About ten minutes later, six reconnaissance teams from the Konoha camp departed and began infiltrating the rear of the Mist Ninja battlefield.
Uchiha Yuan's team was assigned to destroy the eastern water supply and supply lines.
Under the leadership of Shibi Aburame, the team headed east.
Along the way, they passed several ongoing skirmishes between Konoha and Mist ninjas.
Yamanaka Kagetsu wanted to help several times but was stopped by Shibi. Engaging now would only delay their mission.
Every minute the water supply and provisions remain intact is a minute the Mist can hold their position.
And that one minute could determine life or death for many Konoha ninjas.
Kagetsu understood Shibi was right, sighed, and pressed on toward their objective.
Thanks to Shibi's insects, Hyuga Asana's Byakugan, and Kagetsu's sensory ability, their team avoided 99% of enemies, encountering only one group of Mist ninjas.
That group was a throwaway team of three Genin. Shibi had his insect swarm devour them in seconds.
After bypassing the battlefield, they arrived near the Mist's rear encampment.
"Teacher Shibi, what now? Do we go for the water source first or the supply depot?" Uchiha Yuan asked.
"Water source first, then supply lines. The water source is deeper inside. We destroy that first, then the supply line on the way back, allowing for a faster retreat."
Yuan nodded, and the team proceeded toward the water source under Shibi's guidance.
Before they knew it, dawn had broken. After a full night of marching, they finally reached the water source area.
Yamanaka Kagetsu immediately linked their minds using his Mind Transmission Technique.
"Teacher Shibi, there are three squads guarding the water source. Nine people total. Based on chakra levels, three of them have more chakra than me—they're probably Jōnin level. The remaining six have chakra levels similar to mine—likely Chūnin," Hyuga Asana reported using her Byakugan through the mental link.
"Three Jōnin and six Chūnin? Mist sent that many elites just to guard a water source?" Kagetsu questioned.
"Just because their chakra level is Jōnin-like doesn't mean their combat strength is," Asana clarified.
"She's right. Mist has three main water sources in this area. If they left three Jōnin at each, that's nine Jōnin. No way they have that kind of manpower. We just beat them in the last battle—they've taken heavy losses," Yuan added.
"I agree. More likely, it's one actual Jōnin and two Bloodline Limit clan members. Those clan members often have large chakra reserves, even if they're only Chūnin," said Shibi.
"Right. Bloodline users can have Jōnin-level chakra without Jōnin-level strength," Asana agreed.
"No use speculating here. I'll scout it out." With that, Yuan created a shadow clone.
The clone transformed into a rabbit and hopped toward the water source.
When it was about 200 meters away, a kunai came flying at it.
The clone dodged easily, but more kunai followed.
Yuan realized they had a sensory ninja; he'd been detected.
Dropping the transformation, Yuan activated his Sharingan and used teleportation to rush to the water source.
He scanned the defenders and quickly formed hand seals: "Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Technique!"
Several fireballs shot toward the three high-chakra targets.
"A suicidal attack like that… probably a shadow clone, right?" said the man sitting in the middle.
"Most likely," the only woman among the three replied.
"So annoying. I'll take care of him," said a white-haired man.
"Leave it to you," the center man nodded.
The white-haired man stood.
Click, click, click— With a series of sharp sounds, bony protrusions appeared across his skin.
He raised his hand, and the bones of his ten fingers extended outward, then launched like bullets.
The finger bones pierced the fireballs and flew straight toward Yuan's clone's throat.
Yuan, upon seeing that, confirmed the white-haired man was from the Kaguya clan and had activated the Shikotsumyaku.
In Yuan's memory, the Kaguya clan's ability allowed infinite regeneration of bones. Even if all were fired, new ones could grow—extremely destructive, capable of piercing even Gaara's Absolute Defense.
Unable to block it as a shadow clone, Yuan used teleportation again to close the distance with the white-haired man.
His shadow clone only had enough chakra for four teleportations.
He had already used one plus Phoenix Fire. Using another now left just enough for one final jutsu.
Without hesitation, Yuan cast Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death.
The white-haired man froze for a moment—Yuan immediately thrust a kunai at his neck.
But the strike never landed. Suddenly, Yuan couldn't feel his arm.
Looking down, he saw it had been frozen solid.
"Such fast movement! If it were just Kaguya Toshihiko, you probably would've killed him. Xing, you really saved him." The man who had been sitting walked over.
"If Toshihiko had died just like that, the elders of the Kaguya clan would be on our case. I have no desire to deal with those lunatics," the woman said coldly.
Seeing no chance of escape or success, Yuan dismissed the clone.
With the shadow clone gone, the entire memory replayed in Yuan's mind.
"Teacher Shibi, you were right. Among the three high-chakra individuals, two were Bloodline Limit users; the remaining one is probably a true Jōnin.
One of the bloodline users is from the Kaguya clan and uses Shikotsumyaku. The other is from the Yuki clan and has Ice Release.
Also, they have a sensory ninja with a detection range of about 200 meters."
Shibi thought for a moment. "I'll use my insects to quietly eliminate two Chūnin, then engage the Jōnin myself. You three will handle the rest. Can you do it?"
(To Be Continued...)