Chapter 130: Sudden Situation - Don't Come Over!
Konoha Camp, Central Plaza.
Bonfires stood around the platform, blazing fiercely with sparks flying and wood crackling.
They illuminated Shikaku Nara's solemn face on the platform, along with the expressions of the rows of ninja below—some fearful, some calm, some filled with fighting spirit.
Tsukasa stood in the first row before the platform, sixteenth in line.
The first row consisted of fifteen ninja wearing jonin vests. He, a chunin in a high-collared black robe, stood out somewhat at the end of the line.
But no one cared about that now. Everyone was eagerly awaiting Shikaku's mission briefing.
Shin'ya stood beside Tsukasa, and behind him in the second row was Shisui Uchiha, his face grave, a pair of two-tomoe Sharingan subtly gleaming in his eyes.
Tsukasa noticed that another Uchiha who had deployed with Shisui and Shin'ya to the Rain Country battlefield—Special Jonin Tekka Uchiha—was nowhere to be seen.
Looking at the two-tomoe in Shisui's eyes, Tsukasa fell silent, letting out a soft sigh.
The answer was obvious.
After a period of silence, Shikaku raised his hand, glanced at his pocket watch, checked the time, stepped forward, and calmly addressed the assembled forces:
"Everyone, due to unforeseen circumstances, I will be explaining the mission on behalf of Lord Jiraiya."
"Tonight, we will launch the surprise attack ahead of schedule."
"The entire operation is planned in three parts."
"First, the close-combat battalion and close-range units will conduct a frontal diversion, drawing attention and opening a path for the assault force."
"Second, the assault force will vertically penetrate the Land of Rain, deep behind enemy lines."
"Third, to prevent intelligence leaks, upon arrival at the target location, each unit will remain in place, awaiting orders from the contact person."
"Specific tasks for each unit have been distributed to their respective captains."
"That's all—"
"Each team leader will provide a detailed mission briefing en route."
"Without further delay, move out immediately!"
As soon as the words fell, the fifteen jonin in the first row turned around simultaneously, facing the ninja behind them, gesturing to their subordinates, and quickly led their teams away.
This scene left many of the ninja present bewildered.
Shikaku's mission instructions were unusually vague. Normally, before a military operation, detailed instructions on defensive positions and attack vectors would be given.
But this scene resembled a small-scale covert operation being conducted after receiving orders in the village.
Fortunately, the ninja present were familiar with this pattern and quickly took their positions.
Shin'ya also reacted quickly, patting Tsukasa on the shoulder and signaling him to follow.
Led by him, Tsukasa quickly left the camp.
Close behind was the entire assault force.
A unit of ninety men—three per squad, thirty per company—with Shin'ya as the commander.
After the mission was issued, the entire force quickly left the camp, crossed the border into the Land of Rain, and made a visible display on the other side.
Amidst the advance of the main Konoha force, this assault unit, taking advantage of the darkness, silently transformed into streaks of black shadow. Led by Shin'ya, they swiftly reached the flank of the main battlefield where Konoha and Sunagakure were clashing in the Land of Rain.
Tsukasa had assumed that, as Shikaku had instructed, they would wait for Sunagakure's main force to be engaged before proceeding.
However, Shin'ya didn't stop for a moment, leading his team directly along the flank.
In two hours, they quietly traversed a canyon, crossed a pre-prepared tunnel, climbed a mountain, crossed a suspension bridge over another canyon, and descended a cliff face.
They simply arrived at the rear of Sunagakure's position—a desolate desert area.
Behind them, they could see the bright lights of a Sunagakure camp in the distance, and even a few yawning sentry ninja on guard duty.
Ahead, they could see the barren landscape of the Land of Wind, with yellow sand swirling in the air and the wind howling like blades.
"Is it strange?"
Shin'ya leaned against a rock in the desert, chuckled, and asked Tsukasa, who looked bewildered beside him.
"Actually, I was wondering too, but now I think I understand what's happening."
Tsukasa's face twitched slightly, and he frowned as he asked:
"Shin'ya-senpai, stop being so mysterious. What exactly happened?"
"Why were we able to pass through the Sunagakure camp so easily and get behind their lines?"
Shin'ya was silent for a moment, then raised his hand and gestured.
Soon, Shisui and two other captains of the assault party came over.
The five of them formed a circle, and Shin'ya unfolded the mission scroll, then solemnly began to explain:
"I know you're all confused, so now let's begin the real mission explanation."
Then, pointing to the map on the scroll, he said heavily to everyone:
"First of all, please understand one thing about this operation—we are not a real 'assault' force."
"Our duty is to act as bait!"
"Shikaku had the main force tie down the enemy so that the real 'strike' unit could use our name to confuse the enemy and mislead Sunagakure's judgment."
"And the route we took was a secret path discovered by Lord Jiraiya."
Upon hearing this, Shisui paused, unable to resist asking:
"But why do it this way?"
Shin'ya frowned slightly.
"It's complicated. Our original mission was to cooperate with elite ANBU tomorrow in a supply destruction operation."
