What to do?
Seeing the target but being unable to gather information made Satoru anxious.
Although his Byakugan could see the general layout of the base, it was too far away to discern conversations or specific plans. They didn't know who the mysterious Jonin was talking to, what their objectives were, or which faction they belonged to.
After thinking for a while, Satoru couldn't help but speak up.
"Shibi-sensei, my Byakugan can roughly see the situation at the base. There are many more ninjas than in the Iwa-nin team in the capital. If we don't figure out their purpose, this mission might fail."
"I understand," Shibi said with a bitter smile. "But given the current situation, if we approach recklessly, we'll likely be attacked by the enemy ninjas."
Satoru's eyes flickered. Based on his Byakugan, the sensory barrier covered a three-kilometre radius. Entering this range would alert the enemy.
"Shibi-sensei, can you use your kikaichū to infiltrate and gather information?"
"No," Shibi shook his head. "I already tried earlier. The distance is too far. My control range for the kikaichū is only two kilometres. Beyond that, they lose direction because my commands can't reach them."
Is that so...
Satoru frowned. The kikaichū had a two-kilometre control range, meaning they'd get lost in the last kilometre due to lost commands.
Wait!
If there was a way to relay commands for the last kilometre, could the kikaichū then gather information?
After pondering for a while, Satoru's eyes brightened.
"Shibi-sensei, without considering their return, can you implant the search command into the kikaichū's consciousness?"
Shibi thought for a moment. "If it's just a simple command, I can do that. But I lose control once they're beyond two kilometres, and it'll be up to fate."
Satoru took a deep breath. "Then, Sensei, please select some strong kikaichū. I have an idea."
"What idea?" Shibi asked, surprised.
"It's complicated to explain. Please pick the kikaichū first."
Shibi nodded, extending his left hand. A few black insects crawled onto his fingertips.
Satoru took two kunai and scraped them together, producing some metal particles. He carefully placed a small amount of the particles on the backs of the kikaichū.
He chose the positions skillfully, ensuring the particles stayed stable without interfering with the insects' flight.
"Now implant the search command into the kikaichū," Satoru instructed.
"Alright," Shibi agreed reluctantly. Although he didn't fully understand Satoru's plan, he decided to trust him.
The instructed kikaichū wobbled as they flew into the forest.
After a while, Shibi sighed. "I've lost control of the kikaichū."
Satoru remained silent, eyes fixed ahead.
As time slowly passed, the atmosphere grew tense, as if the air had turned into a thick liquid, making breathing difficult.
Shibi's eyes went from expectant to worried to disappointed.
It had been too long. The lost kikaichū had probably gone astray and wouldn't bring back any information.
Shibi had refrained from suggesting they leave, not wanting to discourage Satoru, who was so confident. As a member of the Aburame clan, he knew better than anyone the insurmountable control range limitation of the kikaichū.
His heart grew heavier.
Just then, he sensed something and looked up sharply.
A moment later, a few black insects wobbled toward them.
"They actually made it back?" Shibi exclaimed, shocked.
Beside him, Satoru's lips curved into a slight smile.
The iron filings he had placed on the kikaichū were for magnetic orientation.
In his previous life, Satoru had often heard that birds and insects migrate before earthquakes due to their sensitivity to geomagnetic changes.
Some flying insects even used magnetic materials in their bodies for geomagnetic orientation during migration!
While Satoru couldn't alter the geomagnetic field, he could simulate some changes at his location and use the magnetic materials on the kikaichū for orientation.
This was a biological instinct imprinted in insect DNA over millions of years!
Meanwhile, Shibi received the information from the kikaichū, his eyes gleaming.
"So that's how it is!"
---
Two days later, outside the black market.
A disguised Iwa-nin wrapped a scroll in his clothes, surveyed his surroundings, and approached the inn.
"Yamatsuchi-sama, the supplies are secured."
"Good," said the Jonin named Yamatsuchi approvingly.
"With such a large amount of supplies, Tsuchikage-sama will surely reward us handsomely when we return. Prepare to move out. We've been stuck in this godforsaken place long enough; I'm getting rusty."
The seven-person team began heading out of the capital.
In the forest, the group's spirits were high.
"Who do you think sold such a large amount of supplies for us to snatch up?"
"Yeah, we only intended to buy some ironware in the Land of Iron, but we stumbled upon such a huge windfall."
"Hahaha," an Iwa-nin laughed. "Too bad the black market keeps transactions confidential. Otherwise, I'd thank the seller properly."
Before he could finish, a sharp whistling sound interrupted him. The Iwa-nin's expression froze his mouth agape, throat slashed by an unseen blade, blood spurting.
The Iwa-nin's throat convulsed, and crimson bubbles foamed from his mouth as he collapsed lifelessly.
Seeing their comrade die so gruesomely, Yamatsuchi roared.
"Enemy attack!"
As he shouted, several figures surrounded the Iwa-nin team. The leader spoke coldly.
"No need for thanks. Just leave your lives behind."
"Who are you?" Yamatsuchi growled, eyes bloodshot.
"Dead men needn't know so much."
The red-haired leader waved his hand, and a tide of golden sand surged forward like a wave.
Yamatsuchi's pupils shrank.
"Magnet Release? You're from Sunagakure!"
Blocking the golden sand with an earth-style jutsu, Yamatsuchi cursed.
"Is Sunagakure looking to start a war with Iwagakure? Ambushing us like this? Do you realize the consequences if Tsuchikage-sama finds out?"
"Consequences? If you all die here, what consequences will there be?"
"Scorch Release: Over Steam Kill!"
The voice came not from Rasa but from a scantily clad female ninja at the back. With a wave of her hand, an orange fireball struck an Iwa-nin, who screamed as his body dehydrated, turning into a mummified corpse.
Yamatsuchi's heart sank. Magnet Release Rasa and Scorch Release Pakura—Sunagakure had sent two Kekkei Genkai users. Their odds of survival were slim...
Meanwhile, two figures hid in the treetops a kilometre away, silently observing the battle.