"Hello, Gen, I'm Kato Dan, nice to meet you."
Kato Dan's face held a gentle, bright smile as he extended a hand to Uchiha Gen.
"Hello, Senior Dan, I've long heard of your great name."
Uchiha Gen also shook his hand.
"I've only recently mastered the Spirit Transformation Technique, and its duration is limited."
"Just now, to save Enju, I used up a lot of chakra, so I'll keep this brief."
"My team has assembled in a valley twenty kilometers east of you."
"Orochimaru has already led his team to attack."
"I hope that after you've rested, our two forces can combine and, while the main forces of Sunagakure are distracted, attack their logistical supplies."
"Understood."
Uchiha Gen replied with sparkling eyes.
This was definitely an A-rank mission, at minimum.
Moreover, if it could have a significant positive impact on the war, it wouldn't be impossible for it to be rated as an S-rank mission.
Time for another upgrade and card draw!
As for whether the mission would succeed, Uchiha Gen wasn't under much pressure.
Although Kato Dan's Spirit Transformation Technique had limitations, its power was undeniable.
Since his team members were few in number, their strength would certainly not be lacking; most of them had to be Jonin.
All they had to do was cling tightly to their coattails.
The reason they were willing to bring his side along was mostly because his strength was decent and wouldn't be a hindrance, at most adding Hyuga Hizashi's Byakugan, which would be useful soon.
In the valley.
Several ninjas formed a circle, protecting the blue-haired handsome man in the center.
"There's an unfamiliar scent."
A young Jonin sniffed and spoke.
"Don't worry, Gaku, it's Uchiha Gen and his team."
A bug swayed its body and flew from a distance to the ninja wearing a black coat, a detached voice transmitting from it.
Not long after the voice fell, the distant grass parted, and Uchiha Gen and his companions emerged.
"Senior Dan, and everyone, we've arrived."
Uchiha Gen greeted Kato Dan.
"Hmm, Gen, no need to be so polite."
"On your way here, Kama has already contacted Orochimaru through the liaison squad's summoned beast."
"There's less than half an hour left until they launch their second wave of attacks, so let's introduce ourselves first."
Kato Dan said with a smile.
His small team consisted of eight people in total, including Kato Dan, and two other Jonin.
One was Inuzuka Kaku, in his twenties, a master of the Inuzuka clan second only to the clan head, with a considerable reputation.
Many believed his strength could be considered elite among Jonin.
In the original timeline, during the Third Great Ninja War a few years later, Inuzuka Kaku served multiple times as Minato Namikaze's teammate, executing missions together.
His strength was sufficient to stand with Minato Namikaze in the most dangerous places.
Even when Minato Namikaze confronted the Kumogakure AB duo, Inuzuka Kaku stood beside him, so his strength was unquestionable.
The other Jonin had no particular fame in the original timeline.
He was from the Aburame clan, named Aburame Shiko, around his early thirties.
He was no different from the Aburame clan ninja in Uchiha Gen's impression: a typical Aburame Bug Master, proficient in various Insect Secret Techniques.
The remaining five were all Special Jonin, old and young, each with their unique skills.
Such a team, with an extremely high average quality, could rival an elite force of a hundred on the front lines.
Appearing in the enemy's heartland at this time could play an unexpected role.
Adding Uchiha Gen's squad would only make them even stronger.
Hyuga Hizashi had reached Jonin level in ninjutsu and taijutsu, possessing extremely strong close-combat abilities and the highly strategic Byakugan.
Uchiha Gen, after activating his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, could also rank near the top among Jonin, capable of sparring with some Elite Jonin.
Although the strength of the others was a step behind, they at least had Chunin-level strength, more than enough to assist.
Half an hour later.
"Enemy attack!"
A piercing alarm sounded, and numerous Sand Shinobi rushed out of the camp in a panic.
A swarm of insects swept out, covering the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Gen and Inuzuka Kaku, like two arrows, flew out from left and right, plunging into the crowd, causing chaos wherever they went!
In this era, where gods weren't yet clashing and Kage-level experts were absent, Jonin were the high-end combat power in the Ninja World War.
Each possessed overwhelming and terrifying might against ordinary ninja, practically human killing machines wantonly taking lives.
What's more, Uchiha Gen and Inuzuka Kaku were not ordinary Jonin.
"Rasengan!"
A high-speed spinning, azure chakra ball slammed squarely into a Sand Shinobi wearing a brown vest, sending his body flying.
The next second, sword light flashed, and flames surged.
The Sengoku Ninja Sword, burning with flames, reversed, casually cutting an enemy beside him in half.
"Gulp."
A swallowing sound echoed, and a Sand Shinobi blocking Uchiha Gen's path was somewhat terrified.
In his sight, Uchiha Gen, with his Sharingan glowing red and holding a flaming long sword, was like a demon emerged from hell.
He could even summon the gates of hell with a grimace!
And when this young Sand Shinobi finally mustered his courage, he was instantly controlled by a Genjutsu: Sharingan and then cleanly decapitated.
This was a ninja who appeared slightly younger than Uchiha Gen, probably the same age as Minato Namikaze.
As expected, he was just a Genin who had recently graduated and was then sent here.
With insufficient troops on the front lines, it was normal for new recruits like them to be assigned to guard outpost missions like this.
Because this was the second line, normally it was rare for powerful teams to break through the first line of defense and penetrate this deep.
It was usually relatively safe, used to let new generation ninjas initially experience the atmosphere of war before starting to participate in patrol, reconnaissance, assassination, and assault missions.
Under abnormal circumstances, however, the situation would be like the current one: a complete annihilation.
Uchiha Gen flicked the blood from his sword and looked back.
The entire Sunagakure outpost had almost been taken by them.
The sounds of battle gradually subsided.
This outpost, garrisoned by thirty to forty Sand Shinobi, lasted only a dozen minutes before being completely wiped out.
"This area has been cleared."
"The warehouse is in the basement here."
"Be careful to check for explosive tag traps on the way."
"Kamazo, the warehouse's seal is placed on the lower right corner of the entrance stone wall."
"I saw from his memories that the unsealing starts there, so it's up to you."
Kato Dan dropped a recently deceased Sand Shinobi, his aura slightly weakened, and said.
He had just used the Spirit Transformation Technique to invade the Sand Shinobi's mental world, engaging in a mental battle, crushing his will, and reviewing parts of his memories to obtain relevant intelligence.
"Yes! Lord Dan!"
A middle-aged Special Jonin responded.