Chapter 139 : Sand Ninja's Ambush

As ANBU operatives, being sent to the battlefield to collaborate with other ninjas was not an uncommon occurrence even among the Root of later generations.

Among them, there might be commanders who exhibited a certain degree of ruthlessness, marked as 'special individuals.'

Minato had once commanded the Konoha forces, so overpowering that the mere sight of him prompted the enemy to issue a retreat order. Over time, his reputation preceded him, forcing Namikaze Minato to transition from Anbu to Hokage.

"In the Land of Wind... Chiyo..."

Takeshi and his comrades, including Senju Jonin, changed into regular ninja attire.

Ninjas of the present day still wore those bulky armors. Jonin held a higher rank than Chunin. While the leader possessed the most might, that wasn't always enough.

Takeshi found himself even more embarrassed of the upcoming Jonin who sported mismatched clothing, and Falcon alone seemed content.

"Lord Tsushima, the 50 support troops and 200 logistic support units are ready for orders!"

A Chunin spoke respectfully to Tsushima, the leader of the logistics unit.

In the First Ninja World War, Konoha had truly suffered due to conflicts with the poison-wielding Sand Shinobi. Many ninjas still clung to practices from the Warring States era, poisoning their weapons. However, there was no one else in the ninja world as zealous as the Sand Ninjas, who tainted every puppets they controlled with poison.

This was perhaps due to the prevalence of poisons in the Land of Wind. Poisoning weapons to enhance their potency was a cost-effective war strategy, in a way.

The troops in the frontline were poisoned. Intelligence on the poison was already collected, so their ANBU members concealed themselves within the supply forces, simultaneously safeguarding the supplies.

After arranging matters at their previous hideout, Takeshi followed the formidable convoy out of the village.

This marked Takeshi's first participation in a village-to-village war. It differed from prior ANBU missions. The scale of this conflict was significantly grander. Observing the hundreds of individuals, a mixture of tension, seriousness, and slight confusion, Takeshi himself felt a dose of stress.

The convoy marched steadily southward. The forest grew more sparse as the terrain shifted to hills. A clump of soil in hand contained increasing sand and stones, indicating a growing barrenness.

As the wind carried the strong scent of sand and dust, the Land of Wind came into view.

"Lord Tsushima, our encampment lies five kilometers away. I presume they're already anticipating us."

Leading the ANBU team was Senju Daichi. The head of the logistics unit handed over a water pouch and gazed concernedly at the distant hills crowned by tall dunes.

"Be vigilant, proceed with care to avoid mistakes."

Daichi directed the troops forward. The commander of the encampment was a familiar face as well – Koharu and Homura. These two often acted together, having trained under the Second Hokage, Tobirama.

Tobirama hadn't expected the situation with the Sand Shinobi. Koharu was likely in for some specialized treatment. Homura's strength remained a mystery, but as Tobirama's disciple and a future Hokage advisor, his abilities shouldn't be underestimated.

The heavy axles burrowed deeply into the sand, while the sun's blazing heat resembled an oversized light bulb, casting a hazy sheen across the vision.

After several days of marching, most ninjas experienced the harsh desolation of the Land of Wind for the first time, evoking inexplicable sentiments. A seagull soaring high above, its hoarse cries seemed to comprehend the scene beneath.

"Something's amiss."

Upon scaling a hill, Takeshi sensed an anomaly. His spiritual power expanded surreptitiously, enveloping the surroundings like a tidal wave. Simultaneously, his eyes transformed to a pale white, unveiling all hidden aspects around him.

"There's a trap ahead, around fifty Sand Ninjas lying in ambush!"

Startled, Takeshi's demeanour remained steadfast.

Tsushima picked up a stone from the ground, as if unintentionally. He met Takeshi's gaze briefly, then subtly nodded.

Without notifying the rest of the team, Tsushima's chakra thickened gradually. Watching a rock by the roadside, Takeshi raised his hand.

"Allow me to attempt a technique that harnesses natural energy for concentration."

Releasing his True Essence, Takeshi manipulated the natural energy in the vicinity, gathering them atop a sand dune, forming an imperceptible luminous cluster.

"...?"

The nearby Sand Ninja seemed to sense something awry. Upon the rock where he'd concealed himself, Takeshi converted natural energy into lightning power, then forcefully unleashed it.

"A piercing strike—!"

As the two Sand ninjas grasped the impending danger, the thunder and lightning induced by True Essence had already detonated before their eyes. The rock crumbled, and the Sand ninjas convulsed before succumbing to death.

"Ryūchi Cave's Senjutsu is indeed astounding. Directing spatial elements through one's own power, it's akin to granting them life." Takeshi mused. This sort of attack lacked sheer might but consumed minimal personal energy. It was more akin to control.

"Let's confront them openly!"; a stir emerged behind the rock. No matter how sluggish Konoha's forces appeared, they sensed the abnormality. Ninjas drew weapons and prepared ninjutsu, while defensive measures were established around the supplies.

"Boom—"

A massive explosion resonated at the vanguard of the formation. The Sand Ninjas had triggered their prepared traps prematurely. Two supply carts and several Konoha ninjas were propelled skyward. Shedding their disguises, Sand Shinobi charged toward Takeshi's unit with a battle cry.

"Truly unfortunate. An ambush at our very doorstep was quite unexpected. For an ordinary supply unit, this would be perilous."

Senju Tsushima casually blocked a Sand Ninja's strike with his arm. His fist morphed dark and robust as obsidian, inducing horror in the opponent. With one punch, the enemy was hurled back, blood spraying dramatically.

"Earth Style : Earth Wall Formation!"

Konoha ninjas promptly employed defensive ninjutsu. Explosions triggered by exploding tags and ninjutsu erupted, sending sand and stone debris airborne.

Several members of the supply unit, mere Chunin, were engaged in battle successively. Their wails mingled with the clashes. The supplies were also taking a beating.

"Truly malicious."

Tsushima melded his hands together, invoking a stronger Earth Release than his peers. It materialized as a towering city wall, protecting the convoy. The Sand Ninja's indiscriminate assault was thwarted.

"No, we've got skilled foes!" A middle-aged ninja's expression paled as he witnessed Tsushima's ninjutsu. He sensed impending danger. Before he could decide, Tsushima issued an order. Another pair of ANBU, who'd embarked with Takeshi's group, executed a coordinated attack against the hidden Sand Ninjas.

"Pfft—"

While attention was drawn toward the front, more than a dozen Sand Ninjas abruptly surfaced from the yellow sands, closing in on the convoy. In an instant, the ground heaved violently, numerous massive spikes piercing through unprepared Sand Ninjas.

"Hmph, did you think I was oblivious to your scheme?"

Tsushima sustained the battle posture. The spikes protruding from the ground left little room to manoeuvre, cornering the dozen visibly skilled Sand Ninjas.

At a prior encounter with Takeshi, Tsushima had employed this technique, boasting broad range and potent lethality.

Observing, Takeshi inferred that Tsushima appeared to possess a unique perception method. His confidence and actions likely stemmed from this ability to anticipate Sand Ninja's ambushes.

"Now that I've engaged in battle, I'll deal with all of you. Consider it an appetizer."

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