The Land of Waves, an inconspicuous island nation in the Ninja World.
Located directly east of the Land of Fire, separated from the mainland by only a narrow strait, its territory is small, its population is sparse, and its Daimyo is incredibly poor. Naturally, it cannot afford to raise Ninja or a Ninja Village for self-defense.
During the Great Ninja War, she was like a delicate maiden, whom any brute could come and bully.
Facing the surging Hidden Mist Village, the Land of Waves was powerless to resist. Lying flat, it became one of the bridgeheads for the Hidden Mist's invasion of Konoha.
The people and Daimyo of the Land of Waves: What can I do? I'm so desperate!
The Konoha resistance frontline, in the direction near the Land of Waves.
In the forest, Higashino Shin sat cross-legged atop a large tree, performing his daily Cultivation.
Since that night when he rejected Snake Uncle's invitation to be an assistant, it wasn't long before Team Three began their frontline garrison mission. By today, a month and a half had quietly passed.
Orochimaru isn't that petty yet; he didn't make things difficult for their team just because Higashino Shin refused. The garrison locations for each squad are rotated weekly, no different from other squads.
He doesn't need to arrange a suicidal mission for Higashino Shin's team to let him witness the death of his comrades, because there's no need. Death is like the wind, always accompanying Ninja, and it will arrive suddenly when you least expect it, no deliberate arrangement required.
Just like he never imagined that in a simple team-leading mission, his Disciple Nawaki would step into an Explosive Tag array trap.
Nawaki: "..." Is this never going to end?
In the Ninja World, death is as common as eating and drinking, gradually making people numb. Orochimaru is always very patient with talents he values, seeking genuine recognition and followership from others.
He's quite skilled at abducting children. These children in the Ninja World, no matter how strong they are, their Heart-Nature is always a blank slate, allowing him to paint them with his own colors.
Over the past month and a half, Higashino Shin has witnessed how these Kirigakure madmen operate outside the norm. They always attack suddenly from a certain direction, stirring up chaos and causing Konoha's defense line to mobilize. Seeing no gains, they immediately retreat.
Seemingly random, Konoha, through interrogating some Kirigakure Ninja, including that female captive, had long known this was a simple feint tactic.
By mobilizing Konoha's defensive forces, creating weak points, and arranging elite squads to enter the Land of Fire's interior to complete their missions.
Even knowing this, they couldn't ignore it, because a fake attack could switch to a real Breakthrough at any time.
The defending side is always passive. To reverse the situation, Konoha Ninja are also actively looking for ways to Break the stalemate.
Unfortunately, their superior, Orochimaru, is engrossed in human experimentation and not truly committed to this. If he had half the enthusiasm he showed during the conflict with Sunagakure, the war situation might have been different.
A few people felt that this Hokage Disciple seemed to be intentionally prolonging the standoff, but there was no evidence.
Acting Commander Uchiha Fugaku, on the other hand, was full of passion and eager to achieve meritorious deeds. But how to describe this fellow? If he truly had great strategic depth and outstanding tactics, he wouldn't have led his own Family into a ditch.
A typical case of standing idly by during normal times, only to die for his Family in times of crisis.
---
Perhaps due to the overly active Tailed Beast Chakra on the eastern battlefield, Higashino Shin's White Natural Energy Cultivation entered a deeper second stage half a month ago.
Now he doesn't need sleep to enter the conscious state; he can attract Natural Energy into his body simply by meditating peacefully, until he reaches his daily Physical Body endurance limit.
Similar to Hashirama's instantaneous entry into Sage Mode with a clap of his hands.
However, he doesn't have the sage mode face markings. His only feature, the Celestial Silver Pattern on his forehead, is covered by his Konoha Forehead Protector, so ordinary people can't see it.
Unlike the Sage Mode of the Three Holy Lands, he doesn't absorb specific Natural Energy and his own Chakra to form a Golden Arowana Ratio; instead, he directly absorbs White Natural Energy to continuously strengthen his Physical Body and spirit.
When there are enemies, he fights; when there's nothing, he Cultivates quietly, just like today.
Suddenly, Higashino Shin, who was cultivating, opened his eyes and looked towards the north.
A distress flare was rising slowly.
Gekko Yun Jian, who had jumped onto a treetop, glanced and asked, "Shin, what's going on over there?"
Six Kirigakure Ninja, two regular Chunin squads.
The Ninja teams on the defense line are not very far apart, naturally within Higashino Shin's growing sensory range.
Gekko Yun Jian drew his Ninja Blade and gave the command: "Team Three, provide support."
