I, Konoha’s Sage of Life

Chapter 116 - 116: The Best Stealth Is to Kill Everyone

"If I use the Hidden Mist Jutsu now, it should save me a lot of chakra. If I then focus on perception and counter-sensory techniques, maybe I can combine them for even more effects."

After a night of research, Kyoichi had gained quite a bit.

The Rain Tiger at Will Technique allowed chakra to permeate into raindrops. Nagato had spent years refining this technique to reduce chakra consumption—otherwise, even his reserves wouldn't sustain monitoring all of Amegakure.

What Kyoichi valued most was precisely this efficiency.

sensory technique also held research value.

But in the middle of a battlefield, this kind of research couldn't go too deep. It had to be set aside for later, when he had more time.

As for the Paper Person of God Technique...

With a flick of his fingers, the explosive tags on his body flew out, gathering together and transforming into a smaller version of himself.

At a glance, it was almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

A very useful technique!

Combined with the Paper Clone Jutsu, it had excellent potential for surprise attacks.

Unfortunately, explosive tags were too expensive.

Otherwise, creating a paper clone entirely made of explosive tags would make him practically invincible.

It was still dark outside.

Kyoichi glanced around and clapped his hands.

"Wake up. It's time to move."

"Yes!"

Everyone instantly snapped to attention. They got up, quickly organized themselves, and followed Kyoichi northward.

No one asked where they were going.

They just followed orders.

When they crossed into the Land of Earth, Gekko Hayate finally realized their location.

The Land of Earth!

A covert mission?

He tightened his grip on his blade, his eyes scanning their surroundings with caution.

Kyoichi looked toward the young Kohinata Mukai.

Mukai understood immediately.

He activated his Byakugan, scanned the area, and then shook his head.

"Move out..."

Whoosh!

In a flash, the group dashed across the border.

In mere moments, they had pushed deep into enemy territory, far from the border zone.

That area was too dangerous.

During wartime, borders were usually patrolled by scouting squads. But what baffled Gekko Hayate was that they hadn't encountered any enemies during their infiltration.

He didn't quite understand.

But...

Glancing at the dim sky, he had a thought.

It seemed...

Kyoichi-sama had intel they weren't aware of.

"Now that we've broken through the front line, things should be a bit easier. Let's divide up the tasks."

Kyoichi placed his hand on the ground, using his chakra sensory technique to monitor their surroundings.

Then he turned to Hayate. "Owl, take your team east. Stop when you reach a road—it's a route used by their logistics troops. Your task is to disrupt their supply lines. Use sealing scrolls to take away as many supplies as possible. Don't leave anything for Iwagakure."

"Yes!"

"When you attack, don't bother with disguises. Let them know it's the Anbu. Remember, only target the logistics ninja units. If you're unsure whether to attack, consult with Mukai."

Kyoichi gave his instructions.

Though Hayate was a bit puzzled, he still nodded.

He looked at Mukai and Genma. He knew Genma's proficiency with sealing techniques, but he wasn't aware of Mukai's sensory abilities.

But...

He didn't dwell on it.

After accepting his orders, he prepared to leave. However, after hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Kyoichi-sama, how many times should we attack?"

"If you can wipe them out in the first strike, then twice. If not, just once and then withdraw."

"Understood!"

Gekko Hayate had no more questions.

He knew that Kyoichi must have reliable intelligence, and he could even guess the source.

Amegakure!

He hadn't expected...

Kyoichi-sama even had connections in Amegakure, with access to such detailed information.

He marveled at this as he led his team eastward.

The remaining four—Kyoichi and his squad—stood quietly, waiting for the next instructions.

This was what Kyoichi liked about them.

They listened.

They never asked unnecessary questions.

If it were Obito or Naruto, they would've started pestering him by now.

"All that practice with the Transformation Jutsu will come in handy today."

Kyoichi finished speaking, formed a simple seal, and transformed into an Iwagakure shinobi.

The outfit differed slightly from Konoha's.

Their flak jackets had only one sleeve, and their overall style was distinct from Konoha's.

Kurenai Yuhi was the first to complete her transformation.

Flawless.

The other two quickly followed.

Most of their disguises were on point, with only a few minor details needing adjustment.

"Sensei, are we going on a covert mission?" Asuma asked in a low voice.

"Our objective isn't to engage in combat but to identify key enemy shinobi."

Kyoichi gave a brief explanation.

The three immediately understood.

Finding the Key Figures.

Assassination!

This was one of the specialized Anbu tactics drilled into them over the past ten days.

"From now on, we are all Iwa-nin. My name is Maki. Come up with your own names."

"Yes!"

They quickly thought of code names.

Kyoichi nodded, not too concerned. Typically, when shinobi squads met, only the name of the jonin was asked. His disguise as Maki was spot-on.

Of course...

A fake Maki only had to worry about meeting the real one.

But...

If they did meet, he'd just kill him.

Kyoichi wasn't too worried.

He led his team toward the area where, according to intel, the enemy had gathered a significant number of shinobi.

Asuma and the others were visibly tense.

Their pace didn't falter, but their breathing was unsteady. Kyoichi immediately reminded them to regulate it to avoid exposing their nerves.

Youngsters, untested by real battle, were like that.

Kyoichi, on the other hand, remained utterly calm.

By now, dawn had broken.

