Mizukage's Pokémon Ninja Scroll

Chapter 96 S-Rank Mission (Third Update)

Tachibana Kanagawa simply nodded to the two Jonin, without even greeting his teammates, and immediately sat down obediently.

"Don't be too reserved. I've called your two teams here because I need your help with something."

"Elder Yuan, you can just give the order."

"Elder Master Yuan, you're too kind."

The two Jonin quickly spoke up, but they dared not accept the offer without much politeness from their superiors.

Elder Yuan didn't seem to mind and continued speaking with a smile.

"You probably know that Tachibana-kun discovered the large force led by the Kumogakure AB group at sea."

"Yes, Elder Yuan, I saw it too."

Elder Yuan simply nodded and did not continue speaking. Instead, he took out a map and gestured for everyone to gather around.

"Currently, the battlegrounds between Konoha and Kumogakure are mainly concentrated in the northwest of the Land of Hot Springs. However, according to the intelligence of the Anbu, the naval landing point you previously discovered is on the southeast coast of the Land of Hot Springs."

With Elder Yuan's guidance, everyone focused their attention on two locations on the map.

The Land of Hot Water is located northeast of the Land of Fire, separated from the Land of Lightning by the Land of Frost. The Land of Frost is weak and close to the Land of Lightning, so it naturally couldn't prevent the Hidden Cloud Village from passing through.

Therefore, the main battlefield between Konoha and Kumogakure was previously located in the northwestern part of the Land of Hot Water, near the Land of Snow.

However, due to the long and narrow shape of the Land of Hot Water, only about one-third of its land borders the Land of Frost. The other two-thirds, which is the southeastern territory of the Land of Hot Water, is a long and narrow coastline.

Previously, when the Kirigakure leadership learned that troops from Kumogakure had departed by sea towards the Land of Hot Water, they initially suspected that Kumogakure was plotting a surprise attack on the Land of Fire's rear by landing on the coastline.

"However, subsequent investigations by the Anbu revealed that after landing in the Land of Hot Springs, the Hidden Cloud Village did not directly attack the Konoha forces to the west, but also consciously avoided Konoha's troops and supply lines."

"Over the course of nearly twenty days, this force of two hundred men from Kumogakure spread out in the southeastern part of the Land of Hot Springs, seemingly searching for something."

At this point, Elder Yuanshi drew a circle on the map of the lower half of the Land of Hot Water and tapped it lightly twice.

"The village is now very eager to know what exactly is it that made Kumogakure ignore the fierce battle on the front lines and instead send an elite force to search the outskirts of the battlefield for so long."

The other eight people present looked at each other, unsure of how to respond.

In the end, Qing was the first to ask a question.

"So Elder Yuan wants our two teams to investigate this matter?"

"That's right." Elder Yuan nodded to Qing.

"Ao, you are currently the best sensory ninja the village can muster, and Ken..."

Ken raised his thick eyebrows and looked at Elder Yuan with expectant eyes.

"Ken is the most suitable person to protect you, so I hope that the two of you will lead the team into the Land of Hot Springs to find out what those barbarians from Kumogakure are doing."

Seeing Ken's still somewhat confused look, Tachibana Ken couldn't help but rub her forehead.

"It seems the village really can't spare anyone else these days."

"This operation will be commanded by Ao, with Ken assisting from the side. Your two teams do not need to approach the battlefields of the two countries; you only need to operate in the southeastern part of the Land of Hot Water and investigate the target of the two hundred people from Kumogakure."

"In addition, although most of the village's intelligence personnel in the Land of Hot Water are active near the main battlefields of the two countries, I will also dispatch some personnel to help you understand the general situation there."

"Is there anything else you don't understand?"

Elder Yuan withdrew his hand and looked at Qing.

After considering it for a moment, Qing hesitated before speaking to Elder Yuan.

"We are currently at war with the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire. If a conflict arises with the Land of Lightning during the investigation..."

Elder Yuan replied without hesitation.

"If the situation is urgent, I will allow you to take action against the Cloud Village ninja, or you may directly disrupt their operations if you deem it necessary."

"Just try to make your movements as discreet as possible. Of course, even if you are discovered, it's not a big deal as long as you don't get caught."

Everyone nodded knowingly, which meant, "As long as there is no clear evidence, if you, Yunyin, have the ability, then come and fight."

"Alright, there are some other mission details written on this scroll. You can look at them on the way."

"This time, the village will issue the S-rank mission directly, but I believe you all have the ability to complete it successfully."

"Understood." x8

Qing solemnly accepted the scroll.

As for Elder Yuan's suggestion to observe along the way, it was clear that he wanted the two teams to set off as soon as possible.

Without much hesitation, the group left the Water Shadow Building and went back to prepare.

An hour later, at the main gate of Wuyin Village.

Looking at the seven fully armed men, Qing emphasized something.

"Although this mission is called an investigation, unless we wait until the Cloud Village forces have achieved their objective and withdrawn before conducting the investigation, there is a very high probability that we will clash with the Cloud Village ninjas."

"I don't think I need to emphasize the danger level of S-class missions again."

"Therefore, there are only two requirements during the mission! Follow instructions! Act with caution!"

"Yes!" x7

All seven, including Ken, answered without hesitation.

Even though they are both Jonin, the village has clearly defined the order of command, thus establishing a superior-subordinate relationship.

Besides, Ken is relatively easy to talk to and won't try to compete with Qing for the right to speak during missions.

Along the way, the group learned about each other's situations, mainly focusing on introducing Qing.

After all, the three members of Jianchuan Tachibana and Ken's team were already quite familiar with each other when they were on the front lines.

Besides Ken himself, a taijutsu Jonin, the rest of the team includes Hozuki Shingetsu, a standard Hozuki clan ninja who possesses water transformation techniques and decent swordsmanship.

The other two were also promoted to Chunin after returning to the village.

The one who received treatment from Tachibana Kenkawa during the raid on Konoha's camp is named Azusa, and he is also a taijutsu ninja. He has black hair and a buzz cut, carries a huge iron rod on his back, and although he is not old, he is very muscular and looks like a Shaolin monk, which makes him seem very reliable.

The last one is a somewhat effeminate young man named Tamura Yuka, who is taciturn and doesn't talk much. He is an excellent genjutsu ninja, skilled in setting traps and throwing hidden weapons using genjutsu. He is considered a rather unconventional ninja in Kirigakure.

Due to the urgency of the mission, the two teams didn't have much time to practice together, which made Qing, the team leader, the least cooperative with Ken's team.

Fortunately, Ao, being a Jonin, had no shortage of similar experience, and his main task was to sense and investigate, so it didn't have a significant impact.

The group marched continuously, their steps never faltering, until they reached the territory of the Land of Hot Water.

I thought I had evolved to the third watch of the night and could continue to evolve.

But three hours a day is so hard, so tiring.

I really want to play video games, and I really want to lie down and read novels!

(End of this chapter)