Upon hearing this, Higashino Shin ended his Cultivation and, along with Gekkō Hayate and Yūgao Uzuki, rushed towards the location where the flare had risen.
As for whether the gap in the defense line after they leave would be exploited? They didn't need to worry, as there was a second defense line behind them.
A few kilometers is a short distance for Ninja; it wouldn't take much time.
When Higashino Shin and the other three arrived, following the sounds of battle, they saw three young Konoha Ninja stubbornly resisting the Kirigakure Ninja's attack, utilizing the dense forest as their advantage.
On the ground, some Kirigakure Ninja had used Water Release, forming a shallow, large-area lake, creating a favorable environment for them.
There was also a dense misty area nearby, not large, but the Konoha Chunin squad had already jumped out of the fog-shrouded range, retreating towards the second defense line while fighting.
Only a fool would contend with Kirigakure Ninja in thick fog. Retreating to the second defense line would allow them to link up with comrades arriving from both sides, forming a three-pronged encirclement against the Hidden Mist.
From another direction, three more Konoha Ninja arrived and immediately launched an attack with Yun Jian's squad.
The original Chunin squad stationed here had a young man who wore his Forehead Protector like a bandana, styled as a Ninja cap but worn backward. He faced two Kirigakure Ninja alone, skillfully dodging enemy attacks in the forest while scattering Senbon from his hands and mouth as if they were free.
This was Shiranui Genma. A Chunin squad arriving from further north joined his battle, and together they began to encircle the two Kirigakure Ninja.
Ebisu, dressed similarly to Genma but with his steel Forehead Protector on the front of his Ninja cap and wearing sunglasses, faced only one enemy. He was at a disadvantage but not in disarray, fighting back and forth.
Gekkō Hayate and Yūgao Uzuki quickly joined in, creating a three-on-one situation.
The remaining one was naturally the Taijutsu master Might Guy, also fighting two Kirigakure Ninja alone. One of the Kirigakure Ninja had an ancient, peculiar style of dress and appeared to be a Taijutsu-type Ninja, fiercely engaging Guy in close combat, while his companion supported from the side, occasionally slashing when Guy was off guard.
However, the two of them had no synergy and even clashed a bit. The ancient-looking, wild-faced Kirigakure Ninja sometimes even attacked his own companion.
Guy avoided fatal blows. Although the other wounds left him covered in blood, it didn't stop this rare beast from pouring out his youthful passion.
He roared, using Konoha Whirlwind and Great Whirlwind, continuously aiming for his opponents' faces.
Gekko Yun Jian instantly appeared in the battle. With a Jonin joining, the situation reversed in a blink of an eye. Might Guy saw this, and his passion burned even brighter.
Only five Kirigakure Ninja? Where is the other one?
Higashino Shin instantly appeared behind Ebisu. This little pervert's strength was somewhat inferior to his two companions. With the help of Hayate and Yūgao, his tension relaxed, and he neglected the danger from behind.
"Ding ding ding ding!"
A smooth mirror appeared on the water behind Ebisu, from which a shower of transparent, crystalline Senbon shot out.
[Earth Release: One-Horned Great Wall]
Higashino Shin, who appeared behind Ebisu, extended his left hand. The Chakra spewing from his five fingers instantly formed a giant, yellowish-brown, translucent shield, blocking all the crystalline Senbon.
This was another defensive instant Ninjutsu developed by Higashino Shin. It shared the same principle as 'One Corner of Tranquility,' but infused with Earth-style Chakra, utilizing its hard and stable nature transformation to specifically block sharp and pointed weapon damage.
'Water Release: One Corner of Tranquility,' on the other hand, was infused with Water-style Chakra, utilizing water's flow and flexible tension to block Ninjutsu's energy attacks, as well as the accompanying impact and crushing damage.
Of course, Ninjutsu are dead; people are alive. Their uses are not as simple as just defense.
Ebisu heard the commotion and looked back, exclaiming in his heart, 'Lucky, I'm saved!' However, he looked at Gekkō Hayate and Yūgao Uzuki, who were furiously slashing at the enemy with their swords in front, and then at Higashino Shin.
"…" Are junior students and classmates nowadays all this fierce?
Higashino Shin temporarily had no time to care about Ebisu, because he had discovered an unexpected surprise.
He fished out a Senbon from the shallow water beneath his feet. It was transparent and crystalline, cool to the touch, emitting faint chills.
Ice Release?
How interesting!
Higashino Shin wanted to stick out his tongue and wash his face, but he stopped the impulse. He was a proper Ninja and couldn't be a pervert like Orochimaru.