Naruto: From Novice to Grave

In two days, the Konoha ninja kept a close watch on the Land of Waves in the north, while gathering forces in the south to prepare for battle.

At the same time, the command ordered that, except for authorized intelligence personnel from headquarters who maintained contact with the village, no one was allowed to use any means to contact the outside world. Anyone found doing so would be treated as a spy.

When the planned counterattack time arrived, all the Konoha ninja involved in the battle formed more than ten assault teams based on their abilities and strength, using squads as the basic unit, and launched a surprise attack on the Hidden Mist defense line.

Everyone was well-equipped with ninja tools, their blood boiling, ready to wipe out or drive these despicable invaders from Kirigakure in one fell swoop.

"Whoosh whoo ...

Teams of Konoha ninjas moved at a steady pace through the forest, heading south. Each assault team was led by a ninja with sensory abilities to detect and eliminate any enemies they saw in advance, delaying the time it would take for the Mist Ninjas to send intelligence back to the rear.

Perception is not limited to chakra detection; in a broader sense, perception includes all abilities that can detect enemies in advance.

The most typical method used by Higashino Makoto or Nakayoshi of Kirigakure is sensing, which is to sense the chakra fluctuations of ninjas within a certain range through special means.

Both were experts in this field, with a perception range far exceeding that of others. However, Higashino's abilities were more diverse and magical, with natural energy acting as a cheat code. Therefore, when Nakaji blindly trusted his own perception, he fell into Konoha's trap, resulting in the annihilation of his entire army.

The Hyuga clan's long-distance vision is a different kind of perception. The distance varies depending on the ninja's strength, but it is mostly within one or two kilometers.

If they could manipulate their chakra to focus their gaze in one direction, they could see further. However, not all Hyuga ninjas knew this method; it was likely a secret technique of the main family, and only those with the main family's permission could learn it.

In addition, the Inuzuka clan uses scent to detect things, and the Aburame clan spreads out insects; both are forms of perception.

In fact, the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan also has the ability to see through chakra, but the distance is too close, and it only serves their own combat needs. Strictly speaking, it cannot be considered a sensory ninja.

As for the Kagura Mind's Eye of the Uzumaki clan? Sorry, it's extinct. The direction Konoha is currently advancing is the very place where they used to live.

The land of the Land of Whirlpools still exists, but the Whirlpool Village has vanished forever.

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As a perception expert recognized by the command, Higashino Makoto was naturally assigned to lead the way at the front of the team, and was even part of the seventh assault force located in the center.

They not only had to eliminate the enemy Mist Ninjas they discovered as quickly as possible, but also had to provide timely support to friendly forces on both flanks based on signals, making their role extremely important.

The Seventh Assault Force was the spearhead at the forefront of this counter-offensive.

As they traversed the forest and drew closer to the Hidden Mist Line, Higashino's blood began to boil uncontrollably.

The D-rank missions for graduation are simply to fulfill the requirements for promotion to Chunin, while the C-rank missions are to help them adapt to the life of a ninja.

The battle with the Chinese and Kyrgyz teams a few days ago was a war of perception and annihilation, and it was not large in scale.

Today, they will face the real Shinobi World War.

As team members, Hayate Gekko and Yugao Uzuki naturally had to act together. Both of them were a little nervous. Originally, Kumomi Gekko wanted them to follow the rest of the team like the other genin, but the two of them refused.

Their strength is not bad; they are only one step away from becoming Chunin, which is to go through the formalities of returning to the village.

Yes, the frontline command has no authority to promote ninjas; they are only responsible for reporting each person's battle achievements. Promotions, which signify honor, are decided only by the true high-ranking officials of Konoha.

Moonlight Cloud comforted his disciple, saying, "Don't be nervous, believe in your abilities."

Higashino Shin then added, "Always be mindful of your position, maintain our usual teamwork, don't stray too far from me, and definitely don't charge blindly."

