Chapter 33: Chapter 33 – Infiltration
The two of them entered the tent.
Inside, the dim lamplight cast long, flickering shadows, stretching Orochimaru's silhouette across the fabric walls. His golden, slit-pupiled eyes gleamed faintly in the gloom, cold and unblinking. Rin could feel his gaze slithering over her skin like a serpent's tongue—light, deliberate, and laden with a probing malice that made her flesh crawl.
"Sensei mentioned in his letter," Orochimaru said, his voice a low rasp, each syllable languid and thick as though dragged across his tongue and rolled in saliva, "that I should take good care of you. However... the battlefield is no place for playing house."
Rin suppressed the instinct to step back and met Orochimaru's gaze head-on. "I understand, Orochimaru-sama."
"Heh..." Orochimaru let out a low chuckle and pulled a scroll from his sleeve. "In that case, there's a mission that suits you perfectly. Sunagakure has established a new supply camp in the Land of Rivers. I need details on their troop deployment and logistical reserves."
His long fingers traced across the map. "You'll lead a squad and depart tonight. Remember—this is a scouting mission. Do not engage."
As Rin took the map from him, his fingertips brushed deliberately against her wrist. In that fleeting moment, she felt an icy presence crawl up her arm—like a cold serpent burrowing into her veins.
"Your teammates are already waiting on the western edge of the camp." Orochimaru turned away, his long black hair sweeping across Rin's shoulder. "Good luck… my little junior."
Once outside the tent, Rin drew a deep breath to steady her pounding heart and cursed under her breath:
"Damn disgusting slimy old snake!"
Unfolding the map, she found the target was located thirty kilometers behind enemy lines. Several Sunagakure patrol routes were marked around it.
"This is practically a suicide mission…" Rin's lips twitched as she clenched the map tighter. A troubling thought crossed her mind—was this still Hiruzen Sarutobi testing her, or had Orochimaru acted on his own?
At the western edge of the encampment, three figures were already waiting. Hyūga Yumeko stood wringing her fingers nervously, her eyes lighting up when she saw Rin. The other two leaned idly against a tree—Jin Go, the frail boy with thick glasses who'd once briefly been on her squad, and an unfamiliar girl with a freckled face.
"Yumeko, Jin Go, and you—hello," Rin greeted the two familiar faces before turning to the unfamiliar girl. "I'm Hanabuchi Rin, squad leader for this mission."
Yumeko and Jin Go returned her greeting. The unknown girl mumbled, eyes lowered, voice barely audible:
"Satō Chika… I specialize in… um… tree climbing?"
Rin felt a vein throb at her temple.
Chika? More like chikashii (lacking).
With a lineup like this, even a routine patrol would be a stretch—let alone an infiltration.
That damn snake Orochimaru!
"Mission briefing," Rin said, forcing herself to remain calm. At least Yumeko and Jin Go were somewhat dependable—Yumeko had a wide Byakugan field, and Jin Go's sensory skills were decent. As for Chika… she could at least control her chakra decently well.
Rin spread out the map. "Tonight, we'll cross the river and infiltrate the newly established Sunagakure supply camp to conduct reconnaissance. Yumeko, based on your current chakra reserves, how long can you maintain your Byakugan?"
"In full activation, two hours. With intervals, I can sustain it for about six," Yumeko replied, her voice suddenly firm. The shift surprised Rin.
"Good. That's our plan then. Listen closely—any deviation from orders, any mistake that jeopardizes this mission, and I will report it exactly as it happened. Personal ties won't protect anyone."
"Understood." x3.
Before nightfall, the team silently left the camp.
River of Fire flowed from Land of Fire to Land of Rivers, and was the largest river in the region—a vital water source for the River Country. In a gesture to curry favor with Land of Fire, the daimyo had named the river "River of Fire," subtly expressing allegiance. The rushing water helped mask their footsteps, but Rin remained on edge. Orochimaru's intentions, the suspicious team makeup, and unknown numbers of Suna-nin ahead—all loomed like dark clouds overhead.
"Stop," Jin Go suddenly said. "Forty meters ahead—something's off. Could be a trap."
Yumeko immediately activated her Byakugan. "It's a shallowly buried net of explosive tags... Can't go around it."
