Bab 88: Chapter 88
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After handing the exploding tags obtained from the transaction to Asuka, Toshiro turned to Kirishima, who understood immediately. Kirishima bit his finger and used the summoning jutsu to call forth a ninja cat with whom he had a contract.
"Yoko, is Grandma Cat ready?"
Holding his summoned beast in his arms and stroking it affectionately, Kirishima asked.
"Of course she's ready! Just pay the bill, and you can start trading right away!"
Seeing the white-furred cat purring in Kirishima's arms and hearing the mention of payment, Toshiro couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in his heart. They had really gone to great lengths for this mission.
Without such precautions, their team's strength alone wouldn't suffice to complete the mission. Even if they succeeded, it was unlikely that anyone but him would return alive.
"This is the agreed amount, and these are additional materials we collected. Please give them to Granny Cat."
He handed the prepared money to the white cat and gave it another sealed scroll containing materials collected from the battlefield. These were intended to help pay off their debt to Grandma Cat.
"The quantity is correct, and I've received the items. Wait a bit, and Kirishima can summon my sister, who will bring the goods."
"Thank you!"
"Goodbye!"
After saying goodbye to Kirishima, the summoned white cat turned into a puff of smoke and vanished. It took most of Toshiro's remaining money and materials, leaving him financially strained.
What frustrated him most was that Granny Cat refused to extend credit, insisting on cash payments. Her reasoning was solid; if she didn't get paid upfront and they died on the battlefield, what about her payment..?.
Toshiro had no choice but to comply. Without these supplies, they'd run out of ninja tools and exploding tags in a few battles. This time, he had spent 3.6 million ryos on 600 exploding tags, leaving him with little money after accounting for other expenses like ninja tools and medicine.
The village's supplies were insufficient, providing only a dozen exploding tags and some ration pills. These were inadequate, especially for operations behind enemy lines where quick resupply was impossible.
Fortunately, Kirishima didn't keep him waiting too long. Within ten minutes, Kirishima summoned his summoning beast again, who brought the pre-ordered weapons. Granny Cat's deliveries were prompt as long as payment was made.
"Let's go!"
Distributing the supplies, Toshiro led his team into the surrounding bushes, heading towards their mission's target.
...
One day later.
In an open plain in the country of grass, a yellow-brown earth and stone fortress stood quietly, contrasting sharply with the surrounding green grass. This was an Iwa Ninja outpost, aiding their reconnaissance missions and acting as a critical node for controlling Konoha's movements.
"Is this fortress our mission target?"
In a dense grassland five or six kilometers away, a group of more than a dozen figures hid, observing the fortress through telescopes. Despite the distance, they were cautious, fearing discovery by the enemy observers.
Iwa Ninja's fortresses were formidable, heavily fortified with earth-style ninjutsu, presenting a significant challenge to Konoha's ninjas.
"No wonder you bought so many exploding tags. Without them, completing the mission would be almost impossible!"
Kirishima remarked seriously. Years on the battlefield had changed him from a reckless kid to a cautious ninja.
"Toshiro, how confident are you?"
"Confidence? It depends on the situation!"
Previously, Kirishima would have excitedly asked when they were attacking. Now, everyone looked seriously at the distant fortress.
"Asuka, You and Kirishima find a place to stay and scout the nearby terrain. Be careful not to leave any traces."
As the team captain, Toshiro didn't need to handle everything himself. That's what teammates are for. He gave instructions to Asuka and Kirishima while contemplating how to complete the mission.
The sky was a clear, cloudless blue.
A joyful eagle's cry pierced the air.
"Don't be distracted, Kurosawa! That's just a hawk hunting for prey. It's nothing unusual."
"Yes, Captain!"
Kurosawa reluctantly shifted his gaze from the hawk and resumed his vigilant watch over the surroundings. He realized he had been overly tense. It was indeed just an ordinary eagle with its prey—a black snake—in its talons.
"Everyone gets nervous on their first battlefield mission. It will pass with time," the twenty-year-old Iwa ninja, Kurosawa's superior, reassured him.
"Yes, Captain!"
Kurosawa's anxiety was apparent, and his captain, recognizing his youth and inexperience, tried to calm him.
"Relax, Kurosawa. You need to learn to ease your nerves, or you'll burn out."
The captain's experience showed as he began instructing Kurosawa in the art of staying calm during missions. Their current task of monitoring the area around their stronghold was monotonous, and a tense partner could spell disaster.
Meanwhile, hidden from their sight, a group of Konoha ninjas gathered, waiting for a signal. Not long after, the hawk flew overhead, dropping its prey. The bird then flapped its wings frantically and flew off in a random direction.
As the prey fell onto an open scroll, it disintegrated into a simple map showing the interior layout of the stronghold.
"Phew! It seems our reconnaissance didn't alert them," Ryū exhaled in relief.
"This is our fourth high-altitude reconnaissance, but with Toshiro's precautions, it's no wonder we weren't detected," he continued.
Ryū, along with other seasoned team leaders, including Uchiha Shisui, had gathered. Toshiro had specifically brought Shisui, a prodigy, on this mission.
