Chapter 151: Control Me Already
In the headquarters tent, Nara Shikaku, Sakumo Hatake, Tsunade, all three commanders were present.
Sakumo Hatake had everyone else leave, leaving only the three commanders.
Nara Shikaku’s gaze was lowered.
After reading the report, Tsunade tossed the report in front of Nara Shikaku.
She had thought it was some major event, but it turned out to be just a scandal in the Nara Clan.
“Kakuno Clan Head, the jonin class and headquarters matters are certainly important, but we cannot neglect the training of the younger generation of ninja clans. To think a Nara Ninja would use the shadow secret jutsu to treat a teammate like a puppet—your secret jutsu development is quite imaginative.”
Nara Shikaku’s voice was heavy as he said, “I have already asked the Anbu to execute these few black sheep. Please rest assured, Princess Tsunade—I will absolutely not show leniency.”
Tsunade turned and left, not wanting to get involved in these sordid affairs.
Nara Shikaku looked at Sakumo Hatake and said, “Deputy Commander Sakumo, thank you for your report. If not for you, such black sheep would continue to harm other Konoha compatriots.”
Sakumo Hatake said:
“At least 15 Leaf Ninjas died at the hands of these few.
This is no small matter.
Every Leaf Ninja is prepared to give their life for the village—their lives are precious and cannot be lost without reason.
I am glad that Commander-in-Chief Shikaku has the resolve to eliminate even kin; otherwise, more Leaf Ninjas would die at their hands.”
After Sakumo Hatake also left the tent, Nara Baika entered the tent and came to Nara Shikaku’s side.
“Clan Head…” she said. “Sorry that Sakumo Hatake beat me to it—my clan investigation is also about to yield results.”
Nara Shikaku said:
“It’s not your fault—Sakumo Hatake just moved too quickly.
Unknowingly, Sakumo Hatake’s followers have grown enormous; they were actually able to quietly investigate and uncover our Nara Clan’s scandal.
Today he came with ironclad proof, and I had no choice but to bow my head.
I will report this matter intact to the Hokage, so the Hokage can beware of this force around Sakumo Hatake.”
Nara Baika said, “Clan Head, then I’ll go complete another investigation mission first. The Sand Ninjas have copied gliders—I’ll go check their copy quality.”
“Go ahead.”
After everyone had left, Nara Shikaku stared at Sakumo Hatake’s report, his gaze cold and dangerous.
The Nara Clan investigating and handling it themselves was worlds apart from being exposed by Sakumo Hatake slamming the evidence down in front of them.
—
Yoru assembled three squads, assigning each squad one assassination target, with one target for himself.
“The mission scroll contains intel on the assassination targets—be sure to assassinate the targets within two days,” Yoru said.
“Pay special attention: the targets have special identities, so you absolutely cannot expose your special abilities. You can only use taijutsu, ninja tools, and exploding tags for the assassination.
When making your move, disguise yourselves as Sand Ninjas or Rain Ninjas.”
Yoru deliberately kept Purple Cat behind and said to her alone:
“Purple Cat, you’ve already seen the scroll—the assassination target is a Nara Clan ninja.
In the village, Ino-Shika-Cho are one unit, but in Anbu, there is no Ino-Shika-Cho—only success or failure of the mission.”
Purple Cat said, “Captain, I’ve had resolve since joining Anbu—you don’t need to worry. Whether it’s a Nara Ninja or a Yamanaka Clan Ninja, as long as it’s an Anbu mission, I will definitely complete it.”
“Good, go ahead.”
After the three squads left, Yoru glanced at the information on his own target in the scroll and left the camp.
The target was named Nara Kamo, a special jonin. He was currently leading a squad out of the camp, operating on the front line.
Most of the time, Konoha and Sand Ninja clashes occurred along the long front line, with different squads interleaving, ambushing, and wearing down the enemy’s strength.
When kage level ninjas participated, keeping ninjas gathered together for long periods was foolish—a single large-scale ninjutsu could cause massive casualties.
Making full use of the front line’s width with ambushes and counter-ambushes, assassinations and counter-assassinations, reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance—that was the norm in ninja village wars.
The northern border of the Land of Rivers.
