The next day.
Today, the sixth squad still had a rare day without any tasks.
In the puppet battalion base, Hardy was practicing puppetry on the covered training ground using public training puppets.
This can be considered one of the many benefits of the puppet battalion.
The two puppets, both heavy puppets weighing over a hundred kilograms, were equipped with non-lethal weapons.
At this moment, Hardy was controlling the two puppets to fight each other, training his puppet manipulation skills.
Scorpion was not very interested in this aspect because his talent was there, and he could quickly master those skills with a little practice. His real interest lay in the research and manufacture of puppets.
As for Jian Xue, she was reading a book under the eaves.
Until Jian Ye suddenly appeared in the field.
"Brother, why are you here?" Jian Xue asked curiously.
"I'll give you fifteen minutes to prepare. Gather at the village entrance in fifteen minutes, and we'll talk on the way," Jian Ye said with a rare seriousness.
"No need, our puppets are all here. If there is a mission, we can depart directly," Hardy retracted the chakra threads and wiped his sweat.
"I'll go call Scorpion!" Jian Xue ran into the house and called Scorpion, who was still making puppets.
"Let me get straight to the point. The border defense ninjas stationed at the border reported that a small elite team from Konoha broke through the border and infiltrated the Wind Country. They disappeared after destroying the black iron mine in Kurosuna City a day ago. The village's high-level officials have issued orders for the puppet battalion to cooperate with the border defense ninjas in searching for this team of Konoha ninjas."
"Now, the entire puppet battalion that can set off immediately is only us. Once found, priority is to capture them alive. The mission is rated A!" Jian Ye's expression was stern as he spoke, stepping out of the room.
The Scorpion at the door said, "A-rank mission? Does that mean... there are enemies of Jounin level among them..."
Seeing Yukie hesitating, she said, "I don't think a special Jounin and a Chunin can complete an A-rank mission with two Genin."
"Are we... capturing a Jounin alive?"
Hardy pointed at herself with a constipated expression.
"The target of the capture is not an enemy Jounin. According to the intelligence, there is an Uchiha who has activated the Sharingan in this small group. As for the enemy Jounin, they will be handled by Captain Ishito and the border defense Jounin."
That explains it.
Without Wood Release, the Sharingan is the top bloodline limit in the ninja world, greatly enhancing combat power.
Except for Konoha, every ninja village is extremely envious of the Sharingan. If that Uchiha is captured by Suna, he will end up as a breeding pig.
The Scorpion's eyes lit up.
Uchiha!
It would be great if they could turn him into a human puppet, but currently, human puppets cannot retain the bloodline abilities of their former selves, which is quite a pity.
"Now, let's set off to rendezvous with Captain Ishito at the front line. Destination: Kurosunacity!"
"Yes!" x3
...
...
A few minutes later, Hardy and her group arrived at the gates of Sunagakure - Ichinenten.
Ichinenten is the most important and the last line of defense of Sunagakure, as well as the main entrance to the village. It is an extremely narrow canyon that looks as if a mountain has been split in half, leaving only a tunnel barely wide enough for two carts to pass through.
One man guards the pass, making it impregnable. If a high-level ninja accompanied by some stronger Jounin assistants were to defend it, outsiders would find it almost impossible to breach Sunagakure.
However, the most fortified fortresses are often breached from within.
Future Scorpion and Deidara were able to invade Sunagakure because Scorpion used his Light Brain Sand Control to control the upper echelons of Sunagakure, making it easy for them to break through Ichinenten.
But this route also hinders the economic development of Sunagakure, with pros and cons.
After the ninja guarding the gate checked their mission credentials, Hardy and her group quickly set off towards Kurosunacity.
Ninjas move fast. They received the mission after lunch, and before the sun had set, they had arrived at their destination.
"Has the reinforcement finally arrived?"
The ninja in charge of coordinating with the puppet troops heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing Hardy and her group.
"What's the situation now?"
After arriving at the destination, without resting, Ishito immediately began to inquire.
"Juyi Jounin has been trailing that Konoha team with sensory ninja. The Konoha ninja who were preparing to assist them on the border have been repelled by the Suna Jounin. Once we gather enough strength, we can take out that Konoha team."
The Chunin in charge of coordinating respectfully reported to Ishito.
"Arrange for someone to lead the way. We will set off to support immediately!"
"I can guide you!"
The Chunin bit his thumb with his teeth, forming hand seals.
A few seconds later, a small desert lizard was summoned, with a note tied to its foot.
The Chunin opened the note and handed it to Ishito.
"Let's go!"
Ishito waved his hand, giving the order.
...
...
"Damn! What kind of brainless order is this from the higher-ups, asking us to sabotage the Wind Country's rear! It's all desert here, how much damage can we do!"
On top of a sand dune, a young man in black clothes with a red and white fan pattern wiped his face and spat out some sand.
"It's all because of you! Uchiha Sen! The captain's order was to use the Sharingan's genjutsu to hypnotize those Suna ninjas, making it easier for us to infiltrate, but you directly killed them, exposing us!"
A companion in a green vest couldn't help but mock.
"What do you mean? If it weren't for saving you guys, why would I have to act directly? Civilian ninjas are just civilian ninjas, they don't even have that bit of insight!"
Uchiha Sen glared with his red eyes at his companion.
"Ah..."
The leader, Nara Hirano, couldn't help but sigh.
The conflict between the Uchiha clan and Konoha is becoming increasingly intense, not only between the Uchiha and the villagers but also among the major ninja clans.
The police force enforces violence, regardless of whether you are a civilian or a ninja, everyone is thrown into prison and subjected to interrogation under the genjutsu of the Sharingan.
This conflict has now spread to the ninja ranks.
"Alright, now that the planned mission to disrupt Suna's logistics is probably impossible, what we need to do now is to figure out how to break through the Wind Country's border. Although it's difficult to break the blockade, I have already contacted the summoning beast and Lord Shokumori, and he will try to lead an elite force to break through Suna's front line to support us. So, until then, our goal is to survive and hold on until Lord Byakuya arrives!"
Nara Hirano decisively addressed his subordinates.