Rin thought for a moment, then took a thin steel wire from her tool pouch. "Chika, use this to rig up a makeshift sling line. We'll go over from the treetops."
As the four leapt over the danger zone using the canopy, Rin noticed Yumeko's Byakugan remained alert and steady. Though timid in nature, the Hyūga branch girl had impeccable professional conduct.
"Two o'clock, five hundred meters. A patrol team—five men, one with a puppet," Yumeko whispered.
Rin signaled for everyone to conceal themselves.
In the distance, a lacquer-red puppet clacked its joints as its puppeteer manipulated it into various postures.
"Kyūtairō! Put that thing away. It's loud as hell," the Suna team leader snapped.
Unfazed, Kyūtairō replied, "Taichō, this is for emergencies. What if we're attacked? Better ready than dead."
Another Suna-nin rolled his eyes, muttering internally,
"So you're a puppet master—doesn't mean you have to show off every second."
The leader began to retort but abruptly tensed, eyes narrowing in suspicion as he scanned the area.
"Have we been spotted?" Chika whispered, clutching Rin's sleeve.
Rin shook her head and motioned for silence. She noticed the Suna-nin's eyes sweep over their hiding spot a few times—but ultimately, his gaze passed over.
Their sensing skills were mediocre.
Thanks to Yumeko's precise Byakugan scans, Rin's squad ghosted their way through the Sunagakure perimeter. Every approaching patrol, every trap-laden zone—all were laid bare beneath those all-seeing eyes.
No wonder other villages covet Konoha's bloodline clans so fiercely.
Rin silently acknowledged the power of her comrades.
"Two hundred meters ahead, left front—three Suna-nin setting up a new trap," Yumeko reported softly. "It's a poison gas trigger mechanism."
Rin nodded and changed their route. She noticed fine beads of sweat beginning to form on Yumeko's forehead—prolonged Byakugan use was taking its toll.
"Five-minute rest," Rin signaled, handing a soldier pill to Yumeko from her pouch. "Recharge your stamina."
Yumeko accepted it gratefully, but before she could swallow it, a sudden metallic clatter startled her into choking. The team instantly went on alert—the sound had come from the trap zone they just bypassed.
"A wild boar triggered the trap," Jin Go confirmed.
Rin exhaled in relief—then tensed again. "The poison mist will spread. The Suna-nin will investigate soon. We need to move now. Erase any trace of our presence."
"Yes."
As night fully fell, the squad resumed their approach—this time noticeably faster. Despite her poor combat ability, Chika was impressively quiet in movement, using her chakra control to glide across the treetops soundlessly.
"We've reached the target," Yumeko halted suddenly, veins bulging around her activated Byakugan. "Twelve guards around the perimeter. Inside… wait!"
Her voice turned tense. "There's an enormous chakra source in the center of the camp. That is… what is that?!"
Yumeko's voice sharpened with alarm, like she had seen some kind of monster.
Rin's heart sank. "What is it?"
Yumeko's face was pale with fear. "A… a monster…"
Rin quickly pressed her hand against Yumeko's head, gently pushing it down in a calming gesture—to prevent her panic from giving away their position. Strangely, Yumeko felt a sense of comfort from Rin's touch.
Rin's mind raced.
For Yumeko to call something a monster, there could only be one explanation: a Jinchūriki.
She must've seen Shukaku.
The Jinchūriki of Sunagakure—Monk Bunpuku.
A combat asset of that caliber appearing at a supply base was highly irregular.
Rin swiftly recalculated their strategy. The original plan was just reconnaissance—but things had changed. Facing a Jinchūriki was beyond their capacity. Worse still, Rin knew that Tailed Beasts possessed malicious chakra perception.
"Mission update," Rin said decisively. "We observe only from the outer perimeter. Record guard rotations and defense weak points. Do not enter the camp. Yumeko—track the Jinchūriki's movements closely."
The squad crept to the limits of their safe distance. Under the moonlight, Rin could see a central tent, significantly larger than the others, with a wide empty zone around it. No Suna-nin dared to approach.
"The Jinchūriki… is inside that one," Yumeko whispered. "Its chakra is stable—seems to be asleep."
Just then, the flap of the main tent suddenly lifted—
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