Initiation

"Captain Ao, where are you taking us? Shouldn't the battlefield be to the west? Why are we going north?" Mei Terumi asked curiously on the way.

"Our mission is to circle around to the rear of Konoha's main camp. When their main force is deployed and the interior is empty, we will launch a surprise attack, targeting the current head of the Hyuga Main Family!" Ao explained without turning his head, maintaining his swift pace.

To prevent the strategic plans set by the higher-ups from leaking, none of the regular members knew the objective of this operation other than the small team captains.

It was only now, as the plan began to be executed and there was no fear of leaks, that he dared to explain it to the three of them.

"Our small team is going to raid Konoha's main camp alone? Isn't that suicide? Did you offend some big shot above, and they're deliberately seeking personal revenge, Captain!" Mei Terumi guessed maliciously, keeping pace behind him.

Konoha's main camp being lightly defended was only relative to its peak strength.

Even if their entire main force was deployed, the remaining meager defenses were not something their small team of four could break through.

Qi Shuang, standing nearby, thought for a moment and tentatively said, "With the strength of just the four of us, it's indeed impossible to break through Konoha's main camp. So, the higher-ups must have sent more than just our team!"

"But we haven't seen any other teams around here. That means the higher-ups must have intentionally split us up!"

"Oh?"

Mei Terumi turned her head and looked at him with surprise, then added, "You're so sure there are other teams?"

She wasn't an idiot who knew nothing. Naturally, she understood that the higher-ups had definitely sent more than just their team. She was just habitually teasing Ao.

She wanted to use this to figure out the whereabouts of the other teams and the reason for splitting up the forces.

Zabuza, walking beside them, couldn't help but glance at Qi Shuang after hearing this. He was curious about what kind of answer his old classmate would give.

Qi Shuang pondered for a moment and continued, "The Hyuga family's Byakugan has extremely powerful perception. If we were to move our main force together to circle around, it would easily alert them."

"Although I don't know what method the higher-ups will use to draw away Konoha's main force, if we alert the enemy in advance, their efforts to weaken the defenses of Konoha's main camp will be greatly reduced!"

"At the same time, our forces carrying out the surprise attack on Konoha's main camp will also be in great danger!"

"Therefore, to avoid alerting Konoha, the higher-ups deliberately had all our teams act separately."

"Even if a few teams are discovered, the enemy won't take it seriously. They'll just think we're simply infiltrating enemy lines to conduct harassment and sabotage!"

Hearing his coherent explanation, Mei Terumi looked at their leader with doubt and shouted, "Captain Ao, is what he said true?"

"That's right! He's guessed it all!"

Ao turned his head to glance at the new member behind him, inwardly astonished.

If the person saying this was a veteran soldier around his age, he wouldn't be surprised at all. But this person was currently a child of about ten years old.

If he hadn't heard it with his own ears, he would have found it hard to believe that a child of ten possessed such a comprehensive strategic vision.

"A genius! Another genius!"

He silently labeled Qi Shuang as a "genius" in his heart.

This was a genius no less than Zabuza and Mei Terumi.

It was just that they were born at the wrong time. In this era of war, on this chaotic battlefield, geniuses were more likely to become targets for the enemy.

Therefore, geniuses often died young.

He didn't know if his three genius subordinates behind him had any chance of surviving this war.

Hearing his confirmation, Mei Terumi excitedly glanced at Qi Shuang and immediately moved closer, teasing, "Not bad, kid! You're not as useless as you look!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Shuang rolled his eyes at her, feeling helpless. "Do I really look that weak?"

Mei Terumi nodded very seriously and said, "At least, in our team, you're the weakest, the most useless one! Not even as good as Zabuza over there!"

Zabuza, who had been silently keeping pace, felt a twinge in his heart upon hearing this.

He never imagined that even without speaking, he would suffer such undeserved misfortune.

After estimating that they were beyond the detection range of the Byakugan, Ao immediately led his three subordinates back southwest according to the planned route, forming a pincer movement with the other teams to completely surround Konoha's main camp.

Not long after, the group faintly heard intermittent roaring explosions.

Ao knew that was the main force of Kirigakure attacking the Uchiha clan.

At the same time, Qi Shuang understood the calculations of the Kirigakure command.

This was because the Uchiha clan's camp was in the direction from which the explosions were coming.

The Kirigakure command must have planned to draw away Konoha's main force by attacking the Uchiha camp. And by engaging in large-scale combat, they would tie down Konoha's main force on that battlefield, creating conditions for their surprise attack.

As for how big a tiger they could lure out, it would depend on how dangerous the Uchiha were!

Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered the captured Uchiha Jonin from yesterday.

"So that's how it is!" A smile played on his lips.

The command must have obtained some crucial intelligence from that Uchiha Jonin, enough to exert pressure that could lead to the Uchiha clan's destruction. This was what would cause Konoha's main camp forces to pour out, creating an opportunity for their surprise attack.

"Oh, right, take this and have a look!" Ao, who was leading, suddenly took a photo out of his pocket and flicked it towards the little girl behind him.

"Who is this?" Mei Terumi asked curiously, taking the photo.

The photo showed a middle-aged man with a pair of white eyes.

Ao explained while walking, "The person in the photo is the current head of the Hyuga family!"

"You must remember his appearance clearly and absolutely do not let him escape!"

"Whether we kill him or capture him alive, we can severely damage the Hyuga clan, and our side of the Kirigakure war will improve!"

"Oh? So he's the current head of the Hyuga clan! I don't see anything particularly special about him!" Mei Terumi carefully memorized the face in the photo and handed it to Qi Shuang beside her.

Taking the photo, Qi Shuang quickly memorized the face and passed it to Zabuza on the other side.

Just then, a crimson flare lit up the sky.

"Full speed ahead, prepare to launch the attack!" Ao said gravely to his three subordinates, gazing at the crimson cloud in the sky.

Because that flare was the agreed-upon signal for attack from above.

With that, he immediately increased his speed by a large margin and rushed directly towards the Konoha main camp.

Understanding the importance of the matter, Qi Shuang and the other two followed silently.