Naruto: The Teaching System - 235

Chapter 235: Three Major Forces

The wind carried the scent of distant rain across the Land of Rivers border, where Kakashi and Sawada stood at the forefront of their assembled forces. Behind them, one hundred Konoha shinobi waited in disciplined silence, their expressions grim with the knowledge of what was to come.

"Sawada, there's no unified ninja village within the Land of Rivers," Kakashi began, unrolling a tactical map across a flat rock. His finger traced several marked locations. "However, intelligence shows three factions within the territory that need to be dealt with immediately. The first is a mercenary group called 'Venomfang'—they operate out of an area known as the 'Black Swamp.'"

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed. "According to our intelligence network, they were hired by Sunagakure long ago to specifically harass surrounding small nations. Because it's always been small-scale conflicts and border skirmishes, they've been largely ignored by the major villages. But recent intelligence confirms this organization assisted Suna forces in launching coordinated silent attacks across multiple fronts."

Sawada nodded, studying the map carefully before pointing to another red marker. "What about the Ibu Clan?"

"The Ibu 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 tone growing darker. "During the Third Great Ninja War, only one-tenth of their population survived the conflict between Konoha and Sunagakure forces that swept through this region. The land itself became a battlefield, and they were caught directly in the crossfire."

He paused, letting that sink in. "Now they practice self-governance in the ruins of their ancestral territory, but they're extremely hostile toward both Konoha and Sunagakure. They blame both villages equally for their near-extinction. Approach with extreme caution—they won't distinguish between our forces and the enemy."

Sawada absorbed this information without comment. He had no desire to dwell on these historical tragedies, but understanding the tactical situation was essential.

"Actually, the most critical target is this one," Kakashi continued, his fingertip tapping the coastal area of the Land of Rivers marked on the map. "There's a smuggling organization operating here. Previously, they were fragmented—just small independent teams moving contraband. But after the Third War ended, one person appeared who changed everything."

Kakashi's expression hardened. "He integrated all the smuggling operations and established a massive criminal syndicate with reach extending across multiple nations. This organization calls itself the 'Sea Serpent Group.' According to our intelligence analysts, they maintain close trade connections with Sunagakure. Shikaku believes Suna's supply lines may depend entirely on their smuggling routes—which means cutting them off could cripple the enemy's logistics."

A smuggling syndicate—or to be more blunt, pirates and criminals. Sawada understood the implications immediately. The Second and Third Great Ninja Wars had shattered the entire ninja world's political and economic structures, creating power vacuums that organizations like this exploited ruthlessly.

Moreover, during those conflicts, the Land of Rain had dared to challenge several great nations with nothing but a small ninja village backed by Hanzo's reputation, with the Land of Rivers providing critical logistical support from the shadows. What happened afterward didn't require much imagination—anyone foolish enough to play kingmaker in a war between great nations would be held accountable when the dust settled.

The Land of Rivers, lacking any unified ninja village for protection, had been left in complete chaos ever since. This explained why even after more than a decade of fragile peace following the Third War, the Land of Rivers still couldn't establish a proper shinobi system or central authority.

Hidden Rain Village had dared to fight the great nations because they genuinely possessed strength—they had Hanzo the Salamander, a man whose reputation alone could make armies hesitate. But the Land of Rivers, which didn't even have a ninja village to speak of, had dared to play the role of power broker during the war.

The price for that hubris meant they would never recover.

Sawada estimated the Ibu Clan had probably borne the brunt of retaliation and contributed the most support to the war effort at that time. Otherwise, neither Konoha nor Sunagakure would have bothered to systematically purge an entire bloodline family so thoroughly.

"Did Shikaku-senpai arrange a priority order for handling these three factions?" Sawada asked, his voice calm and professional.

Kakashi's visible eye gleamed with cold determination as he answered. His mission wasn't dealing with these organizations—his objective was to locate and secure the Land of Rivers daimyo, ensuring Sunagakure's use of official channels and infrastructure would be completely cut off.

"Venomfang—annihilate completely. Ibu Clan—annihilate completely. Sea Serpent Group—capture leadership alive for interrogation," Kakashi stated flatly, his tone devoid of mercy as he pointed to each marked location. "No survivors from the first two. The Sea Serpent leaders have intelligence value."

Sawada's expression remained impassive, showing no reaction to what essentially amounted to execution orders. He wasn't about to question Kakashi, who delivered these fates with the detached efficiency of a seasoned commander.

Whether these organizations were truly guilty of crimes warranting annihilation was currently unclear and ultimately irrelevant. What mattered was that Konoha had to ensure this war with Sunagakure wouldn't spill onto the Land of Fire's mainland. Every strategic position had to be secured, every potential enemy neutralized.

"Choza will accompany you as your second-in-command," Kakashi continued, his voice sharp and authoritative. "I'm assigning you one hundred shinobi for this operation, but you must resolve all three objectives within five days maximum. Not six, not a week—five days."

His tone left no room for negotiation. "This is war, Sawada, not a training exercise or Academy field trip. People will die. Make sure they're the enemy's people, not ours."

Considering this was Sawada's first time leading such a large-scale combat operation, Kakashi had deliberately assigned the experienced Akimichi Choza to serve as advisor and backup. Choza's battlefield wisdom would be invaluable.

"Understood," Sawada replied, his voice steady and confident.

"Follow up!" Sawada called out to the assembled forces, rolling the map efficiently and gesturing toward Choza's position.

Choza nodded respectfully to Kakashi, then turned to lead the troops, falling in step behind Sawada as they moved out. The ground trembled slightly beneath the synchronized footsteps of one hundred shinobi moving with deadly purpose through the wilderness.

