Chapter 117: Aerial Defense Protection Plan

The Sand Village had over a dozen locations with stationed personnel, including those responsible for the wounded and supplies, as well as mixed detachments of main forces and puppet masters.

Orochimaru had chosen three locations, all of which were main force units. The first base was located atop a waterfall, housing more than two thousand ninjas.

The main force was divided into four detachments: three mixed units of ordinary ninjas and one detachment of puppet masters.

This main force was also the strongest part of the Sand Village, boasting numerous sensory ninjas and elite jonin.

Yun Xuan and his group stopped one kilometer away from the Sand Village base, with the Hyuga branch family members assigned to observation.

“Yun Xuan, what exactly is your attack plan? When should we coordinate our assault with you?” Nara Mi asked.

“You may only need to clear out the remaining forces. Green smoke will signal the attack, and red smoke will signal retreat,” Yun Xuan replied after some thought.

“I understand,” Nara Mi nodded.

Dressed in powered armor, Yun Xuan soared into the sky and vanished from sight, visible only to the Byakugan users.

“What a miraculous armor. If Konoha had something like this, there would be no worries,” Nara Mi said with a hint of envy.

Yun Xuan appeared in the air, gazing at the Sand Village base. If he sent Huìhuì directly, everything would be reduced to ashes.

Therefore, he summoned the invisible Institute 258, which floated in the air.

Ten electromagnetic railguns were prepared and aimed at the Sand Village base. Yun Xuan also loaded real bullets.

“Fire!” Yun Xuan commanded with a wave of his hand.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!” The electromagnetic cannons rained destruction upon the densely packed Sand Village.

Hovering high above, Yun Xuan observed the devastation below.

“Fire!” he ordered again.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!” Another barrage rained down, accompanied by agonized screams and calls for retreat from the Sand Village base.

The aerial assault was like thunder and lightning—overwhelming and unstoppable. The Sand Village base was shattered.

The wounded were countless, and over a thousand were killed outright!

The railgun shells fragmented on impact, and the resulting shrapnel killed even more.

Yun Xuan dove down; when he encountered surviving Sand Village ninjas, he finished them off with precise shots.

No one could match the defense capabilities of the powered armor.

After Yun Xuan had cleared out the survivors and collected scattered scrolls and weapons, the Konoha reinforcements arrived belatedly.

A deafening silence hung over the scene.

Two waves of electromagnetic bombardment had turned the Sand Village main force into a slaughter ground; very few had escaped.

Nara Mi trembled inwardly. The power displayed had exceeded his expectations. If Yun Xuan launched surprise attacks on the other two bases as well, the Sand Village might truly be erased from the map.

The power of the electromagnetic railguns was no longer just weapon-grade but destructive on a catastrophic scale. Even as an ally, Nara Mi felt fear.

If such an attack were directed at Konoha... the village would be utterly cleansed.

“Yun Xuan, we should retreat. This matter must be reported to Lord Orochimaru,” Nara Mi said respectfully.

“Go ahead. I will leave from the air,” Yun Xuan replied, turning his back to the Konoha group.

Nara Mi searched again but found nothing of value; everything had been reduced to rubble.

Yun Xuan flew upward, his face pale beneath the powered armor.

The carnage on the ground made him feel nauseous; knowing he had caused this, a heavy weight settled in his heart.

“I hope the Sand Village can retreat after this. Otherwise, according to Orochimaru’s objectives, the Sand Village might be finished,” Yun Xuan murmured.

...

Sand Village, Second Base.

“What did you say?” The commander of the second base, Chiyo, widened her eyes in disbelief.

“1,782 ninjas killed at the first base!” A jonin in tattered clothing on the ground said hoarsely.

Chiyo felt dazed. 1,782 casualties? Only one-tenth of the Sand Village’s main force remained? These were the people who had left just forty minutes ago, now returning to tell her the first base was finished?

Forty minutes, and the first base was destroyed… Could it have been the Third Hokage?

Even if it were the Third Hokage, combined with Konoha’s main forces, it would be impossible to take the first base in forty minutes!

“What exactly happened? Tell me!” Chiyo gritted her teeth, her eyes bloodshot.

“I—I don’t know either. It was an aerial assault. In less than a minute, the entire first base was engulfed in flames,” the tattered jonin said in anguish.

His friends, his wife, his relatives, and children were all inside.

“Konoha! I will make you pay blood for blood!” Chiyo said each word with killing intent blazing in her eyes.

...

Konoha Village Base.

Orochimaru, Tsunade, a group of jonin, and Yun Xuan sat around the conference table.

The surprise attack on the first base was an overwhelming success, but such an assault would make Konoha the target of all.

1,782 casualties—even Orochimaru felt a chill upon hearing this.

Because these losses were caused by a single person, and the firepower used cost him nothing.

Konoha had gained a great victory, but now had to consider the consequences.

Would this incident cause other ninja villages to unite against Konoha?

War was brutal, indeed, but even Konoha feared Yun Xuan’s weapon.

If Yun Xuan hadn’t been wearing powered armor, he might now be surrounded and attacked by Konoha’s forces.

“Yun Xuan, you did an excellent job completing your mission. However, considering the repercussions, you should leave the Konoha base. We will pay the promised ninja techniques,” Orochimaru said after a long silence, looking up.

“Lord Orochimaru, my mission has only just begun. Now, I officially invite Konoha Village to join the Aerial Defense Protection Plan. The price is simple: I want one member of the Hyuga clan,” Yun Xuan said, fingers tapping lightly on the table, his tone calm.

The true plan only now unfolded with the power of that battle.

“Are you threatening me?” Orochimaru’s eyes turned icy. The jonin around him had already drawn their kunai.

“You can look at my bargaining chip,” Yun Xuan said, producing a smartphone. With a tap, Institute 258 appeared in the air, aiming at the Konoha base.

“Damn it!” Tsunade punched Yun Xuan.

“Tsunade!” Orochimaru blocked the blow, taking the hit himself.

“Don’t worry, not only Konoha but the other four great ninja villages and the medium-sized villages will join the Aerial Defense Protection Plan. By joining, I guarantee I will not bombard your villages or bases. Of course, if you send someone to kill me, don’t blame me for being ruthless,” Yun Xuan smiled, though sweat had broken out on his palm.

“This matter requires discussion with the Third Hokage and the Hyuga clan. Who exactly do you want?” Orochimaru wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and asked.

“The current Hyuga clan doesn’t have the person I want. I want a girl from the Hyuga clan. I promise she won’t be a high-talent individual,” Yun Xuan smiled as he made his request.