Mission

"Karot, I have a mission that requires your execution."

Orochimaru summoned Karot and spoke.

"Lord Orochimaru, may I ask what the mission is?"

Inside the temporary command post, Karot inquired of Orochimaru. The promotion certificate hadn't even warmed in his hands before a task was assigned—the exploitative face of a capitalist, impossible to guard against.

"I need you to lead a squad around behind the Cloud Ninja lines, harass and cut off their supply routes, to increase our chances of victory in this war."

"You may choose to refuse. The risk in this mission is too great. Deep in enemy territory, you'll have no support. If you fall into a heavy encirclement, even escaping with your life might be a problem. Are you still willing to accept?"

"I like challenging missions. Guerrilla warfare, right? I'm familiar with that."

"Guerrilla warfare?"

It was the first time Orochimaru had heard a term for that kind of battle.

"When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we strike; when the enemy withdraws, we pursue."

"Good."

After Karot finished, Orochimaru couldn't help but exclaim in approval.

"Now I have even more confidence in your execution of this mission. Go prepare, and you can set out."

"Yes."

Speed was paramount in war. Since this mission involved deep infiltration behind enemy lines, Karot's squad couldn't have too many members. He selected the Hyuga clan member and the Ino-Shika-Cho squad from the branch family.

"Our primary objective is to infiltrate the Land of Lightning, destroy the Cloud Ninja's supply lines, and deprive their frontline ninja of material support. We'll harass and sabotage their strongholds—in short, we must wear down the Cloud Ninja's effective strength at all costs."

After gathering them, Karot shared the specific details of the mission with everyone.

"Hyuga Koji, your task is especially important. Your eyes are our compass. The safety of our surroundings is your responsibility."

"Understood."

Hyuga Koji nodded solemnly.

"Nara Juubei, Yamanaka Nanjiro, Akimichi Tezuka, are you ready?"

"Ready, Captain."

"Good. Then let's move out now."

Leaving the main force behind, the squad rushed toward the Land of Lightning at top speed.

"Lord Orochimaru, isn't this mission too difficult for Jonin Karot?"

Inside the temporary command post of the Konoha ninja, a Jonin couldn't help asking Orochimaru.

"Don't underestimate Karot. The battle just now wasn't the full extent of his strength."

The Jonin shuddered at the thought of Karot ending the lives of over a hundred ninja with a single move, and murmured, "Is that why you chose Jonin Karot, Lord Orochimaru?"

"Heh. No one is more suited than him."

"He's the son of Lord Sakumo. If he fails, what then?"

"If he fails, it's only his misfortune. I'll personally give Sakumo-senpai an explanation."

"And you, as my staff officer, are here to carry out my will, not to question me."

Orochimaru's tone turned icy.

The staff officer Jonin, knowing he had overstepped, fell silent.

Karot's squad marched for a full day, passing through the Land of Hot Springs to reach the border.

"A large number of ninja ahead, right on our path. If we go through here, we might fall into an encirclement."

The squad's eyes, Hyuga Koji, reported.

After hearing Hyuga Koji's intelligence, everyone turned their gaze to Captain Karot, awaiting his orders. Karot closed his eyes to sense the area; the entire Cloud Ninja stronghold's personnel were laid bare under his perception. Opening his eyes, he commanded, "Go around, or break through at their weakest defensive point."

"Yes."

On a moonless, windy night perfect for murder and arson, they waited until dark. Karot and his team sharpened their blades and crept toward the Cloud Ninja defense line.

The direction Karot's team intended to strike had only two squads—eight men—already the weakest point in the line. The five of them approached cautiously, but the more they feared an accident, the more one came. The reason only eight Cloud Ninja guarded this spot was that one of them, a Jonin, possessed an unusually sharp perception ability.

"Who goes there?"

The Cloud Ninja Jonin shouted loudly. His voice was especially piercing in the silent night. Instantly, the entire Cloud Ninja line erupted into activity.

"Damn, we've been spotted. Hurry, cross the line at top speed!"

Since they were discovered, Karot and the others stopped hiding, fully exposing themselves.

A single Ki Blast—BOOM—its explosive force instantly engulfed the stationed Cloud Ninja. All eight fell without exception.

"Run!"

Karot shouted again. They had no time to waste. If the Cloud Ninja surrounded them, escaping alive would be nearly impossible.

Karot's expression darkened. Ahead, a Cloud Ninja squad was sprinting straight toward them.

Hyuga Koji noticed them too and quickly asked Karot, "Captain, there are people ahead. What do we do now?"

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio waited for Karot's order, ready to fight to the death.

"You go ahead. I'll hold them off."

Before Karot could finish, his teammates wanted to stay and help, but he stopped them.

"Just charge forward now. Leave the rear to me. The faster you leave, the safer I'll be. Move out."

With that, Karot moved at an astonishing speed. None of his squad members could track his movement. The next time they saw him, he was already inside the Cloud Ninja squad ahead.

"You bastard, how did you get here?"

The Cloud Ninja asked in shock. In the blink of an eye, the man had appeared right in front of them, moving far too fast. But he didn't get an answer—only Karot's fist.

One blow landed. Karot's ghost-like figure darted at high speed, and the Cloud Ninja were nothing but lambs to the slaughter. Half of them were taken down with ease.

"No good. He's too fast. We can't keep up at all."

A Cloud Ninja spoke. All they could see was a flash of yellow light, and another living Cloud Ninja's life was forced to wither.

"Use Earth Release! If he doesn't step on solid ground, he can't move at that speed!"

"Earth Release: Earth Softening Technique."

Several Cloud Ninja pressed their hands to the ground, and the entire surface instantly turned into loose, aged soil.

But Karot's speed wasn't affected at all. A sharp-eyed ninja spotted the truth.

"No—he's flying."

The Flight Technique appeared on the battlefield for the first time.

"So you noticed."

Karot stopped hiding and slowly rose into the air.

The Cloud Ninja stared in disbelief. Everyone in the ninja world knew that only the Tsuchikage of the Land of Earth had a Kekkei Genkai that allowed flight.

As they all stared fixedly at Karot, he raised both hands naturally to his forehead and spoke.

"Solar Flare."

A golden light blazed, turning night into day.

"Ahhh!"

The Cloud Ninja on the ground rolled around, clutching their eyes. Karot fired a light wave, and none of the Cloud Ninja could dodge—they were all blown to death.

His teammates finally caught up. They saw Karot hovering in midair and the massive crater before them, and were struck by a deep, overwhelming shock.