Land of Rivers, Venomfang Fortress—

A bright moon should have illuminated the night sky, but dark clouds had rolled in, obscuring the silver light completely. Winter was approaching fast, and even the night wind carried a bone-chilling coldness that cut through clothing and sank into flesh.

At the outermost edge of the Black Swamp's perimeter, a man disguised as a wandering mercenary rubbed his shoulders vigorously, trying to generate warmth. His breath misted in the frigid air as he muttered complaints under his breath.

"Damn it, having to patrol on a night this cold! My joints are killing me..."

A gruff voice cut through his grumbling—the patrol leader walking at the front of their formation shouted sternly, "Shut your mouth! Sunagakure is about to go to war with Konoha! If you don't want to end up dead in a ditch somewhere, patrol properly and stay alert—"

While delivering this reprimand, the patrol leader failed to notice the complaining man's pupils suddenly constricting in terror, his entire body going rigid.

Before the scolding could finish, the patrol leader felt unexpected warmth spreading across his neck—a sensation that should have been impossible in this freezing weather.

His hand moved instinctively to his throat and came away slick with blood. Confusion flickered across his face for a single heartbeat before darkness claimed him.

The corpse collapsed heavily to the ground, eyes wide open with that final trace of bewilderment frozen on lifeless features.

"Now, I'll ask questions, and you'll answer them," a cold voice spoke from directly behind the trembling mercenary who remained standing. "Nod for yes, shake your head for no. Make any sound louder than a whisper, and you'll join your friend."

The pale-faced man nodded frantically, his entire body shaking—though whether from cold or terror was impossible to determine.

"Are all Venomfang members currently inside the fortress?" The voice remained eerily calm, almost conversational.

The mercenary nodded again, more vigorously this time. He opened his mouth, perhaps to beg for mercy or offer additional information, but never got the chance.

He felt his body collapse powerlessly to the muddy ground, strength draining away as consciousness faded. From the corner of his dimming vision, he caught sight of the person who had been standing behind him—a Konoha forehead protector gleamed in the faint moonlight.

Why—why would Konoha shinobi appear here so quickly? His final thought drifted through a dying mind. We received no warning, no message...

Sawada ignored the lifeless mercenary bleeding out into the swamp mud and looked toward the fortress ahead. There, barely visible through the mist and darkness, lay Venomfang's primary stronghold—the so-called 'Black Swamp.'

"Perimeter is completely surrounded," Akimichi Choza's massive figure materialized beside him in the dim moonlight, moving with surprising silence for someone his size.

"Good. Begin the operation," Sawada commanded.

Choza nodded and gestured to the forces concealed in the darkness behind them.

The sound of rustling movement rippled through the dense forest as hidden figures emerged from their positions, advancing rapidly and silently toward the Black Swamp fortress. Despite their numbers, they moved like ghosts through the undergrowth.

Although called the Black Swamp, the name actually referred to the surrounding terrain—the entire area was encircled by treacherous swampland that would trap and drown unwary attackers. Venomfang's stronghold had been built directly in the center of this natural defensive position, accessible only through narrow paths known to the mercenaries.

Normally, they would use the surrounding swamp to set elaborate traps and early warning systems, creating a defensive perimeter that would alert them to any invasion attempt and slow attackers long enough to mount a proper defense.

Unfortunately for Venomfang, among the team Sawada commanded was a Hyuga chunin whose Byakugan made such precautions worthless. These supposedly clever traps appeared as obvious as children's toys under that all-seeing gaze, their mechanisms and trigger points clearly visible through walls, earth, and water alike.

"Choza-senpai, it's our turn!" Sawada shouted, his voice cutting through the night as he charged directly toward Venomfang's fortified gates.

"Right behind you!" Choza responded, raising one massive hand as chakra flooded through his system.

"Partial Multi-Size Technique: Right Arm!"

His arm expanded instantaneously, swelling to enormous proportions as the secret technique activated. The tremendous limb descended like a falling boulder.

The impact was devastating.

Venomfang's supposedly impregnable gate, reinforced with iron bands and designed to withstand siege equipment, shattered like cheap pottery under Choza's single crushing blow. Wood and metal exploded inward, the seemingly solid barrier reduced to kindling and twisted scrap in an instant.

The quiet night atmosphere shattered along with the gate. Chaos erupted from within the fortress as countless voices rose in alarm and fury.

"Enemy attack! We're under assault!"

"It's Konoha scum! To arms!"

"Stop them! Don't let them breach the inner walls!"

Sawada watched the panicking mercenaries rushing toward the breach, their formations disorganized and desperate. His hands moved through practiced seals with mechanical precision, gathering massive amounts of Fire Release chakra in his chest and throat. The air around him shimmered with heat.

He exhaled forcefully, and devastation followed.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

A massive wall of flames erupted from Sawada's mouth, expanding into a roaring inferno that consumed everything in its path. The technique was far beyond a normal fireball—it was a tsunami of fire, rolling forward with apocalyptic intensity.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" Multiple voices called out in unison.

As Sawada's flames surged forth, Konoha shinobi with Wind Release affinity among the surrounding forces released their techniques simultaneously, their chakra-enhanced wind feeding the fire and magnifying its destructive power exponentially.

Wind and fire combined in devastating synergy.

In mere seconds, Venomfang's fortress was consumed by towering flames that reached toward the cloud-covered sky. Screams echoed through the inferno as the mercenary stronghold burned, the heat so intense it could be felt hundreds of meters away.

The message was clear and brutal: Konoha had come to the Land of Rivers, and mercy was not on the agenda.