The Sneaky Streamer

Konoha, Anbu headquarters.

A sinister-looking man sat in a dim room. His most striking feature was that he had only one visible eye.

His other eye was completely wrapped in white bandages.

He looked deeply unsettling.

This man was none other than the leader of Konoha's Anbu, Shimura Danzō.

"So the village at war with Kusagakure is that Hidden Jun Village that recently sprang up?" Danzo asked slowly, his gaze sweeping over the squad captain before him.

Konoha's Anbu was divided into four squads, each with its own captain.

Among them, Shimura Danzō had established a new squad: Root.

He personally led this organization.

Its first duty was gathering intelligence, just like the regular Anbu. Its second was carrying out missions that could never see the light of day.

Root handled many missions and problems that would tarnish Konoha's public image.

"Yes. According to our latest intelligence, the two shinobi villages have already exchanged fire."

"Kusagakure seems to have suffered considerable losses..."

The squad captain, dressed in a tight black uniform and a white mask, delivered the report.

"Hmph. One dead Jonin. How does that count as considerable losses?" Shimura Danzō snorted, cutting the captain off.

"Then, in your opinion, is there anything we need to do?"

The squad captain asked cautiously.

Shimura Danzō slowly raised his half-lidded eye and looked out the window.

After a long pause, he tapped his fingers against the desk.

He said slowly, "This isn't the first time we've investigated Hidden Jun Village. It's nothing more than a newly established shinobi village."

"It has no foundation whatsoever, yet it dares go to war with Kusagakure."

"It's practically courting death."

"As for Konoha's stance on this war, we need only watch."

"There's no need to intervene."

"Hidden Jun Village will undoubtedly lose. The only uncertainty is how long it can hold out."

Shimura Danzō spoke with absolute confidence.

He also ordered Konoha's Anbu to continue observing.

Meanwhile.

The Anbu of the other Three Great Shinobi Villages also received intelligence from the front lines.

Like Shimura Danzō, the Anbu leaders of the Three Great Shinobi Villages...

All chose to watch from the sidelines.

They would neither participate nor help either side.

After all, offending Kusagakure for a newly established shinobi village like Junying Village...

Even an idiot could tell it wasn't worth it.

Besides, although the major shinobi villages fought constantly, they still maintained peace on the surface.

If this incident shattered that existing peace...

It might even trigger a war across the shinobi world.

That certainly wouldn't be worth it.

The leaders of the shinobi villages weren't fools.

[Ding! A player has completed an exploration mission. Hidden Jun Village's coverage area has increased.]

[Ding! A player has completed an exploration mission. Hidden Jun Village's coverage area has increased...]

[Ding! Junying Village's coverage area has increased.]

As a dozen or so players explored...

The existing map expanded several times over.

Under the game's rules, Junying Village's map would expand as players freely explored unknown areas.

This would also increase Junying Village's coverage area.

Originally, Kusagakure and Hidden Jun Village...

Hadn't been all that far apart.

Now, as the villages' territories expanded, it wouldn't be long before their borders met.

In an uninhabited forest.

A squad of shinobi raced through the trees.

They wore gray uniforms, and the forehead protectors they wore clearly identified them.

They were a shinobi squad sent by Kusagakure.

Their destination was Hidden Jun Village, not far away.

As for their objective, that went without saying.

At the same time, almost every shinobi in Junying Village had turned out.

They formed squads and headed toward the other side of the forest to explore.

Everyone was fully armed and on high alert.

Dai Xiaomei was naturally among them. She had formed a four-person squad with three other girls from the village.

"Dear viewers, if you like your streamer, remember to hit that free follow button!"

"I've really gone to a lot of trouble to bring you this treat."

As she spoke, Dai Xiaomei turned the camera toward her three teammates.

All three girls had top-tier looks and figures.

Paired with their sharp shinobi uniforms...

The viewers in her stream immediately started making a ruckus.

"Sun Wu, sophomore at Lincheng University in Guang Province, firing under my real name..."

"I, XXX, am firing under my real name."

"..."

For a moment, a flood of filthy, provocative comments filled the chat.

Sure enough, no matter the occasion, the dirty-minded crowd never failed to show up.

"You filthy old perverts! Mods, mute everyone who just posted 'firing,'" Dai Xiaomei hurriedly said.

If she didn't slam on the brakes now, there was no telling what outrageously dirty things these viewers might say next.

She didn't want her perfectly good stream getting shut down again.

And so, after a large wave of dirty-minded viewers had their accounts muted...

The chat finally returned to something resembling normal.

At last, someone began paying attention to the game itself.

"These graphics are way too realistic! Where can I download it? I want to play too."

"Pfft. The person above must be new. If closed beta slots were available, do you think you'd get one?"

"Where would you even find a closed beta slot now? We're only watching the streamer because we have no choice."

"Anyway, she's the only streamer with a closed beta slot right now. Are you watching or not?"

"..."

Dai Xiaomei quickly skimmed the chat.

Then she picked out a few interesting comments and answered them.

Meanwhile, her shinobi squad had already ventured deep into the forest.

Farther ahead, visibility was extremely limited.

Trees and vines were everywhere.

A faint mist hung in the air as well.

Suddenly, at that moment...

A series of explosions rang out nearby.

Dai Xiaomei looked up in surprise.

Then she explained to her viewers:

"That's another shinobi squad. Looks like they've run into shinobi from Kusagakure."

"They're fighting right now."

"Fire Release: Flame Pillar!"

"Grass Release: Grass Blade!"

"..."

The explosions of Ninjutsu rang out without pause.

Dai Xiaomei and her teammates slowly approached the source of the noise.

"Dear viewers, today I'll let you take a look at the C-Rank Ninjutsu I just learned."

The corners of Dai Xiaomei's mouth curled upward as she led her three teammates.

The four crept stealthily toward the fighting.

They avoided making a sound whenever possible.

As a seasoned sneak, how could she pass up this once-in-a-lifetime chance for an ambush?

At that moment, the chat began scrolling wildly.

"Whoa, the streamer's going full sneak mode. Three seconds of silence for those Kusagakure shinobi."

"Hahaha, we finally get to see real combat! Those two whole days I spent camping in this stream weren't wasted."

"Same here. I've been watching for two days too. What else can I do? I couldn't get a closed beta slot..."