The Third Unit followed the pre-set objectives and rushed toward the battlefield.
Although this was the first expedition for such a Ninja unit, every member was a tested and excellent Ninja; at least on the surface, they appeared orderly, advancing in silence without stopping their pace.
Even without actual combat experience, Senju Touka knew that current combat methods could not be the same as during the times of clan conflicts.
Tobirama had discussed with her many times what kind of combat methods Konohagakure should adopt if war broke out, and they had formulated some plans; now was the time to test them.
As the unit captain, Senju Touka felt a huge pressure on her.
Although they had set up battle plans, she did not know what it would be like when actually implemented.
Regardless, she had to move forward and do her utmost to stop the advance of the Kumogakure Ninja Squad and complete the Third Unit's mission—to contain the Kumogakure Ninja Squad and force them toward the direction of the main Kumogakure Ninja force, giving the Land of Fire Samurai Corps time to reorganize.
Considering that the Third Unit's combat ability was not high, and Senju Touka herself was a Ninja skilled in using Genjutsu, she basically determined her own combat style: focusing mainly on Genjutsu to confuse the enemy unit, supplemented by strikes from the few combatants in the unit.
Although she did not know what route the enemy army would take, Senju Touka was certain that Ninjas skilled in operating in the shadows would not take the main road; this did not conform to the principle of Ninjas concealing their tracks.
Even a large-scale Ninja unit would not do so; it was highly probable they would adopt a method of dispersing into small squads and regrouping before the target.
Therefore, Senju Touka also divided the Third Unit into multiple squads, with her own squad as the core, while other squads spread out in a fan shape but kept a certain distance, allowing the Ninjas from the Hyuga and Aburame clans in the squads to scout the situation and immediately report back once enemy traces were discovered.
Although Fūmori Masaki did not have unique Secret Techniques like those clan members, his Sage Arts had a unique way of sensing.
Previously, he had no way to sense others, but after training, he could now do it.
As they gradually approached the place predicted by Tobirama and the others, Fūmori Masaki felt the presence of other people appearing not far away.
It was not one or two; although they were dispersed, they were kept within a certain distance.
This scale of crowd was undoubtedly the Kumogakure Ninja Squad.
At the same time, other squads sent intelligence one after another.
Senju Touka immediately determined the general range of the Kumogakure Ninja Squad.
The number of enemy troops was about two hundred, which seemed fewer than the Third Unit, but judging by the opponent's surprise attack tactics, these two hundred people should all be elites with extremely high combat power.
The Third Unit did not have the capability to fight them head-on.
"I don't think I need to say anything; just follow the plan we set beforehand," Senju Touka said to each squad captain.
"If you can take them out, take them out; do not make any sound that would alert others.
If you cannot take them out, focus on maneuvering; as long as you can hold them back, that's enough.
Let them discover it as late as possible.
If you understand, go."
The other squads received their orders and left, and Senju Touka also prepared to take her own squad to fight.
Fūmori Masaki and Satomi had been Senju Touka's subordinates before, and this time they naturally served as members of Senju Touka's squad.
Danzo, who was also a disciple of Tobirama, was also assigned in, and the scout Ninja arranged in the squad was Hyūga Kei, who was once in the same squad as Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu; he was also assigned to the Third Unit.
The combat method of Senju Touka's squad was for Hyūga Kei to observe the opponent's position beforehand, then for Senju Touka to cast powerful Genjutsu, and for Fūmori Masaki, Satomi, Danzo, and other members to strike and kill.
It was a very simple combat plan.
The group sneaked into the forest, and Hyūga Kei immediately activated the Byakugan.
Meridians bulged around his eyes, and in an instant, the surrounding objects were included in his field of observation.
Although as a branch family disciple, there was a small range he could not observe, it was too small after all and generally not enough to affect him.
The Byakugan's visual range was one kilometer.
Hyūga Kei had long seen the Kumogakure Ninja in front and whispered to tell Senju Touka.
