Hound returned to the briefing room and stood before the other four members of Team Ro.
Kakashi placed both hands on the table and spoke, “I have received this mission directly from the Hokage.
It is considered extremely important.
Listen carefully because there will be little room for error once we leave the village.” He unrolled a detailed map which Itachi recognised was of the Land of Frost and spread it across the centre of the table.
The corners of the map were weighted down with kunai.
Kakashi tapped a gloved finger against a marked city that sat near the northern border of the country.
“Three weeks ago the war between Kumogakure and the Land of Frost took a drastic turn.
Kumogakure forces seized the city of Hyosetsu.
This city is the largest fortress in the entire Land of Frost.” “It controls the only mountain pass that can supply the northern provinces with food weapons and reinforcements.
Whoever holds Hyosetsu effectively controls half the nation.” “Since the city fell, the Frost Daimyo has been unable to organise any real counteroffensive.
Meanwhile Kumo has begun strengthening the walls and moving fresh troops through the pass.
If they are given another full month the city will become nearly impossible to reclaim without a full scale war.
That is a war the Land of Frost would almost certainly lose.” He allowed the weight of the information to settle over the team before he continued.
“Fortunately the occupation is still incomplete.
Kumo used most of its available strength to capture the city and did not leave behind enough soldiers to hold it with absolute security.” Kakashi traced a line on the map that showed the area outside the western walls.
“Outside the city approximately four hundred Frost shinobi have managed to regroup under the leadership of Commander Yukinaga.
They possess enough manpower to retake Hyosetsu if the defenses of the city are lowered.
There are enough shinobi on the walls with from what we found out cannons on the wall.” “What Frost lacks is any practical way to breach the gates without suffering catastrophic losses.
Every entrance has been heavily reinforced.
The drawbridges are watched at all hours.
Sensor teams cover the walls day and night.
A direct assault by the Frost forces would leave them slaughtered before they ever reached the inner districts.
That is exactly where Team Ro enters the plan.
The Land of Frost has formally requested assistance from Konoha.
The compensation they offered is known only to the Hokage and the village elders.” Kakashi added another reason for helping Frost,”We also can’t let Kumo get a foothold in the land of Frost because that would mean they would be a lot closer to the land of fire.” Kakashi pointed to several marked locations inside the city itself.
“Team Ro will infiltrate Hyosetsu ahead of the main assault.
Once we are inside our objective is not to defeat the entire Kumo forces there.
That would be impossible with only five people.” “Our task is to dismantle the city’s defences from within.
We will disable the alarm network.
We will eliminate key sentries without raising general suspicion.
We will sabotage communication between the garrison headquarters and the outer walls.
We will create enough confusion that the defenders cannot form a coordinated response when the attack begins.
Whatever we could do to weaken their defenses.” “At the designated moment we will secure and open the western gate so that the waiting Frost shinobi can flood into the city before Kumo understands what is happening.” Kō spoke in a voice that dripped with sarcasm.
“So the great plan is that five of us will infiltrate a city filled with Kumo shinobi and somehow dismantle their entire siege from the inside.
That sounds perfectly reasonable.” Kakashi answered without any change in tone.
“Yes.
That is the mission.
And that is exactly why the entire Team Ro has been assigned instead of another unit.” Ko continued his protest with the same dry edge.
“Five people instead of the usual three against at least two hundred Kumo shinobi.
The numbers do not sound much better when you say them out loud.” Kakashi gave a small shrug, “And now you understand why the death rate among Anbu operatives remains so high.
We are sent to places where ordinary squads would be destroyed.
That is the nature of the work we accepted.” Itachi had listened to every detail in silence.
“How are we supposed to enter the city when Kumo has placed sensor ninja along the walls and inside the streets?” Kakashi looked at him and replied with clear information.
“The Land of Frost knows of an old and abandoned underground route that leads beneath the western wall.
We will use that passage.” “The reason the Frost forces have not already used it themselves is simple.
They do not possess a small squad that is strong enough and specialised enough to break the siege from inside.
If they tried to send large numbers through the tunnel Kumo would notice the movement at once.
The enemy would either destroy the underground route or prepare an ambush for everyone who emerged.
A small group like ours has a much better chance of remaining undetected.” Itachi completed the thought with calm logic.
“And once we are inside the city our chakra signatures will not stand out.
The sensors will already know the feel of hundreds of Kumo shinobi moving through the streets.
Five additional signatures that are not immediately recognised will simply blend into the general noise.
Besides most of the sensor teams will be focused on threats coming from outside the walls rather than on small movements within the city itself.” Kakashi nodded in agreement.
“That is correct.
Does anyone else have questions about the plan or the objectives?” All four operatives shook their heads.
Kakashi straightened and gave the final order.
“Then we leave immediately.
Collect any final supplies you need and form up.” The five Anbu operatives checked their equipment one last time.
Each of them was fully armed and ready.
Without further conversation they vanished from the headquarters in a series of rapid body flickers and headed north toward the distant borders of the Land of Frost and the occupied city that waited for them.
——-Author Notes——– Thankyou Sanchotsm, Kayopa 77, skydude and David Hughes for supporting me!