"Clear all hidden Iwagakure along the logistics route within the next three days. If you feel you're running out of Chakra..."
Hagoromo took out several bottles of specially made Military Rations Pill and said, "Don't hesitate, just eat them."
The Yutoshi and Kokone accepted it and nodded.
Neji took it with a strange expression and checked it.
That's right, these are the recovery Military Rations Pills that my master gave them during training.
Were he and Naruto this extravagant before?
Using life-saving equipment for training?
"Next, we will prioritize clearing this route; everyone must speed up their progress."
Hagoromo pointed out the area they were about to visit, holding a scroll.
There are two transport routes separated there; if possible, clearing it out directly would save a lot of time.
"Yes!"
Neji responded, and Hagoromo nodded, putting away the scroll. The figures then quickly disappeared from the spot.
--
"Captain, how much longer do we need to remain hidden here?"
An Iwagakure hidden in the treetops asked the leader beside him.
"Following Konoha's usual practice, a team should arrive within the next two days."
The Jonin leading the team, when asked, Jonin silent for a moment before speaking, "After this attack, we should be able to return."
"That's good. I always felt unsafe staying here."
The Iwagakure asked the question Chunin out a breath and said, "After all, it's not within our own country."
Staying in hiding like this isn't a good idea.
"Zhiya, I think you're just a coward."
Another Iwagakure, who had been keeping his eyes closed, spoke up, his expression full of disdain.
"You idiot! Do you want to fight?!"
Enraged by this remark, Zhiya glared at Iwagakure, who was leaning against the treetop, and growled.
"Shut up, don't forget where you are!"
The Iwagakure leading the group looked at the two Jonin great displeasure, as they were already on someone else's territory.
How can someone be so brainless?
"Snort--"
Upon hearing this, Iwagakure, who was leaning against the tree canopy, pursed his lips slightly in displeasure, and then stood up.
The Jonin the group asked with slight displeasure, "What are you trying to do?"
"Can't you even give me a break? I've been stuck here all this time, can't you let me relax a bit?" Iwagakure replied dismissively when asked.
Immediately, he leaped down from the treetop.
"Captain, this guy is really too arrogant!" Zhiya said with an indignant expression.
"Oh well, it's understandable that he's unhappy about being sent on this kind of mission, since he's the son of a high-ranking official in the village."
The Iwagakure leading the group Jonin and waved his hand.
Hearing this, Zhiya looked helpless; having such a troublemaker in the team was truly disgusting.
But there's nothing I can do about it.
"Don't say too much when he comes back," the Iwagakure Jonin the group said again, still worried.
"Understood." Zhiya nodded helplessly.
"Damn it, I should have been distinguishing myself on the battlefield, but now I'm stuck here squatting."
The Iwagakure who jumped down from the treetop Chunin in dissatisfaction.
"It must be that useless Zhiya who dragged down our team's abilities; otherwise, how could we have been assigned this kind of mission?"
The Iwagakure, muttering to himself, was Chunin unaware of the slight ripple that flashed in the grass beside him.
Just as he was about to unbuckle his belt, a sudden thought struck him.
His pupils dilated in disbelief, and then he became completely dazed.
The group of people on the tree waited in Chunin who had just left to return, and the Jonin the group frowned.
"I'll go check on them. You two stay here."
As he was about to leave, a figure suddenly emerged from the bushes.
Upon seeing this, Zhiya said with great dissatisfaction:
"Are you kidding me! We're on infiltration! You're going to get us killed by doing this!"
The figure called out did not respond, but continued to walk towards them at a leisurely pace.
"Wrong!"
The Jonin the team immediately noticed the abnormality and was about to take action when...
The figure accelerated instantly, rushing towards them amidst a cloud of smoke.
"Get out of the way!"
The Iwagakure Jonin the team shouted and then quickly formed hand seals.
"Earth Release · Earth Formation Wall!"
A massive earthen wall stretched across their path, blocking their oncoming figures.
Rumble--!
The next instant, a huge explosion rang out, and even those who had managed to dodge it still felt the shockwave.
Debris flew everywhere, and everyone's face turned grim—they had been discovered!
"Run!"
The Jonin the team didn't hesitate and immediately gave the order.
He had just turned around when he saw a figure wearing a haori standing calmly behind him.
"You--!"
Before the Jonin the team could even finish speaking, his head slumped limply.
Seeing his captain being captured, Zhiya rushed forward without hesitation.
"Let go of the captain!"
"Eight Trigrams - Vacuum Palm!"
A figure appeared directly in front of Zhiya and delivered a Gentle Fist.
Bang--
The Chakra shockwave from the Vacuum Palm sent Zhiya flying, crashing into the giant tree behind him.
Boom--
"Wow!" The Zhiya embedded in the tree trunk caused him to spit out a mouthful of blood.
His face was filled with disbelief as he stared at the figure that had just struck him.
Impossible! He's just a kid, how could he be so strong!
Pfft
A long blade pierced his throat, the Yutoshi's eyes filled with cold indifference.
Seeing that Iwagakure had no signs of life, the Yutoshi drew his long sword and slowly walked towards Hagoromo's location.
The other Chunin had already been captured by Neji, and was slumped on the treetop with his neck bent at an odd angle.
"Well--"
The Jonin Iwagakure, controlled by Hagoromo, had his eyes rolled back and his mouth involuntarily agape, saliva dripping from his lips.
Hagoromo gradually withdrew the Black Threads from her hand, her brows furrowing.
There was still no information whatsoever; these Iwagakure had almost no way to communicate with each other.
With a swift twist, the Kunai his neck.
The Iwagakure Jonin's body fell limply from the treetop.
"Lord Hagoromo, is there no information?"
The Yutoshi spoke up, saying that this was the third wave of Iwagakure they had found since they came out.
"No, it's the same as what I encountered before."
Hagoromo shook his head, estimating that about seven squads had infiltrated based on the information Jiraiya had given him.
But now two days have passed, and they have run several routes almost without stopping.
But they only encountered a few small teams.
Everything else seems to have disappeared; if this continues, we probably won't be able to complete the mission.
"Master, do you think they might have already gone down the route we used to transport them?"
Neji and then spoke.
Upon hearing this, Hagoromo paused for a moment, then nodded and said:
"There's no other way; this is the only route left we haven't explored. We can only try our luck."