In Naruto with the Flame-Flame Fruit

Several puppets shot forward, absorbing the flames into special devices in their mouths, neutralizing the danger.

Watching from atop the giant serpent's head, Orochimaru looked down at the fleeing figures and said,

"The assassination failed. There's no point in dragging this out. Smoke screen!"

The puppets expelled thick smoke, blocking everyone's line of sight. Taking advantage of the cover, Ebizō and his people vanished.

"They got away? Old fox... That Ebizō really is no pushover."

Orochimaru shook his head and signaled for the surrounding shinobi to stand down. The night's events were over.

Compared to his sister Chiyo, who was more action-oriented, Ebizō was much more difficult to handle. He was the kind of man who manipulated chaos through careful strategy and cunning—clearly a formidable tactician. The past two Great Ninja Wars had already proven that point.

There weren't many shinobi across all five major villages who could survive two wars unscathed.

If it weren't for Yūhi Shinku opening a hole in their defenses, even Orochimaru might have suffered tonight.

He ordered his men to clean up the corpses of the Sunagakure shinobi and send them back to the village. He assigned the night's watch duties, arranged for someone to welcome Yūhi Shinku's group, and finally allowed himself to rest.

...

By early morning, Yūhi Shinku arrived at camp with Kiyosuke and the others. Upon hearing that Sunagakure's surprise attack had failed, he let out a long sigh of relief. He told the team to rest up and went to report to Orochimaru.

Kiyosuke slept until noon, only to be woken up feeling groggy. When informed that he had to meet with Kurenai and Asuma at the command tent, he quickly dragged them along.

Inside the tent, Orochimaru was sitting with several Konoha jōnin, discussing battle plans.

When he saw Kiyosuke enter, Orochimaru gave a small nod.

"Kiyosuke, I have a mission for your squad."

"Is Shinku-sensei not coming?"

"He has another task. This is Sarutobi Shinnosuke. He'll be your temporary team leader. I'm entrusting the mission to him."

A burly, unshaven man with wild hair—who bore a striking resemblance to Asuma—nodded.

"Leave it to me."

"Big bro!" Asuma called out.

The unshaven man was none other than Asuma's older brother, the eldest son of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen—Sarutobi Shinnosuke.

Shinnosuke let out a sigh. His younger brother was still a bit immature.

"Come with me. I'll explain the mission along the way."

...

As the group walked out of the tent, Shinnosuke began to speak.

"Sunagakure's attack was so sudden that the Land of Fire lost several key strategic points. Our top priority now is to drive them out of the country."

Sunagakure's surprise assault had caught Konoha off guard. In the early stages of the war, Konoha had suffered devastating losses, even allowing enemy forces to breach their borders. Orochimaru's main objective now was to launch a counteroffensive and reclaim their lost territory. Everything else could wait.

Shinnosuke pulled out a map of the Land of Fire, marked with numerous red dots.

"The red-marked areas are the ones we've lost. Today, our squad's mission is to take back this town."

"Just the four of us?" Kiyosuke asked, clearly surprised.

"Of course."

Shinnosuke explained, "We've confirmed the number of Sunagakure shinobi stationed there. There are two squads—three puppet masters, one medical-nin, and four standard shinobi."

"I'll create a diversion. You three are in charge of the actual strike. Eliminate as many as you can, but if possible, try to capture the medical-nin alive."

Sunagakure's poisons posed a major threat to Konoha. Capturing a medical-nin might offer a way to counter them.

"Understood."

"Asuma, Kurenai—you'll follow Kiyosuke's lead. Work with him to capture the medical-nin."

"Yes!"

With the orders given, Shinnosuke led the trio toward the small town that was their target.

...

On the way, Asuma asked, "Big bro, are you going to take on a whole squad alone?"

His brother was supposed to draw the enemy's attention, essentially fighting one full squad by himself. Asuma trusted in his brother's strength, but even so—this was no easy task.

"That's right. What, don't believe in me?"

"Not at all."

"Then there's no need to worry." Shinnosuke's tone turned firm. "Since Father assigned us to the battlefield, we follow the plan. Lord Orochimaru's strategy is sound. As long as we execute it without mistakes, we'll drive Sunagakure out of the Land of Fire."

"I get it, I get it..." Asuma muttered, sounding annoyed.

Shinnosuke didn't press the issue. Instead, he used the time to warn them about various risks and mentioned that Yūhi Shinku had already joined a temporary unit with other jōnin and chūnin to capture another key town.

Compared to that mission, theirs was relatively simple.

Then Kiyosuke asked, "So... the idea is to push Sunagakure out of the Land of Fire, and then fight them in the Land of Rivers?"

"Oh? You figured that out?" Shinnosuke gave him a surprised look. "Impressive. Yes, the current goal is to reclaim our territory and shift the major conflict zone to the Land of Rivers, which lies between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. Higher-ups have already decided to move the battlefield there."

It wasn't their own land, after all. No one cared if it got ruined. Just like how the Land of Rain—wedged between Fire, Wind, and Earth—had been torn apart during the previous wars.

"I see."

Kiyosuke knew that the final decisive battle between Konoha and the Sand would be fought at Kikyō Pass, which was located in the Land of Rivers.

But the Battle of Kikyō Pass would leave Konoha severely weakened. After all, during the Kannabi Bridge operation on the Iwagakure front, Konoha had only been able to send Minato's team to provide support.

With the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, Sunagakure was now led by Chiyo and her brother Ebizō. Chiyo had deep resentment toward Konoha. A mutual-destruction scenario wouldn't be surprising.

Meanwhile, the Kirigakure front was filled with second-rate fighters. Clearly, Konoha had concentrated its main forces against the Sand and Kumo.

This front was dangerous.

Kiyosuke broke into a cold sweat. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that the battle against the Sand was the most perilous. He had to survive.

...

Under Shinnosuke's lead, they soon arrived at the small town currently occupied by Sunagakure forces.

"See that clock tower?" Shinnosuke pointed. "Intel says that's where the Sand shinobi are gathered. The medical-nin is also there. I'll draw them away. You focus on capturing the medic. If you can't—then kill them. I'll handle the rest."

Looking up at the tower, they could already see two Sand shinobi keeping watch from the top.

"Got it!"

They all nodded. Shinnosuke said, "Alright then, I'm counting on you. I'll take out the other squad as quickly as I can."

With that, he dashed forward, making no effort to hide himself. After all, his job was to attract attention. Being flashy was part of the plan.

Watching him go, Kiyosuke said, "Alright, let's move too."

The three of them slipped into the town undetected.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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