Kōjin Chiike was truly suffering this time. As someone with the Red Eye Kekkei Genkai, he had been trained as a sensory ninja since his academy days and had taken on desk jobs after being promoted to chunin. He had never experienced anything as grueling as this forced march!
Endless sprints, relentless dashes, ceaseless leaps, and constant airborne jumps… Before long, his chakra reserves were nearly depleted.
The Wind Shadow, Jinghang, was as formidable as ever, blazing ahead like a lightning storm. Kōjin couldn't even catch a glimpse of his "tail lights." Yecang and Heiji Shimizuryū were equally impressive, their stamina seemingly boundless. Though they couldn't quite keep up with the Wind Shadow, they managed to stay within sight. Kōjin, on the other hand, struggled just to keep their backs in view, doing his best not to be completely left behind.
To be fair, the pills provided by the Wind Shadow were miraculous. Every time his chakra reserves hit rock bottom, popping one would restore more than half his energy. The cooldown period was short too—just about ten minutes. Truly an indispensable remedy for long-distance marches and extended pursuits!
However, Kōjin's strength was limited, and the small bottle of pills he had been given contained only four. By the second day, he had used them all.
When he finally staggered into the day's rest point, panting heavily, the Wind Shadow and his two companions had already been waiting by the campfire for half a day. Three empty cans were scattered around the fire, and another was being heated over the flames, bubbling and emitting an enticing aroma.
Seeing Kōjin arrive so late, Jinghang smiled faintly.
"Young man, you're great at gambling, but your stamina is really lacking!"
Kōjin was so embarrassed he wished he could find a hole to crawl into. Yecang and Heiji chuckled softly as well.
"I… I… slowed… everyone down."
Whether it was from being out of breath or sheer embarrassment, Kōjin stammered as he spoke.
"It's fine. You're young; you've got room to grow! Don't take it to heart; I'm just joking."
Jinghang laughed heartily but then suddenly turned serious.
"That said, your Secretariat can't use desk work as an excuse to slack off on training. You're still ninja, and ninja belong on the battlefield. Yecang!"
Jinghang shifted his attention to her.
"Yes, sir."
"After this mission, the Secretariat must establish a new policy. At least six months of the year should be dedicated to training with the standing army. You'll all see larger-scale battles in the future, and if your skills aren't up to par, it'll disgrace Sunagakure!"
"Understood, I'll handle it as soon as we return."
Yecang pulled out a small notebook and jotted it down.
Once Kōjin finally caught his breath, Jinghang walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and handed him a can of cooked beef (a new product from the Sandglass Group).
"How's it going? Out of pills already?"
Kōjin stared blankly at Jinghang, then sheepishly pulled out his empty pill bottle.
"Yes… I've used them all."
"See? I knew it. Here, take this."
Jinghang pulled out another small bottle of pills, still sealed.
"This one's mine. I haven't used it yet. You take it."
Kōjin was overwhelmed with gratitude and quickly declined.
"But this is yours! If I take it, what about you…?"
"Hey, are you underestimating your Wind Shadow? Do you think I need this stuff? Take it!"
Jinghang pushed the bottle into Kōjin's hands with a confident smile.
Kōjin felt his eyes well up. He accepted the bottle and the can of beef, not even caring if it was hot, and wolfed it down. With a leader like this, he thought, he'd gladly go through fire and water for him.
"How many pills do you two have left?"
Jinghang turned to Yecang and Heiji.
"I've got two left," Yecang replied.
"I've got three," Heiji said with a grin.
"Good, that should be enough. I don't have any extras either. Rest up and recover your chakra. We've got about a third of the journey left. Let's aim to reach Seven Wind Pass and set up defenses as early as possible. We move out in two hours!"
With that, Jinghang shook his cloak dramatically, sat down cross-legged, and began meditating. The other three seized the opportunity to rest and recover their strength.
Bringing these three along wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision for Jinghang; it was a well-thought-out plan.
Yecang needed no introduction. A fierce and capable kunoichi, her Scorch Release was devastating in its area of effect and range, making her invaluable whether in direct confrontation or as a surprise attacker.
The Shimizuryū clan specialized in controlling bees, a skill comparable to the Aburame clan of Konoha. Their bees were excellent for reconnaissance—small, stealthy, and hard to detect. They could also leave trails to guide reinforcements. Not to mention, their venom was deadly and not to be underestimated.
As for Kōjin Chiike, though his combat prowess was slightly weaker, his Red Eye Kekkei Genkai allowed for a wide field of vision, making him an excellent early-warning system. Against enemy sensory ninja, he could create illusions to confuse and mislead them, buying precious time for reinforcements.
If they could hold out for just one day, the Iwagakure shinobi wouldn't stand a chance of escaping!
Seven Wind Pass was a natural canyon in the northwestern region of the Land of Wind. Ocean currents from the Land of Water swept across the Kunling Plains, crossed the vast northwestern desert, and collided with the desert's hot air currents, converging here. This unique climate earned the pass its name, as it was said to experience seven distinct windstorms in a single day.
During the Second Kazekage Shamon's era, there had been plans to station troops at the pass. However, the harsh climate made construction impossible, and the project was abandoned after only a single well was dug. Over time, the well, too, was buried by sand.
Standing in the canyon, Jinghang clicked his tongue in frustration. The gap was massive—over 800 meters at its narrowest point. How were four people supposed to block it?
Fortunately, the weather was calm for now, and they had arrived ahead of schedule. There was still half a day to prepare their defenses.
Pulling out a scroll, Jinghang released the 20 tons of iron sand he had brought. The iron sand barely stretched into a thin line across the canyon, just enough to span its width.
"Heiji!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Release your bees. Send them as far as possible!"
"Understood!"
Heiji removed the massive hive from his back, formed hand seals, and muttered an incantation. A swarm of crimson bees poured out, dispersing in all directions.
"What's their maximum detection range?"
"Twenty-three kilometers at most," Heiji replied solemnly.
"And how long will it take them to return?"
"About an hour and a half."
Jinghang calculated carefully, then turned to Kōjin.
"What's your maximum visual range?"
"In these conditions, about ten kilometers. There's a sandstorm about fifteen minutes away from reaching us."
Jinghang weighed his resources and finalized a battle plan in his mind.
"No need for long speeches. Let's get to the assignments!"
"Yes, sir!"
The three responded in unison.
"Kōjin, you'll stand guard at the mouth of the canyon. As soon as you spot the enemy, set up an illusion at the entrance. Keep it simple—around thirty figures should suffice. We don't want to scare them into changing course."
"Understood!"
"Heiji, your bees will likely make first contact with the enemy. Once you've gathered detailed intel, recall them immediately. Your position is on my left flank. Use your bee venom to strike when the opportunity arises!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Yecang, your mission is the most critical. If I'm right, Master Fenfu should be at the rear of the enemy formation. You'll lie in wait at the canyon entrance. Let the main force pass and seize the chance to rescue him!"
"Understood! And what about you, sir?"
Yecang asked.
"I'll be here."
Jinghang pointed to the narrowest part of the canyon.
"Facing them head-on."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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