Shuo felt as though he had only closed his eyes for a few minutes before someone shook him awake.
He opened his eyes with a frown to find Obito's face practically screaming that something terrible had happened.
"Shuo-senpai! Wake up! Minato-sensei's calling everyone together!"
Shuo pushed himself upright. His foot still felt slightly sore and numb as it touched the floor, but it was much better than before he had slept.
The sky outside was already growing pale, though true daylight was still some way off.
The atmosphere in the mess hall was even grimmer than before they had gone to sleep.
Minato, Kakashi, the Outpost Leader, and several squad leaders stood in a circle, with a map and several freshly obtained interrogation statements spread out between them.
"Everyone's here."
Seeing Shuo, Obito, and Rin approach, Minato nodded. His expression remained gentle, but his brow had grown more serious. "The situation has changed. According to the prisoners, the attackers last night were only an advance squad, sent to create confusion and probe our defenses."
"Their main force consists of roughly fifteen to twenty people, equipped with heavy weapons and Explosive Tags, led by a mercenary leader whose strength approaches that of a Special Jōnin. They're currently hiding in a valley about ten kilometers to the northeast. They're waiting for a signal from the advance squad. If the signal indicates success-meaning the outpost's defenses have been disrupted or its supplies destroyed-they'll launch a full assault before dawn."
Fifteen to twenty people?
A leader close to Special Jōnin level?
Everyone's expression changed.
Even counting every available fighter, the Seventh Outpost only had about twenty people, who also had to defend the position and guard the prisoners. Against professional mercenaries of that number, casualties would be hard to avoid even with Minato present, and the supplies would very likely be lost.
"Their objective is to completely destroy this shipment of medical supplies and inflict as many casualties as possible, spreading panic along the border."
The Outpost Leader's voice was strained. "We must request reinforcements from the village immediately! But even the nearest support won't arrive until after noon at the earliest!"
"There isn't time."
Minato shook his head, pointing to the valley on the map. "Once they learn that the advance squad has failed, they may change their plans, either attacking immediately or dispersing and withdrawing. Neither outcome favors us. We can't simply wait."
"Minato-sensei, you mean... take the offensive?" Kakashi asked.
"Exactly."
Minato swept his gaze over them. "But not in a head-on fight. We need a precise decapitation and deterrence operation. Before they can react, we'll eliminate their command core and destroy their heavy weapons, stripping them of both the will and the ability to attack."
Take the offensive while outnumbered?
And during the darkest hour before dawn, deep inside unfamiliar enemy territory that might be full of ambushes?
Obito drew in a sharp breath, but a spark of eagerness appeared in his eyes instead.
Rin looked worried.
Kakashi remained calm, waiting for Minato to continue.
Minato turned to Shuo. "Shuo, your sensory abilities and long-range strikes will be crucial to this operation. I need you to serve as our eyes and ranged firepower, providing information on enemy deployments from a safe distance, and delivering precise strikes or interference against key targets at critical moments. Can you do it?"
Everyone's attention settled on Shuo once again.
Shuo rubbed his still-sleepy eyes and yawned.
Take the offensive?
Go behind enemy lines?
Eliminate their command core? That sounded like an absolute pain, with the danger shooting through the roof.
He glanced at the gray sky outside, then at Minato's blue eyes, which said, "I believe in you." Finally, his gaze settled on his still-uncomfortable right foot.
He quickly weighed his options. Refuse? That didn't seem defensible. I was part of the squad, after all, and Minato's tactics really did sound like a way to solve the problem at the lowest cost.
Go? That would definitely be exhausting and dangerous. I might even have to overdraw my reserves again.
Ugh, I'd have to settle this "night-shift" overtime pay properly with Minato-sensei afterward... he grumbled inwardly.
Wearing that classic expression-a blend of helplessness, resignation, and a little "what am I going to do with you people?"-Shuo nodded, his words as drawn-out as ever.
"All right..."
"Since... I'm already here."
"But Minato-sensei, about this mission..."
He paused and looked at Minato with an exceptionally sincere gaze. "Once we get back, can I request... two days of compensatory leave?"
The mess hall fell silent for a moment.
Obito nearly snorted with laughter and hastily covered his mouth.
