Deep in the dark and chilly forest, the clock had already struck one in the morning, and the trio pressed on towards their target.
Bathed in the pale moonlight, one could discern a complex network of wires spanning between the colossal trees, forming an impenetrable web, awaiting its prey. While it might seem logical to begin an assault from a safer angle, this proved to be the point of least resistance.
The vital Suna supply point lay further ahead, rendering a noiseless intrusion virtually impossible. Moreover, such a pivotal location would undoubtedly be under the watchful eye of a sensory ninja, quite possibly exposing their presence.
Upon severing the steel wire web, a barrage of kunai and shuriken rained down from the inky night sky. Some of the kunai were adorned with explosive tags, their fiery tails casting an eerie glow.
Boom!
Boom!
The incessant bombardment battered at eardrums, the earth quaked beneath the onslaught, and the once serene night was consumed by roaring flames as trees ignited.
Yet, this very fact underscored the importance of the supply point. Such an elaborate defensive trap wouldn't exist were it not a crucial asset for Sunagakure. Even the untrained eye would discern its significance, unable to breach it without triggering some reaction.
"Here they come. Eleven from the west, nine from the south, and seventeen at the rear," Ayane reported calmly, her Byakugan granting her a clear view of the approaching ninja force—thirty-seven in total.
The majority were Chunin, interspersed with a handful of Jounin, each commanding their respective teams.
"Start taking the Antidote," Shiraishi instructed, popping a white pill into his mouth, soon followed by Ruri and Ayane, both consuming the antidote as well.
Subsequently, Shiraishi retrieved two smoke bombs from his pouch and deployed them into the forest, cloaking the area in a haze of gray mist. Though ineffective against sensory ninjas, the smoke could potentially disorient other foes, plunging them into disarray.
"Curses, this smoke is poisonous! Clear out, quick!" The disciplined Sand Hidden ninjas infiltrated the misty zone but quickly recognized something was amiss. Their bodies grew weak, breathing turned labored, and a suffocating agony enveloped them. Some with lower resistance to poison collapsed, writhing in pain.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!" Ruri's hands wove a series of seals, and a chakra that was far larger than the fireball technique accumulated in her mouth, and she released it all in one breath.
Under the raging inferno, the night blazed crimson, the once frosty air now simmering, its heat rendering skin as hot as boiling water.
Three silhouettes dashed through the flames, certain that these theatrics wouldn't go unnoticed by the Suna Ninja at the supply point.
Ruri's vast fire release covered extensive terrain, and with countless combustible trees, a wind release user would only exacerbate the fire's intensity, making these flames beyond comparison from the standard fire release jutsus.
The fire required water release jutsu to douse, a nutsh not mastered by the ninjas, and considering its vast expanse, only an extensive effort could extinguish it, a process far from swift.
With only ten minutes of maneuverability, the diversion seemed effective, though gauging the attention garnered from Suna proved uncertain. Regardless, Shiraishi's trio was committed to completing their task to the best of their ability.
Upon the mission's culmination, successful or not, their priority would shift to extracting themselves from the battlefield.
Within the searing forest, agonized screams echoed, the Suna Hidden forces encountering Shiraishi's team swiftly met their end.
Kunai twirling in his hand, Shiraishi dispatched an oncoming ninja, swiftly severing their carotid artery.
"Vacuum Palm!"
Ayane's swift hand thrust forth, releasing a chakra shockwave akin to an air cannon. The unsuspecting ninja behind her crumpled, vomiting blood, thrown into a tree.
This technique, derived from the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, was an unseen, colorless ranged assault, baffling to the naked eye. Unperceptive ninjas would struggle to evade it, defenseless against its invisible trajectory.
This long-range technique had been a reward for Ayane's prior mission. Negotiations between Hokage and the Hyuga Clan had resulted in Ayane receiving further training in their closely guarded secret techniques of Gentle Fist.
Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm was one such technique.
In the present operation, Shiraishi and Ayane spearheaded the supply point assault against Suna. Ruri's role was to accumulate chakra and unleash a torrent of fire ninjutsu, amplifying the destruction and drawing attention from the Suna ninja. Her conflagration would create an opening for Anbu operatives to infiltrate the local supply point.
