Nara Shikoku, Hatake Sakumo, and Tsunade, along with 2000 Konoha ninjas, set off for the Land of Rivers.
There was no send-off, no ceremony.
In silence, the ninjas left Konoha in groups, following their respective squad leaders.
The Yellow Dog Battalion would become the Hokage's eyes monitoring the Land of Rivers battlefield, representing the Hokage there.
Shinna hid in the cave for a long time until his wounds healed, then he found the forward operating base that was under construction.
The base was located in the center of the Land of Rivers, protecting the main grain-producing area in the eastern part of the country.
The base's perimeter wall and watchtowers were already complete, and tents for the various squads were being set up.
Shinna waited for a long time until Hatake Sakumo left the command tent.
"Shinna!" Hatake Sakumo's previously tense expression turned joyful. "I thought something had happened on your mission. It's good to have you back."
Shinna handed over the mission scroll he had prepared. "Lord Sakumo, I've gathered some covert intelligence. I wish to report to you alone."
Hatake Sakumo glanced back at the Nara clan strategist ninja behind him. "You all go and rest first."
The Nara clan strategist ninja gave Shinna an extra look but said nothing and left.
Once they were in a secluded spot, Shinna said in a low voice, "Lord Sakumo, I was supposed to die on this mission. Squad Leader Sarutobi Senjin ordered the three of us subordinates to infiltrate the oasis separately. It was practically a death sentence. But for the mission's sake, we went anyway. A Root ninja appeared and saved me. He had no prior connection to me. He asked me to bring you a message."
Hatake Sakumo, however, said, "Let's set aside the matter of the Root ninja for now. You're saying Sarutobi Senjin ordered three Chūnin to infiltrate a Sand-ninja heavily guarded oasis?"
His expression suddenly turned icy. This kind of thing was what Hatake Sakumo despised the most.
Killing intent pervaded the surrounding air. Hatake Sakumo was very good to his Konoha comrades, but he showed no mercy when killing enemy ninjas.
"As Deputy Commander, I will seriously review this mission."
But Shinna said, "Lord Sakumo, my ordeal during the mission isn't important, especially since Squad Leader Sarutobi Senjin also died on the mission. What the Root ninja said is more critical. That Root ninja said the village higher-ups believe there is a group of followers around you. Root is investigating us. Lord Sakumo, we know ourselves that we aren't a 'group,' but in the eyes of the village higher-ups, any force not loyal to the Hokage is a cancer within the village. The continued suppression of the Uchiha clan is the best evidence. The Senju clan disagrees with the village higher-ups on certain matters and is now also in a decline. Lord Sakumo, you must be very careful."
Hatake Sakumo said, "Root is investigating a non-existent group around me? This Root ninja you mentioned, why did he use you to warn me? This is definitely not Root's style. Root ninjas are absolutely loyal to the Hokage."
Just as Yōkō had predicted, Hatake Sakumo wouldn't rashly believe an unsolicited show of goodwill.
Shinna said, "That ninja wore a fox mask and was very strong. He said he is your supporter and believes the assessment system should replace the recommendation system. Perhaps he had missions with you before joining Root. Didn't we all start gathering frequently because we had missions with you?"
Hatake Sakumo said, "I understand. I will be wary of the higher-ups' underhanded tactics. You all need to be careful too."
Inside the Root Battalion Commander's tent, Yōkō received a new mission.
Yellow Dog said, "The front lines don't need Root for now. There are two troublesome nobles in the capital of the Land of Rivers who need to be... removed via assassination. Since Sunagakure declared war on Konoha, some opportunists have appeared among the nobility. Certain nobles in the Land of Rivers have sided with Sunagakure in advance, preparing to take over Konoha's interests in the Land of Rivers after Sunagakure's victory. Fox, your mission is to assassinate these two nobles. They are the core figures among those in the Land of Rivers who have defected to Sunagakure. According to the agreement with the Land of Rivers' Daimyō, Konoha cannot move against nobles. Therefore, this assassination must be covert. It cannot be traced back to Konoha."
Yōkō took the scroll and skimmed its contents.
Assassinating nobles was one of Root's most common tasks. There were always foolish nobles who thought they could play both sides between the hidden villages.
