Based on intelligence gathered by Konoha's Anbu-
The Second Kazekage, Shamon, had been seriously injured in the previous battle.
He had currently returned to Sunagakure for recuperation.
Chiyo, who excelled in Medical Ninjutsu, had also returned to the village with her son and daughter-in-law, staying by Shamon's side.
The frontline supreme commander of the Sunagakure's army was now the future Third Kazekage.
Since it was an assassination, it had to be done quickly.
So the day after Danzo relayed the order, Sakumo summoned Jin and the other two, setting off without delay.
To avoid Sunagakure's surveillance, Sakumo also decided to take a detour.
Heading north first to the Land of Rain, then entering the Land of Wind through the Land of Rain.
…
Land of Wind, where yellow sand flies across the sky.
Ordinary crops were almost impossible to grow in such an environment.
Therefore, the Land of Wind could only rely on imports for food.
No wonder they had always coveted the fertile land of the Land of Fire.
To prevent foreign enemies from invading, every Ninja Village had implemented various defensive measures.
For example, Konoha had the Yamanaka Clan and the Hyuga Clan jointly establish a surveillance barrier covering the entire village.
Once a stranger entered the village's range, the Yamanaka Clan's sensory abilities and the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan's inherent telescopic vision could immediately lock onto the target.
This was demonstrated when Pain invaded Konoha.
However, whether they could detect the intruder and whether they could stop the intruder were two different matters.
Compared to Konoha's barrier surveillance, Sunagakure seemed much more primitive.
They simply used yellow sand to pile up massive mounds nearly a hundred meters high, encircling the entire village-
Leaving only one entrance.
And then they placed a Sunagakure's Ninja responsible for sentry duty every few meters on top of the mounds.
It felt like a low-grade version of the Great Wall of China.
"Sakumo-sama, how do we get in?"
On a giant rock about two miles away from Sunagakure, looking at the hundred-meter-high piled wall standing outside the village, Minato frowned as he sought instructions from Sakumo.
He knew they couldn't infiltrate the enemy village silently under such circumstances.
Sakumo stared intently at the only entrance to Sunagakure in the center of the earth fortification.
After a few seconds, he spoke:
"Send one person to attack head-on, attracting the guards' attention. The others will take advantage of the chaos to sneak into the village."
"This... isn't that too dangerous?"
Minato was startled.
A rough estimate showed at least several hundred Sunagakure's Ninjas standing guard on the wall.
And that was just the number near the main gate.
Once the alarm was raised, combined with the reinforcements, the number could easily exceed a thousand.
"So we need to find a strong individual capable of fighting a thousand to be the bait."
Sakumo took a deep breath and said solemnly:
"I'll do it. I'll attract the enemy's attention. While the situation is chaotic, you three infiltrate the village and assassinate the Second Kazekage."
"This…"
Minato found it hard to accept for a moment, but was left speechless.
After all, he knew he didn't have the strength to fight a thousand alone.
And his trump card, the Flying Thunder God Technique, wasn't a technique suitable for group fights.
"Forget it, I'll do it."
Jin stood up, brushing the sand off his clothes.
"Jin!?"
Minato's expression changed again.
"My techniques are more suited for group fights than yours, right?"
Jin looked at Sakumo.
"...It's very dangerous."
Sakumo didn't deny Jin's words.
Indeed, his Kenjutsu's attack range was far inferior to Jin's self-created flowing Fire Release.
At least in terms of large-scale attack Ninjutsu, looking across the entire Ninja World-
Aside from a Jinchuriki's Tailed Beast Bomb-
Sakumo felt no one could match Jin's Fire Release.
"Heh, currently in the Ninja World, aside from you, the Third Raikage, and a certain old thing hiding in the shadows, there's no one in the Ninja World who could give me any danger."
Jin twisted his neck, producing a cracking sound, and leisurely walked towards Sunagakure's main gate.
"Oh, right, a reminder for you,"
After taking two steps, Jin, as if remembering something, spoke to Sakumo with his back turned:
"If someone holds you back, you'd better not hesitate and just abandon them. Otherwise, you'll regret it for life."
After leaving these words, Jin continued strolling leisurely forward.
Hearing Jin's words, Shinsuke's face turned ashen.
No matter how low his emotional intelligence was, how could he not understand that the 'someone who holds you back' Jin referred to was him?
If it were anyone else, this Young Master Sarutobi would have already slapped them.
But facing Jin, whose strength had clearly reached the Kage-level…
He truly didn't have the guts.
Even his old man wasn't in Jin's eyes, let alone him, the son.
Sakumo, however, didn't take Jin's warning to heart.
He, who inherited the Will of Fire, believed in the life philosophy: 'Those who break the rules are trash, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash.'
But Sakumo would never have thought-
This would be the last sentence he would exchange with Jin.
...
"Halt, who goes there? Show your pass to enter the village!"
When they saw the figure approaching from afar, one of the guards at Sunagakure's entrance shouted.
Jin raised his hand and took off the bamboo hat that covered the upper half of his face.
At this time, fiercely burning flames covered his entire right arm.
"You, you are-!?"
Seeing that burning arm and the three tomoes slowly spinning in Jin's pupils, the many Sunagakure's Ninjas at the main gate were terrified.
"Fire Fist!"
A signature super-wide-range inferno was released.
Accompanied by billowing black smoke, it rose into the air at Sunagakure's main gate, instantly attracting the entire village's attention.
"This is my pass."
Jin placed his hands on his hips, striking a pose like Dio's infamous pose and sneered.