Success in Blocking the Enemy

"What are you standing around for? Move."

Karot's voice came from ahead.

"Oh."

Then the group plunged headlong into the darkness without looking back.

After nearly three hours of continuous fleeing, they finally shook off their pursuers and found a relatively hidden cave to rest for a while.

"That was close tonight—almost got wiped out."

Akimichi Tezuka said between mouthfuls, somehow producing a pile of food from who-knows-where and devouring it ravenously. The Akimichi clan's reputation was well-earned.

"Yeah, if it weren't for Captain Karot, we wouldn't have even made it past the border."

Nara Juubei chimed in. The strength Karot had shown gave the team a lot more confidence in this mission.

"Captain, once the mission's done, we've got to have a good drink. I can't match you in skill, but when it comes to drinking, I'll go toe-to-toe."

Yamanaka Nanjiro took the chance to cozy up to Karot as well. Karot's rise was a foregone conclusion in their eyes, and building a closer relationship would benefit both himself and his clan.

"Alright, after the mission ends, I'll treat everyone to a meal to celebrate our success."

Then Karot assigned the night watch duties. Everyone had worked hard all day and was exhausted—they needed proper rest to recover their energy.

Before long, only the faint sound of breathing filled the cave.

Sleeping straight through till dawn, Karot woke up and stretched, feeling completely refreshed.

"Captain Karot, you're awake?"

"Mm. Any activity outside?"

"Cloud Ninja have been passing by now and then. I think they're searching for us," said Hyuga Koji, who had been on watch duty.

Karot rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment, then said, "This cave isn't a place to stay long. We'll be found sooner or later. Everyone rest a bit more, then we move out."

"Got it."

Now that Karot was awake, the responsibility for vigilance naturally shifted to him, and Hyuga Koji could finally rest. After all, overusing the Byakugan still made his eyes ache and throb.

"One squad to the left front, one to the right front. Cloud Ninja really don't know when to quit, repeating the same thing over and over."

"Since you're delivering yourselves to my doorstep, not taking you out would be an insult to the Cloud Ninja."

Karot had decided not to let them off.

Once everyone had rested in turn, Karot explained the current situation between friend and foe.

"We're inside the enemy's encirclement right now. One squad to the left front, one to the right front, and more behind us. What we need to do is take out these two squads silently."

"If they manage to call for reinforcements, our situation will get a lot tougher."

Karot used a branch to draw a simple map on the ground, marking the positions of the Cloud Ninja squads.

"So we'll split up. I'll handle one squad, and you'll handle the other. Any problems?"

All four possessed Kekkei Genkai. The Ino-Shika-Cho trio weren't a simple one-plus-one—their combined combat power multiplied. That was why Karot had chosen them for the team. Add in the Hyuga's Byakugan, and losing was nearly impossible.

"No problems from us."

Trusting in Karot's strength, taking on a single Cloud Ninja squad solo wasn't a big deal.

"Good. Move out."

Karot gave the order.

The four vanished right before Karot's eyes.

"Now then, time to have some fun with the Cloud Ninja."

From this moment on, the roles of hunter and prey began to swap.

Karot used Instantaneous Movement and soon reached the Cloud Ninja's location without anyone noticing.

Meanwhile, the Cloud Ninja squad members were complaining.

"Why do we have to do search duty? We should be on the battlefield, making a name for ourselves and killing enemies."

The Cloud Genin grumbled. Probably his first war, his head full of thoughts about earning merit and getting promoted.

"What do you know? The battlefield is brutal beyond words. Life is fragile—life and death are just an instant. We're lucky to be assigned a mission like this."

The older Cloud Jonin scolded him. Judging by his age, he had likely lived through the Second Ninja World War. For a ninja like him, it wasn't about building a reputation anymore, but about how to survive the war.

"Tch. Talk all high and mighty, but you're just scared of dying."

The Genin said dismissively.

The Jonin didn't bother responding. Kind words couldn't save a fool destined to die. He felt he had already fulfilled his duty as a senior and ignored him from then on.

He pulled a photo from his pocket—a family portrait of three. A devoted wife, a cute daughter. Every time he looked at that picture, a happy expression would spread across his face.

He made a mistake. He made the kind of mistake that guarantees death in a TV drama—like looking at a photo on the battlefield, or saying "I'll be back after the fight" before heading out.

"Sorry to interrupt your happy moment."

Karot's voice sounded beside the Cloud Ninja's ear, his arm locking around the man's neck. The Cloud Ninja struggled desperately, trying to make a sound to alert his companions, his hands clawing wildly in all directions. As time slowly slipped away, the Cloud Ninja's struggles grew weaker and weaker, until at last he could no longer hold the photo in his hand. It slipped loose and fell to the ground as his eyes rolled back, his breath ceasing.

Karot released his grip, and the Cloud Ninja collapsed to the ground.

"Take it with you."

Karot slipped the photo into the Cloud Ninja's pocket, then vanished from the spot.

The Cloud Ninja walking ahead noticed nothing at all, still searching on his own. After a flash of blades and a clash of steel, one Chunin and two Genin lay utterly fallen on this land—a stark testament to the cruelty of war.

Karot felt no pity whatsoever. Their hands, too, were stained with the blood of Konoha ninja, and besides, it was the Cloud Ninja who had started the war.

By the time Karot returned to the rest area, the Hyuga group had not yet come back. Still, Karot wasn't overly worried; with the strength of the Ino-Shika-Cho, they could handle it easily. For now, he only needed to wait.

Though the wait was agonizing, the outcome was ultimately good. The three had light injuries, but nothing that would affect the journey ahead.

After resting for half an hour, the team set out again.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru had already received intelligence that Karot and the others had successfully broken through the Cloud Ninja's defensive line.

"Truly worthy of being the son of the White Fang. It took only one day to breach the Cloud Ninja's defenses and make it behind their lines. Awe-inspiring, the younger generation is."

A Konoha Jonin spoke in admiration, his tone full of appreciation for Karot.

"If their mission succeeds, our main battlefield will become much easier."

At this thought, the ninja in the command post couldn't help but smile, knowing the front lines would see far fewer casualties as a result.

Orochimaru paid them no heed, intently studying the map on the table, deducing the area where Karot and the others currently were.

"Once Karot and his team blow up the Cloud Ninja's supply line, that's when we launch our attack."

"I now order you all to stay alert at all times, awaiting the operation."

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru."

The command post echoed with resolute replies.