I Am Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 324 324 There's Our Spy In The Enemy's Ranks

Land of Wind, west of the Sea of Death, late at night.

A cold moon hung high in the ink-blue sky, casting its pale light onto the endless sea of sand.

Sand dunes cast twisted, elongated shadows under the moonlight, like lurking behemoths.

A force of approximately two hundred Sunagakure's Ninja was moving swiftly and silently through the shadows of the dunes, using the cover of darkness.

Their movements were quick, but carried an indescribable sense of oppression and tension.

At the head of the column were the two team leaders, Pakura and Yashiro.

Pakura, the Elite Jonin famous for her Scorch Release Kekkei Genkai, currently had a calm face, but her eyes were deeper and more inscrutable than the desert night. For some reason, the closer she got to the Land of Stars, the more she felt a sense of unease.

Yashiro, meanwhile, appeared more vigilant, his gaze constantly scanning the dead, silent darkness around them, a kunai held semi-ready in his hand.

Within the ranks, Ninja would occasionally look up involuntarily towards the heart-stopping direction deep within the Sea of Death.

Under the moonlight, the outlines of two colossal beasts, so large as to be unimaginable, were faintly visible, like ancient mountain ranges supporting heaven and earth, emitting a suffocating pressure that inspired fear.

Their every low breath seemed to cause the entire desert to tremble slightly.

"What... what are those monsters?" A young Sunagakure's Ninja finally couldn't hold back, his voice trembling uncontrollably as he whispered to the comrade beside him.

Yashiro whipped his head around, a stern gaze sweeping over the team as he hissed in a low voice, "Shut up! No discussion! Maintain silence, full speed ahead!"

He forcibly suppressed the palpitations in his own heart. The existence of those two Tailed Beasts was a nightmare the entire Sunagakure's leadership was unwilling to mention.

Pakura didn't speak, only silently quickened her pace.

Her silence was interpreted by her subordinates as wariness towards the unknown monsters.

The Sunagakure's Ninjas could only bury their fear deep down and focus on moving, hoping to distance themselves from this unsettling area as quickly as possible.

They had no idea that their every move had long been exposed.

Meanwhile, far away, inside the Moon.

Within a building resembling a temple, countless precision instruments emitted low hums.

At the center, an immensely large sphere, emitting a soft, sacred golden light, floated and rotated slowly.

The Giant Tenseigan!

Its light, passing through a complex chakra system, clearly projected the scenes from the Ninja World onto dozens of huge display screens surrounding it.

Dozens of technicians in white research uniforms, wearing special sensory devices, were operating consoles tensely yet orderly.

They were a special unit proficient in sealing techniques, barrier techniques, and cutting-edge science technology. After the Otsutsuki Clan's branch family on the Moon was incorporated by Menma, they had been working here to decipher the legacy left behind.

"Report! Large-scale Chakra Reaction Cluster detected on the western side of the Sea of Death! Coordinates: Latitude XX North, Longitude XX East! Estimated number: two hundred! Moving direction: due west! Estimated time to enter Land of Stars' territory: three hours!" An operator quickly locked onto the target, zooming in on the display.

The screen clearly showed the trajectory of Pakura's unit. Even at night, each individual figure was faintly discernible.

"Analyzing Chakra Patterns... Confirmed as Sunagakure's Ninjas. Assessed as enemy surprise attack force. Immediately encrypt and transmit the intelligence to the Star City's General Headquarters!" The person in charge calmly issued the order.

The information, via a special Chakra Network, instantly crossed the vast distance and arrived at the Star City.

…

Western edge of the Sea of Death.

A twelve-member Star Ninja Squad was moving swiftly across a moonlit dune. It was the flanking squad led by Hotarubi.

The members included Chino, Morishita Shunji, Murakashi Hazuki, Otsutsuki Toneri, Suzuhara Ai, Saionji Sato, and other young but already outstanding Chunin.

Additionally, there were several other members, including a Hyuga Clan's member and an Uchiha Clan's member, all elites tempered by battle.

During the march, the two Byakugan users in the team, Toneri and the Hyuga Clan's member, bore the main responsibility for reconnaissance.

