The situation was anything but simple.
A mysterious group was causing unrest in the Wind Country. With no clear intelligence, the Sand Village might dismiss them as desert bandits or wandering ninjas. In such cases, the Sand Village typically avoided heavy-handed responses, focusing instead on their military objectives.
However, if this group turned out to be Konoha ninjas, the entire narrative would shift. The Sand Village would immediately deploy forces to track and eliminate them, triggering a dangerous game of cat and mouse in the unforgiving desert.
---
### Changing Plans
"Alright," Shinki said, nodding in agreement to Mizutomon Yan's suggestion about disguising their identities. "Changing clothes to confuse the enemy is reasonable."
Seeing Shinki's cooperation, Hamura continued, spreading a map on the ground. He pointed at several oases scattered across the Wind Country.
"The Wind Country is vast, with its oases spread unevenly. My proposal is to split our forces. One group, with more manpower, will target this side with a higher concentration of oases. The other, smaller group, will take this less populated route."
Splitting their forces would weaken their overall strength, but it would serve as a diversion. Hamura's strategy was clear: confuse the enemy and minimize risks of detection by dividing their targets.
"If the oases on both routes are attacked," Hamura continued, "it will confuse the Sand Village. They won't know where to focus their counterattack."
Shinki eyed the two elders carefully. Their intention was obvious—they wanted to avoid the most dangerous path while leaving it to him. He smiled faintly and pointed to the route with fewer targets.
"I'll take this path. Once the mission is complete, I'll leave the Wind Country immediately. Agreed?"
The sharp tone in his voice made it clear: *No one was coming to save anyone.* If either party got trapped, it was their problem to solve.
"Agreed," Hamura said hesitantly. "But manpower…"
Shinki waved it off. "I'm enough on my own."
To ensure accountability, Shinki pulled out a scroll. "Write down the plan, sign it, and send it to the village. That way, there's no confusion later."
Both elders understood the implication—Shinki was preventing them from shirking responsibility should something go wrong. In truth, they wanted the same protection; if Shinki failed, Tsunade wouldn't be able to place the blame entirely on them.
After signing and sealing the intelligence, a messenger hawk flew off toward Konoha. With that, the groups split, each heading toward their respective targets.
---
### Into the Wind Country
Hamura and Koharu took the northern route along the coastline, where more oases offered relatively safer opportunities for attacks. Shinki, on the other hand, chose the path leading toward the River Country battlefield—a far riskier direction. Here, the Sand Village's forces were concentrated, and the chance of detection was significantly higher.
The scorching desert stretched endlessly before Shinki. A lone figure amidst the vast yellow sand, he moved steadily toward his targets. After covering a considerable distance, Shinki found a secluded spot to rest.
He wasn't in a rush. Instead, he set up a small tent, laid out a carpet, and made himself comfortable. From his sealing scroll, he retrieved a drink and some fruit, reclining lazily as he munched on his provisions.
---
### Communication with Tsunade
Meanwhile, back in the River Country, Tsunade lay exhausted in the medical camp. The night had been relentless, filled with emergencies and potion preparations. She finally managed to steal a few moments of rest.
"You look tired."
The voice startled her. Sitting on the bedside table was a puppet crow, its eyes glowing faintly. Shinki's voice emanated from the device.
Tsunade jolted awake, glaring at the crow. "Damn it, Shinki! Can't you leave me alone when I'm resting?!"
She slumped back, cursing under her breath, too drained to maintain her usual composure.
"Sorry," Shinki's voice came again, this time followed by a quiet hiccup.
Tsunade's eyes twitched. "Don't tell me you're eating while talking to me!"
"You're overthinking it," Shinki replied with a smirk in his tone. "I'm lying in my tent in the middle of the desert, sipping a fizzy drink, and eating fruit. Nothing extravagant."
"Desert?" Tsunade sat up, her exhaustion replaced by alarm. "Where are you exactly?"
"Wind Country," Shinki said matter-of-factly. "After the Rain Country mission, your teacher decided I was too idle, so here I am. The daimyo wasn't happy either, so they assigned me to this 'revenge plan.'"
"And they sent you alone?" Tsunade's voice rose.
"Not entirely. I'm working with Koharu and Hamura, but we've split up. They're taking the northern route, and I'm heading south."
"What nonsense!" Tsunade exclaimed. "Those two leaving the village is risky enough. But splitting forces in the Wind Country? That's insane! You should concentrate your strength, launch a swift attack, and retreat before the Sand Village even realizes what's happening!"
Tsunade's frustration boiled over. "The Wind Country isn't worth dividing forces! It's too poor and barren to justify it. Concentrating your efforts would maximize damage and minimize risk!"
Shinki chuckled, unbothered by her tirade. "Perhaps, but I'm already here. Don't worry—I have a plan. Just make sure the village doesn't panic if they hear odd rumors about me."
Tsunade groaned, rubbing her temples. She knew Shinki well enough to understand he thrived in impossible situations, but his carefree attitude always left her on edge.
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 360 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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