CHAPTER 97
Things were developing somewhat beyond Might Guy's expectations.
Two months passed in the blink of an eye.
Over these two months, Konoha and Kirigakure had engaged in multiple small-scale skirmishes and probing attacks throughout the waters surrounding the Land of Waves.
One of those confrontations had even escalated into a large-scale battle.
Both sides committed more than three hundred shinobi.
Fortunately, Hyuga Yukian used his Byakugan to detect Kirigakure's ambush intentions ahead of time.
Konoha adjusted its deployment accordingly.
In the end, Kirigakure voluntarily retreated after leaving behind more than fifty corpses.
Konoha seized the opportunity to occupy a strategically important small island along the shipping route.
The frontline base was pushed forward significantly.
Although the war remained tense, the atmosphere throughout the camp was relatively positive.
Homura Mitokado's command was steady and reliable.
Hyuga Yukian's Byakugan also played an enormous role in maritime reconnaissance.
Konoha held the advantage in several key engagements.
If this pace of offensive operations and battlefield superiority continued...
Within three months, Konoha would gradually tighten its grip.
Eventually, the entire Land of Waves would fall into Konoha's hands.
Inside the tent, Ebisu and Genma had just finished their patrol duties and were chatting casually.
"If you ask me, being the attacking side is way better than being the defending side!"
Ebisu leaned against his cot and pushed up his sunglasses.
"The initiative is in our hands. We fight when we want to fight and defend when we want to defend."
"It's nothing like Mount Kikyo where we were on edge every day, never knowing when or from where the enemy would suddenly appear."
Genma chewed on his senbon and nodded, unusually agreeing.
"That's true."
"Waiting passively isn't a good feeling."
Ebisu stretched lazily before suddenly remembering something.
His tone immediately became somewhat dissatisfied.
"It's just that... it's already been two months. How come we haven't run into those three Kirigakure shinobi even once?"
"Especially that guy carrying the replica sword and that little girl..."
"Tsk. I still wanted to show them what real Fire Release looks like!"
Might Guy sat on his bed, carefully wiping his nunchaku.
He remained silent.
Everything happening in the Land of Waves was proceeding too smoothly.
So smoothly that it almost felt abnormal.
But Guy understood very clearly.
This was not because Kirigakure was deliberately pretending to be weak or setting some elaborate trap.
Based on the intelligence circulating through the frontline and his own memories, Kirigakure truly lacked sufficient troops to invest heavily into this secondary battlefield.
During the Third Shinobi World War, all Five Great Nations were fighting on multiple fronts simultaneously.
Among them, Kirigakure's military strength was already among the weakest.
Now they were simultaneously confronting both Konoha and Kumogakure.
Their forces were stretched to the limit.
Not long ago, news arrived that could only be described as absurd.
After learning that Sunagakure had launched a surprise attack on Mount Kikyo only to suffer a crushing defeat, the Third Mizukage made an incomprehensible decision.
He withdrew part of the already strained forces from the Kumogakure front.
Attempting to bypass the rear of the Land of Fire and ambush Sunagakure, which had also suffered severe losses and was still recovering from the disastrous defeat at Mount Kikyo.
Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage candidate, was already filled with frustration and anger from that defeat.
He had been looking for somewhere to vent his rage.
The detached Kirigakure force practically delivered itself to his doorstep.
It became the perfect target for Rasa to unleash his fury upon.
The result was a fierce battle.
Neither side gained any meaningful advantage.
However, Kirigakure wasted a significant number of valuable troops for nothing.
After that incident, the pressure on both their eastern and western battlefronts increased even further.
Naturally, the number of troops they could spare for the Land of Waves became even smaller.
As long as Konoha maintained a steady pace and avoided major mistakes...
Capturing the Land of Waves was only a matter of time.
This was a strategic victory that Konoha was gradually securing through its overall war effort.
But...
Might Guy slowly set down his nunchaku.
A sharp light flashed within his eyes.
Konoha had its own grand strategy.
Kirigakure...
Or more specifically, Ao...
Also had his own plans.
Hyuga Yukian's Byakugan was one of the enemy's most valuable targets.
