Although the destination was the Land of Birds, Hajime did not take the shortest route through the Land of Rain.
Instead, he traveled along the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass, then followed the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Earth, finally entering the Land of Birds from the tri-border area where the Land of Birds, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Rain meet.
By the time he arrived in the Land of Birds, it was already dusk on the second day.
After resting for just two hours, Hajime immediately began organizing and assigning tasks.
The mission was straightforward.
First, locate the Iwa-nin within the Land of Birds.
They were the primary targets to eliminate.
Only after dealing with them could Hajime move on to the next phase.
He dispersed all three squads, and also created a wood clone of himself, which headed straight for the Land of Birds' feudal lord's estate.
He needed to prepare for the second step.
As time passed, dawn quickly broke.
All three dispatched squads returned with intelligence.
Within the Land of Birds, the Iwa-nin were mainly concentrated in two locations:
The feudal lord's estate, and a small town near the border between the Land of Birds and the Land of Rain.
The former were stationed to protect the feudal lord of the Land of Birds, as well as to guard against political assassinations recently stirred up by Root.
Currently, there were ten Iwa-nin in the feudal estate.
If the feudal lord's own hired and trained ninja were included, the number exceeded twenty.
As for the Iwa-nin in the border town, they were stationed there as a precaution against the Land of Rain. According to the gathered intelligence, they had just been redeployed, totaling two squads.
Clearly, once the Land of Rain made a move, Iwa-nin responded quickly.
But two squads could only serve as an early warning system at best.
After receiving the intel, Hajime issued orders:
"Squad One will come with me to the feudal estate. Squads Two and Three will handle the Iwa-nin in the border town."
"Remember, from now on, you are Ame-nin."
"Eliminate all Iwa-nin in the border town—no exceptions."
The Root ninjas all nodded. "Understood!"
"Move out!"
At Hajime's command, the Root ninjas all vanished on the spot using Body Flicker Technique.
Two squads headed for the border town, while one squad moved toward the feudal estate—with Hajime following.
The Land of Birds wasn't large. In just over an hour, Hajime and his group of five reached the feudal estate.
Donning the forehead protectors of the Hidden Rain, they launched a direct assault on the estate with no attempt at concealment.
Inside a minister's residence—
Hajime and his team attacked. Before the two Iwa-nin inside could react, their throats were already slit.
They were just Chūnin—not even worth mentioning.
Without pause, they moved on to the next target.
After killing six Iwa-nin in succession, Hajime led the team to the palace where the feudal lord resided.
The Iwa-nin here were more alert, clearly of higher caliber.
Though caught off guard, they didn't go down without resistance.
As sharp alarm cries rang out, Hajime opened his mouth and exhaled a violent gust of wind.
A nearby Root ninja followed up with a Fire Release technique, and the gust instantly turned into a sea of flames that surged toward two Iwa-nin.
Walls of stone erupted from the ground in response.
Boom boom boom!
The fire wave clashed with the stone walls—cracking them instantly before blowing them apart.
Screams of agony suddenly echoed out.
Three other Root ninjas had flanked from both sides and ambushed the Iwa-nin, swiftly finishing them off.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Suddenly, sharp whistling sounds split the air.
Swelling stone bullets came hurtling toward them.
Just after the two Iwa-nin were taken down, the Root ninjas quickly dodged out of the way.
Hajime formed hand seals and exhaled another gust of wind, forming a storm that shattered the incoming stone bullets.
The four Iwa-nin who had launched the surprise attack immediately retreated behind buildings.
Seeing this, Hajime spread and clapped his hands together.
In an instant, the surrounding moisture condensed and swirled.
Water Release – Water Colliding Wave!
Tobirama's version!
A rapidly rotating stream of water shot into the air and then surged forward.
However, the stream was blocked by the buildings and split to both sides, rushing along either flank.
But then, Hajime suddenly opened his arms wide and swept them together.
The diverted torrents immediately surged inward from both sides.
The four Iwa-nin quickly leapt onto the rooftops, but the moment they landed, a violent gust swept over them.
Wind Release – Great Breakthrough!
At this point, Hajime had seven mouths. When he had used Wind Release earlier, he had prepared three waves, but only released one. The remaining two were still stored.
His timing was too precise—the Iwa-nin had no chance to form hand seals before being blown away.
The four Root ninjas immediately pursued from both flanks, cutting down two more Iwa-nin.
The remaining two were rescued by six newly arrived Iwa-nin reinforcements.
Standing atop the roof, Hajime unleashed another Wind Release: Great Breakthrough toward the eight Iwa-nin.
A tall wall of earth rose from the ground to block the violent wind.
As the storm subsided, four Root ninjas attempted a flanking charge, only to be forced back by a barrage of stone bullets.
Hajime leapt into the air, charging from the front—only to be met by sharp stone pillars rising to meet him.
With a blast of wind from beneath his feet, he used the air pressure to lift himself even higher, gaining the aerial advantage. From above, he drew his short sword with his left hand and hurled it downward—whoosh—piercing straight through an Iwa-nin's body.
Then, flipping midair, he dove headfirst toward another enemy, slamming him into the ground with a boom.
He drew his blade and attacked.
Blades clashed, sparks flew—in just three strikes, Hajime slashed another Iwa-nin across the throat.
With the support of his Double Tomoe Sharingan, the explosive agility from Sky Step, and his exceptional linear assault capability, Hajime's dual-blade combat had reached a new level.
After slaying two more, he sheathed his short blade and raised one hand upright.
Mass Hypnosis!
Out of the six remaining Iwa-nin, four immediately showed signs of drowsiness, their movements slowing.
The other two, both Jōnin, sensed something was wrong and bit their tongues to regain clarity while quickly retreating.
But Hajime lunged forward, catching up to one of the Jōnin. As their eyes met, the Iwa-nin—who had just begun forming hand seals to dispel the genjutsu—froze mid-seal.
With a swift slash from Hajime's right hand, the man's head flew off, a geyser of blood erupting.
At the same time, screams echoed all around.
The four Root ninjas seized the opportunity and cut down three more Iwa-nin.
Now, only one Jōnin and one Chūnin were left, both retreating rapidly.
Hajime led the pursuit with his team.
Suddenly, the Iwa-nin Chūnin let out a scream as a kunai pierced his body and sent him plummeting from the air.
It was the previously hidden wood clone, launching a surprise attack.
The last remaining Iwa-nin Jōnin reacted swiftly, dodging the kunai—but was immediately surrounded by Hajime's group.
"You're not Rain-nin!" the Iwa-nin Jōnin shouted, drenched in sweat.
Hajime waved his hand.
The four Root ninjas and the wood clone immediately charged in.
The Iwa-nin fought with all his strength, but overwhelmed by the coordinated assault, he was soon slain by a slash from the wood clone.
"Captain, what now?" one of the Root ninjas asked.
Hajime said coolly,
"Now, we have the Daimyō of the Land of Birds announce to the entire shinobi world that they've entered into a cooperative agreement with the Hidden Rain Village—and that all domestic missions will be handed over to Amegakure."
The feudal lord of the Land of Birds had already been put under control by the wood clone, and the official decree had been prepared.
"Rest for two hours, then move north to the border. If Iwa-nin forces come south into the Land of Birds, don't engage—retreat immediately."
Hajime gave his orders.
"Understood!"
The four Root ninjas bowed and acknowledged.
(End of Chapter)
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