Rin couldn't help smiling either. Even Kakashi's dead-fish eyes seemed to flash with speechlessness.
Minato froze for a moment, then chuckled and nodded quite seriously. "Yes. Complete the mission successfully, and I'll approve three days of paid leave when we return."
"Deal."
Shuo answered immediately, as though afraid Minato might change his mind.
[Ding! By "bargaining before agreeing" ahead of a high-risk mission, you perfectly reproduced Kizaru's workplace (crossed out) Shinobi World approach of "negotiating terms before starting work." Imitation Points +20!]
"Then here is the plan."
Minato's smile faded as he rapidly assigned their roles. "Kakashi, you and I will lead the assault, eliminating the perimeter sentries and approaching their command core. Obito, Rin, you'll create confusion, draw some of the enemy's attention, and prepare to provide support and emergency medical treatment. Shuo, choose an elevated position with a good view and relative safety. Provide intelligence throughout the operation and launch ranged attacks when opportunities arise."
Minato then explained the signals, withdrawal routes, and contingency plans in detail.
Everyone silently committed them to memory.
The operation began quickly.
The squad's four members-Shuo counted as half-along with two skilled hands temporarily drawn from the outpost who specialized in stealth and traps, formed a compact raiding party. They slipped silently out of the outpost and vanished into the predawn darkness to the northeast.
Shuo didn't follow too closely. Breaking away from the squad, he made his way alone toward a high cliff on the valley's flank that they had identified during planning. It offered an open view over most of the valley, a suitable distance, and an easy retreat.
His stealthy approach went smoothly.
In the extremely complicated predawn lighting, with starlight fading and dawn yet to arrive, his Light Perception actually felt like a fish in water.
The heat signatures of living creatures in the darkness, chakra fluctuations, and even the cold reflections of metal weapons were like stars in the night sky, forming a clear map in his mind.
He skirted several possible hidden sentry positions and silently climbed onto the designated cliff.
A small patch of exposed rock and sparse bushes provided just enough cover.
Lying at the cliff's edge, he gradually made out the scene in the valley below.
The valley was small and shaped like a gourd.
Its narrow entrance had makeshift fortifications and two figures who were clearly sentries.
The interior was more open, with seven or eight scattered tents and several shelters for pack animals camouflaged with branches.
Some wooden crates stood in the central clearing, presumably containing the heavy weapons or Explosive Tags.
Most of the enemy were still resting in their tents, with only a handful moving around or standing watch along the perimeter.
At the deepest end of the valley, two figures with a noticeably steadier presence than the other sentries stood outside a larger, more concealed tent. That was probably the command center.
Shuo quietly reported what he saw through a small communicator Minato had given him beforehand, which transmitted chakra fluctuations in one direction, much like a crude radio.
"Received. We're in position. Begin in thirty seconds, as planned," came Minato's calm voice.
Shuo steadied his breathing and fixed his gaze below.
With his right hand, he took out three specially treated Shuriken coated in matte paint. His left hand rested lightly behind his waist, where he carried several small Light-Energy Markers used to assist with aiming and corrections during his Light-Speed Kick. These were little devices he had devised himself based on the Yata Mirror Hypothesis, allowing finer adjustments to the light projectiles he kicked during the final stretch of their flight.
The seconds ticked by.
At the valley entrance, the two sentries seemed to notice something and peered into the darkness outside.
Now!
Shuo flicked his right wrist. Three Shuriken shot silently through the predawn air, aimed not at the sentries, but at several seemingly insignificant protrusions in the rock face above their heads!
Thud, thud, thud!
The Shuriken struck precisely! Almost simultaneously, several small but intensely dazzling golden flashes erupted from those spots on the rock face!
They were cracks in the rock that Shuo had "marinated" with faint light energy beforehand, producing a blinding effect when struck!
Caught completely off guard, the sentries' vision instantly turned white. They cried out instinctively and covered their eyes.
The enemies inside the valley were alerted, and shouts and commotion came from the tents!
At the very instant that confusion began-
Two figures, one gold and one white-the gleam of Kakashi's blade-burst like phantoms from the shadows on either side of the valley entrance!
