The Eve of Infiltration

[Land of Rice Fields suddenly reveals a hidden ninja village—the founder is none other than the legendary Orochimaru! The surrounding minor nations have submitted and offered tribute, begging only that the mad scientist doesn't come knocking.]

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[The latest discovery in the ninja world: through the power of science, taijutsu can be raised to the next level. It doesn't cost 38,000, it only costs—]

[Breaking news, watch now! A string of robberies has recently occurred across various regions. Multiple daimyo and generals have been killed, suspected to be the work of rogue ninja. The leaders of every nation have voted on the matter—security precautions must be strengthened to safeguard both people and livestock. Google Search to read.]

[A certain brothel was investigated and penalized for keeping forty black goats as substitutes. The result was allegedly caused by customer complaints. Various injuries had previously occurred at the establishment, and the goats were even involved in obscene incidents. Our station's ninja reporters will continue bringing you further coverage.]

[The most astonishing investment in the ramen industry—Ichiraku Ramen Shop has launched a frenzied franchise expansion throughout the Land of Fire, with plans to establish over fifty branches. This year's projected profit is expected to reach sixty million. It is said that a highly mysterious financier is backing the venture. Let's turn our cameras to an interview with Uncle Ichiraku and see how he rose again to create such a vast ramen empire.]

All sorts of breaking news kept reaching Itachi's group.

It seemed it wasn't just their intelligence reports. Even the general public had been broadly informed. It looked like that guy really was planning something big.

Itachi's group swiftly arrived near the Land of Rice Fields. From time to time, they could sense that the country's defenses had indeed become extremely tight.

After all, the Five Great Nations had always exercised restraint when it came to the territories of these smaller countries, using them as buffer zones between themselves.

Those places were poor and sparsely populated. Taking them over didn't mean they'd become assets that constantly laid golden eggs. Where could such a good deal possibly exist? They couldn't provide enough wealth to be worth exploiting, yet they required the occupiers to take on the duty of defense. Stretching one's battle lines was, to a certain extent, simply idiotic.

It was a losing business. At the end of the day, ninja who took missions were still businessmen.

Besides, those places were territories fought over by wandering ninja. The capable took them, and it was better to leave such scraps for the wild dogs to fight over.

If they stepped into the muck themselves, they might end up splattered with dirty water.

It would only make them a laughingstock.

[4 Jonin]

Itachi was slightly stunned by the information he received. Was this really the extent of a country's national defense?

Still, it wasn't bad. A chunin could already serve as a squad captain and lead others on lower-ranked missions, while a jonin could create their own chakra domain on level ground. They were powerhouses capable of founding a school of their own.

Years of warfare had reduced this scorched land's productivity to the point where it could only support so many supplies and personnel. Wanting to raise even more jonin to serve them was nothing more than a fool's dream.

"Once we enter this area, everyone needs to restrain themselves. Don't even think about hot springs. And whenever we eat out, we need to use the Transformation Technique so we don't draw too much suspicion with unfamiliar faces and expose ourselves."

Kakashi didn't forget to remind them before the mission.

The Anbu members beside him nodded as well. Their primary mission on this trip was to assassinate the city's lord. Those daimyo had established a ninja village without the consent of the Five Great Nations, trying to raise a tiger that would eventually threaten them.

That was courting death.

If they weren't executed, it would be impossible to uphold their nation's prestige.

Then, after using the chaos to throw the entire country into disorder, they would lure out Orochimaru, that great snake.

They didn't believe that snake could endure such a move and simply watch others take out his precious financial backer.

And such dirty work had always been carried out by Anbu ninja who lived in the shadows.

"Get the hell out of the way! You lowborn trash, you've got some nerve! Move!"

Suddenly, shouting rang out from the street. A group of samurai on fast horses galloped wildly through the road, and the leaders seemed to be carrying some extremely important military intelligence.

