Chapter 69 – The Furious Raikage
A few minutes later, the battle in the valley came to an end.
Seven corpses of Kumogakure shinobi lay scattered across the valley floor, and more than a dozen horse-drawn carts loaded with provisions had been completely destroyed.
"One of them escaped. Should we pursue?"
After glancing over the wreckage, Ryuya turned toward the southeastern exit of the valley and spoke in a low voice.
It had already been more than two months since the four members of Anbu Squad Eleven had arrived at the front lines.
During these two months, the four of them had been operating continuously behind the rear lines of Kumogakure's shinobi forces.
This supply convoy escorted by Zoiho's unit was the fifth transport team attacked by Squad Eleven. In the previous four operations, Ryuya and the others had succeeded every time.
It had been nearly two years since Ryuya arrived in the shinobi world. By now, he had grown accustomed to its cruelty and bloodshed.
Especially over the past two months, the great war between the two hidden villages had laid that brutality bare before his eyes.
"No need. Let's go," Kakashi said softly, shaking his head.
The four figures flickered and vanished from the valley.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—
A quarter of an hour after they left, another series of sounds cutting through the air echoed outside the valley as more than a dozen Kumogakure shinobi rushed in.
At the front was a woman with short light-blonde hair. Her features were delicate yet cold, her skin fair, her figure striking beneath her attire, and a short blade strapped across her back.
The kunoichi was Samui, one of the Fourth Raikage's most trusted jōnin.
"Check for survivors," Samui ordered gravely as she looked at the bodies of Kumogakure shinobi strewn about and the completely destroyed supplies.
"Yes!"
Several Kumogakure ninja immediately moved to carry out the order.
From among them, a figure staggered forward toward Zoiho's lifeless body.
It was Kenichi—the sole survivor of the convoy.
"Captain!"
His knees gave out as he collapsed beside Zoiho's corpse.
Seeing how badly mangled his captain's body was, Kenichi clenched his fists tightly, tears streaming down his face.
If not for Zoiho's desperate final strike in the earlier battle, Kenichi would have been dead.
Remembering the resolve and faint satisfaction in his captain's eyes at the moment of death, Kenichi felt his heart twist in agony.
In that instant, all his arrogance and conceit vanished, leaving only regret and hatred.
He knelt silently, fingernails digging deep into his palms as blood seeped between his fingers.
"Captain Samui, there are no survivors at the scene. The civilian porters have all fled far away," the returning shinobi reported after a short while.
A trace of sorrow flashed through Samui's eyes. She waved her hand without replying.
Everyone had already expected this outcome.
On a battlefield where it was kill or be killed, mercy and cowardice had no place.
"Stand up. Zoiho is dead. Since he gave his life to save you, you must live on in his stead," Samui said quietly as she stepped beside Kenichi.
"I want to avenge the captain!" Kenichi gritted out.
"Revenge? Improve your strength first," Samui replied coolly, brushing a strand of short hair by her ear.
More than ten minutes later, after handling the scene, the Kumogakure shinobi departed.
Kumogakure – Raikage's Office
Outside the door, Mabui—her ash-gray hair falling over her shoulders—walked in holding an intelligence scroll. The orange mesh undershirt beneath her attire was particularly eye-catching.
"Raikage-sama, this is the latest intelligence from the front."
She handed the scroll to the Fourth Raikage.
"Read it. What happened this time? Something with Yugito or Darui?" the Fourth Raikage said impatiently, waving his hand.
As the war progressed, Kumogakure and Konohagakure had entered a stalemate.
Kumo had not achieved the decisive victory it had anticipated.
They had assumed that after the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and the Nine-Tails jinchūriki Kushina, Konoha would fall into a period of decline. Yet its combat strength remained formidable.
This left the Fourth Raikage deeply frustrated.
"Raikage-sama, this report is from the rear lines. Another one of our supply convoys has been intercepted," Mabui said carefully, watching his expression.
Bang!
"What?! What are your Anbu doing? Didn't we dispatch several elite squads? How could the convoy still be intercepted by Konoha?"
The Fourth Raikage, A, slammed his massive fist onto the desk and roared.
The constant stream of bad news had worn away all his patience.
Mabui lowered her head. "This escort mission included Jōnin Zoiho and a Special Jōnin. Even so, they were wiped out by a Konoha Anbu squad."
Hearing this, the Fourth Raikage gradually calmed, his expression turning grave.
"Have we identified this Anbu squad?"
Mabui nodded. "Yes. Jōnin Zoiho gave his life to save one of the squad's chūnin, who brought back the information. According to Samui's analysis, the squad includes Konoha's prodigy Shisui of the Body Flicker, 'Sharingan' Kakashi, a taijutsu specialist capable of opening the Sixth Gate of the Eight Gates—the Gate of View—and a member of the Akimichi clan."
At this, the Raikage's face grew even darker.
"Shisui of the Body Flicker and Sharingan Kakashi! Both are renowned prodigies in the shinobi world. Hiruzen Sarutobi actually dares to send them to the rear lines—he's not afraid of losing them?
If it's them, one or two Anbu squads won't be enough. Go call C!"
"Yes!"
A Kumogakure shinobi waiting outside immediately departed.
"Boss."
Before long, a handsome young shinobi with short blond hair entered the room.
His name was C, an elite jōnin of Kumogakure. A versatile ninja skilled in genjutsu, medical ninjutsu, and sensory techniques, he was known as the Fourth Raikage's left hand.
"C, make preparations. We're heading to the Land of Hot Water shortly," the Raikage ordered decisively as he stood.
"Raikage-sama, the war at the front hasn't reached a critical stage. The elders won't agree to you going to the battlefield," Mabui interjected urgently, her expression changing.
The Fourth Raikage cracked his knuckles loudly.
"I've long been fed up with those old men. If they dare stop me, they can taste my fist first!"
"Boss, with Orochimaru and Jiraiya at Konoha's front lines, even if you go, you may not gain the advantage," C said gravely in persuasion.
"Who said I'm going to the front? I'm going to deal with that Konoha Anbu squad."
Rage burned fiercely in the Raikage's eyes.
"Konoha's Anbu squad?"
C froze, then turned a questioning gaze toward Mabui.
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