Chapter 60: 60 - The Final Bath
Konoha was located slightly west of the center of the Land of Fire.
Perhaps the founders of the village didn't give it much thought during its establishment, but this location indeed favors Konoha for troop movements along the continental battlefront.
Whether it was an attack from Suna, Iwa, or Kumo, Konoha's ninja forces could reach the frontlines at roughly the same time.
The only exception was the southeast, where the distance to Kiri was almost double that to the other three major villages. However, their former ally, Uzushio, used to stand directly at Kiri's doorstep.
Konoha's military strategy has always been to focus on the three major powers on the mainland, leaving the others on the sidelines.
Thus, when Kumo launched a southern offensive, Konoha's decision-making speed far surpassed that of the time when they attempted to aid Uzushio.
By midday of the first day, a strategy meeting was held in the Hokage's office.
By that afternoon, all ninja were notified.
And by noon of the second day, a vanguard force of 2,000 Konoha ninjas departed from the village's northern gate, heading toward the Land of Hot Water.
Following them was a reinforcement force of no fewer than 5,000 ninjas, who would advance alongside organized logistics units.
The primary mission of the 2,000-strong vanguard was to rendezvous with the remnants of the Yu ninjas and establish a frontline base within the Land of Hot Water to eliminate Kumo's vanguard force.
At the very least, they needed to halt Kumo's advance within the Land of Hot Water.
Given the high-intensity and critical nature of the mission, the troops comprised only chunin and above. The high-ranking combat strength consisted of jonin from the Sarutobi, Uchiha, and Hyūga clans, with Hyūga Hizashi as the commander.
Though Hizashi belonged to the branch family, his strength was comparable to his elder brother, the clan leader, making him a respected leader.
Moreover, a Hyūga jonin was extremely effective on the battlefield, and everyone trusted this.
The Uchiha clan sent six jonin with three-tomoe Sharingan, including Masashi, who managed to take Shisui's place after a tense meeting with Fugaku.
As the forces assembled at the gate, Hizashi addressed the gathered clan representatives. "The Hyūga will take point. Our Byakugan will be essential for reconnaissance."
"We'll provide heavy assault support," the Sarutobi commander added.
Masashi stepped forward. "The Uchiha can handle intercepting their sensor types."
Among the three clans, the Uchiha had the fewest jonin, while Sarutobi had the most. Combined, the three clans contributed around 30 jonin.
This force alone could easily crush a third-tier ninja village.
Although Kumo, as the only village with a comparable scale to Konoha, has around 20,000 chunin and higher, their jonin count was fewer than Konoha's.
Theoretically, Konoha could mobilize even more jonin, but the current deployment was the limit for the three clans. The Hokage's office couldn't allocate more manpower either.
It wasn't a matter of being stingy; Kumo's movements required Konoha to remain vigilant against Iwa. Familiar with both Kumo and Iwa's aggressive tendencies, Minato had already prepared for the possibility of a two-front war.
Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, was notoriously opportunistic, infamous across the ninja world for his lack of scruples.
During the Third Great Ninja War, he attempted to raid both Konoha and Kumo.
Konoha thwarted his plan thanks to Minato and his students, while Kumo's losses were even greater, costing them a Raikage.
Both Konoha and Kumo were wary of the old man staging another surprise attack.
Masashi had some understanding of Ōnoki's mindset. The old man was always looking for opportunities to exploit Konoha but viewed Kumo as a long-term adversary.
Kumo's desire for Konoha matched Ōnoki's ambition for Kumo.
During the last war, he mobilized 10,000 Iwa ninjas to attack Kumo's vulnerable rear, only to be met head-on by the obstinate Third Raikage.
With the addition of Konoha's skirmishes, Iwa, which initially had the smallest losses, suddenly skyrocketed to the second-highest casualty rate.
In the original timeline, the conflict between Iwa and Kumo never ceased. Akatsuki's biggest client was Iwa, frequently hiring their members to disrupt Kumo.
The 2,000 elite Konoha ninjas moved swiftly, unhindered by the absence of genin in their ranks.
By nightfall, they had already entered the Land of Hot Water.
As they moved through the devastated countryside, the scouts reported back regularly.
"The countryside's been stripped clean," a scout reported, landing silently beside Hizashi.
A Hyūga scout activated his Byakugan. "No civilian movement within 5 kilometers."
"Kumo's being thorough," Hizashi noted. "They're planning for a long campaign."
The current state of the Land of Hot Water was even more chaotic than when Masashi last visited. This chaos wasn't due to rampant banditry. Quite the opposite—there were no bandits left.
Kumo ninjas, adhering to the hierarchical "two levels up, three levels down" system of the great ninja nations, maintained decorum with the Land of Hot Water's nobility and protected the lives of the lords.
However, they were far less kind to commoners—and bandits, in Kumo's view, were just another type of commoner.
