After several days of travel, the entire unit finally arrived at the border of the Land of Rain.
The initial excitement had long since faded from the hearts of Konoha's ninjas, replaced by the composure and vigilance that only experience on the battlefield could instill. Their joy stemmed solely from the knowledge that the war had finally come to an end, but their caution as shinobi remained unchanged.
Thanks to the unique abilities of the Hyuga Clan, reconnaissance had been exceptionally thorough. Their scouts, led by Hyuga Tenku, not only ensured the security of the team's surroundings but also scouted the path ahead. Additionally, trained messenger hawks patrolled the skies, making sure no enemy movements went undetected.
With such a well-organized and highly capable team, only a fool would attempt an ambush in these conditions.
Realizing this, Tatsumi gradually let his guard down. While following the convoy at a leisurely pace, he took the opportunity to instruct Minato and Mikoto in various ninjutsu. After all, with Orochimaru having completely entrusted Team One to him, he had a responsibility to improve his teammates' strength.
Nawaki, always eager to stand out, refused to be left behind. He climbed onto the top of a supply carriage, striking a dramatic pose as he gazed into the distance.
"We'll be entering the Land of Fire soon!" Nawaki announced excitedly. From his elevated position, he could see Orochimaru and Tsunade leading the formation ahead.
"Good job, Nawaki. Standing up there so conspicuously, you're practically begging for Sand ninja to target you first." Tatsumi smirked, twirling a kunai between his fingers.
Feeling the weight of his words, Nawaki instinctively touched his neck before quickly jumping down.
The long, winding convoy finally crossed the border of the Land of Rain. Almost immediately, the never-ending downpour ceased, replaced by the clear, warm sunlight of the Land of Fire.
"This is what normal weather should be like," Tatsumi murmured, squinting as he enjoyed the warmth on his skin. After months in the Land of Rain, he felt like he had been perpetually damp, on the verge of growing mold.
Come to think of it, the weather in this world was absurdly unbalanced. The Land of Rain rained constantly, while the Land of Wind was practically a desert. If someone could develop a large-scale water transfer system, it would probably be a very profitable venture. Tatsumi briefly entertained the idea before shaking his head with a chuckle.
The convoy soon left the flatlands behind and began its slow ascent up a long, man-made stone path leading into a valley.
As expected, the incline further slowed their already sluggish progress.
"Stay alert," Tatsumi reminded his teammates.
On this kind of uphill terrain, visibility was naturally obstructed. Since their mission was to escort the supply convoy, maintaining heightened security was crucial.
Other Konoha squads also increased their vigilance.
Tsunade, noticing Orochimaru come to an abrupt halt, narrowed her eyes. "You noticed something, didn't you?"
Orochimaru smirked, crouching down and pressing his hand against the ground. A faint tremor passed through the rocky surface before fading into silence.
"Just some minor traps left behind by pests," he said casually.
Standing up, he turned toward the rest of the unit. "Tell the squads behind us that everything is under control. Have the ninjas assist the civilians in moving faster."
While Orochimaru wasn't ruling out the possibility of an enemy ambush, his actions made it clear—traps had been set, which meant there was a chance that an attack could follow.
Nearby, Tatsumi had been helping some of the struggling civilians push their supply carts up the hill.
"Thank you, young man," a dark-faced old merchant said, stepping aside to let Tatsumi take over.
With the assistance of chakra-enhanced strength, Tatsumi and the other shinobi made quick work of the remaining climb. Soon, the convoy crested the hill, reaching a more level path ahead.
But something unusual caught Tsunade's attention.
"There are people ahead," she muttered, narrowing her eyes at the distant figures. However, her vision wasn't sharp enough to make out the details.
Within minutes, Hyuga scouts at the front relayed their report—there was no sign of Sand ninjas, just a dilapidated village filled with refugees.
"Hm. I remember passing by this village two years ago," Tsunade said, turning to Orochimaru. "I'm surprised it still exists."
Orochimaru gave a slight nod before signaling the convoy to continue forward.
After another ten minutes of travel, the vague silhouettes on the horizon resolved into clearer forms.
The village was in a terrible state. War had left it in ruins, and its people were little more than skin and bones. Starving children with hollow cheeks stared at the passing Konoha troops with desperate eyes.
Then, an old man, likely the village chief, stepped forward. Kneeling before Orochimaru, he pleaded, "Please, great shinobi, have mercy… Give us some food."
Orochimaru halted but didn't respond immediately. His piercing golden eyes scanned the ragged crowd.
Behind him, the convoy stirred uneasily. Even the hardened warriors among them couldn't help but feel sympathy for the starving villagers.
A few shinobi reached for their packs, preparing to share their rations—
"I don't understand," Orochimaru spoke at last, his voice cold and sharp. "What kind of courage allows you to appear before me in this state?"
Before anyone could process his words, he moved.
With lightning speed, he plunged a kunai straight into the old man's chest.
A collective gasp rippled through the convoy.
Then, in the next instant, the old man's body erupted into smoke.
A clone.
And just like that—
A storm of kunai rained down on them from all directions.
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