Naruto: Escape From Konoha-Chapter 293 - 286: The Beginning of the Invasion

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Near the border of the Land of Demons close to the Land of Bears, Oni ninjas from the Land of Demons’ military had already secretly assembled.

There were only a hundred ninjas gathered here.

The distinction lay in the fact that all hundred ninjas here belonged to a very specialized unit. They all possess aircraft, constituting a unique air assault unit within the military.

Wi6th the aircraft, the ninjas are equipped with explosive tags, gas bombs, and other high-altitude attack weapons, which they could use to effectively cover ground enemies from the remote air.

Due to the high cost of aircraft, there’s been limited production, with this air combat unit comprising of only 300 official members so far. The hundred ninjas assembled here comprised one-third of the total air force, indicating the importance attached to confronting the Sand ninja troops.

The captain leading this unit was Ayane.

The opposing army they were to face was Suna’s army, consisting of a thousand ninjas.

After recent reconnaissance on the Suna force, it was discovered that the anti-air weapons they possess primarily include long-range ballistas supplemented by bows and explosice tags, specifically designed to counter their air forces.

However, Ayane paid little attention to these defenses. The ballistas may pose a challenge to the air force, but they a

weren’t sufficient to completely deal with it. And the role of the air force, for now, was to continuously harass and disrupt the enemy’s formation, creating favorable conditions for the frontal forces.

Direct engagement risks damaging too many aircraft, resulting in losses which might outweigh the gains.

"Ayane-sama, the third team has finished their patrol." An Oni ninja reported. He was the squadron leader of one of the air combat unit.

Air combat units, with ten people per team, established a leader and deputy with eight additional members. The hundred air combat ninjas were divided into ten teams, each led by a squadron leader.

"How’s it going?"

Ayane acknowledged the significance of this unit. Having witnessed numerous battles in Konoha in the past, she understands the crucial decisions commanders must make regarding attack timing and team concealment.

Although she wasn’t particularly adept at commanding, Shiraishi’s guidance emphasized that the Suna troops could be directly attacked after crossing the national border.

The Land of Demons had publicly declared that no foreign troops with armed force were allowed to enter its borders without permission.

The Land of Bears, isolated by a toxic and narrow valley, which is only accessible by crossing Devils Ravine. Once Suna’s troops cross Devils Ravine to attack, the Land of Demons response would be legitimate.

The timing Ayane awaited was when the Suna troops would cross Devil’s Ravine towards the Land of Demons.

"They’re gathering their troops and preparing to cross Devils Ravine. It seems they’re also planning an important military operation." Reported the Oni nin.

The aerial unit was monitoring every of Suna’s move from the air, exposing their position to them.

All their actions were under surveillance.

"As expected. Be careful and temporarily evacuate the residents on the border. Avoid attacking Suna for now." Ayane’s mouth curled up with a hint of satisfaction.

The commercial channels between the Land of Wind and the Land of Demons had been unilaterally closed by the Land of Demons, disrupting the supply chain. After a month of fermentation, various problems would undoubtedly arise within the Land of Wind’ commercial chain. While it wasn’t fatal, it would impact the economic output of the Land of Wind, leading to reduced tax revenue for the nobles.

And at the same time, the heavy dependence on imports from the Land of Demons for food, water, and medicine meant that too many people secretly resented the Land of Demons’ for their action.

Looking at Suna’s current actions, it appears they had no intention of concealing their efforts. Instead, they were directly applying pressure on the Land of Demons, aiming to force the Land of Demons to reopen the trade route to the Land kf Wind.

After over a month of deliberation, the time had finally arrived for both sides to resort to force.

During this critical moment, it wass imperative to ensure the safe evacuation of surrounding residents, keeping them away from the impending battlefield to avoid collateral damage.

"Yes, arrangements are already being made over there. In an hour, those border residents will be evacuated."

"Very well. After that, let’s evacuate as soon as possible."

"Huh? Don’t we have to attack directly?"

