Inside the command tent of Konoha's frontline base camp.
After Orochimaru finished smiling, his expression gradually became serious.
"Previously, Sakumo went to complete a secret mission. We cracked a piece of confidential intelligence. Sunagakure was transporting an important batch of war supplies to the frontline battlefield, and among them were a large number of explosive tags. Sakumo destroyed that entire batch of supplies."
After a slight pause, Orochimaru continued, "And now, we've received intelligence again. Sunagakure has once more gathered a batch of supplies and is sending it toward this frontline battlefield. Among them, the most important supplies are still explosive tags."
As he spoke, Orochimaru kept feeling that something was wrong.
"Since when did Sunagakure's important intelligence become so easy to obtain?" Yoru said with a cold smile. "And after suffering a loss once, the intelligence about their new supply transport was obtained by us again?"
Orochimaru fell silent as well.
Indeed. For Konoha to obtain such important intelligence once was already extremely fortunate. But obtaining such important intelligence twice in a row—did Sunagakure really think everyone in this world was an idiot?
Moreover, they had even scattered so many reconnaissance ninjas, as if they were deliberately telling Konoha, "Our Sunagakure is about to receive important resources. You Konoha had better prepare yourselves!"
No matter how one thought about it, it was strange.
Could it be—
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes suddenly narrowed.
"Yoru-kun, could this be—"
"No need."
Yoru interrupted Orochimaru's words and said confidently, "Since Sunagakure has made a move against me, then I'd like to see exactly what they have waiting for me."
Yes.
Yoru had already guessed it. This was definitely a trap prepared for him!
After all, just as he had said, how could Sunagakure be so stupid? How could intelligence this important be discovered by Konoha twice in such a short period of time?
What kind of damn joke was that?
Even a small ninja village would not make such a major mistake!
Do they think I'm an idiot like Danzo?
Yoru felt extremely disdainful in his heart.
Furthermore, Sunagakure had deliberately scattered so many reconnaissance ninjas across the battlefield!
Sakumo Hatake did not have the ability to avoid so many reconnaissance ninjas and destroy those supplies.
And the person capable of doing this—
In the current shinobi world, there was only one!
Konoha's Red Demon, Yoru!
The fact that Yoru could evade sensory ninjas had already spread throughout the shinobi world.
The first time had been during Konoha's previous war against Amegakure. Yoru had led Tsunade, broken through the Land of Rain's tight defenses, and destroyed all of Amegakure's explosive tag resources deep within the Land of Rain!
The second time had been on this Sunagakure battlefield!
Hideki Morita's squad had possessed an elite Jonin-level sensory ninja! Even a Kage-level expert would be detected at close range.
But when Yoru wiped out Hideki Morita's squad, he had practically reached their doorstep before that elite Jonin-level sensory ninja had any reaction at all!
What a terrifying monster!
It was not just his strength. The most terrifying thing was his ability to silently reach you and break straight into the core of your defenses without anyone realizing.
Chiyo had sealed this information extremely tightly.
If this news spread, it would become a massive joke.
No matter where the Sand ninjas were, they would all live in constant fear, as if the Red Demon's magma were suspended above their heads, ready to send them into hell at any moment!
Sunagakure's morale would be completely destroyed!
Therefore, the intelligence that Yoru could avoid detection had been classified as an S-rank secret in Sunagakure, including among their hidden agents.
Only those at the highest level were allowed to know.
Then, with Sunagakure scattering so many reconnaissance ninjas across every corner of the battlefield, who they were targeting was already obvious enough.
"There's no need to take this risk. Yoru, you are very important to Konoha," Orochimaru said.
Although he did not know exactly what kind of trap Sunagakure had prepared, Yoru was the strongest combat force on Konoha's frontline!
Nothing could happen to him!
If something happened, the loss would not be limited to a single top-tier combatant. The morale of Konoha's frontline ninjas would plummet.
If even their strongest fighter was killed by Sunagakure, then how could they continue fighting?
"Don't worry."
Yoru spoke confidently, his entire body radiating a domineering aura.
"With Sunagakure's combat strength, they can't do anything to me."
This was not Yoru being overly arrogant.
Konoha's intelligence system had already investigated Sunagakure's top-tier combat forces extremely clearly.
Chiyo!
The number one puppet master in the shinobi world!
But to put it bluntly, Chiyo could perhaps rely on her puppets to fight opponents above her level in front of others.
But before Yoru, she was not even comparable to an ordinary Kage-level expert!
Puppets were completely countered by Yoru's ability.
As for the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release, it also held no advantage before Yoru's magma.
As for the One-Tail Shukaku, Sunagakure would not dare casually bring it onto the battlefield. With the hatred Shukaku held toward Sunagakure Village, who it would attack once it arrived was truly hard to say.
None of these powerhouses could be the trap meant for Yoru!
Then Sunagakure only had one veteran Kage-level expert left.
Asakura Kira, known as the "Sunagakure Demon Reaper"!
This Asakura Kira was no simple figure. Although Sunagakure's new generation had not produced a new Kage-level powerhouse, Asakura Kira was someone who had truly stepped into the Kage level many years ago.
Even among Kage-level experts, he could be considered one of the stronger ones!
A smile appeared in Yoru's eyes.
As for why he was smiling?
This powerhouse named Asakura Kira specialized in Wind Release and Earth Release ninjutsu!
Especially his Earth Release ninjutsu. Even across the entire shinobi world, it could be counted among the best.
Even in Iwagakure Village, there were definitely no more than three Earth Release ninjas who could compare to Asakura Kira!
But before Yoru, this was simply a joke!
What magma feared least was Fire Release and Earth Release!
As for Wind Release, it was also completely countered by magma!
Yoru truly did not understand why Sunagakure would send Asakura Kira to intercept and kill him.
Did they think Asakura Kira had lived too long?
Actually, it was understandable.
Although Yoru's battle record was terrifying, he had one major problem.
He had never fought a true Kage-level expert!
Although the shinobi world assessed Yoru's strength as Kage-level, that was mostly due to his ability in group battles.
In single-target combat, Yoru had no truly convincing record!
Sunagakure was confident that their Sunagakure Demon Reaper, as a powerful ninja who ranked high even among Kage-level experts, would be able to kill Yoru with his blade!
In battles between top-tier powerhouses, although elemental advantages did have an effect, the impact was not considered especially decisive.
Moreover, Yoru had never fought an Earth Release ninja before. Sunagakure likely did not know just how terrifying magma's effect against Earth Release could be.
This was the importance of intelligence!
Sunagakure believed they had grasped all of Yoru's intelligence. They confidently sent out the Sunagakure Demon Reaper.
But the result was already decided.
Orochimaru looked at Yoru at this moment, and a faint feeling of submission actually arose in his heart.
Orochimaru bit the tip of his tongue, and a sharp sting spread through him.
Only then did that feeling in his heart disappear.
Looking at Yoru now, Orochimaru felt as though he were looking at a future ruler.
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