Konoha Ninja on the Run

Meanwhile, the ninjas on the Konoha border watched as the Kirigakure Ninja Water Release to clear a path, submerging most of the Explosive Tag. Only a small portion of the Explosive Tag detonated, causing significant casualties among the vanguard and greatly slowing down the Mist Ninja's offensive.

Hayakumo Sōma it was already dawn, and the Kirigakure Ninja were still attacking them. He shouted, "Continue to retreat. If we really can't hold them off, abandon the mission and return directly to the Land of Fire to reunite with the Fifth Hokage."

Teyano Hisashi threw a few more Shuriken, each covered in Explosive Tag, then shouted at Captain Haya, "Captain, if we go back like this, will we still be able to hold our high positions?"

Upon hearing this Hayakumo Sōma said with a serious expression, "You still want to be a high-ranking official? It's all thanks to the Fifth Hokage's reforms, otherwise we would be missing-nin, what high-ranking officials could we possibly be? Everyone, retreat quickly and abandon the mission."

Upon hearing this, Teyano Hisashi was visibly surprised and bewildered, saying, "But Captain Hayashi, we haven't even finished throwing Explosive Tag. Isn't it too embarrassing to just run away like this?"

Even the border ninjas who were fighting and retreating, upon hearing Captain Zao's words, chimed in, "Captain, we can hold out a little longer!"

Hearing his subordinates struggling Hayakumo Sōma said with a serious expression, "What are you still guarding for! Can't you see how fierce these Kirigakure Ninja? If you die here, the Hokage will hold the Fifth Hokage accountable."

The ninjas who were throwing Explosive Tag stopped what they were doing upon hearing these words and immediately followed Hayakumo Sōma fleeing.

Seeing that the troops weren't moving fast enough, Hayakumo Sōma shouted, "Throw away all the useless stuff. Set up the Explosive Tag traps at the next location!"

Immediately, a large number of Konoha Ninja began discarding their vests, and some working ninjas even threw away their pots, pans, and other supplies to reduce their weight and increase their movement speed.

The Konoha has now become a village where life is of paramount importance. The Konoha Ninja who undertake missions have successfully lowered their mission completion rate to 57%. That means out of 100 missions, at least 43 will be unsuccessful. Therefore, the mission completion rate of the Konoha Ninja is the lowest in the entire Shinobi World.

However, the survival rate of Konoha Ninja has increased from 67% to 99%. Aside from a few unlucky individuals or those who are stubbornly persistent, virtually no one has perished. The survival rate of Konoha Ninja is the highest in the entire Shinobi World.

Nowadays, when Konoha Ninja undertake missions, most turn back halfway through if the mission seems too difficult, bringing the employer back to Konoha. Then the Mission Department reissues the mission and sends out another Elite Jonin from the village to continue it.

Then the village's Elite Jonin, along with their employers, continued their journey. This back-and-forth continued for many employers for two or three months, with some not leaving Konoha and constantly traveling back and forth through the Land of Fire.

Many employers are unwilling to post missions in Konoha, as the back-and-forth travel is too time-consuming. However, they have no choice, as Konoha holds a monopoly in the Land of Fire and doesn't allow other ninja villages to conduct business Land of Fire. These employers have no option but to wait for Konoha to send Elite Jonin.

This leads to a situation where these employers can't go home without making several trips around the village. During their stay in Konoha, they also spend money Konoha, indirectly boosting the village's economy.

This also presents the wealthy people of the Land of Fire with an opportunity to worsen their situation. If they don't go to Konoha to find ninjas, the bandits of the Land of Fire will definitely rob these rich people. Don't ask, just ask. The bandits are all members of the Konoha Police Force; they'll rob wherever they're told.

All of Hayakumo Sōma. Seeing that his subordinates were running too slowly, he shouted, "Hurry up! Once we've created some distance between ourselves and the Kirigakure Ninja, we can continue setting up the Explosive Tag traps!"

Meanwhile, Obito, hiding in the Kamui Dimension Obito, watched as these Konoha border ninjas began to flee. Those Konoha Ninja were slower started throwing things as they ran, leaving pots and pans scattered all over the ground.

Obito, also feeling disgusted, cursed at the fleeing Konoha Ninja, "These guys! They have absolutely no Will of Fire! They must never work hard; after all these years, their strength hasn't increased at all!"

Meanwhile, the Kirigakure Ninja who were still in pursuit, seeing the Konoha Ninja, immediately started throwing things, and their escape speed increased again. Many Mist ninjas were quite amazed, marveling at how incredibly fast the Konoha Ninja's Body Flicker Technique.

Terumi Mei was also quite surprised, watching the Konoha Ninja flee at such a speed, like cheetahs, covering dozens of meters in just a few seconds.

What amazed the Kirigakure Ninja the most was their leader, Hayakumo Sōma. He had actually integrated the Body Flicker Technique with Wind Release Chakra, so that he could generate whirlwinds around his feet when he fled.

Terumi Mei was also quite impressed and surprised, saying, "These Konoha ninjas are masters of escape. Even we Kirigakure haven't popularized this Body Flicker Technique."

Then, a Kirigakure Ninja reported to Terumi Mei, "No one from Konoha was killed, but our Hidden Mist Village lost more than fifty people."

Upon Terumi Mei was also very surprised, and said with a serious expression, "What! We've been fighting all morning and haven't killed a single person!"

Seeing Terumi Mei, the Kage officer continued, "Yes! Those Konoha Ninja were practically running for their lives on the battlefield. As soon as they realized they were no match for us, they fled. They left pots and pans scattered all over the place, along with maps of the Land of Fire and various folders—they were throwing things away as they ran."

Upon Terumi Mei laughed and said, "It seems that Konoha's strength has weakened. They ran away because they lacked the strength. Konoha was ruined by Uchiha Qingcheng's coup. I heard that Konoha's strongest clan was wiped out by Uchiha Qingcheng, so they dare not fight us and only dare to use Explosive Tag traps against us."

Soon, these Kirigakure Ninja entered the border ninja camp. Along the way, some Mist Shadows were killed by Explosive Tag traps. Many Kirigakure Ninja dared not move around recklessly, or some Elite Jonin used Water Release to cleanse the camp with water cannons.

Terumi Mei's face darkened. She then said seriously, "Everyone, stop chasing. Be careful of the Konoha Ninja's Explosive Tag traps. We've already crossed the border of the Land of Fire; we've completed our mission."