Konoha’s Five-Element Ninja

Chapter 10: The Conspiracy

By dusk, the victorious Konoha forces had returned to their base camp. The remaining troops, who had already heard of the triumph, broke into joyous celebration. Uchiha Kagami, the supreme commander, graciously accepted the accolades, his face radiant with satisfaction. In his buoyant mood, he waved his hand magnanimously and declared a feast! Before long, the camp was filled with the sounds of animals being butchered and smoke rising from makeshift kitchens.

Truth be told, it had been a long time since Hayama had tasted fresh meat. As the most powerful ninja village, Konoha's supply lines for essentials—medicine, provisions, and tools—far surpassed those of other villages. But when it came to meat, the supply was a long-standing grievance among the ninja ranks. The high-stress life of a shinobi demanded some outlet, and since smoking was not yet common and entertainment was nonexistent on the battlefield, many emotionally fragile ninja developed severe anxiety disorders. There had even been cases of mass suicides.

This world's primitive transportation infrastructure exacerbated the problem. Chakra, the most potent source of energy, had for centuries been harnessed solely for killing rather than for advancing productivity.

As night fell completely, Team Yasan received their share of the celebratory dinner. It was an unexpectedly lavish meal, and to Hayama's surprise, it even included a small cup of sake. While it wasn't enough to get anyone drunk, this was the first time Hayama had ever seen alcohol distributed in the field. After all, the Three Ninja Prohibitions weren't just empty words—drinking on the battlefield was a serious offense.

The commander, Uchiha Kagami, seemed a bit overconfident.

That night passed without incident. Before the sun rose the next morning, Hayama stepped out of his tent. After a light workout, he began his daily training. On the battlefield, whenever no missions were scheduled, Hayama would maintain this routine. While he couldn't train as freely and intensively as he could back in the village, he believed in the importance of consistent, steady progress.

Several days later, a new assignment came down.

...

Near the Konoha base camp, Hayama spread a waterproof map over a flat rock. Together with Yamashiro Tatsu and Yamanaka Yura, he reviewed their upcoming mission. This was an A-rank mission, potentially dangerous. Likely due to a shortage of personnel, the mission had been handed to Hayama's Chūnin team rather than an elite Jōnin squad.

Their objective was to infiltrate the northwest of the Land of Rain, retrieve the intel left by a Konoha spy, and return it to base. The map showed the Konoha base situated in the east, meaning Team Yasan would have to cross more than half of the Land of Rain. In this war-torn region, where major nations' forces overlapped and intermingled, the mission was fraught with danger. It demanded not only combat skills but also stealth and survival abilities. However, without a dedicated medic, Team Yasan was at a disadvantage in these areas.

Hayama's mind burned with resentment at Sarutobi Hiruzen's smug expression. It seemed the two of them were now irrevocably at odds.

"Understood?" Hayama asked.

"Yes!" Tatsu and Yura replied in unison.

Scanning his teammates, Hayama nodded in approval. At least in his own squad, his authority was absolute.

"Move out!" he ordered.

With that, the three ninja leapt into the trees and disappeared into the rain.

...

The Land of Rain's northwest was a region where rainfall was comparatively lighter, and its flatlands made it ideal for growing rice. Once part of the Rain Village's granary, the area had changed hands two months prior. A group of desert-clad shinobi, unmistakably from the Land of Wind, had taken control—none other than the Sand Village.

Unlike other nations, the majority of the Land of Wind's territory was desert. Its resources couldn't compare to the fertile Land of Fire, or even the rocky Land of Earth. This scarcity drove the Sand Village's ninja to become fiercely pragmatic, ruthless, and willing to employ any means necessary.

Decades after the end of the Warring States era and the establishment of the one-country-one-village system by the First Hokage, the Sand Village had remained impoverished. The barrenness of their land left the Third Kazekage deeply troubled, yearning for fertile, productive lands. The chaotic state of the Land of Rain presented an opportunity. With a surprise strike, the Sand Village shattered the Rain ninja's main force and seized the country's only major agricultural region.

The Sand's goal was to firmly establish their control over this land, marking it as part of the Land of Wind. Over decades, the old clan mentality had gradually evolved into a strong sense of national identity. While it was relatively easy to defeat another country, occupying it proved far more challenging. The deeply ingrained sense of duty to protect one's homeland and the constant interference from other ninja villages made lasting occupation a daunting task. Even as the Third Kazekage anticipated these difficulties, the lure of fertile lands proved too enticing to resist.

