"Sohma, what support do you need from the Village for this infiltration mission?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.
Shirakumo Hayama furrowed his brows as he looked at the map on the table, remaining silent.
After a moment, he spoke: "Hokage-sama, Lord Shikaku, for this mission, I need to mobilize one person to support me."
"Who?" Nara Shikaku's tone was somewhat urgent. "A Chunin, a Jonin, even if you want me, it's fine."
This matter had been weighing on his heart for a long time; bringing Onigumo into Konoha was something he had personally pushed for.
After the defection, there had been no way to resolve it, and he was under a lot of pressure.
Seeing someone willing to take it on, he was naturally very supportive.
"I need Aokawa," Shirakumo Hayama replied.
"Aokawa?" Nara Shikaku was puzzled.
He knew all the Jonin in the Village, and he even knew some senior Chunin.
But he had never heard of this person; was he a newly grown Genius of the Hyuga Clan?
"Jonin Sohma, this Aokawa you mentioned—is he a Jonin or a Chunin?"
"He's a Ninja Academy Student!"
"A Ninja Academy Student?" Nara Shikaku's mouth hung open.
For such a mission, to pick a Ninja Academy Student as a teammate.
How could someone with such a steady personality like Shirakumo Hayama make such a choice?
"Are you confident?" Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was on the side, asked.
Being able to think of Aokawa immediately, it seemed that Aokawa's Kekkei Genkai had left a deep impression on Shirakumo Hayama.
Shirakumo Hayama shook his head: "The projectile speed is definitely enough; I almost couldn't react. But the distance of this valley is beyond my perception range, so I can't judge whether this is within Aokawa's range."
"Wait a moment!" Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi actually acquiesced to this, Nara Shikaku had some guesses, but he still frowned and interrupted their conversation.
"With all due respect, Hokage-sama, Jonin Sohma!"
"As far as I know, although the Hyuga Clan has the Byakugan for easy reconnaissance, for a Ninja Academy Student to infiltrate an enemy country with you, the burden should be greater than the help."
"But since Jonin Sohma specifically wants him, does this person perhaps possess a long-range attack Ninjutsu?"
"In my memory, I have never heard of the Hyuga Clan possessing a similar Legacy."
Shirakumo Hayama looked up at Hiruzen Sarutobi and remained silent.
"Let me explain."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of smoke and spoke slowly.
"Aokawa has awakened a Kekkei Genkai."
"This Kekkei Genkai allows him to use a type of beyond-visual-range attack Ninjutsu, the power of which can even kill a Jonin."
"Ultra-long range? Killing a Jonin?"
Nara Shikaku leaned forward, a loss of composure appearing on his face for the first time. While shocked, a hint of anticipation also flashed in his eyes.
As Konoha's tactical advisor, he instantly realized the strategic significance of this ability.
When he pushed for Onigumo to join Konoha back then, what he valued was the long-range attack of his Kekkei Genkai.
Although he later found out it was only a threat to Chunin and Genin, it still helped him complete many tactical designs.
If their own Village had an even further and stronger long-range Ninjutsu.
Then... After a brief lapse in concentration, he quickly adjusted himself, his expression very excited.
"Is this confirmed?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded: "Sohma saw it with his own eyes."
Shirakumo Hayama also took over: "At the time, an enemy Jonin was instantly killed in front of me."
"And if the arrow had been coming toward me, if I didn't have information on this Ninjutsu beforehand, I might have been seriously injured as well."
"Instantly killed!"
Nara Shikaku sucked in a breath of cold air: "And even you..."
Shirakumo Hayama nodded in confirmation, then changed the subject: "However, I'm not sure if he can kill Onigumo."
"From the perspective of range, the Holy Arrow is definitely further than the Spider War Bow, but the valley on the Kumogakure side is higher than ours and conducive to hiding, while the edge of the valley on our side is very open, making the terrain unfavorable for us."
"So we can only retreat to the forest in the rear; otherwise, once discovered, Onigumo will surely flee, which requires an even greater range."
"Moreover, after this battle, Onigumo will certainly be even harder to lure out."
"If he doesn't move to the edge of the valley, it means we have to fire the arrow from this forest to the forest on the opposite bank, which is much further."
Nara Shikaku looked at the distance between the two sides of the valley on the map and nodded: "It is indeed much further than the valley itself."
"Since it's confirmed that the power can kill Onigumo, let Aokawa judge the range himself," Hiruzen Sarutobi made the final decision.
"When Aokawa returns to the Village, bring him to see me immediately."
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