socalfunplaces Chapter 345 Too Well-Cultivated
Chapter 345 Too Well-Cultivated
Chapter 345 Too Well-Cultivated
"One person was complaining that the materials for the talismans brought from the North Warehouse last night were insufficient. Another replied that the general had ordered the materials in the southwest, main alley, and well courtyard to be replenished first, and that it must be completed by tonight."
"General?" Chi Quan asked. "Helian?"
"They didn't mention names," Shino said, "but their tone was like someone giving a specific instruction, not a general reference."
Chi Quan stared at the village, his voice becoming even softer.
"Southwest, main alley, well courtyard."
He connected these three points in his mind and quickly realized that this was not something that was added randomly.
The southwest was the direction from which they withdrew from Polin last night; the main alley was the widest and easiest place to deploy troops in the entire village; and the well courtyard was the central location where the Allied forces' vanguard had been bombed the most and where they most wanted to regain control.
"He's not guarding against the village," Chi Quan said. "He's guarding against us using the village to make trouble again."
Shino Heihei said, "You certainly made a deep impression on him yesterday."
Chi Quan didn't respond to that question, but instead asked, "Can we go any further in?"
"Yes, but we'll have to do it differently." Shino finally opened his eyes, his eyes behind his sunglasses seeming to be shrouded in a cold light in the morning mist. "Going further in, the bugs on my legs aren't enough. I'll have to deliver the bugs to the rims of people's bowls, table legs, bandage seams, and armor buckles."
"What do you need me to do?"
"wait."
Chi Quan looked at him.
Shino raised his hand, and a black worm the size of a fingernail crawled out from the back of his finger and stopped quietly.
"They'll be eating breakfast soon."
As if to confirm his words, within moments, people in the main alley of the village began distributing hot soup and dry rations. A crowd gathered around two hastily set-up large pots, and the rising steam shrouded half the alley in a pale light. Many of the Allied Ninjas, who had been busy all night and all morning, began to remove half of their masks and stand against the wall to drink from their bowls.
Once someone stands still, there will be more gaps.
The faint flapping sound from Shino's sleeve suddenly intensified, but quickly dispersed, like an almost invisible black sand quietly flowing into the village along the ground, through cracks in the walls, and through collapsed wooden beams.
Chi Quan didn't disturb him, but just stared at every spot on her own.
He saw that on the west side of the main alley in the village, a side house that had been destroyed by the bomb had been temporarily cleared out, and thick cloths had been laid on the ground, as if it had been converted into a wounded soldiers' camp. Several people who looked like medical ninjas were walking around inside, and there were two covered iron barrels outside the door.
Then I saw several thin, almost invisible steel wires near the high school in the second row of the east side, forming a faint net in mid-air. It was obviously a cordon that had just been set up by the Land of Lightning.
Looking further south, the area around the well was the most crowded. The well that had been blasted open last night was now surrounded by a half-circle of rough wooden planks, with new stakes nailed to the outside. Seven or eight people were walking back and forth there, not like ordinary guards, but more like they were guarding something important.
Chi Quan lowered his voice and asked, "Is it worth touching the well courtyard?"
Shino did not answer immediately.
After a while, he said, "It's worth it. But not now."
Why?
"Because Helian might be there."
Chi Quan's eyes darkened slightly.
"You touched it?"
"There was no clear view of his face, but when the insect stuck to a wounded soldier's bandage, I heard someone nearby say that the general had just come out of the well courtyard." Further on, the person's voice lowered, and I couldn't hear clearly.
Are there many wounded soldiers?
"Yes, many." Shino's voice was calm. "Iin has always been one of the temporary command posts. Even after being bombed like that last night, they're still holding on to it, as if they're competing with someone."
Chi Quan said, "Follow yourself."
Shino didn't answer, which was taken as tacit agreement.
A moment later, a short, sharp copper whistle sounded in the village.
Those who had been eating separately immediately sprang into action. Some put down their bowls, some put their armor back on, and some ran quickly towards the east. It was even more obvious on the well courtyard side, where several people guarding the outer perimeter simultaneously turned inward, as if making way for someone.
Chi Quan and Zhinao fell down at the same time.
The next moment, a group of people turned into the main alley from the direction of the well courtyard.
Leading the way were not Helian, but two heavily armed guards, followed by the middle-aged man in gray armor who was in charge of the interrogation, and then Helian himself.
He wasn't wearing the outer robe from yesterday, darkened by the firelight. Instead, he wore a more fitted black light armor, covered by a worn dark gray cloak. A fresh tear ran along the edge of his right shoulder armor, likely from the close-quarters chase the previous night. The scar on his face appeared deeper in the daylight, like a brownish-red mark etched in by a knife. He didn't walk fast, but everyone in the main alley, who had been moving, instinctively parted to make way for him.
