Chapter 71: Land of Fire

Chapter 71: Land of Fire

The next day, Anbu Third Division's Squad Seven gathered again at the training ground. After Ishiro outlined the mission details, the four left Iwa.

Their mission was to reach the border between the Land of Iron and the Land of Fire and harass a specific Leaf outpost.

Ishiro was quite mindful of the bigger picture, knowing well that Konoha wouldn't collapse because of the loss of White Fang. Once Konoha resolved its internal disputes, it would retaliate forcefully against the invading nations.

Therefore, his squad needed to complete their mission swiftly and withdraw promptly.

Initially, the squad moved rapidly through the Land of Earth. Upon entering the Land of Waterfalls, they became more cautious but maintained a fast pace, traveling long hours each day.

This rapid pace continued until they reached the junction between the Lands of Waterfalls, Iron, and Fire.

Instead of crossing into the Land of Iron, Ishiro opted for a more audacious route—entering the Land of Fire directly, maneuvering behind the targeted outpost. Although risky, Konoha was currently distracted by internal conflicts and border issues, making this path relatively safe.

Through his prior missions, Ishiro learned that Anbu rarely patrolled deep inside their own territory, mainly focusing on border regions. Given the limited ninja forces of any Hidden Village, interior regions away from borders or the village itself were typically safest.

Of course, their squad still encountered occasional Leaf ninja, but by staying vigilant, they successfully avoided detection.

The squad rested at the border overnight, primarily because Jun's weaker physical condition required recovery from the exhausting journey.

The following day, to minimize risks, the team stayed put during daylight and moved at night, carefully penetrating deeper into the Land of Fire.

This was Ishiro's first time inside the Land of Fire. Due to his past life's influence, he was especially cautious toward Konoha, frequently employing the anti-detection ninjutsu he'd learned early on and keeping an eye out for suspicious insects.

Anti-detection ninjutsu was a long-lasting but chakra-consuming technique. Ishiro periodically activated it during travel. Every time they neared villages or roads, Ishiro would scout ahead using sensory ninjutsu.

Eventually, they reached their objective safely.

Hidden in a dense forest, observing the distant Leaf outpost, Ishiro's squad discussed gathered intelligence.

Ishiro estimated that by now, Konoha would have resolved most internal issues, leaving them limited time.

"The outpost houses seventeen squads," Ishiro began briefing. "Ten squads with four members each, seven squads of three members, plus a commander—totaling 62 ninjas."

"The commander is either a Jōnin or Special Jōnin," Ishiro continued. "He rarely leaves the outpost building, which is shielded against sensory techniques, making precise assessment difficult."

"Of the squad leaders, all seventeen are Chūnin, accompanied by four additional Chūnin-level ninjas. The rest are Genin."

"Our task is harassment: eliminating at least seven squads and retreating safely. Let's discuss tactics."

Jun proposed, "Taking down seven squads quietly will inevitably alert them. We should wait until patrols disperse at maximum distance, attacking squads individually."

Fu nodded. "Right. If we start our attack from within the Land of Fire and head outward, we can execute this silently if handled correctly."

Seiten added, "Give me time, and I'll set up traps to slow down the commander."

Ishiro approved, and after refining details, the squad initiated their plan the next morning.

Using sensory ninjutsu, Ishiro confirmed their first target's position, then cautiously approached.

When the target squad was around a kilometer away, Ishiro's team waited silently in ambush. Though the patrol seemed random, Ishiro had learned their pattern during previous border missions.

As expected, the Leaf squad slowly approached their hiding spot.

When the patrol reached twenty meters away, Ishiro instantly used Body Flicker to appear directly before the Chūnin captain. Before he could shout, Ishiro cast Mind Disturbance, disorienting him, and quickly slit his throat.

Simultaneously, Fu and Seiten engaged two Genin. Fu acted even quicker than Ishiro, swiftly dispatching his opponent.

Seiten took slightly longer but managed smoothly, easily handling a Leaf Genin.

Jun, a ninjutsu specialist whose wind techniques were noisy, chose instead to disrupt the last Genin with thrown weapons, preventing his intervention. Ishiro and Fu promptly attacked together, killing the terrified, inexperienced Genin.

After eliminating the first squad, Ishiro used sensory ninjutsu to check nearby patrols' reactions, while his teammates swiftly gathered loot—especially forehead protectors—as mission proof. Ishiro then sealed away the body of the Chūnin captain.

The squad hurried onward without attempting to hide their kills, as time was limited.

Their second target was another four-member squad, this one including two Chūnin.

Deciding quickly, they set a careful ambush. When the enemy entered range, Seiten triggered his hidden traps.

The enemy Chūnin immediately tried protecting their teammates, but Ishiro instantly closed distance and cast Body Paralysis genjutsu on the captain. Immobile, he was swiftly killed by thrown weapons.

Meanwhile, Fu and Seiten efficiently eliminated the second Chūnin, aided by Jun's interference.

Fu quickly took down another Genin, and Ishiro dispatched the final opponent using Water Line jutsu.

However, their actions had caused some noise, alerting a nearby three-person Leaf patrol that cautiously approached.

Realizing this, Ishiro swiftly instructed the team to intercept.

Since Ishiro's squad was bloodstained from the fight, they attacked quickly from a distance. Using Body Flicker three consecutive times, Ishiro ambushed the enemy captain—a ninjutsu specialist—landing a deep slash on his chest.

Bleeding heavily, the enemy tried forming seals, but Ishiro, far quicker, fired another Water Line jutsu through his throat.

His teammates, slower in catching up, witnessed Ishiro dispatch the captain with awe.

Without hesitating, Ishiro threw kunai at the remaining two panicking Genin while forming seals with one hand. Moving closer, he unsealed another sword from a sealing scroll and swiftly killed one Genin.

Fu caught up and eliminated the final Genin easily.

Ishiro sighed in relief. Thankfully, these two Genin were inexperienced rookies, failing to signal alarms; otherwise, the squad would already be compromised.

They continued onward, taking down another patrol en route. However, nearing the border, disaster struck.

Their fifth targeted squad had secretly placed alarms along the route, hidden skillfully enough that Ishiro's team triggered one inadvertently.

Instantly, a bright warning flare rose into the sky.

Glancing grimly at the activated device and flare overhead, Ishiro took a deep breath, declaring, "We're exposed—shift to aggressive tactics!"

Abandoning stealth, the squad rushed straight toward the alerted patrol.

While sprinting, Ishiro rapidly completed hand seals. "Water Release: Pressurized Water Line!"

A deadly water stream shot through the forest, accurately killing one Genin over sixty meters away.

Ishiro quickly prepared a second attack, but this time, the opponents, now alert, evaded effectively.

Closing within forty meters, Ishiro observed Fu already further ahead, approaching thirty meters.

As Ishiro started forming seals again, the enemy Chūnin shouted warnings and tried casting ninjutsu himself.

Ishiro momentarily vanished behind a large tree—then, surprisingly, didn't reappear instantly. The Chūnin realized too late—Ishiro had used Body Flicker.

Appearing directly in front, Ishiro swiftly decapitated him before the Chūnin could react.

Turning, Ishiro confronted a brave Genin charging toward him, armed with an explosive-tagged kunai. Avoiding unnecessary risk, Ishiro shifted targets instantly.

Just then, Jun's Wind Release ninjutsu blasted the charging Genin away. The explosion from his own kunai silenced him permanently.

Ishiro, meanwhile, swiftly dispatched the final Genin.

Having cleared the enemy rapidly, Ishiro paused briefly, breathing steadily—aware they must escape quickly, as Konoha's reinforcements would soon respond.

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