Their division of labor was clear: the Hyuga Clan's member maintained a 360-degree all-around perception, alert to any movement within one kilometer of the squad, while Toneri concentrated the power of his Byakugan, like a spotlight, firmly locked onto the specific direction far ahead of the squad, achieving an astonishing reconnaissance range of eight kilometers!

The squad spread out in an alert formation, their movements silent and efficient.

Despite the nighttime forced march, the members showed little fatigue, instead carrying the tension and excitement of being new to the battlefield.

"Hey, Toneri, found anything?" Shunji, clad in the standard Star Ninja deep blue Chakra Kinetic Armor, seemed full of drive. While maintaining speed, he couldn't help but call out to the somewhat short white-haired figure at the front.

Toneri, now a Chunin, had faint blue veins bulging around his pure white eyes as he operated his Byakugan at full power, his vision piercing through the heavy curtain of night to scan the distant sea of sand.

Without turning his head, his voice, though young, was calm: "No abnormalities within eight kilometers."

On the other side of the squad, the Hyuga Clan's Chunin also nodded slightly, confirming Toneri's findings. He couldn't help but glance at Toneri a few more times, his heart filled with astonishment.

'This child's Byakugan purity and reconnaissance range far exceeded that of an ordinary Hyuga Clan's member, even rivaling the main family!'

Hizashi's pre-war admonition echoed in his ears: 'Toneri-kun comes from an ancient family sharing our origins but different from us. Ensure respect, avoid conflict.'

"Hey! This time we must achieve a great merit! Let's see how that guy Kimimaro can still be so proud! I must surpass him in military merit this time!" Shunji waved his fist, his fighting spirit soaring.

"Shunji, here you go again." Hazuki, with her light tea-colored short hair, couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head upon hearing this.

She knew that since their Ninja Academy days, Shunji had seen the top graduate of their year, Kimimaro, as both a target and a rival, desperately trying to catch up.

"Hmph! So what! I will definitely surpass Kimimaro!" Shunji pouted.

The petite Chino immediately started their daily bickering. She pursed her lips and said in a tone carrying a hint of childishness but no less blunt, "Hmph, stupid Shunji, stop dreaming! Kimimaro has already been promoted to Special Jonin! If not for his young age, with his strength he'd be a full Jonin already! I heard he's leading a squad on a mission by himself this time!"

"You...!" Shunji, hit where it hurt, flushed red with anger, stiffening his neck. "Just wait and see! After this war, I, Shunji, will definitely become a Jonin!"

Hotarubi listened to the teenagers' bickering on the side, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appearing on his face.

His gaze swept over this young team, his heart filled with emotion.

Aside from Toneri, Ai, and Sato, whom he had led for a while, Chino, Shunji, and Hazuki were all outstanding graduates from the first graduation, students of his wife, Natsuhi.

These children, though young, already possessed strength at or above Chunin-level, and had seen blood and experienced combat in previous missions, far from being flowers in a greenhouse.

Suddenly, Toneri, who had been silently focused ahead, sharply contracted his pure white eyes!

"Detected numerous Chakra Reactions! Dead ahead, eight kilometers! Numbers... over two hundred! Sunagakure's Ninjas! They are heading in our direction!" Toneri's voice instantly became urgent and grave.

All laughter vanished instantly, the atmosphere suddenly tensed!

Hotarubi's eyes turned sharp. Without hesitation, he ordered: "All personnel! Highest alert! Immediately move at full speed towards that sand valley at three o'clock! Seize the advantageous terrain, set up an ambush! Fast!"

"Yes, sir!" Everyone responded in a low chorus, their figures instantly accelerating like arrows shot from a bow towards the designated sand valley.

En route, Hotarubi used the communication device to add in a low voice: "Remember! Intelligence indicates there may be our spy within this Sunagakure's Ninja Force. During engagement, if you encounter Sunagakure's Ninja with special markings or behavior, be sure to hold back, prioritize capture! Repeat, there may be allies!"

"Understood, Captain!" The team members were startled but immediately solemnly complied.

