"This mission won't be any less intense than the last few. This bandit stronghold has no fewer than a thousand people, two-thirds of whom are combat-capable, and there are seven or eight ninja among them. We suspect one of them may be close to special jōnin level, and there are several with chūnin-level strength as well. They are not to be underestimated!" Akamatsu continued in a low voice.
"The mission will begin at night two days from now. Fox, Aka, and I will launch a direct assault on the enemy headquarters. Fox and I will handle those ninja. Aka will be responsible for the others. Qian, guard the mountain's rear escape route and cut off their retreat. Hawk, you'll be responsible for rescuing the spy captured and taken up the mountain by the bandits. Deal with the nearby guards, obtain the secret letter, then regroup with us!"
"Yes, sir," the four answered in low voices.
Immediately after, Akamatsu waved his large hand lightly. The five of them put on their Anbu masks at the same time, and with several whooshes, the entire squad vanished among the shade of the trees, rushing toward their destination.
Time flew by. In the ninja world, after becoming a ninja, the speed at which time passed was sometimes something ninja did not feel at all.
Because a single mission could possibly take several months, even half a year.
While carrying out a mission, a tense mind would not notice the passage of time, and after the mission ended, the brief rest time would flow away like running water before they threw themselves into the next tense mission.
Within the borders of the Land of Stone, in an area not far from the border, a figure was rapidly advancing.
Suddenly, another figure appeared behind him, dressed