Night, two o'clock in the morning.

In Konoha Village, which is enforcing a market curfew during wartime, the surroundings have turned dim, with only a few houses illuminated.

The vast majority of the village's power supply is directed to special places like the Hokage Building and the ninja tool factory, leaving even the once-bustling gambling houses and red-light districts devoid of their former glitz and glamour.

Under the slightly dim moonlight, one can occasionally glimpse figures darting across the rooftops; most wear gray-black combat uniforms and masks, vigilantly surveying their surroundings.

On the streets, one might only see a person or two finishing work at this hour.

War is not solely about the iron, blood, and fire of the front lines, nor just about victories and sacrifices; it also encompasses logistics, transportation, and intelligence gathering and defense in the rear.

At this very moment, in an unknown small room, three squads of Iwagakure members are gathered around a dark table, listening intently to the plan being explained by the person in the center.

The explanation doesn't take long, and each person's task is clear.

Thus, the now-disguised 'Kojima-kun' solemnly states at last:

“Everyone, understand?”

“Yes.”

Even with hushed voices, the gazes of all the Iwagakure ninjas present indicate their determination.

“Very well!”

“Now... begin the mission!”

Removing their forehead protectors, covering their faces, and stripping off all identifiable markings, the Iwagakure ninjas no longer hesitate and orderly head toward the corner of the room where an underground passage created by earth jutsu lies, resolutely.

‘Kojima-kun’... or rather, “The Thousand-Faced Gray Soil,” who has made a great name for himself in the intelligence circles of the five great nations over the years, quietly watches them leave.

He knows that most of them will end up like the group from this morning, appearing meaningless in their deaths at the hands of Konoha ninjas.

But this is a necessary task.

They must acquire the mission intelligence of Tsunade's team as quickly as possible.

Because, at this moment, the Third Tsuchikage is at the front lines of the Earth and Lightning alliance, leading troops in a difficult war of attrition against the Cloud Village's main forces.

If they are to assassinate the Third Tsuchikage, cause the front lines to collapse, and plunge Iwagakure and the Land of Earth into chaos, now is the best opportunity.

This understanding is clear to Iwagakure's people, and of course, it is clear to Konoha's as well.

Gray Soil contemplates in silence, ultimately resolutely stepping into the depths of hell.

......

“Hmm—”

At the door of the sealed room.

A boy who looks only twelve or thirteen yawns long and sleepily, complaining in a tone, “Teacher, isn’t it time to change shifts yet?”

“Silence.”

Leading this squad of genin is a thirty-something middle-aged jōnin, who leans against the wall next to the sealed room's entrance, a cigarette in his mouth.

However, looking at the boy's still youthful face, which is about the same age as his own son, he can't help but say:

“It’ll be a little while longer.”

“Seriously.” The boy genin gazes out at the night sky, leaning on his hand in boredom. “How can a mission like this be a C-rank? Are we going to be stuck doing such dull things from now on?”

“Alright, Shuuichi!” a nearby girl admonishes, “Don't say such reckless things while on a mission.”

“Yes~”

The boy, with his back to the freshly repaired window, drags out his words.

However, almost at the same instant this sound occurs, a kunai shoots out from the darkness, suddenly piercing the neck of the genin.

“Shh—”

The kunai is pulled out.

Crimson blood splatters.

“Shuuichi!”

The girl, bewildered, instinctively calls out.

The experienced middle-aged jōnin has already dashed out first, grabbing the hand stretching from the darkness and yanking it back forcefully.

“Puh.”

Accompanied by a popping sound, the ignited 'arm' is held in his hand.

The jōnin's reaction speed is astonishing; in a flash, he throws the explosive device out through the broken window while quickly forming hand seals.

“Water Style: Water Barrier!”

In an environment without water, he suddenly constructs a wall of flowing water that surrounds the three people in the center using the simplest single hand seal, perfectly demonstrating his identity as a ninjutsu-type jōnin.

The explosive sound from outside suddenly jolts all the staff in the Hokage Building, who immediately look towards the shattered window.

Under the dark night, the flames are intimidating.

Almost at the same moment the sound occurs, four figures, all dressed in black clothing, rush towards the three encased in the water flow—behind them is the sealed room's door.

However, at the instant they appear,

“Bang bang bang—”

Dozens of figures, some in Anbu uniforms and others in Uchiha guard vests, burst through the outer window, surrounding this squad.

Uchiha Yayoi stands at the forefront, her crimson, double-tomoe Sharingan coldly gazing at the four in front of her.

Having realized during the day while checking the corpses that the big fish had not yet been caught, she had expected to wait several more days, but she did not anticipate that they would appear so quickly.

Yet, faced with the overwhelming encirclement of over a dozen ninjas, the central death squad seems completely unaware of their situation.

The leader coldly sneers as he tears open his dark jacket, revealing a vest covered in explosive tags.

Yayoi's pupils instantly constrict.

The next moment.

“Boom!”

A thunderous explosion erupts.

But it is not on this floor.

Not only Yayoi, but many in attendance instinctively look up to the floor above.

The fourth floor is the Hokage's office.

Luring the tiger away from its mountain!

Could it be that their target was the Hokage's office from the very beginning?!

Almost everyone has this thought flash through their minds.

“Quick!”

“Catch these few first!”

Yayoi, without time to think more, immediately gives orders to her companions beside her.

At the same time, she has already rushed towards the foremost death soldier.

The long-prepared genjutsu in her Sharingan is suddenly unleashed.

“Fantasy: Sharingan”

The Iwagakure death soldier who just tore open the explosive vest momentarily freezes, a hint of confusion appearing in his eyes.

But his companion behind him, eyes closed and with a fierce expression, pushes him forward while channeling chakra into his explosive vest.

“Boom!”

Another explosion sounds.

The death soldier's entire body is instantly torn apart, blood mist exploding with scattered limbs flying in all directions; even the small bone fragments are sharp like shuriken, striking the walls with cracking sounds, creating a massive breach in the corridor floor and the building's outer wall.

Charging forward, Uchiha Yayoi is engulfed in the explosion's dust and rolls to the side to dissipate the force, half of her body stained with dark red blood.

Damn it.

The tomoe in the girl's eyes seem to spin even faster with this violent emotion.

The three Iwagakure death soldiers, already prepared, use the explosion's residual force to charge forward at high speed, despite their numerous small wounds.

With blades in hand, they unhesitatingly target a few obviously young and inexperienced ninjas, attempting to use them as a breakthrough point.

They knew from the beginning that they were destined to die in action.

But even in death, they must take down a few possible enemies that could appear on the battlefield for their village.

......

Meanwhile.

On the fourth floor, two true elite squads, led by Gray Soil, rush into the Hokage's office through the breach created by the explosion at the fastest speed.