The strongest bandit group in the Land of Lightning was a force to be reckoned with. Their deep roots in the territory made them untouchable, and their leader was said to rival a jonin in strength. Despite their criminal activities, they had long been tolerated. The group rarely caused major disturbances; instead, they demanded tolls from caravans and even offered "protection services" in return.
Over time, even the Land of Lightning's authorities turned a blind eye to their existence.
That is, until this bandit group crossed paths with Naruto Uzumaki and his team.
The leader of the bandits groaned, pinned to the ground by Naruto's Nine-Tails-enhanced strength. His defiance was futile; even his upper-jonin-level skills crumbled before Naruto's sheer power.
"Who are you people?" the leader spat, blood dribbling from his lips. "We've done nothing to offend you!"
Naruto grinned. "Oh, we're just here for your treasure."
Neji, utilizing his Byakugan, scanned the area and quickly pinpointed the bandits' hidden stash. "Found it," he announced, motioning toward a concealed spot.
Within moments, the team unearthed a small chest, its lock no match for Neji's strength. He pried it open to reveal a modest collection of money and jewelry.
"That's it?" Naruto muttered, his enthusiasm waning. "Another 800,000 ryo. That's barely anything!"
Neji poured the contents onto the ground, revealing a folded piece of paper among the coins and gems.
"What's this?" Neji unfolded it, his sharp eyes scanning the winding lines and red markings.
"It's a map," Naruto said, leaning in. His eyes widened with excitement. "Wait—this might be a treasure map!"
The rest of the team gathered around, intrigued by Naruto's proclamation.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Where'd you get that idea?"
"Let's find out." Naruto waved the map in front of the injured bandit leader. "What's this supposed to be?"
The bandit hesitated, sweat beading on his forehead.
Kakashi, unimpressed, drew his ninja blade and pointed it inches from the man's most vulnerable spot. "Answer the question," he said flatly.
The bandit broke instantly. "It—it's a supply route map! It shows the paths used to deliver goods to Kumogakure!"
"A supply route?" Tsunade's interest was piqued, as was everyone else's.
Naruto's mind raced. The bandits had unwittingly handed them a golden opportunity.
"What's the plan?" Tsunade asked, turning to Naruto.
Naruto thought for a moment, then glanced at Neji. "This could be our chance to recover some real resources—and maybe settle a score."
Neji's fists clenched as he nodded. "Thank you."
Naruto waved him off. "This isn't just about you. Shin-Konoha's Ninja Academy could use the funding."
Back in Shin-Konoha,
Uzumaki Chito sensed the events unfolding in the Land of Lightning. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "They're bold, I'll give them that. Let's see how far they'll go."
Tsunade and Kakashi took the lead in devising the operation, while Naruto observed and offered input.
"This batch of supplies is departing from the Daimyo's mansion," Tsunade explained, pointing to an enlarged map. "It'll follow this route to Kumogakure, stopping at five supply points along the way. Our target will be one of those points."
She circled the third stop.
"The convoy will include ninjas from the Daimyo's mansion as well as Kumogakure shinobi," Kakashi added. "It's highly likely that Killer B will be part of the escort."
"Who's Killer B?" Naruto asked.
"The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki," Kakashi replied. "You'll likely need to hold him off if he shows up."
Naruto grinned confidently. "No problem. Leave him to me."
"What about extraction?" Naruto asked.
Tsunade nodded approvingly at his question. "Good. You're thinking ahead. This supply point is closest to the coast. Once we secure the goods, we'll split into two groups: one will transport the supplies back to Shin-Konoha by sea, and the rest will stay behind to delay the enemy."
Might Guy was assigned to lead the transport team, while the others prepared to face Kumogakure's forces. Naruto insisted that Neji stay with the combat team, knowing the Hyuga prodigy wouldn't want to miss this opportunity for revenge.
As the supply convoy neared the third checkpoint, the Shin-Konoha team waited in silence, hidden in the surrounding terrain.
"Lord Killer B, we're approaching the supply point," one of the Kumogakure ninjas reported.
"Yo, we're on the go, gotta make it flow—serious faces, don't let it show!" Killer B rapped, gesturing flamboyantly.
Meanwhile, Naruto observed from the shadows, whispering to his team. "Wait… wait for it… almost there…"
The convoy reached the designated ambush zone, where dozens of explosive tags had been carefully planted.
"Now!"
With a deafening bang, the tags detonated, sending smoke and debris into the air. Though the damage was minimal, the chaos left the Kumogakure team disoriented.
"Go!" Naruto shouted, leading the charge as the Shin-Konoha team descended on their targets.
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