right? Even if we succeed here, if other squads' missions fail, it won't mean much! Kirigakure won't retreat because of it, will they?"
"Kirigakure indeed has more than one supply line, but this one is the closest and most important. This supply line carries over 60% of Kirigakure's supplies. If this supply line has problems, Kirigakure's logistics won't keep up, and retreat will be their only option."
"So that's how it is."
"Alright, everyone should be clear on the plan. Let's rest quickly, depart for the canyon in half an hour, and retreat immediately after completing the mission."
Uchiha En and the other two nodded in agreement.
Then, Aburame Shibi distributed the exploding tags from the sealing scroll to Uchiha En and the others. Yamanaka Kagetsu didn't have a sealing scroll, so Aburame Shibi simply gave him the scroll as well.
Asana, meanwhile, quickly helped Yamanaka Kagetsu treat his wounds.
Half an hour later, Uchiha En and his team set off again, their target being the canyon on the map.
The canyon was some distance from the water source, generally located between the Konoha Camp and the Land of Bears Camp.
It would take Uchiha En and his team over three hours to reach it, even at full speed.
Along the way, Uchiha En and his team used their powerful sensory abilities to avoid combat as much as possible to conserve stamina.
Three hours later, they arrived near the canyon.
Aburame Shibi patted the jar on his back, and a large number of Parasitic Insects flew out of the jar, heading towards the canyon.
A moment later, the Parasitic Insects flew back, and Aburame Shibi said to everyone, "My insects tell me that there are quite a few Kirigakure Ninja in the canyon, and the entrance is also guarded by Kirigakure Ninja. We can only take a detour, climb the mountain from another direction, and set up the exploding tags."
"Shibi-sensei, how should we detour?" Yamanaka Kagetsu asked.
Aburame Shibi took out a map and studied it, then pointed to the path they had taken through the battlefield, saying, "We can follow this path to the other side of the mountain, and then directly cross the mountain from there."
"What we can think of, Kirigakure should also be able to think of. They'll probably have people guarding the road intersections," Uchiha En said.
"Indeed there are people. My Parasitic Insects noticed a Kirigakure squad there when we came. I led you to avoid them in advance."
"Then this time..."
"We have to go up the mountain; there's no way to avoid them," Aburame Shibi said.
"Sigh! It seems there's no avoiding it!" Yamanaka Kagetsu sighed.
"Then prepare for battle!" Asana said with a serious tone.
After confirming their next objective, Aburame Shibi decisively led Uchiha En and his team to change direction.
After about half an hour, Uchiha En and his team encountered this Kirigakure squad.
This squad was a standard three-person Ninja squad, but unlike typical Ninja squads, the attire of these three clearly resembled that of Kirigakure Anbu.
Anbu Ninja in the original work often appeared somewhat incompetent, belonging to the type who are useless at everything but excel at showing off. However, in reality, Anbu Ninja's combat strength is not bad.
Ninja who can join the Anbu either possess special abilities or are exceptionally skilled among Chunin. In fact, most Konoha Anbu members have the strength of a Special Jonin.
At least two of the three individuals before them were very powerful; their Chakra levels alone were comparable to a typical Jonin.
"The assignments are the same as before. If you can't handle it, try to hold on until I'm free." After speaking, Aburame Shibi engaged the Kirigakure Anbu in the middle.
Uchiha En chose the taller one on the left, while Asana and Yamanaka Kagetsu naturally went to deal with the one on the right.
Uchiha En teleported in front of the Anbu Ninja, intending to launch a surprise attack with a Sharingan genjutsu.
However, the Anbu Ninja's combat experience was clearly very rich. The moment Uchiha En disappeared, the Anbu Ninja immediately threw a smoke bomb.
The smoke obscured his vision, preventing Uchiha En from using his genjutsu.
Fortunately, his Minds Eye could still pinpoint the Anbu Ninja's location. Uchiha En, gripping his nodachi, decisively slashed towards the perceived position.
The Anbu Ninja, using the flow of the mist, also pinpointed Uchiha En's location. He dodged backward, avoiding Uchiha En's attack, then formed hand signs: "Water Release: Water Shockwave!"
Water streams appeared out of nowhere and surged towards Uchiha En.
The Anbu Ninja then immediately formed hand signs again, and dazzling lightning burst forth from his hands.
Water Release + Lightning Release. If hit by this combination Ninjutsu, the body would definitely be paralyzed, which would be troublesome.
Uchiha En quickly used his teleportation to escape the range of the Water Release, then used his Minds Eye to pinpoint the Anbu Ninja's location and threw a dozen shuriken.
A water curtain rose in the smoke, clearly blocking the shuriken with Water Release: Water Prison Wall.
Seeing this, Uchiha En used his teleportation again, appearing behind the Kirigakure Ninja.
He had just released the Water Prison Wall; there wasn't enough time to form hand signs. Uchiha En decisively swung his blade at the Anbu Ninja's neck.
"Splash~" The moment the blade struck the Anbu Ninja, his body turned into a puddle of water.
"It was a Water Clone!" Uchiha En was startled and immediately chose to teleport away.
As expected, the next second, Uchiha En's Minds Eye once again sensed the Anbu Ninja's presence. At this moment, he was flashing with lightning, advancing at an extremely fast speed to where Uchiha En had just been.
That Water Clone was clearly a decoy. If Uchiha En had been even a second slower with his teleportation, he would probably have been attacked by the Kirigakure Anbu.
Two rounds of probing exchanges confirmed to Uchiha En that the Kirigakure Anbu Ninja before him was definitely a Jonin, and one skilled in both Lightning and Water Release Ninjutsu.
Ninja who are generally skilled in Lightning Release are also likely to be proficient in taijutsu, because Lightning Release naturally provides a certain boost to taijutsu. Lightning Release Chakra can stimulate cells to comprehensively enhance a Ninja's speed.
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