Swish swish swish...
Accompanied by the faint sound of wind breaking, several black figures shuttled through the forest. The air currents they stirred up caused the bushes on both sides to rustle, startling a rabbit in the bushes to poke its head out and look around nervously. Then, as if frightened by something, it retracted back into the bushes with a whoosh.
Situations like this were far from limited to this one place.
So, throughout the entire forest, one or two birds would be startled into flight, and one or two beast cries would sound from time to time.
It was just that those birds were hit and fell to the ground as soon as they flew up in surprise, making no more sound. And the roars of wild beasts stopped abruptly before they could travel far, returning to silence.
A moment later, there was no sound in the forest, frighteningly quiet!
And in the central area of the forest, ninjas wearing Hidden Cloud attire were either lurking in the bushes, hiding behind tree trunks, or concealed in the canopy, all blending into the environment, waiting quietly.
Undoubtedly.
This was an experienced Hidden Cloud ninja army. The entire marching process was clear and orderly, arriving smoothly at the predetermined tactical location with almost no noise.
And their target was an underground structure located in the center of the forest.
According to the intelligence secretly sent back by Itachi, this underground structure was one of the many secret strongholds of the Akatsuki organization.
After confirming the target was correct from the accompanying Intelligence Division, the Hidden Cloud Jonin leading the team slowly raised his right hand, and then suddenly clenched his fist under everyone's gaze.
Whiz whiz whiz...
Almost at the same time the leading Hidden Cloud Jonin clenched his fist, numerous ninja tools attacked the target from all directions carrying the screeching sound of breaking wind.
In the next instant, a series of violent explosions detonated in the forest, the soaring firelight almost illuminating half the sky red.
Before the explosions subsided, a team of Hidden Cloud ninjas stood out side by side, forming seals simultaneously, and then pressed their hands on the ground together: "Earth Release: Bedrock Coffin!" (Note: Although translated as "Earthquake Core" usually, context implies destruction/crushing. Or "Earth Release: Moving Earth Core" to collapse it. Let's stick to literal translation of intent or standard jutsu names if recognizable. "Earth Release: Earth Flow Divide" or similar could also work. Based on "Earthquake Core" - likely referencing Doton: Chidōkaku / Earth Release: Mobile Core). Correction: Let's use "Earth Release: Mobile Core" as it moves the ground. -> Let's use "Earth Release: Earth Tremor Core" based on raw text.
Under the effect of Earth Release ninjutsu, the ground shook even more violently, as if a real earthquake had occurred.
And that underground structure as the target, under the continuous explosions of explosive tags and the bombardment of Earth Release ninjutsu, finally couldn't bear the burden and collapsed from the inside.
The leading Hidden Cloud Jonin made a gesture, and immediately two Hidden Cloud ninjas stepped forward to perform Wind Release, blowing away the dust in the field, revealing the collapsed deep pit in front of them.
At this time, a large number of Hidden Cloud ninjas appeared and began to clean up the scene.
Not long after, a Hidden Cloud ninja returned to the leading Hidden Cloud Jonin and reported: "Captain, this is indeed an Akatsuki organization stronghold. We found three corpses in the stronghold, which should be peripheral personnel serving the Akatsuki organization. And this stronghold should be a puppet workshop of Akatsuki's Sasori of the Red Sand!"
The leading Hidden Cloud Jonin instructed: "Seal and take away the corpses and items on the scene! In addition, notify the headquarters that our 47th detachment has successfully destroyed target '311'. No official members of the Akatsuki organization have been found for the time being. We will proceed to the next mission target!"
"Yes!"
The Hidden Cloud ninja responded and went to convey the order.
The leading Hidden Cloud Jonin stood up from the bushes where he was hiding and instructed the others: "Regroup immediately, we are going to the next target!"
With the order of the leading Jonin, the surrounding Hidden Cloud ninjas quickly moved into action.