The Iwa-nin were in the midst of changing patrols, and Kyoichi had already sensed a chakra presence nearby.

"Sensei..." Kurenai Yuhi whispered to alert him.

"I know. Stay calm."

Kyoichi remained composed.

If discovered?

Just kill them.

Against a standard squad, he was confident he could wipe them out quickly—

The best stealth was to leave no witnesses!

He moved forward.

...

"Kogan-sama, when will we attack the Land of Grass?"

"Wait for orders. I don't know either."

Kogan shook his head.

He was eager to launch an attack. According to intelligence, Kumo-nin had already crossed the border and were directly engaging Konoha in the east.

So...

Many in Iwagakure wanted to press forward into Kusagakure, rather than continue the current skirmishing and attrition with Konoha.

This drawn-out style of combat played right into Konoha's hands, thanks to their exceptional medical capabilities.

However...

Kogan knew the higher-ups had their reasons.

He refocused, pushing such thoughts aside.

"Come on, let's patrol. I've heard Konoha and Kirigakure are no longer fighting. Konoha might reinforce this front... Hmph, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, a bunch of useless fools who couldn't even handle Konoha."

He sneered, unaware that the Seven Swordsmen had suffered a devastating defeat, with several of their swords now in Konoha's hands.

But his disdain for Kirigakure remained unaffected.

As they were talking...

Four figures emerged from the forest ahead.

The light was still dim, so he couldn't see clearly, but judging by their attire, it seemed to be Maki.

"Maki, what are you doing here?"

"I intercepted some intel. I need to report back."

"Your voice? Something's wrong!"

The moment he heard the voice, Kogan sensed danger.

This wasn't Maki's voice.

However...

In the next instant, a blade flashed, and three figures darted forward.

Whoosh!

The sound of wind...

He recognized it—Konoha's sword technique—

The Dance of the Crescent Moon.

From his sleeve, Kogan instantly ejected a blade, slashing forward while raising another to defend above.

Clang!

A crisp sound.

Above!

He was momentarily relieved, only to hear another sharp clang ahead, where someone was already weaving signs...

The other Iwa-nin immediately sprang into action.

A stone wall rose, blocking the three Konoha-nin.

But...

The next moment, a thick mist rose around them. In the dim morning light, they saw their enemies appear above them.

"Watch out!"

One Iwa-nin hardened his body with the Earth Release: Earth Spear technique and lunged at the "Maki" above.

However...

It was only air!

"An genjutsu!"

"Guh..."

A strange gurgling sound of a throat being slit came from below.

Hi no Hikari realized the danger.

The enemy was strong—shockingly fast—and the mist-based genjutsu put them at a severe disadvantage.

They had to retreat!

He turned to flee.

But...

After just one step, his instincts screamed danger. He raised his sleeve blade to defend.

Boom!

A terrifying force struck, accompanied by a gust of wind and a concentrated flow of Wind Release chakra...

How could he block such power?

The sleeve blade was blasted away, embedding itself into his thigh. In the next moment, he saw a massive blade slice through the mist.

He had heard of this weapon.

The Executioner's Blade!

Fear gripped him. The enemy was too fast—there was no time to use a jutsu. He could only rely on his Earth Spear technique and his remaining sleeve blade to defend.

But...

In an instant, an overwhelming force crashed down again. The massive blade cut through everything, unstoppable.

Clang!

His sleeve blade shattered.

This time, he wasn't so lucky—the shards drove into his neck.

Then, with momentum still carrying forward, the great blade swept through his neck.

Blood sprayed as the jagged blade slowly repaired itself, even mending its chipped edge.

Elsewhere...

Shisui and the others had completed their ambush. The Iwa-nin chūnin couldn't hold out for long under the Hidden Mist Jutsu.

"Take their forms and clean up the scene."

Kyoichi used the Executioner's Blade to absorb blood and meticulously handled the battlefield, looting all usable items.

He glanced at the Thunder Sword in his hand, feeling a bit of lingering fear.

Damn...

He had nearly clashed directly with the sleeve blade using the Thunder Sword. Fortunately, he remembered how sharp the enemy's blade was and pulled back in time. Otherwise, the Thunder Sword might have been damaged.

Thank goodness for the Executioner's Blade.

This thing was perfect for abuse. It could absorb blood to repair itself, and its weight, combined with the Strength of a Hundred Technique, made it nearly unstoppable. Few swordsmen could withstand it.

Not even Kogan.

Kyoichi walked over and picked up the two swords.

The material was good—sharp, durable, not quite chakra blades but still high-quality.

"I'll hold onto these. I'll return them to you later."

"Thank you, Sensei."

Shisui didn't refuse.

He knew his teacher was quite wealthy, not only lending him the Thunder Sword but also possessing four other ninja swords. Ordinary blades were of no value to him.

Finally, Kyoichi got a clear look at the enemy's face.

This guy...

Kogan?

No wonder he recognized Maki.

Kyoichi cleared his throat, then imitated the man's voice.

"How do I sound?"

"About 80% accurate..."

Asuma assessed.

"Good enough. Kurenai, you stay silent when we meet others."

"Yes!"

There were no kunoichi (female ninja) here, so Kurenai had transformed into the appearance of a male ninja. However, her voice could easily give them away.

But this time, Kyoichi had also mimicked the voice, significantly reducing the chances of being exposed.

Therefore, there was no need to worry too much.

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