The following day.
Tianyuan, Kushina, and the troops they led had finished their rest and recovery. Both of them needed to start readapting to the specific conditions of this battlefield.
The Konoha ninja stationed there looked at Tianyuan with peculiar expressions. While they believed he possessed great strength after all, ninja from the same village had no reason to lie they had yet to witness it with their own eyes. Consequently, many still harbored a mix of apprehension and doubt.
Inside a tent at the heart of the Konoha camp served as the war command room. Tianyuan and Kushina were there, alongside Hizashi Hyuga, Shinku Yuhi, and several others.
"Tianyuan, since you've just arrived at this front, let me first brief you on the current situation," Shinku Yuhi said slowly. Before them lay a topographical map of the region.
"First, the Rock Ninja are primarily concentrated in this area," Shinku said, tracing a finger over a region on the map. "Of course, they aren't gathered in a single massive horde; they are dispersed into small, mobile squads. Secondly, the Iwagakure forces currently hold a numerical advantage over Konoha."
"There are several enemy commanders you must watch out for. First is Kitsuchi; he is the son of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, and possesses immense strength and mastery over Earth Release. Then there is Roshi's team;
as the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, his power cannot be underestimated. Finally, there is Han; he is the Five-Tails Jinchuriki and is just as dangerous as Roshi. There are many other squads led by Iwagakure Jonin as well. Fortunately, the Third Tsuchikage has not appeared on this battlefield yet, which is a good sign."
Shinku Yuhi continued his detailed briefing, "Now, regarding our engagements with the Rock Ninja over the past few days..."
He provided a concise summary of both sides' strength and the general flow of the conflict, ensuring Tianyuan and Kushina fully understood the local tactical landscape. Perhaps this Tianyuan, rumored to possess the power of the Mangekyo, could help turn the tide for the units stationed here.
A short while later.
"Tianyuan, Kushina, how about joining me for a reconnaissance mission?" Hizashi Hyuga suggested.
"A scouting mission? That works," Tianyuan nodded. It was a good way to acclimate to the environment. Kushina smiled nonchalantly; for them, such a task was trivial.
Tianyuan and Kushina followed Hizashi and his specialized reconnaissance team as they departed the Konoha camp. Dozens of ninja moved swiftly through the desolate, barren terrain. They traveled quite a distance from the base, searching for areas where the Rock Ninja might be congregating.
"Byakugan!"
Hizashi's white pupils narrowed, and the veins around his temples surged as his vision expanded.
So this is the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, Tianyuan thought, observing Hizashi. In terms of raw combat power, the Byakugan was often considered less overwhelming than the Sharingan, but in large-scale warfare, it provided far superior utility.
It possessed the power of telescopic vision and the ability to see through objects, detecting things over a kilometer away. This was invaluable for seizing the initiative. It was no wonder Hizashi had been appointed captain of the reconnaissance force; his eyes were perfectly suited for the role.
Deactivating his dojutsu, Hizashi looked at Tianyuan and smiled. "Tianyuan, while my Byakugan might not match your Sharingan in individual combat capability, my eyes are far more effective when it comes to insight and battlefield utility."
"Hizashi Jonin, you're being too modest," Tianyuan replied with a smile. "As a Kekkei Genkai that stands on equal footing with the Sharingan, I certainly don't look down on the Byakugan. Perhaps it even has the potential to evolve to an even higher level."
"Is that so?" Hizashi shook his head. "Tianyuan, that is likely where they differ. The Sharingan can evolve step by step, but with the Byakugan, we can only deepen our familiarity with it."
"We'll see," Tianyuan chuckled but said nothing more. He knew that the miraculous Tenseigan was an evolution built upon the foundation of the Byakugan.
"Let's move, Tianyuan. There are no signs of the enemy here," Hizashi said, leading the ninja toward another direction. Tianyuan followed closely behind.
A moment later.
"I've spotted a squad of Sand Ninja, about several dozen of them," Hizashi said, stopping abruptly with his Byakugan still active.
He paused, his expression shifting slightly. "Wait... they seem to be heading straight for us. It's possible our tracks were discovered by the Rock Ninja."
"Coming for us?" The other Konoha ninja were stunned. Did a few dozen ninja really think they could handle this team? In the past, perhaps, but with Tianyuan and Kushina added to the squad, this group was now incredibly formidable especially Tianyuan. This was a man capable of slaughtering hundreds of Sand Ninja single-handedly.
"No, there are Iwagakure ninja behind us as well!" Hizashi's face paled.
"We're being surrounded," Tianyuan said grimly. Hizashi's Byakugan allowed them to detect enemies early, but the fact that the enemies were positioned like this meant they had been lured into a trap. In such a scenario, even the Byakugan's range had its limits.
"Yes. I've just detected dozens more Rock Ninja closing in from both flanks. We are completely encircled." Hizashi's expression was dark. He hadn't expected to run into such an ambush while escorting Tianyuan and Kushina. Whether they could break through the encirclement was now a serious concern.
However... Hizashi thought of Tianyuan's reputation. Even if the stories were slightly exaggerated, Tianyuan's strength was undeniably immense. They should have a chance to break out.
"Hizashi Jonin, how much time do we have?" Tianyuan asked.
"Given their pace, they will arrive in a few minutes," Hizashi replied.
"Then, everyone, prepare for battle," Tianyuan said, a smile appearing on his face.
"Battle? Tianyuan, aren't we going to break through?" Hizashi asked, confused. Breaking out seemed like the logical choice. The Rock Ninja outnumbered them several times over, and this was clearly a pre-planned ambush.
"The Rock Ninja might have tracked your movements, but they have no idea that Kushina and I are with you," Tianyuan laughed. "So..."
"Let's put a perfect ending to our first battle on this front."
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