Spies in war could greatly reduce casualties for their side, but they also often meant sacrifice and unpredictable variables.

Soon, the Star Ninja silently infiltrated the shadows on both sides of the sand valley, quickly setting up simple traps and ambush points, holding their breath and concentrating, like a pride of leopards waiting for prey.

Before long, the figures of the Sunagakure's Ninja Force appeared at the entrance of the sand valley.

Pakura and Yashiro led the way. Although the team maintained vigilance, the long trek and the fear from the giant beasts behind them had inevitably caused a slight lapse in their perception.

The sensing Ninja in the team seemed to detect a faint, elusive anomaly and had just begun to voice a warning-

"Something's wrong! There's a problem-!"

The Star Ninja's attack erupted suddenly from both sides of the valley!

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Rock Lodestone Spears!"

Several Star Ninjas simultaneously formed hand seals. Blazing fireballs, violent whirlwinds, and sharp stone spears blasted down from the high ground on both sides into the Sunagakure's Ninjas marching column!

At the same time, several kunai guns opened fire simultaneously. Specially made kunai tied with explosive tags rained down like hail onto the densest areas of the Sunagakure's formation!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Deafening explosions instantly tore through the desert's silence!

Flames shot into the sky, sand and stones flew everywhere!

Screams, shouts of alarm, and explosions mingled together! The Sunagakure's formation instantly fell into extreme chaos, suffering heavy casualties from the first wave of attacks alone!

"Enemy attack!! Ambush!!!" Yashiro shouted hoarsely, desperately blocking an explosive-tag kunai aimed at himself. The blast wave sent him flying, leaving him in disarray.

"Don't panic! Find cover!" Pakura's voice rang out. High-temperature Scorch Release fireballs materialized around her, shooting down several kunai.

"Kill!" Hotarubi's figure charged out from behind a dune, his sword aimed directly at a Sunagakure's Chunin!

Shunji roared as he followed closely, Earth Release hardening covering his entire body. He charged into the enemy ranks like a wild bull, punching a panicked Sunagakure's Ninja and sending him flying!

Hazuki nimbly weaved along the edge of the battlefield, her kunai gun accurately shooting at Sunagakure's Ninja attempting to form hand seals, disrupting their spellcasting.

Chino's small figure was exceptionally conspicuous. Her purple eyes instantly turned blood-red, her pupils morphing into a strange [-] shape!

Ketsuryugan, activate!

"Blood Release: Blood Dragon Ascension!" She formed hand seals. Blood from several nearby fallen Sunagakure's Ninjas' wounds gushed out as if summoned, coalescing in front of her into three ferociously roaring crimson dragons that charged towards the Sunagakure's Ninjas, carrying a strong smell of blood!

"Mo... Monster!" This bizarre and terrifying technique instantly delivered a huge psychological blow to the Sunagakure's Ninjas!

Toneri activated his Byakugan, his movements incorporating traces of Gentle Fist style. His precise strikes targeted Tenketsu, each hit causing a Sunagakure's Ninja's Chakra to disrupt, leaving them limp on the ground.

Ai followed closely, providing cover and medical support. The glow of her Mystical Palm Technique occasionally lit up, healing injured comrades.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" Sato roared, spewing scorching Fire Release to suppress Sunagakure's Ninja squads trying to regroup.

The Hyuga Chunin did not delve deep into the enemy formation. Instead, he took up a vantage point, concentrating his Byakugan's field of view in one direction. His kunai gun fired like a sniper rifle, picking off targets.

Every shot inevitably knocked a Sunagakure's Ninja's weapon from their hand or forcibly interrupted a technique being prepared, creating excellent opportunities for his frontline comrades.

The Uchiha Ninja fought aggressively and fiercely. The combination of Taijutsu, Fire Release Ninjutsu, plus the Sharingan and Genjutsu, made him virtually unstoppable. The enhancement from the Chakra Kinetic Armor made him even more formidable, like berserker that none could withstand.

The other Star Ninjas also coordinated tacitly. Well-equipped and possessing strong individual strength, they instantly had the numerically superior Sunagakure's Ninja Force on the ropes, beating them back step by step!