Sakumo's Mission

Although their conversation along the way had revealed some differences, under the principle of seeking common ground while setting aside differences, the friendship between Hatake Sakumo and Uchiha Tokimitsu, despite their age gap, had grown stronger.

So when Hatake Sakumo expressed a desire to visit and learn from the Northwest Border Defense Force, Uchiha Tokimitsu readily agreed. He dispatched Uchiha Kensuke to lead his subordinates back to camp at speed and notify the garrison to make preparations.

After entering the Land of Grass, Hatake Sakumo slowed his pace and carefully observed the villages, towns, mountains, and lakes they passed along the way. Though every settlement was especially desolate compared to those in the Land of Fire, the fear of not knowing whether they would survive the next day had clearly faded from the residents' faces. Trade in the markets was also far livelier than before. Moreover, the deep mountains and old forests no longer housed bandit dens.

"Tokimitsu-kun, I heard that Kusagakure used to work with bandits to raid towns and merchants. Does that still happen?"

"I remember that it did before. But ever since Commander Kamon received authorization from the Daimyo of the Land of Grass and led a sweep across the country, nearly all underground organizations have been wiped out. The roaming ninja groups and spies that once numbered like hairs on an ox have basically been eradicated. As for the Grass Ninja who collaborated with bandits, every last one was killed. So while the Land of Grass is still poor, it is at least relatively stable among the smaller nations now."

"Executing Grass Ninja who colluded with bandits... Kusagakure did not object?" Hatake Sakumo found it rather strange.

"Jonin Sakumo, the Grass Ninja are all very sensible, and very realistic." Uchiha Tokimitsu smiled confidently. "The total bounties issued by the garrison camp through missions to Kusagakure amount to twice the entire village's income. What could they possibly use to resist me?"

"So, we basically do not even need to act. The Grass Ninja will capture the offenders from their own village and turn them in for the reward."

Hatake Sakumo found it quite astonishing as well.

"At first, I thought it sounded unbelievable when you said it. But then I remembered they are Grass Ninja, so it makes sense." Hatake Sakumo said with grave seriousness.

"Spending money is an art as well. Use money to make the Grass Ninja purge themselves, lure them with profit into internal discord, divide and rule them, and thereby dismantle their leaders' authority. Once that happens, the scattered Grass Ninja will be nothing more than fat sheep at our mercy." Uchiha Tokimitsu was quite confident in this.

"But... what use are scattered Grass Ninja?" Hatake Sakumo asked, somewhat puzzled. "They would not be able to help defend against Iwagakure, either."

"...Rely on the Grass Ninja to defend against Iwagakure? Then the Garrison Camp in the Land of Grass would be the one in real danger!" Uchiha Tokimitsu laughed loudly. "Besides, would it not be better to place the scattered Grass Ninja directly under Konoha ninja command rather than let them form an army of their own? At least they could fight a few easy battles."

"That does make sense..."

As they talked while walking, they drew closer and closer to the camp of the Northwest Border Defense Force.

"Young Lord Tokimitsu, we have linked up with the Patrol Team ahead!"

A ninja marching at the front came back to report.

"Good. Send orders for the Patrol Team to continue its mission. There is no need for them to wait here." After instructing the ninja, Uchiha Tokimitsu turned to Hatake Sakumo. "Jonin Sakumo, the camp is not far ahead. Let us head in directly."

Naturally, Hatake Sakumo had no objections.

It felt quite good to return to the garrison camp.

The entire camp was extremely enthusiastic about Hatake Sakumo's arrival. Ninjas without missions on hand all came over to meet their idol, shake his hand, and get an autograph.

Meanwhile, Hatake Sakumo's eight accompanying ninjas entered the camp without drawing any attention, under the cover of the Uchiha ninja.

Uchiha Tokimitsu invited Hatake Sakumo to rest in the central tent. Uchiha Kamon arranged a spread of Land of Grass specialties and summoned the camp's jonin to welcome Uchiha Tokimitsu and Hatake Sakumo.

Once the banquet ended, everyone took their leave. Only then did Uchiha Tokimitsu say to Hatake Sakumo, "Jonin Sakumo, if there is anything you need my help with for your mission, just say it."

"Tokimitsu-kun, you are truly perceptive." Hatake Sakumo spoke with some difficulty. "There is indeed something I need help with, but I do not know whether it will cause you trouble..."

Uchiha Tokimitsu said nothing, merely smiling as he watched him.

"All right..." Hatake Sakumo smiled helplessly, took a scroll from his arms, handed it to Uchiha Tokimitsu, and gestured for him to read it himself.

It was a mission document issued by the Hokage. The assignment was to infiltrate the Land of Waterfalls and investigate intelligence on Iwagakure and Kumogakure, who had recently been making contact and holding meetings there. It also granted the mission recipient, Hatake Sakumo, the authority to mobilize ninja forces stationed throughout the region for support and coordination.

Uchiha Tokimitsu fell into thought.

Judging from the document, it was merely a simple intelligence mission. The eight ninjas accompanying Hatake Sakumo this time were all seasoned experts in infiltration and covert operations. If it was only intelligence gathering, they should theoretically have been enough.

"Jonin Sakumo, could you explain the true circumstances of the mission a little?" Uchiha Tokimitsu asked hesitantly, rubbing his chin.

"According to Anbu intelligence, Iwagakure and Kumogakure, who have long been enemies, are secretly meeting somewhere in the Land of Waterfalls. The participants are all high-ranking members of both villages. The village is worried they may be plotting something, so it has ordered us to find out..." Hatake Sakumo sounded helpless as well.

