Clinging to Powerful Thighs, Farming Experience?

Just as expected, Kirigakure's seven ninja swords fell into Konoha's hands.

A large force of ninja troops arrived by sea and stationed themselves on the island closest to the mainland.

Konoha responded immediately, dispatching a vanguard force of three thousand led by one of the Legendary Sannin, the Cold Lord Orochimaru.

Konoha's eastern coastline was vast, and a force of three thousand could not possibly defend it all.

Orochimaru's approach was simple: he directly constructed a military fortress by the sea, backed against the forest.

His goal was to drive a nail into eastern Land of Fire.

If Kirigakure wanted to bypass this nail and enter Konoha, they could end up being ambushed from behind at any moment.

Therefore, if Kirigakure wanted to penetrate deep into the Land of Fire, they had to pull out this nail first.

Konoha's stance was that if Kirigakure was merely stationing troops as a threat, then three thousand ninja would be enough.

If Kirigakure truly intended to go to war—

The five thousand ninja troops already assembled and awaiting orders within Konoha would immediately reinforce the eastern coast.

Western Land of Fire, Sunagakure battlefield.

Tōka was practicing the Mystical Palm Technique in his tent when a black shadow suddenly appeared at the entrance.

"Genin Tōka, you have new orders." As the voice rang out, a scroll was tossed inside with a whoosh.

Tōka flipped his hand and steadily caught the scroll.

Three days already. Was there finally a mission?

His calm heart stirred with a faint excitement.

Tōka quickly unrolled the scroll. There was only one line of tiny writing.

"Gather outside the northern camp tonight."

No exact time, no exact location?

Tōka's expression darkened slightly.

If he had not recognized that Anbu's voice from earlier, he would have thought this was an enemy trap.

Although he did not know the Anbu's name, Tōka was certain.

That guy was one of the ten-man squad he had encountered amid the stone rain in the forest, alongside the Legendary Sannin.

The one who had asked whether he was male or female!

Since he had confirmed that they were "allies," the question was—

"Should I go or not?" Tōka put away the scroll in his hand.

Night fell like a vast net, slowly drawing the entire sky together from every direction, splashed with the unrestrained ease of ink.

A crescent moon hung like a hook, and cicadas chirped crisply.

A faint breeze swept past, carrying fallen leaves into the distance.

To the west, yellow sand filled the sky with a mournful howl, like a roaring beast or a raging storm.

Tōka traveled light, carrying only a Kunai, several Shuriken, a few Explosive Tags, and a box of Soldier Pills.

After checking his equipment once more and confirming there were no issues—

Tōka flashed upward like an agile ape, leaping onto the treetops and speeding toward the northern camp.

Night patrol ninja came and went along the way. Tōka not only had to get there, but also avoid them.

The lack of a specific time or location made it clear that this was a highly confidential mission that could not be revealed to anyone.

Tōka's tent was located near the rear of the central camp. The disadvantage was that there were rather too many people to avoid.

The advantage was the same: he had a small tent all to himself.

"The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan scouts outward, not inward. I just need to catch the gaps in the guards' movements..."

Tōka avoided two groups of night patrol ninja and stood beneath the shadow of a large tree.

Faint glimmers flickered through his deep black eyes as he calculated his odds of successfully slipping away.

"Perhaps Genjutsu would be a good option."

With a whoosh, Tōka sprang forward and vanished into the darkness once more.

Genjutsu: Bewildering Eye. It acted upon the user, causing them to disappear from the opponent's field of vision for an extremely short time, as if they truly did not exist.

Any fluctuation in chakra flow or excessively large movement would cause the technique to fail.

It could only be used for escape, concealment, and reconnaissance. It had very little use in combat.

Against ninja with powerful sensory abilities or those skilled in Genjutsu, this move would be seen through immediately.

However, the night patrol ninja were only Chunin.

With the moon high overhead, Tōka successfully bypassed the guards and appeared outside the northern camp.

It was not that Konoha Main Camp's defenses were lax, but rather that leaving from within was far easier than infiltrating from outside.

First of all, anyone attempting to sneak in from outside would have to face the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan surveillance.

With such airtight, almost cheat-like defenses, it was basically impossible to get within ten miles of Konoha's camp.

Furthermore, Tōka knew chakra sensing techniques and could determine the positions of the night patrol ninja in advance.

It was the same principle as guarding against a thief within the house.

"Strange. Why isn't there anyone nearby?" Tōka's ears twitched slightly. Everything around him was silent, without the slightest sound.

"Isn't the northern camp right behind me? Why is there no movement at all?"

