"Does everyone understand their assignments?"
Kitsuchi swept his gaze over the people who had risen to their feet and adjusted from their resting state. He drew a light breath, paused, then asked again.
The tactical explanation just now had been somewhat complicated, and this operation was of great importance. Kitsuchi had to make sure everyone understood the tactical steps. Although Konoha would find it difficult to resist their coming surprise attack, he knew that precisely because success seemed certain, they needed to be even more vigilant and cautious.
Hearing their commander's words, Akaiwa, the vice commander and captain of the Second Unit, said nothing. The Iwa shinobi at the front said nothing either. They merely nodded silently but firmly, indicating that they understood their assignments and were determined to complete them.
After all, there was still a Konoha scouting ninja nearby. If they shouted some spirited response, before they could even express their resolve, the declaration of more than four thousand people would likely alert that Konoha scout. Then they might as well openly tell him that a massive enemy force was here.
Leaving aside whether they could capture and kill that Konoha scout before Konoha learned of their existence, allowing such a muddled mistake to happen would be an insult to the Third Tsuchikage and to all of Iwa for a force so carefully selected and entrusted with such an important mission.
"Then how are things with communications to the forward forces?"
Having received an affirmative and rational response, Kitsuchi did not immediately give the order to depart. Instead, he turned to the intelligence ninja who had remained behind.
After delivering the last piece of intelligence to him, Kitsuchi had not allowed the intelligence ninja to leave, instead ordering him to stay.
As the person chiefly responsible for the