On a stretch of Gobi Desert, Nara Kamo’s squad was taking shelter from the wind between two large stones only 2 meters apart.
Genin Hachimaru said:
“Captain, we don’t need rest—don’t worry about us. The Sand Ninjas we’re chasing have six wounded but only two guards.
If we kill those wounded, we might even get an A-rank mission reward.”
Nara Kamo looked uninterested and perfunctorily said:
“No rush—the closer you get to prey, the more cautious you must be. Those wounded can’t run fast.”
Nara Kamo was thinking to himself that among the wounded were two puppet masters. As long as a puppet master’s fingers could move, they still had combat power—he couldn’t be careless.
He looked at the genin Hachimaru who had just spoken with a complicated gaze.
Hachimaru was very proactive and lively, but unfortunately, his strength was relatively weak.
When the battle started in a bit… he’d make him braver than he imagined.
After resting, Nara Kamo’s squad continued deeper into the Gobi Desert.
Hachimaru spotted dried brownish-red bloodstains on the ground.
Following the direction of the bloodstains, Nara Kamo’s squad continued the pursuit. Soon, they spotted Sand Ninjas by some stones.
Two Sand Ninjas were standing, while six Sand Ninjas lay on the ground.
Nara Kamo waved his hand, ordering all his subordinates to attack.
The genin excitedly gripped their kunai and charged toward the Sand Ninjas.
With so many wounded, the genin thought this would be their easiest battle yet.
However, one wounded Sand Ninja leaning half-reclined against a stone raised his hand.
Two puppets suddenly burst out of the ground behind the three Leaf genin.
The Sand Ninja wounded had actually set a trap.
Puppets behind them, Sand Ninjas ahead—the three genin fell into bitter combat.
Nara Kamo appeared nearby and shouted to Hachimaru, “Don’t resist! Your taijutsu is too poor—let me control you!”
“Yes! Captain!”
Hachimaru relaxed his body, allowing Nara Kamo’s Shadow Imitation Jutsu to control him.
Afterward, he and Nara Kamo together dodged the puppets’ attacks.
He found his movements faster and more concise, and he even praised, “As expected of the captain! Amazing!”
Nara Kamo controlled Hachimaru, dodging the puppets before charging toward the wounded.
The two were more than thirty meters apart, charging forward in parallel.
Hachimaru was directly facing the Sand Ninja wounded, while Nara Kamo was off to the side.
Hachimaru felt something was off. In terror, he saw more and more wounded staggering to their feet.
As he rushed close to the wounded, one wounded raised a kunai and thrust it at him—Hachimaru realized he had no dodging motion.
“Captain! Control me quick!”
Not only did he not dodge—his own hands grabbed for the throat of a wounded who had just gotten up.
Hachimaru’s gaze swept sideways and saw that Squad Leader Nara Kamo had no intention of dodging at all—he was actually going to take an injury himself to lock down the Sand Ninja wounded who had just risen.
Wasn’t this using his own life to trade for locking down the enemy?
At that moment, a black shadow suddenly burst out from the ground beneath Nara Kamo.
Nara Kamo instinctively jumped backward.
As he jumped, the Hachimaru under Shadow Imitation Jutsu control also jumped back, dodging the Sand Ninja’s kunai.
The bluish-purple poison glistening on that kunai made Hachimaru break out in cold sweat.
The genin suddenly realized he could move. He quickly turned his head and saw Captain Nara Kamo with a kunai stabbed into his abdomen.
Blood spurted from Nara Kamo’s abdomen as he stared in shock at the Rain Ninja wearing a gas mask.
Why would a Rain Ninja appear here?
The Rain Ninja’s movements were extremely fast. With a powerful horizontal kick, he sent Nara Kamo flying toward the Sand Ninja wounded.
This kick was forceful and heavy—Nara Kamo’s body flew like a cannonball.
In killing Nara Kamo with the kick, Nara Kamo’s corpse also smashed two Sand Ninja wounded to death.
Yoru glanced at the stiff Leaf genin Hachimaru and thought to himself, this is as far as I can help you—any more and it wouldn’t look like a Rain Ninja assassinating Nara Kamo.
Good luck, rookie.
