Three camps were positioned here, yet they chose to infiltrate through the Uchiha's territory.
What, did they think the Uchiha were easy targets?
"Lord Fugaku..."
"Follow the plan. Don't let a single one of them escape."
Fugaku's face, already perpetually grim, darkened further, as if the words "bad mood" and "want to hit someone" were written across it.
"Yes, sir!"
Before the mixed-unit reorganization, Hyuga Clan ninjas would have burst out laughing at this sight.
Now, they had to suppress their amusement, knowing that even a chuckle would give Fugaku an excuse to vent his anger.
They couldn't afford to let Fugaku Uchiha vent his anger; they needed to bottle it up and unleash it on the Kiri Ninja.
News of the Kiri Ninja's landing near the Uchiha camp spread rapidly through the Aburame Clan's insect relay network, reaching the other two camp sectors within minutes.
Soon, all Konoha ninjas in the area were aware of the situation.
However, against the Hozuki Clan, sending most troops would be useless and might prematurely alert the Kiri Ninja.
Therefore, only ninjas skilled in Lightning Release techniques were mobilized.
Konoha's Lightning Release techniques weren't particularly refined, but even these rudimentary skills could prove effective against the Water Transformation Technique when applied in sufficient numbers.
The last to receive the news was the main camp.
It wasn't due to slow communication. To prevent the Kiri Ninja from discovering their movements, all communication between the Uchiha camp and the main camp had been severed.
Tsunade received the information from the Hyuga Clan's camp.
"Raj! Where's Raj?"
"Meow~ I'm here. No need to call me three or four times. I need my sleep to have the energy to deal with the enemy!"
Raj slithered out from under the tent, looking listless.
'Just a few Kiri Ninja? They're nothing even if you tie them all together. They can't possibly take down the main camp, can they?'
The personnel had already been assembled.
What the Kiri Ninja hadn't anticipated was that someone could coordinate the Uchiha, Hyuga, and Anbu camps, getting them to set aside their old grudges and cooperate.
During wartime, cooperation between ninja was far more complex than simple addition.
"Go help. End this quickly. It would be best if you could capture a few alive."
Tsunade leaned against the desk, sorting through scattered intelligence reports.
She was truly weary of war and never wanted to see bloodshed again if she could avoid it.
"Meow? There aren't even that many of them, are there?"
"There are nearly twenty in total, counting both waves. Don't underestimate them. Minato and Kakashi will be departing together, so your mission... hmm, you understand?"
Tsunade rested her chin in her hand, her fingers gesturing to indicate height.
Kakashi's height.
At this time, Kakashi wasn't the tall, handsome, and wealthy figure he would later become.
He was quite short; if not for his silver hair and mask, he'd be easily lost in a crowd.
That gesture...
'Hiss~ Kakashi was definitely heading down a perverted path. He'd never eavesdrop like this before. Spending too much time with Obito was clearly making him... gay-ish.'
Raj swept a cold glance, pinpointing Kakashi's hiding spot.
Still, it continued the conversation, its tone even more venomous than before:
"Teacher Minato? I'm busy, meow. Kakashi's too weak; I'm afraid I can't carry him."
"Weak?"
Tsunade paused, quickly realizing it meant "weak," but the metaphor was still... odd, leaving her a bit puzzled.
"Alright, you're going. Stop whining, or I'll beat you."
Tsunade delivered the most threatening words in her most nonchalant tone.
Her "beat you" wasn't some playful tap on the chest; it was the kind that could end lives.
Jiraiya's injuries from their last fight still hadn't fully healed.
Raj dared not push its luck.
It slithered out from Kakashi's hiding spot and waved a paw at the tree where Kakashi was crouched.
"Meow~"
Kakashi, who had been gripping his sword hilt tightly, slowly released his grip.
'Damn it! He knew I was hiding here listening, so he deliberately said that for me to hear.'
Even knowing this, Kakashi still felt deeply annoyed.
'I may be weak... but what can I do? Being an Elite Chunin at nine years old is already considered a genius in Konoha, right?!'
"Where are we going?"
"Meow! Why ask so many questions? Just follow me!"
Raj snapped, glaring at Kakashi before leaping onto a tree and heading toward the Hyuga Clan's camp.
'Since they have two groups, we'll take out the second one first. I wonder if they're old friends.'
Konoha's efficiency was remarkable.
In just one day, while Ao hadn't yet begun extracting information, the Yamanaka Clan had already dug up everything about the other Kirigakure Chunin, including his mother's name.
The two small teams that had escaped yesterday were led by Yusuke Hozuki and Renji Asachi, both Kirigakure Jonin of above-average strength among their peers.
Yusuke Hozuki's team consisted entirely of members from the Hozuki Clan, making them exceptionally strong.
Besides Yusuke himself, who was a Jonin, the rest were Special Jonin.
Renji Asachi's team consisted entirely of elite Chunin.
The Land of Water, being geographically isolated, lacked the abundant resources of the Land of Fire or the Land of Lightning.
In Kirigakure, a team composition like this was considered top-tier.
By now, the Kirigakure's assassination squad had already reached the outskirts of the main camp.
Behind them, Yusuke Hozuki and Renji Asachi had bypassed the Uchiha's camp.
For some reason, Renji Asachi felt uneasy.
'Something just felt... Too quiet.'
Suspicious, he slowed his pace.
Yusuke Hozuki, puzzled, manifested a head to stare at him.
Renji Asachi made a hand signal.
This was a Kirigakure code, indicating "something's wrong."
Most of the ninja ahead were either from the Hozuki Clan or part of the assassination squad that had infiltrated from the northern Land of Iron border.
But they were different.
Renji Asachi's team wasn't from the Hozuki Clan, and they had approached from the Uchiha's side, prepared to engage directly and draw attention.
Yet so far, no one had noticed them.
"We might be walking into an ambush," Renji Asachi whispered.
"What about Lord Kugutsuki..." one of his subordinates began, but Renji Asachi cut him off, speechless.
'Right. Kishimaru...'
'That man was no pushover. Failing to complete the mission would mean certain death upon their return.'
With that thought, Renji Asachi sighed softly and gestured forward to resume their advance.
But just then, the rustling of leaves echoed through the forest.
As elite ninja, they possessed ample experience, even without sensory techniques.
This wasn't a wild beast - it was a person.
"You go ahead. We'll create a diversion," Renji Asachi calmly ordered, signaling with his hand.
The four ninja formed hand seals in unison, each preparing a different Ninjutsu.
By the time the sound in the forest drew closer, they had completed their seals.