Chapter 401
Kirigakure dispatched its Second Corps to the Land of Whirlpools for many reasons, but primarily because the First Corps had lost its ability to expand further.
The black market assassins had taught them a lesson!
Over the past few months, the First Corps had suffered over a hundred assassination attempts on its various battalions, squads, external deployment units, and even its main camps. Although many attempts failed or resulted in mutual destruction, a significant number of assassins successfully completed their missions and escaped unharmed.
The First Corps was overwhelmed!
This was the result of an investment of 350 million ryo!
If that sum had been used to hire mercenary armies instead, they could have inflicted heavy losses on the First Corps. However, employing black market assassins had an additional effect—it created an atmosphere of fear!
As a result, the First Corps became hesitant, unable to mobilize for large-scale operations.
For months, the Fourth Corps of Konohagakure remained stationed at the border without taking any action. The combination of their presence and Konoha's infiltration forces prevented the First Corps from advancing further.
Thus, the Third Corps of Kirigakure arrived!
Upon receiving this intelligence, Haruto Saito returned to Gutian Village with Minato Namikaze and Kaga the very next afternoon.
It had been over four months. During Haruto's campaign in the Land of Whirlpools, he had returned once before.