Chapter 367: Operation Thunder Country Annihilation!
The overall terrain of the Land of Lightning formed a high center with low-lying surroundings. Rivers flowing around the central mountain range created a winding, jagged coastline at the estuary.
This was true not only for the neighboring Land of Frost and coastal Land of Water, but even more so for the Land of Earth.
From the western estuary of the Land of Lightning, one could reach a uniquely striking location within its borders—
The Cloud-Thunder Gorge.
"Scree~!"
A hawk let out a sharp cry, circling above the gorge before diving swiftly downward.
It soon landed at a lookout post established by the Hidden Cloud Village in this area.
However—
The person standing in front of the post to retrieve the hawk wasn't a ninja wearing a Cloud forehead protector, but a brawny man in a gray cloak, with a thick beard and a Stone forehead protector on his head.
His name was Kamizuru Kurobee, a member of the Kamizuru clan of the Hidden Stone Village.
"Kurobee-senpai, I can't believe your Honey Clone Technique even alters scent, enough to fool the Hidden Cloud's surveillance. That's incredible~"
Beside him, a young Stone ninja glanced sideways at Kurobee, watching him silently and methodically perform his task: inserting a scroll reading 'All clear at Sixth Coastal Watchpost' into a bamboo tube strapped to the hawk's leg.
He couldn't help but praise,
"With this, the estuary is completely secure."
"That's nothing worth mentioning."
Kurobee shook his head and released the hawk into the sky. Then he gazed eastward, his expression somber.
"This is all I can do. Just these minor, insignificant tasks."
"I only hope Lord Third and the others return victorious."
The hawk soared high, overlooking the scene below—
Within the outpost, the corpses of Cloud ninja lay scattered. The Stone shinobi who arrived later were busy using jutsu to erase all traces of battle.
In the distance, multiple supply-laden sailboats were approaching.
Even farther out, other outposts, just like this one, sent flocks of birds into the sky to transmit intelligence.
Without the Cloud's awareness—
The entire western coastline of the Land of Lightning had already been cracked open by the Stone!
White birds carried intel from west to east, gathering in one place.
They crossed the western coast, passed through Cloud-Thunder Gorge, then circled around the capital city, Yunming City, where two mighty warriors were locked in fierce battle—
And finally reached a staging ground on the plains before the central mountain range.
Beyond this point lay the Land of Lightning's highest elevations and densest peaks—
At the heart of which stood the Hidden Cloud Village.
Before the plains, squads bearing Stone forehead protectors continuously emerged from the narrow mountain trails, gathering swiftly and finding their designated positions within the formation.
At a glance, this shinobi army exceeded ten thousand in number!
At the central command—
The intel from countless white birds made of explosive clay was gathered and compiled.
A muscular young man in red, with two blue streaks under his eyes, stood reading the reports. He was a member of the Stone's Sealing Squad escort unit, named Bunka.
At this moment—
Bunka walked to the front of the formation, cradling the report.
There stood a short old man, wrapped in a red scarf, clad in a green-striped flak vest, and carrying a gray-brown kage hat on his back—
"Lord Third!" Bunka respectfully presented the report and summarized the key points:
"All clear in the rear. We've confirmed that both the Third Raikage and the AB duo are currently stationed in Yunming City."
"As for the newly formed Akatsuki group, all its known members—along with Uchiha Ci—have also appeared near Yunming City."
"So far, they haven't made a move, but given the Cloud's exaggerated defensive posture this time…"
"The odds of them breaching Yunming City's inner walls and assassinating the daimyo seem extremely slim."
Upon hearing this, the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, shook his head and raised an eyebrow.
"Bunka, don't underestimate the Uchiha and this Akatsuki."
"On the surface, they may seem like just a group of reckless rogue shinobi, but if you understand their members, you'll realize they are anything but simple."
"The Uchiha clan, for instance, hasn't once declared they've severed ties with Uchiha Ci during the past seven days. Kirigakure may have labeled Hōzuki Mangetsu a rogue, but Mei Terumi—another prodigy of the Mist who appears alongside Akatsuki—is still in a murky position over there. Not to mention her deep ties with the Mist's former elders. And there's also Sasori of the Red Sand."
"This rising organization has gathered elite forces from Konoha, Kirigakure, Amegakure, Sunagakure, and Takigakure. Who can say what kind of connections they hold with the leadership of each nation?"
"Mark my words, we must never let our guard down against them."
As he lectured the impulsive young man while flipping through the intel—
Ōnoki's eyes suddenly narrowed as he stopped at one particular entry.
"The second Chakra Cannon—stored in Hidden Cloud for contingency use—was taken away by Rasa and transported to Yunming City at dawn?"
"Han, is this intel from the reconnaissance unit accurate?"
At his side stood Han, the Five-Tails jinchūriki, wearing a red kasa hat and crimson steam armor. Personally responsible for the mission, he nodded and replied solemnly:
"No doubt about it."
"The Chakra Cannon isn't treated as a top-secret weapon in Hidden Cloud. Without massive chakra reserves like those of a tailed beast jinchūriki, it's almost impossible to wield. Forcing its use—like what happened during Orochimaru's attack on Hidden Cloud—can instantly drain the chakra of nearly a hundred shinobi, resulting in massive casualties."
"Strictly speaking, this weapon is still in the experimental stage."
"Hidden Cloud only allocates routine funding each year. Our spies confirmed long ago that there are only two Chakra Cannons in total."
"Now that both have been sent to Yunming City for the Five Kage Summit, it makes sense—their only jinchūriki is there."
"Excellent!"
Hearing this, Ōnoki squinted, gazing toward the towering peaks of the central mountain range.
"Our final preparations are complete!"
"Then, the next step—"
"Operation Thunder Country Annihilation!"
Ōnoki took a deep breath, pointed ahead, and gave the order in a deep, commanding voice:
"Commence the assault!"
As soon as the words fell—
"Wahhh!"
The Stone army of over ten thousand roared in unison and began to march!
Split into six divisions by formation, the squads moved in unison toward the Hidden Cloud Village nestled within the central mountains of the Land of Lightning!
Operation Thunder Country Annihilation
This entire operation consisted of four parts.
Phase One: A lightning-fast infiltration into the Land of Lightning—seizing control of the western coastal estuary and using the secret techniques of clans like the Kamizuru to evade the Cloud's detection.
Phase Two: Using the daimyo's authority to plant Stone forces in advance within Yunming City, who would then unleash the Ten-Thousand-Meter Great Stone River.
Finally, the Four-Tails jinchūriki Rōshi would enter full Tailed Beast Mode, using the power of the Four-Tails to stir magma and fill the great river with molten lava—
Trapping over 3,000 elite Cloud ninja inside Yunming's inner city.
Using the city as a cage, the plan was to divide the Cloud forces and stall their reinforcements.
Phase Three: Mobilizing the ten-thousand-strong army in squads, infiltrating the central mountain range via the estuary.
Bypassing Yunming City through Cloud-Thunder Gorge, they would regroup at the staging ground on the plains and ultimately launch a surprise assault on Hidden Cloud Village nestled deep within the mountains!
"All units, hear the order—"
"Upon infiltration of Hidden Cloud Village, use numerical superiority to initiate three-on-one group tactics."
"Primary targets: Eliminate all active defensive forces within the village."
"Focus attacks on training fields, the ninja academy, the hospital, and key points connected to the Raikage's tower. Surround and cut off reinforcements!"
Ōnoki suddenly flew into the sky,
Standing above the ten-thousand-strong army, he waved his hand and bellowed:
"Attack!"