Their fine clothes and spirited mounts tore through the bustling market, kicking up clouds of dust and cries of alarm. The citizens fled in panic, scrambling away. Many merchants didn't even have time to gather their stalls before the racing horses smashed through them, sending goods rolling everywhere.

To those nobles, ordinary people were nothing but livestock-like property, tools for their amusement.

They would never feel any strange sense of guilt.

"Waah!"

A swaddled infant had been left in the middle of the road. In the chaos, everyone was too busy looking after themselves to notice.

At this rate, beneath the trampling hooves, the child would surely be crushed into a bloody mess.

"Damn it."

Itachi gritted his teeth slightly and wanted to step forward, but Kakashi suddenly grabbed his shoulder from behind.

There was an icy warning in his eyes.

"Don't expose your identity over something like this. These children aren't worth it."

Itachi frowned slightly. That tiny delay had already cost them the best chance to rescue the child.

That wailing infant would likely spill blood on the spot.

The sight of flesh and blood flying everywhere was destined to become a nightmare for many people nearby for days to come.

"Stop!"

An enormously fat sumo wrestler charged out. His body weighed over three hundred pounds, yet he instantly blocked the mounted group.

With one hand, he seized the head of a galloping horse, then violently slammed it down. Horse and rider were hurled to the ground by his tremendous strength. The horses' cries and the samurai's howls immediately filled the mounted samurai with terror.

What terrifying strength.

"Good!"

Itachi's group couldn't help but cheer. They hadn't expected to find such an extraordinary, towering man in a place like this.

He truly didn't disgrace the name of manhood.

"Bastard!"

The mustached samurai staggered to his feet in fury. As a favored and accomplished general under the daimyo, when had he ever suffered such humiliation? But in the next instant, that mountain of flesh stepped forward, his massive body blocking out the sky before them.

"You samurai are going too far. Riding through a crowded market is a capital crime. Don't you know the order issued by the ruler?"

The strongman stood with his hands behind his back, utterly unafraid of the glaring samurai.

Behind him stood a man in splendid clothes and a golden robe. His complexion was fair and pampered, and his face carried an imposing authority without the need for anger.

At a glance, he was clearly someone destined for greatness, a man with dragons and tigers above his head and infinity upon his shoulders.

"A capital crime? The law isn't something lowborn trash like you can use whenever you please. Punishment does not extend to officials. For an idiot like you, once I kill you, there won't be anyone left to report it."

The leading samurai drew the long sword at his waist, his expression savage. He hadn't noticed the man in the golden robe behind him. As for someone dressed in coarse hemp clothing, he assumed the man was merely acting on impulse.

People who loved meddling in others' business like this were always easy to leave dead in the wilderness.

Looking at the wobbling fat on that body, he had already thought of an excuse to get rid of the man. He could simply claim he was a spy from another country. Killing innocents for merit wasn't exactly something they were doing for the first time.

He might even earn a handsome reward.

"How dare you stir up trouble on Lord Taisui's head."

"Are you tired of living?"

"People who aren't afraid of death need to be taught a proper lesson, or they'll be just as arrogant in their next life."

"Heh heh, remember your master's face. Don't die without knowing what crime you committed."

The naked killing intent sent the surrounding onlookers scattering in every direction. These dozen or so samurai all came from prominent local families, their relatives spread throughout every profession and walk of life. So what if they committed crimes?

After all, this country had been conquered by them.

"Hmph."

Itachi and the others didn't flee with the crowd. Instead, they stood conspicuously amid the flow of people, watching the show. In the distance, they noticed someone else as well.

A very effeminate man stood there watching everything unfold, wearing an amused expression as though he were enjoying an artistic stage play.

"I didn't expect you to be here too."

Orochimaru's effeminate face emerged amid the crowd. His voice, like that of a venomous snake, drifted over slowly. The two groups faced each other like swordsmen meeting on a narrow path amid turbulent currents, and in an instant, the atmosphere became taut with drawn blades.