Bait Plan

Among the Five Great Nations, Kumogakure had the greatest ambitions. At every moment, it was challenging Konoha's dominant position.

The main reason was that Konoha had repeatedly shown restraint over the years, making the other side increasingly aware of Konoha's weakness.

After the Uchiha massacre, they had become increasingly restless. They even openly massed troops along the border.

Konoha had responded as well, mobilizing large numbers of forces to reinforce the front lines. The two sides had already been locked in a standoff for some time.

Kumogakure was likely weighing the strength of both sides and considering whether to go to war.

The two sides had been entangled along the border for several months. In the end, Kumogakure finally showed clear signs of preparing for war.

Aoba did not know what this battle was really about. Perhaps his butterfly effect had played a part as well.

In the original story, this conflict had not developed into a war between ninja villages. But now, that was not necessarily the case. Konoha was simply too weak at present. Whether war broke out depended entirely on Kumogakure's decision.

"Aoba Kamikawa, you have fought Kumogakure ninja at the border many times and have extensive experience. This time, you are appointed captain of the supply convoy. Leave for the front immediately and deliver a batch of supplies."

"Yes." Aoba accepted the mission without hesitation, but he was already thinking it over.

Transporting supplies was the most important part of logistics. Ninja were highly agile by nature, so ambushes along the way were far too common.

During the Third Shinobi World War, the Fourth Hokage had relied on the Flying Thunder God to split his forces into small units and strike enemy rear lines everywhere, ultimately dragging down Iwagakure and Kumogakure and winning the war.

In a sense, the Fourth Hokage had practically been Konoha's real-life cheat code. If he had not died, even after the Uchiha massacre, Kumogakure would never have dared to start a war so lightly.

Minato Namikaze alone had been enough to deter the entire Shinobi World of that era.

Military operations naturally demanded speed. The supply convoy was prepared that very day. By nightfall, Aoba had already led the team out of Konoha.

There were thirty people in the convoy altogether, carrying a large number of sealing scrolls. This was unavoidable for supply transport in the Shinobi World. Ordinary methods were too slow, and the targets were far too conspicuous. In the face of enemy attacks, they would be nearly impossible to defend.

The moment Aoba saw his team, he sensed something was wrong. This team was far too weak.

The entire team had only one Jonin—himself—and one Special Jonin, Anko. The rest were Chunin and Genin. Moreover, every ninja in the group was a civilian ninja. There were almost no ninja from great clans such as the Ino-Shika-Cho or the Hyuga family.

This lineup was far too obvious. Their group was one hundred percent bait.

"Hey, Aoba. You've been back for so long, yet you never asked us to get together. What, you went away for a few years and stopped recognizing your old friends?"

Anko was as carefree as ever, eating dango while chatting with Aoba.

Aoba had been on good terms with Anko before. She was Orochimaru's disciple, while he had been Orochimaru's assistant, so they had met quite often.

But after Aoba had been purged, they had never met again. Although Anko had remained in the village, she had effectively been sidelined as well.

In the original story, she would not become an examiner for the Chunin Ninja Exams until several years later. But during that exam, Konoha had already sensed that something was wrong. Whether appointing Anko as an examiner had been a promotion or making her take the blame was hard to say.

The reason Aoba had not reconnected with Anko after returning was that he knew she was Orochimaru's resurrection vessel. His relationship with Orochimaru was too complicated, and instinctively, he did not want to get close to her.

Yet unexpectedly, they had been assigned together for this mission. Aoba even had the feeling that Konoha intended to kill two birds with one stone.

Using them as bait would eliminate two potential threats while letting them serve one final purpose. This method had Pot Kage Danzo written all over it.

All he could say was that the title Pot Kage had not been given wrongly. Aoba had originally thought that Danzo would no longer pay attention to him. Yet he had immediately arranged for him to go die.

That was right. In Aoba's eyes, if they were bait, then this convoy was clearly being sent to its death. Kumogakure was not some half-baked Sunagakure.

Their current strength was actually on par with Konoha's, perhaps even superior. And those brutes from Kumogakure always struck with overwhelming force.

If this team truly was bait, there was almost no chance of survival.

"Anko, haven't you noticed that our team's composition is a little too weak? Thirty people, and only the two of us have Jonin-level combat strength."

"What's wrong with that? We're still in the Land of Fire. Could Kumogakure really penetrate deep into the Land of Fire and intercept our convoy?"

Anko's words made perfect sense. But Aoba knew that, first of all, national borders meant nothing to those bandits from Kumogakure.

In his previous life, many people had said that Kumogakure was extremely united internally and that it would be a good place to defect to.

But after living in this world, one would discover a problem. Kumogakure was the most evil ninja village in the world.

Those beasts went wherever they pleased across every nation on the continent. There had originally been quite a few small ninja villages and ninja clans around Kumogakure. Now, all of them had either been annexed or completely wiped out.

Over the years, in order to catch up to Konoha, they had collected all kinds of secret techniques and Kekkei Genkai everywhere. To that end, they had slaughtered an unknown number of small ninja villages and ninja clans.

Yet most people in the Shinobi World did not even dare fart about it. Because if anyone dared to voice even a single objection, the Raikage might show up at their home the next day to kill them.

Before the Third Shinobi World War, they had dared to enter Konoha and abduct Kushina. Konoha was no small ninja village; at that time, it had still been the strongest among the Five Great Nations. Yet in their eyes, they could come whenever they wanted.

Most dangerously, Kumogakure's indoctrination was even harsher than Konoha's. Those sent to Konoha on missions were all utterly unscrupulous, willing to use any means necessary. Failure meant death.

They would rather use their lives just to disgust Konoha.

After the Third Shinobi World War, they had clearly been the defeated side. Yet their delegation had dared to charge straight into the Hyuga family and seize Hinata, the little princess of the Hyuga family.

When they failed, they immediately turned around and accused Konoha instead.

Kumogakure's entire style gave Aoba a powerful sense of militarism.

A ninja village like that was itself the source of chaos in the Shinobi World. They needed no reason, and they could not even be bothered to make excuses. As long as they could beat you, they would want your life the moment they saw you.

That was why Aoba had slaughtered so freely at the border back then. Not a single Kumogakure ninja who fell into his hands had been left alive.

For that very reason, he and Kumogakure had formed a blood feud. All he could say was that making him bait had been a stroke of genius from Danzo's strategic perspective.

But as far as Aoba was concerned, there was only one thing he wanted to say now: What the hell.