The forces that would have been needed to defend two separate front lines could now be concentrated entirely on one!
For Konoha, this was equivalent to saving half their fighting strength.
Because of this, the poison gas coverage plan was of the utmost importance, and Aburame Torune was the very foundation of this mission!
This was also the reason their unit had been fighting like turtles — defending almost exclusively and rarely launching attacks of their own.
"These next few days are going to be a burden on you."
"If you succeed, you will become a hero of Konoha."
The Hyuga jonin wore a bright smile as he looked at Aburame Torune with a cheerful expression.
Torune froze for a moment, an embarrassed look crossing his face.
Back in Shimura Danzo's Root, he had never received such sincere and serious recognition, always existing as a shadow, perpetually hidden in the darkness.
But ever since Root was disbanded and he joined the Anbu under Lord Jiraiya's command, Aburame Torune had finally tasted what it felt like to stand in the light.
A hero of Konoha?
That was something Aburame Torune had never even dared to dream of before.
Once someone has glimpsed the light, how could they ever let themselves be dragged back into darkness?
Torune lifted his head to meet the Hyuga jonin's gaze and gave a slow, solemn nod.
While Konoha's forces held their defensive positions, they completely failed to notice that several figures had vanished from the Kirigakure ranks.
On the battlefield, conditions changed in an instant — a single moment of carelessness and an opportunity would slip away forever!
Konoha's plan seemed sound on the surface, but the very act of defending exclusively meant surrendering the initiative.
Of course, this did not mean Konoha's strategy was wrong.
The Nara clan's brain trust had already minimized every possible contingency and weakness, but as long as humans were involved, oversights were inevitable.
The Hyuga jonin commanding Konoha's forces in the Land of Bears had, from the very start, subconsciously ignored Hoshigakure — the shinobi village located within Bear Country itself.
At this very moment.
Hoshigaki Kisame, Kimimaro, and two additional Kirigakure shinobi had appeared just outside the valley where Hoshigakure was situated.
Kisame's group had brought almost no Kirigakure shinobi with them on this mission to Hoshigakure, naturally to prevent anyone in Konoha's ranks from noticing anything unusual.
A team of four was not only easier to maneuver but also far less likely to be detected.
Before a circular valley.
Hoshigaki Kisame, Kimimaro, and the others halted at the valley's entrance. It was not that they did not want to proceed further — rather, a thick purple haze hung in the air above the valley's center.
No matter how you looked at it, the purple mist permeating the valley was clearly abnormal — it was obviously poisonous!
Moments ago, the group had watched several birds attempt to fly over the valley, only to drop like stones the instant they came into contact with the purple haze.
This purple mist completely encircled Hoshigakure at the center of the valley.
In other words, to enter Hoshigakure, one had to pass through this veil of toxic fog first!
Facing the poison that hung in the air above the gorge, neither Hoshigaki Kisame nor Kimimaro showed the slightest hint of surprise.
They had already reviewed extensive intelligence on Hoshigakure before setting out.
In a sense, Hoshigakure should be grateful for the ring of purple poison that shrouded the gorge above — it made the village seem even more worthless than a liability in the eyes of the great shinobi villages.
A village surrounded by toxic gas held practically no strategic value.
Otherwise, as the only shinobi village situated in the middle of a warzone like the Land of Bears, Hoshigakure would have been wiped out long ago during the various Shinobi World Wars if it had not aligned itself with a major village.
Hoshigaki Kisame, Kimimaro, and the others each pulled a gas mask from their ninja tool pouches and fitted them over their faces before charging straight into the purple fog.
These gas masks had originally been prepared to counter the poison gas created by Aburame Torune.
However.
The gas masks were completely useless against the poison Torune produced — as long as the gas made contact with skin, it would rapidly begin eroding cells.
This was what made Torune's poison gas so terrifying.
If ordinary gas masks could have solved the problem, Hoshigaki Kisame and the others would not have been held back so firmly by Konoha's forces.
The purple mist surrounding the valley, on the other hand, was ordinary poison gas — with gas masks equipped, it posed no threat at all.
In no time at all!
The group passed through the fog and emerged on the other side.
Compared to the valley encircled by purple haze, the interior was an immediate and striking sight.
A small village appeared before them, bordered by several large trees with lush foliage.
