Escape From Konoha

The meeting with the Root from Anbu concluded in less than ten minutes. Afterward, these individuals once again went dormant. It was assumed that they would reconvene only when official action was underway, in order to confirm the readiness of both parties.

Upon reaching a concealed spot within the grass, Shiraishi, Ayane, and Ruri gathered in a circle.

"By the way, what exactly is Anbu's 'Root' organization? Does it exist as a separate entity within Anbu under Hokage's command?"

The Anbu was directly under the Hokage, and the academy's curriculum contained specialized courses about it.

This was mainly done to prevent future ninjas from misconceiving Anbu within the village as an enemy. To circumvent this awkward situation, all of Konoha's ninjas were made aware of this organization.

Ninjas who entered Anbu were all elite. The main structure of Anbu consisted of seventy members, divided into four squads, each with four classes, and across the four squads, there were a total of sixteen squad leaders.

Furthermore, every squad leader's prowess was at the highest level.

Their main function was to protect the Hokage and undertake various classified high-risk missions. In essence, they were the hidden defenders of Konoha.

However, Shiraishi had never heard of Anbu's "Root", which led him to question the identities of those ninjas.

Ayane also shook her head. Anbu's affairs were veiled in secrecy. Most ninjas were aware of the organization's existence, as well as its structure and numbers.

But details like who was part of it and the particular skills each Anbu member possessed were kept strictly confidential.

Ruri furrowed her brows slightly, her hands crossed over her chest. After a moment of silence, she explained, "I've heard of Anbu's 'Root' before. An elder in the clan mentioned it to me once. It's said to be a specialized division directly under Anbu, and it operates even more covertly. Their motto is 'Better to eliminate a false target than to let a true one go,' and they silently safeguard Konoha from the shadows."

"They follow a 'kill first, question later' approach? Would Hokage-sama condone such a thing?" Shiraishi found this puzzling.

Such an operation could severely damage the high-ranking officials' reputation, led by Hokage, if it ever came to light.

Even with Anbu, there was a phase of interrogation to ascertain whether a captured individual was friend or foe.

Members of Anbu's "Root" division, however, bypassed this process. They eliminated anyone they subjectively deemed a threat.

Improperly managed, this organization could easily tarnish the ruling authority's prestige, possibly resulting in forced resignations.

"Such actions must be tacitly approved. Without that, 'Root' wouldn't have grown within the framework of Anbu. These ninjas have no names, no emotions, no past, and no future. They are driven solely by their mission," Ruri clarified.

After listening to Ruri, Shiraishi and Ayane recalled this mission. The "Root" members planned to detonate their own bodies to destroy the Suna Ninja's supply point. This strategy did indeed align with their mentality.

Their existence was defined by their mission. Means and sacrifices were secondary concerns, to be addressed after the mission or possibly not at all.

"These individuals are truly fearsome," Shiraishi sighed.

Regardless of the era, those who were willing to give up their lives to accomplish a goal were undeniably frightening.

Without the pitch-black darkness, the serene and beautiful lake wouldn't exist. In every era, silent operatives like these were indispensable.

"Let's move on to the task at hand. What are your thoughts on this mission?" Ruri unfurled the map provided by the Root and laid it out on the ground. It was a comprehensive map of the Land of Rivers, detailing various locations along with distance and environmental information.

Ruri pointed to an area within the Land of Rivers where the Suna's supply point was situated. This was also the spot that Shiraishi and the others were to attack.

Surveying the map, Shiraishi began, "The supply point is in close proximity to Suna's camp. According to the marked distance, we have only about ten minutes after creating a large-scale disturbance with the diversionary attack. Within this timeframe, we must finish our task and exit the battlefield safely. Given our current strength, it's a tall order."

The plan's division of labor was clear. Shiraishi and the team were to serve as the diversion, creating maximum chaos. Once that was accomplished, they would withdraw quickly.

Meanwhile, Root would intervene and detonate their explosives, obliterating all the supplies at the Suna supply point and completing the mission.

The challenge lay in inciting a large-scale disturbance in just ten minutes, capturing the Suna's attention, and providing a secure attack window for the Root ninjas. Subsequently, they had to evacuate swiftly to evade the explosives.

"However you look at it, ten minutes is an incredibly short time," Ayane agreed, concurring with Shiraishi.

It was highly likely that the Suna ninjas guarding the Land of Rivers' supply point were numerous, including several Jōnin-level fighters. The area being so crucial, there might even be over a dozen Jōnin.

Apart from Jōnin, there would also be a considerable number of Chunin. Under such heavily fortified circumstances, completing the diversion in ten minutes was theoretically implausible.

"Once a commotion is initiated, I can use a large-scale fire release jutsu. Since the supplies are of great importance, Suna will refrain from using extensive ninjutsu, making it a favorable setting for us. However, extricating ourselves from Suna's encirclement won't be simple. I recall you prepared quite a few useful tools before embarking on this mission," Ruri observed, casting a glance at Shiraishi.

"I didn't anticipate needing them so soon," Shiraishi sighed, retrieving a scroll from his pouch. Unsealing it released a cloud of white smoke, revealing a collection of items.

"What are these?" Ayane asked, intrigued as she picked up a projectile that resembled a smoke bomb.

"Highly toxic smoke bombs. They have an extended range and duration compared to ordinary ones, and I've also brought along the antidote."

"But what if the enemy disperses them with wind-style jutsu..."

"That's not an issue. I can use the fire release technique. In the event the enemy uses wind release jutsu, my fire release will be reinforced and its range expanded."

