Inside the underground command center sat four Jonin: Shinsuke, Shisui, Hyūga Hizashi, and Yūhi Shinku.
Standing quietly to one side were the Uchiha brothers, Inabi and Tekka, responsible for relaying intelligence and maintaining communications.
After listening to the reconnaissance captain’s report, all of them fell into silence.
At that moment, the system notification echoed inside Shinsuke’s mind.
[ Ding!
Main Quest Triggered.
]
[Main Quest: Kill at least 500 Sunagakure ninja during the battle against Sunagakure.]
[Current Progress: 0/500]
[Reward: 1 Draw.]
‘Five hundred ninja…’
After reading the newly issued quest, Shinsuke turned toward the reconnaissance captain.
“How many Sunagakure ninja are approaching?”
“Roughly a hundred.”
Shinsuke nodded thoughtfully.
“So they’re being cautious.
Even after sending reconnaissance teams, they still dispatched an advance force.”
Hearing how cautious the enemy was, Inabi couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
“Could…
our ambush have been discovered?”
Shinsuke shook his head.
“Aside from Earth Release techniques, ordinary ninjutsu won’t detect either our hidden forces or the explosive tags buried underground.”
“Sunagakure specializes in Wind Release.
Even if they have a few Earth Release users, they wouldn’t use such conspicuous techniques while secretly invading the Land of Fire.”
“As for Bloodline Limits…
not every village possesses something like the Byakugan.
Sunagakure has very few Bloodline Limit users to begin with.”
“So don’t worry.”
Hizashi unconsciously glanced at Shinsuke with newfound respect.
The other Jonin also nodded inwardly.
His analysis was logical and well organized.
“So what do we do with this advance force?” someone asked.
“They’re about to enter the designated kill zone.
Should we detonate the explosive tags?”
Shinsuke shook his head once more.
“I prepared such a magnificent banquet.”
“Only a few hundred guests won’t be enough to enjoy it.”
“Let them pass.”
Everyone wore different expressions after hearing those words.
Hizashi was the first to object.
“But…
allowing an enemy force to enter the Land of Fire unopposed doesn’t seem appropriate.”
Shinsuke’s answer consisted of only four words.
“I am the commander.”
“…Understood.”
Thus, the Sunagakure advance force encountered no resistance.
They safely crossed the trap zone and entered the Land of Fire.
Soon, they reached the first border town.
Sunawatari Town lay along the border of the Land of Fire.
With a permanent population of around one thousand residents, it was known for mineral processing and as a caravan station for camel merchants.
That night, two sentries chatted while standing watch.
“Sigh…
Night duty is so boring.
If only I were one of those ninja masters.
The mayor would probably arrange beautiful women to keep me company every night.”
“Hmph.
Dream on.
If anyone’s becoming a ninja, it’d obviously be a handsome guy like me.”
Suddenly…
A gust of wind swept past.
The bodies of both soldiers were severed cleanly at the waist.
Blood splattered across the ground.
Until the moment they died, they never realized that the very ninja they had envied were the ones who had killed them.
Immediately afterward, over a hundred Sunagakure ninja silently entered the town beneath the cover of darkness.
Experienced as they were, they headed straight for the finest residences.
As expected, inside the most luxurious rooms, they found three Konoha ninja enjoying themselves with several women.
The only three ninja stationed in the town.
Without saying a word, the Sunagakure ninja attacked.
Within moments, wind blades sliced through the three Konoha ninja, killing them instantly.
One of the invaders laughed excitedly.
“Captain!
Excellent!
Konoha really left this place completely undefended!”
Their captain revealed a cruel smile.
“In that case…”
“Carry out the mission as planned.”
The surrounding ninja immediately grinned with excitement.
They scattered in every direction, rushing toward the townspeople’s homes.
Their mission consisted of a single word.
Loot.
Doors were kicked open one after another.
Sunagakure ninja brutally forced their way inside, pressing gleaming blades against the residents’ throats.
“Move!
Hand over everything valuable!”
Some people trembled in terror and hurriedly surrendered their hidden savings.
Others hesitated for only a moment before being cut down.
The invaders overturned furniture, ripped up floorboards, smashed ceramic jars, and searched every possible hiding place.
Soon…
Cries of despair and screams filled the town.
Residents who tried to resist were effortlessly slaughtered.
The crying of children was quickly silenced.
Even elderly people who knelt and begged for mercy were stripped of their last possessions.
Greed filled the eyes of every Sunagakure ninja.
Wall decorations were torn down.
Warehouse locks were broken.
Food stores were emptied.
Jewelry was stripped from the dead.
Anything of value—gold, cash, antiques, medicinal herbs, ninja tools, and fine cloth—was stuffed into sealing scrolls.
Two hours later… Visit g.com for the full chapter.
The town had been completely plundered.
The treasury…
The noble estates…
Even the poorest households…
Nothing had been spared.
“As expected of the Land of Fire.”
“So rich…”
“Even this tiny place yielded nearly three hundred million ryō.”
The captain weighed the scroll in his hand with a satisfied grin.
A sinister-looking subordinate stepped closer.
“Captain…
the brothers have been stuck on the border for far too long.”
“The women of the Land of Fire are much prettier than those back in the Land of Wind…”
“You know…”
The captain immediately understood what his subordinate meant.
“What little ambition you have.”
He casually pointed at one of the ninja.
“You.”
“Return and report everything to Lord Satetsu.”
“As for everyone else…”
He swept his gaze across the eager faces before waving his hand.
“You have thirty minutes.”
“Enjoy yourselves.”
With that, he headed directly toward the mayor’s mansion.
Earlier, while collecting valuables, he had already noticed that the mayor’s concubines were particularly attractive.
The selected messenger wore a miserable expression but didn’t dare disobey.
He could only turn around and leave.
As for everyone else…
The moment the captain finished speaking, loud cheers erupted.
The Sunagakure ninja rushed into the town in search of women they fancied.
Before long…
Women’s terrified screams once again echoed throughout the settlement.
Meanwhile…
The messenger quickly returned and reported everything the advance force had encountered to Satetsu, the commander leading Sunagakure’s invasion.
After hearing the report, Satetsu slowly licked his dry lips.
A greedy light flashed through his eyes.
“Pass down my orders.”
“All ninja…”
“Advance at full speed.”
“Invade the Land of Fire.”
The command spread rapidly through the army.
When more than one thousand Sunagakure ninja learned that the Land of Fire’s border was virtually undefended—and that they had been ordered to attack with full force—their morale immediately soared.
They all knew how prosperous the Land of Fire was.
If they struck before Konoha could react, this would be the perfect opportunity to plunder everything they could.
According to military regulations…
Half of whatever they seized would belong to them personally.
Driven by greed, every Sunagakure ninja flooded chakra into their legs and charged madly toward the Land of Fire.
Before they realized it…
More than one thousand Sunagakure ninja had already stepped into the trap Shinsuke had prepared.