During these two months, battlefield skirmishes had never ceased.
Yet Ao himself had never once reappeared within Team 9's field of view.
There had also been no obvious actions targeting Hyuga Yukian or his Byakugan.
Everything appeared calm and peaceful.
Yet it was precisely this calmness that caused Might Guy's vigilance to rise to its highest level.
The silence before a storm was often the most oppressive.
What was Ao waiting for?
What exactly was he planning?
How would he seize the eyes of a Hyuga Main House Jonin inside heavily defended Konoha territory?
Might Guy's mind raced rapidly as he considered countless possibilities.
An elite assassination squad?
Using the chaos of a large-scale battlefield?
Some sort of disguise, deception, or hidden trap?
Just as he was deep in thought, trying to predict the enemy's methods, the tent flap was suddenly lifted.
Hyuga Yukian stepped inside.
The usual calmness within his pale eyes had vanished.
In its place was an unusually serious expression.
His gaze swept across everyone inside the tent.
His voice was low and solemn.
"A new mission has arrived."
The rare seriousness immediately caused the relaxed Ebisu and Genma to sit upright.
"Latest intelligence."
Hyuga Yukian walked to the center of the tent.
"Kirigakure forces are conducting a limited withdrawal from several outer strongholds in the waters surrounding the Land of Waves."
"Lord Homura Mitokado believes they may intend to abandon the Land of Waves battlefield and concentrate their forces on other fronts that are under greater pressure."
"Abandon the Land of Waves?"
Ebisu froze for a moment before excitement appeared on his face.
"Isn't that a good thing? Then we can take the place easily!"
Genma bit his senbon lightly.
His brows furrowed slightly.
He remained silent, apparently contemplating something.
Hyuga Yukian glanced at Ebisu.
His expression did not change.
"The intelligence has not yet been verified."
"It may also be bait."
"Or a trap."
"Our mission is to determine the truth."
"Determine the truth?"
Might Guy's heart abruptly tightened.
His body subconsciously tensed.
He instantly understood the reasoning behind the mission.
If the enemy was truly withdrawing, changes and gaps would inevitably appear throughout the frontline.
To quickly and safely verify whether a large-scale troop movement was genuine...
There was no better reconnaissance tool than the Byakugan.
Hyuga Yukian's long-range observation abilities were the key to completing such a mission.
However, the moment this thought appeared...
A chill suddenly crawled up Might Guy's spine.
"Determine the truth..."
"Enemy suspected of retreating..."
"Byakugan required for long-range verification..."
On the surface, the mission sounded perfectly reasonable.
But in Guy's eyes, it looked completely different.
Kirigakure might truly be withdrawing.
The intelligence itself might not be false.
However, for Ao, who had been lurking in the shadows while coveting the Byakugan...
This period of chaotic withdrawal might represent his final opportunity.
Right before both sides potentially disengaged and the battlefield underwent major changes...
Creating an accident.
Or arranging a precise ambush.
Would be far easier than during a direct military confrontation where both sides maintained strict defenses.
"Is the operation to seize the Byakugan finally about to begin?"
The thought instantly surfaced within Might Guy's mind.
He looked toward Hyuga Yukian.
The only Hyuga Main House member on the entire Land of Waves frontline.
And a man who still had no idea what might be waiting for him.
Hyuga Yukian remained unaware of Guy's concerns.
He continued explaining the mission.
"Mission objective: infiltrate Mist Island near the enemy withdrawal route."
"Using the Byakugan, observe fleet movements and personnel withdrawals from a distance."
"Determine the enemy's true intentions."
"Mission Rank: B-Rank."
"Requirements: remain concealed, avoid combat whenever possible, and withdraw immediately after obtaining the intelligence."
His gaze swept across the three of them.
"We depart in one hour."
"Check your equipment and prepare for concealment and long-range infiltration."
"This mission may take us deep into the edge of enemy-controlled territory."
"The danger level is significantly higher than our previous reconnaissance missions."
"Yes!"
Might Guy, Ebisu, and Genma responded in unison.
They immediately began inspecting their ninja tool pouches and preparing for departure.
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