In the Land of Fire, the silent woods were disturbed only by the faint rustling of leaves. Groups of ten Iwagakure ninja moved swiftly, their formation tight and purposeful. The war had driven most civilians in the borderlands to retreat further inland, leaving the area eerily quiet. Even after traveling several kilometers into Fire Nation territory, the Rock Ninja had yet to encounter any signs of human habitation.
"It's going so smoothly," the team leader muttered, his voice low yet triumphant. "It seems the Leaf is stretched thin."
He paused to glance at his team, each soldier clad in the uniform of Iwagakure. The leader's thoughts turned to Konoha's history. Since the establishment of the five great nations, Konoha had always been regarded as the strongest. During the era of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, Konoha's might was unmatched. Even after the Second Hokage fell in battle, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, stabilized the village and upheld its dominance.
In the Second Shinobi World War, the Three Legendary Sannin and White Fang had brought Konoha back to glory. Now, in the current war, Minato Namikaze's rise to prominence had overshadowed even those figures. Yet, the leader mused, even with someone like Minato, Konoha was still just one of five major nations.
"No one can change the nature of war, no matter how brilliant they are," he muttered to himself, remembering the First Hokage's legendary power that had once subdued the other nations.
As he and his team pushed forward, the leader smirked. Their mission was clear: sow chaos within the Land of Fire. With more than 800 Iwagakure ninjas infiltrating the territory, the Third Hokage would have no choice but to divert his forces from the front lines, leaving Konoha vulnerable.
What the team failed to notice was that two figures trailed them silently from the shadows: Minato Namikaze and Aburame Shibi.
Shibi was no stranger to infiltration. His expertise in covert operations and intelligence gathering had taken him to the borders of Iwagakure itself. But even he felt humbled by Minato's presence. The legendary Yellow Flash seemed to disappear completely into the surroundings, his movements undetectable to even the most skilled sensory ninja.
After following the Iwagakure team for nearly an hour, they finally reached their destination—a circular forest with a diameter spanning several kilometers. The trees stood tall and dense, forming a natural barrier that provided both concealment and protection.
"It seems Iwagakure planned this well," Minato said, his voice low but thoughtful. "The terrain is perfect for regrouping. Even if they're discovered, they can retreat quickly with minimal losses."
Shibi nodded. The dense forest, surrounded by mountains and wilderness, made it nearly impossible to track anyone who fled. However, Minato saw the drawbacks too. In such a specific location, the only viable gathering point would be at the forest's center.
The Iwagakure team hesitated briefly at the forest's edge before entering cautiously. Minato led Shibi on a detour, taking a longer route to ensure they wouldn't cross paths prematurely. With Minato's unmatched speed, the detour cost them little time.
As they moved deeper into the forest, Shibi's queen insect wriggled slightly on his fingertip. "I sense more of my bugs," he whispered.
Minato's eyes narrowed. "That means other teams have already arrived."
The duo picked up their pace, navigating the dense undergrowth with ease. When they neared the forest's center, Minato halted and masked their presence completely. From their hidden vantage point, they spotted a growing group of Iwagakure ninjas.
Nearly a hundred had already gathered.
Minato and Shibi remained hidden, observing as the numbers swelled. Every few minutes, another team of Rock Ninja arrived, their movements precise and coordinated. Within half an hour, the group had grown to over 450 ninjas.
Minato's sharp eyes scanned the gathering. If Shibi's intelligence was correct, this accounted for almost all the Iwagakure ninjas who had infiltrated the Land of Fire. Just a few more teams, and their mission would be complete.
Suddenly, Minato's senses picked up a familiar chakra signature. A team of over twenty Iwagakure ninjas arrived, led by a powerful figure who immediately commanded the respect of the others.
"Sir!" The gathered ninjas straightened and bowed slightly as the leader approached.
Minato recognized him instantly. The man was from the Kamizuru clan, known for their mastery of insect bee-based techniques. Minato had encountered him during the Second Shinobi World War when the man had fought Uchiha Kai with his swarm of bees.
Shibi's gaze hardened as he observed the clan leader. The man's reputation was formidable, and his appearance confirmed that this was no ordinary infiltration mission.
The Kamizuru clan leader scanned the gathered ninjas, his eyes sharp and calculating. Without warning, he waved his sleeve, releasing a swarm of bees that buzzed menacingly through the air. The insects circled several of the Iwagakure ninjas before flying into their mouths.
"What's happening?!" one of the ninjas shouted, backing away in fear.
"Don't move!" the clan leader barked. The bees soon reemerged, carrying black insects that they dropped onto the ground. The leader examined the parasites closely, his expression darkening.
These were not his insects.
Someone else had planted them, and the fact that he hadn't detected them earlier was troubling. He realized the parasites had only been revealed because the mother insect had come into contact with the Kamizuru swarm. The implications were clear: they were being followed.
"We've been discovered," he growled, his voice laced with anger.
Before the Iwagakure ninjas could react, a voice rang out, clear and confident. "Indeed, you have."
All eyes turned upward. Standing on a tree trunk, illuminated by the faint sunlight filtering through the canopy, was Minato Namikaze. He rose to his full height, his expression calm yet commanding.
Gasps echoed through the clearing as the Rock Ninja recognized him. The blond hair, the sharp eyes, the kunai at his side—it could only be the Yellow Flash.
Minato's gaze swept over the gathering. He had deliberately revealed himself because his senses told him the forest was now teeming with over 500 Iwagakure ninjas. This was it—nearly all the enemy forces had gathered here.
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