Chapter 196: Delaying

Screech!

The clear and melodious call of an eagle pierced the sky!

"Don't look, Kurozawa! It's just a hunting hawk, nothing out of the ordinary. There's nothing to fuss about!"

"Yes, Captain!"

Kurozawa shifted his gaze from the hawk he had been watching, and resumed observing the surroundings for any unusual movements. Indeed, he had been too tense. It was just an ordinary hawk, its only distinguishing feature being the prey it held in its claws.

A black snake!

"Well, it's normal to be a bit uneasy when you first enter the battlefield. This phase will pass soon."

"Yes, Captain!"

Seeing his comrade's paranoia, Kurozawa's superior, a twenty-year-old Iwagakure ninja, offered some comforting words. The young man would likely feel better after a few more missions.

"Don't be so tense, Kurozawa. You need to learn to relax here; otherwise, you'll become a bundle of nerves."

Seeing his comrade's inexperience, the Iwagakure squad leader began imparting some of his own mission experience to Kurozawa, nagging him for a while. The primary task for the two of them was to keep lookout, observing any movement around their base. It was a boring job, and it would be disastrous if his companion became too jittery.

Meanwhile, out of their sight, a group of Konoha ninja was gathering, waiting for something. Before long, the hawk swooped down from the sky, dropping its prey. It then flapped wildly as if frightened, and flew off in a random direction, panicking.

The prey, a black snake, wobbled onto an unfurled scroll, before dissolving into a simple map showing the layout of the base's structures.

"Phew! This reconnaissance didn't attract any attention," Uchiha Ryūka said with a sigh of relief.

"This is the fourth aerial reconnaissance. Given Toshirou's preparations, it's only natural we weren't noticed!"

Besides Ryūka, a few older team leaders had gathered, with one exception - Uchiha Shisui, whom Toshirou had specifically brought along.

"Senpai is so knowledgeable and skillful. It's impressive."

"Shisui, you sure know how to talk."

"There's no need to envy anyone right now. When you're older, I'm confident you'll learn these things easily too."

To avoid alerting the enemy prematurely, Toshirou was extremely cautious. He hadn't just used Super Beast Imitating Drawing; he had also controlled an ordinary hawk to cover his actions. Despite this, he was still worried about sensor ninjas detecting his chakra. Only time would tell if his other actions had gone unnoticed.

"En! Tetsu! How's the retreat plan coming along? We need to be prepared for the possibility that this mission could lead to total annihilation."

"No problem. Including your preparations, we have three plans in place. This is the best we can manage."

"Good!"

"Asahi! Ryūka! What about your side? Are they in good shape?"

"No issues! After three days of rest, everyone is back in peak condition."

This was Toshirou's third day at this location. To gather more intelligence and minimize casualties, they hadn't rushed into an attack, but observed and prepared for three days.

"Any slip-ups?"

"None" x4

Toshirou was satisfied with his team's responses. Years of battlefield tempering had turned his teammates from unreliable kids into competent ninjas. The harsh battles they had faced, where many comrades died before their eyes, had driven them to strive harder for strength. This particular long-term infiltration mission without supply lines had eradicated any last flaws in them.

"Captain, I have a question."

"Yes, it's about delaying the mission time, right?"

Toshirou interrupted before the question could be fully asked.

"Yes! The mission demands we destroy this Iwagakure base three days ago. Isn't delaying the attack problematic?"

"Given our state, what would have been the outcome if we attacked the base three days ago? Ignoring our casualties, could we have succeeded in the mission without sufficient intel?"

Toshirou questioned back instead of answering.

"That...most likely not. But aren't ninja supposed to prioritize the mission above all else?"

"You'll understand when you're older. Some things don't need to be explained at your age."

Toshirou didn't over-explain Shisui's doubts. He noted this rigid thinking in many of his clansmen, especially those who had awakened the Sharingan. Once they made up their minds about something, it was hard to change them. He preferred to influence them slowly rather than debate.

He had no time for pointless arguments and felt thankful he had learned to stay grounded in his previous life, which helped him avoid getting swayed easily.

Chapter ends