Having grasped the critical point, Kurama Sanyō asked, "Sensei, if we can't afford to lose—as Shūichi said—then as the vanguard squad, our mission must be crucial, right?"
Namikaze Minato nodded. "Of course!"
"Our first objective is to secure this town. Reinforcements will replace us afterward."
"Next, we'll penetrate deeper into the Land of Rivers, disrupt Suna's current operations there, and draw their forces away to create opportunities for follow-up teams."
"So, this is an A-rank mission!"
Uchiha Shisui and Kurama Sanyō immediately wore expressions of unprecedented gravity.
Not just because of the A-rank designation, but also due to the peril of operating behind enemy lines.
Meanwhile, Hoshita Shūichi pondered: Even if we succeed, Konoha's victory isn't guaranteed—especially without full-scale war.
So, where's the key?
The Land of Rivers' daimyō?
No... it's the Third Kazekage of Sunagakure!
But targeting the Kazekage risks all-out war. So, back to the daimyō?
Shūichi pinpointed the crux, though it was irrelevant to their immediate mission.
"Next, we'll infiltrate the town with shadow clones to gather intel, locate the Suna-nin, and eliminate them swiftly," Minato outlined, his plan straightforward.
The team split into shadow clones.
Approaching the town, Shūichi and Shisui transformed into a stray cat and tanuki, slipping in unnoticed. Minato and Sanyō followed later, the former teleporting in with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Fanning out, they combed the streets for traces of Suna-nin.
Suddenly, Shūichi halted—a shadow had flickered past.
He leapt onto a rooftop and spotted a figure darting toward his original position.
A Suna-nin!
But Shūichi didn't pursue. The shinobi's movements were too conspicuous, and genjutsu wasn't his forte—better left to Shisui. Instead, he backtracked the trail, hoping to find a Suna base.
Soon, through footprints and eavesdropped conversations, Shūichi confirmed their hideout: a manor at the town's heart.
Dispelling his clone, Shūichi relayed the intel to Minato, who had already captured the patrolling Suna-nin.
Cross-referencing confirmed it—two Suna squads were stationed here: one led by a jōnin (with three chūnin), the other by a chūnin (with three genin). The jōnin team occupied the manor, while the genin team guarded the town's four main roads in civilian disguise.
"The jōnin squad is mine. Shisui, Shūichi, Sanyō—handle the chūnin team," Minato ordered. "Shisui takes the chūnin; Shūichi and Sanyō, the genin. My attack will draw attention, forcing them to expose themselves."
"Understood!"
The team scattered.
Shūichi split into two clones, heading north and west. In stray cat form, he stalked his targets.
When explosions erupted at the town center, the two genin bolted toward the chaos—only for Shūichi's clones to ambush them mid-sprint. Blood sprayed as their throats were slit before they could react.
By the time Shūichi regrouped, Minato had already neutralized the jōnin squad. Shisui and Sanyō soon arrived, mission accomplished.
"Next target: Shanliao Town!"
Ignoring the panicked town, the team raced onward.
Shanliao Town's setup differed: three Suna squads, all jōnin-led, formed a triangular defense with elevated lookout points. Even stealthy eliminations would trigger rapid reinforcements.
After reconnaissance, Minato split the team: "Shisui with Shūichi; Sanyō with me. We'll strike the eastern squad. Shisui and Shūichi, intercept the northern reinforcements."
The plan: a lightning raid.
Transformed into stray animals, Shūichi and Shisui lurked near a trash heap, waiting.
Three minutes later, explosions lit the east. The northern squad mobilized—and as they vaulted overhead, Shūichi pounced.
Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!
A five-meter inferno roared toward the squad's rear. Simultaneously, Shisui unleashed an even larger fireball.
"Look out!"
The trailing Suna-nin spun, too late for jutsu—but hurled explosive-tagged kunai.
BOOM!
The detonations scattered the fireballs, but the blast wave flung two chūnin off their feet. The jōnin landed clumsily on a roof.
Shūichi and Shisui struck faster.
Using Tsunade's chakra burst technique, Shūichi decapitated one chūnin mid-fall. Shisui's blade flashed—another throat slit.
"Shūichi, behind you!" Shisui shouted.
The jōnin had already finished hand seals.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
A hurricane of wind blades shredded buildings like paper. Dodging behind cover, Shūichi and Shisui barely avoided the onslaught.
The jōnin descended, sword aimed at Shūichi's skull.
At the last moment, Shūichi twisted aside, drew his Ame-no-Murakumo Blade, and counterattacked low—his blade sheathing in azure flames.
A-rank Sword Art Secret Technique: Azure Flame Skyblade!
The blue glow was fire-natured chakra, compressed to 4,000°C—Shūichi's current limit. Distorted air fooled the jōnin's guard; the blade cleaved through his sword, armor, and torso in one motion.
No blood spilled. The searing edge cauterized the wound instantly, leaving the corpse eerily upright.
Shūichi didn't glance back, charging toward Shisui's fight.
The second jōnin paled. "Impossible!" His elite chūnin, with the advantage, had fallen so quickly?
These Konoha brats were monsters.
He retreated skyward, unleashing another Great Breakthrough to scatter Shisui's clones.
Shūichi blasted through the gale, firing a Flame Bullet without seals.
"No hand signs?!" The jōnin barely parried with a wind-chakra-coated blade.
Shūichi summoned two shadow clones, all wielding azure blades. Shisui added kunai barrages.
Outmaneuvered, the jōnin sacrificed a clone and took a slash to his shoulder armor to kick another apart. He grabbed Shūichi's blade with wind-chakra-reinforced hands—only for it to ignite blue again.
Azure Flame Skyblade!
The heat split his palm. Howling, he backpedaled—but Shisui and Shūichi pressed in, blades a blur.
His sword shattered. Shisui's slash opened his vest, but a brutal kick sent the Uchiha flying.
Shūichi didn't hesitate. Another stroke severed the jōnin's arm, then his throat.
Gasping, Shūichi turned to Shisui. "You okay?"
Shisui clutched his stomach, nodding. That kick had nearly knocked him out—proof of a jōnin's speed.
Minato and Sanyō arrived via Flying Thunder God.
"Well done!" Minato praised, then frowned. "But Shūichi, your chakra—"
Shūichi formed a seal. "No problem, sensei."
He released his half-formed Yin Seal, unleashing six months of stored chakra to replenish himself.
No regrets. This was why he'd trained it.
"Sensei, more Suna-nin incoming!" Sanyō warned.
A four-man squad appeared—but upon seeing the carnage, their leader barked, "Retreat!"
Two squads annihilated this fast? These Konoha shinobi were beyond their pay grade.
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