The next day.
It was another rare day off for the Sixth Division, with no missions.
At the Puppet Force base, Qingshui was on the sheltered training ground, practicing Puppetry with the public training puppets.
This was one of the many perks offered by the Puppet Force.
The two puppets were heavy-duty models, each weighing over a hundred kilograms, and equipped with non-lethal weapons.
Qingshui was currently controlling the two puppets as they fought each other, honing his puppet manipulation skills.
Sasori wasn't particularly interested in this aspect, as his talent meant he could master such techniques with minimal effort. His true passion lay in the research and development of puppets.
Jianxue, meanwhile, was engrossed in a book under the eaves.
It wasn't until Jianye suddenly appeared on the field.
"Brother, why are you here?" Jianxue asked Jianye curiously.
"You have fifteen minutes to get ready. In fifteen minutes, meet at the village entrance. I'll explain on the way." Jianye's expression was uncharacteristically serious.
"No need, our puppets are all here. If it's a mission, we can leave immediately," Qingshui said, retracting his Chakra Threads and wiping sweat from his brow.
"I'll go get Sasori!" Jianxue darted into the building and called out Sasori, who was still working on a puppet.
"Then I'll make this brief. The stationed ninja at the border reported that a small elite squad from Konoha broke through the border and infiltrated deep into the Land of Wind. A day ago, they destroyed the Black Iron Mine in Black Sand City and then vanished without a trace. The village high command has issued an order for the Puppet Force to cooperate with the border ninja in searching for this Konoha ninja squad."
"Currently, we are the only ones in the entire Puppet Force who can deploy immediately. If found, the priority is to capture them alive. Mission rating: A!" Jianye said, his demeanor cold and stern, as he spoke to Sasori, who had just emerged from the building.
"An A-rank Mission? Does that mean... there's a Jonin-level enemy...?" Jianxue said, hesitating slightly.
She didn't believe a Special Jonin, a Chunin, and two Genin could complete an A-rank Mission.
"We... capture a Jonin alive?" Qingshui pointed to himself with a constipated expression.
"The target for live capture is not an enemy Jonin. According to intelligence, there's a Uchiha with a Sharingan in this small squad. As for the enemy Jonin, Captain Ishido and the border garrison ninja will handle them."
That explained it.
Without Wood Release, the Sharingan was the top Kekkei Genkai in the Ninja World, offering a huge boost to combat power.
Every ninja village outside of Konoha coveted the Sharingan. If that Uchiha were captured by Sand Hidden, they would only end up as a breeding tool.
Sasori's eyes lit up.
A Uchiha!
It would be amazing to turn them into a Human Puppet, but currently, Human Puppets couldn't retain the Kekkei Genkai of the living person, which was quite a shame.
"Depart now, head to First Line Gorge to rendezvous with Captain Ishido. Destination: Black Sand City!"
"Yes!" x3
...
...
A few minutes later, Qingshui and the others arrived at the Sand Village's main gate—First Line Gorge.
First Line Gorge was the Sand Village's most crucial and final line of defense, as well as its main entrance.
It was an extremely narrow gorge, looking as if a massive mountain had been split in half, leaving only a tunnel barely wide enough for two carriages to pass.
This kind of terrain exemplifies the saying, "One man guarding the pass can hold off ten thousand." If a Kage-level individual, assisted by a few powerful Jonin, were stationed here, it would be almost impossible for outsiders to invade the Sand Village.
However, the strongest fortresses are often breached from within.
In the future, Sasori and Deidara were able to invade the Sand Village because Sasori used Shallow Brain Sand to control Yura, a high-ranking Sand Hidden official, allowing them to easily breach First Line Gorge.
However, this road also hindered the Sand Village's economic development, presenting both advantages and disadvantages.
After having their mission credentials checked by the gate guards, Qingshui and his group quickly set off towards Black Sand City.
Ninjas travel quickly. They received the mission after lunch, and by the time the sun had not yet set, the group had already reached their destination.
"Finally, reinforcements are here?" The 驻防忍者 responsible for liaising with the Puppet Force sighed in relief upon seeing Qingshui and his group.
"What's the situation now?" Upon arriving at their destination, Ishido immediately began questioning without resting.
"Jonin Kyuichi has been trailing that Konoha squad with a sensory ninja. The Konoha ninjas who were preparing to rendezvous with them at the border were also repelled by Jonin Rasa. We just need to gather enough strength, and we can eliminate that Konoha squad."
The Chunin in charge of liaison respectfully addressed Ishido.
"Arrange for someone to guide us. We'll depart immediately to provide support!"
"I can lead the way!"
The Chunin bit his thumb, drawing blood, and formed hand seals.
A few seconds later, a small desert lizard was summoned, a note tied to its leg.
The Chunin opened the note, read it, and then handed it to Ishido.
"Let's go!"
Ishido waved his hand, giving the command.
...
...
"Ugh! What kind of idiotic order did the higher-ups give, telling us to sabotage the Land of Wind's rear! This whole damn place is desert; how much can we possibly destroy?!"
On top of a sand dune, a young man wearing black clothes with a red and white fan emblem wiped his face and spat sand to the side.
"It's all because of you, Uchiha Sen! The captain's order was for you to use your Sharingan's genjutsu to hypnotize those Sand Hidden ninja so we could infiltrate easily, but you directly killed them, causing us to be exposed!"
A comrade wearing a green vest couldn't help but mock him.
"What do you mean? If I hadn't been trying to save you guys, why would I have attacked directly? Civilian ninja are just civilian ninja, without even that much insight!"
Uchiha Sen's eyes glared, turning red as he cursed at his comrade.
"Sigh..."
Nara Hirano, the Konoha Jonin leading the team, couldn't help but sigh.
The conflict between the Uchiha clan and Konoha was intensifying, not just between the Uchiha and the villagers, but with other ninja clans as well.
The Police Force enforced laws violently, regardless of whether you were a civilian or from a ninja clan. They would all be thrown into jail, awaiting interrogation through Sharingan genjutsu hypnosis.
Now, this conflict had spread to the ninja ranks.
"Alright, it's highly unlikely we'll complete the planned mission to sabotage the Sand Hidden's logistics now. What we need to do is figure out how to break through the Land of Wind's border. Although breaking through the blockade will be difficult, I've already contacted Sakumo-sama using a Summoning Beast. He will try to lead an elite unit to assault the Sand Hidden front line and rendezvous with us. So, until then, our goal is to survive and hold out until White Fang-sama arrives!"
Nara Hirano declared resolutely to his subordinates.
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