Chapter 79: The Dark Forest
"So, it really is Orochimaru's doing…"
From Matsudaira Susumu's memories, Baishi confirmed that the man's superior was none other than Orochimaru. In fact, the entire amphibious division of Konoha fell under Orochimaru's command.
As for why Matsudaira had recognized him instantly, the reason was simple. These operatives had been given secret orders by Orochimaru to search for him during their missions.
Naturally, with orders to search, they had been provided with his details. Seeing someone use the Flying Thunder God Technique had immediately led them to connect the dots.
"Why is Orochimaru searching for me?"
Still puzzled, Baishi delved deeper into Matsudaira's memories.
He soon found an answer: Orochimaru had speculated that Tenchi and the others had likely perished at Baishi's hands. Furthermore, he deduced that Baishi was hiding somewhere within the surrounding seas, thus issuing instructions for his forces to stay vigilant.
However, the reason for finding him remained unclear.
"Hmm… What's this? A memory seal?"
Baishi's curiosity was piqued, and he began carefully unraveling the seal.
Moments later, his face fell into slight disappointment. "So, that's all it is—coordinates for Oni Island."
This revelation might have been valuable to Kirigakure or Kumogakure, but it didn't hold much significance for Baishi; he had already known about Oni Island's existence.
If the Hidden Mist or Hidden Cloud villages were to obtain this information, they could launch an operation to destroy Oni Island and neutralize Konoha's amphibious unit threat.
This would free up more resources for the other villages to focus on the main battlefield, potentially tipping the scales in their favor.
"No point worrying about this now," Baishi thought as he shook his head.
Although he hadn't uncovered the exact reason for Orochimaru's interest in him, Baishi wasn't overly concerned. With his current strength, even Orochimaru himself wouldn't intimidate him.
In fact, Baishi was curious to see Orochimaru. If they did meet, it might present an opportunity to extract some valuable knowledge from the Sannin.
"But first, I need to deal with the immediate trouble on this island."
Focusing his thoughts, Baishi extended his senses, pinpointed his next destination, and activated the Flying Thunder God Technique to vanish from the scene.
As for Matsudaira, he had succumbed to the trauma of having his memory seal forcibly broken.
---
Elsewhere on the Island
Not long after stepping onto Moon Island, Kumogakure's forces, led by Daira Kaito, ran straight into the remnants of Kirigakure's patrol unit, who had just finished wiping out a squad of Konoha's amphibious ninjas.
Compared to the disciplined Mist shinobi, Konoha's hastily assembled amphibious troops were far weaker in combat.
While the amphibious troops held the advantage in underwater skirmishes due to their transformation abilities, once on land, they were at a clear disadvantage.
Scattered during their retreat, many smaller squads from the amphibious unit had been picked off one by one.
The scene Baishi had observed earlier was one such slaughter.
However, that clash was only the beginning.
The moment Daira Kaito's team was spotted, Daikura Rikuo, the Mist unit leader, ordered an immediate attack without hesitation.
Similarly, Kaito had no choice but to command a counterattack.
Kaito understood that this was likely part of Baishi's machinations, but he couldn't afford to let his guard down. In a place like this, negotiations were out of the question.
Both sides lacked any basis for trust. Even if they suspected a trap, they wouldn't risk testing their luck.
And so, in the dark forest that Moon Island had become, there was only one rule: eliminate any group that wasn't your own.
---
Clashes Erupt Across the Island
The deafening roar of exploding tags filled the air as kunai and shuriken zipped through the forest. Screams of pain intermingled with the cacophony of combat.
Daikura's Mist unit had started with seventy men, divided into four squads, along with himself and his deputy. However, they had already suffered significant losses.
The two teams left on their ship had been decimated by Konoha's amphibious unit. Earlier skirmishes had further thinned their ranks, and Baishi's surprise attack during their ascent to the central peak had claimed even more lives.
Now, fewer than fifty Mist ninjas remained.
Meanwhile, the Cloud ninjas still had nearly a hundred fighters.
Despite the disparity in numbers, the Mist ninjas managed to hold their ground due to their expertise in assassination and guerilla tactics.
However, their eventual defeat seemed inevitable.
Baishi watched the unfolding battle from a distance. "Time to tip the scales."
He silently approached the battlefield. Amid the swirling mists, he moved with the precision of a phantom, singling out and assassinating one unsuspecting Cloud ninja after another.
With each swift kill, he deepened the chaos.
Unaware of Baishi's interference, a Mist ninja stumbled upon one of the bodies. "Who could've done this? That's the third one already..."
Suspicious, the Mist ninja scanned his surroundings and noticed movement ahead.
Meanwhile, Baishi had just dispatched his fourth target. As he cleaned his kunai, he sensed the Mist ninja closing in on him.
"Come out," Baishi said without looking up. "No need to hide."
The Mist ninja, Yuzuki, emerged cautiously. "Who are you? I don't recognize you."
Baishi sighed. "Why spoil the act? Can't we just pretend we don't know each other?"
Realizing the truth, Yuzuki tried to retreat, but Baishi was faster.
With a powerful leap, he closed the distance in an instant.
Yuzuki's instincts kicked in, and he lashed out with a kunai aimed at Baishi's throat.
But to Baishi, Yuzuki's movements were sluggish, almost laughable. Ducking effortlessly, Baishi countered with surgical precision, stabbing his kunai into Yuzuki's heart.
Yuzuki crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Baishi shook his head, activating the Wood Transformation Technique to blend in once more. Disguised as another Mist ninja, he continued his systematic culling.
As the chaos spread, the once-balanced battle tilted ever so slightly. Both sides suffered mounting casualties, and the relentless skirmishes showed no sign of stopping.
However, in this blood-soaked forest, Baishi remained the unseen hand, orchestrating a deadly dance in the shadows.
(End of Chapter)