The Eve of War

"Kyoko, the new supplies have all been put away." Hyuga Ao spoke to the woman before her, who looked exactly like Kato Shizune.

No, it wasn't that she looked like Kato Shizune. Rather, Kato Shizune looked like her. Hyuga Ao guessed that this woman was a direct relative of Kato Shizune.

Hyuga Ao moved closer and asked with an utterly curious expression, "Kyoko, what are all these supplies for?"

Kato Kyoko disdainfully pushed Hyuga Ao's face away. "Shoo, shoo. Children shouldn't ask about these things."

After a pause, Kyoko remembered Hyuga Ao's identity and finally revealed a little. "It seems they're trying to force the Iwa Ninja to send reinforcements and fight a decisive battle?"

Reinforcements?!

Hyuga Ao suddenly understood. Now she got everything. Combined with Kumogakure's surprise attack on Iwagakure late in the Ninja War, Konoha was trying to force the Iwa Ninja to send in reinforcements, creating a vacancy in their rear.

Then they would give Kumogakure a chance to launch a surprise attack.

So Konoha and Kumogakure had been in contact for a long time?

A flick on the forehead snapped Hyuga Ao out of her thoughts. Kato Kyoko said irritably,

"Why are you spacing out again? Hurry up and finish today's lessons."

Hyuga Ao gave a silly laugh, then slipped away to complete today's experiment.

The early stages of a medical ninja's training were comparable to accumulating immeasurable merit by releasing living creatures.

It involved repeatedly switching a fish between two states: barely alive and lively and energetic. Once she became thoroughly skilled at treating fish, she could make small wounds on herself and try healing them.

Relying on her excellent chakra control, Hyuga Ao quickly brought the medical fish's miserable life to an end and reached the stage of treating people.

Everyone had actually experienced the daily lessons: memorizing books and writing test papers. Although medical ninjas only used a few Medical Ninjutsu techniques, the amount of knowledge behind them was still astonishingly vast.

So these past few days, Hyuga Ao had been running back and forth between the wards and the library.

"Ao'er, come over and take a look at this."

Hyuga Ao walked over. "Byakugan, activate!"

"Comminuted fractures in both forearms, three broken ribs on the left side of the chest, compressing the heart, with bone fragments shifting inside the body as well. Call Lady Tsunade." Hyuga Ao quickly completed the injury assessment.

This was also one of Hyuga Ao's duties in the medical department. The department welcomed Hyuga ninjas.

The Hyuga Clan made it convenient to work as medical ninjas. Moreover, the Hyuga branch-family members who came out were honest and hardworking. Even when bullied, they rarely complained. Who didn't like honest people?

But there were only so many Hyuga members, and everyone working in the medical department had their own duties. Thus, Hyuga Ao had been drafted into service like this.

Hyuga Ao pondered the injuries of the person from earlier.

A powerful punch had come roaring in. The Konoha ninja had crossed both arms in front of his chest to block it, but it had been useless. His forearms had been smashed apart, and the punch had continued onward, landing on the Konoha ninja's chest. His ribs had shattered instantly, and his entire body had been sent flying. He had only survived by sheer luck.

Had Iwagakure already begun sending out such troublesome fighters?

Hyuga Ao quickly deduced Iwagakure's situation.

Using such a powerful fighter to investigate intelligence meant that Iwagakure was nearly ready as well.

Konoha's main hall.

Several Jonin were holding a meeting.

"The Iwa Ninja's probes have been growing stronger lately," Kunugi Mokume said. He looked toward Orochimaru. "Should we begin mobilizing?"

Orochimaru looked toward Jiraiya. "Any movement from Kumogakure?"

Jiraiya silently shook his head.

"Heh." Orochimaru let out a soft chuckle. His snake-like pupils narrowed slightly, revealing a dangerous glint. "In that case, we'll ignore Kumogakure. We'll fight this battle ourselves! Is Konoha weaker than them?"

Orochimaru issued his order. "Starting today, begin mobilization for the decisive battle!"

