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Mist Ninja Base.
The surprise attack did not achieve the expected effect, which left the Mist ninjas filled with regret. The commander, Suikazan Fuguki, sat grim-faced in his tent.
"Hoshigaki Kisame, what is the intelligence department doing? Weren't they saying that the Leaf's reinforcements would take at least three days to arrive? Damn it, we almost had it!"
Suikazan Fuguki, unable to hold back, slammed his fist on the table. Almost everyone in the tent was his trusted subordinate, especially the one with a shark-like face, Hoshigaki Kisame, who said gravely, "Sir, the Leaf's reinforcements probably marched quickly, which is why they arrived ahead of schedule. Our scouts have confirmed that there are no more reinforcements from the Leaf."
Hoshigaki Kisame, as his trusted aide and one of the most competent, was the one he trusted the most. He was a pure ninja and the most reliable tool in his hand.
Upon hearing Hoshigaki Kisame's reply, Suikazan Fuguki looked slightly relieved and said, "It seems the Leaf doesn't want to escalate the conflict."
Every elite Mist ninja in the tent, nurtured under the blood fog's iron-fisted policies, was adept at killing. But they were somewhat shortsighted regarding the bigger picture.
Their eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty look, showing no fear of war but rather excitement. This sight caused Suikazan Fuguki much distress.
With a sigh, Suikazan Fuguki said, "The Leaf doesn't want to escalate the conflict, and our village feels the same. If the conflict escalates, leading to a battle involving thousands of ninjas, it won't be a mere skirmish but a war! A direct conflict between Mist and Leaf could even ignite the Fourth Great Ninja War."
"Therefore, both our village and the Leaf have chosen to contain themselves, resulting in a small-scale conflict here. So, while both sides will have reinforcements, they won't be in large numbers."
"However, since the Leaf has sent an elite force here, I will also request the Fourth Mizukage to send the elite from the Anbu to assist in the battle."
Mist's Anbu? The mention struck fear into everyone. Under the blood fog's policies, the Mist's Anbu was truly terrifying.
Apart from having the village's elite, what made the Anbu particularly fearsome was their task of relentlessly hunting down Mist's rogue ninjas. Many Mist ninjas had fallen to the Anbu, and that was the root of their fear.
Both Suikazan Fuguki and Hoshigaki Kisame had come from the Anbu, and everyone present showed apprehension. They hadn't defected, but who knows about tomorrow?
Seeing their wariness, Suikazan Fuguki smirked maliciously, enjoying the intimidation. Their expressions were reassuring to him.
"Heh, our surprise attack on the Leaf base today gave them a significant setback. But among the Leaf's reinforcements are members of the Hyuga clan. So, everyone, be alert. This has become a battlefield!"
"Yes!"
…
In the Land of Whirlpools, an eerie atmosphere prevails due to tensions between the Leaf and Mist ninjas on this large island.
In the forested mining area, skirmishes, ambushes, and harassment between the Leaf and Mist ninjas are relentless, giving off a scent of impending war. However, on the other side of the island, which houses the only city, there's a sense of decadence amidst the war.
The conflict between the Leaf and Mist ninjas hasn't affected them. In fact, it has caused many merchants to become greedy. Even though it's not a large-scale war, even minor skirmishes are filled with endless benefits.
As the war continues in the Land of Whirlpools, countless displaced people are terrified. Merchants take the opportunity to hike up prices for exorbitant profits, attracting many mercenaries and rogue ninjas. This place has become a goldmine due to the enormous benefits.
Numerous illicit goods are traded here.
The trees in this world grow exceptionally tall, reminiscent of an ancient world. The dense jungle hides endless dangers.
Rustle~
Under the rustling leaves, a silhouette hides within the trees, calmly observing the mining area occupied by the Mist village.
"Lord Yoru, there are ten watchtowers ahead. All these towers are built a kilometer away from the mining area. If we go further, we might be detected by the Mist's sensory ninjas."
A ninja from the Hyuga clan speaks with a solemn face, looking at Uchiha Yoru with admiration. Ninjas respect the powerful, especially in their world, and this admiration is deeply ingrained in them.
"It seems the ninja from the Hidden Mist Village are experienced, their arrangements clearly guard against our village's Byakugan."
Upon hearing the Hyūga ninja's response, Uchiha Yoru calmly nodded. The Hyūga clan's scouting ability was well-known throughout the ninja world. When the Byakugan is activated, it can observe everything within a radius of one kilometer.
That's why all major ninja villages have their own methods to defend against the Byakugan of the Leaf's Hyūga clan. The simplest and most effective method is to set up numerous watchtowers outside the one-kilometer range.
"If your Byakugan can observe everything within a kilometer, then I'll just set up watchtowers just outside of that. The Byakugan can only see the watchtowers and cannot scout the main camp they protect."
While it might seem like a crude method, it's also the most effective. Otherwise, confronting the Hyūga's Byakugan would be like doing so right under their watch.
Furthermore, the Byakugan's abilities in wartime don't stop there. Ninjas typically set various traps in combat, and under the Byakugan's scrutiny, these become almost impossible to hide.
"Note down the positions and number of ninjas at these ten watchtowers and scout them at least once a day."
Upon receiving Uchiha Yoru's instructions, the Hyūga chūnin understood immediately, nodding respectfully, "Rest assured, sir, the Mist ninjas cannot hide from our Byakugan."
"Good. Report any changes in the Mist's watchtowers immediately."
"Yes!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the figures of the two vanished from the towering tree.