Similar situations were not only happening in this one place.
At this time in the Ninja World, whether in the Land of Earth, Land of Lightning, Land of Iron in the north, or the Land of Wind, Land of Tea, Land of Hot Water in the south, or the Land of Fire, Land of Rain, Land of Grass in the center, etc., it was happening everywhere.
Almost simultaneously, the detachments of the Ninja Village Alliance attacked the hundreds of Akatsuki organization strongholds of various sizes marked in Itachi's intelligence.
In the first moment of launching the Great Ninja War, they swept through almost eighty percent of Akatsuki's various bases, killing and capturing hundreds of peripheral members of the Akatsuki organization.
Clearly.
The Akatsuki organization was not just those official members on the surface; there were a large number of peripheral members serving the Akatsuki organization in the Ninja World.
For example, when Nagato and Konan evacuated the Hidden Rain Village, a large number of Hidden Rain ninjas chose to follow them.
Kakuzu and Hidan each had their own subordinates and cultists.
The demon Mōryō controlled the followers of the Yomi Cult active in the Land of Demons, Land of Bears, and Land of This (This Land/Land of Ancestors etc., likely Land of Ogres/Demons vicinity).
Shinnō was the leader of the remnants of the Sky Ninja Village.
Sasori not only had a large number of informants in the Hidden Sand, but also quite a few former Hidden Sand ninjas defected to him and became his subordinates.
Hiruko, who defected from the Hidden Leaf for many years, also kept quite a few subordinates.
Those who could truly be called loners in the Akatsuki organization were only official members like Itachi, Deidara, Ranmaru, and Jūzō Biwa, who were either too lazy to manage forces or too young to have time to manage forces.
Land of Rain.
Ninja Village Alliance Headquarters.
Ninjas of the Intelligence Division rushed in and out of the headquarters one by one, transmitting intelligence sent from various parts of the Ninja World.
Compared to the busyness of the Intelligence Division, the Five Kage sitting in the headquarters looked much more relaxed.
They had previously run the 'Nagato Dungeon' dozens of times in Shinji's 'Takamagahara'. After raising the winning rate to close to 100%, they successively challenged troublesome Akatsuki members like Hiruko, Ranmaru, Sasori, and Mōryō.
Except for Ranmaru mastering 'Swift Release' (Transparent Release) being a bit troublesome, other Akatsuki members were all defeated in front of the joint forces of the Five Kage.
Therefore, although not fully confident, at least morale was boosted significantly.
At this time, after summarizing the intelligence sent back from various parts of the Ninja World, Shikaku Nara, acting as the Chief Intelligence Officer of the Ninja Village Alliance, came to the Five Kage and reported: "The sweeping operation is very smooth. Currently, forty-nine targets have been confirmed destroyed. A large number of Akatsuki peripheral members have been killed and captured. It's just that there is no news of encountering official members of the Akatsuki organization for the time being."
Tsunade said: "So, Itachi Uchiha's intelligence is entirely true?"
Shikaku Nara nodded slightly: "It seems so for now!"
The Third Tsuchikage said: "These small strongholds and peripheral members are of little value. What really matters are the whereabouts of Akatsuki leader Nagato and those Jinchuriki!"
Shikaku Nara immediately said: "Several important Akatsuki strongholds marked by Itachi Uchiha on the intelligence are located in the relatively remote Land of Iron and Land of Demons. The assault troops are already on their way. For further intelligence, I estimate it will take until tomorrow at the earliest to be transmitted back!"
The Third Tsuchikage nodded: "Good, notify us immediately when there is news!"
"Yes!"
Shikaku Nara turned and left.
At this time, looking at the map marked with Akatsuki strongholds spread on the conference table, Fifth Kazekage Pakura couldn't help but sigh: "I didn't expect the Akatsuki organization to have infiltrated the entire Ninja World!"
The Fourth Raikage said: "Don't worry, they will soon become history!"