Two days later, at the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up a mission scroll that had been prepared long beforehand and handed it to Lin Ze.
"This is your new mission, S-rank. Secretly infiltrate the Land of Lightning, investigate Kumogakure's troop deployments and logistical supplies, and seize opportunities to sabotage them and disrupt their arrangements. The time limit is two months."
Lin Ze accepted the scroll with a calm expression, but inwardly thought, Just as expected.
The Land of Wind, the Land of Water, the Land of Earth-and now, sure enough, it was the Land of Lightning's turn.
The Third Hokage seemed determined to use this "handy blade" of his to plow through the rear of every hostile great nation.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Lin Ze put away the scroll, turned, and left the Hokage Office.
After leaving the Hokage Building, Lin Ze wasted no time and immediately set out from Konoha.
He moved extremely quickly, gliding soundlessly through the woods like a real green snake.
Beyond the Land of Fire's border, a vast blue sea appeared before him.
Normally, reaching the Land of Lightning would mean heading north along the coastline or finding a ferry.
But after confirming that no one was nearby, Lin Ze darted straight into the seawater.
Instead of heading north, he changed course and sped underwater toward the southeast, toward the ruins of the place known as the Land of Whirlpools!
The Land of Whirlpools, once renowned for its powerful sealing jutsu and the Uzumaki Clan's vigorous life force, had long since lost its prosperity.
Years ago, an alliance of several forces had overrun Uzushiogakure and slaughtered nearly the entire Uzumaki Clan. Only a handful of clan members, such as Karin's mother or Nagato's mother, had survived while scattered abroad.
But the nation's destruction primarily