The Location of Sunagakure's Main Camp
Not only were the Konoha Ninja shocked, but even the people on Shiyu's side were stunned.
"We? Five people against the main force of Sunagakure?" Kakashi Nao asked again, confirming, "Shiyu, are you sure you're not joking?"
"Yes, even Shiyu -kun has times when he's exhausted or out of energy, right?" Orochimaru then added, "Besides, you've already created so many shadow clones of your Shadow Clone; you must have used up a lot of chakra, haven't you?"
Shiyu laughed loudly and said to Orochimaru, "Orochimaru, do you know why I'm still standing here?"
"Why?" Orochimaru immediately understood Shiyu's meaning.
"Could it be that you really accepted the inheritance of Ryūchi Cave?" Orochimaru was also very surprised. He knew how demanding the inheritance of Ryūchi Cave was. Although he had been to Ryūchi Cave and made contracts with some snakes, he had not learned any Senjutsu, but he did know Sage Mode.
"Don't worry, I'm in charge of this battle. I wouldn't joke around with my comrades' lives," Shiyu said firmly, glancing at her companions beside her.
Hizashi immediately expressed his support. "I think Lord Shiyu must have his reasons for doing this, so I believe him!"
"I believe it too!" Hinata Kurenai had also witnessed Shiyu create one miracle after another.
"I don't need to say anything more, do I? I'm indispensable." Kakashi Nao also chose to believe.
"I'm an employee, I listen to the boss." Kakuzu didn't think Shiyu would lose. After Shiyu had easily defeated him. Shiyu himself had chosen to fight to the death, so naturally he wouldn't betray his employees.
"But, Teacher Sarutobi gave me a heads-up."
Orochimaru was about to say something Shiyu immediately stopped him:
"I know that Teacher Sarutobi- sensei still doesn't trust me. If there's a major flaw in my tactics, then Orochimaru- senpai, you'll have to take responsibility for convincing me."
"Yes, Teacher Sarutobi has indeed gone to great lengths to train me, or rather, to protect me? I understand his intentions, but my intentions remain unchanged: our team will operate as a surprise attack squad to annihilate the main force of Sunagakure! We'll force them to retreat before the Third Shinobi World War even begins!"
With White Fang's suicide and Mito's death (a faked one), the Third Kazekage will inevitably be turned into a puppet by Sasori. Perhaps the Sunagakure's invasion of the Land of Rivers is a way to divert attention from internal conflicts.
"It seems you're quite certain this war will escalate into Shinobi World War? If that's the case, annihilating the enemy is indeed the best course of action." Orochimaru also acknowledged that Shiyu's approach was extremely correct; in times of war, ruthlessly and thoroughly annihilating the enemy is the best course of action.
"If it were a war that affected the entire Shinobi World, I think, given Lord Orochimaru's style, you would certainly employ ingenious strategies aimed at annihilating the enemy. After all, you are the most risk-taking of the Sannin."
"At this critical moment, holding firm is certainly reasonable, but who can guarantee that this battle isn't the prelude to the Third Shinobi World War? If we don't aim to annihilate the enemy from the outset, we'll lose the initiative!"
"Precisely because the other party is a cunning elder and advisor of Sunagakure, we should spare no effort to kill him! This is war!" Shiyu appeared extremely cold-blooded and ruthless.
Orochimaru and the rest of the main force were all deeply impressed by Shiyu's words.
Orochimaru didn't know what to say; he was just constantly shocked by the person in front of him.
"Alright, since that's the case! Let's teach Sunagakure a painful lesson!" Orochimaru unusually extended his hand and said something quite unusual, making Shiyu somewhat unable to believe that this was Orochimaru. However, Orochimaru's behavior indicated that he completely agreed with and respected Shiyu's choice.
Shiyu naturally extended her hand.
"Let's go!" Orochimaru led the main force of Konoha Ninja to a position not far from one end of the Land of Rivers valley near Konoha.
Shiyu, through his observational eyes, clearly saw the Explosive Tag buried below the canyon. His Shadow Clone was also in position, perfectly hidden, but deliberately revealed some clues.
"Disruption forces, use Water Release: Mist Technique!" Orochimaru commanded.
"Smart!" Shiyu also praised.
"Why?" Nao and the others were also confused.
Kakuzu then explained, "By using the Kirigakure, we can interfere with the sensory abilities of those Sunagakure ninjas. This will also alert the enemy, making their weaknesses easily visible, and thus, they will easily fall into our trap."
"As expected of Lord Sannin, one of the Lord Orochimaru!" Hizashi exclaimed in praise.
"Start splitting up now!" Orochimaru then divided a portion of the main force into another team, these men were to flank the Sunagakure from behind and launch a surprise attack.
"Our Konoha raiding squad! We're moving out too!" Shiyu commanded.
"Good luck, Shiyu!" Orochimaru and Shiyu nodded.
Following that, Shiyu and his group of five also followed this army, circled around to the north, and then crossed the canyon of the Land of Rivers to reach the western part of the Land of Rivers, but a problem arose along the way.
"Well... because the range of the Mist Technique is too large, my sensory abilities can no longer detect the enemy. In that case, we might miss a good opportunity to outflank them," the sensory ninja said.
"I'll go! Byakugan!" Kurenai used her Byakugan to see the situation several kilometers away. Although the fog was very thick, Kurenai was able to get a general idea of what was happening.
"Besides the Byakugan, there's this method too." Kakashi Nao bit his finger. "Summoning Technique!"
A group of Ninja Dog kept by the Hatake Clan appeared at the spot.
"Smell where the Sunagakure are?" Nao asked.
One of the Ninja Dog quickly pointed to the two o'clock position with its paw, which was quite amusing.
Seeing this, Hizashi and Shiyu smiled; everyone had really grown a lot.
"It seems the enemy has reached the River Gorge. You all wait for the Explosive Tag signal from behind! Then attack the enemy fiercely! This battle will be won!" Shiyu and the others left behind Ninja Dog to ensure they could guide their direction.
"Our Surprise Attack Unit will bypass the Sunagakure forces and head straight for the Sunagakure's headquarters!" Shiyu said.
Shiyu and his group of five headed west. Although they bypassed the Sunagakure ninja forces, none of them knew the exact location of the Sunagakure headquarters.
"The location of the Sunagakure's headquarters is now in my hands!" With a single thought, Shiyu activated his Scouting Eye. Everything within a radius of tens of kilometers was under Shiyu's control. By focusing the range of his Scouting Eye into a single line, Shiyu was able to observe locations hundreds of kilometers away.
"So that's where it is!"