In ninja warfare tradition, bandits were usually the first casualties, serving as a warm-up.
Seen as unproductive burdens consuming food resources, bandits were often exterminated by ninja forces conducting local food requisitioning. The local nobility, far from objecting, often welcomed this development. As for civilian casualties, they simply turned a blind eye.
The cruelest reality was this: during ninja wars, the greatest casualties were never the ninja.
This was also why allied nations exist.
After entering the Land of Hot Water, the Konoha vanguard rested to recover their strength.
At dawn the next day, they began searching for the remnants of the Yu ninjas.
As expected, Yu had already been overrun; such a conspicuous target was inevitably Kumo's first objective.
They found the surviving Yu ninjas huddled in a makeshift camp, their faces drawn with exhaustion and defeat.
Only a few hundred had escaped, but for Yu, this was a substantial force.
The size of Yu's ninja force had been dwindling for some time, to the point that the local nobility preferred commissioning missions from Konoha rather than Yu. These days, the village's main focus was leveraging its hot spring resources for profit.
Nevertheless, it remained a ninja village and strategically the most valuable location in the Land of Hot Water. For Konoha, it was a ready-made frontline base.
Yu might now be Kumo's operational base—or a trap set for Konoha.
After discussing with the Yu ninja representatives, Hizashi and the clan jonin decided to launch an attack.
Under the guidance of the Yu ninjas, the Konoha vanguard used secret paths to approach the rear of Yu.
Yu was situated in a hot spring area.
The Land of Hot Water had about 3,000 hot spring sources scattered across the country, with Yu boasting over a hundred.
Known as the foremost "Village of Hot Water" in the world of shinobi, the village relied heavily on its hot spring resources. In peacetime, this provided the villagers with a comfortable life.
Thanks to the assistance of these local guides, the Konoha ninjas silently arrived at a vantage point north of Yu.
From this elevated position, they could clearly observe the entire layout of Yu.
It was a rustic settlement, mostly untouched by modern development. The buildings followed a consistent style, dominated by small houses. The tranquil village seemed frozen in time, exuding a laid-back rhythm far removed from Konoha's bustling energy.
The village's architecture reflected the non-confrontational nature of its inhabitants. However, Kumo's arrival had completely shattered this tranquility.
The Kumo ninjas had begun fortifying the village to enhance its utility as a military base.
Through the steam, Masashi could make out the hasty construction of defensive positions.
An attack at this moment could easily take them by surprise.
The activities within Yu were completely visible to the Hyūga jonin, with nothing escaping their Byakugan.
"Third quadrant clear," one Hyūga scout reported quietly. "Wait—movement at the hot springs."
"Another patrol?" a Sarutobi jonin asked.
"No," the Hyūga scout replied.
Even the moments when some Kumo ninjas slacked off didn't go unnoticed. This was almost unfair—being caught slacking not by your superior but by the enemy.
Still, after a thorough sweep, the situation appeared favorable—no ambushes.
When the Hyūga clan said there was no ambush, you could be certain. Their vision range was vast, enhanced with X-ray capabilities, and chakra signatures were crystal clear to them.
After an hour of observing Yu, not a single secret was left hidden.
"Give me the numbers again. Be precise," the Hizashi ordered.
"Five hundred and twenty-three Kumo ninja within Yu's walls. One hundred ninety-four in the southern camps. Approximately one thousand civilian laborers," the Hyūga scout responded crisply.
"And the Yu ninjas?"
"Over one hundred. Most are imprisoned. Thirty-two imposters among them—Transformation Technique users."
The Hyūga even counted the people present with precision. Every chakra signature, every disguised ninja, every civilian worker—nothing escaped their all-seeing eyes.
Thus, the Konoha ninjas felt reassured, restoring their energy and preparing for battle while leaving surveillance to the Hyūga and Uchiha clans.
The attack wasn't launched immediately.
"The new walls they're building—" the Sarutobi leader began, studying the construction progress.
"Let them finish," Masashi interrupted. "Better to attack when they think they're secure."
And we'll have clearer lines of sight for the operation, he added mentally, observing the emerging defensive positions.
After all, the Kumo ninjas were busy repairing the village's infrastructure, having torn down the old walls and begun expanding the village. It seemed only polite to let them finish building the new walls first.
The Konoha ninjas hid in the forest. When it was time for meals, they took out their rations and started eating.
It was only the first day. Konoha ninjas typically carried enough rations for five days, and if logistics failed to keep up after that, they'd resort to soldier pills.
This was one of the luxuries of being a Konoha ninja. The Suna ninja, for instance, carried only a day's worth of food, relying on pills after that. Even with logistical support, their food supply was meager.
During mealtime, the jonin gathered to discuss strategies.