Their dense branches intertwined overhead, dotted with wild grass and flowers.
"Quite unexpected. I thought this village would have a more ancient feel to it."
Kimimaro surveyed Hoshigakure before him, speaking in a soft voice.
"Though this village is isolated from the outside world, they do regularly send shinobi out into the Shinobi World. Similar to Takigakure, in a way."
One of the Kirigakure shinobi removed his gas mask and spoke with a light chuckle.
As Hoshigaki Kisame's group surveyed Hoshigakure, the presence of outsiders naturally put the village's defenders on high alert.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
With the sound of several sharp whistles cutting through the air.
Six Hoshigakure shinobi surrounded Hoshigaki Kisame's group, wielding kunai with wary expressions.
"People from Kirigakure?"
"You are not welcome here. Please leave Hoshigakure immediately."
One of the six — clearly their leader, a middle-aged shinobi — glanced at the forehead protectors worn by the four intruders and rudely ordered them to leave.
"That is not for you to decide."
"Don't kill them."
Hoshigaki Kisame cast a cold glance at the Hoshigakure shinobi, his voice flat and indifferent.
He had no time to waste on shinobi from a village like this.
The moment those words left his mouth!
The two Kirigakure shinobi other than Kimimaro vanished from their positions simultaneously.
Though they had come to ask for Hoshigakure's help, that did not mean they needed the village's consent.
Naturally, if Hoshigakure agreed to cooperate, that would be ideal. If not, they would simply have a friendly sparring session instead.
These two Kirigakure shinobi were among the more capable jonin under Kisame's command in this unit.
Against six Hoshigakure shinobi whose strength was at best at the chunin level, the pair made short work of it, effortlessly defeating all six.
The middle-aged Hoshigakure shinobi was hoisted into the air with one hand and brought before Hoshigaki Kisame.
"You will lead the way. Take us to your Hoshikage."
Hoshigaki Kisame stared coldly at the man, his tone as flat as ever.
The middle-aged shinobi wanted to refuse, but the moment he felt the thick killing intent radiating from Kisame, he frantically nodded.
Seeing the man agree, a satisfied expression crossed Kisame's face.
Guided by the Hoshigakure shinobi, the group navigated past several traps that the village had laid around its perimeter.
As the group entered Hoshigakure, all of its residents stared in disbelief at the four Kirigakure shinobi who strode in so brazenly.
A large number of Hoshigakure shinobi flooded in from all directions, standing on rooftops with faces full of fury as they glared at the four walking through the streets.
However.
Kisame's group had not gone far into the village before stopping again, now completely surrounded by a large number of Hoshigakure shinobi.
"Is this all the shinobi your village has?"
Kisame glanced at the Hoshigakure shinobi who had encircled them, a hint of contempt flashing in his eyes.
At those words!
Murderous glares erupted from the surrounding Hoshigakure shinobi, all of them fixing their eyes on Hoshigaki Kisame.
Had Kisame and the others not been holding a hostage, they would have attacked long ago.
Sensing the Hoshigakure shinobi's hesitation, Kisame grabbed the middle-aged shinobi with one hand and threw him to the ground.
The middle-aged shinobi ignored the pain and stared in disbelief — the enemy had released him so easily.
He scrambled to his feet and hastily retreated back into the crowd of Hoshigakure shinobi.
Seeing Kisame release the hostage while looking completely unbothered, the surrounding Hoshigakure shinobi began itching for a fight, nearly ready to launch an assault.
"Lord Hoshigaki Kisame, you are deliberately provoking them."
Kimimaro glanced at Kisame with a faint look of exasperation.
"That Hoshigakure shinobi has served his purpose. With this much commotion, the Hoshikage couldn't stay hidden even if he wanted to."
Kisame grinned, a bloodthirsty gleam flashing through his pupils.
Sure enough.
The moment Kisame finished speaking.
Footsteps sounded from the outer ring, and the crowd of Hoshigakure shinobi who had the four surrounded slowly parted to create a path.
A middle-aged man with pale purple hair, blue eyes, and a gloomy expression stepped forward.
"I am the Hoshikage of Hoshigakure — Akahoshi. Our village rarely has contact with the outside world. We have done nothing to offend Kirigakure."
Confusion and gravity swirled in Akahoshi's eyes as he looked at the four intruders, doing his best to keep his tone even.
