Chapter 23: Ch. 23 Evacuation x Arrival
Dodai arrived at the harbor, where Kumogakure's ships had already anchored, and the evacuation process was well underway. He observed people boarding the vessels, their movements urgent but organized. As he approached, Ay spotted him and asked, "How did it go? Are we implementing the plan?"
Dodai nodded firmly. "Yes, the plan will proceed. We need to move quickly now. Once everything is ready, erase our traces and leave without a moment's delay."
Marui, Razor, and the other ninjas in the group nodded in unison, their expressions resolute.
Moments later, a ninja approached Dodai and reported, "The preparations are complete. Everyone is ready to evacuate."
Marui stepped forward, preparing to cover their tracks. With a quick series of seals, he unleashed the Storm Release; Chain Lightning Blasts. Streams of lightning, flowing like water, arced from his mouth and struck the harbor, obliterating the structures. The residual energy crackled and surged, ensuring no usable remains were left behind.
Other ninjas followed up with a coordinated Water Release; Water Wave Technique, sending a powerful surge of water crashing through the area. The combined force swept away all evidence, leaving the harbor submerged and the tracks erased to the bottom of the sea.
As the ships began to depart, the group made their escape. Each ninja used an advanced instantaneous movement technique, propelling themselves with chakra bursts through their feet.
This technique, mastered by most jonin, allowed them to leap incredible distances with precision, requiring either one hand seal or none at all.
One by one, they landed on the retreating ships, their movements seamless and efficient. The vessels sailed away from the destroyed harbor towards the land of Lightning, leaving no trace of their presence behind.
Dodai's letter soon reached the war front, where the Third Raikage had established his base of operations. Upon reading it, the Third Raikage immediately convened a strategy meeting with his top commanders. Orders were issued swiftly, and the ninjas began moving with remarkable efficiency.
That night, from an outside perspective, the military camp appeared vibrant and active. The warm glow of campfires illuminated the tents, and ninja gear was neatly arranged outside. Guards patrolled the perimeter, projecting the image of a camp full of vitality and readiness.
However, beneath this facade, the reality was starkly different. The camp had been quietly evacuated, with only a few ANBU from Kumogakure remaining behind. Most of the ninjas had left after creating shadow clones to maintain the illusion of a fully functioning camp.
The ANBU operatives stayed hidden, waiting patiently for reconnaissance teams from Konoha or other enemy forces to approach. Their mission was clear; once the enemy came close enough to confirm the camp's location and activity, they would detonate explosive tags planted throughout the area.
The resulting explosion would obliterate the camp, leaving behind a scene of devastation that would make it appear as though the camp had been ambushed and destroyed by Konoha's forces.
The final preparations were in place, and the ANBU silently awaited the moment to execute their deadly ruse. As the hours passed, the camp remained deceptively alive, its true nature hidden beneath layers of misdirection and strategy.
Meanwhile, not long after Dodai and the others departed from the vicinity of the Land of Uzumaki, forces from Kirigakure arrived. Leading the charge were the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, their deadly reputation preceding them, alongside the young genius Yagura Karatachi, whose skills and potential were already well known within Kirigakure.
The current 7-ninjas swordsman is led by Fuguki Suikazan, head of Kirigakure ANBU under the 3rd Mizukage.
From the south, the forces of Sunagakure approached, commanded by the seasoned Chiyo following the 3rd Kazekage's order. Accompanying her were her puppet force, the promising young Pakura, known for her mastery of Scorch Release, and Rasa, a rising talent destined for greatness.
After the Second Ninja War, Chiyo was left heartbroken by the death of her son and his wife, both of whom had fallen at the hands of Konoha's forces led by Konoha White Fang; Kakashi's Father. Consumed by grief and driven by a deep-seated hatred for Konoha, she volunteered to lead the assault on the Land of Uzumaki ally of Konoha. This mission offered her a chance to strike at one of Konoha's key allies, and she took it without hesitation.
Accompanying her was Rasa, a ninja whose fate was intertwined with the future of Sunagakure. Already a rising figure within the village, he was expected to succeed the Third Kazekage upon his eventual demise. Though he was known for his ambition and cunning, his involvement in the current operation hinted at his growing influence within the village.
Also present was Pakura, a talented kunoichi renowned for her mastery of Scorch Release. However, unbeknownst to her, she was little more than a pawn in the schemes of those around her, including Rasa. Despite her abilities and loyalty to Sunagakure, she was tragically fated to be betrayed by her own village in the years to come.
Together, they represented the complex web of personal motivations and political ambitions that defined the forces converging on the Land of Uzumaki. While their goal was unified, the individual paths they walked were fraught with tension, betrayal, and unspoken grievances.
At nearly the same time, Iwagakure's forces advanced from another front, led by the formidable duo of Akatsuchi advisor of Ohnoki the 3rd Tuschikage, and Kitsuchi Ohnoki's son in law another Elite-jonin. Their expertise in earth-based tactics and sheer number of power made them a formidable presence on the battlefield.
The convergence of these forces brought an air of dread to the region. Each army, carrying its own ambitions and strategies, prepared to strike with precision and overwhelming force. The Land of Uzumaki was now a battlefield, but it would definitely not be a one-sided massacre, as death was also in the air, for both sides.