Moving quickly through the forest, Uchiha Yoru didn't stop until they were far away. Once he was certain no one was around, he began forming hand seals.
Pig-Dog-Rooster-Monkey-Sheep, Summoning Jutsu!
After the summoning smoke cleared, a brown eagle with fluttering wings appeared, and after being summoned, it respectfully said, "Lord Yoru."
Some lesser summoned creatures are quite polite. Facing the respectful tone of the summoned creature, Uchiha Yoru smiled and nodded, "Thank you. I need you to carry my shadow clone to scout the enemy."
Combining his fingers, Uchiha Yoru channeled his chakra, and with a puff, a shadow clone identical to him appeared.
The two identical Uchiha Yoru looked at each other and smiled. Despite spending many years in this world, the wonders of ninjutsu still fascinated him.
"Lord Yoru."
The eagle respectfully lowered its body, allowing the shadow clone to mount it, then flapped its wings and took off.
Watching his shadow clone ascend into the sky, Uchiha Yoru squinted. Flying summoning creatures were a rare breed. Although not powerful in combat, the ability to fly was quite unique.
The clone stood firmly on the eagle's back, the strong wind rustling its clothes. The chakra at its feet made it stand firmly, rooted like a tree. As they soared, the three tomoe in its eyes began spinning rapidly, merging into one.
Mangekyō!
Surpassing the three tomoe, the Mangekyō's primary enhancement in its base state was visual prowess. The observation capabilities had indeed intensified, giving a general overview from above.
However, the ninjas of the Mist, especially the elite jōnin, all honed their senses in blood and fire. An inexplicable feeling of being watched made several sensitive Mist ninjas look up.
Especially Zabuza Momochi, known as the "Demon of the Hidden Mist". The moment he looked up, he spotted the eagle soaring in the sky and immediately frowned, "Something's off. This eagle seems to be a summoned creature. Alert our people to watch the sky."
"Yes."
Uchiha Yoru was unaware that his whimsical desire to observe the layout of the Mist's base had put them on high alert for several days.
…
The Leaf's Base.
Guarded by tall watchtowers outside, the base built against the mountain is more like a camp. Within the camp are countless laborers recruited from the local area, as mining and refining always require miners.
After the fall of the Whirlpool country, this place became a chaotic land with no master. The local civilians lived in constant fear, willing to do anything for a bite to eat.
Enslavement?
Uchiha Yoru had long become numb to this scene, his eyes showing only indifference. Relatively speaking, without them, these civilians wouldn't even have meager pay. At least working here as miners, they can feed their families.
The sight of the towering jungle swiftly passed before his eyes. Uchiha Yoru, who was swiftly moving through the trees, suddenly stopped on a large one.
The dense trees blocked out the sun, giving the jungle a damp and sultry feeling. The silent air echoed with the constant sounds of insects and animals, making it a perilous place for common people, aptly named the "Forest of Death."
"Come out."
Standing on the thick tree trunk, Uchiha Yoru spoke calmly to the seemingly empty forest. However, no one responded, only the noises of creatures continued. A faint smile then appeared on his lips.
"Orochimaru-sensei, since you're here, come out."
After Uchiha Yoru called out again, a white snake emerged from the bushes. As it approached the thick tree trunk, it suddenly opened its mouth wide.
With a retching sound, the small white snake regurgitated a human arm. Following that, the arm pushed against the ground, revealing slick black hair and then a pale face.
Long black hair, golden elongated pupils, purple eyeshadow extending to the nose, pale skin, and blue-green earrings shaped like a magatama. The former Leaf shinobi vest had been discarded in favor of a beige outfit, complete with a purple rope belt (shimenawa).
The shimenawa symbolizes the boundary of sacred items. When tied to Orochimaru, it represents his status. As one of the Three Legendary Sannin in the shinobi world, he definitely deserved it.
After parting ways with the Leaf, upon their reunion, Orochimaru's once indifferent demeanor now bore more malice, as if he had finally severed ties with the Leaf.
"Hehe, Yoru, your power is indeed admirable. It seems you now have the ambition for that position."
The unique raspy laughter echoed in the dark forest. If it were any other ninja unfamiliar with Orochimaru, they would have been terrified, especially given Orochimaru's dramatic entrance and eerie smile.
"Orochimaru-sensei, you flatter me. I am aware of the gap between me and a Kage."
In response to Orochimaru's praise, Uchiha Yoru neither boasted nor showed pride. Instead, he humbly chuckled. Even with his current abilities, excluding the Mangekyo Sharingan, he's at most an elite shinobi, perhaps just below Kage level. His strength is roughly equivalent to that of an eagle's, like Uchiha Sasuke's when he fought Killer B and was battered to the point of doubting his life choices.
But when facing truly powerful Kage-level opponents, the difference is evident. In his current phase, he can be termed as almost-Kage.
The Mangekyo Sharingan he possesses is powerful, but also paradoxical. It's an ocular jutsu with limitless potential that he's satisfied with; its power increases with his own.
But at his current level, the Mangekyo Sharingan merely enhances his abilities rather than serving as a unique finishing move.
So, he's aware of the gap between him and the true Kage-level shinobi.
"Hehe, Yoru, you're still as level-headed as ever. You should know that even I was blindly confident at this stage, until I was awakened on the battlefield in the Rain country."
Orochimaru's raspy laughter echoed again in the dark forest. Looking at Uchiha Yoru's composed demeanor, he showed genuine admiration.
It's rare for someone to earn Orochimaru's appreciation. Those who do must possess something extraordinary.
~~~
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