NOVEL NEXT Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Are You Ready to Become a Legend of the Ninja World?
Chapter 132: Are You Ready to Become a Legend of the Ninja World?
The Konoha assault force of 89 members stood ready, brimming with tension.
The lineup comprised:
Three Jonin,
Twenty-four Chunin,
And sixty-two Genin.
On the opposing side stood a Sand Hidden force of 300. Just visible among their ranks were eight Jonin, with countless other Chunin and Genin filling their ranks.
Some wielded puppets, others readied ninja tools. Some formed hand signs to unleash Wind and Earth Style techniques, while others maneuvered to cast support or genjutsu. In the rear, backup units were preparing for a wave of sequential ninjutsu attacks.
Three hundred strong, they surged forward, a chaotic but organized onslaught resembling a dark storm cloud looming ahead.
Uchiha Shinichi swallowed hard. Without turning his head, he barked,
"Ci, Shisui, don't take the same route!"
"This is the rear of the Sand Hidden forces. If we head southeast, we can retreat to the Land of Valleys, then—"
Before Shinichi could finish outlining his hastily devised retreat plan, a figure abruptly leapt down from the rocky pillars ahead of Konoha's assault force.
The figure, clad in an Anbu uniform and donning a bird-patterned mask, landed directly in front of Shinichi.
Drawing a long blade from his waist, the masked ninja pointed it at Shinichi's face and coldly demanded,
"Uchiha Shinichi, Captain of the Konoha Assault Force—"
"Are you planning to betray the village?"
The sudden development made Shinichi's words catch in his throat. He frowned deeply, glaring in disbelief at the Anbu ninja before him.
"You're a messenger sent by Nara Shikaku, from Anbu?" Shinichi squinted at the bird-patterned mask, his sharp eyes narrowing further.
"No... There's a stench of a rat from the shadows on you. You're from that man's Root division!"
The Root ninja remained expressionless and cold.
"Uchiha Shinichi, your actions will be reported after the battle."
"But for now—"
"The time has come. Obey the strategic orders immediately!"
His gaze turned sharp as he warned,
"Or you'll be deemed a traitor to the village!"
The veins on Shinichi's forehead throbbed as he struggled to suppress his burgeoning fury. He growled,
"You've been here the whole time!"
"You knew this was a trap! Why didn't you tell us about the mission beforehand?"
Pointing toward the approaching Sand forces and the red smoke billowing behind them, he shouted,
"You wait until it's all falling apart to step in and flaunt your authority?"
"To hell with your mission! Isn't this just a ploy to sacrifice our lives to block the Sand forces while your infiltration team completes their mission?"
Grinding his teeth, Shinichi roared,
"You want my life, my clan's lives, my comrades' lives—everyone here—just to prop up your Root division's achievements?!"
As his voice fell, all 89 members of the Konoha assault force turned their blazing eyes toward the Root ninja, their fury palpable enough to tear him apart.
"Hahahahaha!"
But instead of being cowed, the Root ninja threw his head back and laughed derisively.
From behind his mask, a pair of mocking eyes regarded Shinichi and his team with disdain.
Then, sneering, he asked,
"Uchiha Shinichi, what do you think you are?"
With a cold snort, he retrieved a scroll from his waist pouch, unfurled it, and displayed it before Shinichi.
"Look closely. This is your mission—"
He read aloud the scroll's contents:
"Konoha Assault Force, remain in position!"
"The battle and mission here will be handled by the incoming Konoha Special Operations Squad members!"
"Until the Special Operations Squad falls, you are not to interfere!"
"Failure to comply will be considered an act of treason!"
With a sneer, the Root ninja tossed the scroll into Shinichi's hands.
Shinichi's eyes widened as he reread the scroll. The signatures of Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and the Konoha border camp's command validated its authenticity.
In disbelief, he looked up.
"What did you say? Special Operations Squad?!"
"Where are their members? Weren't they sent to assassinate the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa?!"
Clenching his teeth, he glanced at the rapidly advancing Sand forces and asked anxiously,
"Can you at least tell me where the key figure is right now?"
The Root ninja sneered and shook his head.
"You're not authorized to know Root secrets!"
"Just wait obediently."
Shinichi clenched his fists, pointing at the Sand forces now less than a kilometer away. His face twitched with rage.
"If we don't act now, we won't be able to stop them!"
"And you're asking us to stay put, to wait for some so-called Special Operations Squad members who may not even be here?"
Grabbing the Root ninja by the collar, Shinichi bellowed,
"What kind of joke is this?!"
The Root ninja slapped his hand away with a snort.
"This isn't your concern."
"On the battlefield, your only job is to obey orders!"
As the Sand forces grew closer, their march shook the ground like thunderous drums. The air was filled with the whistle of wind, the crumbling of earth, and a billowing storm of sand.
Facing this, Shinichi and his team turned pale. Sweat dripped from their faces despite the cold wind as they instinctively readied themselves for combat.
Finally, the Root ninja spoke again.
"Stand down!"
Enraged, the assault force glared at him. The captain of the second squad, Ichi Ni, gritted his teeth and whispered to Shinichi,
"Captain, this bastard is too arrogant. Should we just take him out?"
Next to him, Inuzuka Akira muttered grimly,
"Let's just finish him off already."
"Woof!" Even his dog seemed to agree.
Shinichi exhaled deeply, casting a cold glance at the Root ninja.
"Let him pass. Prepare for battle."
Reluctantly, the team parted to let the Root ninja through.
But as Shinichi turned to plan their attack, a commotion erupted behind him.
"What now?" Shinichi spun around, ready to reprimand his team for their distraction.
Instead, he froze at the sight before him.
The once-arrogant Root ninja had knelt before Uchiha Ci, presenting him with a scroll.
Ci blinked, bewildered, and opened the scroll. Inside was Orochimaru's handwriting:
"Do as you see fit!"
"And come back alive!"
The Root ninja's eyes glowed with reverence as he looked up at Ci, his voice trembling with fervor.
"Uchiha Ci, Lord Orochimaru has one question for you—"
"Are you ready to become a legend of the ninja world?!"
As the words fell, all eyes turned to Ci, filled with shock and curiosity.
Ci closed the scroll and took a deep breath, his crimson Sharingan eyes igniting with resolve.
"Then watch closely," he said, his voice steady.
"This is my full strength."
The Root ninja bowed deeply.
"Then may fortune favor you in battle!"
As chaos loomed and the Sand forces approached, the battlefield held its breath for the storm to break.