"But because someone arrived early, this mission was upgraded."
Tsukasa raised an eyebrow, a possibility flashing through his mind, and his heart skipped a beat.
Then he turned to look at Shin'ya, who uttered the name in a deep voice:
"The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa!"
"What?!"
The two company commanders beside him were immediately startled and asked in astonishment:
"Captain, are you serious? The Fourth Kazekage just took office—how could he be on the battlefield so soon?"
Shin'ya shook his head, exasperated.
"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"
Hearing this, Tsukasa's heart sank slightly.
Because of him, Pakura of Sunagakure hadn't died, and Rasa was now in a position where he'd been forced into power. To solidify his position as the Fourth Kazekage, he desperately needed battlefield accomplishments, which was why Rasa had rushed to the Rain Country battlefield just days after taking office.
To put it bluntly, the guy still wanted to rack up merits.
And because the intelligence came suddenly, and because the plan to assassinate Rasa had already been set, now that they'd seized the opportunity of Rasa being relatively isolated, without having to venture into the more dangerous Land of Earth—wouldn't Konoha encourage Jiraiya and Orochimaru, who were conveniently present, to execute this plan?
Shin'ya let out a deep breath, his expression grave.
"In short, that's the situation."
"The battlefield is very complex right now, and it's hard to say how things will ultimately turn out."
"But this operation is clearly a three-pronged attack."
"First, the planned destruction of supplies will continue. This task will be carried out in cooperation with the infiltration reconnaissance unit."
"We are responsible for engaging the Sunagakure camp at the border, buying time for the elite ANBU of the infiltration unit to destroy the supplies."
"Second, the main battlefront will be a diversionary tactic, holding back Sunagakure's main force and creating conditions for the real 'strike team.'"
"Finally, the 'strike team' will launch its true surprise attack—assassinating the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, who's coming from Sunagakure!"
After Shin'ya described the general situation of the battlefield, everyone present was taken aback.
Assassinate the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa?
Just hearing that was enough to imagine the importance of this operation.
Tsukasa was also stunned, thinking: This isn't right! Isn't this supposed to be my mission?
This gave him the absurd feeling that his assignment had been stolen, and he immediately asked anxiously:
"Wait, Shin'ya-senpai—assassinate the Kazekage? Who will do the assassination?"
Shin'ya couldn't help but laugh, glancing at Tsukasa's expression, and chuckled:
"Could it be you?"
"It will definitely be Lord Orochimaru, Lord Jiraiya, and their students who will complete this mission."
"The special operations team composed of them is the real 'strike force' this time!"
Tsukasa's heart skipped a beat.
He felt as if he'd instantly lost something important.
An assassination team composed of Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Minato Namikaze—how terrifying would that be?
Would Rasa even survive?
Tsukasa's expression twisted slightly, and for a moment he didn't know how to process this.
At this moment, Shin'ya's smile vanished, his face darkening as he addressed the group gravely:
"We cannot predict the situation on the other two fronts."
"Right now, we can only do what we must."
"Moreover, our mission here is extremely dangerous!"
He pointed to the Sunagakure camp opposite, his expression grim as he said:
"An ANBU operative will arrive shortly to inform us of our move."
"Right now, all I know is—there are three hundred Sunagakure ninja there! The number of genin and chunin is unknown."
"And here we only have ninety people."
"Only three jonin!"
"If we cannot hold them off until the mission is complete, or if the elite ANBU forces tasked with destroying the supplies fail—"
Shin'ya's face twisted with intensity as he spoke heavily:
"We will all die!"
After saying this, Shin'ya let out a heavy sigh, waved his hand, and signaled the two company commanders to retreat.
Only Shisui and Tsukasa remained.
He gritted his teeth slightly, a struggle flashing in his eyes, then turned and placed his hand firmly on Tsukasa's shoulder, saying solemnly:
"Tsukasa."
"You'll stay close to me and work with my team from now on."
"Right now, you are the bridge between our clan and the village."
"To put it bluntly, it doesn't matter if everyone else here dies—they have no blood relation to us."
Shin'ya looked at Tsukasa with a serious expression and said in a deep voice:
"But you? You cannot die!"
"As long as you survive, the clan and the village will one day be able to reconcile. That is our faction's long-cherished wish!"
"Although you have some strength now, you haven't fully matured yet."
"So let's leave the dangerous work to us seniors."
Shisui, who was standing to the side, nodded, his gaze determined, as if he'd made a decision.
He looked up at Tsukasa with a resolute expression and said:
"Don't worry, Tsukasa!"
"Shin'ya-san and I will protect you!"
"Even if it costs us our lives!"
Hearing this, Tsukasa couldn't help but tremble, staring at the two men with a face full of horror.
The changes had come far too quickly!
What on earth was going on?
Two missions were stolen from him in one night, and now two overly-dedicated Uchiha had appeared, offering to protect him with their lives?
Was he in the Land of Rain, or some kind of hot spring resort?!
End of Chapter 130
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