Tōka narrowed his eyes, wondering where the problem lay.

It was not until he looked up at the night sky that he realized...

"It's too quiet!"

The bright moon hung overhead. Even inside the camp, he could hear cicadas chirping.

Yet there was not a single sound here?

If an impossible scene existed, then there was only one possibility!

He had fallen under Genjutsu!

"Release!" Forming hand seals, Tōka shouted softly.

Sure enough!

The surroundings blurred, then revealed their true appearance.

Three pitch-black figures stood five steps away, arms folded as they stared at Tōka.

"Pretty impressive!"

"A little faster than expected."

"Now that everyone's here, let's get moving."

The leader had silver hair. Despite wearing an animal mask, Tōka recognized him immediately.

Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake!

All four accompanying members wore animal masks. Clearly, aside from Sakumo Hatake, the other two were also Anbu members.

"Catch." One of them wore a dog-faced mask and held out a fox mask.

"Where are we going?" Tōka raised an eyebrow slightly, but still put on the mask.

"Don't ask what you shouldn't. You'll be told when it's time for you to know." Dog-faced man lowered his voice and spoke coldly.

Behind the fox mask, Tōka glanced at him. This guy was the one who had delivered the message earlier.

The other cat-faced man seemed unfamiliar. The Genjutsu trap just now had probably been set by him.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The four leaped up onto the treetops and vanished into the depths after several bounds.

Tōka followed at the rear, studying the people ahead and considering what role he played in the squad.

Sakumo Hatake excelled at swordsmanship and ninjutsu, Cat-faced man used Genjutsu, while Dog-faced man was powerfully built and muscular, likely a taijutsu specialist.

Among the four, aside from Tōka, Sakumo Hatake was undoubtedly Kage-level, while the other two Anbu were a step weaker but still elite jonin.

Tōka did not understand why a mere genin like him had been selected.

Any mission that required Sakumo Hatake to personally move had to be S-rank...

Just as Tōka's thoughts drifted, Sakumo Hatake ahead made a hand signal, and the three quickly landed and hid themselves.

Tōka was a beat slower, earning a low reprimand from Dog-faced man. "Kid, don't space out!"

Whoosh!

Tōka quickly flashed into the shadows of the trees.

Only then did he notice the surrounding environment.

Less than twenty steps to the west lay the sand-filled Land of Wind, while the forest where the three had hidden was already far from Konoha Main Camp.

"Listen. This mission has been classified as S-rank." Sakumo Hatake's low voice sounded.

The four were not far apart, so Sakumo Hatake's voice was just loud enough to be heard.

The howling wind in the distance could easily drown out their quiet conversation.

"However, the target itself isn't difficult." Sakumo Hatake shifted tone and said gravely, "Aside from assassination operations targeting Sunagakure's high command, there is one other person on the assassination list."

As his words fell, Sakumo Hatake flipped his hand, sending three cards flying out.

Tōka's gaze sharpened as he secretly marveled at the speed.

"Sunagakure's Scorch Release user—Pakura. She is only in her teens, yet she possesses the strength of an elite Chunin." Sakumo Hatake began his quiet introduction.

The three also lowered their heads to examine the information in their hands. It was all about Pakura of Scorch Release.

She was merely a cute young girl in her teens, yet Konoha had dispatched the murderous White Fang himself.

That alone showed how seriously Konoha regarded her.

Once a powerful Kekkei Genkai emerged, it would eventually give rise to a powerful Kekkei Genkai clan. Villages were built with major ninja clans as their pillars and civilian ninja as their foundation.

"If you have questions, ask them now." Sakumo Hatake's gaze swept over the three one by one before finally settling on Tōka.

"Why choose me?" Tōka's voice beneath the fox mask was calm, as though any answer would satisfy him.

The mission to assassinate Sunagakure's high command was not difficult. Perhaps that was only the surface mission.

Sakumo Hatake's true mission was Sunagakure's supply lines and causing chaos behind enemy lines.

As for Pakura, the Scorch Release ninja, she was merely an additional target.

Of course, none of that mattered. What Tōka cared about was why he had been chosen.

The members of this squad were all elite jonin, so why bring along a genin deadweight?

After a brief silence, Sakumo Hatake glanced at the other two.

Cat-faced man and Dog-faced man immediately understood. With two whooshes, they left their positions and stood guard nearby, one on each side.

"You should have noticed our squad's composition," Sakumo Hatake said quietly only then.

"A medical ninja serving as support?" Tōka cursed inwardly, unsure whether he should be glad about his ability or call himself unlucky.

"That's right." Sakumo Hatake nodded. "And we'll let you gain some experience while we're at it."

