The King of Hell Calls the Roll: The Three Major Powers in the Land of Rivers
The border of the Land of Rivers.
Kakashi and Hagoromo stood at the forefront, watching the ninja force ready to go.
"Hagoromo, there is no unified ninja village in the Land of Rivers."
"However, intelligence indicates that there are three forces within the territory that need to be dealt with, including the 'Poison Fang Group,' a group of wandering ninjas entrenched in the 'Black Swamp.'"
"According to intelligence, they have been hired by the Sand Shinobi to harass the surrounding small countries, but they have only been engaging in small-scale raids and have been ignored."
"The fact that the Sand Shinobi were able to launch this attack so stealthily is due to intelligence from the Anbu that this organization provided assistance."
Hagoromo nodded, pointed to another red dot on the map, and asked:
"And what about the Ibu Clan?"
"The Ibu Clan is a bloodline family within the Land of Rivers, and their Kekkei Genkai is 'Smoke Release'."
"During the Third Shinobi World War, the war between Konoha and Sand Shinobi resulted in less than one in ten surviving."
"Nowadays, they also live in their own territory, just like the 'Poison Fang Group,' but they harbor extreme hatred towards Konoha and Sand Shinobi."
Hagoromo nodded, but he had no interest in dwelling on the issues left over from history.
"Actually, the most important thing is this."
Kakashi lightly tapped the coastal area of Land of Rivers on the map with his fingertip.
"A smuggling ring is active here. Previously, most were small groups, but a certain figure emerged after Third Shinobi World War."
"They integrated all the smuggling teams and created a large smuggling ring."
"This group is called the 'Sea Serpent Group,' according to intelligence—"
"They have close trade relations with the Sand Shinobi, meaning that the Shikaku Sand Shinobi's supply lines may lie with them."
A smuggling ring, to put it nicely, is a bunch of pirates; to put it bluntly, they're a group of pirates.
After all, World War II and World War III directly disrupted the entire ninja world.
Moreover, the Land of Rain dared to take on several major powers with just a small ninja village back then, because the Land of Rivers was responsible for logistical support.
After that, there's no going back; anyone who dares to do that is practically guaranteed to be purged.
Without a unified ninja village, the Land of Rivers was in utter chaos.
This is why, even after more than a decade of peace following the Third Shinobi World War, the Land of Rivers was still unable to establish a ninja village.
The reason Amegakure dared to fight was because they truly had the strength; they produced a Hanzō.
But your Land of Rivers doesn't even have a ninja village, yet you dare to act so arrogantly and act like the big shot.
Then never get up again!
Hagoromo estimated that the Ibu Clan was the one that bore the brunt and contributed the most at that time.
Otherwise, Konoha and Sand Shinobi wouldn't have been able to directly purge this clan.
"Has Senior Shikaku arranged a priority order for handling these matters?"
Hagoromo asked Kakashi, since Kakashi's mission wasn't about these things.
His mission was to locate and control the daimyo of the Land of Rivers, ensuring that the Sand Shinobi could cut off any possibility of using the Land of Rivers' official channels and infrastructure.
"Poison Fang Group, annihilate the Ibu Clan, annihilate the Sea Serpent Group, seize the territory!"
Kakashi's gaze showed no pity whatsoever as he pointed at each of them without batting an eye.
Hagoromo remained calm, ignoring Kakashi, who seemed to decide the fate of these forces as if he were the King of Hell himself.
It's unclear whether these organizations are innocent.
However, Konoha must ensure that the war with the Sand Shinobi ninja does not take place on the Land of Fire's own soil.
"I'll Choza you a hundred ninjas with you, but you must resolve this within five days!"
Kakashi set a time immediately; this was war, not child's play.
Furthermore, considering that this was Hagoromo's first time leading such a large-scale mission, the experienced Choza was assigned to Hagoromo.
"Clear!"
Hagoromo spoke in a deep voice.
"Follow me!" After putting away the map, Hagoromo gestured towards Choza's location.
After nodding to Kakashi, Choza led his troops to follow Hagoromo's footsteps.
--
The Land of Rivers, the stronghold of the Poison Fang Group --
The bright moon hangs high in the sky, but tonight the sky is overcast with dark clouds.
Winter is almost here, and even the night wind carries a biting chill.
On the outermost edge of the Black Swamp, a man dressed as a wandering ninja was rubbing his shoulders and muttering to himself:
"Damn it, we still need to patrol in this freezing weather!"
The other man at the front shouted, "Shut up! The Sand Shinobi is preparing to go to war with Konoha!"
"If you don't want to die, patrol properly--"
The man who was scolding him didn't notice the sudden contraction in the pupils of the man who had just complained.
Before he could finish speaking, the man who had been scolding him felt a warm sensation on his neck.
Thud--
A corpse lay on the spot, its eyes open even in death, filled with a hint of confusion.
"Now, I'll ask, and you answer—"
A voice came from behind the man who had just been complaining.
Ignoring the trembling body of the man being held hostage, she said in a calm voice:
Are all the members of the Poison Fang Group inside?
"Simply nod or shake your head --"
The pale-faced man nodded, and just as he was about to beg for mercy, he felt his body go limp and he collapsed to the ground.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the person who had just been standing behind him, wearing Konoha Forehead Protector.
Why—why did the people from Konoha appear here so quickly?
Mingming had not received any messages.
Ignoring the lifeless wandering ninja lying on the ground beside her, Hagoromo's eyes were fixed on the spot ahead.
That place is the gathering place of the Poison Fang Group, the 'Black Swamp'.
"It's completely surrounded."
In the dim moonlight, the figure of Akimichi Chōza appeared to the side.
"Okay, let's begin!"
Choza nodded and waved his hand behind him.
Rustling--
The figures hidden in the dense forest behind them stealthily made their way towards the Black Swamp.
It's called Black Swamp, but that's just because the surrounding terrain is completely surrounded by swamps.
The stronghold of the Poison Fang Group was located in the very center of the area.
Generally, traps are set up using the surrounding swamps to block the first wave of invasion.
Unfortunately, Hagoromo's team included a Hyuga Chunin.
These so-called traps, in Byakugan's view, are like laughable childish games.
"Senior Choza, it's time for us to go!"
Hagoromo called out to Choza, and then rushed towards the Poison Fang Group's encampment.
"Um!"
Choza nodded and immediately used his secret technique.
"Partial Expansion Jutsu - Right Hand!"
Rumble--
A gigantic right hand smashed open the gates of the Poison Fang Group' stronghold.
The seemingly solid door shattered like building blocks under Choza's punch.
The silence was shattered in an instant, and countless roars erupted from within the stronghold.
"Enemy attack!"
"They're Konoha scum!"
"Stop them!"
Seeing the wandering ninja approaching them, Hagoromo pointed one finger and gathered a large amount of Fire Nature Chakra in his mouth.
Then he spat it out, and suddenly sprayed it out—
Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
As the flames erupted from Hagoromo, the Konoha Ninjas surrounding him, those with Wind Nature ninjutsu, unleashed their Wind Release Ninjutsu to amplify the power of Hagoromo's Fire Style.
In an instant, the stronghold of the Poison Fang Group was engulfed in towering flames.