"Danzo Shimura is right. Monkey, what are your thoughts?"
"Time waits for no one. We can only spare a portion of our forces to guard against sneak attacks from the two great hidden villages. I just hope we can end things quickly on the front lines." Hiruzen Sarutobi replied. At this moment, he had no better option. On the battlefield, the situation could change in an instant—no one could remain in control forever.
After another half-day of intense discussion, everyone was finally assigned their tasks.
The Konohagakure vanguard, led by Isamu and Hiruzen, would be responsible for intercepting the attacking Kumogakure ninja.
"I'm giving every battalion one day to prepare. We depart the day after tomorrow, sharp."
---
Early the day after tomorrow, Isamu arrived at the gates of Konohagakure to assemble. A Tang-style horizontal saber rested across his back. He had exchanged it from the system when he was promoted to Jonin, and it had cost him a full five thousand points.
Looking at Hiruzen standing at the front of the formation, Isamu noticed that the old man's usual mischievous demeanor was gone. In its place was a solemn, commanding presence.
"All forces, move out!"
Amid the cheers of the villagers, the vanguard led by Hiruzen and the Surprise Attack Force led by Danzo marched out of Konohagakure. The main army would depart half a day later.
Within a single day, the troops reached the border of the Land of Fire. Inside their own territory, the army marched quickly. After a brief rest, they crossed into the Land of Iron.
The Land of Iron was a narrow country blanketed in snow year-round. It had no ninja—only samurai. Though officially neutral between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, neutrality meant little during wartime.
Because it connected two great nations, the Land of Iron naturally became contested territory. Whoever seized it first would gain the strategic initiative, making it the primary battlefield.
After entering the country, the army slowed its march. Hiruzen sent members of the Hyuga Clan ahead to scout.
---
That night, the troops halted to set up camp.
Hiruzen summoned the captains of each squad to discuss the upcoming battle plans.
"Lord Hiruzen, I believe we should send small squads to eliminate the Kumogakure ninja hiding in the Land of Iron," one captain suggested. "If we can wipe them out, the main force will be able to focus entirely on the enemy's main army."
"Exactly what I was thinking," Hiruzen nodded. "I plan to select several powerful squads to carry out this mission. Do any of you volunteer?"
"My squad can do it!"
"Ours too!"
Many squads immediately stepped forward.
"Good, good. I didn't expect so many volunteers," Hiruzen said with a smile. "In that case, I'll dispatch ten squads. You will depart tomorrow morning. I expect the mission to be completed within five days. On the sixth day, we will coordinate with the main army for a full offensive in the center of the Land of Iron."
After naming the ten squads, he added:
"Regardless of whether the mission is completed, you must gather at the center on the sixth day."
---
While Isamu watched from the sidelines, the system suddenly chimed in.
[Ding! Mission received: Complete the task assigned by Hiruzen Sarutobi.]
Rewards based on kills:
Genin: 1,000 points
Chunin: 3,000 points
Jonin: 10,000 points
Eliminate 30 or more enemies to gain one opportunity to upgrade the Sharingan.
Failure penalty: None. If you fail, you'll probably be dead anyway.
Isamu nearly cursed out loud.
"Damn system… you really don't want me to live, do you?"
At first, hearing about the points and the Sharingan upgrade had made him excited. But the final line nearly made him explode in frustration.
"Lord Hiruzen, I'd like to participate in this mission as well," Isamu suddenly said just as the meeting was about to end.
Hiruzen looked at him strangely.
"Lord Hiruzen, huh?" the old ninja thought. "This kid is being unusually polite today."
"Very well," Hiruzen said after a moment. "Since you requested it, I'll allow it. But you'll have to go alone—I don't have any spare manpower."
Isamu sighed inwardly.
"I didn't want to bring it up either… but the system rewards are just too tempting."
He knew this war would last a long time. Of the squads heading out now, probably fewer than half would return alive.
Every enemy he killed meant less danger for everyone else—and at the same time, he could harvest system points.
A perfect win-win.
---
The next morning, Isamu picked a direction and rushed out first.
There was no helping it—he was the strongest among the squads. If he didn't lead the charge, the others might end up as cannon fodder.
"That brat… he's finally grown up," Hiruzen muttered with a smile as he watched Isamu disappear into the distance.
He understood the boy's intentions perfectly.
With a sigh, he murmured,
"In the blink of an eye… the younger generation can already stand on their own."
---
Walking across the endless snowfields of the Land of Iron, Isamu grumbled to himself.
"This crappy place is nothing but snow. It's making me irritable. If it weren't for the Mangekyō, I wouldn't even be out here."
He shivered slightly despite his thick clothes.
"No wonder this country doesn't produce ninja. Who would stay in a frozen hellhole like this?"
After about ten more minutes of travel, Isamu suddenly stopped.
He sensed four ninja rapidly approaching from ahead.
Over the past five years, he had learned some sensory ninjutsu—nothing unusual for a Jonin.
"Heh. The Land of Iron has no ninja. So these four must be Kumogakure shinobi."
"Perfect. Time to warm up."
He immediately buried himself in the snow, suppressing his chakra flow and waiting silently.
---
A few minutes later, cautious footsteps approached.
One average Jonin, one Chunin, and two Genin.
A standard four-man squad.
"Looks like a Jonin teacher bringing his weakling students out for experience," Isamu muttered.
"This time, I'll teach you something important—war isn't that simple."
As soon as they passed him—
He struck.
Isamu burst from the snow with a Kunai, slicing the throat of a Genin before the boy could react.
Without pausing, he hurled the Kunai.
The second Genin dropped instantly.
Seeing their two teammates fall, the Chunin and Jonin immediately drew their Kunai.
"Who are you?! How dare you ambush us!" the Jonin shouted.
Isamu smirked.
"I don't know if you Cloud ninja are pretending to be stupid—or if you really are stupid."
"The only people here besides you are from Konohagakure. Who do you think I am?"
"Konoha?! Damn it—he might have reinforcements!" the two said nervously, backing closer together while scanning their surroundings.
Isamu didn't bother explaining.
If they wanted to believe he had teammates, so be it.
He charged straight at them.
The Jonin quickly formed hand seals.
"Lightning Release: Black Panther!"
A panther made of crackling lightning lunged toward Isamu.
"Is that all?"
Isamu formed seals with one hand.
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"
A razor-sharp gale sliced the lightning panther in half and continued toward the pair.
They leapt aside to dodge.
But Isamu was already moving.
Using the Body Flicker Technique, he appeared beside the Chunin and slashed his throat with a Kunai.
Only the Jonin remained.
Isamu's Sharingan spun to life.
"Genjutsu: Tree Binding Death!"
"Sharingan?! An Uchiha?!"
The Jonin tried to close his eyes—but it was too late.
In the illusion, massive trees erupted behind him, binding his body and leaving him unable to move.
Outside the genjutsu, the real Jonin stood frozen.
Isamu calmly stepped forward and drove a Kunai straight through his heart.
"How… how is this possible…"
The Jonin spat blood, staring at Isamu in disbelief.
"Say goodbye to this beautiful world."
Isamu pulled the Kunai free.
The Jonin collapsed.
---
After cleaning up the battlefield, Isamu continued deeper into the snow-covered land.
Three days passed.
He had pushed far into enemy territory, eliminating Cloud ninja along the way.
Thirty in total.
Ten Jonin.
The rest Genin.
For a single shinobi to achieve such results alone—it was an astonishing record.
His mission could be considered perfectly completed.