About an hour later, Qingming and the others received new orders and started moving again.
This time, they didn't gather in one place but instead headed to different battlefields to act as stabilizing forces.
Under the bright moonlight, Qingming flew through the sky, surveying the ground below. Before long, he arrived at his designated battlefield.
Looking at the bursts of firelight below and hearing the faint sounds of battle in the distance, Qingming took a deep breath and swiftly descended.
Soon, the battlefield came into full view, and his presence was quickly noticed by both allies and enemies.
"Captain!"
A familiar voice called out, drawing Qingming's attention. He turned to see Kobayashi Shunji, his vice-captain over the past few days and a Special Jōnin of Konoha.
Though Qingming knew this battlefield was the same one he had led a team to a few hours earlier, he hadn't expected Kobayashi Shunji to still be alive.
After all, using the advantage of his Sharingan, Qingming had led his unit deep into enemy territory, second only to the teams led by Hyuga Clan Jōnin.
Because of this, after Qingming's departure, his unit faced intense counterattacks from the Mist Ninja, far beyond what other Konoha units encountered on the outskirts.
The fact that Kobayashi Shunji had survived was a testament to his abilities.
However, his current state wasn't ideal—his body was covered with wounds, and his face was pale from significant blood loss.
"What's this?"
Suddenly, Qingming's sharp gaze noticed a Mist Chūnin attempting to take advantage of Kobayashi Shunji's momentary distraction by throwing a kunai at him.
Without hesitation, Qingming flicked his wrist, sending his own kunai flying.
Kobayashi Shunji, initially startled by the kunai headed toward him, quickly realized that it wasn't aimed at him but behind him.
"An ambush from behind!"
Reacting instantly, he dove forward to evade a potential attack while simultaneously turning to look behind him.
There, he saw two kunai clash midair with a metallic clang before veering off in different directions.
Looking toward the source of the incoming kunai, Kobayashi Shunji spotted a concealed Mist Chūnin.
Just as he prepared to counterattack, the Mist Ninja was suddenly engulfed in flames with a loud whoosh.
The fire erupted so quickly and fiercely that the Mist Chūnin had no time to react, his agonized screams echoing like the cries of a tortured spirit.
Having fought alongside Qingming for days, Kobayashi Shunji instantly recognized the technique and turned toward him, just in time to see Qingming lower his hands.
With a flap of his wings, Qingming descended sharply, landing directly in front of Kobayashi Shunji.
"Captain!"
Kobayashi Shunji greeted Qingming again, his voice tinged with respect and relief.
"Hmm," Qingming acknowledged with a nod. "You've received the orders from Command, correct?"
"Yes, sir," Kobayashi Shunji replied, suppressing his excitement. "We'll fully support your plan and do our best to eliminate the Mist Ninja forces."
Pleased with his response, Qingming nodded.
Since Nara Kaikou had designated them as leaders for the second phase of the operation, they were granted the authority to mobilize all nearby Konoha units.
The previous hour had not only allowed them to rest and recover but also gave Command time to coordinate with various battlefronts and relay this directive.
With this groundwork laid, leaders like Qingming could assume command immediately upon arrival, avoiding unnecessary delays.
After confirming with Kobayashi Shunji, Qingming wasted no time. He ordered the immediate assembly of troops and prepared to execute the next phase of the plan against the Mist Ninja.
Without unified leadership, the Mist Ninja forces were like scattered sand. While they could still hold their own against individual Konoha units, they were helpless against the coordinated strategies led by Qingming and the other captains.
For an entire night, Konoha forces pressed the attack. Within a matter of hours, they reclaimed all the territory that had been lost over the past two months.
The Mist Ninja were eventually forced to retreat, gathering at Yuzu Port to form a defensive stronghold.
Qingming and his allies chose not to pursue further.
After all, with the Mist forces regrouped, even without centralized command, communication within their ranks had improved. Continuing to attack using piecemeal tactics was no longer practical.
Additionally, the intense fighting had left Konoha's forces heavily depleted, requiring time to recover.
Unknowingly, they had fought through the entire night.
Yuzu Port Outskirts
At a Konoha outpost, Qingming watched the first rays of dawn appear on the horizon. The accumulated bloodlust from the night's relentless slaughter seemed to dissipate, leaving him feeling significantly lighter.
The long hours of killing had been mentally taxing. If not properly addressed, such prolonged violence could lead to a twisted personality or a tendency toward irrational anger.
Perhaps this was why the shinobi world produced so many "madmen" and "saviors."
"Inhale... Exhale..."
Taking a deep breath and slowly releasing it, Qingming turned his gaze to the rising sun. For a moment, he let his mind wander, doing nothing but standing there silently.
Time passed, and as the sun fully emerged above the horizon, a voice broke the stillness.
"Qingming, what are you looking at?"
Startled, Qingming turned to see Uchiha Shisui's weary face.
Clearly, Shisui wasn't in great shape either.
Qingming didn't dwell on it. Shaking his head, he replied, "Nothing."
He quickly shifted the conversation. "Do you need something?"
Shisui studied him briefly but chose not to press the matter. "We need to report the results of the battle."
"Oh, I almost forgot," Qingming said, recalling that Nara Kaikou had instructed them to attend a meeting after the battle.
He assumed it was to formally conclude this phase of the operation.
With that thought, Qingming said, "Alright, let's go!"
After giving a few instructions to a nearby messenger ninja, Qingming and Shisui headed toward the command post together.
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