Escort Team Ambushed by the Third Kazekage's Raid Squad

"Rustle, rustle, rustle..."

The sound of sand grinding against itself was clearly audible in the darkness.

Atop the watchtower, the ninja on duty sensed something was wrong and cried out, "What... pfft—"

Sharp iron spikes pierced the sentries' throats and hearts.

The two bodies collapsed limply atop the tower, unable to even sound the alarm.

In their eyes, which had yet to lose their color, were reflected figures wearing Sunagakure forehead protectors.

Having easily dealt with the sentries, the weapons formed from large amounts of Iron Sand flew back to the Third Kazekage's side.

"Keep moving."

With a flick of his cloak, the Third Kazekage led a large group of Sunagakure ninja into the Land of Fire.

"Master, a large number of unknown ninja are approaching from straight ahead."

Chiyue, who had been leaning against a tree with his eyes closed, instantly woke up.

The main reason he had taken the latter half of the night watch was because he had Little White.

With Little White's powerful senses, anyone approaching the camp would be detected.

Especially those with hostile intent.

Chiyue had not expected that, after the convoy had traveled so hard for over ten days and was about to reach the Land of Rivers, they would run into something like this.

"Is Sunagakure preparing to make a move against the Land of Fire?"

Thinking of that possibility, Chiyue hurriedly woke Minato and Uchiha Mikoto.

"Shh!"

Making a gesture for silence, Chiyue lowered his voice and said to them, "Go get those officials and leave immediately. A large number of unidentified ninja have appeared ahead and are surrounding the camp. It could be enemy ninja invading the Land of Fire."

What?

Minato's pupils contracted sharply, and he was instantly wide awake.

Uchiha Mikoto shuddered as well, then rushed with Minato toward the largest tent in the center of the camp.

With a large number of unidentified ninja suddenly appearing within the Land of Fire, anyone could tell that there was major trouble.

Their best choice right now was to take the important people and flee, rather than foolishly stay behind to deal with the enemy.

"Move!"

Chiyue took the lead, charging into the tent and knocking out all the Daimyo Residence officials before they could react. He slung them over his shoulders and ran.

He did not forget to leave a few gifts behind for the Sunagakure ninja along the way.

As for whether they could blow up a few unlucky bastards, that depended on fate.

After all, not everyone could be as unlucky as Nawaki, who had been blown to death by an Explosive Tag right in front of Orochimaru on the battlefield.

"Not good, the lords have been taken!"

Chiyue's group left the accompanying guards and retainers dumbfounded.

Who just carried people off without saying a word?

"The lords have been taken by Konoha's ninja!"

The loud shouts of several guards threw the entire camp into chaos, waking everyone from their sleep.

Chiyue had long known this would happen and immediately shouted, "Sunagakure has invaded the Land of Fire! Run for your lives!"

"What?"

"Sunagakure?"

"They've invaded the Land of Fire?"

The retainers and guards who had been shouting about rescuing their masters erupted into an uproar.

After all, Konoha was currently fighting Amegakure fiercely in the Land of Rain. It was entirely possible for an enemy to invade the Land of Fire at a time like this.

As Chiyue's group vanished into the forest, the people in the camp grew even more panicked. Screaming, they fled in every direction, unable to spare a thought for the supplies and money in the camp.

"Lord Kazekage, it seems the people in the camp ahead have discovered us."

"Kill them!"

The Third Kazekage's face darkened terrifyingly. Having their movements exposed was not the outcome he wanted.

After entering the Land of Fire and eliminating the border watchposts, the ninja sent ahead to scout had returned with word that they had discovered a large camp.

Judging by its scale and the supplies it carried, it appeared to have come from the Land of Fire's Daimyo Residence.

News of Sunagakure's surprise attack and invasion of the Land of Fire could not be allowed to spread.

The Third Kazekage had ordered the Sand Village ninja to surround the camp and kill everyone inside.

Yet before the encirclement could even be completed, the camp had descended into chaos. Their movements had been discovered.

Boom!!!

As the guards and retainers fled in panic, someone accidentally stepped on a trap Chiyue had set. The Explosive Tags detonated instantly, plunging the already chaotic camp into even greater disorder.

Listening to the explosions behind them and watching the firelight flare up in the night, Chiyue's expression turned grave. Minato and Uchiha Mikoto were still stunned.

Staying behind to fight was impossible. They could only return to Konoha as quickly as possible and deliver the intelligence.

As for everyone else in the camp, they could only pray for their own survival.

"Master, people are pursuing us from behind."

"You two go first. I'll deal with the enemies behind us."

Chiyue stopped, tossed the man he was carrying aside, and told Minato and Uchiha Mikoto to leave first.

If no one stayed behind to hold them off, the three of them would soon be caught.

"Be careful."

Minato and Uchiha Mikoto did not argue.

The current situation did not allow them to waste time over such matters.

Chiyue was the team captain and the strongest among them. It was only reasonable for him to stay behind, cover their retreat, and deal with the enemies pursuing them.

Not long after Minato and Uchiha Mikoto left, a squad of ninja arrived.

It was a standard jonin squad.

One jonin leading three chunin.

The jonin leading them was also a fairly well-known Puppet Master from Sunagakure.

"So, it's a Konoha brat."

The Sunagakure jonin controlled several puppets as he slowly stepped forward, warily observing the surroundings. "You deliberately caused the commotion in the camp, didn't you? How did you discover enemies approaching?"

There were no other Konoha ninja present.

Yet the Sunagakure jonin still did not let down his guard, continuing to use words to influence Chiyue's emotions.

In his view, a brat Chiyue's age would be easily shaken when facing powerful enemies.

"Brat, did your teammates abandon you and leave?"

"No. My teammates simply had no reason to stay."

Chiyue closed his eyes. The instant he opened them, a red glow shone from within.

"Sharingan!"

The four Sunagakure ninja were shocked. They had never imagined that this Konoha brat, who looked barely ten years old, was actually from the Uchiha Clan.

When the hell did the Uchiha Clan start producing white-haired people?

The most absurd part was that this white-haired Uchiha brat had a Three-tomoe Sharingan!

Since when had the Uchiha Clan produced such a genius?

"Not good, don't look into his eyes..."