Naruto: Aizen's Shadow in Konoha

Chapter 191: Infiltrate[191]



"Understood, no problem!" Namikaze Minato murmured as he nodded toward Aizen.

On their journey to the Western Front, both Minato and Aizen had been poring over the intricacies of the war, formulating a strategy that was as ambitious as it was unorthodox. Now, having thoroughly analyzed the current situation on the ground, their bold plan began to crystallize—a plan that, though it appeared audacious at first glance, stood on firm logic and feasibility upon closer inspection.

Commander Yama and the other officers soon returned to the headquarters, their expressions a mix of confusion and curiosity. Minato wasted no time diving into the details of their strategy.

At first, Commander Yama and his colleagues exchanged incredulous looks, unsure whether Minato and Aizen were daring geniuses or reckless dreamers. However, as the duo meticulously presented their reasoning, supported by hard data and strategic insights, skepticism began to give way to admiration.

By the time Minato concluded, the officers sat in stunned silence, awestruck by the depth of the plan.

"It's... unconventional," one officer murmured, breaking the silence.

"But if executed as you've outlined, it just might work," Commander Yama added, his tone tinged with newfound respect.

The officers left the meeting with a renewed sense of purpose, their minds racing with preparations for the audacious operation.

Word of Minato and Aizen's arrival spread quickly, reaching the ears of the Sand Shinobi command stationed at Kikyo Mountain.

In the central Sand Shinobi encampment, Chiyo's face twisted into a sneer. "So, Konoha's reinforcements have finally arrived. And it's just two boys? It seems Hiruzen doesn't think much of us," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Sister," Ebizō said calmly, hands clasped behind his back, "it's not a matter of disrespect. Konoha is simply stretched thin. With the other three Great Shinobi Nations pressing on all sides, they're scraping the bottom of the barrel."

He paused, a sardonic smile on his lips. "Their reinforcements are nothing but a motley crew of weak Genin and has-beens. Hardly a threat to our forces."

"Humph! The Land of Fire's arrogance is nauseating. Ever since the fall of 'White Fang,' Konoha has been living on borrowed glory." Chiyo's tone was bitter, her mind drifting to the long-dead Hatake Sakumo, the man who had shattered her family and yet perished in disgrace.

The memory of Sakumo's death stirred conflicting emotions within her—hatred for his past deeds and a reluctant respect for his legacy. But Chiyo quickly shook off the sentiment. There was no time for old grudges; the future of Sand Shinobi Village demanded her full attention.

"Still," Chiyo said, her voice now pensive, "Konoha's strategy seems... peculiar. Even if they are struggling, this level of under-preparedness is suspicious."

Ebizō's eyes glinted with realization as a thought struck him. "Sister," he began, his tone sharp, "I think I understand Konoha's play."

Chiyo's gaze snapped to him. "Explain."

"Aizen," Ebizō said simply. "He's Tsunade's protégé—the very man who revolutionized Konoha's medical systems a few years ago. Remember those medical scrolls we intercepted through our spies? Those were his doing."

Chiyo's eyes narrowed in thought. "The medical scrolls… I see now. Konoha is planning to rely heavily on medical logistics to outlast us. With enough scrolls, they could sustain their forces far longer than we'd anticipated."

Ebizō nodded. "Precisely. They aim to wear us down through attrition, banking on their medical superiority to minimize their own losses while exploiting the inherent weaknesses in our supply lines."

Chiyo's sneer returned. "Clever. But they're underestimating us if they think that alone will be enough to stop the Sand Shinobi."

One universal truth remains unchanged on the battlefield: time is never an ally for the weak. As long as Konoha's Western Army lacks the capacity to mount an offensive, their defeat is inevitable.

...

By the shimmering waters of the river, in the heart of Sand Shinobi's vanguard camp, an unexpected development stirred the camp's leadership.

"What?! Are you telling me that one of the commanders Konoha sent to the Western Front is none other than Aizen?!" Rasa's voice erupted, his eyes wide with astonishment.

"Yes, sir," replied the Sand Shinobi intelligence operative, his expression tinged with confusion at Rasa's exaggerated reaction.

"You're dismissed."

Rasa waved off the intelligence ninja without another word. As the operative departed, Rasa's lips curled into a grin, his eyes alight with an unsettling mix of excitement and malice.

"Hah! The gods must have a sense of humor! Aizen! After all these years, we cross paths again so soon. You can't imagine how long I've waited for this moment."

Rasa's laughter echoed in the tent, but it was quickly consumed by a simmering hatred. His mind raced back to the Second Shinobi War—a time when he was utterly humiliated by Aizen.

Aizen had not only bested him in combat but left an indelible scar on Rasa's pride. Even now, memories of that defeat haunted him, a bitter reminder of his past inadequacies.

But things were different now. Rasa had spent years honing his Magnet Release and refining his techniques to the pinnacle of mastery. He was no longer the defeated ninja from years past.

"This time," Rasa vowed, his voice low and venomous, "I'll crush you, Aizen. I'll make you pay for that disgrace."

Beside him, Pakura observed Rasa's uncharacteristic outburst with intrigue. She knew Rasa's strength intimately—his power surpassed even her own—and yet, the mere mention of Aizen's name had shaken him to his core.

"Who is this Aizen, to have left such a mark on you?" Pakura mused aloud.

She had heard whispers of Aizen during the Second Shinobi War, though his presence had been overshadowed by the brilliance of Namikaze Minato and Senju Nawaki. Still, anyone capable of reducing Rasa to such a state of agitation was clearly a formidable opponent.

Her curiosity about Aizen deepened, and a flicker of anticipation sparked in her chest.

What neither Rasa nor Pakura anticipated was how soon they would encounter Aizen.

As night descended over the Sand Shinobi camp, darkness blanketed the outskirts. The moonlight glinted faintly off the surface of the river, casting a silvery glow over the still waters.

Unbeknownst to the Sand Shinobi, a lone figure emerged from the direction of the Kikyoyama fortress. Cloaked in shadows, the figure moved with a grace and stealth that rendered them nearly invisible.

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