Sand Shinobi Squad Infiltration

Back in the cave, Yueguang Han began his final experiment. Fortunately, he had Lightning-nature Chakra and could use Lightning Style ninjutsu.

Rabbit, Rat, Horse, Ram.

Lightning Style: Earth Run.

Blue currents flowed from Yueguang Han’s hands and landed on the ten Kunai planted in the ground ahead. Each Kunai was tied to Steel Wire, the other ends of which were fastened around Wang Han’s feet and waist. It was dangerous, but this was the method Yueguang Han most wanted to test. Even if it failed, at worst, his entire body would be paralyzed and unable to move for a while.

"Crackle…" The crackling echoed through the cave as blue light illuminated every corner.

The crackling blue current struck the Kunai, then raced back along the Steel Wire toward Yueguang Han’s body.

There was no scenario where electricity coursed through his whole body and he could light a bulb by holding it in his mouth. The instant the currents running back along the wire touched Yueguang Han’s skin, they transformed into pure energy and were absorbed by the system, becoming his Energy Points.

Seeing the best possible outcome, Yueguang Han let out a sigh of relief. His theory had proven correct: Lightning Style ninjutsu could be converted into Energy Points, and he was at least immune to low-level Lightning Style. As for Fire Style, he had already known that.

Once his Lightning Style ninjutsu ended, Yueguang Han eagerly sank his consciousness into the Consciousness Sea again and opened the system’s energy panel. His original 1,700 Energy Points had become 1,710, an increase of ten points. Lightning Release: Earth Run, cast at his current level, could restore ten Energy Points. With his current amount of Chakra, he could still use Lightning Release: Earth Run six more times.

He also tested Chakra refinement and found that his greatest concern had not come to pass. Even after installing the T800 Template and Nano-Blood Robot Template, he could still refine Chakra. However, the Tech Template had still affected his Chakra refinement, slowing it to less than half its previous speed.

That made sense. He still had flesh now, only his blood had been replaced by nanobots.

Although he wanted to use ninjutsu again to replenish his energy, or chop down a couple of trees, light them, and roast himself over the fire, the commotion from testing his weapons had been considerable. It was possible that ninjas would be drawn here. Whether they were Konoha Ninja or Sand Shinobi, Yueguang Han did not want them to discover him yet. Using Firearms at night could also expose muzzle flashes and bullet trajectories.

Taking his spoils, Yueguang Han swiftly left the cave and vanished into the night.

In the darkness, illuminated by thin moonlight, an elite Sand Shinobi squad of twenty-one advanced silently through the forest in fixed formation. They remained vigilant of their surroundings and erased the traces they left behind. The two Sand Shinobi responsible for sensing took turns maintaining their sensory ninjutsu, never daring to let down their guard in the slightest.

Their mission was to skirt around the edge of the main battlefield where the opposing forces faced off, infiltrate behind the Konoha Ninja lines, gather intelligence, locate enemy sentry posts and forward camps, assassinate enemy ninjas, and harass and sabotage Konoha Ninja logistics.

Aside from combat on the front lines, such tactics were common in wars between ninjas. Konoha had likewise sent ninja squads to infiltrate their rear many times, and even had specialized assassination squads. Both Konoha and Sand Hidden had suffered greatly from these tactics, yet neither had any way to stop them, and both continued to use them tirelessly.

"Captain Ohno, there is a Chakra signature two kilometers ahead. Just one. The amount of Chakra is very low; it should be a Genin."

Within the quietly advancing Sand Shinobi squad, the ninja responsible for sensing spoke softly to the middle-aged Sand Shinobi beside him.

Is it a sentry post? Or really a Genin? If it is a Genin, then he is a deserter! Hearing this, the middle-aged Sand Shinobi quickly considered the matter. No matter which it was, they had to investigate. It would be even better if they could eliminate an enemy sentry post. He whispered to the others, "Sneak over quietly. Try to capture him alive without making any noise. If he is a fleeing Konoha ninja, we may be able to get useful intelligence from him. If he is one of ours… kill him."

(During wartime, Genin generally would not be used as sentries. Genin lacked experience and were weak, greatly increasing the odds of enemy infiltration and even the risk of exposing intelligence. A small number of Genin were exceptions.)

No one answered. Everyone merely nodded silently and, under the guidance of the Sensory Ninja, stealthily moved toward the discovered ninja.

Two kilometers was nothing to ninjas. Even while advancing covertly, they reached the vicinity in only ten minutes.

"The target is hiding in a tree one hundred meters in that direction." Hidden behind a tree, the Sensory Ninja pointed in one direction and quietly spoke to Captain Ohno, who was concealed behind a nearby tree.

He did not even set up warning traps. He really could be a fleeing Genin. Ohno felt a surge of delight. The target was clearly inexperienced. They had approached to within a hundred meters without encountering any traps. He was not a sentry; there was a very high chance that he was a fleeing Genin.

Ohno immediately used the moonlight to gesture to the other Sand Shinobi. They quickly relayed the orders through hand signals and quietly surrounded the tree indicated by the Sensory Ninja from both sides.

Although they were probably dealing with nothing more than a fleeing Genin, they did not let down their guard. A low amount of Chakra did not necessarily mean the target was a Genin.

Did they find me by sensing my Chakra? Perfect. This saves me the trouble of looking for them. In the tree canopy, Yueguang Han was awakened from his rest. Without revealing any reaction, he observed the Sand Shinobi creeping closer, excitement rising in his heart as he rapidly considered a battle plan.

With the Terminator T800 Template, his eyes were no longer flesh and blood, but Smart Electronic Eyes. They not only granted him night vision, allowing him to easily distinguish their appearances and clothing in the dark, but also gave him extraordinarily powerful observational abilities. Unless a ninja could travel underground, as long as they exposed themselves—even for an instant—their stealth could not escape his eyes.

He truly had not set up any warning traps, nor did he have materials left to make more. But the T800 robot system was extremely vigilant.

After installing the Tech Template, his physical body only needed nutrients to replenish itself and ease cellular fatigue. As for mental rest, he only needed to sink his consciousness into the Consciousness Sea. His external body merely remained in standby mode, needing to make no sound at all. He did not even need to close his eyes, yet could still constantly monitor every movement and sound around him. The moment something happened, the system would issue a warning and awaken his consciousness.

Two minutes later, two Sand Shinobi Jonin had cautiously crept beneath the tree. Looking at Yueguang Han resting against the trunk above, they seemed to see that their target had not awakened. The two Sand Shinobi Jonin exchanged a glance, pushed off with their feet, and shot toward Yueguang Han in the canopy like speeding arrows.