Chapter 40 - The Raid on the Supply Convoy (6)
"This time, we've made Iwa-nin suffer a significant loss. They'll definitely retaliate. Lord Orochimaru, shouldn't we prepare in advance?"
On the journey back to the Konoha base, a Jōnin named Tsukikage walked closely behind Orochimaru, his expression filled with concern.
Orochimaru, however, remained unbothered. His golden eyes glimmered in the dim light as he offered a calm response.
"Their most powerful asset is Kitsuchi, but even he alone won't be able to turn the tide. Their elite Jōnin, while formidable, lack the ability to breach our defenses effectively. Now that Kazane and the others have completed their mission, the tables have turned. The enemy now faces the very problem we once did—without food and supplies, they'll be too preoccupied with survival to mount any meaningful counterattack."
Had it been any other Jōnin, Orochimaru wouldn't have bothered to explain so thoroughly. Since when did he need to justify his strategies to others? But Tsukikage was different. He was the only elite Jōnin personally assigned to Orochimaru by Hiruzen Sarutobi, making him a valuable asset.
Elite Jōnin were the pinnacle of strength below Kage level. Even in a powerhouse like Konoha, their numbers were scarce. Across the entire shinobi world, there were fewer than a hundred of them.
Kazane had dispatched his enemies with relative ease, but that was an anomaly. Elite Jōnin were not opponents to be taken lightly.
"Our real concern will be when their main forces arrive. Kitsuchi won't take this loss sitting down. But that's a matter for a few days from now. No need to worry too much, Tsukikage."
Orochimaru's words weren't just an analysis—they were carefully chosen to maintain morale. Their forces were already at a numerical disadvantage. If their own troops began to lose confidence, the battle would become even more lopsided. Thus, he spoke with reassurance, ensuring that doubts did not take root among his men.
Before long, they arrived at the base.
At the entrance to the camp, Kazane and his squad stood waiting.
As soon as they caught sight of Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Syōma's gaze sharpened, signaling a silent question. Had Hikari been dealt with by you?
Fugaku hesitated for a brief moment before first shaking his head, then nodding slightly—an ambiguous response that left Syōma momentarily confused.
This mission had been a turning point. If they could confirm that Iwa's Hikari had been eliminated, it would be a major accomplishment earned by the Uchiha clan.
Without hesitation, Syōma activated his Sharingan. In an instant, Fugaku found himself caught in an illusionary space, where Syōma wasted no time pressing him for answers.
A flicker of red light flashed in Syōma's eyes.
The moment their gazes locked, Kazane and Orochimaru both noticed.
Syōma's body tensed for a fraction of a second. When he emerged from the genjutsu, his expression had changed. Shock flickered across his features as he looked at Kazane with newfound understanding.
In that brief moment, Fugaku had relayed everything. And now, Syōma knew the truth.
Until now, he had assumed that Orochimaru had been exaggerating Kazane's abilities. But after learning what had actually transpired, he realized—Orochimaru had understated it. Kazane really was that strong.
Orochimaru, watching this silent exchange unfold, studied Syōma's reaction with amusement. His gaze then drifted to Kazane himself—unlike the rest of the returning shinobi, whose clothing was torn and stained from battle, Kazane stood there in pristine condition.
Orochimaru's thoughts darkened.
'And these men call themselves the elite of the Uchiha? It's a good thing I never placed too much faith in them.'
With a small, unreadable smirk, Orochimaru turned his attention back to Kazane.
"Looks like your mission went smoothly, Kazane. Were you able to secure the supplies? How much food did you obtain?"
Kazane let out a short chuckle.
"I've always heard Konoha's shinobi claim the other villages are poor, but judging by this haul, Iwa-nin doesn't seem so badly off."
He tossed a scroll to Orochimaru—the inventory list he had taken from Hikari's body.
Orochimaru unrolled it, his sharp eyes scanning through the contents. As he read, a slow, satisfied grin spread across his face.
"A rough estimate—this food will sustain our two-thousand-strong force for half a month. And that's not all… 5,000 soldier pills, 10,000 explosive tags, and 50,000 shuriken."
Around them, Jōnin and Chūnin alike erupted into cheers. The atmosphere instantly shifted, elation replacing the exhaustion in their eyes.
Orochimaru let out a rare, triumphant laugh.
"Hah! Excellent! Even with Iwa's deep reserves, this loss will cripple them!"
Tsukikage, standing beside him, couldn't hide his excitement.
"This is a huge blow to them!"
Orochimaru nodded, his voice carrying a cold satisfaction.
"With the loss of their supplies and the elimination of the transport unit, they are in deep trouble. Aside from Hikari, the others we took down were Daiseki, and Sumaji."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"What? Even Mahiru and Daiseki? They're both elite Jōnin!"
"To think we managed to seize the supplies under the protection of three elite Jōnin…"
The realization struck them hard. Their victory wasn't just a minor skirmish—it was a disaster for Iwa.
All eyes instinctively turned to Uchiha Fugaku, assuming he had been the one responsible for taking down the enemy's strongest warriors, including Kazane.
Feeling their stares, Fugaku quickly raised his hands in protest.
"Kazane was the one who killed all three of them. That's how we obtained the scrolls. Everything was carried out according to Lord Orochimaru's strategy."
While thinking:
'Don't look at me like that! I'm trying to align myself with these two—don't make me take credit I didn't earn!'
The moment he spoke, the murmurs turned into stunned silence.
"What?! Kazane defeated three elite Jōnin?!"
"He actually killed three of Iwa's elites?"
"No way—he's still so young!"
The disbelief in their voices was clear. But the more they looked at Kazane—the way he stood calmly, unbothered, as if this was just another task—their shock turned into something else.
Admiration.
Respect.
And for some… fear.
They were no longer simply looking at a young shinobi. They were looking at something far more dangerous.
As if gazing at the next Sannin—or perhaps even the next God of Shinobi.
Orochimaru chuckled.
"No need to be so modest, Fugaku I'm sure without the Uchiha clan's support, Kazane couldn't have completed the mission alone. I will ensure this achievement is reported to the Hokage."
His voice was pleasant, but underneath it, his calculating mind was already at work.
A rising powerhouse among the Uchiha was both an opportunity and a threat. If the Uchiha produced a shinobi of true top-tier strength, they would inevitably grow more ambitious. Their allegiance to him would not last forever.
Which meant one thing—Orochimaru had to continue growing stronger himself, externally and internally.
---
Two Days Later
The spoils of war had been put to good use.
Using the 10,000 explosive tags they had seized, they had transformed the base into a death trap.
Orochimaru idly chuckled to himself.
"I wonder how Iwa-nin will feel when they realize they're getting killed by their own explosive tags."
Nightfall – Camp Entrance
In the dead of night, four figures suddenly sprinted toward the camp from a distance.
The guards had already received word from their comrades stationed along the perimeter and knew who the arrivals were. However, they still followed protocol.
"Halt! State the passphrase! The bright moon before my window…"
The leading figure among the four responded without hesitation, "Two pairs of shoes upon the ground."
"Pass granted!"
The guards, while unsure why the command center had chosen such an unusual passphrase, didn't question it further. Since the answer was correct, they allowed entry.
Besides, the identity of the approaching ninja was not one that could be easily impersonated.
Enjoyed the chapter? Want more?
Support the translation and get early access ahead and latest release, exclusive content, and help me keep this translation going strong!
Join me over at [P@treon.com/Zynos] and become a part of the journey!