Chapter 34 Gift
The Kannabi Bridge mission has completely changed; what was originally a stealth and sabotage mission has been forcibly transformed into a semi-public one.
The danger level has also escalated from 'one in a million chance of survival' to 'infinitely close to certain death.' It must be said that for a transmigrator to get involved in this mission, such a change is truly devastating.
Not only this mission, but the entire Iwa Ninja front line has been drastically altered by Uchiha启!
In the original history, Konoha's performance on the Iwa Ninja battlefield was truly poor, as they had just come down from Kikyo Pass and had no chance to rest before being directly sent to the Land of Grass to resist the Iwa Ninja.
Anyone would struggle under such circumstances; if it weren't for the thought of their homes behind them, these Ninja would have given up long ago.
Konoha probably had no other choice—of course, Uchiha启 felt that seeking more benefits was the real reason, which led him to decide to raid Kannabi Bridge.
The plan was to use this mission to cut off the Iwa Ninja's logistical supply, forcing them to the negotiating table to end the war.
But now things are different. Although the mission's starting point remains the same, Uchiha启, by chance, joined forces with the rescued captives and disrupted the Iwa Ninja's rear.
Now, it is the Iwa Ninja who are suffering from sharply decreased morale and setbacks on the front lines, forced into a continuous retreat.
This situation naturally caused Konoha's morale to begin to rise. Practically all front-line Ninja knew that such a team existed behind enemy lines.
Not just the front-line Ninja, even Konoha's higher-ups received intelligence, especially information about Uchiha启, which was placed on the table.
The news of Uchiha启 awakening his Sharingan, reported by Minato Namikaze to Master Jiraiya, also reached Konoha's higher-ups. It probably won't be long before the Uchiha Clan also learns of his existence.
However, even if they knew, the Uchiha Clan would not be able to recall Uchiha启.
Because Uchiha启 has already deeply penetrated enemy lines and is carrying out the most confidential and important mission, Konoha naturally cannot make any compromises.
For Konoha's higher-ups, it is probably best if Uchiha启, who awakened his Sharingan with Three-Tomoe, and Uchiha Obito, who awakened his Sharingan with two tomoe, both remain forever on the land of the Land of Grass.
Uchiha启 is not clear about these things, but that doesn't mean he can't guess them. Precisely because he can guess, he can continue to do what he needs to do.
They are now racing against time, otherwise, their fate truly needs no further explanation.
While Minato Namikaze was sending away the wounded and those without combat capability, Uchiha启 was also with Imai Kenta, cleaning up the battlefield.
Every country has Sensory Ninja, and their goal is to delay detection for as long as possible. However, what surprised Imai Kenta was that Uchiha启 actually picked up a sword and strapped it to his back.
"Do you know swordsmanship?" Imai Kenta asked curiously, digging a pit to bury the bodies.
"No," Uchiha启 shook his head, looking at the bodies on the ground with a headache.
In their current location, they didn't even dare to light a fire, let alone use Fire Release to destroy the bodies. Moreover, neither Uchiha启 nor Imai Kenta knew Earth Release, so they could only use the most primitive method—digging pits and burying.
"Then why are you carrying a sword?" Imai Kenta shook his head, then suddenly became alert: "Could it be..."
"Don't worry, your swordsmanship is so strong and so difficult to learn, my Sharingan really can't directly copy it," Uchiha启 rolled his eyes. "However, do you think I need any swordsmanship?"
Imai Kenta thought for a moment, then nodded. Indeed, Uchiha启 truly didn't need any swordsmanship.
Uchiha启 possesses a terrifying Body Flicker Technique. His speed is incredibly fast, and most importantly, he also has the Sharingan.
At extreme speeds, with dynamic vision that can keep up with his own speed, he only needs to deliver a single strike to a critical point on his enemy, which basically resolves the enemy.
Therefore, Uchiha启 probably truly doesn't need any swordsmanship; he just needs to know how to swing a sword.
The Sharingan is indeed a good thing. No matter who they are, everyone wishes to obtain this ability.
Because the Sharingan seems to be effective at any stage, although the evolution of the Sharingan is a process of constantly driving people mad and eventually turning them into lunatics.
However, a lunatic with power is something many people still desire. The abilities displayed by the Sharingan, spanning every stage from early to late, can be said to be top-tier.
Uchiha启 glanced at Imai Kenta, and seeing that he didn't say anything more, he naturally kept quiet.
How could Uchiha启 not have secretly copied his swordsmanship?
Although, as Uchiha启 himself said, he didn't really need so many miscellaneous things, having a backup plan would make Uchiha启 feel more at ease.
Quietly waiting for Imai Kenta to bury all the bodies, Uchiha启 was still, strictly speaking, in a recovery phase. He couldn't do any dirty or strenuous work.
Moreover, strictly speaking, Uchiha启 was still Imai Kenta's captain. Although Minato Namikaze was present, he was not considered a member of Uchiha启's squad.
There is still a difference between a temporary captain and an originally assigned captain. As long as Minato Namikaze is not around, Uchiha启 is Imai Kenta's captain.
Imai Kenta had no intention of refuting. This amount of work was nothing to him. Besides, he also hoped that Uchiha启 could fully recover, which would make him even safer.
After dealing with all the bodies, Uchiha启 and Imai Kenta set off together.
Since Uchiha启 had Minato Namikaze's Kunai on him, they weren't afraid that Minato Namikaze wouldn't find them. Besides, staying put, who knew if they would be ambushed?
Indeed, their judgment was correct. Not long after they set off, Imai Kenta sensed that many Iwa Ninja were heading towards their previous hiding spot.
This forced them to quickly accelerate. About ten minutes later, Minato Namikaze suddenly appeared beside them.
"It seems the Iwa Ninja have discovered us," Minato Namikaze observed the surroundings and immediately knew what had happened.
"More or less. If we don't leave soon, we might be surrounded," Uchiha启 nodded. "Are Kakashi and the others alright?"
As a member and captain of the original temporary squad, Uchiha启 knew he still needed to show appropriate concern for his teammates, especially in front of Minato Namikaze.
"They're doing well. The Hyuga Chunin should be fine, but Kakashi needs to be sent back to Konoha," Minato Namikaze sighed, but he quickly smiled. "And I met Master Jiraiya. He said he would cooperate with us."
"Cooperate with us?" Uchiha启 was stunned for a moment, then nodded. This was indeed good news.
With the front line delaying the Iwa Ninja's return time, Uchiha启 and his team would have a bit more time, though not a lot, but at least several hours!
"Oh, and Kakashi has something for you," Minato Namikaze said, pulling out a scroll from his pocket. "Take this. It's his 'gift' to you."
"Gift?" Uchiha启 took the scroll and slowly opened it.