Chapter 61: The Tower Demolition Operation

Huang Tu was simply too honest for his own good.

The reason explosive clay hadn’t become standard equipment for the Stone Hidden forces, remaining instead the exclusive tool of the demolition unit, was because it required prolonged training to precisely control its detonation timing. If an untrained novice attempted to handle explosive clay, the most common outcome would inevitably be...

BOOM!

Onoki’s plan was to keep the properties of the explosive clay hidden from this group—either by not mentioning its dangers or by downplaying its terrifying potency. Then, once they finished setting the explosives, the uncontrolled clay would take them out as well, achieving two goals: capturing the Leaf’s watchtower and saving a hefty sum in commissions—a win-win situation.

Unfortunately, Huang Tu, ever the honest man, hadn’t inherited a single ounce of his father’s cunning. He explained the risks of the explosive clay with meticulous clarity, prompting everyone to keep a wide berth from those two crates of dangerous goods.

Luckily, among their ranks of defected ninja was a dwarf named Bakuton Lie, who had escaped from the demolition unit. He gleefully accepted the crates, embracing them as if they were his beloved wife and savoring the power he once wielded in battle.

The mission required immediate departure, with their targets being the four locations suspected to contain watchtowers.

“Brother Huang Tu, I think since our objective is the watchtowers, if we present too large a target and draw their attention, the Leaf might dispatch a major force to crush us in advance. They might even send Minato Namikaze. We must split up, minimize their threat assessment, and avoid being marked as the primary target from the start,” Bai Mu advised earnestly.

The Leaf’s ninja were outnumbered; they couldn’t possibly send teams after every ninja who crossed their borders. There had to be a threat assessment. If the number or strength of invaders exceeded a certain threshold, they would deploy squads to intercept.

“Hmm... That makes sense. But if we split up, a single squad might find it difficult to destroy a watchtower,” Huang Tu mused, rubbing his chin.

“We can divide into four teams, each heading to one target. Lord Kakuzu leads one, you take another, I’ll take a third, and Bakuton Lie takes the last. That way, if we encounter a watchtower, we’ll have the means to take it down,” Bai Mu suggested.

“Facing the Leaf’s regular troops alone is a dangerous proposition.” Lord Kakuzu spoke through his broad mask, his expression unreadable.

“Not dangerous at all! You dared to assassinate their First Hokage, these youngsters are nothing in comparison. Besides, for the treasure, we must...” Bai Mu tried to persuade him.

“I meant you’ll need to pay extra,” Kakuzu’s wickedly sharp eyes glinted with hidden ambition.

Bai Mu was momentarily stunned. “Fine, extra pay, extra pay!”

“In that case, let’s follow your plan and split into teams,” Huang Tu agreed.

When it came time to form teams, however, no one had worked together before, not even Bai Mu, the captain, knew his subordinates’ capabilities. Thus, they adopted a volunteer system—everyone could choose which team to join.

Bai Mu expected his team to be the most popular, but to his shock, everyone flocked to Bakuton Lie, while others gathered behind Kakuzu. Bai Mu was left with only Afei beside him, even Xiangji stood smiling and waving behind Kakuzu, and not a single person stood behind Huang Tu.

“This...” Bai Mu was furious, lashing out at the grinning bunch. “I treat you all to good food and drink, but when I need you, you scatter faster than dogs! Have you no conscience? None at all!”

These renegade ninja survived by their wits, instantly discerning the pros and cons. Following Kakuzu meant sticking with the strongest—just shouting encouragement from behind guaranteed survival. They didn’t want to follow Bai Mu, whom they saw as too young and insufficiently powerful, even if he’d shown skill against Akatsuchi, it wasn’t enough to inspire confidence. As for Huang Tu, they’d rather not risk their lives for mere money.

Those who chose Bakuton Lie weren’t attracted to the popcorn-selling dwarf himself. Most planned, once inside the Land of Fire, to slip away unnoticed, hide until the fighting ended, then claim they’d gotten lost.

Bai Mu saw right through all their schemes!

Only Kakuzu was truly professional—once paid, he would get the job done.