Minato's Kunai and Kakashi's short sword became deadly arcs of light, instantly dispatching the two temporarily blinded sentries!
At the same time, on the other side of the valley, an oversized Great Fireball that Obito had poured all his chakra into-with terrible aim-slammed down near the wooden crates at the valley's bottom!
Though it didn't hit them directly, the flames and force of the explosion were terrifying!
Beside him, Rin provided harassing fire with Shuriken and explosive Kunai.
"Enemy attack!!!" The valley erupted into complete chaos! Disheveled mercenaries rushed out of their tents, frantically searching for the enemy.
Minato and Kakashi tore through them like tigers among sheep, using the confusion to eliminate the outer enemies with astonishing efficiency as they rapidly advanced toward the large tent deep in the valley!
Shuo watched calmly from the cliff.
His fingers brushed lightly over several small Light-Energy Markers, activating them one by one and marking several key positions: the large tent's entrance, the area near the heavy weapons, and the routes where the enemy might regroup for a counterattack.
Then he raised his right foot.
His gaze locked onto the large tent.
The tent flap was suddenly thrown open, and a burly man with a scarred face and a fierce presence rushed out, carrying an enormous Ninja Blade. It was the leader!
Seeing the chaos and the rapidly approaching Minato and Kakashi, his eyes flashed viciously. He immediately began forming hand seals, clearly preparing some large-scale ninjutsu!
Now!
Shuo's right foot flicked out again as though kicking a pebble.
This time, however, the golden sphere gathered at his toes was smaller, its color more concentrated, almost blazing white!
And the instant it flew out, it formed a faint resonance with a Light-Energy Marker Shuo had placed beforehand at the valley's bottom, near the large tent!
Whoosh-!
The blazing-white sphere tore through the brightening sky far faster than before, tracing a thin, straight, deadly golden line directly toward the leader!
The leader reacted extremely quickly. Sensing danger the instant the sphere appeared, he immediately broke off his hand seals, threw his body backward, and brought the enormous Ninja Blade across himself to block!
Yet just before the sphere struck the Ninja Blade, its trajectory rose an inch in an extraordinarily strange movement!
As though an invisible hand had gently lifted it!
It was the final fine adjustment Shuo had made to the light path between the sphere and the marker through the Yata Mirror Hypothesis!
The blazing-white sphere skimmed just above the Ninja Blade's edge and, before the leader's horrified eyes, struck the support post of the large tent behind him with pinpoint accuracy!
BOOM-!!!
An explosion even more violent than last night's!
The support post was blasted to pieces, and the entire large tent collapsed with a crash!
Searing light energy and the shock wave hurled the leader and several nearby trusted subordinates through the air!
Although the leader protected his vital areas with his Ninja Blade and chakra and wasn't killed outright, he was left filthy and battered, with significant blast injuries. More importantly, the command center had been destroyed, while the heavy weapons pile, caught by Obito's fireball and Rin's explosive Kunai, began detonating in a chain reaction!
Boom, boom, boom-!
Successive explosions echoed through the valley, flames soaring into the sky!
The mercenaries fell into complete disarray. With their command lost and attacks coming from within and without, their morale collapsed instantly, and they began fleeing in every direction.
Minato and Kakashi seized the opportunity to press their advantage, dispatching several more minor leaders who tried to hold out.
The outcome was decided.
Standing on the cliff, Shuo looked down at the devastated valley and the figures fleeing in every direction, then slowly lowered his right foot. The familiar ache returned to his ankle and instep, though it was milder than last time.
He took out the communicator and reported weakly:
"Command post... blown up."
"Heavy weapons... probably written off too."
"The rest... are running."
After a pause, he added, his voice heavy with exhaustion and a barely perceptible hint of smugness:
"Minato-sensei..."
"My 'overtime pay'... and 'compensatory leave'..."
"Don't forget..."
With that, he switched off the communicator, leaned against the rock behind him, and slowly sat down.
On the horizon, the first true ray of morning light finally pierced the clouds.
Golden sunlight spilled across his face and illuminated the valley below.
Amid the devastation, it proclaimed the victory of another bout of "forced overtime."
And the shining anticipation in a certain lazy ninja's heart for holidays and compensatory leave.
Before you continue