"Understood!" x2

As the troops advanced deeper, chakra reactions soon appeared within Higashino Makoto's perception range, but it was not the right time yet; judging from the enemy's reaction, they had not yet been detected.

Monsters like Zhongji, with a perception radius of about 6 kilometers, are already very rare; even the other four major ninja villages combined couldn't find many like them.

After advancing a short distance, Higashino suddenly stopped: "About one kilometer ahead, there is a patrol of enemy ninjas, four in total. Judging from their chakra, they are a genin squad led by a jonin. We haven't found anything else in any other direction."

The Uchiha Jonin in charge of command gestured backward, and then several vanguard squads quietly surrounded them.

The Mist Ninja patrol team was simply carrying out their routine mission today, tasked with checking ahead of the defensive line for any Konoha ninjas wandering over.

But soon, the Jonin leading the team sensed something was wrong; it was a premonition born from his extensive experience.

But it was all too late.

Suddenly, a dense barrage of kunai and shuriken shot out from the surrounding forest, instantly turning the three unfortunate newbie ninja into pincushions.

The Jonin leading the team reacted quickly, disregarding the need to rescue his subordinates. As he retreated, he drew his sword to protect his vitals, as there were simply too many hidden weapons for him to block them all.

Enduring the excruciating pain coursing through his entire body, the Jonin sped up his escape.

Some bastards from Konoha have attacked, and he has to send this information back, but what greets him is a pair of bright red Sharingan with three tomoe.

"Shimadada!" The ninja muttered inwardly, his mind suddenly went blank, and then his throat was slit open with a knife.

Hidden weapons and ninja swords are used first; no one uses ninjutsu, as this would cause too much of a commotion and allow the fog defense line to detect it in advance.

For ninjas, sneak attacks are the epitome of justice, and underhanded tactics are the epitome of cunning.

No one cared about the deaths of these four people, even though three of them looked very young, younger than Uzuki Yugao.

The reason why several squads could attack together was not because they couldn't defeat them, but because they could kill them as quickly as possible and prevent the news from reaching the defensive line.

After advancing a short distance, Higashino Makoto stopped again: "We're close to the Mist Ninja's defense line. We've identified the defensive outposts and the number of people within our sensing range."

The Uchiha commander of the 7th Assault Team waved his hand, and the captains of each squad stepped forward. They watched as Higashino Makoto marked the distance, location, and personnel information of the enemy on the defensive line on the map, and silently recorded it.

The commander, named Uchiha Sousuke, looked at everyone and asked, "Have you all memorized it?"

"I've got it."

He checked the time: "Alright, we'll launch the attack in ten minutes. Now, disperse."

Following the order, the team began to disperse and advance towards the designated target point. When the time came, they all rushed towards their respective opponents.

Kunai armed with explosive tags were precisely thrust into various strongholds along the Mist Ninja defense line, and with explosions resounding everywhere, the battle officially began.

Not only here, but the sounds of battle could be heard from all around, to the left and right.

Once we reach the defensive line, it will be impossible to continue advancing silently; that's unrealistic. Therefore, the current objective is to break through the Mist Village's defensive lines as quickly as possible, kill as many enemies as possible, and reduce the Mist Village's forces gathering at the command camp.

Inside the base, Higashino Makoto parried a kunai shot at him by a Kirigakure ninja of similar age, and with a single, deadly strike, he finished off the ninja amidst the latter's terrified gaze.

When did this young boy graduate? What's his name? What are his dreams?

None of that matters now; he's a corpse. That's war.

With the intelligence provided by Higashino Makoto, the 7th Assault Force swiftly eliminated the enemy, broke through the first line of defense, and then rushed toward the second line of defense in the distance.

They wanted to advance as quickly as possible before the enemy fully understood the situation, destroy the entire defensive system of the Hidden Mist Village, and maximize their initial strategy of dividing and annihilating the enemy.