Chapter 47: Enemy Attack
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Equipped with Tonbo Tobitake's intelligence, the four of them moved rapidly toward the caravan's location.
Itachi Uchiha kept his eyes fixed on Tonbo ahead of him, marveling at the senior's analytical prowess.
"Mask your presence. Set up traps," Hayama Shirakumo commanded, raising a hand to signal the group.
"Understood."
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Working in unison, they quickly laid out a substantial perimeter of traps. Tonbo worked meticulously, weaving signs.
Boar — Dog — Bird—
A massive clay pangolin emerged and burrowed into the ground. After restoring the grass and soil surface to look undisturbed, he placed several explosive tag traps and barrier triggers in other strategic spots.
He was used to this. Without the monstrous chakra reserves of someone like Hashirama Senju, these chakra-saving tactical preparations were essential. After all, Hidan was taken down by Shikamaru's traps; in a straight war of attrition, Shikamaru would have lost. Tonbo took that lesson to heart—don't just rush in. He had a wife waiting at home.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Dark shadows flickered through the forest. A team advanced rapidly under the thick canopy.
"Captain, Konoha must have received word by now. Why are we taking such a huge risk to hit their supplies?" one ninja asked.
The leader was a burly man with muscles bulging from his sleeves, but his voice was calculating. "The village's Intel says Konoha's recovery has accelerated over the last two years. We must hinder their rate of regaining strength."
"I see."
"According to the mole's report, our arrival should coincide perfectly with the caravan's arrival at the chokepoint. There shouldn't be any Konoha ninjas lying in ambush, right?" someone asked worriedly.
"Hmph. At most, we'll run into a Land of Fire border patrol. Normally, they move in four-man squads. There are eight of us; if they show up, they die."
"True. Besides, Konoha ninjas are soft. They can't match our muscle."
"Don't be careless. Watch for traps."
"We're here."
They reached a bend in the road, concealing themselves in the treetops and overlooking the path while setting their own snares.
The Konoha team remained hidden in the darkness beside the road. Hayama Shirakumo was very satisfied with his teammates' discipline; none of them showed any signs of amateurishness in their stealth. He was particularly impressed by the eight-year-old Itachi. To achieve this level of concealment at such an age was truly the mark of a genius.
Tonbo wove a sign to sense. A monochrome perception interface expanded outward with him at the center. Suddenly, eight blue chakra sources appeared in his mind.
"Enemy contact. Eight of them, seven o'clock direction. They're moving fast and will reach the road before the caravan does. They look like elites, stay sharp," Tonbo warned gravely.
"How strong is their chakra?" Hayama asked. He knew Tonbo's sensory skill was based on detecting chakra intensity, which was the foundation of a ninja's power. One could often estimate an enemy's threat level by their reserves. While chakra didn't define everything, someone with powerful chakra was rarely weak.
"Two of them have reserves comparable to ours—likely the captains of two squads," Tonbo explained.
Anko and Itachi's expressions tightened. The first battle of their border patrol was already at this level of intensity?
Hayama frowned. "If their chakra is similar to ours, we have to assume they have at least two Jonin. Tonbo, can you hold one of them off?"
"Are you planning to finish your guy quickly and then back me up? Don't worry, leave one of the big ones to me. You handle yours and then go help these two," Tonbo replied, gesturing toward the younger duo.
Indeed, even if the enemies were "only" two Jonin, their team still had two members who weren't at peak strength. As for himself, Tonbo was confident; even if the Raikage himself showed up, he could stall for a while. Intelligence and a bag of tricks bred confidence.
"I can handle the rest with Anko-senpai," Itachi suddenly spoke up, his voice steady and confident.
Anko, however, wasn't quite as sure. She didn't have much confidence in taking on two full squads of enemies, even with a genius kid. She worried about Itachi's age.
Itachi's eyes shifted; a two-tomoe Sharingan surfaced. "Before these eyes, as long as the numbers and strength gap aren't insurmountable, there will be no problem."
"The Sharingan..." Anko was stunned. She hadn't expected a kid this young to have already awakened it. Uchiha really do produce monsters every year. And he's only eight!
Tonbo looked at the two-tomoe eyes and praised, "We'll leave the small fry to you then. You're quite something. I heard Madara Uchiha didn't awaken his eyes until he was fifteen. You're at two-tomoe at eight—limitless potential."
He was privately surprised; it seemed the trauma of losing his teammates had been a powerful catalyst for Itachi.
"I do not dare to compare myself to the ancestor," Itachi said.
Hayama added, "Good. With the Sharingan, holding the flank should be fine. Plus, we have the advantage of our traps." Despite his words, Hayama mentally prepared himself to jump in and save them if things went south.
Tonbo's expression suddenly hardened. "They're here."
Clatter, clatter, clatter!
The caravan moved at a steady pace, guarded by samurai and ninjas. The heavy creaking of the wagons betrayed the weight of the ore they carried. Leading the group was a bearded man in a fine kimono, shouting orders to the workers.
Suddenly:
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Whoosh!
A dense barrage of shuriken and kunai erupted from the forests on both sides.
"Enemy attack!"
By the time the warning was screamed, several guards had already fallen. The remaining escorts scrambled to react.
Bzzzt! Bzzzt!
In the midst of the chaos, several people within the caravan suddenly erupted with lightning chakra, striking those around them.
Thump! Thump!
Those hit collapsed to the ground, charred and smoking.
"Kill them! All of them!" The bearded leader didn't panic; instead, he roared orders for a counterattack. "Bastards! To dare attack a noble of the Land of Iron! I'll show you my swordsmanship!"
The man drew his katana into an Iai stance, precisely defecting incoming shuriken as they neared. However, the betrayal of his own men within the convoy left him trembling with rage.
Swoosh!
Eight figures emerged from the shadows, blades flashing and Lightning Style crackling. In moments, the fifty-person caravan was reduced to a dozen surviving guards.
Zzap!
"Sorry about this. You shouldn't have traded with the Land of Fire," said the leader of the attackers, a dark-skinned man with an afro, his body wreathed in electricity.
"Who are you?! Do you have any idea who I am? Offend me, and none of you will have a good end!" the bearded noble roared.
"Is that so? Lightning Style: Thunderbolt Arrow!"
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!