Chapter 32: Surrounded
"No problem!"
The three teams shot forward like arrows released from a bow, racing straight toward Kannabi Bridge.
The morning fog was torn apart by shadows moving at high speed. Amid the rustling of leaves and snapping twigs, only the sound of rapid breathing and pounding footsteps filled the air.
Just as the unit was about to reach the western slope, Yamanaka Mei suddenly raised her hand, signaling everyone to stop. Her fingertips pressed against her temple, and her expression instantly turned grave.
"There's a Chakra reaction beneath the cliff wall to the left. About twenty people. Their presence is extremely well-hidden. Two of them are outside—it looks like they're the forward sentries."
"Those two on the outer post need to be dealt with first. If we don't, we'll stir up trouble," Inuzuka Ago said, narrowing his eyes. Kuromaru tensed beside him, a low, threatening growl rumbling deep in his throat.
"I'll go."
Before the words had even fully left his mouth, Izumo had already vanished like a ghost.
He focused Chakra into the soles of his feet. His steps on the slick, moss-covered ground made no sound at all, and his dark gray combat uniform blended perfectly into the color of the cliff face.
"Huh? That speed…" Yamanaka Mei couldn't hide a trace of surprise.
"Exactly. That's why the command tent recommended Team Izumo for this mission. His speed is truly something else," Inuzuka Ago said with a low chuckle of praise.
The two Iwagakure sentries were leaning against the rock wall, quietly smoking. The faint glow of their embers flickered weakly through the morning mist.
Izumo flicked his wrist.
Two Kunai streaked out, slicing through the air with a sharp whisper and striking the back of their necks with perfect precision—right at the blind spots of their Ninjutsu nerve points. There was no loud impact, but both bodies instantly lost all strength.
The sound of the Kunai cutting through the air was swallowed by the fog.
The two sentries collapsed limply without even a chance to groan.
"Done."
Izumo tapped the stone wall with his finger, sending the prearranged secret code.
"The rest are hiding inside a cave beneath the cliff. There's no way to assassinate them quietly—we'll have to go in head-on!" Yamanaka Mei's voice came through via the Mind Body Transmission Technique, carrying a subtle edge of urgency. "Their Chakra fluctuations are extremely chaotic. It looks like they're moving something."
"Leave it to me!" Inuzuka Ago roared, his hands flashing through hand seals. "Ninja Art: Fang Over Fang!"
The moment the words left his mouth, he and Kuromaru crouched at the same time, transforming into a roaring black whirlwind that charged straight into the mouth of the cave.
The spinning airflow scooped up gravel and dead leaves, blasting into the cave like countless invisible blades.
Izumo followed close behind, diving into the darkness, with the rest of the team right on his heels.
The sight before them made everyone's pupils shrink.
The interior of the cave had been expanded into a massive logistics supply point. Dozens of wooden crates were stacked in neat rows, filled with ninja tools, medicine, and food supplies. The red "Iwa" symbol of Iwagakure was stamped boldly across the sides of every box.
More than a dozen Iwagakure ninja panicked as they drew their swords, while others rushed toward a warning device in the corner of the cave.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Kotetsu formed hand seals, drew in a deep breath, and unleashed a powerful blast of wind.
The gale, laced with sand and grit, swept through like razor blades. Ninjato and Shuriken were torn from the hands of several Iwagakure ninja, spinning wildly through the air and leaving their chests completely exposed.
Kurenai quickly formed seals.
"Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!"
The pupils of the Iwagakure ninja caught in the Genjutsu shrank in terror. The cave around them instantly transformed into a dense forest, where countless tree roots burst from the ground and wrapped tightly around their limbs, locking them in place.
Meanwhile, Izumo moved through the crowd with Master-level Taijutsu.
His movements were so fast they left behind afterimages. Every swing of his Kunai struck a vital point with flawless accuracy.
One Iwagakure ninja slashed a sword toward him.
Izumo leaned his body back, narrowly avoiding the blade, then snapped a kick into the man's knee. A crisp, bone-cracking sound echoed as the ninja dropped to one knee with a cry.
Another enemy lunged in from the side.
Izumo twisted his wrist, deflecting the incoming sword with his Kunai, then drove his elbow hard into the bridge of the man's nose.
In just a few short minutes, the Iwagakure ninja inside the cave had been completely wiped out.
"I never expected this place to be such an important supply point for Iwa's forces." Yamanaka Mei spoke with clear excitement as she checked the contents of the crates. "Everyone, start counting the logistics and set Explosive Tags!"
But Izumo remained standing still.
The hair on the back of his neck suddenly stood on end. A powerful sense of unease crashed over him like a rising tide.
How could the defenses of an Iwagakure supply point be this weak?
Less than twenty guards. Barely any meaningful resistance. It didn't match the logic of how a key position should be protected at all.
"Something's wrong," Izumo said suddenly, his voice cold and sharp. "Captain Yamanaka, look here. There's a strange Chakra fluctuation coming from this area. It feels like—"
Yamanaka Mei stepped closer. "I didn't expect Captain Izumo to have talent in Chakra Sensing as well."
Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly grabbed her temple. Her body swayed slightly.
"Oh no! This is a communication barrier! The enemy already knows what's happening here!"
"Quick, check the surroundings with your sensory abilities!" Inuzuka Ago shouted anxiously.
"It's too late—we're already surrounded!" Yamanaka Mei's face went pale. "There are six Jōnin, and twelve Chūnin and Genin closing in. The enemy also seems to have sensory-type ninja."
From outside the cave came the dense sound of rushing footsteps and the sharp whistling of ninja tools cutting through the air. The cliff walls began to tremble faintly, as if some massive beast was approaching.
Inuzuka Ago spoke with grim resolve.
"I'll be the spearhead to break through. Izumo, back me up. Everyone—let's move out!"
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