Chapter 4 — The Infiltrating Sand Ninja Squad
Returning to the cave, Tsukigami Ren began his final experiment. Fortunately, he possessed Lightning-nature chakra and could use Lightning Release techniques.
'Lightning Release: Earth Walk.'
Blue electric currents flowed from Tsukigami Ren's hand, striking the ten kunai planted in the ground before him. Each kunai was tied to a steel wire, and the other ends of the wires were bound to Ren's legs and waist. Though dangerous, this was the method Tsukigami Ren most wanted to test. Even if it failed, at worst he would only be paralyzed for a while.
"Zzzzz…"
The crackling sound echoed inside the cave as blue light illuminated every corner.
The sizzling currents struck the kunai and surged back along the steel wires into Tsukigami Ren's body.
There was no scene of electricity coursing wildly through his entire body or lighting up a bulb if he held one in his mouth. The moment the currents traveling along the wires touched his skin, they were converted into pure energy and absorbed by the system, becoming energy points for Tsukigami Ren.
Seeing the best possible outcome occur, Tsukigami Ren let out a sigh of relief. His hypothesis was correct—Lightning Release ninjutsu could be converted into energy points. Moreover, he appeared to be at least immune to low-level Lightning Release techniques. As for Fire Release, he had already confirmed that earlier.
Once his Lightning Release: Earth Walk ended, Tsukigami Ren immediately sank his consciousness back into his mindscape and opened the system's energy panel. The original 1700 energy points had become 1710—an increase of ten points. With his current proficiency, casting Lightning Release: Earth Walk restored ten energy points. Given his present chakra reserves, he could use the technique six more times.
He then tested chakra extraction again. Fortunately, his greatest concern did not materialize—despite installing the T-800 Robot Template and the Blood Nanite Template, he could still refine chakra. However, the Technology Templates had affected him; his chakra refinement speed was now more than half as slow as before.
That made sense. He still had flesh, after all—only his blood had been replaced by nanomachines.
Though he wanted to use more ninjutsu to replenish energy—or even chop down a few trees to start a fire and roast himself in it—he refrained. The noise from testing his weapons earlier had been significant. It might attract ninja, whether from Konoha or Sunagakure. At the moment, Tsukigami Ren did not want either side discovering him. Using firearms at night would also easily reveal muzzle flashes and bullet trajectories.
Taking his spoils of war, Tsukigami Ren quickly left the cave and disappeared into the night.
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Under the thin glow of moonlight, a twenty-one-member elite Sand ninja squad moved silently through the forest in a fixed formation. They advanced cautiously, ever alert, erasing their traces as they went. Two sensory-type ninja rotated shifts, constantly maintaining sensory techniques without the slightest carelessness.
Their mission was to bypass the main battlefield from the outskirts, infiltrate behind Konoha's lines, gather intelligence, locate enemy outposts and forward camps, assassinate enemy ninja, and harass and sabotage Konoha's logistics.
Aside from direct combat on the frontlines, such tactics were common in wars between ninja. Konoha had repeatedly sent squads to infiltrate Sunagakure's rear as well, even maintaining specialized assassination teams. Both Konoha and Sunagakure had suffered heavily from such tactics, yet neither side could do without them, continuing the cycle relentlessly.
"Captain Arano, I've detected a chakra signature two kilometers ahead. One individual. Very small chakra reserves—likely a genin."
Within the quietly advancing Sand squad, the sensory ninja whispered to the middle-aged Sand ninja beside him.
'An outpost? Or truly just a genin? If it's a genin, then it could be a deserter!'
Hearing this, Captain Arano quickly weighed the possibilities. No matter which it was, they needed to investigate. If they could eliminate an enemy outpost, even better.
"Move in quietly," Arano whispered to the others. "Capture alive if possible, without making noise. If it's a fleeing Konoha ninja, we might extract useful intelligence. If it's one of ours… kill them."
(PS: Deserters fear death and are easier to interrogate. During wartime, genin are generally not assigned as sentries—they lack experience and are weak, increasing the chance of enemy infiltration or accidental information leaks. A few exceptions exist.)
No one responded verbally; all nodded silently. Under the sensory ninja's guidance, they moved stealthily toward the detected presence.
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Two kilometers meant little to ninja. Even advancing cautiously, they arrived nearby in just ten minutes.
"The target is hiding in that direction, about one hundred meters away, in a tree," the sensory ninja whispered to Captain Arano as they hid behind separate trees.
'No warning traps set. It really could be a deserter genin.'
Captain Arano felt a surge of satisfaction. They had approached within a hundred meters without encountering traps. It was unlikely to be an outpost—far more likely a fleeing genin.
Using hand signals in the moonlight, Arano issued silent commands. The Sand ninja relayed them in turn and quietly spread out, encircling the indicated tree from both sides.
Even if the target was merely a deserter genin, they did not let their guard down. Low chakra reserves did not necessarily mean the opponent was truly weak.
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'So they tracked me by sensing chakra? Saves me the trouble of finding you.'
Hidden within the tree canopy, Tsukigami Ren was awakened from his rest. Without revealing any movement, he observed the infiltrating Sand ninja, excitement stirring within him as he rapidly devised a battle plan.
With the Terminator T-800 Template installed, his eyes were no longer flesh—they were intelligent electronic optics. Not only did they grant him night vision, allowing him to clearly distinguish their forms and attire in the darkness, but his observational capability was immensely enhanced. Unless they used underground techniques, any ninja who revealed even a fleeting glimpse of their figure could not escape his detection.
He had indeed set no warning traps—nor did he have materials left to make any. But the T-800 system itself was highly vigilant.
With the Technology Templates installed, his physical body required only nutritional replenishment and relief from cellular fatigue. As for mental rest, sinking his consciousness into the mindscape was sufficient. Externally, his body remained in standby mode—no movement required, not even closing his eyes—while it continuously monitored surrounding sounds and activity. At the first sign of danger, it would issue a warning and awaken his mind.
Two minutes later, two Sand jōnin had cautiously infiltrated beneath the tree. Seeing Tsukigami Ren leaning against the trunk as if asleep, the two exchanged a glance.
They pressed their feet against the ground—
And in an instant, their bodies shot upward like arrows, lunging toward Tsukigami Ren in the treetop.