Naruto: I Have Cursed Spirits!

Amatetsu looked at Shiratori with emotion.

A child not even half his age, yet so determined to say he would protect them.

[Affection detected]

[Amatetsu: +2000 points]

[Chiba: +2000 points]

[Amanagi: +2000 points]

[Additional sources: +36000 points total]

[Total accumulated: 40,000 points]

[Energy transferred to Rika]

[Development progress: 81.4%]

Shiratori's already bright smile became even brighter. Joining the surprise attack plan was indeed dangerous, but high risk comes with high reward.

Fortune favors the bold, maybe that risk really would pay off big!

He was very satisfied with Rika's growth rate.

Once the surprise attack plan was set into motion, he would surely harvest a lot more emotional energy during it.

Thinking this way, he suddenly felt hopeful about the future.

"Alright!"

Hanzō made the final decision. "Shiratori will join the surprise attack plan."

Under his organization and Amatetsu's summary, and through the team's discussion, the surprise attack plan gradually took shape.

First, the infiltration team, which included Shiratori, would be led by Isome. The team had ten members total and carried deadly poison and a large number of explosive tags. They would enter through a weak point in the Quicksand Zone, aiming to destroy Suna's border outposts and logistics.

Second, the diversion team, led by Mizu, also had ten members. They would create chaos at a vulnerable section of Suna's border defense line, drawing attention and firepower from the enemy.

Finally, the assassination team, led by Kuroi, also comprised ten members. Once the infiltration team breached the defense line, they would attack Suna ninjas from the rear, coordinating with the infiltration and feint teams to encircle and wipe out the enemy along the entire border.

Once the surprise attack succeeded, a signal would be given for the support team, waiting outside the Ame camp, to enter Suna's border defense zone and systematically eliminate remaining enemies, transforming Suna's border into Ame's new defensive line.

"Begin operation."

As soon as Hanzō gave the order, all the ninjas inside the tent got moving.

Isome waved at Shiratori, who quickly came to his side.

He was a calm, steady middle-aged ninja. He patted his shoulder. "We'll need your help next."

Shiratori nodded firmly. "Got it!"

Outside the tent, what lay in front of him were wooden rods as thick as arms, stacked in a pile.

Amatetsu explained to him, "The chairs are too heavy. Controlling wooden rods should be easier, right?"

Shiratori nodded.

Indeed, controlling wooden rods was easier than chairs and consumed less cursed energy.

But… Riding on a stick? That was a bit awkward, no?

Eh, whatever!

As long as it worked, he didn't care.

He stepped forward and injected cursed energy into each stick, one by one.

The ninjas who needed to cross the Quicksand Zone came up and each took a wooden stick.

Shiratori stood beside Isome, who nodded to him. "All set."

He mounted the broom-like stick and activated the technique.

The ninjas slowly rose into the air, the novel sensation of flying making them so excited they couldn't help but glance around curiously.

As they rose farther and farther from the ground, the ninjas stopped moving recklessly and obediently gripped the wooden rods beneath them tightly.

A strong wind swept across Shiratori's face. He controlled the wooden rods beneath each person, flying toward the nearby border of the Land of Wind.

The closer they got to the Land of Wind, the paler the ground became. Sand gradually replaced soil.

"Stay alert."

Isome raised his voice, his command cutting through the wind and reaching the ninjas behind him.

The ninjas lowered their bodies, remained still, stared straight ahead, and tensed up.

The infiltration and assassination teams had fully entered the Land of Wind, but since they were flying within the clouds, they hadn't drawn any attention.

Below was a vast, undulating sea of sand.

The wind shrieked past the ninjas' ears like a sharp whistle.

Shiratori spotted the Quicksand Zone not far away.

Looking down from high in the sky, he couldn't even see the edges of the Quicksand Zone, it was that massive.

Everywhere his eyes landed was nothing but shifting yellow-brown sand, slowly writhing, as if a giant creature lay hidden beneath it, ready to devour any living thing that stepped foot on it.

He brought everyone's wooden rods to a halt in the air.

"We've arrived at the Quicksand Zone," he said to Isome beside him. He sat steadily on his broom-like rod, hovering at least a hundred meters above the surface of the quicksand.

Isome looked across to Kuroi. "After we begin the assault on Suna's border defense camp, that's when your team will move in."

Kuroi gave a silent nod.

"Get ready, we're about to cross the Quicksand Zone."

After the reminder, Isome nodded to Shiratori. "Proceed."

He nodded, fully focused, eyes locked on the roiling sea of sand ahead, carefully maintaining his cursed energy output.

The other ninjas resumed movement, flying forward. The fierce wind tossed his short hair, revealing his smooth forehead.

Even from above, the Quicksand Zone's menace was palpable.

The surrounding airflow became turbulent the moment they entered its airspace.

Shiratori increased his cursed energy output to keep the rods stable in the air.

The rods carrying thirty ninjas flew as if tethered by invisible strings, tightly following his lead, skillfully weaving through turbulent currents and wind vortexes.

Below them, the Quicksand Zone was like a living ocean.

Massive dunes slowly shifted, silently collapsing in on themselves to form bottomless whirlpools. The chaotic currents created by the strong winds caused the rods to jolt violently.

He frowned and continued to ascend, controlling the rods to fly higher. The farther from the sand, the less interference they encountered.

The ninjas, whose rods had been unsteady, finally regained their balance.

Shiratori gripped his broomstick tightly, his cursed energy output astonishingly stable.

[Gratitude detected]

[Isome: +2000 points]

[Chiba: +2000 points]

[Kuroi: +2000 points]

[Additional sources: +32000 points total]

[Total accumulated: 36,000 points]

[Energy transferred to Smallpox Deity]

[Development progress: 69.1%]

He raised an eyebrow.

Maintaining rod stability in turbulence cost him a lot more cursed energy. To reduce energy expenditure, he had simply flown higher, accidentally leading the others to think he had done it for their safety.

The process of crossing this Quicksand Zone was much longer than he had expected.

No wonder they had never figured out a way through.

Up ahead, the outline of Suna's border defense camp appeared amid the yellow sands.

Tall watchtowers stood in all directions like venomous snakes rearing their heads, watching the surroundings warily.

Looking back at the terrifying quicksand behind them, Isome couldn't help but say, "It's all thanks to Shiratori. Otherwise, we really wouldn't have had a clue how to cross that Quicksand Zone."