By the time Kakashi realized Sasuke was no longer in the Hidden Leaf Village, it was already noon the next day.
He immediately found Sakura, who hesitated at first but eventually confessed that Sasuke was supposedly on a special mission with the village's Security Force, led by Aburame Shigeo.
When Sakura mentioned masked members of the Security Force, Kakashi's concern deepened.
The masked unit referred to the renowned Special Forces of the Hidden Leaf, rumored to comprise elite ninja with powers surpassing the average Jonin.
**How much danger is Sasuke in, working alongside people like that?**
Kakashi wasted no time reporting the situation to Tsunade and seeking her guidance.
To his surprise, Tsunade smiled at his obvious anxiety.
"Don't worry. Shigeo is trustworthy. Sasuke's safety isn't the concern here; his enemies should be worried."
"Enemies?" Kakashi asked, perplexed. "Who would require a man of his caliber to intervene personally?"
"Orochimaru and the Hidden Sound Village!"
Tsunade's eyes narrowed slightly, a knowing smile gracing her lips.
"Shigeo's had an ambiguous history with Orochimaru, so I suspect this mission is his way of proving his allegiance to us. Orochimaru's in trouble now!"
---
Tsunade's guess was partly right.
Aburame Shigeo wasn't just eliminating Orochimaru and the Hidden Sound to prove his loyalty—his main objective was to prevent future problems.
Orochimaru, combined with his fanatically loyal Hidden Sound Village, posed a formidable threat to any faction.
Shigeo despised unnecessary complications, so he decided to strike first.
Tracking Orochimaru was made far easier thanks to Sasuke and the special blood insects he carried.
"The target is southeast, approximately 1,500 meters away, traveling at 30 kilometers per hour. Maintain an 800-meter safety distance!"
"Yes, sir!"
Under Shigeo's command, three Special Forces teams advanced steadily in formation.
Although outwardly calm, the twelve elite ninja were internally electrified with excitement.
As the strongest units in the Special Forces, they were briefed beforehand: their mission was the annihilation of Orochimaru and the Hidden Sound Village. And the mission leader? None other than Aburame Shigeo himself.
The risks were undeniable, but so was the potential for glory.
The reward? They might even be granted some of Shigeo's unique blood insects—a prize that could significantly enhance their own abilities.
No shinobi would pass up a chance to greatly increase their power. Survival and career success depended on it.
Danger? That came with the job. A ninja's life was never without it.
And as long as they followed the right leader, even the deadliest missions carried a higher chance of survival.
Their confidence swelled as they followed Shigeo's commanding figure. Unspoken determination surged through the team.
**This mission must be flawless!**
---
Shigeo was unaware of their thoughts, his focus trained entirely on Sasuke and the trio of Hidden Sound ninja accompanying him.
Through the feed from his surveillance insects, Shigeo monitored the group's every move, calculating their position and trajectory. Precision was critical: losing the trail or acting prematurely could spell failure.
His priority wasn't just eliminating Orochimaru's forces—it was also safeguarding Sasuke.
As Indra's reincarnation, Sasuke's survival was critical for the Leaf's future. Should Kaguya Ōtsutsuki reemerge someday, Sasuke's strength might be indispensable.
With heightened vigilance, Shigeo pressed on, giving no room for error.
Soon, a hidden underground base came into view through his surveillance insects.
"Found it!"
His eyes narrowed as he turned to the squad behind him.
"Up ahead is Orochimaru's base of operations—likely the so-called Hidden Sound Village. Prepare for battle!"
"Yes, sir!"
The team responded in unison, moving into combat readiness.
Shigeo quickened his pace, launching several smoke insects to infiltrate the base ahead.
**BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!**
The insects exploded upon entry, thick smoke billowing through the underground corridors.
"Enemy attack!"
"We're under attack!"
"Sound the alarm!"
Chaos erupted within the base as Hidden Sound ninja poured out, scrambling to locate the intruders.
Shigeo seized the moment, closing in on Sasuke and the three Hidden Sound ninja accompanying him. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled three sharpened wooden spears.
**SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!**
Propelled by immense strength, the spears pierced through the Hidden Sound trio—Kidōmaru, Sakon/Ukon, and Jirōbō—before they could react.
Shigeo formed a hand seal and shouted, "Wood Release: Piercing Plant Technique!"
The spears embedded in their bodies erupted into dozens of sharp wooden spikes, tearing through their flesh.
"ARGH—!"
The trio's cries were brief, their bodies collapsing lifelessly.
Sasuke, standing nearby, was splattered with their blood. His eyes widened in shock.
He knew firsthand how powerful these three were—yet they were killed in an instant. The sight was staggering.
A familiar voice snapped him out of his daze.
"Don't just stand there, Sasuke! Get behind me!"
"Huh…"
Looking up, Sasuke saw Shigeo flash past him, forming another hand seal.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
**RUMBLE!**
The ground shook violently as colossal tree roots burst forth, surging toward the underground base like a massive tidal wave.
Caught off guard, countless Hidden Sound ninja were engulfed by the rampaging roots, their screams drowned out by the cacophony of splintering wood and crumbling earth.
In moments, Orochimaru's base began to collapse under the overwhelming assault of Shigeo's technique.
**BOOM! BOOM!**
As the dust settled, twisted tree branches protruded from the rubble, entangling Hidden Sound ninja in their grasp.
A few survivors managed to escape the onslaught, rallying together as they charged out of the ruined base.
Spotting Shigeo in the distance, they shouted:
"There he is!"
"Kill him!"
"Don't let him escape!"
They unleashed a barrage of kunai and shuriken.
Unfazed, Shigeo smirked.
At that moment, four masked Special Forces members appeared in front of him. One quickly formed a hand seal.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
**BOOM!**
A massive wall of earth rose, blocking the incoming projectiles.
Then, four more Special Forces members, bearing bee insignias on their masks, joined the fray.
From atop the wall, they spread their arms wide, unleashing swarms of black parasitic insects that darkened the sky, their ominous buzzing filling the air.
**BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ…**
The surviving Hidden Sound ninja froze in terror, their faces pale.
"What…what is that?"
"This can't be real… These enemies are monsters!"
"We're doomed…"