The Land of Grass lay between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth. Because it was so weak, it served as a sort of "central air conditioner" in this Shinobi World War, maintaining friendly relations with every ninja village. It didn't antagonize anyone, and the other great nations had little interest in attacking such a tiny country.
Lycoris Flower Shore was a field of flowers in the Land of Grass. As far as the eye could see, white and yellow chrysanthemums bloomed in vivid splendor. Only one broad, ocher road cut through the sea of flowers like a blade.
At that moment, several carts laden with supplies rumbled along the road between the flowers. Their wheels occasionally creaked against the ground. Seven well-equipped ninja were stationed around the carts, front, back, and sides. Their Forehead Protectors all bore the same symbol: two mountains, one large and one small, joined together.
It marked them as Iwagakure Ninja.
"Stay alert," the ninja at the front of the convoy called to the other six. His name was Tsuchikage, and he was the leader of the group.
The front line was under heavy pressure, and food was running short. They had to get this shipment to the front safely, without losing a single thing. Tsuchikage called out again, then leaned against a cart and warily surveyed their surroundings.
One of his subordinates came over and spoke in a low voice. "Captain, this flower field is the most dangerous stretch. If anyone's lying in ambush, this is the most likely place."
"Mm." Tsuchikage nodded. Chrysanthemums stretched across the surrounding hills, their petals drifting down in the gentle mountain breeze. The air was filled with their intoxicating fragrance.
Everywhere he looked, flowers covered the ground.
The flowers had grown for years without anyone tending them, and most stood as high as a person's chest. Anyone lying among them would be impossible to spot.
The Iwagakure Ninja on the front lines had been locked in fierce battles with Konoha Ninja. With supplies running low for so long, headquarters had ordered them to deliver provisions to the front.
They were so wary because they feared Konoha Ninja might intercept them along the way.
By now, they had crossed halfway through the flower field. Once they made it out, the rest of the route would be flat and open, making an ambush far less likely.
So if anyone had set one, this was the perfect place.
"Tell everyone to stay sharp. Keep your guard up," Tsuchikage said again. Under normal circumstances, the route for transporting supplies was top-level classified information, so the odds of an ambush were low.
But for some reason, unease was spreading through him.
"Shisui, have you noticed anything unusual?" he asked the reconnaissance ninja in the middle of the convoy.
Shisui shook her head. "No."
Tsuchikage let out a quiet breath and removed his Forehead Protector, looking at the village symbol on it. Then he chuckled. "I've been under too much pressure lately. I'm seeing danger everywhere."
The carts kept moving. Only the wind and the horses' hooves broke the silence. If they were on a sightseeing trip, Lycoris Flower Shore would have been a fine place to visit.
?
His eyes flew open as he finally realized something was wrong.
There was only the wind and the sound of hooves. Nothing else!
It was far too quiet! There should have been plenty of insects chirping in a flower field!
"Everyone, stay alert!" He sprang up and roared.
The next moment, seven or eight figures leaped out of the tranquil flower field. Their faces were hidden behind masks, and their presence was chilling. Midair, they flung a storm of Shuriken and Explosive Tags at the Iwagakure Ninja!
"Enemy attack!" Tsuchikage shouted. His hands flashed through Hand Seals, and with a rumble, a wall rose from the ground, enclosing him and the supplies behind him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Explosive Tags went off one after another. In an instant, the flower field that had looked like a paradise was engulfed in flames.
"I'll take the Jonin. The rest of you deal with the others. Finish this quickly!" ordered the masked man at the head of the group, Shinnosuke. He immediately charged at Tsuchikage alone.
A fireball blasted out and smashed through the Earth Wall.
But Tsuchikage was no pushover. The instant the wall broke, his arm became coated in a thick layer of rock and earth.
Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Technique!
"Anbu!" he roared, and clashed with Shinnosuke. The shock waves from the battle between the two Jonin made it impossible for anyone else to approach.
"Number Seven, take out the reconnaissance ninja," a masked man said in a low voice, then charged at another target himself.
Sora Uchiha answered with a quiet "Mm" and looked down over the battlefield. In only a few moments, fighting had erupted everywhere, and smoke rose in plumes.
His gaze slowly settled on Shisui, the Iwagakure Ninja scout. This kunoichi was his first target since joining the Anbu.
Time rewound to one day earlier.
"Starting today, your code name is Number Seven," Shinnosuke said at the Anbu base.
[ Ding! ]
[ Host detected joining the Anbu. ]
[ First stage of mission complete. ]
[ Reward: Karasu Tengu ]
Sora Uchiha froze for a moment. Only when he heard the system's voice did he realize he had joined the Anbu just like that, with none of the usual procedures. It was unbelievably haphazard.
Karasu Tengu?
His heart pounded wildly. If he remembered correctly, Karasu Tengu was the form Susanoo took in its third stage.
He was so excited he nearly let out a monkey's screech. If he were still at the Anbu base, he would have been itching to summon Karasu Tengu right there and then.
Shinnosuke eyed the Uchiha boy before him with a strange look. The excitement in the boy's eyes didn't escape him. Sora Uchiha's this excited to join the Anbu? That's a good sign. He's devoted to the Anbu. Excellent.
Then he continued, "According to our informants, Iwagakure Ninja will escort a shipment of supplies to the front tomorrow. Our objective is to destroy their convoy."
[ Ding! ]
[ Reminder to host: Karasu Tengu places a heavy strain on the eyes and carries a risk of blindness. Use with caution. ]
Sora felt as if someone had doused a burning flame with a bucket of cold water. The system's warning brought him back to his senses.
He suddenly remembered the last time he had used Uchiha's Glory. The moment his Mangekyō Sharingan appeared, he had felt discomfort in his eyes.
Now he understood. Until he awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, any technique related to the Mangekyō Sharingan would still damage his eyes—even though he hadn't even awakened the Sharingan.
He was so dejected that he didn't even hear Shinnosuke give the mission briefing.
From Shinnosuke's perspective, Sora Uchiha had been excited until he heard the mission, then his expression had turned to disappointment. Shinnosuke's mouth twitched.
He was so excited when he first joined the Anbu, but the moment he heard about a mission, he looked like that. He'll need more training...
And so, today, Sora Uchiha embarked on his first mission.
Beneath the fox mask was a pair of cold eyes.
Shisui's heart skipped a beat. She felt an invisible pressure coming from Sora Uchiha. She took a deep breath and sized him up, trying to reassure herself.
Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Judging by his voice and build, he's probably a kid. I'm a reconnaissance ninja, but I should be able to handle him.
Then she patted her chest, fixed her gaze, and slowly covered her arm in rock and earth, encouraging herself.
"I'll win!"
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