The rations were quite decent—rice balls, sushi, sausages, and a mix of meat and vegetables, all made from high-quality ingredients. Jonin lived fairly comfortably, after all.
Masashi ate sushi while chatting quietly with his clan.
Beside him sat Pakura, who had joined the Police Force and was participating in this campaign. In Konoha, she carried the Uchiha clan's banner.
Pakura ate her share of food, marveling at the prosperity of the Land of Fire without much else to think about. She wasn't well-acquainted with anyone other than Masashi.
Still, as a renowned user of Scorch Release, someone approached her.
"Pakura, are you joining the raid tonight?" a jonin asked, studying her carefully.
"No problem," Pakura replied, taking a sip of water.
Based on the jonin's discussion, considering their overwhelming combat advantage and the need to preserve Yu's facilities, they planned to minimize the use of destructive jutsu during the raid.
And her Scorch Release would be perfect for contained elimination.
"How about assigning the Sarutobi to clear out the Kumo ninjas outside the village?" Masashi proposed after finishing his meal.
"Agreed," the Sarutobi jonin said. "But we'll need some Hyūga support to ensure no Kumo ninjas escape."
Compared to the Uchiha, the Sarutobi were better at large-scale fire attacks, making them more effective outside the village.
In the final years of the Warring States Period, the Sarutobi clan was second only to the Senju and Uchiha. Even the legendary Hashirama and Madara acknowledged their strength.
Without Hashirama and Madara, the Sarutobi were nearly as strong as the top clans.
After Konoha's founding, Hiruzen emerged as a peerless talent among the village's new generation.
"Sarutobi clan takes the outer perimeter. We maintain surveillance. Uchiha handle internal clearance," Hizashi outlined firmly.
"I'll mark key positions for rapid response," Masashi added, already planning his seal placements.
With roles decided, everyone focused on regaining their strength.
As the sun set, the laborers finished their day and moved to the crude camps outside the village. They weren't allowed to rest within Yu—only the Kumo ninjas enjoyed such privileges.
Watching some of the Kumo ninjas begin soaking in hot springs, the Hyūga signaled the others to start the operation.
Per their assignments, the Hyūga didn't directly engage but remained on standby, monitoring every movement of the Kumo ninjas with their Byakugan.
The Sarutobi prepared their gear and led their forces southward to block escape routes and initiate the attack from outside.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan was tasked with eliminating the Kumo ninjas inside the village as swiftly as possible and rendezvousing with the Sarutobi outside.
After the Sarutobi departed, the Uchiha jonin led their squads along the mountain slopes into Yu.
The mountain slopes were the source of several vital hot springs. To maximize the flow, Yu was built alongside these slopes, leaving this area unprotected by walls.
Even if the Kumo ninjas felt invincible, they still stationed guards here—albeit rather lazily.
"Quiet night," one guard muttered, scanning the darkness halfheartedly.
"Too quiet. Something feels—" The second guard's words died in his throat as a blade emerged from his chest. His partner's body crumpled silently beside him a moment later.
Konoha's outward intelligence might be lacking, but its internal secrecy was effective. Even Konoha's villagers were unaware that a vanguard force had been deployed, let alone the Kumo ninjas.
Masashi landed softly on a stone-paved street.
Using his Flying Thunder God Technique, he didn't join any teams but had marked every clan member and even Pakura with his teleportation seals.
His mission was to act freely.
The streets ahead twisted and turned, with numerous alleys. The combination of his Sharingan and chakra-sensing ability made navigation effortless.
Drawing his newly purchased short sword, Masashi moved silently toward his target.
The layout of Yu hardly suggested a military base. It was dominated by inns, with narrow streets and alleys often wide enough for just one person.
Suddenly, he accelerated.
His blade thrust forward, piercing through a Kumo ninja who happened to step out of an alley. Three seconds to deployment. Two targets front. One attempting flank.
With a flick of his left hand, he threw a kunai toward another Kumo ninja emerging from a building. Before the second ninja could react, his head was severed in a flash of the Flying Thunder God.
A scream and curses broke the silence of the night.
Unavoidably, once an attack began, discovery was certain.
A squad of Kumo ninjas appeared on the street. They immediately spotted Masashi in his unmistakable attire.
"It's a Konoha ninja!"
Three Kumo ninjas roared, drawing their weapons and charging forward.
But Masashi was slightly faster.
Sheathing his short sword, he flicked his wrist. With a puff of smoke, several shuriken shot out.
Two shuriken were deflected, but the others grazed the lead ninja. Masashi vanished from sight.
A fiery explosion erupted among the Kumo ninjas, consuming them in flames. Their screams echoed as their bodies withered and shrank, leaving only shriveled husks behind.
Masashi ended his jutsu and sensed no more Kumo ninjas in this area.
He headed toward the next district, following the densest cluster of chakra signatures.
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116/200 reached for bonus chapter.
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