Chi Quan's eyes froze for a moment.
"I saw it."
"Hmm," Shino said in a very low voice, "Don't keep staring."
"Know."
Even if you know it, it's hard not to watch it.
Helian stopped in an open space on the north side of the main alley. What used to be a drying ground in front of a courtyard had been cleared out and replaced with a narrow table and several newly nailed wooden planks. Blueprints and notes covered in markings were clipped to the planks. Three people stood around the table: a burly man who looked like he was from the Land of Earth's demolition squad, a sensory ninja from the Land of Lightning, and a tall, thin woman who appeared to be from the Sand Village.
He was listening to a report.
Too far away, Izumi couldn't hear clearly, but could make out the order of the conversation. First, the burly man pointed to the north entrance and the east side with a rough gesture, as if he were talking about fortifications; then the sensory ninja stepped forward, tapped the wooden plank a few times, and glanced around the village, clearly talking about the perimeter; finally, the Sand Village woman unfolded a roll of blueprints and pointed to the south and west sides of the village.
Chi Quan whispered, "He's rearranging the defenses."
Shino seemed not to be "looking" at this side at all, but rather "listening" to something closer. After a few breaths, he suddenly said, "He said he wants to nail down all the outposts on the southwest and south sides by tonight. He also said that the Konoha guy retreated from this side last night, and he might come back a second time tonight."
Chi Quan slightly twitched the corners of his mouth.
"He really holds a grudge."
Shino continued, "He also mentioned a word, 'waterway'."
"6
Chi Quan paused, his gaze lingering.
Which sentence?
Before the supplies to the North Reservoir are completely rearranged, do not touch the waterways or the South Gate. Secure this position first. "That's roughly the gist of what he said," Shino said.
Chi Quan quickly went through it in his mind.
The fact that Helian hasn't moved the waterways or touched the South Pass indicates that, at least for now, he hasn't decided to use Guihua Village to directly press the southern pass.
He needs to stabilize Guihua Village first, turning it into a true stronghold capable of handling troops, supplies, tactics, and intelligence.
This is certainly important intelligence.
But that's not enough.
Chi Quan asked in a low voice, "Did he mention any other place names?"
"There's a stone beam opening," but he said it very softly. Another person replied, "It's not open yet on his side," and then the sound was carried away by the wind, and I couldn't hear the whole thing.
Shiliangkou.
Chi Quan silently memorized the name.
Ahead, after listening to the report, Helian raised his hand and marked three places on the blueprint. His movements were small, but decisive. The middle-aged man in gray armor beside him bowed slightly, listened, and then immediately turned and left, as if to relay orders.
Helian himself did not leave immediately, but stood in front of the wooden plank for a few more moments, then suddenly turned his head and glanced in the southwest direction.
Chi Quan froze instantly.
That glance, even from a great distance, might not have actually revealed anything. But in that distance and environment, being suddenly looked at in that direction by such a person would instinctively send a chill down your spine.
Shino whispered, "Don't move."
Chi Quan didn't move at all, and even his breathing was almost suppressed.
Helian watched for a while, but didn't walk this way. He simply said something to the sensory ninja beside him. The man nodded and quickly went to the west rooftop.
Chi Quan only let out a very light breath after the other person had completely looked away.
"Did he notice?"
"No," Shino said. "It's more like he's habitually staring southwest. He learned his lesson once, and his eyes keep wandering in that direction."
"What were those sensory ninjas doing there?"
"Keep an eye on it."
Chi Quan gave a cold laugh.
"Looks like I was really on people's radar last night."
Shino said in a flat tone, "That's a good thing."
"Where is it good?"
"That means he cares about you."
Chi Quan glanced at him sideways.
"Your way of comforting me is pretty strange."
I offer no comfort.
"Too."
Helian didn't linger on the main alley. After giving his instructions, he led the two guards towards a courtyard in the western part of the village. That area originally had tall houses and thick walls, but it wasn't hit by the main blast last night; only a corner collapsed. Now, many people were standing outside, indicating that it had been converted into a more central command and control base.
Chi Quan immediately said, "Over there."
Shino did not object.
"You can touch it, but you have to go around it."
"Which way to go?"
"The abandoned chicken coop behind the collapsed wall."
Chi Quan paused for a moment after hearing this.
"You even know that?"
"The bugs just went through there," Shino said as casually as stating that dawn would break. "The original wooden fence collapsed, and there's a very narrow gap underneath, big enough for bugs to squeeze through. Not enough for a person."
"Then we need to move to a closer spot."
"Just twenty more steps."
"lead the way."
The two continued sliding down along the edge of the charred forest.
This time it was even slower.
