Outside the village.
In a secluded cave.
The One-Eyed Man was counting his men.
"How many in total?"
"One hundred and forty-three," the slim shinobi replied. "All are carefully selected experts."
"Very good."
The One-Eyed Man nodded with satisfaction.
One hundred and forty-three people.
That should be enough to deal with the fifty left in Iwagakure.
"What's the update from Iwagakure?"
"It's here."
The slim shinobi took out a scroll and handed it over.
The One-Eyed Man opened the scroll.
Its contents were simple.
"Iwagakure, eight hundred elites have departed, fewer than fifty remain. The time is ripe. Act quickly."
"Additionally, the granary is located in central Land of Earth, poorly defended, can be attacked opportunistically."
"After the operation, all members must withdraw immediately. Do not linger in combat."
After reading, the One-Eyed Man grinned.
"Truly a Divine Ability."
"To know the inner workings of Iwagakure so clearly…"
He tossed the scroll into the fire. The flames devoured it instantly.
"Assemble everyone."
"Yes!"
Soon, all one hundred and forty-three rōnin were gathered.
Excitement shone in their eyes.
Attack Iwagakure?
That was something none of them had dared to dream of before.
But now, the chance had come.
The One-Eyed Man stood at the front, gaze sweeping across the crowd.
"Gentlemen, I know what you're thinking."
"Iwagakure, one of the Five Great Nations, home to countless powerful shinobi."
"Is it madness for us to strike it?"
Several nodded silently.
"But," his tone shifted, "this is no longer the Iwagakure of the past."
"The current Iwagakure is empty. Only fifty old and weak shinobi remain!"
"Opportunities like this come once in a thousand years."
"If we act swiftly, get in, grab what we want, and retreat—who can stop us?"
His voice grew increasingly impassioned.
"Also, you've all seen the promised reward, haven't you?"
"Five million ryō each!"
"Five million!"
At the mention of that number, everyone's eyes lit up.
Five million ryō.
Enough to live in luxury for the rest of their lives.
"So, what are you afraid of?" The One-Eyed Man laughed. "Fortune favors the bold!"
"Follow me, and I guarantee you'll never need to worry about money again!"
"Let's do it!"
"Fortune favors the bold!"
The rōnin shouted excitedly.
The One-Eyed Man nodded in approval.
"Good."
"Now, I'll explain the plan."
He unfolded a map.
"We'll split into two teams."
"The first team, led by me—one hundred people—our target is Iwagakure."
"Our mission is to enter, loot, and withdraw."
"The second team…"
He turned to two figures in the group.
One was a dark-skinned man carrying a massive sword.
The other wore a mask, emanating a sinister aura.
"Biwa Jūzō. Kakuzu."
"You two will lead the second team, forty-three people, and attack the granary in central Land of Earth."
"That area is lightly defended. It should be easy to deal with."
"A granary?" One of the rōnin frowned. "What's the point of robbing that?"
"What do you know."
Biwa Jūzō suddenly spoke. His voice was deep and raspy.
"Even if the granary doesn't have much treasure, destroying it will do more damage to Iwagakure than raiding the village itself."
"Besides…"
He glanced at the questioning rōnin.
"You've already been paid. Just follow orders."
The One-Eyed Man nodded. "Jūzō is right."
"The granary matters more than the village itself."
"Iwagakure's forces are fighting outside. Their provisions are their lifeline."
"Destroy that, and they're done."
The rōnin finally understood, though his face still showed reluctance.
Biwa Jūzō ignored him and looked at the One-Eyed Man.
"When do we move?"
"Tomorrow night," he said. "Once it gets dark, we split up and take action."
"You head for the granary. We go to Iwagakure."
"When you act, remember: be fast and don't expose yourselves."
"By the time Iwagakure reacts, we'll be long gone."
Jūzō grinned. "Don't worry. My blade's fast."
Kakuzu's gloomy voice followed. "As long as the money's good, the granary's already as good as gone."
"Excellent." The One-Eyed Man rolled up the map. "Tomorrow night, we move."
"By then…"
He licked his lips.
"The treasures of Iwagakure will be ours."
…Western Front.
Ōnoki's eight hundred shinobi had marched through the night and most of the day.
Their pace was swift.
They rarely paused.
Even so, they wouldn't arrive until the following evening.
"Tsuchikage-sama."
A Jōnin approached from the side. "The troops have been marching for ten hours straight."
"Many are reaching their limits."
"Should we rest?"
Ōnoki looked back at the formation. Many shinobi had pale faces.
Constant, high-speed movement had drained their stamina heavily.
"Rest for half an hour," he said. "Then we continue."
"Yes!"
The order was relayed.
The unit halted.
Shinobi slumped to the ground, gasping for breath.
Some quickly chewed on Military Ration Pills to replenish stamina.
Others simply lay down, motionless.
Ōnoki didn't rest.
He stood atop a rock, gazing into the distance.
The Western Front.
Ishikawa…
Are you still holding on?
A sense of unease lingered in his heart.
Something was wrong.
But he couldn't figure out what.
"I hope… we're not too late."
Ōnoki muttered to himself.
Half an hour passed quickly.
"Get up. Prepare to move."
Ōnoki gave the order.
Eight hundred shinobi rose again.
Their figures disappeared into the night.
And behind them.
In Iwagakure.
The rōnin were eagerly preparing.
Waiting for night to fall.
…The next morning.
The rōnin made their final checks.
The One-Eyed Man stood at the cave entrance, looking toward distant Iwagakure.
"Is it confirmed?" he asked.
"Confirmed," the slim shinobi replied. "Only around fifty remain in Iwagakure."
"Most are elderly or weakened."
"Perfect."
The One-Eyed Man turned around, facing the rōnin.
"Gentlemen, tonight's the night we strike it rich."
"But I'll say it again."
His expression grew sharp.
"We're not here to occupy Iwagakure. Our goal is to rob and run."
"Once we're inside, move fast."
"Don't linger. Don't be greedy."
"Grab what you can and retreat immediately."
"Understood?"
"Understood!"
The rōnin responded in unison.
The One-Eyed Man smiled in satisfaction.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)