"Konoha ninja!?"
The leader of the Iwagakure forces, exclaimed in surprise. His sharp eyes first locked onto Aburame Shibi rather than Minato.
"Are you from the Aburame clan?" he asked, a hint of astonishment in his tone. Despite his expertise in controlling insects, he had been unable to detect the parasites that Shibi had planted. This was unsettling.
Shibi remained stoic, offering no response. His expression was calm, but inwardly, he recalled stories from his father about the Kamizuru clan's strength. Both clans—Aburame and Kamizuru—were renowned in the ninja world for their mastery of insects.
The man smirked. "Konoha's vigilance is impressive. To have discovered us so quickly…"
He sounded more amused than concerned. The plan had always accounted for the possibility of discovery. With over 800 Iwagakure ninja infiltrating the Land of Fire, avoiding detection entirely was unrealistic. However, the location they had chosen—this vast circular forest—was carefully selected. Even if discovered, retreat would be easy, given the surrounding terrain.
The Iwagakure sensory ninja began sweeping the forest for hidden enemies. Minato remained silent, watching their actions with a calm yet sharp gaze. The enemy's numbers continued to grow, with scattered teams still arriving at the forest's edge.
"No enemies detected," one of the sensory ninja finally reported.
This result puzzled the Iwagakure forces. How could there be no trace of any additional Konoha ninja nearby? The conclusion was clear, yet it defied common sense: the only Konoha ninja present were the two standing before them.
The leader's brow furrowed in disbelief. "Are the results confirmed?" he demanded.
After repeated affirmations from his sensory ninja, he had no choice but to accept the improbable truth. The two Konoha shinobi had followed hundreds of Iwagakure ninjas alone.
Shibi glanced sideways at Minato. "He's waiting for more of them to arrive," Shibi realized, swallowing nervously. Even though he had seen Minato's strength firsthand, this was unprecedented. Hundreds of Iwagakure ninja had gathered, capable of altering the terrain itself with their Earth Release techniques.
Despite the overwhelming odds, Minato's expression remained as calm as it had been during the Chunin Exams years ago.
As more Iwagakure teams entered the forest, Minato finally broke the silence, his voice light yet cutting through the tension. "It seems everyone's here."
The Kamizuru leader hesitated, confused by Minato's words. Glancing at his subordinates, he barked, "Where are the others? Why haven't they arrived yet?"
The remaining Iwagakure teams had been divided into carefully planned routes to enter the Land of Fire. Yet, of the more than 800 infiltrators, over a dozen teams were still unaccounted for. The leader's gaze shifted back to Minato, his mind racing. Could Konoha have intercepted them all? He shook his head. No matter how powerful Konoha's intelligence network was, it was impossible for them to eliminate that many teams simultaneously.
Just as he was grappling with doubt, Minato spoke again, his tone unwavering. "There's no need to wait any longer. Everyone is already here."
The Kamizuru leader's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What do you mean by that?"
Minato's response was swift and deliberate. He reached into his ninja tool pouch and unfurled a scroll, shaking it with a flick of his wrist.
"Bang!"
Dozens of bloodstained Iwagakure forehead protectors spilled onto the ground, their metallic clangs echoing ominously. Gasps rippled through the crowd of Iwagakure ninja as their eyes locked onto the grim display. The implications were undeniable.
Minato's voice rang out, steady and cold. "Excluding those of you here, the other Iwagakure ninja have already been dealt with."
The Kamizuru leader froze, his mind reeling. He quickly did the math. The forehead protectors in the scroll matched the exact number of missing Iwagakure teams. The horrifying realization settled in—nearly 300 of his comrades had been killed by the man standing before them.
"You…" The leader's eyes burned red with rage, his face twisting into a mask of hatred. "You're courting death!"
Minato's expression didn't waver. His calm demeanor only seemed to infuriate the Iwagakure leader further. The Kamizuru leader roared, and the tension in the air exploded.
Minato turned to Shibi, his voice firm but composed. "You've done an excellent job tracking the Rock Ninja. Leave the rest to me. Get out of here."
Shibi hesitated, his gaze darting between the seething crowd of Iwagakure ninja and Minato's steady form. He wanted to argue but knew it would be futile. With a resigned sigh, he nodded and began retreating.
"You won't escape!" the Kamizuru leader roared. He waved his sleeve, unleashing a swarm of bees that surged toward Shibi.
"Boom!"
Before the swarm could reach its target, a massive fireball erupted, consuming the bees in an instant. The flames scattered, forcing several Iwagakure ninja to retreat.
Minato, still standing on the tree trunk, gripped his special kunai tightly. His sharp gaze swept over the gathered enemies.
"You brought 500 of your best to infiltrate the Land of Fire," Minato said, his voice low yet carrying through the clearing. "You dared to come here seeking destruction, but you'll find only death."
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