Ahead was no longer just the outskirts of the village, but the very edge of danger. One more step forward and he might be swept away by someone on the rooftop, or step into a fine chakra thread that someone had deliberately left behind. Izumi carefully checked the color of tree roots, corners of walls, tips of grass, and damp mud before taking a step. Shino, on the other hand, was so quiet he was almost invisible, as if he and the charred wood, broken walls, fog, and shadows were one and the same.
The two finally stopped behind a half-collapsed stone wall.
About thirty paces outside the wall lay the high courtyard that Helian had used as his lodging. The courtyard gate was open, and the original main room door had been removed and used as a makeshift table; several people were moving boxes. Three lanterns, still lit, hung under the eaves of a side room, indicating that someone had stayed there all night.
As we got closer, the sound finally drifted over intermittently.
"If we don't have enough talisman materials, we'll take some from the North Treasury!"
"—Seal this off first, don't let those rats from last night sneak in again!"
"Don't move the wounded over at the well site yet, the general said to keep them there—"
"—The Water Release team hasn't all arrived yet? Didn't the Land of Lightning say they'd arrive before noon?" The voices were mixed and chaotic.
Chi Quan leaned his back against the cold, damp stone and tilted his head to ask, "Which room can you send the insect into?"
'
Shino closed his eyes, as if trying to discern the direction of the wind.
"You can try the main house, the east wing, or the storeroom in the backyard."
"Which one is most likely Helian Dai's?"
"He's in the main room now. Maybe not later." Shino paused for a moment. "The kind of person he is, he usually doesn't sit in one place for too long."
"He charged out alone when they were chasing us last night."
"So we'll be more cautious today."
Chi Quan hummed in agreement.
A moment later, a new wooden box was carried into the courtyard. The box wasn't large, but it was carried very carefully. The seal on it was covered with cloth, only revealing a small blue pattern on one corner.
Chi Quan's brow twitched slightly when he saw the pattern.
"The Land of Thunder Seal"
Shino also "saw" it.
"And it was a finely sealed box," he said. "It wasn't for ordinary soldier rations."
"Like what?"
"Like military equipment, or specially made ninja tools."
Chi Quan watched as the box was carried into the main room and whispered, "Try to listen over there."
Shino didn't respond, but the sound of flapping wings from his sleeves became even more intense for a moment.
Soon, a few clearer voices came from the main room. Because most of the door panels had been removed, and the wind was blowing in this direction, the fragmented words drifted over intermittently.
"—The damage last night was more severe than reported."
"—Nishiiin's blow directly shattered the entire stone ring below."
"—If it can't be fixed by tonight, the sensory panels won't be connected."
Immediately following was Helian's voice.
It was colder and a little hoarser than Chi Quan remembered, as if there was still a roughness in its throat from being smoked by fire.
"If it can't be repaired, take it from somewhere else to dismantle."
"But the North Warehouse—"
""
I said demolish it.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then another voice said hesitantly, "General, if we dismantle the planks from the North Warehouse to repair the West Well Courtyard, what about the Stone Beam Crossing over there—"
'
"We won't move from Shiliangkou today," Helian said. "I've changed my mind."
Chi Quan's eyes darkened.
Shino also slightly raised her chin.
Inside the house, the man asked again, "What about the luck change the day after tomorrow?"
Helian interrupted him: "We'll talk about it the day after tomorrow. For now, let's secure this place. That man from Konoha didn't give up last night, and he won't today either. If you let me be tossed about under your feet a second time, I'll nail you all to the well first."
No one in the room dared to respond to that.
Chi Quan listened from behind the wall, then suddenly chuckled very softly, almost without making a sound.
Shino tilted her head: "What are you laughing at?"
"His temper is worse than I thought."
"The fact that you can still keep a good temper after you've blown up shows how well-mannered you are."
"That's true."
After they finished speaking, neither of them said anything more and continued listening.
The sound of turning over blueprints echoed a few times inside the main room. Then, the voice of the middle-aged man in gray armor came through.
"There's one more thing. The medicine deliveryman we caught this morning provided two old cellars. The one in the second row on the east side is connected underneath, but the one in the south alley emptied out too quickly. I suspect that someone from Konoha had stopped there before."
Helian said coldly, "Then dig."
"We've already sent someone."
"Dig even if you have to dig up bones."
"Yes."
Chi Quan's gaze darkened.
That spot in the south alley was one of the closest points where they had previously pressed down the wall. Although they had tried to erase all traces when they left, if the Allied Forces were determined to dig down, they would inevitably find some traces that shouldn't belong to "ordinary villagers." It wasn't that they were afraid of revealing that "Konoha had been here," which was obvious to everyone, but rather that they were afraid that the Allied Forces would use this to deduce more deployment ideas and retreat routes.