Minutes later, the battle in the valley ended. Seven Kumogakure ninja corpses lay scattered in the valley, and more than ten horse-drawn carts loaded with grain were completely destroyed.
"One escaped. Should we pursue?" Tatsuya glanced at the devastated valley and looked towards the southeastern exit, speaking in a low voice.
It had been over two months since the four of them had arrived at the front lines. During these two months, the four members of Anbu Team Eleven had been constantly active behind the Kumogakure ninja army. The supply team escorted by Soi Go and the others was the fifth supply team Team Eleven had attacked; they had successfully intercepted the previous four.
Having been in the ninja world for nearly two years, he had become accustomed to its cruelty and bloodshed. In particular, the war between the two great hidden villages over the past two months had starkly revealed this cruelty to Tatsuya.
"No need. Let's go!" Kakashi shook his head and said softly.
With that, the four vanished from the valley in a flash.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Fifteen minutes after the four left, more whooshing sounds echoed outside the valley, and more than ten figures dressed in Kumogakure ninja attire swiftly arrived.
The leader was a woman with short, light-yellow hair, refined and aloof features, fair skin, and a full, rounded chest that accentuated her exceptionally fiery figure. She carried a short sword on her back. The female ninja was named Samui, one of the most trusted Jonin of the Fourth Raikage in Kumogakure.
"Check for survivors!" Seeing the scattered corpses of Kumogakure ninja in the valley and the completely destroyed supplies, Samui's expression was grave.
"Yes!" Several Kumogakure ninja immediately acknowledged the order and moved.
From within the group, a figure staggered out and walked towards Soi Go, who was already lifeless, not far away. This person was the sole survivor of the previous supply team, Ken'ichi!
"Captain!"
Coming closer, Ken'ichi's knees buckled, and he knelt beside Soi Go's corpse. Seeing Soi Go's completely disfigured body, Ken'ichi clenched his fists tightly, tears streaming from his eyes.
During the previous battle, if not for Soi Go's final, desperate attack, Ken'ichi would certainly be dead! Thinking of the determination and relief in his captain's eyes before he died, Ken'ichi's heart clenched in pain. At this moment, there was no longer arrogance or conceit in his heart, only remorse and hatred.
Ken'ichi knelt silently, his fingernails digging deeply into his palms, blood slowly dripping from between his fingers.
"Samui-taicho, there are no survivors at the scene, and the civilians have all fled far away!" A few moments later, the Kumogakure ninja who had gone to search the area returned to Samui's side.
A shadow of darkness passed through Samui's eyes, and she waved her hand without replying. The result was something everyone had anticipated. On a battlefield of life and death, mercy and cowardice were emotions that had no place.
"Get up! Soi Go is dead. Since he risked his life to save you, you must live on for his sake!" Stepping over to Ken'ichi's side, Samui spoke softly.
Ken'ichi gritted his teeth and said, "I want to avenge the Captain!"
"Revenge? Get stronger first!" Samui gently brushed her short hair beside her ear, her voice cold and indifferent.
More than ten minutes later, the group of Kumogakure ninja who had dealt with the scene left.
Kumogakure, in the Raikage's office.
Outside the door, Mabui, with her long, grayish-white hair, entered, holding an intelligence scroll. The orange mesh undershirt at her prominent bust was quite eye-catching.
"Raikage-sama, this is the latest intelligence from the front lines," Mabui presented the intelligence to the Fourth Raikage, who was seated at his desk.
"Read it! What happened with Yugito and Darui?" The Fourth Raikage waved his hand irritably and ordered.
As the war progressed, Kumogakure and Konoha had reached a stalemate. Kumogakure hadn't achieved the victory it had anticipated in this war. They had thought that after the death of the Fourth Hokage and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki, Konoha would enter a period of decline, but their fighting strength remained surprisingly strong. The Fourth Raikage was very troubled and frustrated by this.
"Raikage-sama, it's news from the rear of the battlefield. Another one of our supply teams has been intercepted," Mabui carefully observed the Fourth Raikage's expression and said softly.
Bang!
"What? What are your Anbu doing? Didn't we send out several elite squads specifically for this? How can our supply teams still be intercepted by Konoha?" The Fourth Raikage, A, slammed his massive fist on the desk and roared. The constant stream of bad news had exhausted all his patience!
Mabui lowered her head and said, "This escort mission had Jonin Soi Go and a Special Jonin accompanying it, but they were still eliminated by Konoha's Anbu squad!"
Hearing Mabui's words, the Fourth Raikage slowly calmed down and asked with a grave expression, "Has the identity of this Anbu squad been investigated?"
Mabui nodded. "Yes! Jonin Soi Go risked his life to save a Chunin from his squad, allowing the information about this Anbu squad to be transmitted back. According to Samui's analysis, the members of this Anbu squad should include Konoha's genius ninjas, Shisui of the Body Flicker and Kakashi of the Sharingan, as well as a taijutsu-type ninja who can open the Eight Inner Gates up to the Sixth Gate, and a member of the Akimichi clan."
Hearing this, the Fourth Raikage's expression became even more serious. "Shisui of the Body Flicker and Kakashi of the Sharingan! Both of them are renowned genius ninjas in the ninja world. That old fox Hiruzen Sarutobi actually dared to send them to the rear of the battlefield. He's not afraid of losing them! It's true that one or two Anbu squads wouldn't be enough to deal with them! Go and get C!"
At the end, the Fourth Raikage called out to someone outside.
"Yes!" A Kumogakure ninja guarding outside quickly acknowledged the order and left.
"Boss." A short while later, a young ninja with short yellow hair and a handsome face walked in.
The young ninja's name was C, a Kumogakure Elite Jonin, and an all-around ninja with the three rare abilities of genjutsu, medical ninjutsu, and sensory perception. He was known as the Fourth Raikage's left hand.
"C, prepare yourself. We're heading to the Land of Hot Water shortly," Seeing C enter, the Fourth Raikage stood up immediately and gave the order decisively.
"Raikage-sama, the war on the front lines is not yet at a critical point. The elders will not agree to you going to the front lines," Hearing this, both Mabui and C in the room changed their expressions, and Mabui quickly tried to dissuade him.
The Fourth Raikage slammed his fists together, making a loud banging sound, and said fiercely, "Hmph! I've been annoyed by those old fogeys for a long time. If they dare to stop me, they'll taste my fists first!"
"Boss, Konoha has Orochimaru and Jiraiya on the front lines. Even if you go, you may not gain an advantage," C also tried to persuade him with a serious expression.
"Who said I'm going to the front lines? I'm going to deal with that Konoha Anbu squad!" The Fourth Raikage's eyes flashed with intense fury.
"Konoha's Anbu squad?" C was stunned and turned to Mabui with a questioning look.
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