Naruto: The Teaching System - 236

Chapter 235: Three Forces in the Land of Rivers

The Land of Rivers border stretched before them, a desolate expanse where mist clung to the ground like grasping fingers. Kakashi and Sawada stood at the forefront of their assembled forces, the weight of command settling on their shoulders like armor.

"Sawada, there's no hidden village within the Land of Rivers," Kakashi began, his visible eye scanning the tactical map spread across the makeshift command table. "However, intelligence indicates three forces within the territory that need to be dealt with. Among them, there's a mercenary group called Dokukiri Group operating in the Black Swamp."

His finger traced a dark mark on the map. "According to our sources, they were hired by Sunagakure long ago to harass surrounding small nations. Since their operations were always small-scale, the major villages largely ignored them."

"Intelligence sent back by ANBU shows this organization assisted Sunagakure in launching covert attacks this time," Kakashi continued, his tone growing colder.

Sawada nodded, leaning forward to point at another red mark on the map. "What about the Iburi Clan?"

"The Iburi Clan is a kekkei genkai family native to the Land of Rivers. Their bloodline limit is Smoke Release—a rare and dangerous ability," Kakashi explained, his expression darkening. "During the Third Great Ninja War, the conflict between Konoha and Sunagakure devastated them. Only one-tenth of their clan survived the carnage."

He paused, letting that sink in. "Now they, like Dokukiri Group, operate independently in isolated territories. But they're extremely hostile toward both Konoha and Sunagakure, viewing us as the architects of their destruction."

Sawada nodded grimly. These historical wounds left no room for sympathy. War didn't allow for such luxuries.

"Actually, the most important target is this one," Kakashi said, his fingertip moving to the coastal area of the Land of Rivers. "There's a smuggling organization operating here. Previously, they were just scattered small operations, but after the Third War, one person appeared and changed everything."

His tone grew more serious. "He integrated all the smuggling teams and formed a massive syndicate. This organization is called the Sea Snake Group. According to our intelligence, they have extensive trade ties with Sunagakure. Shikaku believes Sunagakure's supply lines may depend critically on them."

A smuggling syndicate—pirates in all but name, Sawada thought. The Second and Third Great Ninja Wars had shattered the entire shinobi world's political structure, leaving power vacuums that organizations like this eagerly filled.

During those conflicts, the Land of Rain had dared to challenge several great nations despite having only a small hidden village, with the Land of Rivers providing crucial logistical support. The outcome was predictable—those who dared to play such a dangerous game would inevitably be eliminated once the war ended.

The Land of Rivers, without a hidden village to protect it, had descended into complete chaos. This was why, even after more than ten years of relative peace following the Third Great Ninja War, the Land of Rivers still couldn't establish a functioning hidden village.

The Hidden Rain Village had dared to fight because they possessed genuine strength—the legendary Hanzo the Salamander. But the Land of Rivers, which didn't even have a proper hidden village, had dared to act as a major player in that war. The punishment was swift and merciless. It would never recover.

Sawada estimated that the Iburi Clan had been at the forefront of those operations, contributing the most to supporting the Rain's ambitions. Otherwise, neither Konoha nor Sunagakure would have hunted that family to near extinction.

"Did Shikaku-senpai arrange any priority order?" Sawada asked Kakashi, knowing his fellow commander's mission lay elsewhere.

Kakashi's mission wasn't dealing with these organizations. His objective was to locate and secure the Land of Rivers' daimyo, cutting off Sunagakure's access to official channels and infrastructure completely.

Dokukiri Group—annihilate. Iburi Clan—annihilate. Sea Snake Group—capture their leadership," Kakashi stated coldly, his visible eye showing no mercy as he pointed at each target. His tone carried the weight of a judge pronouncing sentence.

Sawada's expression remained calm, unfazed by Kakashi's role as executioner deciding the fate of these forces. Whether these organizations were entirely guilty or partially innocent was irrelevant at this moment.

What mattered was this: Konoha had to ensure the war with Sunagakure wouldn't spill onto the Land of Fire's mainland. Everything else was secondary.

"Choza will accompany you as your second-in-command. I'll assign one hundred shinobi to your command, but this must be resolved within five days," Kakashi stated firmly, setting an uncompromising deadline. This was war, not a training exercise.

Given this was Sawada's first time commanding such a large-scale operation, the experienced Akimichi Choza would provide crucial veteran support.

"Understood," Sawada replied, his voice steady with resolve.

"Follow me!" Sawada rolled up the map with decisive movements and pointed toward Choza's position, where the forces were assembling.

