The atmosphere in the Hokage's Office was taut as a fully drawn bowstring. Ling, Kakashi, Yamato, and Inoichi Yamanaka, captain of the Anbu Interrogation Squad, had gathered there. The coordinates Ling brought were like a boulder hurled into a still lake.
"Silent Canyon..." Tsunade tapped her knuckles against the desk, her gaze sweeping over the marked stretch of treacherous terrain along the Fire-Grass Border. "The terrain is complicated, poisonous miasma hangs over it year-round, and its magnetic field is chaotic. Even the best sensory ninja would be affected. It really is an ideal place for a secret base."
"Based on Ling's intelligence and the fragments Inoichi extracted from the previous prisoner's memories, the Crow's Nest is most likely hidden there," Kakashi added. "They can conduct mental surveillance and attacks over long distances. We have to strike fast and destroy it before they can warn the mastermind."
"Your objective is to locate and destroy the Crow's Nest, and capture the Guide alive or recover the relevant technical documents if possible." Tsunade delivered her final decision. "Kakashi, you'll lead a special operations team consisting of Ling, Yamato, Neji Hyuga, and... Might Guy. Guy's taijutsu and speed could prove especially effective in difficult terrain, and he's highly resistant to genjutsu and mental attacks."
She's bringing Guy-sensei along? Ling raised an eyebrow, but quickly understood Tsunade's reasoning. Against unknown methods of mental attack, Guy's utterly single-minded dedication to taijutsu was indeed a trump card.
"Yes!" Kakashi accepted the order.
"Mission classification: S-rank, top secret. You leave in one hour!" Tsunade wasted no time.
An hour later, the five-man team assembled at the Konoha Gate. Kakashi wore his usual laid-back attire, Ling's presence was quiet and steady, Yamato looked composed and dependable, and Neji had already activated his Byakugan, scanning their surroundings warily. Might Guy,