Officially, the Land of Demons can launch an attack on the Suna the moment they cross Devils Ravine, preventing Hidden Sand ninjas from entering.

"It won’t be enough. A border conflict won’t provide us with an excuse to attack the Land of Wind directly. Moreover, resolving it in one go might lead Suna to reconsider their position. Perhaps they’ll simply give up the fight and settle for a compromise. Let’s engage them evenly and make them believe the home advantage still lies in the Land of Wind."

The Oni nin couldn’t help but complain about this strategic maneuver.

...

Baki ordered the construction of a wide stone bridge at both ends of Devils Ravine using earth release. They then loaded the ballista with various crucial military supplies and set off toward the Land of Demons’ territory.

The ballista was filled with bows and arrows capable of firing continuously. Explosive tags were also attached to the arrows, and the angle was adjusted to face the sky, ready to counter any air threats.

Despite moving forward with the team, Baki remained vigilant, keeping his eyes fixed on the sky. At the slightest change, he would instruct the Suna nins around him to deploy their crossbow carts, launching a defensive attack on the sky to shoot down any air ninjas. This ensured the team could cross the border of the Land of Demons safely and without mkstakes.

Due to the need to address the threat of air strikes, the marching speed of the one thousand Suna ninjas was significantly slow. It took over half an hour for them to cross the Devils Ravine, which was less than 500 meters wide, officially entering the territory of the Land of Demons.

The anticipated aerial attacks didn’t happen, which surprised Baki somewhat. Given the Land of Demons’ previous actions, it seemed they were prepared for war with Sunagakure. However, crossing Devils Ravine was the opportune time for the Land of Demons to strike.

Having missed this opportune window, Baki couldn’t fathom what the Land of Demons could do to defeat the frontal forces of Suna. Could it be that the Land of Demons was merely making bluffs?

Baki was inclined to believe so. After all, the comprehensive national strength of a large country far surpasses that of a smaller one.

Under the pressure from various aspects, even if the Land of Demons madd tough talks, their actual actions might not be as decisive as their words. Perhaps the question of whether to formally start a war with Suna had put their military in a difficult position, making it easy for Suna to cross Devils Ravine.

Baki felt confident in this battle, the moment of victory had finally arrived. He had to live up to Kazekage-sama’s expectations. Once the road to Devils Ravine was opened, the door to the Land of Demons had effortlessly swung open to Suna.

Just as Baki was in good spirits, a buzzing sound suddenly filled the air.

All.of thrm instinctively looked up, only to see ten small black shadows flying above their heads, emitting the buzzing noise.

The Suna nins next to the ballista immediately changed expression, ready to launch a bow and arrow into the sky. However, Baki swiftly stopped him and shouted, "Wait, don’t be impulsive!"

Hearing Baki’s order, the Suna ninjas lowered the ballista, awaiting further instructions.

The Oni ninjas in the sky observed the Suna ninjas’ ceasefire and continued hovering over the Suna army, applying continued pressure.

"They should have come to check on the situation."

Baki frowned, discerning the intentions of the ninjas in the sky. If their purpose was an airstrike, they would have attacked the them first instead of waiting for them to make the first move.

"Baki-sama, what shall we do now?"

"Well... as long as they don’t act, we shouldn’t either, to avoid wasting bows and explosive tags. Let them investigate." Baki ordered.

The Suna ninja complied.

After circling over the Suna troops for more than half an hour and then disappearing, the ten Oni nins ascended into the sky, disappearing from the sight of the Suna ninjas.

Baki took a deep breath. The flexibility of this army seemed trickier than he had imagined. It remained uncertain how many such air combat units existed. But according to his estimation, they wouldn’t possess an excessive number of these specialized unit.

When the Land of the Sky declared war on the five major powers, the proportion of ninjas with flying capabilities was relatively small, and not everyone had access to flying tool. Otherwise, the Land of the Sky wouldn’t have succumbed so swiftly to the Land of Fire.