One of the Sand's elite Anbu agents received a sealed missive from the Third Kazekage, his mission clear: deliver the message to the Third Tsuchikage of the Stone Village.

The Third Kazekage looked down at the kneeling Anbu operative. Though confident in the agent's abilities, he still gave a final admonition. "No matter what happens, do not let this letter fall into enemy hands. Understood?"

"Yes!" the Anbu answered.

The Anbu agent sank into the ground, vanishing from the tent. The Third Kazekage rested his hands on his chin, his gaze fixed on the flickering candlelight as he slipped into contemplation.

...

Deep in the rain-soaked forests of the Land of Rain, two figures moved silently from branch to branch, their footsteps muffled by the downpour. Hayama and Yura were on the move, with Tatsu maintaining a position about five hundred meters behind as a rearguard.

After a quick glance at the sky to gauge the time, Hayama signaled for the group to halt. They had entered the central region of the Land of Rain, well beyond Konoha's sphere of influence. This was a no-man's-land. Over several days, Hayama's team had advanced slowly, careful to preserve their strength. Their deliberate pace ensured that they stayed in peak condition. Neither Tatsu nor Yura complained; in fact, they were relieved by their leader's caution. They had seen plenty of overzealous young captains charge recklessly ahead, only to suffer unnecessary casualties.

Hayama, however, was resolute in his approach. He had survived countless battles and risen to become a squad leader by relying on three core principles: caution, caution, and more caution. He wasn't about to jeopardize his life for the meager monthly stipend. The mission might belong to the village, but his life was his own. As he often said, "You can never be too careful."

"Tatsu, set up the perimeter traps. Yura, start constructing a rest shelter. I'll look for something to eat." With his orders given, the three separated to handle their respective tasks.

Before long, a rudimentary yet functional camp took shape. They gathered inside the shelter to prepare their evening meal.

Konoha's field rations were notoriously unpalatable—fine for emergencies, but not something anyone wanted to eat regularly. The combination of constant travel and rain had left the team drained, both physically and mentally. Hot food was more than a luxury; it was a necessity. But cooking meant lighting a fire, which could produce smoke and risk exposing their location. Of course, Hayama had a solution.

"Fire Release: Gentle Pot Flame Technique!" A thin, controlled stream of fire flowed from his mouth, igniting a small flame beneath the pot. Once the water boiled, he added a pinch of seasoning from a small container. Sometimes, the simplest ingredients made the best meals. Dinner was ready.

After eating, Yura stepped outside to take the first watch. It was a routine she had grown accustomed to.

Alone in the shelter, Tatsu shifted uncomfortably. "Captain, do we really need to finish this mission?"

Hayama glanced at him and, after a moment's thought, asked, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, why don't we just... stall?"

"Stall?"

"Yes. Slow down, take our time. That way, we can minimize the risk. Who knows what kind of ambush might be waiting? If we wait until the Rain forces start their counterattack, it'll be safer, right?" With his plan laid out, Tatsu seemed more relaxed.

If such talk were overheard by a more idealistic captain, it would likely be condemned as cowardice. But Hayama considered the suggestion carefully before shaking his head.

"I'm not sure about the Sand Village laying an ambush, but I'm almost certain that Sarutobi Hiruzen is already setting up traps for us. If we take too long, he'll accuse us of collaborating with enemy forces, of leaking information. No evidence needed—just accusations. Even if we complete the mission, we'll be defenseless against those charges. I won't gamble on that." Internally seething at Sarutobi Hiruzen's petty scheming, Hayama vowed that one day he would personally crush the man.

After his brief flash of anger, Hayama's voice steadied. "We must complete the mission on time. As for how, we'll figure that out when we get there."

Understanding his captain's reasoning, Tatsu fell silent. Reluctantly, he shifted into a more comfortable position and settled down to sleep.

...

At the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth, a desolate, uninhabited expanse stretched into the horizon. Here, the Third Tsuchikage had arrived to meet the Third Kazekage's envoy. Although the message from the Kazekage had been cryptic, the Tsuchikage had guessed the general intent. On the Rain Country battlefield, Konoha was currently the dominant force—a scenario that neither the Sand nor the Stone could tolerate. It was time to join forces.

As he waited, the Third Kazekage approached.

A secret conspiracy against Konoha had begun.