It was an intelligence mission involving two Great Ninja Villages, in another country no less. The exact location was unclear, too. Where were they even supposed to begin?

Uchiha Tokimitsu found it odd as well.

"By the way... should the village not be allied with Takigakure?"

"That is true... but the Takigakure Ninja have always kept themselves isolated and rarely communicate with the outside world. We cannot contact them and get any results in such a short time, and this matter is rather urgent..." Hatake Sakumo said helplessly.

"And we cannot be certain of Takigakure's position in this matter, either, can we?" Uchiha Tokimitsu said with a shake of his head.

"Yes..." Hatake Sakumo sighed.

"Then how do you need me to cooperate?"

"If possible, please secretly deploy a ninja force to lurk near the border of the Land of Waterfalls. If necessary, once they receive a message, they can head to the target location and assist in surrounding and eliminating the meeting personnel from the two ninja villages."

Now it made sense why he had come to draw people from the Northwest Border Defense Force. The Land of Grass happened to border the Land of Waterfalls.

"How many people do you expect to need?" Uchiha Tokimitsu asked. He had already made up his mind.

"About a hundred. The more jonin, the better. There is no need for genin; they would be of no use." Hatake Sakumo's eyes lit up.

"Then... how about thirty jonin and sixty chunin?" Uchiha Tokimitsu roughly estimated the camp's manpower and proposed an exceptionally luxurious lineup. "That makes exactly thirty jonin squads, all of whom have worked together in battle for a long time. It should meet your requirements."

"That could not be better." Hatake Sakumo nodded repeatedly, clearly very satisfied.

"What about the timing?"

"According to Anbu intelligence, Iwagakure and Kumogakure will meet again in roughly three days. This time, there may be contact between even higher-ranking personnel. I will first lead my men in to lurk and track them down, determine the meeting location, and try to eavesdrop on their intelligence." Hatake Sakumo took a map from his arms and explained the mission arrangements to Uchiha Tokimitsu.

"Then how will you and I communicate and confirm the signal for orders?" Uchiha Tokimitsu asked. "Especially if their meeting place is far from the Land of Grass border, it will be difficult to conceal our tracks while rushing there."

"I have a pair of twin brothers among my subordinates. They possess a hereditary Telepathic Secret Technique that allows them to sense and locate each other over extreme distances. I will leave one with your supporting ninja force, and he will guide them when the time comes..."

Such a secret technique existed? Uchiha Tokimitsu became interested.

"Also, as an additional safeguard..." Hatake Sakumo formed hand seals and summoned a black Ninja Dog shaped like a bulldog. "This is Bashya, one of my Contract Ninja Dogs. You can use it to pass information to me..."

After Hatake Sakumo bent down and whispered to the Ninja Dog for a moment, it nodded repeatedly and opened its mouth to speak. "Lord Sakumo, I understand. Please rest assured, Lord Tokimitsu. I will do my utmost to ensure the mission is completed."

Uchiha Tokimitsu was somewhat surprised as well. This was only the second time he had seen a Summoning Beast capable of speech. The previous one had been Uchiha Kamon's Ninja Cat named Hanamaki. He had not expected Hatake Sakumo to possess such an intelligent Summoning Beast too.

"Then I basically have no further concerns." Uchiha Tokimitsu withdrew his gaze and restrained the urge to pet the dog. "But when do you plan to depart, Jonin Sakumo?"

"I will leave directly tonight. I will leave a Shadow Clone in the camp, and I will trouble Tokimitsu-kun to take the Shadow Clone around outside the camp tomorrow. Afterward, the Shadow Clone will head south in the Land of Rain direction to create the illusion that I have another destination."

Uchiha Tokimitsu nodded slightly. The arrangement was considered rigorous enough under the circumstances, and he could find no fault with it.

"Then I will lead my men to lurk at the border of the Land of Waterfalls tomorrow night." After pondering for a moment, Uchiha Tokimitsu settled on a time. "After all, thirty squads are not a small number. If we move too quickly, it will be difficult to conceal our tracks. Tomorrow night is the most suitable time."

"Then I leave it to you, Tokimitsu-kun!"

"You are too polite, Jonin Sakumo! I am looking forward to fighting alongside you as well!" Uchiha Tokimitsu smiled brilliantly.

"You intend to personally lead the ninja force into battle?" Only then did Hatake Sakumo realize it, and he could not help being startled.

"Yes. I want to meet the elites of Kumogakure and Iwagakure myself." Uchiha Tokimitsu was eager to try.

"This..." Hatake Sakumo hesitated. "Would that not be too risky? It does not seem appropriate, considering you are still responsible for commanding the garrison camp."

"That is no problem. Uncle Kamon is still here." Uchiha Tokimitsu waved his hand. "Besides, the people I have selected are all elites of the Radical Faction. Someone else might not be able to command them. It would be worse if we delayed the battle opportunity."

"That is true..." Hatake Sakumo thought it over and found it reasonable. With so many Uchiha ninja, aside from Uchiha Tokimitsu, who possessed the special status of the faction's heir, someone else might not truly be able to keep them under control.

"Rest assured, Jonin Sakumo." Uchiha Tokimitsu was Full of confidence. "With you and me included, we have thirty-two jonin in total. There cannot be many people at their meeting. Therefore, whether in ninja numbers or ninja quality, Advantage is Mine. Unless Ōnoki or the Raikage comes in person, we will ensure they never return!"