The storm had blown away most of the mist above Blackwater Marsh.
Shattered rocks and churning mud littered the bog.
Qian Ye casually drew the seastone Black Blade at his waist.
Its edge gleamed darkly in the faint daylight.
He spun the blade in a reverse grip, then pointed its tip straight at the Hidden Cloud forces in disarray ahead.
"Seventh Special Guerrilla Corps, all personnel, heed my command."
Qian Ye's chakra-infused voice carried across the entire marsh.
"Fight exactly the way the South District taught you."
"Strip every valuable trinket off them. Each head earns you a bonus of two hundred ryo."
"Double for live captives. Everyone, charge!"
The eight hundred men in black armor behind him had long since grown impatient.
At the promise of money, their eyes lit up with greed.
Uchiha Yan drew the thick-backed greatsword from his back and roared at the top of his lungs.
"Boys, it's time to get rich!"
"Charge with Lord Qian Ye!"
"Anyone too slow to grab a prisoner gets a month cleaning the South District's public toilets!"
Eight hundred burly men clad in Fine Steel Heavy Armor stepped forward in unison.
Their heavy footsteps splashed mud in every direction.
They formed no hand seals and used none of the release techniques ordinary ninja employed.
Their feet hammered the ground at high speed as they activated Geppo's footwork.
Dense trails of afterimages raced across the water.
On the Hidden Cloud side, the deputy commander went pale at the sight of the dark mass bearing down on them.
"Form up! Everyone, form up!"
The deputy commander frantically waved his lightning-infused spear.
"Third and fourth squads, establish a Lightning Release defensive line immediately!"
"Do not let them get anywhere near Lord A and Lord B!"
Over a hundred Hidden Cloud ninja skilled