A sweeping tide of roaring flames surged outward, merging the searing heat, the ferocious blaze swept away the frigid forest air.
Traces of devastation from the inferno marred the surroundings.
However, the cost was steep. The repeated use of high-level fire release jutsu had drained Ruri's chakra reserves rapidly. It was anticipated that only a few more such intense techniques would leave her chakra reserves depleted.
Recognizing the dire situation, Ruri swiftly closed her eyes. The riot here has almost reached its peak, and she still needs to move forward for a while to try to further expand the scale of the riot.
As they ventured deeper into Suna territory, they approached a stream preceding the supply point. Across the stream, there were a large number of tents stationed, surrounded by tall trees that could be used to shelter the camp.
A fire broke out in the opposite forest, which had already aroused the alertness of the sandy ninjas here. Under the effective command of the jounin, the sandy ninjas who were waiting here were not at all chaotic, and they were not worried because of the fierce attack of the enemy.
"Could it be Konoha's ninja? Why attack here? Have they stumbled upon the secret weapon?" pondered a Suna Jonin with furrowed brows.
"If that's the case, we're in a tight spot. We can't afford any negligence, especially under th watchful eye."
"Whatever the situation, we mustn't leak the use of the tailed beast weapons. and Konoha will be caught off guard!"
The eyes of the Jonin glinted murderously, determined to eradicate the Konoha invaders without leaving any trace.
Across the riverbank, Ayane suddenly jolted and halted in her tracks.
Observing Ayane's reaction, Shiraishi and Ruri came to a standstill as well.
"What's the matter?" With Ayane's Byakugan as their sole guide, Shiraishi and Ruri were like lost travelers, wandering aimlessly.
"Something's amiss. I can't locate the warehouse storing the supplies. This isn't a Suna supply point!" Ayane's complexion turned pale; she grasped the gravity of the situation.
Sakumo had emphasized the mission's primary goal—to cut off the Suna supply point—requiring cooperation with Anbu. Although the ninja who identified as 'Root' was an Anbu subgroup, they shared a similar understanding of the mission, engendering trust among Shiraishi's trio.
However, Ayane's survey of the land unveiled a troubling reality: this so-called 'supply point' had no warehouses storing provisions. Instead, it was heavily guarded by Suna ninjas, and nothing more.
No warehouses, no supplies, nothing that would constitute a supply point. Ayane's conclusion was unequivocal.
Shiraishi and Ruri's expressions darkened upon hearing Ayane's findings.
They had been deceived!. The realization struck like a blow.
"Move!" Shiraishi's instincts kicked in; mission or not, they deserved an explanation.
Faced with deceit, Shiraishi had no intention to continue. If the mission failed due to their inadequacy, he would humbly accept it, but if misinformation led to a mission's downfall, they had no obligation to persist.
The trio hastened their retreat, yet at that moment, the Suna ninjas had positioned themselves, sealing off any escape routes, forming a large airtight net to surround the three of them.
...
On a distant cliff's summit, four 'Root' ninjas stood or sat, silhouetted by the moonlight as they looked down indifferently upon the chaos and flames below.
"They're capable enough. It's no surprise Danzo-sama wants to eliminate that Uchiha prodigy, allowing her to grow up poses a significant threat."
"In the end the Uchiha are inherently untrustworthy. Such a shame for the Byakugan and the medical ninja."
"It's unavoidable but if the evil Uchiha can be eliminated, the two of them should know that they died well."
"By doing so, White Fang will carry the stain of an incapable leader, failing to protect his subordinates. The upcoming Hokage will be Danzo-sama. Only he can guide Konoha to a stronger path."
The four conversed in a fervent manner, unwavering in their faith towards 'Danzo-sama.'
Initially, according to the plan, they were supposed to start a suicide raid on the Suna Camp from here, but now they're just watching here as bystanders, completely ignoring their own village, the ninjas are surrounded by the enemy, and they were indifferent.
"Are you leaving now? There's not much to see," one remarked.
"Wait. Though I doubt their ability to break free, in case they miraculously escape, we'll eliminate any survivors. We mustn't leave a trace, as ordered by Danzo-sama."