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With a grand wave of the hand, the group set off.
As soon as they left the village, a ninja from the Hyuga clan activated his Byakugan. The entire team entered a state of high alert as if they were stepping directly onto a battlefield.
This was not an overreaction. It was a necessary precaution.
During the Second Great Shinobi War, a specific incident had occurred.
A Konoha squad had been attacked only ten miles away from the village. The ambush resulted in heavy losses for the reinforcement team. If a Jonin from the village had not arrived in time, the entire squad would have been wiped out.
Cruel wars brought blood and tears, but they also provided many lessons.
With war potentially breaking out at any moment, these preparations were mandatory.
The training camp established by Yuhi Shinko served this exact purpose. As a Senpai who had survived the battlefield, he wanted to pass down the experience gained from such lessons to the new Chunin and Genin of Konoha. This would reduce unnecessary casualties.
This was also the reason why Sarutobi Hiruzen supported Yuhi Shinko in this endeavor.
There were fourteen people in the group. This included three Jonin and a Kage-level powerhouse like Orochimaru. Every member was an experienced Shinobi. This made Kifu feel slightly more at ease.
'As long as we do not encounter an ambush led by a Kage-level expert, there should be few safety issues on this trip.'
Just as Kifu expected, they encountered no trouble along the way. The team successfully reached the outpost at the border of the Land of Fire.
They quickly replenished their supplies.
After leaving the temporary safety of the Land of Fire, they entered the Land of Valleys.
The Land of Fire and the Land of Earth did not share a border. Small nations like the Land of Valleys and the Land of Grass sat between them. These countries appeared to be buffer zones between the great powers, but in reality, that buffer effect was not very significant.
Kifu knew that the Land of Valleys was a small nation that leaned toward the Hidden Stone Village. The Hidden Waterfall Village within the Land of Valleys could not compare to the Great Hidden Villages. However, among the smaller hidden villages, its strength was quite prominent.
They had to guard against attacks from Iwa Shinobi and also watch for a sudden betrayal by the Waterfall Ninja.
The journey was full of hidden dangers.
After crossing the border, the team became even more vigilant. They were prepared for large-scale combat at any moment.
Even Orochimaru let his relaxed expression fade.
The Land of Valleys was filled with cliffs and waterfalls. The speed of the group slowed down instantly.
The path was difficult to travel. They also had to worry about sudden attacks coming from behind giant boulders, under waterfalls, or from within deep pools of water.
The Konoha Shinobi and the Iwa Shinobi could walk through the Land of Valleys without restraint. The Hidden Waterfall Village felt angry but did not dare to speak out.
Small nations had no rights. This was the reality of the entire Shinobi world.
Konoha had built outposts in both the Land of Valleys and the Land of Hot Springs.
During times of peace, these outposts were not used. During times of war, however, they became the keys to the conflict.
The Torimori Outpost they were heading toward had been left behind by Konoha during the Second War.
Recently, the Iwa Shinobi had provoked the Konoha border multiple times. To ensure the safety of the residents in the Land of Fire, Konoha had to move its defensive focus forward. Therefore, Torimori Outpost was reactivated.
Unfortunately, not long after the Konoha Shinobi moved in, they were attacked. The outpost immediately lost all contact.
After walking cautiously through the Land of Valleys for some time, they finally arrived at the location of Torimori Outpost.
Kifu had remained very inconspicuous throughout the journey.
The other Shinobi in the squad knew what Kifu's mission was. They did not complain. They simply focused on their own duties.
They arrived at the outpost.
The first thing they saw were buildings that were slightly ruined.
"Hyuga Tokubashira."
"Yes! Orochimaru-sama!"
The one called was the only member of the Hyuga clan in the team. His Byakugan was the best scouting tool available.
The expression of Hyuga Tokubashira gradually became serious.
"Reporting to Orochimaru-sama. The battle likely took place two days ago. I cannot find any traces of survivors for now."
He reported the situation to Orochimaru quickly and concisely.
A dangerous light flickered within the snake-like pupils of Orochimaru. He scanned the buildings and spoke in a raspy voice. "Watch the surroundings. Guard against ambushes. Enter the outpost!"
"Yes!"
Several people responded.
They pulled out Kunai and various Ninja Tools. They entered the building one after another.
The air was thick with the smell of blood and charred flesh. Severed limbs were scattered everywhere.
The scene inside the building made everyone look grim.
After thinking for a moment, Orochimaru suddenly spoke. "Do you think the Iwa Shinobi will return?"
At some point, Kifu had ended up standing next to Orochimaru.
Kifu looked at the corpses of his fellow villagers inside the building. His heart felt heavy. He revealed a thoughtful expression. "Since this was a probe by the Iwa Shinobi, they will definitely not leave just like that. They want to see the reaction and status of Konoha. It is highly likely they are hiding nearby. They are probably watching this place using a method we do not know yet."
Orochimaru gave a cold laugh. "Good thinking. I agree. I also believe they will not wait long before attacking again."
As he spoke, the group walked through a narrow corridor and arrived at the operations room inside the outpost.
A blood-stained map lay flat on the table in the center.
Orochimaru picked up two scattered chess pieces and placed them on the map.
After doing this, he mused aloud. "Nakamura Kenta, Mitsui Hiyori. Each of you will lead a team to investigate a different direction. Leave markers along the way. Do not go too deep. Just a shallow scout will do."
"Yes!"
The two squad leaders bowed in response.
Orochimaru then looked at the remaining Jonin. "Gekko Naoki, take your men to clean the outpost. Gather all the corpses in one place."
He then looked at Kifu without saying a word.
Kifu understood his meaning. He nodded solemnly.