Yellow Dog added, "Those two nobles will surely have Sand ninja guards. Be careful. Pay special attention not to cause large-scale structural damage or casualties among innocents. If we go too far, the Land of Rivers' Daimyō isn't stupid; he will tacitly acknowledge it was us."
"Understood. I'll see to it."
Yōkō returned to his squadron's tent area and called for White Ram.
"White Ram, take your squad and follow me. We're heading to the capital of the Land of Rivers."
White Ram's Parasitic Destruction Insects were very suitable for intelligence gathering.
The capital of the Land of Rivers straddled both banks of the Yoshimizu River.
The river rushed through a canyon over ten meters deep, spanned by several wooden bridges connecting the two sides.
On the canyon's banks were the residential districts, commercial districts, the noble estate district, the Daimyō's Tenshu Castle, and other areas.
Yōkō and the White Ram squad entered the capital of the Land of Rivers posing as merchants.
After settling in an inn, Yōkō instructed, "White Ram, you are responsible for monitoring the two nobles, the Left Imperial Guard General and the Master of the Empress's Household. Gather information on their movements, their preferences, and determine their guard strength. Be especially careful; these two likely have Sand ninja guards. During intelligence gathering, do not contact the Konoha Guardian Ninjas inside the Tenshu Castle. For this assassination, the Konoha Guardian Ninjas must remain completely unaware. We cannot implicate them. The assassination itself must not cause significant damage to the capital, to avoid giving the Land of Rivers' Daimyō a pretext to cause trouble."
White Ram nodded. "Understood. I'll begin gathering intelligence immediately."
After the White Ram squad left, Yōkō removed his mask, put on a (standard ninja) face mask, and left the inn to play the part of a merchant.
Many people in the ninja world wore face masks, so Yōkō's attire wasn't strange.
Root's pitifully small funds couldn't finance any major business. He just looked without buying anything, wandering aimlessly.
Yōkō came to a large bridge.
White waves churned in the river below the bridge.
Yōkō's interest was instantly piqued by a bounty notice posted near the bridge.
The notice stated that due to the war between the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass, the coal transport routes from the Land of Earth were disrupted, and the capital was severely lacking coal for electricity generation.
The Land of Rivers' Office of the Chief Treasurer was offering a bounty: anyone who could solve the coal problem would be rewarded with 1,000,000 Ryo.
Yōkō looked down at the rushing river below and an idea formed in his mind.
Wasn't this 1,000,000 Ryo just being given away for free?
Entering the Land of Rivers' Office of the Chief Treasurer would also allow him to gain access to nobles and get closer to his assassination targets.
Following the instructions on the notice, Yōkō found the Office of the Chief Treasurer.
The Office of the Chief Treasurer was akin to a Ministry of Finance and Central Bank combined, holding significant power.
Yōkō said to an official, "I can solve your electricity problem. Take me to see the Chief Treasurer."
The official, seeing Yōkō carrying a ninjato, guessed he was a powerful rogue ninja.
Soon, a group of officials escorted a woman into the room.
This woman exuded an aura of a mature, sophisticated woman. She appeared to be around 30 years old, with her hair coiled high, revealing her fair neck.
She wore a form-fitting white gown, tailored perfectly—dignified yet highlighting her graceful figure.
What made Yōkō's heart stir slightly was that she wore rimless glasses, which further accentuated her delicate facial features.
"I am Koishi Chisa, Chief Treasurer of the Land of Rivers. I heard from my subordinate that you can solve our shortage of coal for power generation?"
Yōkō said, "I cannot solve the coal shortage."
Koishi Chisa slightly furrowed the space between her eyebrows, looking puzzled. "You can't solve the coal problem? Then why are you here?"
"Even the most powerful merchant guild in the Land of Fire, hiring dozens of Konoha ninjas, couldn't possibly transport coal out of the Land of Earth right now," Yōkō said. "What I can offer you is hydroelectric power technology. By utilizing the Land of Rivers' topographical advantages, you can completely rid yourselves of coal power and use water power directly."
"Hydroelectric power?"
Chief Treasurer Koishi Chisa's eyes lit up. She had
never heard this term before and was slightly intrigued.
***
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