"Toshiro-senpai's really an expert in everything. It's amazing," Shisui remarked.
"Shisui, you're good at flattery," another team leader responded. "Don't worry. When you get older, you'll learn these things too."
To avoid alerting the enemy, Toshiro had been exceptionally cautious. He used the Super Beast Imitation Drawing to control an ordinary hawk as a cover, and on the black snake acting as prey, he employed chakra-shielding measures to avoid detection by Iwa's sensing ninjas.
"Asuka! Kirisshima! How's the retreat plan? If we fail this mission, we might be wiped out."
"No problem. With your preparations, we have three contingency plans. It's the best we can do."
"Good."
"Ryu! Akane! How are your teams? Any issues?"
"None! After three days of resting, we're in peak condition!"
Toshiro had been observing and preparing for three days to gather intelligence and minimize casualties.
"You haven't revealed our presence, right?"
"No," came the unanimous reply.
Toshiro was pleased with his team's responses. Years on the battlefield had transformed them from uneasy rookies into competent ninjas. The brutal wars had not only activated their Sharingan but also pushed them to pursue greater power, driven by the loss of many comrades.
"Captain, I have a question."
"Yes, about the delay?"
Before the question could be asked, Toshiro interjected.
"Yes. The mission required us to destroy this Iwa Ninja stronghold three days ago. Isn't it a problem that we delayed?"
Shisui was puzzled by Toshiro's approach. His education at the Ninja Academy had emphasized strict adherence to mission schedules. Despite his confusion, he chose this moment to voice his concern.
"What do you think would have happened if we attacked three days ago? Without sufficient intelligence, do you think we would have succeeded, given our situation?"
Toshiro responded with a question instead of an answer.
"This... probably not. But aren't ninjas supposed to prioritize missions above all else?"
"You're still young. As you grow, you'll understand these things better."
Toshiro didn't elaborate. He had found that many ninjas in the clan, especially those with the Sharingan, had a rigid mindset. Once they committed to an idea, they were unwavering. Gradual experience would eventually teach them these lessons.
Toshiro didn't have the time to explain everything now. He believed Shisui would understand in due course. Toshiro, never much of a lecturer, focused on ensuring he wouldn't be deceived—a skill honed in his previous life.
Faced with Toshiro's obviously perfunctory answer, Shisui was not ready to give up and continued to ask:
"But in this case... aren't you afraid of punishment from the village, Captain?"
Shisui had a point. Ordinary ninjas who delay missions often face severe repercussions, such as being assigned to the most perilous tasks with slim chances of survival.
But for Toshiro and his team, these punishments held little weight. They were already undertaking the most dangerous missions on the front lines. Even if there were more dangerous assignments, the clan would intervene on their behalf. Toshiro's active involvement with the clan, assisting with summoning beasts, and sharing ninjutsu had all been to ensure this support.
This is the difference between having a powerful backing and not having one. Despite their current predicament being partly due to their background, they had no choice.
To some, they were marked as unstable, dangerous, and even malevolent from birth. It wasn't up to them to choose otherwise.
Toshiro had also prepared a contingency plan. If things went south, he didn't mind defecting. His current strength was formidable, and he was confident he could evade Konoha's pursuit. Joining the Akatsuki organization might be a viable option, though it would implicate his clan and friends. This path would only be considered as a last resort.
"Shisui, remember this: sometimes, the lives of you and your companions are more important than temporary success or failure. Don't throw your life away for trivial matters."
Toshiro knew that Shisui would eventually sacrifice himself to prevent a clan coup, aiming to create an opportunity for Itachi and help him awaken his Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Only when you're alive do you have infinite possibilities and the chance to create miracles. Don't die needlessly."
After giving Shisui this piece of advice, Toshiro turned his attention to comparing the original map with the information from recent reconnaissance missions to check for discrepancies. He wasn't dismissing Shisui, but he genuinely believed the mission to destroy the Iwa Ninja stronghold was insignificant.
Even if they succeeded in destroying the stronghold, the enemy would soon rebuild it, making it even more fortified. Unless Konoha could secure a decisive victory on the main battlefield and dominate the area, any action here would be futile.
Such a breakthrough was highly unlikely, given that the Lands of Lightning, Water, and Wind were draining Konoha's resources. The addition of Kumo Ninja further increased the pressure on Konoha, making it almost impossible to achieve a breakthrough in the grass country.
That night, around four in the morning, in a forest nearly ten kilometers from the stronghold, Toshiro conducted a final check.
"Make sure your weapons are ready!"
Dressed in a regular combat uniform, Toshiro's expression was solemn as he made the final arrangements.
"Asuka, Kirishima, Ryu, and Akane! Any questions about your teams' missions?"
After receiving affirmative answers, Toshiro continued, "Alright, let's begin. I hope everyone completes this mission safely!"
"Yes!!!"
The team's uniform response echoed through the dense forest, full of solemnity and determination. Toshiro then unfolded a large scroll. With a surge of his chakra, five huge birds with wingspans of 14 to 15 meters emerged from the white paper spread out on the ground.
"Let's move out!"
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