NOVEL NEXT Chapter 80: CHAPTER 80
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As dawn broke over the war-torn Uzumaki village, the air was thick with tension and the distant echoes of fierce combat.
The southern cliffs overlooking the battlefield stood as silent sentinels, their rugged edges sharp against the gray horizon.
Perched upon one of these cliffs sat Hiruzen Sarutobi, his long knee-length hair cascading like a dark waterfall down the jagged rock.
His piercing eyes glowed blue with an otherworldly intensity, locked on the distant figure of the Third Mizukage, whose body stood frozen mid-insult, paralyzed by an overwhelming sense of foreboding.
He has arrived since the start of the war, just waiting for the right time to strike anyone of enemy kage.
But after hearing the insult of rias by a trash like Mizukage, he was beyond enraged, ready to attack and slaughter him.
After the three villages army mobilization, hiruzen also send the ANBU earlier.
They were waiting for the right chance to attack and decapitate enemy, as their numbers were too much for even them to handle with just 800 ninjas.
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Flashback: Strategic Preparations
As the three villages' combined forces arrived and launched their assault on Uzushiogakure, Konoha's elite ANBU operatives lay hidden beneath the earth and in the dense forest canopy.
With the help of Earth escape techniques, they blended seamlessly into their surroundings, undetectable even by the most skilled sensor-nin.
Every breath they took was calculated, every heartbeat steady. Their mission was clear: recapture the enemy-controlled coastal ports and sever all retreat routes.
ANBU Commander Maito Duy, clad in his black armor and wearing a fearsome hawk-like mask, raised his hand in a silent signal.
His seven subordinate commanders and Vice Commander ANBU nodded in unison before vanishing like shadows dispersing at dawn.
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At the southern coast, the Kumo sensor-nin stationed near the shoreline adjusted his headband and muttered to his comrade,
"I can't shake the feeling we're being watched... like prey stalked by a predator."
His partner, lounging nearby, scoffed. "You're paranoid. We've got over 9,000 troops here. No one knows about this attack—not Konoha, not even the smaller villages. Relax."
The sensor-nin frowned but said nothing more. Just as he reached for his canteen, a faint whistle cut through the still air.
He barely registered the sudden sting across his neck before collapsing, his life extinguished in silence.
Simultaneously, a scroll unrolled beside his fallen body, sealing it away without a trace.
At the other two ports, similar scenes played out with eerie precision.
ANBU operatives emerged from the earth and shadows, their strikes silent and lethal.
Throats were slit, vital points pierced, and even the sharpest-eyed sentries fell before they could sound the alarm.
"Enemy attack! Defen—!" one Kiri ninja managed to shout before a kunai embedded itself in his throat, silencing him forever.
But that shout was enough to send a signal across the camp. Soon all of them darted out of the camp towards the voice, just as they walked out, their shadows emerged and stabbed their hearts or slit their throats.
Even if they were alerted, they can't do anything as most of the were genins and chunins, atmost some were jonins who were personally neutralized by 7 ANBU commanders.
Within three minutes, every enemy stationed at the coasts lay dead or sealed away.
Only a few ANBU sustained minor injuries from near-misses, but not a single life was lost among Konoha's elite.
They also stored the ships in the storage scrolls, as they will come in use for Konoha, eliminating any possible route for retreating.
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Fifteen minutes later, the entire ANBU force gathered at the secured port. Commander Maito Duy stood at the forefront, his gaze hard beneath his mask.
"You performed well," he declared. "However, some of you allowed a call for help to slip through in the last moments. Because of this, a few of our own were injured. You know what this means. Contributions will be reduced and so is your pay."
The responsible ANBU operatives bowed their heads in unison. "Yes, Commander!" they acknowledged firmly.
Vice Commander Yin-mask spoke next. "We've recaptured the ports and secured their ships. Every vessel has been sealed into storage scrolls for future use by Konoha. Our next task is the assassination of enemy command forces."
Commander Duy nodded. "Our primary targets are their Jonin commanders. Leave the Genin and Chunin to Uzumaki defenders—they're too numerous for us to handle alone. Focus only on eliminating high-value targets."
Vice Commander continued, "According to our intel, enemy forces consist of approximately 8,000 shinobi. Their breakdown is as follows: 1,000 Jonin, 3,000 Chunin, and 4,000 Genin, including Kiri's formidable elite Genin. Additionally, we have confirmed three active Jinchuriki: the Two-Tails, Three-Tails, and Five-Tails. Their commanders include Seruyi of Kumo, Kurotsuchi of Iwa, and Ao of Kiri."
The assembled ANBU listened intently, their expressions unreadable beneath their masks.
"The initial volley of the Uzumaki's explosive tag traps have already eliminated about 300 enemy shinobi, we eliminated the recent 600 ninja guarding the retreat and another 150 with their recent volley after their barrier broke" Commander Duy calculated.
"This leaves around 8000 still in combat-ready condition. Each of you is expected to assassinate the Jonin within the next operation cycle. We are 800 strong—all Jonin and above. Make your lives count."
The tension in the air hardened into cold determination.
"We will begin at the battlefield's periphery and work inward," Duy commanded. "Remember: No mistakes. No mercy. This war will be won from the shadows."
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Meanwhile, deep within the enemy's central command, Seruyi, Kitsuchi, and Ao gathered on the field.
"I still can't believe how smoothly the coastal capture went," Kitsuchi remarked. "Not a single sign of resistance. It feels... off."
Ao adjusted his headband, his sharp gaze scanning their map. "Konoha might already be aware. We should increase our sentry patrols."
Seruyi shook his head. "You're overthinking it. Konoha's already stretched thin from Suna's and Ame's assaults. They couldn't possibly send reinforcements without sacrificing their borders. Besides, the Uzumaki are doomed. Their numbers are nothing compared to ours."
Despite Seruyi's reassurances, unease settled over the commanders like a suffocating fog.
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Back to Present....
Back on the cliffs, Hiruzen rose from his seated position, chakra thrumming like a distant storm as his gaze pierced the chaotic battlefield below.
The war had only just begun—and death itself now walked the battlefield.
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