Though Kisame's actions were clearly provocative, Akahoshi knew full well that his village stood no chance against a powerhouse like Kirigakure.
If conflict could be avoided, all the better!
"The purpose of our visit is to propose that Hoshigakure cooperate with Kirigakure. We want to borrow your unique jutsu to use against Konoha's forces."
Hoshigaki Kisame had no intention of hiding anything, stating his purpose directly.
What he had just said was less a negotiation and more a notification.
Akahoshi's already sullen expression darkened further.
The ongoing war between Kirigakure and Konoha was hardly a secret in the Shinobi World.
Even a village as isolated as Hoshigakure had heard the news.
Furthermore, Akahoshi had restricted all Hoshigakure shinobi from leaving the village a month ago precisely to avoid being dragged into this conflict.
Yet in the end, they had still come to his doorstep!
"Impossible!"
Akahoshi rejected the request outright, his face twisting. He paused for a moment, then suppressed his fury and forced a calmer tone.
"Our village is inherently weak, so we have no intention of helping anyone — and that includes Konoha."
Kisame, Kimimaro, and the others showed no surprise at Akahoshi's refusal. This was exactly what they had expected.
"Rejected, huh?"
"Just as I thought. It comes down to this in the end."
Kisame rolled his neck, a note of excitement creeping into his voice.
The moment he said that!
Kisame vanished from his position, charging straight toward Akahoshi.
"Protect the Hoshikage!"
At the sight of this, every Hoshigakure shinobi present blanched.
From within the crowd, a red-haired kunoichi was the first to lunge forward, attempting to block Kisame's path to the Hoshikage.
This kunoichi was the strongest fighter in Hoshigakure, second only to the Hoshikage himself. Her name was Natsuhi.
Natsuhi had barely covered half the distance when she abruptly halted, quickly taking a step backward.
A finger bone, moving like a bullet, struck the exact spot where she had just been standing, punching a small hole into the ground.
Natsuhi looked up. The white-haired Kirigakure shinobi had somehow already positioned himself directly in her path.
"Your name is Natsuhi, right? Let me see your village's unique jutsu."
Kimimaro gazed calmly at Natsuhi, his voice entirely flat.
The intelligence files on Hoshigakure had included Natsuhi's name — this kunoichi was one of the village's most formidable fighters.
"Peacock Method — Beast!"
Natsuhi had no intention of wasting words with small talk. She formed hand seals rapidly while standing in place.
A massive and highly unusual surge of chakra erupted from Natsuhi's body, materializing in the air as a wild beast composed entirely of chakra.
The moment this chakra beast appeared, it let out a roar like a wild animal and came hurtling toward Kimimaro.
"Formed entirely from chakra? Is this similar to our technique of vitalizing chakra to its utmost limit?"
Kimimaro studied the scene before him with a faint glimmer of interest in his eyes.
He continued to mutter to himself even as his hands moved without hesitation, swiftly raising his fingers and pointing them at Natsuhi.
Shikotsumyaku — Teshi Sendan!
Finger bones flew from Kimimaro's hands like bullets, slamming into the charging chakra beast.
At first, the beast formed from chakra managed to hold its own against the barrage of finger bones.
But moments later, the Teshi Sendan had punched hole after hole into the chakra beast's body!
[
Dear Readers,
I am currently posting two chapters every day across two active fictions, along with bonus releases and extra chapters. The workload is steady, and I am putting in the effort to keep the schedule consistent for everyone.
Right now, my financial situation is not great. Patreon support is what keeps this translation work sustainable. If you have been following the stories and want to help, joining a tier makes a direct difference.
Here is what membership offers:
Adventurer — $3 per month
10 chapters in advance for all of my works
Warrior — $7 per month
20 chapters in advance for all of my works
Immortal — $10 per month (Highlighted Tier)
30 chapters in advance for all of my works
Access to character images
Important note: Subscribing through the Apple App adds an extra 30 percent fee (Apple/Patreon policy). Subscribe through your browser to avoid the extra charge. Apple also processes payments very late (2 to 3 months), which makes it much harder for me to receive money quickly after you subscribe.
If you can support, it would genuinely help me continue the daily releases and early access content. If you cannot, reading and sharing the work is also appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
Patreon: patreon.com/anish_44
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44
]