“Damn you lazy donkeys! Team up again! Three teams—Bakuton Lie with me, half of you with Vice Captain Huang Tu, and whoever’s left covers the fourth point!” Bai Mu unleashed a storm of curses, splitting the group into three. Huang Tu got the fewest, but he went to the Stone Hidden forces for twenty jonin to accompany him.

...

The mission officially began, and the three teams, each harboring their own secret intentions, set out for their targets.

Bai Mu noticed something peculiar: Huang Tu claimed Stone Hidden would act in tandem, but as they departed, not a single sign of mobilization appeared from the base. Moreover, the four assigned reconnaissance points were so remote they might as well have been forgotten corners...

Onoki, that sly old swallow, was clearly using them to draw Leaf’s attention away, waiting until they attracted the Leaf’s forces before launching his own attack.

Those who become shadows all have hearts blacker than coal.

Let his son bear the consequences alone—after all, earth-style users always have a way to escape, even against Minato Namikaze.

Bai Mu’s team swept into the forests of the Land of Fire. As soon as they separated from Huang Tu, they began slacking off in earnest.

“Everyone, check the ground thoroughly! Don’t overlook a single spider’s thread! The Leaf is rich and cunning—they love setting explosive tags as traps. If you don’t want to lose limbs, check carefully!”

“Just like those wild mushrooms, wild chickens, rabbits, wild carrots, even cinnamon, star anise, and bay leaves—leave nothing unchecked! Any of them could be the Leaf’s spies. Round them all up, and we’ll interrogate them at noon!” Bai Mu ordered sternly.

“Yes, Captain!” The group, delighted by the orders, crawled forward at a snail’s pace, savoring every moment of slacking off.

“Captain, please trust Xiangji with all cooking duties!” Xiangji saluted energetically.

“Get out of here! The moment you chose Kakuzu, you lost me forever!” Bai Mu replied with disdain.

Nearby, the one-eyed old man silently cleaned his knife.

“But I choose to forgive you,” Bai Mu said.

“Hehe, thank you Captain! I’ll offer you my heart!” Xiangji grinned, mimicking a gesture Bai Mu had taught her.

...

At Leaf’s Fourth Main Watchtower, a group of Hyuga clan members, veins bulging, scanned the border.

“Captain, come look! What are these people doing? They’re wearing our village’s vests, their headbands are a mess, and after an hour, they’re still crawling on the ground—barely moved five hundred meters,” a young Hyuga scout laughed.

He’d just graduated this year, assigned to the watchtower as a scout. Being so young, everyone called him Little Hyuga.

A team of fifty was already a large target—crossing the border, they were immediately spotted. The alert level was set at Level Three, requiring a report to the commander.

The Hyuga captain activated his Byakugan, gazing in that direction.

“They seem to be clearing traps,” he analyzed seriously.

“But did we set any traps there?” Little Hyuga asked.

“No, the border’s too vast to trap everywhere. Besides, explosive tags fail in the rain—who could afford such extravagance?” The captain shook his head.

“Look, they’re catching rabbits now! Picking mushrooms and raiding bird nests!” Little Hyuga, still full of childlike wonder, exclaimed.

The captain pondered.

“Captain, look, someone’s unfurling a banner. It says, ‘We’re a ragtag mercenary band, just trying to earn a meal. Give us a break, don’t attack us, and after the war, please join us for dinner!’ And there’s a smiley face drawn!” Little Hyuga laughed.

“Tch, so it’s this bunch of money-grubbing idiots—annoying as flies!” The captain cursed fiercely. Guarding against thieves every day was exhausting, and the Hyuga clan’s eye power was not inexhaustible. Three shifts weren’t enough for recovery; many clan members were showing signs of chakra depletion. Even the youngest children were now dragged into battle. Seeing them collapse in exhaustion, he sometimes couldn’t bear to wake them, standing guard in their place.

Now another damned group of mercenary ninja had arrived, requiring someone to keep an eye on them...

“Captain, what should we do? I see a white cat doing a backflip,” Little Hyuga asked.

“Keep watching them. I’ll notify the base to send a team to drive them off. Mercenary ninja are always the first to break and run,” the captain said, turning toward the communications room.