Senju Touka nodded and said: "Good, everyone else get ready, we're engaging immediately."
Senju Touka's Genjutsu level was such that even Uchiha Kagami felt amazed, and for others who had not seen it, they truly felt the strength of their captain.
The first to appear was a five-man squad.
Each person had brown skin and a robust physique.
Just by looking, one could feel the powerful strength contained within their bodies.
However, for a Genjutsu Ninja, this was not the most important thing.
The captain of this Kumogakure squad was moving toward the target.
The surprise attack tactics they used valued time the most; they could not slack off for even a minute or a second and had to advance with all their might.
As he was running, this Kumogakure captain suddenly felt a hint of something wrong.
A Ninja's instinct made him feel an aura of danger.
He quickly looked around, but did not find any abnormalities.
"Captain, what's wrong?" a team member behind him asked.
"I don't know, but it seems like there is something..." Although the captain did not find anything, as a Ninja, his vigilance was exceptionally strong.
He told the others to stop and prepare at the same time.
If there was any abnormality, they should immediately send a signal to notify the unit.
After waiting for a while, the captain still did not find anything.
The other team members were a bit anxious; if time was delayed, they would be punished upon returning, so they hurriedly persuaded the captain that if he didn't find anything, they should hurry and set off.
The captain was silent for a moment and nodded.
Just as he was about to set off, he suddenly saw a figure flash through the woods.
Although it was just a fleeting glance, he confirmed that the attire on the other party conformed to a Ninja's movements.
His heart suddenly skipped a beat; could it be that people from Konohagakure had arrived?
Although he could not guarantee that what he saw were people from Konohagakure, the appearance of the other party was obviously abnormal.
Moreover, under such surprise attack tactics, the captain was also under great pressure.
Regardless of whether it was them or not, he decided that it was them.
The captain hurriedly shouted to the people behind him: "Send the signal!" While speaking, he was vigilant of the surroundings.
However, he did not hear the sound of a signal flare being fired.
He couldn't help but turn back in surprise, only to see that there was no one behind him.
In just a short time, his team members had disappeared.
The captain was suddenly startled and quickly looked around.
Dense trees blocked his path, seemingly endless.
It was the same scene before, but in his view now, everything was abnormal.
—Had he unknowingly fallen into the opponent's Ninjutsu? If so, it could only be Genjutsu.
The captain immediately performed the seal to dispel Genjutsu, but everything around him remained the same; nothing had changed.
Fear immediately arose in his heart.
What kind of Genjutsu was this level...
Before he could continue thinking, the vision before his eyes suddenly shook and slowly became blurry.
A sense of dizziness surged into his mind; he couldn't say anything, and his consciousness disappeared along with it.
"Well done," Senju Touka praised softly.
At this time, that five-man squad had all fallen to the ground, their breathing had stopped, and there was only one wound on their bodies.
They had all been taken out without any resistance while under the Genjutsu.
Fūmori Masaki and the others did not expect it to be this easy.
It could only be said that Senju Touka's Genjutsu was too powerful; she was worthy of being a Ninja who could engage in Genjutsu duels with people from the Uchiha Clan.
"Just keep it up like this, but don't think that what follows will be easy," Senju Touka said.
"The more powerful the Ninja, the lower the impact Genjutsu will have on them, and there is no guarantee whether the opponent will fall for Genjutsu.
In short, be careful."
"Understood."
The group set off again.
Although Senju Touka said that, the enemies they encountered so far had not been able to withstand Senju Touka's Genjutsu.
Either they had no reaction, or they had a slight reaction, but they were all taken out before they could transmit intelligence.
There were no problems on Senju Touka's side, but the other squads attracted the attention of the Kumogakure Ninja.
Consequently, the Kumogakure Ninja Squad finally discovered that Konoha Ninja had arrived here.
Upon realizing this, they immediately adjusted their ranks and turned to prepare for a counterattack.
This time, the Konoha Ninja and the Kumogakure Ninja would truly begin to clash.