Off to the Battlefield

Danzo was right. Monkey, what do you think?

There was no time to waste. They could only spare part of their forces to guard against sneak attacks from the two major ninja villages. They could only hope the main battle would end quickly. Sarutobi had no other options now. The battlefield changed in an instant—who could keep everything under control?

After another half day of heated discussion, everyone was assigned a mission. Tianqi and Sarutobi would lead Konoha's vanguard and stop the Cloud Ninja from attacking.

"I'm giving every squad a day to prepare. We leave on time the day after tomorrow."

Early that morning, Tianqi slung his Tang Dao over his back and assembled at Konoha's gates. He had exchanged for the Tang Dao through the system when he was promoted to Jonin. It had cost him a full five thousand Points.

Looking at Sarutobi at the head of the group, Tianqi saw that his usual lecherous expression was gone. Now he looked stern, giving off an air of complete seriousness.

"The whole force, move out!"

Amid the villagers' farewells, Sarutobi's vanguard and the surprise-attack force led by Danzo left Konoha. The main force would set out half a day later.

After a day's march, the force reached the border of the Land of Fire. They moved quickly through the Land of Fire, and after a short rest, entered the Land of Iron.

The Land of Iron was a narrow country where it snowed all year round. It had no ninja, only samurai, and was considered a neutral nation. But between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, who cared whether it was neutral?

As the link between two great nations, the Land of Iron had naturally become a crucial battleground. Whoever took control of it first would seize the initiative, making it the main battlefield.

Once they entered the Land of Iron, their pace slowed. Sarutobi sent members of the Hyuga Clan out to scout.

At night, the force halted and set up camp. Sarutobi called the squad leaders together to discuss their next mission.

"Lord Sarutobi, I think we should send out squads to hunt down the Cloud Ninja hiding in the Land of Iron. Once they're wiped out, the main force can focus on dealing with the Cloud Ninja's main army," one squad leader said.

"Agreed. I was thinking the same thing. I plan to choose some powerful squads for the mission. Any recommendations?"

"Lord Sarutobi, our squad can go."

"So can ours."

Many squads volunteered.

"All right, all right. I didn't expect so many of you to volunteer. In that case, we'll send ten squads out at dawn tomorrow. I hope you can finish the mission within five days. On the sixth day, we'll meet up with the main force in the center of the Land of Iron for the general assault." No matter whether they had completed their missions, they had to assemble in the center on the sixth day. Sarutobi picked out ten squads as he spoke.

While Tianqi was still watching from the side, the system chimed in.

Ding! Complete the mission assigned by Sarutobi Hiruzen. Points will be awarded based on the number of enemies killed: 1,000 Points for a Genin, 3,000 Points for a Chunin, and 10,000 Points for a Jonin. Kill more than 30 people to receive one chance to upgrade your Sharingan.

If you fail the mission, the system won't kill you. You won't survive the failure anyway.

"Damn system, you really can't stand to see me alive, can you?" Tianqi had been delighted when he heard he could earn Points and upgrade his Sharingan, but at the last part, he started cursing the system in his head.

"Lord Sarutobi, I'd like to join this mission too," Tianqi said just as the meeting was about to break up. He hadn't spoken once before.

Sarutobi stared at him in surprise. "Lord Sarutobi," was it? The brat was being awfully formal.

"Fine. Since you've asked, I'll let you go. But you'll have to go alone. I don't have any extra men to spare."

Tianqi (I didn't want to ask, but the system's reward was just too tempting.)

Tianqi knew this war would last a long time. Of the squads heading out, probably fewer than half would return alive. If he helped them kill even one more enemy, they'd be that much safer—and he'd earn Points too. What was there to lose?

Early the next morning, Tianqi picked a direction and charged off first. He couldn't help it; he was the strongest one among the squads. If he didn't lead the way, the others might end up getting themselves killed.

"Brat, you've finally grown up," Sarutobi said with a teasing laugh as he watched Tianqi charge ahead. He understood exactly why Tianqi had done it.

He couldn't help but sigh. "It's amazing. You turn your back for a moment, and the younger generation can already stand on their own."

As Tianqi walked across the snow-covered ground, he grumbled, "This blasted Land of Iron is covered in snow everywhere. I'm getting sick of looking at it. If it weren't for the Mangekyo, I wouldn't have come out here. I'm freezing even with all these thick clothes on. No wonder this country has no ninja. Who'd want to be a ninja in a place like this?"

After another ten minutes, Tianqi stopped. He sensed four ninja quickly approaching from up ahead. (He'd learned a little Sensory Ninjutsu over the past five years, so it was no surprise.)

"Heh, there aren't any ninja in the Land of Iron, so those four must be Cloud Ninja. Perfect. They can warm me up." Tianqi immediately buried himself in the snow, slowing his Chakra flow and quietly waiting for the enemy to arrive.

A few minutes later, footsteps approached. They moved cautiously.

One ordinary Jonin, one Chunin, and two Genin—a standard four-person squad.

Looks like a Jonin teacher brought a bunch of weak students out for a field trip. Let me teach you that war isn't so simple.

As they passed by him, Tianqi struck at once.

Tianqi leapt out with a Kunai and slashed the throat of one Genin before he could react. He immediately threw the Kunai, and the other Genin got his just deserts too.

Seeing the two Genin taken out, the Chunin and Jonin drew their Kunai and prepared to fight.

"Who are you? How dare you ambush us?"

Hearing the Jonin's question, Tianqi smiled faintly. "I don't know if you Cloud Ninja are pretending to be stupid or actually stupid. Anyone who shows up here has to be from either the Cloud Ninja or Konoha. What do you think?"

"Konoha! Oh no, he might have allies nearby!" The two moved closer together, scanning their surroundings.

Tianqi didn't bother wasting words on the enemy. If they thought he had allies, let them. He charged straight at them.

The Jonin quickly formed Hand Seals. "Lightning Release: Black Panther!" A panther made of lightning charged at Tianqi.

"That's it?" Tianqi swiftly formed Hand Seals with one hand. "Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"

A sharp whirlwind sliced the Jonin's panther in two and swept toward the pair. One jumped left and the other right, dodging the Wind Cutter Technique.

Tianqi pressed his advantage and used the Body Flicker Technique to close in on the Chunin. A Kunai swept across the man's throat, and he got his just deserts too.

Only the Jonin remained. Tianqi activated his Sharingan, intending to use genjutsu. "Genjutsu: Tree Binding Death!"

"The Sharingan? Damn, he's Uchiha!" The Jonin tried to close his eyes, but trees sprouted behind him and bound his body, leaving him unable to move.

Outside the genjutsu, Tianqi saw the Jonin's vacant expression and immobility, then drove a Kunai through his heart.

"H-how is this possible?" The Jonin spat blood, staring at Tianqi in disbelief.

"Say goodbye to this beautiful world." Tianqi yanked the Kunai out of his heart. The Jonin collapsed, getting his just deserts at last.

Tianqi searched the battlefield and continued onward.

Three days passed, and Tianqi had already advanced a long way. Along the way, he'd taken out thirty Cloud Ninja—ten Jonin, with the rest Genin. For one person, killing more than thirty enemies was already a remarkable record.

He could say his mission was a complete success.