White Zetsu's actions quickly yielded results, exposing the identities and movements of intelligence personnel from various villages.
These intelligence operatives primarily operated around the borders of the Land of Rain, with some beginning to approach his base. However, since they covered a broad area, capturing them all at once was unrealistic.
But Ye Zi had never been too concerned about these spies. Having White Zetsu root them out served two purposes: first, to keep White Zetsu from being idle, and second, to use these intelligence agents as a touchstone to test the members of Snake Squad.
With a general idea of their movements, identities, and numbers, Ye Zi proceeded to organize Snake Squad and assign their first mission.
In the training ground, Snake Squad members stood in formation, preparing for their first real combat mission.
"This is your first task. The enemy consists of 126 individuals, each at the level of a Jōnin. Your mission is simple, kill them all," Ye Zi stated.
He was fully equipped, wearing an all-black combat outfit without any visible ninja tool pouches. Instead, a storage seal was inscribed on his belt, allowing him to retrieve any necessary tools at will.
Each member of Snake Squad listened quietly. They were also in full gear, dressed in standard black combat attire designed for ninja operations, which allowed them to carry multiple tool pouches. Thanks to Muko's financial support, they had an ample supply of weapons, ensuring they wouldn't run out during battle.
The atmosphere was silent, with only Ye Zi's voice breaking through.
"Combat is brutal. Either your enemies die, or you do. There's only one outcome. I hope you're all mentally prepared," Ye Zi said emotionlessly.
No one spoke. Every member of Snake Squad stared at Ye Zi with focused determination.
They had long steeled themselves for this moment. Years of rigorous training had all been leading up to this.
Kimimaro clenched his fists slightly. Though his expression remained composed, his eagerness was undeniable.
Ye Zi scanned the silent squad members. He saw no fear or hesitation, only a barely concealed anticipation. He was quite satisfied, though he didn't show it on his face.
"You will be divided into seven squads, each heading to a different location. The squad leaders will be the top seven ranked members in terms of strength," Ye Zi announced.
Then, his gaze shifted to the right side of the formation, landing on Shin. "You will be in charge of team assignments," he said plainly.
Shin met Ye Zi's gaze and nodded slowly. He was the most familiar with the squad members' abilities, knowing their strengths and weaknesses. He also understood which members worked well together in training, allowing him to form the most effective teams.
"The number of enemies and their positions will be provided by Shin. Once the intelligence is confirmed, prepare for deployment immediately," Ye Zi continued.
His gaze swept over each squad member as he added, "I have only one final instruction, don't die."
With that, he turned and left decisively. The rest of the arrangements would be handled by Uchiha Jin. Ye Zi himself would also participate in the operation, but his target was different from the rest of Snake Squad.
His objective was the strongest of the 126 enemies, the one with the best concealment skills and the closest proximity to their location.
"Yes!" Snake Squad members, who had remained silent throughout, finally responded in unison as they watched Ye Zi's departing figure.
Kotoe glanced at the others before quickly following Ye Zi. She was displeased, Ye Zi hadn't assigned her a task for this operation.
Once Ye Zi and Kotoe had left, Shin began assigning the seven squad leaders, starting with the strongest members.
The leader of the first squad was Kimimaro. Even Shin found it difficult to defeat him. Kimimaro's squad had the fewest members, only eight, including himself, but they were all among the top 20 in the rankings. This was because the first squad's mission was the most difficult, requiring them to face the strongest enemies.
The second squad was led by Jūgo, who, despite his instability, had shown enough reliability over the past year to earn Ye Zi and Shin's trust.
The third squad leader was Nai Yokoyama, a 13-year-old girl with short, ear-length hair. Apart from her large eyes, her nose and mouth were small and delicate. She specialized in Lightning Release and admired Ye Zi greatly. Because of this admiration, she had trained extensively in sword techniques to complement her Lightning Release, making her combat style somewhat reminiscent of Ye Zi's past self.
The fourth squad was led by Koyo Kohaku, a 15-year-old boy and one of the oldest members of Snake Squad. He looked mature for his age, with a burly physique that made him seem closer to 20. He specialized in Taijutsu and Wind Release. In training battles, aside from Kimimaro, he was confident he could defeat anyone, including a berserk-mode Jūgo.
The fifth squad leader was Haruteru Igarashi, a 13-year-old boy with a buzz cut and an unremarkable face, though his eyes were sharp and intense. Like Nai Yokoyama, he idolized Ye Zi and focused on Lightning Release and swordsmanship. He particularly enjoyed competing with Nai.
The sixth squad was led by Shigeki Uno, a 14-year-old boy with small eyes who always wore a friendly smile. He specialized in Fire, Wind, and Earth Release but was weak in Taijutsu. However, he had a keen mind and was well-liked by every squad member, making him well-suited for leadership.
The seventh squad was led by Kozue Shimizu, a 15-year-old girl with an above-average appearance. She had distinctive phoenix eyes and a small beauty mark below her right eye. Originally, she had long hair, but on the eve of her first mission, she cut it short and tied it back, leaving no bangs. She was skilled in throwing weapons and Ninjutsu, with solid Taijutsu abilities. She also had exceptional chakra control and was the best in Snake Squad at medical ninjutsu.
These seven members were assigned as squad leaders. However, this wasn't a temporary arrangement, Snake Squad would continue to operate in seven squads moving forward, meaning today's team assignments would remain unchanged in the future.
Except for Kimimaro's first squad, which had the fewest members, the other squads consisted of ten members each, including their respective squad leaders.
Every member of Snake Squad had learned the basics of using hidden weapons, though only a few had truly mastered the technique. Additionally, each squad was assigned reconnaissance and medical specialists to ensure better adaptability in combat.
Once all the squads were formed, Shin provided the squad leaders with detailed information on their objectives and intelligence reports. The squad leaders then relayed the information to their respective team members.
With everything in place, Shin instructed the seven squads to wait outside the base for further orders.
Upon receiving their instructions, the squads moved in an orderly manner toward the base's exit. They had already completed their preparations before gathering, ensuring they were ready to deploy at a moment's notice.
Once nearly everyone had left, the training ground was left with only Shin and Karin Uzumaki.
"You have a mission as well," Shin said, looking at Karin.
Karin asked, "What's my mission?"
Shin replied calmly, "Just follow me."
Karin was momentarily stunned.
This mission to eliminate enemy intelligence personnel was Snake Squad's first real combat experience. Even though every member was strong, casualties were still a possibility.
Shin and Karin's task was to minimize any potential losses while ensuring that none of the enemies escaped.
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Currently on Chapter 534 - Across Battlefields