章 122: Chapter 122: Retreat

Sniper rifles. Yes, the weapons in their hands were advanced sniper rifles.

I won't go into detail about the model specifics, if I did, that might lead to some undesirable questions. What you need to know is this: the receiver is made of aluminum alloy, and the butt is crafted from high-strength plastic, divided into two sections and screwed into the receiver. The front of the butt is equipped with an adjustable bipod for stability. The barrel itself is stainless steel, about 660mm long, and is screwed to the front of the extra-long receiver, allowing it to float freely within the stock. This rifle has a lifespan of around 5,000 rounds, ensuring accuracy over time.

This rifle wasn't just any firearm; it was a technological evolution, a high-powered weapon derived from Orochimaru's research into advanced weaponry.

The problem with ordinary pistols, even those like the Desert Eagle, is that their effective range is only 50 to 200 meters at best. Such a limited range is practically useless in the world of ninjas. When shinobi engage in battle, they usually have sensory ninjas with them, who can detect enemies from over 100 meters away, if not more. Ninjas also tend to keep considerable distance during combat, making sneak attacks with a pistol nearly impossible.

In a direct fight, a pistol's utility diminishes even further. Against a well-trained ninja, kunai and exploding tags are much more effective.

So, when Orochimaru unlocked weapon technology, he didn't waste time creating conventional firearms. Instead, he went straight for the sniper rifle, a weapon capable of eliminating targets from over a kilometer away. Some models of sniper rifles even have an effective range exceeding 2,000 meters.

To put that in perspective, most people can't even see clearly beyond 1,000 meters. Even the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan, known for its extraordinary range of vision, is limited to about one kilometer when fully focused. Now, imagine a weapon capable of eliminating enemies from such a distance, an incredible advantage on the battlefield.

Orochimaru wasn't a military tactician by trade, but as a seasoned jounin, he had commanded countless small-scale operations, and he knew how to plan. When developing this sniper rifle, he had already decided who would wield it: the Uchiha clan.

Why the Uchiha? The answer was simple. The Uchiha's Sharingan not only allowed them to instantly copy Orochimaru's movements and learn how to operate the rifle with precision, but it also enhanced their ability to predict enemy actions through the scope. Their heightened visual perception allowed them to compensate for variables like rain, wind direction, and even air resistance, factors that would normally affect a bullet's trajectory.

In essence, the Uchiha were the perfect snipers. Their Sharingan offered superior learning capabilities and foresight, making them far more effective at long-range combat than even the Hyuga clan.

And the wireless earpieces? They were just another technological advancement. The original Kakashi had used similar equipment later on, but this was 50 years before his time. In the present day of Konoha's 30th year, wireless communications hadn't been fully developed—at least, not by anyone else. But compared to the sheer power of the sniper rifle, the significance of wireless communication was just a minor detail.

---

"Damn it! There are no signs of Konoha's forces nearby. What's happening?"

"How did our captain get killed like that?"

"The trajectory, it looks like the attack came from a 45-degree angle to the northeast!"

Goji, the young Sand Ninja, closed his eyes and forced himself to calm down. He recalled the exact moment Captain Po fell, his body dropping lifelessly to the ground. The attack definitely came from the northeast. There was no doubt about it.

"What? The northeast?" one of the other Sand Ninja echoed, his voice filled with disbelief. He hesitantly peeked in that direction but saw nothing through the rain-soaked trees. "Are you joking? There's no one there… right?"

"No way," another ninja muttered, doubt creeping into his voice.

"Could they be on top of that mountain?" one of the Sand Ninjas suggested, pointing toward a distant peak.

The group exchanged uneasy glances, then cautiously poked their heads out to get a better look. From their position, the mountain seemed impossibly far away.

"Are you serious?"

"That's at least 800 meters…"

"There's no way anyone could hit us from that distance!"

"It's impossible!"

Yet, despite their disbelief, they couldn't deny what they had just witnessed. Their captain had fallen in an instant, from an attack they couldn't even see coming. If someone really had sniped them from that far away, then…

"We need to retreat," one of the Sand Ninjas finally said.

"Yes, we need to inform the other teams," another agreed. "Konoha has some sort of long-range attack. We can't stay here."

"Agreed! Let's fall back!"

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Suddenly, smoke bombs exploded all around them, filling the canyon with thick, white fog. Taking advantage of the cover, the remaining Sand Ninjas quickly grabbed their fallen comrades and disappeared into the mist.

---

"Smart move," Orochimaru muttered from his vantage point on the mountain, watching through a monocular telescope as the Sand Ninjas retreated into the fog. He was wearing a raincoat, the water running off in streams as the rain continued to fall.

"They knew how to retreat quickly and even used smoke bombs to disrupt our vision," Orochimaru added, a hint of approval in his voice. "Still, a solid outcome. We've taken down seven or eight puppet masters without losing a single soldier."

Jiraiya, standing next to him with his own monocular, smirked. "Yeah, and that's just the kills from our squad. Who knows how many Sakumo's team has taken out."

Tsunade, watching the scene unfold, still looked a little stunned. "I have to admit, this thing works better than I ever imagined. Orochimaru, this was a brilliant idea."

Even Jiraiya, who normally didn't have much patience for Orochimaru's eccentricities, had to concede. "You're right, Tsunade. At first, I thought Orochimaru was out of his mind, but now? This is genius."

The idea of sniping enemies from 800 meters away was something neither of them had ever considered possible. It was well beyond the normal combat range for most ninjas. In fact, most sensor ninjas wouldn't even be able to detect an enemy from that distance, making it nearly impossible for them to respond in time.

And the best part? The enemy had no idea where the attacks were coming from. By the time they figured it out, they were either already dead, or the Konoha snipers had relocated, making any counterattack futile.

Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged glances, both of them filled with a mixture of awe and admiration.

Orochimaru had always been a genius, but this time, he had truly outdone himself. His strategic thinking, combined with his scientific knowledge, had given Konoha a significant advantage in the war.

"You really know how to take shortcuts, don't you?" Jiraiya chuckled.