vstars Chapter 593 Clothing
Chapter 593 Clothing
Zhang Hai took the costume and quickly changed into it in front of the Third Hokage. Then, he picked up his mask—a black cat-shaped mask with silver lines along the edges, completely obscuring his face except for two narrow slits around his eyes. The moment he put on the mask, he seemed to completely merge into the darkness, becoming a symbol, an existence solely for the mission.
He turned around, bowed to the Third Hokage, and then left the Hokage's office without looking back.
When Zhang Hai reappeared, he was outside Tsunade's office where she researched poisons. Through the half-open window, he could hear the clinking of various utensils and Tsunade's occasional whispers. He was about to push the door open when he suddenly stopped. He remembered what Tsunade had said earlier—that she could manage on her own. In the end, he didn't push the door open, but instead reached out and gently knocked on the door.
Tsunade, who was in the room, felt a little strange when she heard the knocking. Zhang Hai usually just pushed the door open and came in; why was he being so polite today? "Come in!" she called out.
"Lady Tsunade, I can't go in." Zhang Hai's voice came through the door, carrying a sense of distance and a hint of farewell. "I have to go. It seems I can only accompany you this far in your research." He paused, his tone carrying a sincere blessing, "I hope you can develop a combat system for medical ninjas soon."
"Goodbye," he said softly, as if severing all ties with the past.
Tsunade's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. She abruptly stood up, rushed forward, and flung open the office door. However, the doorway was now empty, only the silent air of the corridor remained, as if nothing had happened. Her pupils contracted sharply, a sense of foreboding washing over her.
Just as White Fang had predicted, after defeating Kumogakure, the powerful Iwagakure once again set its sights on Konoha. They launched a massive invasion, destroying all of Konoha's previous outposts on the border. This meant Konoha was forced to open a second front, bringing the war to its own territory. This undoubtedly placed immense pressure on Konoha, which was already fighting on multiple fronts.
Fortunately, Sakumo Hatake, the legendary ninja known as the "White Fang of Konoha," firmly suppressed the enemy on the Sunagakure battlefield, preventing the village from attending to other matters. This allowed Konoha to free up most of its forces to deal with the battle on the Iwagakure side. However, facing the formidable Iwagakure, this battle was destined to be a tough one. And Zhang Hai had become a key piece in this arduous struggle.
The Second Shinobi World War had entered its most brutal phase. What were once minor skirmishes had escalated into a full-scale war where the fate of villages hung in the balance. The clash of chakra and flesh was a daily spectacle. Along the borders of the Land of Fire, smoke filled the air, and cries and roars echoed everywhere. Every day, countless shinobi sacrificed themselves, falling to the cold earth, never to return to their homes.
Zhang Hai's squad, comprised of secret agents, immediately plunged into the brutal meat grinder upon arriving at the battlefield of Iwagakure. As the squad leader, he held absolute command authority, and his team of ten men were all battle-hardened elites. Their mission was not to charge into battle on the front lines, but to penetrate deep behind enemy lines, like venomous snakes, relentlessly cutting off Iwagakure's supply lines and subjecting them to the bitter taste of logistical disruption.
Although all members wore masks, after several joint operations, Zhang Hai, with his keen observation skills, had roughly guessed the identities and backgrounds of each member. There were members of the Hyuga clan known for their speed, whose Byakugan could see everything in the night; there were Uchiha clan members skilled in genjutsu and taijutsu, whose unique arrogance and fighting style, though they tried their best to hide their Sharingan, were still noticeable to Zhang Hai; and there were ninjas from the Aburame clan, who controlled insects to conduct reconnaissance and interference silently. These clans' special abilities gave them a natural advantage in reconnaissance, and Zhang Hai had maximized this advantage.
He never chose to confront the enemy head-on. His strategic objective was exceptionally clear: to strike at Iwagakure's rear supply lines, destroying them at all costs, and making Iwagakure experience the same kind of frantic, resource-starved chaos he had faced when he was a logistics officer. He deeply understood the importance of supplies; a powerful army, without rear support, would be like a kite with a broken string, ultimately falling to the ground.
In every battle, Zhang Hai pushed the essence of guerrilla warfare to its limits. When the enemy was outnumbered or isolated, they would appear like ghosts, launching thunderous attacks that were precise and deadly. Once enemy reinforcements arrived, they would not linger, quickly withdrawing and disappearing into the darkness. This ten-man squad, apart from brief offensive moments, spent most of their time moving about, lying in ambush, and scouting enemy positions, practically turning the rear of Iwagakure upside down, causing chaos and turmoil. Their operational efficiency was extremely high, and their destructive power was astonishing, causing Iwagakure's logistics forces endless trouble.
However, this guerrilla warfare deep behind enemy lines was not without its costs. Within half a month, the elite squad of ten had dwindled to six. Four teammates remained forever on the land of Iwagakure, becoming souls of war. Of the remaining six, all were still alive, but one bore a deep, bone-revealing knife wound, and the other two sustained injuries of varying degrees. But Zhang Hai remained remarkably calm. In his view, compared to their glorious achievements—destroying three vital supply bases, blowing up two weapons and ammunition depots, and successfully disrupting several large-scale supply shipments to Iwagakure—this sacrifice was entirely acceptable. War, after all, is built on blood and lives.
Meanwhile, because their squad had already inflicted heavy losses on Iwagakure, they were likely now on Iwagakure's kill list. To avoid being completely targeted and surrounded by the enemy, they became more cautious in their attacks, reducing their frequency and spending more time lying in wait and observing.
At this moment, six members of the Dark Guard were hiding in a secluded cave. One of them, skilled in sealing techniques, set up a simple sealing array at the cave entrance, isolating them from outside perception and buying them precious time to rest. Inside the cave, five Dark Guard members quietly closed their eyes, trying to recover their strength; no one made a sound. Zhang Hai squatted to the side, summoning a palm-sized slug through his spiritual senses. He carefully placed it on the wound of the most seriously injured member, allowing the slug to heal him.