Naruto: The Teaching System - 249

Chapter 249: Infiltration in the Snow

"Strange, the position was clearly here. How did it suddenly disappear?"

In the wind and snow, many sounds were drowned out. However, the people inside the cave were either Special Jōnin or Jōnin, so naturally they could hear clearly.

Even Muta, wearing sunglasses, had an especially grim expression at this moment. Sure enough, it's because of my insects.

Sawada pressed his hand down, and the team in the cave immediately understood—remain silent.

The sound of footsteps crushing branches beneath the snow rang out, immediately followed by a clapping sound.

"Retreat!"

Sawada's mouth twitched. This captain is truly cautious.

However—since they'd already come, how could he let them leave? Although the disappearance of this patrol would draw Sunagakure's attention, if they actually returned, given their cautious nature, Sawada's team would be exposed even faster.

They had to strike now while the enemy was close. After all, they were already very close.

Asuma naturally understood this. His chakra blade was already in hand.

Sawada waved his hand, and the team instantly rushed out.

"WHO!" Although the commotion wasn't large, anyone who could detect the Aburame Clan's reconnaissance insects was definitely no ordinary shinobi. The moment Sawada and the others burst out, someone in the retreating patrol shouted loudly.

Asuma moved at high speed without a word. His chakra blade, containing wind chakra, using the falling snowflakes as cover, pierced directly through the chest of the sensor-type shinobi.

"Sagi!" The Sunagakure captain cried out in alarm. Everything happened too quickly for him to react.

"Insect Sphere!" Muta raised his hand. A massive swarm of black parasitic insects flew out, instantly engulfing two of them.

"Medical Ninjutsu: Chakra Scalpel!" Yusuke's blade, infused with green chakra, swiftly slashed down, severing one shinobi's torso.

The captain who'd just cried out had his pupils dilate enormously, his face twisted with confusion and terror.

After extracting the information he needed, Sawada slashed the Special Jōnin's throat with one swift stroke.

"We need to hurry. This squad's next shift change is in two hours." Sawada's face showed no trace of satisfaction—time was running out.

"Let's go." Asuma said no more and withdrew the chakra blade that had pierced the sensor.

"Mm." Sawada nodded, then stomped his foot. The corpses on the ground were instantly buried by rising mounds of earth. Though it wouldn't hold for long, it would at least buy them precious time.

This time, the team moved at full speed.

"From here on, I'll lead. Muta and Yusuke stay in the middle. Asuma, you guard the rear." Sawada moved across the snow effortlessly, speaking as he moved.

At Sawada's command, Asuma and the others nodded and began adjusting positions. If they were simply burning supplies, this would be an A-rank mission at most. But infiltrating behind Sunagakure's main camp elevated it to S-rank.

After all, what they would face wasn't just dozens of Sunagakure shinobi. Even if Sawada was strong, he couldn't withstand their numbers alone. So what they needed now was to race against the clock.

The four moved swiftly through the heavy snow. Fortunately, the snowfall wasn't too severe. Sawada's sensing ability reached its maximum range, allowing him to avoid every patrol squad.

However, the closer they got to Sunagakure's supply depot, the more sentry teams were stationed.

After avoiding another small Sunagakure squad, Sawada looked up at the sky. Yusuke checked the time, then looked at Sawada. "Time is running out."

Sawada nodded. Over an hour had passed since they'd eliminated that patrol. Adding in shift change time, Sunagakure's forces should be reacting any moment now.

"Get ready. From here on out, it won't be easy." As Sawada spoke, he re-tied the bandages on his wrists. What came next was direct infiltration. If lucky, they'd succeed. If not, they'd have to retreat with everything they had.

Then Sawada slapped his hand on the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!"

"Meow?" Nyanko, who'd just arrived, looked confused, then saw Sawada before him.

"Nyanko, just wait here. As soon as I give the signal, come immediately." Sawada's expression was deadly serious. Nyanko quickly nodded. This kind of thing—finish the job and retreat—he was very experienced with.

Seeing Nyanko nod, Sawada turned to Asuma and the others. "For the next half hour, set everything up. As soon as time's up, gather immediately and depart."

"Understood!" Yusuke pulled out several scrolls. "These are sealed scrolls. They can be unsealed just by releasing chakra."

Asuma and Muta took them. Sawada waved his hand. "I have some. You guys take them."

The scrolls contained nothing but oil and water. The most effective way to destroy grain was fire. After Asuma and the others placed the supplies, just one Fire Release jutsu would solve everything.

"Then let's go!" Sawada said. In an instant, the four figures vanished.

Nyanko yawned and burrowed into the nearby snow, leaving only a pair of eyes to watch.

Inside Sunagakure's logistics base, Sawada slowly surfaced from the ground behind a tent. He glanced around, then silently walked into a nearby tent.

Snap—a crisp neck-breaking sound. Before long, Sawada walked out again, now wearing Sunagakure clothing.

Infiltrating underground was too dangerous. Sunagakure's seals were crude, but they could still serve as alarms. Earlier, Sawada had almost triggered one while underground.

Now he could only use this disguise to create chaos. Sawada wandered around the logistics base just like a real Sunagakure shinobi. Some patrolling shinobi who saw him didn't find it strange—they even greeted him as they passed.

Asuma, who'd been sneaking around placing oil and water, saw Sawada like this, and his jaw dropped. What? You can do this?

Then what were we being so careful for?

Sawada, who'd been walking along, seemed to sense something. He pointed at Asuma's position, then continued moving.

The hidden Asuma turned his head and continued. The message Sawada had conveyed was clear—speed up. Someone was coming.

While placing oil and water, Sawada maintained his sensory abilities at maximum. In his perception, that enormous chakra was rapidly approaching.

And only a Jinchūriki could possess chakra like this.

Sunagakure's front line actually has a Jinchūriki present?