Chapter 47: A Troublesome Situation!

Another upgrade!

Fujinaka Genma smiled with delight, then felt that the armor he was wearing had changed slightly.

This time, the armor was enhanced!

Fujinaka Genma was overjoyed.

Without immediately checking the Nier: Automata system, Fujinaka Genma cleaned up the battlefield.

He mainly retrieved his kunai—these were special kunai enhanced by the Nier: Automata system.

Then he returned to the cave, recovered his senbon, and finally picked up the two unconscious Iwa ninja, one in each hand, to chase after Hyuga Mio and the others.

Ten minutes later.

Fujinaka Genma saw the three figures ahead; Ebisu and Guy had both received treatment, their wounds bandaged, and they moved with slightly more ease, though their pace was slow.

Hyuga Mio turned back occasionally; seeing Fujinaka Genma catching up, she immediately broke into a relieved smile, “Guy, Ebisu, Genma’s here!”

The three of them and the rescued Hidden Leaf ninja immediately stopped.

“I’m Ohiwa Kouta. Thank Itachi, Captain Genma, for rescuing me!”

The rescued Hidden Leaf ninja bowed gratefully to Fujinaka Genma.

“No need to be so formal—we’re all Hidden Leaf ninja.”

Fujinaka Genma smiled faintly, then said, “This isn’t a place to talk. We can’t be sure if more enemies are nearby. Let’s return to the defense unit camp.”

Everyone nodded and resumed their journey.

Fortunately, they encountered no further enemies.

By evening, they arrived safely at the defense unit camp.

“Ohiwa Kouta!”

A cry of surprise sparked a commotion.

Many Hidden Leaf ninja gathered around.

“No wonder he’s called the White Flash of the Hidden Leaf—just as formidable as his teacher, the Yellow Flash!”

“No, even Minato at that age probably couldn’t have done it.”

“Indeed, such a young age, and he captured two Iwa jounin.”

…

The Hidden Leaf ninja murmured among themselves, casting admiring glances at Fujinaka Genma.

Clearly, among the captured Iwa ninja was one named Ohiwa Kouta—a man of considerable reputation.

The two captured Iwa ninja, surrounded by the Hidden Leaf ninja, hung their heads in dejection.

Walking behind, Ebisu and the others felt a deep sense of pride.

Though Fujinaka Genma had captured them, they had played a vital role in this mission and were entitled to pride.

Soon, Fujinaka Genma handed the prisoners over to specialized guards, then met with Commander Mura Mihari alongside Ohiwa Kouta.

Mura Mihari first questioned Ohiwa Kouta about the mission details; Fujinaka Genma heard it for the first time—he had not asked Ohiwa on the way.

Ohiwa Kouta’s squad had been on patrol when they were ambushed; three died outright, and he was captured.

Fortunately, their captain bought him time to escape, allowing him to wait for Fujinaka Genma’s team’s rescue.

Otherwise, the intelligence he possessed would surely have been leaked.

After hearing Ohiwa Kouta’s account, Fujinaka Genma was certain: the Iwa were about to strike.

The only good news was that the Iwa were separated from the Hidden Leaf by several nations.

The Iwa would either have to cross the Land of Grass to enter the Land of Fire, or pass through the Land of Rain.

Their logistics were also far more stretched than the Sand’s.

“The Land of Grass’s Hidden Grass Village is strong enough to shoulder considerable pressure. But the Land of Rain—Hanzo, I suspect, has lost most of his will.”

Fujinaka Genma thought to himself.

Mura Mihari had finished questioning and, after a moment’s thought, told Ohiwa Kouta to rest, then turned to Fujinaka Genma with a smile. “Genma, Itachi did exceptionally well—not only rescuing your comrades, but preventing intelligence leaks and capturing two Iwa jounin.”

“I will report all of this truthfully to the Hokage!”

Fujinaka Genma snapped back to attention and hurriedly said, “Sensei Mihari, Ebisu and the others were crucial too.”

“Don’t worry—I won’t forget them.”

Mura Mihari smiled, then quickly resumed a serious expression. “Genma, what do Itachi think of this situation?”

Fujinaka Genma organized his thoughts, then said, “The Iwa’s intentions are beyond doubt. Now it’s only a matter of when and where they’ll strike.”

“But in my view, they’ll attack from two directions.”

“One is the Land of Rain. The other is the Land of Grass.”

Mura Mihari was surprised. “The Land of Rain—the Rain Ninja are no joke. Hanzo probably won’t allow it; the Iwa would have to fight the Rain Ninja first.”

During the Second Shinobi World War, the Rain Ninja fought the Hidden Leaf, the Iwa, and the Sand in succession.

Though they lost, they gained legendary renown.

Mura Mihari had fought in that war himself—he remembered it vividly.

Fujinaka Genma nodded. “Hanzo the Sannin is indeed formidable, but he is old.”

“Rumors say new small ninja groups have sprung up like mushrooms after rain in the Land of Rain, and the Rain Village has largely lost control over the Land of Rivers.”

The Land of Rain and the Land of Rivers are, in fact, one single village—the Rain Village.

But since the Second Shinobi World War, the Land of Rivers has been largely out of control.

That’s why the Sand Ninja easily crossed the Land of Rivers to attack the Hidden Leaf’s border defense units.

These events clearly show Hanzo’s spirit has greatly declined.

Mura Mihari listened to Fujinaka Genma’s analysis and nodded with a smile. “Excellent analysis!”

He then asked again: “If the Iwa were to attack us, how do Itachi think they’d do it?”

Fujinaka Genma did not answer immediately; he thought for several minutes, then said, “First, attack through the Land of Rain to draw a significant portion of our forces into that war quagmire.”

“Then, launch a surprise strike with elite units through the Land of Grass!”

Mura Mihari was startled—this was entirely different from his own thinking.

He believed the Iwa would attack through the Land of Rain, not the Land of Grass.

Because the Hidden Grass Village was no easy target, and the terrain of the Land of Grass favored both the Grass and Hidden Leaf ninja.

The Land of Rain, by contrast, offered neither side a clear advantage.

Moreover, the Land of Rain had no natural barriers.

Yet, upon careful reflection, Mura Mihari was struck with alarm.

If the Iwa followed Fujinaka Genma’s plan, it would catch the Hidden Leaf completely off guard.

After a moment’s deeper thought, Mura Mihari looked up and said, “Yes, well reasoned. I will report this truthfully.”

“Enough. Genma, go rest. Report for your next mission tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

Fujinaka Genma nodded and turned to leave.

After Fujinaka Genma departed, Mura Mihari immediately went to interrogate the prisoners. Only after gathering sufficient intelligence late into the night did he begin organizing the reports, appending both his own thoughts and Fujinaka Genma’s, then sending them back to the Hidden Leaf via a summoned hawk.

“If the Iwa really strike through the Land of Grass, this will be a disaster!”

After sending the intelligence, Mura Mihari couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

The Hidden Leaf had too many enemies to face.

If their forces were too dispersed, they’d be at a severe disadvantage.

For example, even though the Hidden Mist and Hidden Cloud villages have not yet moved, the Hidden Leaf cannot afford not to station guards against them.

Otherwise, they might strike at any moment and invade the Land of Fire—after all, ninja are elite mobile units!