Outpost

After learning the latest battlefield intelligence, Uchiha Feiyu received a new assignment: gather intelligence on Iwagakure and, if possible, locate the Iwagakure camp.

Sunagakure and Konoha had fought for so long that both sides already knew each other inside out. But as for the newly arrived Iwagakure Ninja and the location of their camp, Konoha knew nothing at all.

In contrast, Iwagakure had already located the Konoha Camp. In a sense, Konoha Intelligence had fallen behind and was at a disadvantage.

This mission was neither particularly difficult nor particularly easy.

Even if Iwagakure guarded their camp tightly, such a large encampment, with so many supplies and ninja coming and going, would eventually be found sooner or later.

However, the camp would undoubtedly be heavily guarded. Even if ordinary ninja found it, they would struggle to retreat unscathed. To reduce losses, they needed ninja who were strong and fast to conduct the investigation.

Clearly, Uchiha Feiyu was exactly that kind of ninja.

After leaving the camp, Uchiha Feiyu followed the intelligence Orochimaru had provided and tracked the direction in which the Iwagakure Ninja had retreated.

This time, he did not bring Yamanaka Seiichi. That Sensory Ninja had strong support abilities but weak Battle Power. If the Iwagakure Ninja came out in full force, Uchiha Feiyu might not fear them, but he would have no way to protect such dead weight.

Moreover, Uchiha Feiyu's own Sensory Abilities had improved considerably. Searching within a two-hundred-meter radius was a little taxing, but as long as he moved around diligently enough, it was sufficient.

"Senior White Fang, are you sure it's this direction?"

"Don't worry... I've dealt with plenty of Iwagakure dirt jars. Listen to me, I won't be wrong!"

Within the dense forest, guided by Hatake Sakumo's soul, Uchiha Feiyu followed faint, nearly imperceptible traces as he pursued the group of Iwagakure Ninja that had escaped before.

The Iwagakure Ninja who had dared attack Konoha were all at least Special Jonin level. Even though they had been exposed from the start, only two ninja had ultimately been left behind; all the others had escaped.

Of the two left behind, one had been killed by Uchiha Feiyu, while the other had stayed behind to cover their retreat and died in battle.

These high-ranking ninja all had seals placed in their brains. The intelligence ninja at the Konoha Camp were not skilled enough to pry intelligence out of their heads, so they could only rely on Uchiha Feiyu to track them down slowly.

If Uchiha Feiyu had been alone, he definitely would not have been able to keep on the Iwagakure Ninja's trail. Fortunately, he had the experienced White Fang of Konoha. This man, once Konoha's sharpest blade, had mainly fought Iwagakure Ninja and Sand Shinobi in the past. They were old adversaries.

The man and ghost moved at astonishing speed. Even while traveling, Uchiha Feiyu had the leisure to control the Iwagakure Ninja soul he had killed and uncover the ninjutsu it knew.

Gradually, while racing along, Uchiha Feiyu's body would suddenly vanish without a trace, only to reappear far away. This was the Camouflage Concealment Technique he had obtained from the Iwagakure Ninja.

Although the Iwagakure Camouflage Concealment Technique was quite effective, it could generally only be used for evasion and ambushes. Once the user made movements that were too large, the entire camouflage would distort and collapse completely.

However, after Hatake Sakumo's refinements, Uchiha Feiyu combined the Wind Release transformations within the White Fang Sword Style with the Camouflage Concealment Technique, creating this flickering effect while moving.

"If only I'd obtained this ninjutsu while I was still alive. Then I should have been able to fully integrate the camouflage invisibility technique into my White Fang Sword Style."

Hatake Sakumo looked at Uchiha Feiyu with some envy. Spirit Summons and Subjugation was practically bug-like in its learning ability. As long as an opponent died at Uchiha Feiyu's hands, they would become nourishment for his future growth.

"It's fine. Once Senior White Fang develops this ninjutsu further, I can pass it on to Kakashi as well. That would count as carrying it forward."

Uchiha Feiyu spoke casually, drawing a wry smile from Hatake Sakumo. Kakashi could not learn such profound ninjutsu yet. The current White Fang Sword Style alone would take Kakashi two or three years to fully absorb.

"I sense unfamiliar soul signatures. Have we found the place?"

As soon as their chat ended, Uchiha Feiyu sensed the enemy's location. He immediately slowed down, used Spirit Summons and Subjugation to control the Iwagakure Ninja soul, and gradually vanished into thin air.

Compared with Uchiha Feiyu's beginner-level grasp, this Iwagakure Ninja had attained considerable mastery over the Camouflage Concealment Technique. He could even conceal his Chakra signature to some extent. Like an invisible ghost, Uchiha Feiyu slowly approached the unfamiliar souls he had sensed.

It was a seemingly barren slope, with several huge rocks jutting out haphazardly from its surface. The souls Uchiha Feiyu sensed were inside one of the boulders at the top of the slope.

"It should be an Iwagakure outpost. Those dirt jars love hollowing out stones like this and hiding inside to observe the outside."

The experienced Hatake Sakumo immediately told Uchiha Feiyu. Of course, even without his explanation, Uchiha Feiyu could determine the locations of those Iwagakure Ninja through their soul signatures.

"Hiding inside a rock? Then stay inside that rock forever. Don't come out!"

Earth Release—Heaven-Sent Lid!

A gigantic stone lid descended from the sky and crashed down onto the boulder with a thunderous boom. The boulder instantly shattered completely. The screams stopped abruptly, and thin streams of blood slowly seeped from the pile of rubble.

"One got away? These Iwagakure guys really are a pack of ground rats. They're awfully good at Earth Travel Technique. That should be the Earth Style: Underground Projection Fish Technique, right?"

There had originally been four soul signatures inside the boulder. Three had now vanished completely, but one had slipped underground and was rapidly retreating beneath the earth.

Ninjutsu that allowed one to burrow underground and move through the earth were generally called Earth Travel Technique. However, the most advanced Earth Travel Techniques were basically all in Iwagakure's hands. These people also loved using this kind of tunnel warfare more than anyone else.

But while Earth Travel Technique was extremely stealthy, once it was discovered, the result was...

Earth Release—Fissure Earth Turning Palm!

As Uchiha Feiyu struck the ground with his palm, the entire earth rumbled, mixed with a muffled cry of pain.

A moment later, faint bloodstains seeped from the ground. Uchiha Feiyu raised a hand, and a sphere of soul light rose from the earth and landed in his palm.

Three more spheres appeared from the shattered boulder crushed by Heaven-Sent Lid and flew into Uchiha Feiyu's hand.