"The first route involves Director Liangping and me, utilizing the powers of the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Intelligence Department to directly apprehend the corrupt officials in the upper echelons of Sunagakure.
The second route involves Officer Maki. When you return, I will assign the troops of the First Division of the Standing Army to you. Along with the forces from the Yuexi Peninsula Guard, you will sweep through the foreign forces' casinos, money houses, and related industries. By the way, Officer Maki, these troops will secretly land via sea route from Coin Port to avoid the Fourth Division's surveillance.
The third and most crucial route is for you, Kagezō-sama. You need to go to the Huangfutu Desert's Old Wan Camp, mobilize the Second Division of the Standing Army to secretly move to the west side of the Yuexi Peninsula, to prevent any movements from the Fourth Division."
"Hmm, very good, but there are still shortcomings," said Jinghang with a cold face.
"Please, Lord Kazekage, give us your instructions," said Yamashita Toru.
"The Second Division against the Fourth Division, the forces are about 1:1, not forming an absolute advantage, not reliable. It's best to split the Fourth Division's forces."
"If we rashly mobilize the Fourth Division, it might alert the enemy," said Yamashita Toru worriedly.
"Simple, Rasa, you don't need to go to the Old Wan Camp. Stay in the village and cooperate with Liangping. I will directly give a handwritten order to the Second Division, letting Akasha Guimu (Second Division Commander) come over. Also, in my name, issue a notice saying I am going to the Yuexi Peninsula to inspect the setup for the Chūnin Exams. Let Rifeng Tian personally arrange three regiments to be responsible for security work. This way, the forces become 10:7, making it more secure."
Due to Iwagakure's withdrawal from the Ninja Alliance, the next Chūnin Exams were postponed to be held in Sunagakure. Inspecting the venue is indeed a good reason.
"Brilliant, this way Rifeng Tian's forces will be dispersed, and if he moves, by the time he realizes, it will be too late," said Yamashita Toru joyfully.
"I'm not waiting for him to realize, I'll twist his head off when I get there," said Jinghang murderously.
"What! You're really going!" Yamashita Toru was dumbfounded. He thought it was just a pretext and that the Intelligence Department's agents would disguise themselves, but he didn't expect the Kazekage himself to plan to take action!
"Otherwise!" Jinghang glared at Yamashita Toru.
"No way! Absolutely not! Lord Kazekage, a noble person should not expose themselves to danger, this is no joke," said Yamashita Toru quickly, and the other three hurriedly agreed.
Jinghang glared at Yamashita Toru and said, "What, you look down on me! It's just Rifeng Tian, I can't handle him!"
"Lord Kazekage, it's not that I doubt your strength, but that's three regiments, over 1,200 people! This risk cannot be taken! It's not worth it. How about you stay in the village, and I'll go to the Yuexi Peninsula," suggested Rasa.
"If you go, Rifeng Tian might not come personally, which would waste this plan. Less talk, it's decided," Jinghang decisively rejected Rasa's suggestion.
"How about this, let's compromise, you can go, but at least bring two members of the Earth Branch as guards. This way, it also seems more official and won't arouse Rifeng Tian's suspicion," proposed Yamashita Toru.
Jinghang thought for a moment, found it reasonable, and agreed.
"Which members are in the village now?"
"Without missions, there are Zhixu and Zuo'e." (Zhixu for Chen, Zuo'e for You)
Rifeng Tian has a substantial background in Sunagakure. He is over ten years older than Jinghang and was a jōnin during the Second Kazekage's era. He followed the Second Kazekage on expeditions to the Land of Rain and participated in battles like the Valley of Return, Operation Wind and Fire, the Iwa-Suna War, and bandit suppression operations.
Skilled in taijutsu and proficient in Fire Release, he wields a three-section staff with exceptional mastery. Crucially, he possesses the rare kekkei genkai "Steel Release," allowing him to harden his skin to near-steel hardness at will (similar to Kakuzu's Earth Release: Earth Spear). It is said that despite countless battles, he bears no scars on his body.
His formidable strength is just one aspect; Rifeng Tian is also a master tactician, known for his ruthless and cruel methods. Notably, during the campaign against the sand bandits in the Huangfutu Desert, as a regimental commander, he led his "Sand Fleet" to boldly charge into the "Old Wan Camp" with over two thousand bandits in broad daylight, swiftly killing the bandit leader Hua Lao Wan with a single strike, and then launched a frenzied massacre in the bandit camp. With just one regiment, he wiped out the "Old Wan Camp," which had dominated the desert for years. Bandits in the eastern desert trembled at the mention of Rifeng Tian's name, often cursing each other by wishing the other would encounter Rifeng Tian when leaving home.
After this battle, Rifeng Tian was promoted by Jinghang to the newly formed Fourth Division Commander, stationed at the Yuexi Peninsula, becoming one of the "military giants" of Sunagakure, with significant influence.
Upon receiving the notice of Kazekage Jinghang's inspection trip to the Yuexi Peninsula, Rifeng Tian immediately convened a meeting with his trusted regimental commanders.
"This time, with Lord Kazekage's inspection, everyone must be vigilant. Those fat sheep in your hands, settle the accounts quickly and get rid of them, and those who can't pay, deal with them swiftly..."
Rifeng Tian said menacingly.
"Ah, Commander, this might not be easy. Doing so will cause significant losses. Besides, Lord Kazekage is coming to inspect the Chūnin Exam venue, he probably won't..."
A regimental commander said with a bitter face.
"You fool!" Rifeng Tian grabbed a teacup from the table and smashed it onto the head of the regimental commander, causing blood to flow instantly. The commander didn't even dare to wipe the blood, standing straight with blood flowing.
"Lord Kazekage is a formidable figure. If he discovers any hint of what we've been doing, it's a crime punishable by death!" Rifeng Tian said fiercely, causing the temperature in the meeting room to drop several degrees.
"Notify those places to keep a low profile during this period. If anyone exposes themselves, don't blame me, Rifeng Tian, for being ruthless!"
"Yes!" the regimental commanders answered in unison.
"Commander, technically, our Fourth Division is the last formed division of the Standing Army. Lord Kazekage will surely inspect the Fourth Division first. We should prepare for the reception," reminded Aotu Taro.
"Correct! Taro's reminder is very apt! The 37th, 38th, and 39th Regiments, your regiments are the most organized, move to the Fenglai Pavilion near the Yuexi Peninsula as the reception guard unit. The other six regiments will guard the division headquarters, clean up the camp's internal affairs, tidy up the military appearance and discipline, and make sure Lord Kazekage can't find any faults."
"Yes!" the regimental commanders replied.
"I think you should also go to receive Lord Kazekage. We can't let him come to see you," Aotu Taro reminded again.
"Yes, that's reasonable. Then you four regiments will accompany me to receive him. Taro, you are responsible for the camp, let's welcome this guest politely and send him away happily!"
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