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Night, two in the morning.
Konoha Village, under a wartime market curfew, was now a scene of gloom, with only a few lights shining.
Most of the Village's electricity supply was diverted to special locations like the Hokage Building and the Ninja Tool Factory; even the liveliest gambling dens and red-light districts of peacetime had lost their former clamor and revelry.
Under the slightly dim moonlight, a few fleeting figures could occasionally be seen on rooftops and eaves, mostly dressed in dark grey combat uniforms, wearing masks, and vigilantly scanning their surroundings.
On the streets, only one or two people could occasionally be seen leaving work at this late hour.
War is not entirely about the iron, blood, and fire, victory and sacrifice on the front lines; it also encompasses logistical production, transportation security, and mutual intelligence gathering and protection in the rear.
Just like at this very moment, in an unknown small house.
A total of three Iwagakure squads gathered around a dark table, intently listening to the plan explained by the person in the center.
The explanation was not long, and everyone's mission was clear enough.
So, 'Kojima,' having changed his disguise, finally said solemnly:
"Does everyone understand?"
"Yes."
Even with their voices lowered, the gazes of all the Rock Ninja present were enough to show their attitude.
"Good!"
"Now… begin the mission!"
Removing their headbands, covering their faces, and stripping themselves of all identifiable markings, the Rock Ninja no longer lingered, orderly proceeding in formation towards the underground passage created by Earth Release in the corner of the room, resolute and determined.
'Kojima'… or rather, Kira of the Thousand Faces, who had dominated the Five Great Nations' intelligence world for over a decade, completing countless espionage missions for his Village and earning a formidable reputation, quietly watched them leave.
He knew that most of them would die meaningless deaths at the hands of Konoha Ninja, just like the group this morning.
However, this was something that had to be done.
They absolutely had to obtain the Tsunade Squad's mission intelligence as quickly as possible.
Because the Third Tsuchikage was currently on the Earth-Lightning front, leading his troops in a difficult war of attrition against the main Kumogakure forces.
If they were to assassinate the Third Tsuchikage, causing the front line to collapse and throwing the entire Iwagakure and Earth Country into internal strife, now was the best time.
The people of Iwagakure understood this, and the people of Konoha naturally understood it too.
Kira pondered in silence.
Finally, he resolutely took a step towards the depths of hell.
"Ugh—"
At the entrance to the storage room.
A young man who looked to be only twelve or thirteen years old yawned widely, his eyes still heavy with sleep, and he grumbled with a hint of complaint in his tone: "Teacher, isn't it time for the shift change yet?"
"Silence."
The Jonin in charge of this Genin squad was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his thirties, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, leaning against the wall beside the storage room door.
However, seeing the young man's still somewhat immature face, which was about the same age as his own son, he couldn't help but say:
"It'll be soon."
"Seriously." The young Genin looked at the night outside the window, propping his chin up, quite bored. "This kind of mission is only C-rank. Are we going to be doing such boring things from now on?"
"Alright, Shuichi!" The girl next to him interjected, scolding him, "Don't say such willful things when on a mission."
"Yes~"
The young man, with his back to the recently repaired outer window, drew out his words.
However, almost at the same instant this sound appeared.
A Kunai, extending from the darkness, suddenly pierced the Genin's neck.
"Chhh—"
The Kunai was pulled out.
Scarlet blood splattered.
"Shuichi!"
The dazed girl instinctively cried out.
The experienced middle-aged Jonin had already rushed out first, grabbing the hand that extended from the darkness and pulling it back forcefully.
"Pop."
With a sound like a cork popping, the ignited 'arm' was held in his hand.
The Jonin's reaction speed was astonishingly fast; he threw the explosive out the window with lightning speed, while simultaneously forming hand signs quickly.
"Water Release: Water Wall!"
In a waterless environment, with the most simplified single hand sign, he suddenly constructed a wall of water large enough to surround three people, perfectly proving this middle-aged man's identity as a Ninjutsu-type Jonin.
The sudden thunderous explosion outside instantly put all the staff in the Hokage Building on alert, making them look towards the shattered window.
Under the dark night, the firelight was dazzling.
Almost at the same instant this sound rang out, four figures, completely shrouded in black, rushed towards the three people enveloped by the water flow with astonishing speed—behind them was the door to the storage room.
However, the moment they appeared.
"Bang bang bang—"
Dozens of figures, some in Anbu uniforms, others wearing Uchiha Police Force vests, burst through the outer windows, completely surrounding the squad.
Uchiha Megumi stood at the forefront, her scarlet two-tomoe Sharingan coldly fixated on the four individuals before her.
As early as when she examined the corpses during the day, she realized the big fish hadn't taken the bait yet.
She had expected to stake out for a few more days, but she didn't expect them to appear so quickly.
However, facing the heavy encirclement of over a dozen Ninja, the suicide squad in the center seemed to be oblivious.
The leader even sneered and tore open his black upper garment.
Revealing a vest covered in explosive tags.
Uchiha Megumi's pupils instantly constricted.
The next moment.
"Boom!"
A violent explosion, like thunder, resounded.
But it wasn't on this floor.
Not just Uchiha Megumi, many present instinctively looked up, towards the floor above them.
The fourth floor was the Hokage Office.
A diversion!
Could it be that their target was the Hokage Office from the very beginning?!
Almost everyone had this thought pop into their heads.
"Quick!"
"Capture these few first!"
Uchiha Megumi didn't have time to think, immediately issuing orders to her companions.
At the same time, she had already rushed ahead towards the foremost suicide bomber.
The Genjutsu, long prepared in her Sharingan, suddenly unleashed.
"Genjutsu: Sharingan"
The Rock Ninja suicide bomber who had just torn open his explosive vest instantly paused, a trace of confusion appearing in his eyes.
But his companions behind him, with their eyes closed, fiercely pushed him forward, while simultaneously pouring Chakra into his explosive vest.
"Boom!"
Another explosion.
The suicide bomber's entire body immediately disintegrated, the bursting blood mist carrying scattered limbs exploding in all directions; even tiny bone fragments were as sharp as shuriken, hitting the walls with crackling sounds, and a huge gap was blown open in the hallway floor and the outer wall of the building.
Uchiha Megumi, caught in the explosive dust and smoke, rolled and fell to the other side to dissipate the force, half of her body stained with thick blood.
Damn it.
The tomoe in the girl's eyes seemed to spin even faster with her volatile emotions.
The three prepared Rock Ninja suicide bombers, propelled by the force of the explosion, endured minor injuries and charged at an extremely fast speed towards the other end.
The blades in their hands unhesitatingly pointed at several clearly young and inexperienced Ninja, attempting to use them as a breakthrough point.
Before the operation began, they knew they were destined to die.
But even in death, they had to take down a few potential enemies for their Village who might appear on the battlefield.
At the same time.
Fourth floor.
Two truly elite squads, led by Kira, poured into the Hokage Office through the gap created by the explosion, moving at the fastest possible speed.
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