Choza nodded respectfully to Kakashi, then fell into step behind Sawada as they led the troops forward.

Night had fallen over the Land of Rivers' Black Swamp, thick and oppressive. A bright moon hung somewhere above the overcast sky, but the clouds obscured its light, leaving only darkness.

Winter approached with cruel inevitability, and the night wind carried a bone-chilling coldness that cut through clothing and morale alike.

At the outermost edge of the Black Swamp, a man disguised as a missing-nin rubbed his shoulders vigorously, his breath misting in the freezing air.

"Damn it, having to patrol in weather like this," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the wind.

The patrol leader walking ahead whirled around, his expression furious. "Shut your mouth! Sunagakure is going to war with Konoha! If you don't want to die, patrol properly and—"

The words died in his throat as he noticed the suddenly dilated pupils of his complaining subordinate. Before his brain could process the warning, warmth spread across his neck—an unnatural, wet warmth.

His body crumpled to the ground, eyes wide with confusion and the beginning of understanding that came too late.

"Now, I ask questions, you answer," a voice said calmly from behind the surviving patrolman, cold and professional.

Ignoring the violent trembling of the hostage's body, that same voice continued with clinical detachment. "Are all Dokukiri Group members currently inside the compound?"

"Just nod or shake your head. No words."

The pale-faced man nodded frantically, his body shaking like a leaf in a storm. Just as he opened his mouth to beg for mercy, to plead for his life, he felt his strength drain away. His body collapsed to the ground, nerveless and dying.

From the fading corner of his vision, he saw the person who had stood behind him wore a Konoha forehead protector, gleaming dully in the darkness.

Why? Why would Konoha forces appear here so quickly? No message had been received, no warning given...

Sawada ignored the lifeless missing-nin on the ground, his attention already focused forward. There, barely visible through the swamp mist, lay the Dokukiri Group's stronghold—their fortress in the Black Swamp.

"We've completely surrounded the perimeter," Choza's massive form materialized beside him in the dim moonlight, his voice barely above a whisper despite his size.

"Good. Then let's begin the operation," Sawada confirmed with a sharp nod, adrenaline sharpening his senses.

Choza raised his hand in a prearranged signal. Behind them, hidden figures in the dense forest stirred like shadows given form, moving rapidly and silently toward their objective.

Though called the Black Swamp, the area was actually named for the treacherous marshland that completely encircled the terrain. The Dokukiri Group's stronghold had been built at the very center—a natural fortress that had served them well for years.

Normally, they relied on the surrounding swamp to set elaborate traps, creating a deadly maze that would block and eliminate the first wave of any invasion force. Unfortunately for them, among the team Sawada commanded was a Hyuga chunin.

These so-called traps, viewed through the all-seeing Byakugan, looked like children's toys—obvious, predictable, and easily circumvented.

"Choza-senpai, it's our turn!" Sawada called out, then surged forward toward the Dokukiri Group's base with explosive speed.

"Right behind you!" Choza acknowledged, raising his massive hand. He immediately deployed his clan's legendary technique.

"Partial Multi-Size Technique: Right Arm!"

The air itself seemed to tremble as Choza's right arm swelled to enormous proportions, muscles expanding with terrifying speed. His gigantic fist descended like divine judgment, smashing directly into the main gate of the Dokukiri Group's stronghold.

The gate—solid wood reinforced with iron—shattered under Choza's devastating punch like children's blocks scattered by an angry giant. Splinters and twisted metal flew in all directions.

The peaceful night exploded into chaos. Countless shouts and screams erupted from within the stronghold as mercenaries scrambled for weapons and positions.

"Enemy attack! We're under attack!"

"They're all Konoha shinobi!"

"Stop them! Don't let them through!"

Missing-nin poured from the buildings, a disorganized mob charging toward the breach. Sawada's hands moved through seals with practiced precision, condensing massive amounts of Fire Release chakra in his lungs and throat.

He exhaled forcefully, releasing the accumulated energy.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

A massive wave of flames erupted from Sawada's mouth, a roaring inferno that turned night into blazing day.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" Multiple voices chorused from the Konoha forces.

Following Sawada's initial fire burst, every Konoha shinobi with Wind Release proficiency released their techniques simultaneously, the combined wind pressure enhancing and magnifying Sawada's flames to apocalyptic levels.

In mere seconds, the Dokukiri Group's entire stronghold was engulfed in towering flames that reached toward the sky like grasping hands. The screams that followed were brief and terrible, swallowed by the roar of the inferno.

War had come to the Land of Rivers, and mercy was a luxury neither side could afford.