Revolution in the Ninja World

That Konoha was able to obtain such confidential intelligence indicated that the spy embedded in Sunagakure was either very capable or very highly placed. Comparing the two, the former was more likely.

And after learning the route of Sunagakure's messenger, ANBU's choice of a maritime interception indicated that Konoha had likely already figured out the messenger's specific identity... The sea environment was advantageous for limiting the expression of her abilities.

If Habara was correct, Sunagakure's messenger should be the kunoichi Pakura, who had earned the title of "hero" in the current war. Konoha didn't actually need to worry about Sunagakure and Kirigakure restoring communications, because the condition for the former two to restore peace was for Pakura to go to the Land of Water to die.

It could only be said that the conditions for the two countries to achieve peace were very outrageous, and even more outrageous was that Sunagakure had actually agreed to such conditions. First, there was Sunagakure's hero going to her death, and then there was Hyuga Hizashi's suicide; the Kazekage and Hokage, what a pair of peerless prodigies.

So, for Pakura, it didn't really matter whether Konoha intercepted her or not; she was dead either way if she reached the Land of Water. But Konoha probably didn't want to see these two countries make peace.

The war situation in the ninja world and the war strategies of various countries need not be elaborated on; simply put, it was attacking both near and far. Two countries that had absolutely nothing to do with each other on the map were at war. Therefore, the approach that best suited Konoha's security was: first, sign peace treaties with other countries one by one, and after my business is done, you can sort out your own affairs.

And considering Pakura's method of death, Habara felt that her "hero" title probably had a lot of fluff in it... Pakura was killed by the "Shuriken Spam Jutsu," dying a rather undignified death.

If you had at least attached an explosive tag to each shuriken, it would have made the "hero's" death a little more spectacular.

To rationalize it somewhat, one could say that Pakura was essentially a "mage," accustomed to stationary output and suitable for group battles, not for solo engagements.

Konoha dispatching twenty-four ANBU ninjas to intercept Pakura was overestimating her. It could be said that in this kind of confrontation, Pakura was doomed.

But the premise was that they could actually intercept Pakura, and it was clear that this matter was very urgent. After receiving this mission, Habara and the others immediately set out, and two and a half days later, they had already reached the open sea.

Compared to the treacherous storms that had once occurred on the eastern sea of the Land of Fire, the stories of courage and sacrifice left behind during the war, and the miracle of Konoha's genin truly going one-against-seven, the southern sea of the Land of Fire could be said to have always been very quiet, consistently remaining nameless during the war.

After reaching the sea, the twenty-four quickly split into two twelve-man action teams. The two teams, one in front and one behind, immediately began a search operation.

No one knew the "messenger's" speed, so although ANBU's movements were swift and decisive, they couldn't be sure whether they had successfully blocked the "messenger" west of the South Sea.

Habara's squad did not have long-range, wide-area reconnaissance capabilities, so they were one of the main attack squads, positioned in the middle of the extended search formation.

Three hours later, the division captain discovered a small boat on the western horizon... The messenger had appeared.

Because the cause of this whole affair was to send Pakura to her death, the messenger was alone. If Sunagakure had been able to assign her a four-man squad, she certainly wouldn't be in such a passive position.

Sunagakure didn't provide Pakura with guards, but Kirigakure did arrange for people to meet her in the Land of Water... albeit to meet her in hell.

Fortunately, this time the "hero" didn't die so miserably. At least she died from a Konoha ambush, not from betrayal by her own people. When Pakura entered Konoha's encirclement, the battle erupted instantly.

Because the Konoha teams were spread out widely, and to avoid alerting the enemy, they didn't use sound signals this time. Therefore, when the fighting started up ahead, Habara's side didn't immediately notice.

To ensure the messenger had nowhere to escape, ANBU first had to complete their encirclement.

Five minutes later, when a four-legged lizard quickly crossed the water and delivered a scroll to Kazeri, the squad captain finally spoke, "The enemy has appeared. Commence the operation!"

The four of them headed straight for the center of the battlefield.

Before they could even see the messenger, an orange fireball suddenly flew past their heads in mid-air.

The four exchanged glances and then accelerated abruptly.

The sea was very clear. Habara saw two ANBU ninjas attacking Pakura from a distance, and Pakura was holding up a large fireball, preparing to smash it at these two enemies.

Pakura was a Kekkei Genkai user. Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder was her signature technique. In short, this technique was to drain the water from the enemy's body, directly turning them into a mummy.

The two ANBU ninjas seemed to have nowhere to escape. And at this moment, Captain Kazeri suddenly dashed forward, and the hand seals he was forming were already complete: Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!

The surging waves on the sea instantly transformed into a water dragon, rushing towards Pakura with an exaggerated roar.

Habara glanced sideways at his captain. Damn, how can you use such a high-level ninjutsu?

Regardless of whether the Water Dragon Bullet could crush a ninja like Pakura in one hit, her "fireball" certainly couldn't be maintained under such a deluge.

With a hissing sound, a huge amount of thick steam began to fill the sea.

But if their vision was obscured like this, the environment would be disadvantageous to Konoha and advantageous to Pakura, who was alone.

So, an ANBU ninja from another squad immediately stepped forward:

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!

A continuous, powerful gust of wind quickly swept away the rising steam, revealing Pakura's hidden figure once again.

Another squad captain instantly appeared beside the ninja who was using the Wind Release ninjutsu. Then, he also began to release ninjutsu:

Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!

The fire borrowed the wind's momentum, and a thick pillar of fire rushed towards Pakura.

Another high-level ninjutsu. Habara began to suspect that this squad captain's last name was Sarutobi.

To avoid this wide-ranging Fire Release, Pakura began to run sideways, thus getting closer to Habara's squad.

" Riku, Kisu, Batsu, move!"

There was no need for the captain's reminder; the three of them had already charged towards Pakura.

With a blockade in front and a sea of fire behind, Pakura's only choice was to charge forward.

She clasped her hands together, trying to form seals again. However, at that moment, intense lightning suddenly erupted under Habara's feet. The sea was as calm as a clear sky, and he was like a shooting star.

Habara instantly lunged at Pakura, seemingly about to crash right into her. Then, he extended an iron claw, first firmly gripping her wrist, and then, using the momentum from his high-speed dash, he violently pulled her clasped hands apart.

"Heroic epics mostly have tragic endings, don't they?"

Before he finished speaking, Kisu, who was close behind Habara, also reached Pakura. Because Pakura had already been restrained by Habara on one arm and pulled off balance, Kisu unhesitatingly drew his sword and stabbed towards Pakura's chest.

And then...

Pakura suddenly turned sideways and, at the same time, brought her knee up sharply. Her knee passed between Kisu's arms and slammed heavily into his chin.

Kisu's body was launched upwards, and then Pakura, turning sideways, kicked him away with a roundhouse kick. It was a perfect stop, turn, and shot, all in one fluid motion.

Habara: "..."

There was zero teamwork.