Observing the departure of the Oni ninjas, many Suna ninjas felt relief. If these people had continued flying over them, a peaceful night’s sleep would have been a luxury.

Unable to decipher the Land of Demons’ intentions, Baki dispatched a dozen Suna nins to gather intelligence. Most of them camped in place, spending the night there.

.....

"All civilians have been withdrawn?"

The next day, Baki received information from the ninja who scouted out of the sand. The nearest Land of Demons border town was deserted, an evacuation operation had been completed at some point.

"This is strange. What does the Land of Demons intend to do?"

Since crossing Devils Ravine, except for being under surveillance for a while, the sky had been quiet, with no visits from Land of Demons.

Not only that, but there was no sign of the Land of Demons garrison at the border. Now, even the residents of the border towns had been evacuated. Was it fear of Suna? Baki believed only this reason could offer a clear explanation.

"Let’s goover and have a look. Everyone camp out."

"Yes."

Leading the Suna ninjas, they continued their march.

They soon arrived at the deserted border town mentioned in the intelligence report.

The intelligence report was accurate. The nearest town was devoid of human presence, eerily silent with only occasional sounds of the wind, making it even more abnormal. No damage or attack had occurred; all the town’s inhabitants had disappeared.

This was a first for Baki.

In the past, on the Land of Rain’s battlefield, many villagers, despite knowing they were no match for the ninjas, would take up arms to defend their land and fight to the death on their own land. This deeply moved Baki.

The Land of Demons seemed to lack such desperate determination and had chosen to evacuate directly. But Baki still felt a bit uneasy.

It appeared easier than expected to gain the upper hand in momentum over the Land of Demons.

They were already prepared for a tough battle, Baki didn’t anticipate the Land of Demons relinquishing their land so effortlessly. Regardless, it suggested that the Land of Demons’ military lacked proactive combat readiness and couldn’t even mount a passive counterattack.

"Baki-sama, what should we do next?"

"Search carefully to see if there are any issue in this town, but be careful not to cause damage."

"Yes."

Fifty Suna ninjas lined up, initiating a thorough sweep of the entire town.

Baki still harbored concerns that the Land of Demons might have jsed this town as bait, planting explosives to surprise them. Although this possibility was unlikely, they still needed to be vigilant.

An hour later, the sweeping team returned, proving Baki’s concerns unnecessary.

The town showed no signs of problems. No explosive devices, or anything suspicious were found. Additionally, the cleanup team discovered a small cache of essential supplies like food and medicine in the town’s residential houses. These materials were naturally incorporated into Baki’s troop inventory.

Consulting the town’s map, Baki contemplated the situation and issued orders to transform the town into a temporary Suna station. Numerous ballistas were strategically positioned, ensuring both offensive and defensive capabilities.

As the arrangements concluded, darkness enveloped the town.

Observing they, Baki, not spotting any Land of Demons ninjas, smiled cynically, a touch of mockery evident. If the Land of Demons had intervened before he invaded the town, it might have required considerable effort to stop his troops’ advancement.

Regrettably, when crossing Devils Ravine, the Land of Demons held back. Now, leading an army to invade this small town, the Land of Demons remained inactive.

Having lost major fighters twice in a row, Baki began suspecting that the Land of Demons’ high-level military was a group of war-ignorant individuals orchestrating things behind the scenes.

During the Third Ninja World War, the five major countries’ ninja villages raced against time, attacking each other to secure advantageous geographical positions to gain the upper hand. Baki, however, found solace in this realization.

While the Land of Demons possessed ninja troops, they had never participated in a ninja war. In the face of a war, they likely lacked the necessary command expertise.

Baki believed he had identified the Land of Demons’ major weakness.

....

After two days in the small town, everything remained calm, and no traces of ninjas appeared in the sky.

