Kirigakure.
Due to the failure of the last invasion of the Land of Whirlpools, only one of all the village's ships returned at that time, the rest were destroyed. This severely damaged the fleet's strength. Combined with the Land of Water's daimyo's dissatisfaction over the defeat, Kirigakure still has not received the funds to recover even now.
Therefore...
This time, they could only gather about ten large ships.
"Lord Mizukage," the Mizukage's assistant looked at Yuki Kiyoi and said, "The Land of Whirlpools is now visible. It is estimated we will be able to land in about four hours."
"Mm," the Third Mizukage nodded faintly and said, "Are Black Blades Raiga and the others ready?"
"They have already set off," the Mizukage's assistant replied. "And as per your instructions, no one else has been informed."
"Continue to keep it secret," the Mizukage stood up, walked onto the deck, looked towards the direction of the Land of Whirlpools, and said, "Kirigakure must be prepared."
Although this operation is not like the time of the Second Mizukage, an alliance of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, and this time the Land of Whirlpools cannot hide everyone like last time, so...
Their Five Great Shinobi Villages should be certain of victory.
But...
The Land of Whirlpools cannot be judged by common sense. That brat was already Kage-level back then. Who knows how strong he has become after all these years?
Moreover, since the Land of Whirlpools changed its leader, the Uzumaki clan has changed. It is no longer the honest and simple-minded Uzumaki clan of the past.
Since that Land of Whirlpools daimyo dares to oppose the Five Great Shinobi Villages, he must have some confidence.
Only...
Right now, he is not clear what it is.
"Remember our objective for this mission," the Mizukage closed his eyes, feeling the sea breeze, and said, "We must absolutely obtain the machine that can reclaim land from the sea and the blueprints for the airships."
Their Land of Water is full of reefs and such, too scattered. If they can get that machine, the Land of Water could definitely reclaim a continent larger than the Land of Fire!!
So, although the mission is to arrest all the missing-nin and bring them back.
The main goal is to bring the land reclamation machine, the airships, and the remaining two legendary swords back to the village.
Otherwise...
After all these years, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist will become the Five Ninja Swordsmen.
"It has already been arranged," the Mizukage's assistant nodded and said, "Raiga and the others will be careful."
He naturally knows what the Mizukage-sama is worried about.
Wasn't the Second Lord also full of confidence back then, carrying the hopes of the entire village, marching valiantly and spiritedly by ship to the Land of Whirlpools?
The original plan was to charge straight through, but what was the result?
The Uzumaki clan was too sneaky!
A series of slick maneuvers later...
The Second Lord could only atone with his death in the end, to explain that as a Kage he did not make a mistake, that everything he did was for Kirigakure!!
"Mm," Yuki Kiyoi nodded slightly, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, and said, "In that case..."
Before he could finish...
Boom!!
A loud explosion sounded.
...
The only advantage of the Five Great Shinobi Villages alliance is that it disperses the military strength of the Land of Whirlpools.
Uzumaki Jun sighed, putting down his binoculars.
The forces of Kirigakure have also arrived.
If the Land of Whirlpools had a few more years, it truly would not fear the Five Great Shinobi Villages, but...
Time is still too short.
From the reforms in the Land of Whirlpools until now, it has only been a mere ten-plus years.
He would not learn from that old schemer Sarutobi Hiruzen, sending young children to the battlefield at a tender age. What use could those children be?
Just graduated after learning the Three Basic Jutsu, going to the battlefield...
Either they can only shout "666," or they become cannon fodder...
Sarutobi Hiruzen was selecting the truly strong; only those who survived the battlefield got the chance to listen to his Will of Fire education!!
But for the Land of Whirlpools, these students...
Are the hope of the future!
Perhaps there are only a few true geniuses, but they do not need everyone to have elite jōnin level strength. Having genin or maybe chūnin level strength is enough. Anyway, there will be suitable positions for them within the Land of Whirlpools, whether it's moving bricks or firing bricks, it doesn't require very strong strength.
The Land of Whirlpools...
Is really short on labor!!
Especially shinobi labor.
This is also why there are quite a few missing-nin of genin level, or rogue shinobi, coming to the Land of Whirlpools...
After all, working a job here is better than going out on missions risking your life!!
Haven't you seen the Four-Tails jinchūriki is doing quite well?
So, clearly being able to keep your life to help build the motherland, why go be cannon fodder?
Furthermore, without shinobi talent, who's to say they aren't a science genius?
They can always find a position that suits them.
Uzumaki Jun sighed, picked up the binoculars again, looked towards the battlefield on the Land of Fire side, and murmured, "As expected of Minato!"
In such a harsh environment, he actually managed to find a way to escape.
Next, he just needs to land.
Once ashore, his powerful Flying Thunder God Technique can display its true strength.
After all, Sasori's sneaky tactics just now indeed held a great advantage on the open sea...
Just by watching the specially made kunai.
And on the sea, Minato couldn't use his Thousand Flying Thunder God Slash technique (implied by "Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers")!
So...
Just by watching the kunai floating in the air was enough.
...
Sasori's face was ugly as he watched Minato heading towards the Land of Whirlpools. He hadn't expected to be fooled. So...
It was too deliberate!
Only paying attention to the special kunai, while ignoring that blond guy.
Originally thought that just by watching the trajectory of the kunai would be enough, but didn't expect this Konoha blond would use this method to deceive him.
The blond who threw the special kunai towards the Land of Whirlpools wasn't the real one.
While his attention was drawn by the Shadow Shuriken Technique and the following special kunai, the one who secretly slipped behind him and used the Rasengan was the real one!!
"Damn it!!" Sasori said, his face livid.
Then...
He activated the Ultra-Light Weight Rock Technique engraved on his armor and chased after Minato.
Thinking about other things now is useless!!
This blond is definitely not an ordinary shinobi!
Must stop him here!
Otherwise, once he gets ashore, probably no one will be able to block him, especially the Flying Thunder God Technique...
Ashore, he can mark seals everywhere, making it troublesome to catch him then.
Raising the small short-barreled cannon on his back, small-scale chakra cannons continuously shot towards Minato, intending to interfere with him and reduce his speed.
"That thing..." Minato dodged a cannonball, frowned, and murmured, "A small Rasengan?"
Just like the thing continuously firing towards the fleet, only a bit smaller.
The power...Has also decreased quite a bit.
So that's it...
Minato seemed to understand what the thing blocking their fleet's advance actually was. "It seems there should be larger barrels on shore."
Just don't know how many of these things the Land of Whirlpools has?
Why weren't they seen during this weapons purchase from the Akatsuki organization?
Or...
Why didn't the Akatsuki organization sell this kind of thing to them?
Could it be...
Minato's heart trembled as he looked towards the Land of Whirlpools, murmuring, "I hope I guessed wrong."
Although filled with doubt, there's no turning back now to ask...
Better to quickly speed up and get ashore, destroy everything on shore, and then think about other things!
Otherwise...
Konoha is in danger this time!!
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