Jinghang flipped through the personnel files in his hand, then looked up at Rasa.
"Is this all of them?" he asked.
Rasa nodded. "Yes. For this kind of operation, it's about being sharp and precise, not about numbers."
Jinghang nodded in agreement. "With the constant wars between nations these past few years, I imagine the pressure on your intelligence division has been immense."
Without even glancing at the files, Jinghang continued, "I'm sure it's been tough."
Rasa's face grew serious as he responded, "That's right. Ever since I took over the Intelligence Division, I've come to understand how heavy the burden is in this line of work. It's truly like walking on the edge of a blade. The demands on both the body and mind of a ninja are extreme. And once they're exposed, there's no chance of even leaving behind a corpse. To put it bluntly, this isn't a job for ordinary people."
His expression was somber, and there was a hint of sadness in his tone.
Jinghang let out a long sigh. He knew all too well how difficult it was for the unsung heroes of the intelligence frontlines. The battles of wits and life-or-death struggles they faced were no less intense than those on the battlefield. At least those who fell in battle could leave their names behind, but these individuals might not even have that. As the saying goes: "The peace and tranquility you enjoy is thanks to countless shadows silently guarding you in the dark."
"Have we suffered heavy losses?" Jinghang asked.
"Yes, quite heavy," Rasa admitted. "Most of the undercover agents and sleeper cells in the village were established during the time of Lord Second Kazekage Shamon, or even the First Kazekage Reto. Many of them are quite old now. With each war that breaks out, they're forced to act, delivering crucial intelligence for the village. But each time they act, the risk of exposure increases. This time..."
Rasa's voice choked up, and his face, already stern, grew even more grim.
"I understand. You don't need to say any more," Jinghang said, trying to comfort him. Though Rasa often appeared cold and unfeeling, Jinghang, having worked with him for many years, knew better. Beneath the surface, Rasa was deeply compassionate, though he often suppressed these emotions. Only in front of Jinghang, his long-time leader, would he occasionally let his guard down.
"It's all right. I understand your difficulties. Some things are simply unavoidable. Here's what we'll do: the village treasury will increase the compensation budget for the intelligence division. We'll do everything we can to take care of the families of the fallen. For those without families... we'll make every effort to recover their remains. If no remains can be found, we'll set up memorial plaques in their honor. A dedicated area will be established within the Intelligence Division for secret memorials. On the day of declassification, these plaques will be moved to the Sand Village Cemetery's Martyrs' Section, where they can be honored by all the villagers."
"Understood," Rasa replied, quickly regaining his composure.
"Are these people reliable?" Jinghang asked, shifting the conversation back to the files. "Being an undercover agent isn't easy. It requires not only psychological resilience but also unwavering determination and mental toughness. Some may even have to endure torture and genjutsu. After all, the ANBU units of other villages aren't amateurs."
Rasa nodded. "This group of fresh recruits has been carefully selected by me. They're mostly between the ages of 20 and 35, have unfamiliar faces, simple social ties, and firm loyalty to the village. Their skills are solid, and most have battlefield experience. They're absolutely reliable. However, there is one issue..."
"Oh? Speak," Jinghang prompted.
"Everything else is manageable, but genjutsu is the biggest challenge," Rasa admitted. "According to intelligence recently received from Konoha, their police force has a young talent named Fugaku Uchiha, whose genjutsu skills are exceptional. Several of our deeply embedded agents have already been exposed because of him."
"Fugaku Uchiha?" Jinghang frowned. So this individual had emerged as well.
"We're currently planning a retaliation operation to take him out," Rasa said coldly.
"No, don't rush. This person still has his uses," Jinghang said, waving off the suggestion. "I'll coordinate with Danzo Shimura later. There will be arrangements."
Such a person couldn't be eliminated so easily. Fugaku's eventual rebellion had nearly wiped out his entire clan, with his greatest legacy being the birth of two extraordinary sons. Otherwise, the Uchiha would have been completely annihilated. Jinghang began to ponder whether it might be possible to accelerate the timeline of this rebellion.
Still, the Uchiha clan's Sharingan genjutsu was indeed a significant problem. In fact, all genjutsu posed a serious threat to undercover agents. These techniques acted directly on the brain, making them nearly impossible to guard against.
"Here's what we'll do," Jinghang said after a moment of thought. "Under the guise of rank promotions, summon this group to the Intelligence Division for specialized training, focusing on anti-genjutsu techniques. I'll lend you Gaojin Xuechi. He's become quite proficient with the Sharingan and should be able to assist in this area. Additionally..."
Jinghang paused, as another idea occurred to him.
"Form a counterintelligence team composed of ninjas skilled in genjutsu and have them screen every administrative officer in the village. Thoroughly."
"To what level?" Rasa asked.
"Start from department heads and deputy heads and work your way down to clerks. Leave no one out."
"Won't that cause dissatisfaction among the higher-ups?" Rasa asked hesitantly.
Jinghang dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand. "Dissatisfaction? What's there to be dissatisfied about? The innocent have nothing to fear. If even a veteran like Kenji Kusakusa turned out to be an Iwagakure spy, who can guarantee there aren't other infiltrators? If anyone has complaints, they can come talk to me directly! We're all ninjas here—if they don't understand the importance of tightening security, they shouldn't be in their positions!"
"Understood," Rasa replied with a nod.
Jinghang picked up the first personnel file and began reading it carefully.
Marital Status: Unmarried
Position: Commander of the Third Regiment, Sandglass Group Defense Force
Preferred Weapons: Dual blades
Ninjutsu Specialty: Proficient in taijutsu and weapon techniques. Skilled in the family's kekkei genkai—Light Release.
Background: Descendant of immigrants from the Moon Lake New District, sixth son of the main branch of the Aotu family.
At age 18, joined Sunagakure and was assessed as Chūnin-level by the Moon Lake Ninja Academy.
The same year, transferred to the Finance Department as a personal attendant to Minister Kamizuru, serving for one year.
At age 19, recommended by Minister Kamizuru to join the Second Regiment of Sunagakure's standing army, serving as a combat team member in the Eighth Unit.
At age 20, participated in the Wind-Fire Campaign, including the battles of Mount Kizawa, Mount Matsushima, and Guanshan Valley. Credited with killing two Mist Village Jōnin, ten Chūnin, and thirteen Genin. Promoted to Deputy Commander of the Tenth Unit in the Second Regiment. Certified as a Jōnin the same year.
At age 21, transferred to the Sandglass Group Defense Force as Commander of the Third Regiment. During the Rain Rebellion campaign, killed four Iwagakure ninjas (confirmed to be Jōnin in Ōnoki's personal guard) and numerous other insurgents.
Evaluation: Firmly loyal, adheres to the Will of Wind. Calm and resolute, adaptable in handling situations. Possesses exceptional battlefield awareness. Highly skilled in ninjutsu. Combat ability rating: 86.
Jinghang glanced at the photo. It showed a young man with large, bright eyes and a spirited expression. Satisfied, he nodded and moved on to the next file.
Jinghang read slowly and carefully, while Rasa waited quietly by his side, not rushing him.
"Not bad," Jinghang finally said after about two hours. "Judging by their records, these are all outstanding young individuals. It's clear you've put a lot of effort into this."
Rasa nodded silently.
"Once their training is complete, you must personally speak with each of them," Jinghang instructed. "When it comes to undercover work, it's better to replace someone than to push them into something they're not suited for."
"Understood," Rasa replied.
"Since there are exactly ten of them, let's call this operation the Heavenly Stems Plan."
"8 amazing fanfics available on my Keep reading on NovelHub - where stories come alive!
Support for 200+ advance Chapters: