bookpower 99. Hikari And His Forces Breaching Into The Land of Water
99. Hikari And His Forces Breaching Into The Land of Water
99. Hikari And His Forces Breaching Into The Land of Water
A week had swiftly passed since Hikari left Konoha to join the warfare against Kirigakure on the Eastern Front, marking his first time away from the village for such an extended period.
Leading a large, dispersed formation, he had already maneuvered his troops out of the Land of Fire.
He was now navigating through the dense jungles in the southern parts of the main continent that belonged to the official territory of the Land of Water.
The terrain was challenging, with thick vegetation and unpredictable weather patterns that made the march arduous and slow.
As they moved deeper into enemy territory, Hikari was constantly aware of the need for vigilance.
The possibility of ambushes was high, and the dense jungle could hide Kirigakure shinobi just as effectively as it concealed his forces.
Every step forward was taken with caution, and every order was given with the consideration of potential threats.
As Hikari moved alone through the dense jungle, he consistently used his Byakugan to scan the terrain ahead.
With its 50 km range, it allowed him to oversee a vast area, providing a critical advantage in these hostile surroundings.
Despite his vigilance, the scans revealed no immediate threats, just endless stretches of thick foliage and the occasional wildlife disturbance.U//ppTodated fr/o/m
Reflecting on the situation, Hikari reasoned, 'It seems that there will probably be Kiri shinobi only when we come across some inhabited villages.'
'This part is only jungle; only closer to the shores are people likely living—that's probably where they are stationed...',
His assessment was based on typical military strategies that positioned forces near civilian populations for logistical support and strategic control, particularly in coastal areas which were more accessible and economically vital.
He planned to maintain a high level of alertness while moving through the jungle but prepared for a potential increase in enemy contact as they approached more populated areas near the coast.
Despite the inherent dangers of their mission, Hikari was confident in the defensive capabilities of his forces, particularly against ambushes, which were a specialty of the Kirigakure shinobi.
His force was well-equipped with sensors capable of detecting enemies at great distances, and Byakugan provided short-range, precise observation.
Hikari surmised that the Kirigakure shinobi were likely aware of their enhanced sensory capabilities.
This awareness might explain the absence of attempts to ambush his forces. The dense jungle, while a perfect setting for stealth and surprise attacks, was rendered less effective.
Hikari then halted for a while and unrolled his specially designed master communication scroll, an intricate tool that connected him to all the squadrons under his command.
Given Kirigakure's reputation as the most isolationist shinobi village, reliable intelligence on their capabilities and troop movements was scarce, however, it also meant that their intelligence on other villages was also weak, making the sensory battle even more pivotal for both sides.
The engagement wasn't just about gathering intelligence; it involved several small skirmishes as well.
Both sides deployed small teams to probe defenses and test the enemy's reactions, which provided vital insights into the opposing side's tactics and preparedness.
These encounters, though minor, were crucial in shaping the strategic decisions of both camps.
Strategically, both Konoha and Kirigakure had similarly deployed their forces. Both sides had shinobi spread out along a front that stretched approximately 1000 kilometers.
The forces were dispersed in small squadrons to cover the entire distance effectively, with empty spaces between each unit.
However, these gaps did not pose a significant risk due to the advanced sensory abilities of the shinobi in each squadron, which allowed them to monitor large areas and detect incoming threats.
Over the past few weeks, Hikari saw firsthand that they were not encountering the full strength of Kirigakure's forces.
His assessment was based on the strategic distribution of Kirigakure's military resources; a portion of their shinobi had been deployed to another front to face Kumogakure, albeit in smaller numbers.
Additionally, like themselves, Kirigakure had divided their main division facing Konoha into three smaller contingents, spreading their forces across multiple fronts.
This meant that Hikari and his forces were engaging only a segment of Kirigakure's overall military might.
Despite the ongoing strategic maneuvers and engagements, Hikari determined that it was finally time for him to take a more direct role in the conflict.
Up until this point, he had maintained a low profile, carefully staying at a safe distance behind the front lines and outside the sensory range of Kirigakure's ninja.
This careful positioning, combined with the fact that his identity and capabilities were not well-known even inside Konoha, left the enemy without operational intelligence on him.
With this advantage of anonymity and after weeks of meticulous observation and intelligence gathering, Hikari had successfully deciphered the positions and movements of Kirigakure's forces.
A recent surge in intelligence allowed him to identify a key target—an enemy elite from Kirigakure whose elimination could potentially shift the balance of power in their favor, as there were only a handful of them on both sides of this front.
Prepared for the task, Hikari planned his approach with precision. He would utilize his stealth and speed to close in on that elite undetected and strike at an opportune moment when the target was least expecting an attack.
This direct involvement was a calculated risk, but one that Hikari was ready to take to gain a significant advantage and potentially demoralize the enemy forces.
Thanks to his amazing chakra control allowing for keeping his chakra from leaking out of his body exceptionally well, and his speed, and his Early Kage strength, he would pick him up.