Despite lowered vigilance by many asuna ninjas, Baki maintained a high level of alertness for any potential developments. Contemptuous attitudes aside, the well-equipped Land of Demons couldn’t be overlooked. Therefore, whether during the day or night, Baki ensured they remained vigilant, watching the sky.

Having taken the lead, the Suna couldn’t afford to offer the Land of Demons any opportunities. Until their reinforcements arrived, they needed to secure as many advantages as possible, leaving the Land of Demons defenseless.

At dusk, Baki inspected the town’s deployment. As he prepared to eat, a buzzing sound suddenly reached his ears.

He and the surrounding sand hidden ninjas looked up.

They saw a lome ninja soaring, using an aircraft, generating the buzzing sound.

"Are you alone?"

Baki looked calmly at the sky, attempting to discern the purpose of this ninja.

Not long after, a large amount of white papers descended from the sky. Each leaflet bore printed words, dropped by the Land of Demons ninja.

Baki paid no heed, he casually grabbed a passing flyer and examined it closely.

-Your forces are currently occupying our lannd for no reason. In a prayer for our nation’s safety, if you don’t vacate Windmill Town within three hours, our army will launch an air strike on Windmill Town.

-Please think about this letter carefully before taking action to avoid damaging the friendship between our two countries.

-Sincerely

...

After releasing the leaflet, the Oni ninja didn’t linger, flying directly into the sky and returning to command.

As for the Suna ninjas who didn’t take this threat seriously, it wasn’t Baki’s concern. Reading the flyer, Baki sneered, tore it in half, and let it drift away with the wind.

"Is it finally happening? You’re asking for something you should have returned, and you come seeking it now. Isn’t it a bit too late? Prepare for combat, let’s show them the might of Sunagakure!"

"Yes!"

The surrounding Suna, fueled with excitement, stood ready to deliver a decisive blow to the Land of Demons.

.....

Night, eight o’clock.

In a forest within Land of Demons, a fleet of black shadows, accompanied by the sound of machines buzzing and powerful electric lights, soared into the sky, racing towards Windmill Town where Suna ninjas were stationed.

The aircraft’s wings trailed light, gradually accelerating in the air, flickering with electrified brilliance.

Upon crossing the forest, they glimpsed the plains beneath the night sky and soon saw the border town standing on the plain.

Windmill Town, a border town with simple customs and a prosperous life, now lay under the control of Suna. Tonight’s operation aimed to surprise attack the Suna ninjas stationed in the town.

Only fifty air combat ninjas were in action, equivalent to five teams.

Their adversaries consisted of a thousand seasoned ninjas. Instead of instilling fear, this numerical disadvantage seemed to invigorate them. Their confidence in the flying tool on their backs was unwavering.

Although it was prototype originated from the Land of the Sky, military improvements had propelled it through several generations. Despite its rarity, these tools surpassed Land of the Sky models in flexibility, stability, defense, and durability.

The air combat unit spotted Windmill Town. Suna ninjas in the town, already prepared for battle, identified the enemy through military binoculars.

Baki had divided Windmill Town’s security area into more than 30 small zones. Each zone was armed with anti-air ballistas, sufficient explosive tags, and bows and arrows. It had been effective weapons against the Land of the Sky’s air combat troops.

Each team captain was equipped with a radio, oversaw individual zones. Baki could command them collectively, uniting the thousand sand hidden ninjas.

As fifty Land of Demons ninjas approached the sky above Windmill Ttwn, Baki’s expression turned serious.

"All attack!"

Baki’s voice transmitted through the radio with a one to two-second delay, directing captains in each zone. Countless bows and arrows, adorned with explosive tags, soared into the sky like black raindrops.

Boom, boom, boom, boom...

The tranquil night sky erupted into explosions, transforming it into a fiery spectacle.

Whoosh—

This sound also emanated from the sky.

Kunai, bearing explosive tags, flew down from the sky, touching buildings and people before unleashing terrifying flashes and explosions with a bang.

Boom!!

Accompanying the Kunai were numerous projectiles exploding on the ground, releasing a horrifying lavender poisonous mist over the town.

