NOVEL NEXT Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Night Raid
When news arrived that the Konoha ninja forces intended to pass through the Land of Rivers, its daimyo nearly fainted from fright.
The vanguard of the Konoha forces, a contingent of 3,000 shinobi, had set up camp at the border of the Land of Rivers, just a few kilometers from the Land of Wind. Under the meticulous arrangements of Tobirama Senju, the commander of the vanguard, Torifu Akimichi, issued orders for the troops. Save for a small number of shinobi assigned to keep watch, the rest were permitted to rest.
The Konoha camp was eerily silent, disturbed only by the occasional crackle of campfires.
In this unsettling quiet, hundreds of shadows began advancing soundlessly toward the Konoha camp.
The shinobi of Sunagakure were outfitted for speed, carrying kunai equipped with explosive tags tied to their belts. Their objective was not to inflict massive casualties on Konoha but to harass their forces. As long as they could throw their kunai and create chaos, killing a few Konoha shinobi in the process would be a welcome bonus.
"Strange. Why can't we see even a single sentry from Konoha? The camp is pitch black. Could this be a trap?" a Sunagakure shinobi, his face heavily wrapped in cloth, muttered, his exposed eyes brimming with unease.
"Don't be afraid," their leader replied calmly. "We're not going deep into enemy territory. Our mission is simple harassment. Just throw the explosive tags and retreat. Even if it's a trap, Konoha won't have time to catch us."
Hearing this, the shinobi nodded in agreement. After a few hand signals from their leader, smaller units spread out, each moving into position. The plan was simple: one strike and immediate retreat, leaving no chance for Konoha to retaliate.
"Move!" the lead Sunagakure shinobi commanded, charging forward.
Following their leader, the Sunagakure shinobi emerged from the surrounding forests, creeping toward Konoha's camp. However, just as they reached what seemed to be the ideal distance to launch their kunai, the leader's expression froze.
His body trembled as though on the verge of tears. Whipping around, he shouted in terror,
"Stop! The ground is covered in explosive tags!"
"Hiss… hiss… hiss…"
As his warning echoed through the night, the ominous sound of fuses igniting filled the air.
Panic washed over the Sunagakure forces. Their eyes darted to the ground—and to the trees around them—where countless explosive tags were affixed.
Too many.
The forest was alive with the sizzling sound of igniting tags, their sparks casting an eerie light that illuminated the entire Konoha camp. What greeted the Sunagakure forces was an overwhelming sight: tens of thousands of explosive tags, their sheer number enough to block out any hope of escape.
In the next instant—
"BOOM!"
"BOOM!"
"BOOM!"
A deafening symphony of explosions shattered the stillness of the night.
The sky lit up as fireballs erupted into the air. Even from miles away, Tobirama could see the blazing spectacle. Sipping calmly from a teacup, he allowed himself a small, satisfied smile.
"Caught in the trap, have they?"
The waves of explosive energy ripped through the forest, obliterating everything in their path.
Within the Konoha camp, the shinobi had already activated Earth-Style defensive techniques, forming a barrier that completely shielded the camp from the blast.
The explosions raged for over ten seconds before finally subsiding, leaving the air thick with the acrid stench of sulfur.
When the chaos settled, the Sunagakure assault team of 300 elite shinobi had been reduced to fewer than 20 survivors. Limbs and body parts were strewn across the forest, while the ground was littered with shattered remains. The explosive tags carried by the Sunagakure shinobi had triggered devastating chain reactions, leaving no intact corpses behind.
The few survivors, all of whom bore grievous injuries, were the captains of their respective units—seasoned jōnin who had narrowly clung to life through sheer skill and luck.
"Retreat! We need to report back immediately!"
"Someone betrayed us! Konoha knew our plan!"
Overcome with terror, the surviving Sunagakure shinobi turned and fled. Their bodies trembled as they struggled to comprehend how Konoha had anticipated their strategy. If this intelligence wasn't delivered to Sunagakure, the consequences for their village would be catastrophic.
Determined to warn their comrades, they ran with every ounce of strength they had left.
But after fleeing a few hundred meters, the fastest among them froze in his tracks.
He saw them.
Dozens of Konoha shinobi perched in the trees ahead, their silhouettes illuminated by moonlight. The line of shinobi extended endlessly into the darkness, each figure radiating a cold and merciless aura.
The Sunagakure shinobi who had been following behind crashed into him, preparing to berate him, but their words died in their throats as they took in the scene. Their legs buckled, and some fell to their knees in despair.
Even in the face of such hopeless odds, the Sunagakure shinobi prepared to make a last stand. They only needed one person to escape and deliver the intelligence back to Sunagakure.
But before they could act—
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
Konoha's shinobi unleashed a combined assault of fire and wind techniques, a tide of flames sweeping through the forest.
The blaze engulfed everything in its path, setting the dense forest ablaze. The inferno roared to life, consuming everything.
When the chaos finally subsided, the area where the Sunagakure shinobi had stood was now a barren expanse scorched black by the flames. Not a single enemy remained.
As the dust settled, a rough voice echoed from the shadows.
"Leave a squad to clean up the battlefield. The rest of you, get some rest. Stay ready for further orders."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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