Midway Ambush

Uchiha Shisui led two hundred ninjas and over a hundred severely wounded ninjas back to Konoha. They had already been traveling for two days.

Over those two days, Kushina had also grown deeply dissatisfied with the war.

Because she was strictly confined to the Command Center. Whenever a Kumogakure Ninja squad was discovered, Konoha squads were the ones sent to deal with them.

She was like a revered figurehead, stationed at the Command Center.

But Kumogakure had never attacked the Command Center, leaving her with no chance to show what she could do.

So lately, she had been asking Minato to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to send her back to Konoha.

Leaving one of her Shadow Clones behind at the Command Center would be enough.

Minato could not argue with her, so he really did use the Flying Thunder God to take Kushina back to Konoha.

However, every time Kushina and Minato appeared in Konoha Village, they took on other people's appearances. They only watched Naruto from afar and never acknowledged him.

Still.

With Anju around, and after Kurama reminded him, Naruto naturally learned that his mother, Kushina, had come to see him.

So he became very lively, getting along with nearly all the Uchiha Clan's children at the Uchiha Clan Residence.

Only Sasuke seemed to be something of a rival. The two started competing with each other every time they met.

Kushina was happy as well. Naruto was becoming more and more sensible, and watching him grow up filled her with heartfelt joy.

Anju was happy too, because Naruto was nearly four years old. With his Uzumaki Physique, Naruto could already complete the process of Chakra Extraction.

That meant Naruto could fully begin learning the Chakra Extraction Technique.

Anju was already looking forward to it.

After all, Anju planned to learn the ninjas' Chakra Extraction Technique and refine his own Chakra rather than rely on the unfamiliar Yin Nine-Tails Chakra.

His ability to control Chakra was far too weak. How could that be acceptable?

He had come to the Ninja World, after all. He could not truly keep lying around doing nothing.

Otherwise, if Nagato acted first, or if Obito decided to destroy the world ahead of schedule, he could not leave all initiative in the hands of unpredictable enemies.

In the original story, Nagato had waited until Naruto grew up before acting, but Anju felt uneasy.

Under the Rinnegan, could he and Kurama truly stand against it?

Minato's Chakra was also one of Anju's contingencies. If Nagato acted first, then with Minato's Chakra, he could fully take Kushina and Naruto and escape.

But running away was not a fundamental solution. Sooner or later, he would have to face Akatsuki, the strongest organization in the Ninja World at this stage.

Recently, Naruto had also been spending time with Kurama often.

Naruto was already sensible at this age, and he was very polite. He did not feel any aversion toward Kurama, the big fox, either.

He even felt a little apologetic.

Because Anju had already told Naruto that he had misunderstood Kurama's gender when he was younger.

And after spending time with Kurama, Naruto naturally began watching Ultraman as well.

Anju did not know what to say anymore.

Sometimes, Anju felt that Ultraman was actually good for shaping Naruto's values. It was a fine tokusatsu series too.

It also had its darker aspects, which could strengthen Naruto's ability to distinguish right from wrong.

Anju had not expected that.

What had originally been something to help Kurama pass the time had become deeply meaningful.

Elsewhere.

In the Land of Hot Water.

A squad of ninjas pushing wounded men had just passed through a Small Forest when dozens of shuriken shot out from within it.

At the same time, explosions erupted from the other side.

A group of ninjas dressed in Kumogakure uniforms and wearing masks of various colors launched a surprise attack on the squad.

Most terrifyingly, there were more than fifty attackers, and all of them possessed strength ranging from Special Jonin to Jonin.

This attack caught the three hundred ninjas led by Shisui completely off guard.

The wounded also picked up their weapons, preparing to fight these "Kumogakure Ninjas" to the death.

Shisui instantly activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and created dozens of clones, sending them charging toward the "Kumogakure Ninjas."

The "Kumogakure Ninjas" formed hand seals with great coordination. All kinds of ninjutsu flew toward the clones, while several taijutsu users charged at the Konoha Genin.

Very quickly, Shisui noticed something wrong with these "Kumogakure Ninjas."

Most of them used Lightning Release ninjutsu, while the rest combined swordsmanship and taijutsu rather than using Nintaijutsu.

After exchanging blows with these "Kumogakure Ninjas," Shisui was greatly shocked.

Because the swordsmanship used by the ninja before him actually carried traces of Konoha-Style Swordsmanship.

Clearly, these "Kumogakure Ninjas" were Konoha ninjas in disguise.

What saddened Shisui most was that these ninjas were actually slaughtering the Genin and severely wounded men under his command.

So Shisui could only use Susanoo once again to protect his companions.

After using Susanoo, blood tears also flowed from Shisui's swollen eyes.

Clearly, he had overused his eyes.

When the "Kumogakure Ninjas" saw Shisui use Susanoo, they immediately began retreating.

Susanoo: Ninety-Nine!

Shisui's Susanoo chest armor opened, and green Chakra arrows shot rapidly toward the "Kumogakure Ninjas."

The "Kumogakure Ninjas" used all kinds of ninjutsu in an attempt to block the green Chakra arrows.

Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!

Water Release: Water Formation Wall!

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

These "Kumogakure Ninjas" fought as though their lives depended on it. Those who could use defensive ninjutsu used it, while even those who could not used combination ninjutsu in an attempt to counterattack.

This also made it obvious that these "Kumogakure Ninjas" were disguised, since Kumogakure did not have so many ninjas capable of using ninjutsu.

Most of the arrows fired by Shisui's Ninety-Nine were not stopped. Several "Kumogakure Ninjas" were pierced straight through, and twelve fell on the spot.

The remaining "Kumogakure Ninjas" did not retreat very far.

They gathered again at a more distant location.

These "Kumogakure Ninjas" were somewhat silent.

Shisui's attacks were far too sharp. They could not defend against them, and a moment of carelessness could leave them lying dead.

Among the twelve who had fallen was a Jonin.

"We must complete our lord's order. We'll launch another surprise attack shortly."

"Yes!"

The "Kumogakure Ninjas" scattered once again.

The losses suffered by the squad led by Shisui were rather severe.

Half of the two hundred Genin and severely wounded men had died, making Shisui even more grief-stricken.

They were clearly ninjas from the same village. Why did they have to strike so ruthlessly?

It had to be one of the ninja clans in the village that harbored prejudice against the Uchiha Clan!

Back when he had served in the Third Hokage's Anbu, he had already learned that there were ninjas in the village hostile toward the Uchiha Clan.

The Third Hokage knew as well, and he had been trying to persuade those ninjas. Yet now, Shisui had still been attacked by ninjas hostile toward the Uchiha Clan, even dragging down the Genin and wounded men returning with him.

"Keep moving."

After saying that, Shisui led the Genin onward, and then his nightmare began.

Because traps covered the entire road back to the village.

And whenever he made a move, those "Kumogakure Ninjas" would immediately keep their distance.

By the time they had traveled this far, only a dozen or so of the two hundred ninjas and severely wounded men under Shisui remained.

Shisui would not allow those Genin to move too far away from him, lest they be ambushed by those "Kumogakure Ninjas."

The "Kumogakure Ninjas" had also suffered considerable losses.

One after another, they had been reduced to only twenty-four people.

Among those twenty-four were eight Jonin.

The moment they found an opening, they would immediately attack Shisui.

Shisui's vision was growing increasingly blurred, and he no longer dared use Susanoo against those "Kumogakure Ninjas."