Despite their preparedness with their knowledge and resistance of poison, the Suna ninjas still felt unwell and dizzy in the brain as they resisted the poisonous mist, relying on firm willpower to stay conscious.

Some Suna ninjas used wind release jutsu to disperse the poisonous mist, but explosions continued. A Suna ninja using wind release to disperse the mis, a kunai was inadvertently dropped close to him, it has an explosive tags, bursting into flames. It detonated in an instant engulfing the ninja.

Baki was shocked and angered.

Perhaps due to Sunagakure taking the lead in the first two encounters, he had underestimated the Land of Demons’. Witnessing this scene, the contempt in his heart dissipated, and he began to take the enemy’s tactics seriously.

The air combat troops from the Land of Demons demonstrated terrifying maneuverability, their aerial advantage allowing flexible movements that surpassed those of Suna ninjas on the ground.

With this advantage, they were efficiently containing the thousand Suna ninjas.

The town now lay in ruin, with collapsed buildings and gray dust swirling in the streets due to the explosions.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The counterattack from the Suna proved more ferocious than anticipated. Countless arrows flew through the air. Although their trajectory was predictable, the sheer volume created significant challenges for the Land of Demons ninjas conducting aerial attacks.

The surroundings were ablaze, and with no apparent escape, a blue gem suddenly illuminated at the front center of the aircraft. A light blue protective shield enveloped the Oni ninjas and the aircraft. The flames and impact were resisted by the protective barrier. The protective barrier caused a momentary instability in the aircraft, but the skilled control of the Oni ninja swiftly restored balance. The aircraft rushed to a safe zone, leaving the Suna ninjas on the ground with lingering fear.

Thinking that they were not defenseless and had nearly been overwhelmed, Baki exclaimed, "Damn! Can those flying ninjas generate a protective barrier!?"

Baki stared at the sky, perplexed by the Land of Demons ninja who narrowly escaped death. The realization that such aircraft could possess protective barrier added complexity to Sunagakure’s counterattack.

Baki wasn’t discouraged but directed the response calmly. Many Land of Demons ninjas activated their aircraft’s protective devices.

Under Baki’s watchful eye, he noticed that the protective barrier wasn’t invincible. The flying speed of the aircraft decreased with each use, suggesting insufficient energy supply after deploying the protective function.

As the first Land of Demons ninja, emitting black smoke, flew crookedly into the dark forest, the Suna ninjas erupted in excitement. Successively, the second and third ninjas followed suit, diminishing the Land of Demons ninjas’ aerial strike capabilities.

The battle lasted for a full hour, during which 21 aircraft were shot down by the Suna. Although no hostages were captured, this achievement significantly boosted the morale of the Suna ninjas.

Seeing that Suna’s anti-air firepower had completely surpassed theirs, the remaining Oni ninjas recognized the futility and promptly withdrew from the battlefield.

Suna secured a slight advantage, concluding the initial battle. However, there was no joy on Baki’s fave. According to the compiled data, at least 200 on the Suna’s side were killed or injured, while the Land of Demons only lost 21 aircraft, with the pilots sustaining minor injuries.

And none of them was captured. Escaping safely under the cover of intense high-altitude firepower resulted in zero battle casualties. Thr victory achieved through thorough preparation.

Baki acknowledged that if the Land of Demons had launched an unannounced surprise attack on the town without any warning, the consequences would have been disastrous. SUna’s potential losses might have exceeded 400 people.

Although the Land of Demons faced a shortage of fighter, their advanced flying equipment compensated for tactical immaturity. Recognizing this, Baki anticipated Windmill Town’s imminent capture by the Land of Demons’ air combat troops.

"It is important we report the battle situation to Kazekage-sama. The Land of Demons possesses formidable strength. Reinforcements must arrive quickly and increase our numbers," Baki mumbled to himself as he gazed at the starry sky, now tinged with the remnants of the recent conflict.

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