With that, Sakumo Hatake turned and headed west.

Sensing the movement here, the other two quickly drew close.

Behind the fox mask, Tōka's face twitched.

Are you sure this is gaining experience, not feeding me to the enemy? Tōka silently grumbled, adjusted his mask, and closely followed behind the three.

Leaving the forests of the Land of Fire, they entered the Land of Wind.

A suffocating gale immediately rushed into their faces, while the yellow sand whipping through the sky made it impossible to open their eyes.

In the blink of an eye, the White Fang squad vanished into the depths of the sandstorm.

It would be impolite not to return the favor.

Since Kirigakure could dispatch the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to wreak havoc behind Konoha's lines, Konoha could naturally send an elite squad deep into the Land of Wind.

To set a few fires along Sunagakure's supply lines.

The Land of Wind had barren soil, and every year's grain had to be purchased from the Land of Fire.

Now that war had broken out, the demand for food and supplies had risen to an astronomical figure.

Sunagakure had accumulated strength for years, betting everything on attacking the Land of Fire and seizing fertile land.

As long as the White Fang squad destroyed Sunagakure's supplies, even if only a small portion, it would be enough to cripple them.

Against Sunagakure alone, Konoha could afford to drag things out.

But to the east was Kirigakure of the Land of Water, to the northeast was Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning, and to the northwest was Iwagakure of the Land of Earth.

The dispatch of the White Fang squad also revealed Konoha's intentions from the side: they did not want to keep grinding away at Sunagakure.

A sandstorm enveloped the entire world. Within a shattered Valley deep in the yellow sands—

Sunagakure's military outpost had received news that the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had been wiped out in Konoha territory. The news spread through the Sunagakure Shinobi like an eight-magnitude earthquake.

The strength of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist was recognized throughout the Ninja World.

They were undeniably powerful, yet such an elite force had infiltrated the Land of Fire to cause trouble and been completely wiped out!

The news was deeply unsettling. The Land of Wind and the Land of Water did not share a border.

Given the current layout of the continent, direct war between the two was basically impossible.

In other words, for the sake of mutual interests, Kirigakure and Sunagakure could be considered potential allies.

Their allied forces had suffered a setback, and the morale of the Sunagakure Shinobi took a hit as well.

Inside the conference room of Sunagakure's military fortress, several dark figures sat around a round table.

The atmosphere was oppressive and heavy. Outside the window, wind and sand filled the sky, mirroring everyone's mood.

"Konoha's logistical supplies are secured. We simply can't outlast them." Fourth Kazekage Rasa's expression was grim, dark circles hanging beneath his eyes.

The stalemate on the battlefield had kept him from sleeping properly for several nights in a row.

"It's not only Konoha. There's also the daimyo. You all know that." Ebizo narrowed his eyes as his hoarse voice rang out.

At those words, everyone's expressions changed once more.

The Land of Wind's daimyo had never thought much of Sunagakure. If they lost this war, then under the broader situation of the daimyo continually cutting ninja numbers and village funding in the Land of Wind—

Sunagakure's future development was easy to imagine.

"Have you forgotten the losses from the last battle?" Chiyo demanded, her face grim.

To coordinate with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist's surprise attack, they had deployed an elite force of one hundred puppet users!

Yet the entire force had been wiped out. Not a single one returned. It was a crippling blow to Sunagakure!

"Besides, our war supplies are running low." Ebizo took over, deep concern in his voice. "At best, they'll last another three months."

Three months from now, winter would arrive. The climate itself would not affect shinobi much.

But it would affect crop growth, and Sunagakure Shinobi logistics would become even more difficult then.

"Still no movement from the Land of Lightning or the Land of Earth?" Rasa asked through clenched teeth.

"Hmph, they're all the sort who won't act until they see the prey!" Chiyo said coldly. "Ōnoki has long been gathering troops in secret, yet he refuses to take the next step. Clearly, he intends to wait until we and Konoha have fought each other to the bitter end before making his move."

"As for Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning, its intentions remain unclear. It seems to still be watching and waiting."

"Damn it!" Rasa slammed his fist onto the table.

Facing Konoha was like pouring water onto a sponge. No matter how much water they poured in, the other side absorbed it all.

As the foremost of the Five Great Nations, Konoha's reserves had yet to be fully revealed.

If Sunagakure fought Konoha one-on-one, the outcome would undoubtedly be a crushing defeat!

"Send someone to contact Ōnoki at once. Kumogakure as well!" Rasa's face darkened as his hands clenched unnaturally, crackling. (To be continued.)