Back in the cave we were formulating our plan of attack. We struck quick and left no traces, but with the patrol disappearing we knew that Suna was going to be on edge.
Alas our mission was to cause chaos. We needed to hit at least two more patrols.
In the dark cave Genma made a solid table of earth, with earth manipulation . On it lay a map.
Genma called the team over.
"This is the plan, we strike patrols across the southern region nearest the border of fire, then we leave through the Land Of Rain."
Raido interrupted "If i may Genma, why not leave through the land of rivers. We take out the patrols near there, why risk running into more"
Genma grinned " I see you're still as clueless as you use to be back in the academy" "if we leave through the land of rivers we risk leaving a trace closer to camp. Better to throw them off by leaving through the Land Of Rain"
Raido nodded.
I asked "When do we move out Genma senpai?"
"Now"
The five of us set out to eliminate two more patrols.
Over the course of the next four days that's what we did, every patrol we encountered was swiftly dealt with.
We had started working perfectly as a unit, leaving no gaps in our attacks.
We were a couple of hours away from the land of rain when we saw our 6th patrol team. This one is noticeably bigger. An eight man squad.
Surely Suna had suspicions about who had taken out their patrols and adapted.
I turned to Genma. "Do we engage, we still have the element of surprise we can cut their numbers down so we are even. Then we hightail it back to camp"
Genma thought about it and with a long sigh he said "Shinji's right, better to fight now, if we try and get around them and we're spotted. All they have to do is keep us there until reinforcements arrive"
Genma started making the battle plan. "Raido you're with me." "Shinji i suppose you know fire jutsus?"
"I nodded yes I know the great fireball jutsu, Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu, and the fire dragon jutsu"
Genma nodded "good you and Toboki will launch the first attack, me Raido and Goro will attack on the ground. Join us once you've fired the jutsu".
Knowing the plan we set out to act. We moved through the desert with ease. We haven't been here long but we knew how to move.
Once we were near the patrol I looked to toboki and signaled the attack to begin.
I weaved through handsigns and shouted.
Fire style: Dragon Flame Jutsu.
Wind style: Great Breakthrough
As soon as me and Toboki finish our combination jutsu we moved. The sand shinobi with no time to react hastily formed a defense.
Those who managed to put up earth walls did, those who didn't. We no longer had to worry about them.
We landed and were instantly engaged by a Sand jonin. I saw Genma Raido and Goro each fighting.
Good me and toboki can deal with this guy.
He gave us no time to think he struck. Fist headed toward me I activated my sharingan, his movements slowed. I could see the gap in his defences.
I slipped his fist and fainted a kick, he reacted leaving himself open for a sweep from Toboki.
Falling down he used his momentum to flip away. We were on him in an instant. I attacked from the front sending punches, kicks and elbows at him. While Toboki engaged from the rear anytime the Sand nin showed intentions of countering me.
This battle was over, it was just a matter of when. One wrong move and the Sand jonin was dead.
He had just blocked my roundhouse kicked when I saw it. He has to block the kunai swipe from toboki.
As he blocked it I kicked at the back part of his knee, sending him crashing down. I unsheathed my tanto, and cut into his back.
He wasn't dead but he could no longer move.
We looked to the others, only one was left.
He was being overwhelmed by the combined attacks of the rest of our squad.
My sharingan still activated i saw him reaching for a flare.
We locked eyes. A moment too late. He went stiff under my genjutsu, but the flare had already been fired. Raido sliced his head off a second later.
Genma Barked an order. " MOVE. To the Land Of Rain now"
We set of, double time to the land of rain.
Minutes passed with no sign of a tail. Then Goro spoke up.
"We have a tail. Six shinobi. Mid Chunin to low Jonin each. About a kilometer behind us."
Even though we won the battle we left with a wounded man severely slowing us down. The sand Wounded Raidos leg during their fight."
Goro continued. " At this speed they will catch us inside of the Land of Rain. What is our move Genma".
Genma answered. " We keep moving until they are close. Then we can set up a formation to fight them."
I was feeling fairly fresh. These guys had been doing most of the heavy lifting, since it was my first mission. But I could see the signs of fatigue seeping into their faces.
It had been a week behind enemy lines with little to no sleep and constant skirmishes with patrols.
I lost my unit before. It wasn't happening again.
"Genma senpai, you are all tired. We can't fight outnumbered while keeping Raido senpai safe."
I could see Raido get mad at my statement but he didn't say anything he knew it was true, he was in no condition for a fight.
That's what he was mad at.
Genma said. "Yea what do you suggest then Shinji."
I took a deep breath. I knew my decision was made already. But I had died once I was in no mood to repeat it.
"I'll stay back and hold them off, while you guys get back to camp" "I have the most chakra currently out of all of us. And my Sharingan makes me the best person to fight outnumbered".
Genma didn't like it but he knew it was our only real choice.
He sighed. " alright Shinji will stay while we find somewhere to leave Raido. Then we come back and help you."
After a little more running I found the spot i wanted to fight in. It was toward the end of the land of wind. So the sandstorms weren't a thing here. I could use my Sharingan to its full potential.
"Im stopping here."
They all nodded and took off at a faster speed.
I began setting traps it was a six versus one, i had to tip the scales by any means.