In this manner, wind-based jutsu couldn't be easily utilized, and the three of them could exploit the poisonous mist for the diversion and create chaos.

After that, they'd have to contend with a horde of Suna ninjas on their trail and carefully strategize their escape.

As night descended and the river valley region along the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers was enshrouded in darkness, chilly gusts of wind occasionally swept through the area.

"Let's discuss our escape strategy on the way. We must reach the mission site by midnight. We have less than six hours remaining, and time is of the essence."

This mission relied heavily on the element of surprise, leaving them little time to craft elaborate countermeasures. The Suna supply point needed to be obliterated before it could be relocated.

Once the opportunity passed, discerning the location of Suna's supply point would become an arduous task.

.....

In the heart of the night, silence blanketed the Konoha camp along the border of the Land of Fire, with not even the faintest chirping of insects.

Inside a tent, the dim illumination from simple lights barely reached the center of the room, leaving the edges shrouded in darkness. Tsunade stood by a table, meticulously sorting through a pile of information. Given the gravity of the intelligence at hand, a thorough review was imperative.

At that moment, a white-haired ninja entered the tent from outside.

"Tsunade, are you still at it? It's quite late," said the visitor, none other than Jiraiya, who, like Tsunade, was a prominent figure within Konoha. Upon entering, he greeted Tsunade with a smile.

"Ah, it's you, Jiraiya. Is something the matter?" Tsunade glanced up at Jiraiya before returning her focus to the information spread before her. Her demeanor suggested she was in no mood for idle chatter.

Observing Tsunade's demeanor, Jiraiya sighed softly and spoke, "I regret the incident with Orochimaru. If I had been there..."

Had a conflict between Konoha and Suna arisen, he could have returned swiftly, potentially preventing the tragedy that befell Nawaki.

However, the past could not be undone, and no amount of wishing could resurrect the fallen. Seeing Tsunade's smile wane, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a mixture of concern and remorse.

"This is not your fault!"

Tsunade's voice turned chilly.

Though Jiraiya's mention of Orochimaru and Nawaki caused a pang in Tsunade's heart, she quickly rallied, refusing to be disheartened by such matters.

At present, the lives of countless Konoha ninjas rested on her shoulders, and she couldn't afford to display weakness. This was a moment when she must stand tall and resolute, showing strength that would not invite anyone to underestimate her.

"..."

Jiraiya remained silent by her side, choosing not to contest Tsunade's statement.

"Now that you're here, just do your part and don't hinder my work," Tsunade's tone softened slightly, though her intention to focus on her tasks was evident.

Jiraiya didn't utter a word, but a sense of lost purpose shadowed his expression.

"Wait!"

Tsunade halted him suddenly.

"What is it?" Jiraiya inquired, perplexed.

"This mission to surprise attack the Suna supply point... It's assigned to the Sakumo team, right?"

Tsunade posed an unrelated question, capturing Jiraiya's attention.

"Yes, it's Sakumo's team. Given the mission's significance, and considering that only Sakumo is best suited for this task, the responsibility was assigned to his team," Jiraiya confirmed.

The success of this operation, which aimed to sever Suna Village's supply line, held substantial implications for the ongoing conflict. A flawless execution could weaken Suna's internal stability due to shortages, achieving a considerable advantage for Konoha with minimal sacrifice.

This could potentially pave the way for peace talks between the two sides, ending a war that had raged on for over two years.

However, failure would prolong the war's duration and consequences for both Konoha and the Land of Fire.

Jiraiya held immense confidence in Sakumo's abilities, and this mission only solidified his conviction further.

He wasn't alone in this. The village had already initiated preparations for peace negotiations between Konoha and Suna.

Observing Tsunade's growing concern, Jiraiya's heart clenched, and he inquired urgently, "What's wrong?"

"The information provided contradicts the plan I devised with Orochimaru. Furthermore, this isn't the standard signaling method used by Anbu..."

Tsunade produced one of the many documents. Jiraiya's expression shifted upon hearing this.

"Jiraiya, when you received the information from Anbu in the village, were you certain no one tampered with it?"

Tsunade's brow furrowed as she regarded Jiraiya.

Due to the mission's critical nature, Konoha's intelligence was entrusted to Jiraiya by Anbu, one of the village's three high-ranking ninjas. Jiraiya was then dispatched to the front lines to ensure the information's secure delivery.

"Impossible! I've been with Sakumo's team the whole way. There's no chance anyone could have interfered with the information!" Jiraiya snatched the document from Tsunade's grasp and meticulously combed through its contents.

His expression darkened with each line.

"What's going on? Why does the content here differ from what Sarutobi-sensei explained?"

Jiraiya's shoulders began to tremble, his disbelief evident as he scrutinized the information before him.

"It seems you've been deceived. As no issues arose during transport, there's only one possibility. The Anbu who passed you the information aren't under Sarutobi-sensei's command."

Tsunade's words were like a bolt from the blue, causing Jiraiya's body to stiffen, cold sweat forming on his forehead.

This was dire news. Not only did it jeopardize the mission's success, but if he had unknowingly fallen into enemy hands, the consequences for the Sakumo team could be catastrophic.

"No, I need to save them!"

Jiraiya, too, was drenched in sweat, dashing out of the tent without a moment's hesitation.

"Wait, Jiraiya! Don't act hastily. Even if you rush over—"

But as Tsunade gave chase, Jiraiya had already vanished into the enveloping darkness, leaving her helpless and staring at the tent's entrance.

"This fool. Charging in like that could make him an easy target for an enemy ambush," Tsunade muttered under her breath, though she could only watch, her frustration noticable.