Sniping

"It really is very difficult to infiltrate, and there's no way for more than a hundred of us to sneak in unnoticed, right? But we don't have to infiltrate!" Yueguang Han said, shaking his head. "As long as we can get within 150 meters of their stronghold, that's enough. The method, how we get close, whether we're discovered—it doesn't matter."

"Young Han, we truly can't get this many people in without being noticed. Since discovery is unavoidable, tell us your battle plan first," Yueguang Xingye said after hearing him out.

"The safest method is to attack directly, force them out of the stronghold, and wait for them to come looking for us," Yueguang Han immediately said.

"No." Yueguang Xingye rejected Yueguang Han's tactic without a second thought. What Yueguang Han had said was no different from saying nothing—worse, even. Yueguang Xingye was starting to worry about Yueguang Han's ability to formulate tactics.

Although Yueguang Han's Bloodline Limit was powerful, and Yueguang Xingye truly wanted to nurture him into a powerful ninja capable of standing on his own, this battle plan was not the safest option at all. It was the most dangerous one.

It meant giving up their advantage of hiding in the shadows and exposing their presence outright. This was Sand Shinobi territory, with Sand Shinobi traps everywhere. By the time the Sand Shinobi came looking for them, they would definitely be prepared and extremely cautious. On top of that, the enemy had several Sensory Ninja. Trying to lure them in and ambush them was practically impossible. Worse still, they might end up on the defensive and get surrounded by the Sand Shinobi instead.

The other Jonin also looked at Yueguang Han with disappointment. They were beginning to lose faith in his ability to devise tactics. Luring tactics were certainly useful, but they depended on the situation. For him to say something so close to nonsense... Yueguang Han really was only a twelve-year-old Genin. He possessed a powerful Bloodline Limit, but lacked sufficient experience.

In truth, when the Jonin accepted this mission, Orochimaru had already told them that Yueguang Han would be the main attacker. They also knew he had awakened an extremely powerful Bloodline Limit and had achieved considerable military merit, having killed nearly two hundred enemy ninja. Orochimaru valued Yueguang Han's Bloodline Limit highly and even intended to use it to capture this Sand Shinobi stronghold. This mission had been created for that very reason.

But Yueguang Han's battle plan still disappointed them greatly. He had actually called it the safest method.

Seeing everyone's expressions, Yueguang Han added, "We don't necessarily need to get close to their stronghold to take it. As long as we kill their ninja, it amounts to taking the stronghold. And to hold this place, we don't need to remain inside that stronghold. We don't even need to stay in this valley. The core of our mission has always been to stop the Sand Shinobi from passing through here. If we focus on that objective, we may not even need to capture the stronghold."

"That's true," Yueguang Xingye said with a nod. "But I do not agree with your plan. You haven't properly considered the current circumstances and terrain."

"My battle plan is simple. Since we can't infiltrate to within 150 meters of their stronghold, we attack directly," Yueguang Han insisted. His right hand rose and transformed into a Barrett, which he braced against a nearby tree. His left hand supported his right shoulder, and he spread his feet into a stance ready to withstand the recoil. This posture ensured precise long-range sniping. (The Tech Template came with the corresponding mastery skills.)

"Attack directly? Wait, Young Han. The Sand Shinobi stronghold at the foot of the mountain is already more than seven hundred meters away. That's far too far, and your plan simply isn't feasible. Let's discuss the tactics first. You only need to follow our arrangements." Seeing Yueguang Han preparing to act, Yueguang Xingye hurriedly pressed a hand onto his shoulder to stop him. A direct attack was the worst possible tactic—it could barely even be called a tactic. It was recklessness. And at such a distance, it would only alert the enemy.

"Young Han, your plan simply won't work. Let us Jonin discuss the battle plan. Once we've settled it, you can follow our arrangements," Yueguang Xingye said.

The other Jonin nodded in agreement. They had already excluded Yueguang Han from the discussion.

"But what if I can hit them from this distance and kill them?" Yueguang Han said confidently amid their doubts. "At seven hundred meters, I'll have an even easier time landing the shot. Once they get within 150 meters, I have ways to deal with them too. You simply don't understand my abilities."

With that, Yueguang Han fired.

Bang! A thunderous gunshot rang through the forest, echoing between the trees. A flash of crimson light vanished in an instant. The .50-caliber bullet tore through the air, streaking above the treetops at 930 meters per second toward the Sand Shinobi stronghold.

"Uh..."

Everyone froze at the deafening gunshot. Quite a few of them were startled by the sudden blast. Several Jonin glared furiously at Yueguang Han.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Before the Jonin could say anything, four more thunderous shots rang out in rapid succession.

"Maki, you're practicing incorrectly. Let me teach you again."

Inside the Sand Shinobi stronghold in the valley, Sand Shinobi Jonin Qian Ce smiled at the three disciples diligently training in ninjutsu. He spoke to the boy on the far right, whose face was half-covered by white cloth. This was his most gifted and hardworking disciple.

"Alright, tea—" Hearing that his teacher was going to teach him again, the young man practicing a new ninjutsu immediately stopped and looked at his teacher excitedly.

Splat!

"Tea—" Before he could finish speaking, his teacher's head suddenly seemed to be smashed apart by something. Chunks of flesh, blood, and brain matter sprayed everywhere, even splattering across the white cloth covering his face.

Splat! Before he could recover from his teacher's death, one of the companions beside him, who had been looking at him enviously, suddenly had a fist-sized bloody hole blasted through his chest. His entire body was sent flying.

Splat! Less than a second later, his other companion's arm exploded off at the shoulder, the severed limb flying away.

"Ah!" A shrill scream rang through the camp. The boy with the severed arm clutched at the stump, howling in agony.

Bang! Only then did the first gunshot finally reach the Sand Shinobi stronghold, causing every Sand Shinobi inside to stop what they were doing.

"Enemy attack...!" A Sand Shinobi who had witnessed the deaths of Maki's companions and teacher screamed hoarsely from behind him.

Bang! Splat! Before the Sand Shinobi's shout had faded, the second gunshot reached the stronghold. The fifth bullet pierced through his throat, cutting off his voice abruptly.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Three more gunshots then reached the stronghold in succession.

"Enemy attack!"

Only then did shouts from the Sand Shinobi begin to erupt throughout the entire stronghold. The Sand Shinobi quickly turned toward the direction of the gunfire, but the distance was too great for them to see anything.

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