Two days were all it took for Mochizuki Hui's team to return from the area near the Land of Earth back to the center of the Land of Mist, where Village of Fog was located.
They wasted no time and immediately resumed their covert campaign against the Iwagakure ANBU operatives in the area.
Once again, they acted independently, choosing not to link up with other Konoha ANBU units. Instead, they patrolled the region, relying on their sensory skills to seek out Iwagakure's ANBU squads that operated alone.
Against Mochizuki Hui's team, none of the Iwagakure squads stood a chance. Once detected, their fate was sealed—and death inevitable.
In just two days, Mochizuki Hui's team eliminated two more Iwagakure ANBU squads, bringing their tally to eight squads in total!
Eight squads—back in the last war, that would have been equivalent to two entire divisions, half of Iwagakure's ANBU force.
The news quickly reached Kamizuru Ishigawa, the Iwagakure ANBU commander, who stood in shock for a moment before erupting in a fit of rage. His entire body trembled with fury, and his eyes reddened with anger.
"Damn it!!!"
His fist slammed down onto the table, causing it to crack under the force. He panted heavily, trying to contain his seething wrath.
He had been played. There was no doubt about it.
A commander of Iwagakure's ANBU, meticulously planning and leading an operation, had been outmanoeuvred by a single Konoha ANBU squad.
"Order all units to move to the region of the Fog Village immediately!"
Kamizuru Ishigawa barked the command. If his quarry had left this area, there was no point in remaining here.
He could not tolerate the humiliation of being outsmarted; he vowed to capture that Konoha squad and make them pay.
Meanwhile, in another cave, Mochizuki Hui's team rested. It seemed they had a preference for caves as hideouts, finding them perfect for laying low.
They always picked small, concealed caves—ones where the entrance could only be seen when up close, providing excellent cover.
Their advantage was their sensory skills, allowing them to detect threats well before being discovered themselves.
Other ANBU units wouldn't risk using such spots, knowing that being cornered in a cave could turn them into sitting ducks if the entrance was blocked.
"Captain, we've taken out two more Iwagakure squads! I bet those ANBU back in the Land of Earth are losing their minds right now!" Hunter chuckled, imagining how furious their enemies must be upon hearing the news.
Mochizuki Hui couldn't help but smile. He knew that if he were in their shoes, he'd be just as enraged.
"Thanks to our distractions, the other Konoha squads are making good progress. If everything goes as planned, we'll complete this mission in just a few more days," Mochizuki Hui noted.
Although they hadn't directly communicated with the other ANBU teams, Konoha had a system of coded symbols for exchanging information. When the other units learned of Mochizuki Hui's arrival, they left messages detailing the progress on their end.
"Heh, our Fourth Squad's actions have been pretty significant after all," Lightning commented, clearly satisfied with their contribution.
"It's going well so far. But we need to be careful moving forward. The Iwagakure ANBU will surely regroup and come to this area. We should avoid further solo actions and join up with the others," Mochizuki Hui advised as he glanced outside the cave. The sun was setting, casting long shadows as dusk approached.
"Let's rest for a bit. We'll move out in an hour," he ordered, opting not to stay the night in the cave.
"Yes, sir!" the three replied in unison, beginning to inspect their equipment and supplies.
"Hey, I'm almost out of water. I'm going to refill at the stream. Do any of you need me to grab some?" Hunter asked, noticing his water pouch was nearly empty.
Water was essential for ninja, whose intense physical activity demanded constant hydration.
After suffering through a severe lack of water during one mission, Hunter had made a habit of keeping enough to last at least two days.
"I'm good, I've got plenty," Mochizuki Hui replied. He made sure to stay on top of these little details.
"Get some for me, too. My supply's okay, but it never hurts to have extra, haha," Lightning said, passing his water pouch to Hunter.
"I've still got enough, so I'm fine," Hatake Sakumo added, continuing to adjust his gear.
"Got it, I'll be back soon," Hunter said, taking Lightning's water pouch before heading out.
"Stay alert, and keep your senses sharp," Mochizuki Hui reminded him.
"Don't worry, Captain. I'm a sensory ninja, remember? I've got this!" Hunter replied with a confident wave before leaving.
The water source wasn't far; he'd be back in about half an hour. It seemed unlikely that he'd encounter any danger.
Yet sometimes, fate has other plans.
As Hunter headed toward the stream, another group was also making their way in that direction—the team led by Iwagakure's ANBU commander, Kamizuru Ishigawa!
Back in the cave, Mochizuki Hui and the others sat in quiet meditation, resting and conserving their energy. After about twenty minutes, Mochizuki Hui suddenly opened his eyes.
He glanced toward the cave entrance, where a small squirrel scurried toward him.
It stopped in front of him, offering a tiny scroll held in its bushy tail, deftly passing it over with its little paws.
The squirrel was a summoning creature from Konoha's ANBU First Division's captain—a familiar ally to Mochizuki Hui.
He unfolded the scroll and read the message inside.
"The division captain wants us to head back to Iwagakure territory immediately. There's a critical mission," he informed Lightning and Hatake Sakumo before patting the squirrel's head in acknowledgment.
The squirrel vanished in a puff of white smoke, returning to its summoner.
"We'll set out as soon as Hunter returns. He should be back any minute now," Mochizuki Hui said, referring to Hunter.
Five minutes passed, bringing the total time since Hunter had left to twenty-five minutes.
Mochizuki Hui closed his eyes again, extending his senses to locate Hunter.
His brows furrowed when he sensed nothing—Hunter was not within his range. This stirred unease within him.
Five more minutes slipped by, making it a full half-hour since Hunter had left.
Mochizuki Hui opened his eyes, his expression grim as he addressed Lightning and Hatake Sakumo:
"Hunter is in trouble."
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