> [Earth Nature Transformation Lv0 (52/100)]
Taiichi looked at the progress bar, slightly reluctant to spend a skill point when he was already halfway there. But points were meant for moments like this. He needed the skill now.
He tapped the screen.
> [Earth Nature Transformation Lv1 (52/100)]
The skill leveled up instantly. A flood of understanding about Earth chakra surged into Taiichi's mind. He felt as if he were buried deep within the soil, sensing its vibrations, its density, its flow. From the chaos of information, he grasped the specific concept he needed.
This all happened in an instant.
With his Earth Nature proficiency boosted, all his previous failed attempts at Earth Style: Underground Voyage coalesced into understanding. He wove the seals again.
First try: Failed, but the experience bar jumped significantly.
Second try: Failed, but the Panel showed he was on the threshold.
> [Practicing Earth Style: Underground Voyage. Insight gained!]
> [Skill Earth Style: Underground Voyage improved. EXP +2]
> [Earth Style: Underground Voyage Lv0 (99/100)]
Yohei, watching Taiichi repeatedly weave seals with no result, was confused. "Taiichi, what are you doing?"
Then it hit him. His eyes went wide. "Wait... are you practicing a new Jutsu right now?"
As Yohei spoke, Taiichi completed the seals for the third time. And this time—
> [Earth Style: Underground Voyage Lv1 (1/100)]
Taiichi sank into the ground up to his waist.
Yohei's jaw dropped so low it nearly dislocated. "You... You... I..." He pointed at Taiichi, then at himself, feeling a profound sense of despair. Is the gap really this big? I'm struggling with basics, and he learns a new Jutsu mid-mission?
Ignoring Yohei's existential crisis, Taiichi gave his orders. "I'm going in to scout. You stay here for backup. If I get caught—"
Taiichi sank completely into the earth. Yohei snapped out of it, focusing intently on the cave entrance, his fingers twitching, ready to weave seals at a moment's notice.
---
Underground, Taiichi moved through the soil like a fish in water. Since it was his first time using the Jutsu and he was worried about detection, he dove deep.
Thanks to his high Spirit stat, even at this depth, his sensory perception merged with the earth, allowing him to "see" the vibrations above.
Slowly, he passed the cave entrance. He moved as sluggishly as possible to minimize chakra fluctuations.
The cave was deep. The entrance tunnel alone was over ten meters long—a perfect hiding spot.
Beyond the tunnel, the space opened up into a massive cavern. It had clearly been artificially expanded.
There were a lot of people inside. A rough count put the number over thirty, including several with Jonin-level chakra signatures.
"Asa, why are you back so late? Did they catch you and turn you?" The green-haired ninja, Takagi, asked aggressively. He was still furious about his brother's death and looking for a target.
"I'm innocent, Boss!" Asa cried out. "You know me! I'm a coward! After I escaped, I was terrified of being followed, so I took a huge detour to shake any tails. That's why I'm late!"
Takagi knew his subordinate's character well. Hearing the explanation, he swallowed his anger and chose to believe him.
"Alright, enough," an arrogant voice cut in. "Look at you all. What a mess. It's just a small outpost. You went with a huge group and came back with a handful of stragglers. Hahaha!"
"Shut your mouth! If you think you're so tough, let's go outside right now! I'll beat the shit out of you!" Takagi exploded, turning his rage onto the arrogant speaker.
"Takagi, calm down. Now is not the time for infighting," a red-haired ninja stepped between them, diffusing the tension.
"Don't underestimate Konoha ninja. We underestimated them, and then their reinforcements arrived. That's why we lost so badly," the Red-Haired Ninja explained to the group.
He continued, turning to another man. "Also, our intel was bad. The Employer said reinforcements were at least three days away. Why were they there early? Hijikata, you're the contact for the Employer. Explain this."
He exaggerated a bit, calling the supply squad "reinforcements," though effectively they were the same thing.
Everyone in the cavern turned to look at Hijikata. In ninja combat, intel was life. Bad intel meant death. Even the arrogant ninja who had been mocking them earlier looked at Hijikata seriously now.
Facing over thirty questioning gazes, Hijikata broke into a cold sweat. He hadn't expected this either.
"I will report this to the Employer. But rest assured, the Employer is a Great Ninja Village. They have a reputation to uphold. If losses were caused by their intel error, they will compensate us," Hijikata said sincerely.
The tension in the cave broke into murmurs.
"Bringing this many of us together and failing the first op... is this even viable?"
"He says 'Great Ninja Village,' but look at him. Earth Style user? 'Hijikata'? It's obviously Iwagakure pulling the strings."
"Shh! You want to die? Don't say that out loud."
"With this many ninja, why don't we just swarm them? No outpost can stop us."
"Don't get cocky. We only have four Jonin. Now that Konoha is alerted, their defenses will be tighter. We'll probably switch to probing attacks."
"Will Konoha retaliate?"
"Who cares? Finish the job, take the money, move to another country. I'll still be a rich man."
Taiichi absorbed all the chatter, filtering the useful from the useless.
"Alright, everyone," Hijikata spoke up again to regain control. "Since we all accepted this bounty, here is the new plan. Because the direct assault failed, we are abandoning the attempt to take the outpost itself. We will switch tactics to hunting down their patrols and supply lines."
"The primary objective is now attrition: kill Konoha personnel to weaken their manpower."
Hearing this, Taiichi's heart tightened. Thirty ninja spreading out to ambush unsuspecting patrols and supply squads? That was a massacre waiting to happen. Supply squads didn't always have Jonin escorts like his did.
"Who's there?! Get out!"
Suddenly, Hijikata roared. He slammed his hands together. "Earth Style: Earth Flow Needles!"
Taiichi knew he was screwed the moment Hijikata shouted. His emotional reaction to the plan had caused a spike in his chakra, and with an Earth Style expert right there, detection was inevitable.
Taiichi surged upward, bursting out of the ground just as the Jutsu fired. The spot where he had been hiding was instantly skewered by countless stone spikes from all directions.
A drop of cold sweat rolled down his forehead. One second later, and he would have been a shish kebab.
"Bastard! It's that kid! Die!" Takagi recognized Taiichi instantly. The boy who killed his brother had followed him here? Perfect. Time for revenge.
"You rats! Konoha reinforcements are already here! You're all dead!" Taiichi shouted, bluffing with all his might. He threw out the lie to sow chaos and buy time.
Then he turned and sprinted for the tunnel. Thankfully, he had stayed near the entrance.
"He's bluffing! Get him! Don't let him escape!" Hijikata yelled from the back, realizing the truth. "If he had time to call reinforcements, he wouldn't be here listening!"
The crowd reacted, realizing they had been tricked by a child.
Thirty angry ninja roared and chased after him. The killing intent was so thick it was suffocating. They wanted to turn this eavesdropping brat into paste.
Running for his life, listening to the stampede behind him, Taiichi wanted to cry. I really kicked the hornet's nest this time!
The exit was in sight. Just a few more meters!
Suddenly, a figure flashed into the cave entrance, blocking his path. The figure rapidly wove signs and spat a massive fireball directly at Taiichi.
Crap.