"Jiraiya, start reducing the camp personnel and organize the logistics."

"Tsunade, put the field hospital on a wartime footing. You can begin preparing the supplies."

"Mokume, you're responsible for the camp's specific defenses. Raise the ninjas' morale."

"Yes." "Yes." "Yes."

Orochimaru then summoned Hyuga Ao.

"Ao, I have a mission for you."

Hyuga Ao immediately perked up. Was she finally going to stop slacking off?

"This is a solo mission. You're the fastest person in the camp. Among the Hyuga, you can see the farthest, and your Wind Cloak is also well suited for infiltration. So I'm giving you an S-rank mission."

"Investigate the Iwa Camp!"

Orochimaru tossed the mission scroll to Hyuga Ao and handed her an Anbu mask at the same time.

"From now on, you'll operate as an Anbu member. Codename: Senri."

"Remember a few things. Your main task is to investigate the Iwa Ninja's military preparations and whether they have any high-level combatants, such as Ōnoki or a Jinchuriki. I'll give you one day to prepare. Be careful. Go."

"Yes!" Hyuga Ao took the scroll and left with the mask.

On the way, Hyuga Ao's emotions surged. Ever since obtaining the Wind Cloak, she had felt restless, as if the wind had stopped flowing. She wanted to keep running and test her current strength.

Actual combat was the best test of a person. Hyuga Ao had not come here to slack off; she had come to improve herself.

Who among the Pain, Obito, and Madara of the future would be easy to deal with? If she wanted to protect Minato and Kushina, Hyuga Ao had to go out, experience battle, fight, and grow stronger!

Today, she finally had the chance!

Hyuga Ao's body trembled slightly. It was a tremor of excitement.

Investigate the Iwa Ninja? This was exciting. But I like it. Hyuga Ao thought this to herself.

Hyuga Ao quickly replenished her Ration Pills, ninja tools, and some daily necessities before setting out.

Hyuga Ao leaped out of the camp and landed two footprints in the damp mud of the Land of Rain.

Hyuga Ao increased her chakra output. Chakra spread the Wind Cloak through the threads inside her clothes, wrapping it around her and locking in her presence so it could not leak out.

After the Wind Cloak concealed her presence, Hyuga Ao began to quiet her footsteps. The footprints she left behind grew fainter and fainter, until even the sound disappeared.

Relying on her superb martial arts cultivation, she had achieved the ability to cross snow without leaving a trace and land without making a sound!

Beneath her black nightwear, Hyuga Ao was like a ghost drifting toward the Iwa Camp.

The Iwa Ninja were currently stationed in the heart of the Land of Rain, facing the Rain Ninja Village from nearby. After all, the cooperation between the two countries was still in its honeymoon period.

Thus, the Rain Ninja had placed the Iwa Ninja beside them, partly out of trust and partly to keep watch over them.

The Land of Rain was heavily guarded at this time. The Rain Ninja and Iwa Ninja had joined forces to establish their defenses, with a Sand Ninja force nearby that was concerned only with itself.

It could be considered an inescapable net. But even an inescapable net could not stop someone with the entire map revealed.

Wrapped in black and hidden beneath her mask, a pair of bright eyes shimmered with white light.

Hyuga Ao turned left and right along the way. Under the Byakugan's ten-kilometer range, the defenses of the Iwa Ninja and Rain Ninja were completely exposed, allowing her to pass through with ease.

Thus, after winding around, walking, and stopping repeatedly, she arrived outside the Iwa Camp on the night of the third day.

But after arriving, Hyuga Ao looked at the brightly lit Iwa Camp and began to feel troubled.

Under her Byakugan's vision, the ground surrounding the Iwa Camp was filled with abnormal chakra reactions. Moreover, to prevent Hyuga ninjas from seeing through their defenses, the Iwa Camp had left several kilometers of buffer zone.

Even though Hyuga Ao's Byakugan could see far, she still couldn't see through the Iwa Camp from outside.

How was she supposed to complete the mission?

Hyuga Ao fell into deep thought.