Natsume and the other three cautiously circled Kumogakure's main camp.
They found nothing unusual.
Returning empty-handed was perfectly normal.
If it had been that easy to uncover, it would have seemed far too fake.
If Tsunade had been alone, she would probably have risked infiltrating the camp herself.
But with Shisui Uchiha's team assisting her, she did not need to act personally. All she had to do was wait.
"That fast?"
Shizune was rather surprised to see Shisui Uchiha and the others return.
After all, they had gone in to capture someone. One slip-up, and they would have been discovered.
She could only chalk it up to good luck.
But Natsume knew it was not luck. It was strength.
The normal activation of the Mangekyō Sharingan caused no obvious commotion.
Unless one stared directly into their eyes, they would probably not notice any difference.
Deceiving Mitaraishi Anko and Uzuki Yugao had been effortless.
"It seems the situation is rather troubling."
Tsunade noticed Shisui Uchiha's grave expression. Once he approached, she asked, "What did you find out?"
"It's a water attack."
Shisui Uchiha pointed at the distant riverbank and said, "They're preparing to release the water and flood the downstream area."
"Huh?"
Tsunade instinctively looked at Natsume.
"That's only the first step."
Shisui Uchiha drew a deep breath and said, "The second step is lightning. They seem to have created some sort of device and placed it at the bottom of the river. It's used to amplify Lightning Style Chakra and can electrify all the river water in an instant."
Ninja could walk on water, but they could not defend against lightning.
If the tactic succeeded, it could paralyze many ninja and give Kumogakure the advantage.
As for the device, it was nothing unusual.
In the original story, Kumogakure had even developed high-tech weapons like the Time-Space Chakra Cannon, which was said to be capable of blasting apart the moon.
Creating a Lightning Amplification Device was no big deal.
How should he put it?
Without knowing about it beforehand, they really could fall for it.
Ninja were not afraid of water.
Even if Lightning Style ninjutsu was added, covering such a vast area in an instant would be difficult.
That was why their guard had not been particularly high.
But now that they knew the plan, stopping it would be fairly simple.
First, destroy the Lightning Amplification Device.
Second, notify Fugaku Uchiha and the others to relocate.
But merely stopping them would be letting Kumogakure off too easily.
"Shizune, Kabuto, and Anko, the three of you return to camp immediately and inform Fugaku of the situation."
Tsunade made the decision without hesitation.
The three she had selected were relatively average in strength.
Meanwhile, Natsume, Itachi Uchiha, and Uzuki Yugao, who would remain behind, could all perform at the level of Jonin.
"Lady Tsunade, what about you?"
Mitaraishi Anko shot Uzuki Yugao a resentful glance.
Itachi Uchiha relied on his own talent and the Sharingan, but Uzuki Yugao did not. She relied on the Cursed Seal Orochimaru had given her.
What angered Anko was that Orochimaru had not given one to her.
She had clearly come first, so why did Uzuki Yugao receive preferential treatment?
"We'll try to destroy the Lightning Amplification Device. If possible, we'll also give Kumogakure a little present."
Tsunade waved her hand and said, "Your mission is just as important. Do not let your guard down because of that."
"Yes."
With things having been put that way, Mitaraishi Anko and the others did not dare linger. They turned and left one after another.
"What exactly is this Lightning Amplification Device like?"
After watching them disappear into the distance, Tsunade withdrew her gaze and asked.
"The central control device is in Kumogakure's main camp. It requires nine Lightning Style Jonin to operate it, transmitting Lightning Style Chakra through laid cables into the devices at the bottom of the distant river, where it is then released all at once."
Shisui Uchiha knew so much because he had interrogated a Jonin with his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Troublesome."
Tsunade fell into thought.
There were only five of them, and there was no way they could gather nine Lightning Style Jonin.
Turning Kumogakure's scheme against them was nearly impossible.
Unless they summoned reinforcements from Konoha's main camp.
But if they went back and forth like that, Kumogakure would certainly notice something.
After all, they needed to relocate their camp.
And Kumogakure had quite a few scouts and spies as well.
Simply pulling away nine Lightning Style Jonin so suddenly would already be extremely conspicuous.
Shisui Uchiha hesitated for several seconds before deciding not to reveal his Mangekyō Sharingan.
With Orochimaru's previous attack on him as a warning, he could not rashly trust Tsunade.
In truth, with the Mangekyō Sharingan's abilities, controlling several Jonin would not be difficult.
He could even directly use Kotoamatsukami to alter the Fourth Raikage's subconscious, handing Konoha an unprecedented victory.
"I have a question."
After listening for so long, Natsume finally spoke. "Does this device require nine Lightning Style Jonin, or does it require the Chakra of nine Jonin?"
"Naturally, it requires the Chakra of nine Jonin, with the addition of a lightning attribute."
Shisui Uchiha answered at once.
Tsunade's eyes suddenly lit up. She had already understood what Natsume meant.
If that was the case, then with her Yin Seal, her Chakra alone could equal that of nine Jonin.
And if that was not enough, she could use the First Hokage's Necklace.
"Shisui, lead the way."
Tsunade possessed the five attributes of fire, lightning, earth, water, and yang.
Though she was not particularly skilled with them, she could still convert her Chakra into a lightning attribute.
Few people knew about the Yin Seal.
Shisui Uchiha had never heard of it either, but since Tsunade said so, she surely had confidence in it.
He immediately led them to the location of the Lightning Amplification Device.
As expected, a large number of people were patrolling there.
Sneaking in without a sound was nearly impossible.
"Natsume has Water Style and Earth Style. He can break open the riverbank and divert the water toward Kumogakure's main camp, then sever the cables."
Tsunade knew he possessed Wood Style, which would be even more useful at a critical moment.
If all else failed, she could use the First Hokage's Necklace and unleash Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence. They might as well go completely wild.
"I'll activate the Lightning Amplification Device, but the task for you three will be much heavier. You'll need to withstand the attacks of the Fourth Raikage and the others."
By the time Tsunade reached that point, she already felt it was unlikely.
There were several hundred ninja in that main camp, including quite a few Jonin.
There were only three of them. Holding out even for a while would be difficult.
"Wait, have you learned the Summoning Jutsu?"
Tsunade suddenly remembered that two of the people before her were Orochimaru's disciples.
Katsuyu and two giant snakes—three enormous creatures. They would definitely be enough to hold the line.
"We have."
Itachi Uchiha and Uzuki Yugao nodded at the same time.
Orochimaru did not actually hoard his knowledge.
In the original story, he had also taught Sasuke Uchiha with all his effort.
The stronger they became, the more beneficial it was to Orochimaru.
"Looks like we're about to earn a great merit this time. If we succeed, the old man will definitely give us extra rewards."
Tsunade smiled. She did not really care, but the others were different.
Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha believed in the Will of Fire. Making Hiruzen Sarutobi happy was naturally an opportunity they could not miss.
Uzuki Yugao was more straightforward. She wanted to grow stronger.
Besides rewards, there was also fame.
As an intangible asset, fame could be quite useful too.
For example, if Tsunade pulled this off, she would be one step closer to becoming the Fifth Hokage.
She might even achieve it earlier than in the original story.
Natsume's little goal of becoming the Hokage's man would naturally be realized soon as well.
Very good.
In ancient times, Guan Yu flooded the Seven Armies. Today, I, Natsume, would flood the Cloud ninja.
Come to think of it, we did have something in common.
For example, we both loved reading The Spring and Autumn Annals.
Before you continue