Just five and a half hours after Konoha launched their full-scale assault, Aizen and the Fifth Division arrived at the outskirts of the Seishō Plains.
"Arriving half an hour early? Impressive," Aizen remarked, a hint of approval in his voice as he surveyed the energized and eager members of the Fifth Division.
Over the course of their journey, the team had alternated between walking and using Moonwalk, as maintaining flight over long distances would have drained their chakra reserves considerably. Even with their abilities, sustaining flight the entire way was impractical. If they had pushed themselves to fly the entire route, they wouldn't have arrived even remotely on schedule.
"You'll rest here for fifteen minutes," Aizen instructed, his tone taking on a serious edge. "I'll scout the Sand Shinobi sentry points along our route. Once I've mapped out their positions, you will eliminate them swiftly and discreetly. Afterward, we'll move on to the Seishō Plains and begin our main mission."
He paused, looking around at his subordinates. "Remember, the Sand Shinobi change shifts every thirty minutes. If they notice anything amiss during the rotation, the entire Seishō Plains will be alerted. We cannot afford to lose the element of surprise."
"Yes, Aizen-sama!" the team responded in unison, their voices brimming with determination.
Fifteen minutes later...
After scouting the Sand Shinobi positions, Aizen returned and outlined their targets in detail. With precision and coordination, the Fifth Division began their operation.
A Sand Shinobi perched in the treetops was quickly silenced, his throat slit by Kitagawa Shuji in one swift motion. The guard's body crumpled silently, leaving no trace of resistance. The same scenario repeated across the area as Aizen's squad systematically eliminated all sentries without raising a single alarm.
Once the path was clear, the Fifth Division regrouped near the main Sand Shinobi encampment.
"Due to the precautions Sand Shinobi has taken against Minato and me, infiltrating this camp will require precision," Aizen explained to his team. "They've prepared countermeasures for both space-time jutsu and my wide-range Water Style techniques. So, we'll rely on misdirection and speed. Here's the plan."
He pointed to the map, tracing their path of attack. "I'll create chaos with a large-scale Water Style jutsu to disorient their forces. While they're distracted, you'll infiltrate the camp and target their supply storage. Use the incendiary bombs you've prepared. Focus on completing the objective rather than engaging the enemy directly. With your flight advantage and speed, escape will be far easier. Do not get reckless."
"Yes, Aizen-sama!" the Fifth Division acknowledged, their resolve unwavering.
"Then... let's begin."
Aizen's hands moved rapidly, forming a series of seals as he unleashed his chakra.
"Water Style: Clear Wave Surge!"
A massive tidal wave materialized, towering tens of meters high and spanning hundreds of meters in length. The sheer scale of the jutsu stunned the Sand Shinobi soldiers into disbelief.
"It's like we're standing at the edge of the sea... but we're inland!" one of the stunned guards muttered, his voice trembling.
"Enemy attack! Sound the alarm!" a vigilant Sand Shinobi shouted, snapping the camp out of its stupor. But by the time the alarm was raised, it was already too late.
The colossal wave crashed into the Sand Shinobi ranks, sweeping away hundreds of soldiers and tearing a gaping hole in the camp's defenses. The sound of rushing water was deafening, and panic spread through the Sand Shinobi forces like wildfire.
"Go!" Aizen commanded, signaling the Fifth Division.
Kitagawa Shuji charged first, his voice echoing with authority. "Attack!"
Hyuga Gin followed closely, his movements a blur as he combined Lightning Style techniques with the Six Forms' Shave. His speed was so overwhelming that even Elite Jōnin could barely react before his blade found its mark. One Sand Shinobi after another fell to his relentless assault.
"Earth Style: Hardened Iron Body!" Kitagawa Shuji roared as shuriken and kunai clanged harmlessly against his reinforced body. His technique made him impervious to conventional weapons as he mowed through the enemy ranks. Combining Wind Style with Tempest Kick, he unleashed razor-sharp air slashes, cutting down groups of enemies with brutal efficiency.
"Lightning Style: Finger Gun!" Shuji continued, channeling lightning through his fingers to deliver precise, piercing strikes that incapacitated his foes instantly.
In the midst of the Sand Shinobi army's shocked expressions, Kitagawa Shuji unleashed a Tempest Kick, the slicing winds charged with dazzling lightning coursing from his hand. The combination of techniques left his enemies reeling in terror, the air crackling with energy as he surged forward. His movements were fluid and precise, cutting through the battlefield with the destructive force of a whirlwind.
For Kitagawa Shuji, the Sand Shinobi soldiers might as well have been nonexistent. Each strike left devastation in its wake, and the once-confident shinobi cried out in desperation, unable to withstand his onslaught.
This was the power of the Fifth Division's two vice-captains in action.
Beside Shuji, Hyuga Gin demonstrated his refined mastery of the Lightning Style, weaving through the battlefield with a Short Sword in hand. His speed was blinding, enhanced by Shave, a technique so swift that even Elite Jōnin struggled to track his movements. Each strike landed with ruthless efficiency, dropping Sand Shinobi in rapid succession. Gin's blade glowed with electrified chakra, the air crackling as it met its targets with precision.
Behind them, the rest of the Fifth Division showed why they had earned their place in this elite force.
"Shave!"
"Finger Gun!"
"Tempest Kick!"
"Iron Body!"
"Moonwalk!"
"Spiritual Sense!"
The shouts of their techniques rang across the battlefield, each member displaying an incredible balance of speed, offense, defense, and perception. Even the weakest among them wielded power on par with an average Jōnin, while their ability to fly and execute high-speed maneuvers made them almost impossible to pin down. They weaved effortlessly between attacks, retaliating with devastating blows.
Under the coordinated leadership of Hyuga Gin and Kitagawa Shuji, the Fifth Division tore through the Sand Shinobi ranks, leaving destruction in their wake. Storage points for supplies, the lifeblood of the Sand Shinobi army, were ignited one after another. Smoke billowed into the sky, marking the division's success. The flames spread rapidly, consuming precious resources and plunging the enemy into chaos.
The sight of their supplies being annihilated drove the Sand Shinobi into a frenzy. Their eyes burned with fury, the loss of their resources a wound far greater than any inflicted on their bodies. They attacked with desperation, organizing wave after wave of retaliatory assaults against the Fifth Division.
Yet no matter how determined their efforts, the Sand Shinobi could not match the speed, coordination, and raw power of Aizen's specially trained force. The Fifth Division evaded every attempt to pin them down, responding with precision strikes that left the Sand Shinobi reeling.
Amid the destruction, the higher-ranking officers of the Sand Shinobi army quickly recognized the futility of direct confrontation. Chiyo and Ebizō, seasoned veterans, made the call to abandon lesser supply caches and focus their defense on a single, critical location—the central supply cave, a massive storage area that held more than half of their remaining resources.
Inside that cave was the Sand Shinobi army's final hope for maintaining their foothold in the region. The defense around it was immediately tightened, with every available puppet master and guard unit stationed at its entrance.
Meanwhile, Hyuga Gin and Kitagawa Shuji noticed the sudden change in Sand Shinobi tactics. After destroying the last of the smaller supply points, the Fifth Division regrouped and turned their attention to the cave.
Within minutes, the hundred-strong Fifth Division arrived at the cave's entrance. The sight before them was imposing—Sand Shinobi soldiers stood ready, and the air was thick with tension.
Crunch.
A sudden, sharp noise echoed through the area. From within the ranks of Sand Shinobi defenders, a team of puppet masters emerged, their intricate puppets gleaming ominously under the dim light. The puppets were armed with countless concealed weapons, their appearances as menacing as the chakra strings controlling them.