Mission

"Karot, I have a mission I need you to carry out."

Orochimaru summoned Karot and spoke.

"Lord Orochimaru, what kind of mission is it?"

Inside the temporary command center, Karot asked Orochimaru. He'd barely had time to enjoy his promotion before being sent on a mission. That was the face of a capitalist for you—always ready to spring a nasty surprise.

"I need you to lead a small squad around to the Cloud Ninja's rear. Harass them and cut off their supply lines to improve our chances of winning this war."

"You can refuse. This mission is too dangerous. You'll be deep in enemy territory without any support, and if they surround you, even escaping could be difficult. Are you still willing to accept?"

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

"Guerrilla warfare?"

It was the first time Orochimaru had heard that term for a style of warfare.

"When the enemy advances, we retreat. When they camp, we harass. When they tire, we attack. When they withdraw, we pursue."

"Good."

After Karot finished speaking, Orochimaru couldn't help praising him.

"I'm even more confident in your ability to carry out this mission now. Go prepare, and then you can set out."

"Yes."

Speed was essential in war. Since this mission would take them deep behind enemy lines, Karot's squad couldn't be too large. They selected a Hyuga and a branch-family Ino-Shika-Cho squad.

"Our priority is to infiltrate the Land of Lightning and destroy the Cloud Ninja's supply lines, cutting off supplies to the shinobi at the front. We'll harass and destroy their strongholds—in short, we'll do whatever it takes to wipe out the Cloud Ninja's fighting force."

After assembling the squad, Karot explained the details of the mission.

"Hyuga Koji, your task is especially important. Your eyes are our compass. You're responsible for keeping us safe from threats around us."

"Understood."

Hyuga Koji nodded solemnly.

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

"We're ready, Captain."

"Good. Then let's move out."

Leaving the main force behind, the squad headed for the Land of Lightning at full speed.

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

At the temporary Konoha command center, a Jonin couldn't help asking Orochimaru.

"Don't underestimate Karot. That battle just now was nowhere near the limit of his abilities."

The Jonin thought of how Karot had killed more than a hundred shinobi with a single move and shuddered. He murmured, "Is that why you chose Jonin Karot, Lord Orochimaru?"

"Heh. No one else was better suited."

"But he's Lord White Fang's son. What if he fails?"

"If he fails, then he was simply unlucky. I'll personally explain it to Sakumo."

"And as my adviser, your job is to carry out my orders, not question me."

Orochimaru's voice was cold.

The adviser Jonin knew he'd overstepped and fell silent.

Karot's squad marched hard for a day, crossing the Land of Hot Water before reaching the border.

"Large numbers of shinobi ahead, on the route we have to take. If we go through there, we could be surrounded."

Hyuga Koji, the squad's eyes, reported.

After hearing his report, everyone looked to their captain, waiting for orders. Karot closed his eyes and sensed the area. Under his perception, no one at the Cloud Ninja stronghold could escape notice. He opened his eyes and gave his order.

"We'll go around, or break through at the weakest point in their defenses."

"Yes."

On a dark, windy night, the time for killing and arson, Karot and the others waited until nightfall, then headed toward the Cloud Ninja defensive line, weapons at the ready.

The section they planned to raid was guarded by only two squads, eight people in all—the weakest point in the line. The five of them approached cautiously. The more they dreaded something going wrong, the more likely it seemed to happen. The reason only eight Cloud Ninja guarded this spot was that one of them had unusually sharp senses—a Jonin.

"Who's there?"

The Cloud Ninja Jonin shouted. His cry rang especially loudly through the silent night, and the entire Cloud Ninja defensive line erupted into activity.

"Damn, we've been spotted! Hurry, get through the line as fast as you can!"

Since they'd been discovered, Karot and the others stopped hiding, revealing themselves completely.

A Ki Blast—BOOM! The explosion instantly swallowed the Cloud Ninja on guard. All eight fell without exception.

"Run!"

Karot spoke again. They couldn't afford to waste time. If the Cloud Ninja surrounded them, escaping would be difficult.

Karot's expression darkened. A Cloud Ninja squad was charging toward them from ahead.

Hyuga Koji had noticed them too and hurriedly asked Karot, "Captain, there are people ahead! What do we do?"

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

"You go on ahead. I'll cover the rear."

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

"Just keep moving forward. I'll handle the rear. The sooner you get away, the safer I'll be. Move!"

Karot darted off at incredible speed. His squadmates couldn't even follow his movements. By the time they spotted him, he'd already appeared among the Cloud Ninja squad ahead.

"You! What are you doing here?"

The Cloud Ninja cried out in surprise. Karot had appeared in front of him in the blink of an eye, moving at an unbelievable speed. But he got no answer—only Karot's fist.

His first strike hit home. Karot's figure flashed about like a phantom, moving at high speed. The Cloud Ninja were helpless prey, and he quickly took out more than half of them.

"No good! He's too fast—we can't keep up with him!"

One of the Cloud Ninja shouted. They could only catch a flash of golden light before another Cloud Ninja's life was snuffed out.

"Use Earth Release! He can't move that fast without setting foot on solid ground!"

"Earth Release: Earth Softening Technique!"

Several Cloud Ninja pressed their hands to the ground, and the soil instantly softened and crumbled.

But Karot's speed wasn't affected at all. A sharp-eyed shinobi noticed something was off!

"Wait—he's flying!"

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

"So you figured it out."

Karot stopped hiding his ability and slowly rose into the air.

The Cloud Ninja stared in disbelief. Everyone knew that only the Tsuchikage of the Land of Earth could fly, thanks to his Kekkei Genkai.

As they stared up at Karot, he raised both hands in front of his forehead and spoke.

"Solar Flare!"

Golden light blazed, turning the night into day.

"Ah!"

The Cloud Ninja clutched their eyes and rolled on the ground. Karot fired a Ki Blast, and the Cloud Ninja were blown up before they could dodge.

His teammates finally caught up. Seeing Karot suspended in midair and the enormous crater before them, they were left utterly stunned.