Leaf Village: I, Uchiha, Am Done Lying Flat!

"After firing the Signal Flare, we'll leave at top speed and find a hidden place to conceal ourselves."

"Then, we'll fight guerrilla warfare."

"We'll keep moving throughout the Land of Whirlpools and never stay in any one spot for too long."

"If we encounter a large force, we hide. If we encounter a small squad of Mist Ninja, we kill them."

"Only then can we stall for longer."

"I trust the village's intelligence network. The village will soon notice that something is wrong here."

"We can only hold out until the village reacts and dispatches a large force. Only then will this crisis be over."

"This is the best plan I can think of!"

Nara Kazama reacted the fastest.

He had understood halfway through that Uchiha Jin's plan was the best option they had at this stage.

Kudo Shin was not stupid either.

He immediately accepted it and hurriedly said, "I agree!"

"Good. It seems we've reached a consensus." Uchiha Jin nodded, then continued, "Just as Kazama said, when we truly enter combat, I won't have time to explain."

"So through this matter, I hope the captain understands that."

"Since you've chosen to trust me, I hope you'll trust me all the way."

"Otherwise, if you question me in battle—even if you hesitate for an instant—all three of us will die!"

Kudo Shin nodded solemnly.

At that moment, he had truly taken the words to heart.

He immediately made all sorts of assurances and apologized for his earlier doubts.

Seeing this, Nara Kazama could not help but let out a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness.

Although this was merely a cannon fodder squad and there were no real bonds between them—

Fortunately, Uchiha Jin was a qualified commander.

In only a few moments, he had brought their trust together.

Looking at it this way, their chances of survival had grown even greater.

As he thought this, he could not help glancing at Uchiha Jin again, inwardly grumbling once more.

Was this really an Uchiha?

No, he was more like a Nara!

And so—

Under the guidance of their captain, Uchiha Jin, the newly reorganized Team 7 directly ignited the Signal Flare in their hands.

Whoosh!

The Signal Flare shot into the sky and burst into brilliant light.

Then, the three who had planned it beforehand silently and swiftly slipped away to the left.

As for Ishikawa Itsuki?

Who was that?

Sorry!

Their squad had all very neatly "accidentally" forgotten him.

About ten minutes later.

More than fifty Mist Ninja, led by Jinin Akebino, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and wielder of the blunt sword Kabutowari, surrounded the small forest.

"Jonin-sama."

"Our sensory ninja has confirmed that this was where the Signal Flare was launched."

"We found Mist 27th Squad here. Their deaths have now been confirmed. Two were stabbed to death by Kunai, while the other bore signs of torture."

"We can now basically confirm that Leaf Village has discovered Mist Village's plan."

"Five hundred meters to the left, there is a Leaf Outpost."

Jinin Akebino's eyes were fierce.

After hearing his subordinate's report, he gave the order without the slightest hesitation.

"Go to that Leaf garrison point and see whether there are any clues!"

The Mist Ninja answered in unison.

Immediately afterward.

The group moved at great speed and soon arrived at Outpost No. 27.

Jinin Akebino casually waved a hand. A squad of Mist Ninja rushed inside, then dragged out Ishikawa Itsuki, who had been sleeping soundly, and threw him onto the ground.

Who am I?

Where am I?

What am I supposed to do?

The utterly bewildered Ishikawa Itsuki opened his eyes in irritation.

Then—

Upon seeing the fifty-plus Mist Ninja before him, he nearly pissed himself.

"You... I..."

Ishikawa Itsuki trembled all over, his voice shaking so badly that he could not form a complete sentence for a long while.

Yes.

Though he acted as if he were second only to the heavens before Uchiha Jin and the others, that was only because he knew that no matter how displeased they were, they would not truly dare to kill him.

But now, it was different!

The Mist Ninja before him were people who would truly dare to kill him.

Meanwhile.

Jinin Akebino glanced at Ishikawa Itsuki and felt a wave of disgust.

As a ninja, he despised trash like Ishikawa Itsuki the most.

Without wasting words—

He walked up to Ishikawa Itsuki and viciously slapped him across the face.

Blood sprayed from his mouth, and two of his teeth were sent flying.

"If you know what's good for you, confess honestly!"

"Who are your teammates, and where have they gone?"

"Tell me everything you know!"

Ishikawa Itsuki: "..."

He was completely dumbfounded.

Looking at the savage Jinin Akebino and the vicious-eyed Mist Ninja surrounding him—

All the lofty ambitions he had possessed back in Leaf Village were extinguished in that instant. He immediately spilled everything he knew, honestly and without reservation.

It was only because Mist Village was not interested.

Otherwise, he would probably have blurted out without hesitation how he wet his pants at three and peeked at widows bathing at five.

After listening, Jinin Akebino casually waved his hand.

One of the ninja stepped forward and directly pulled out a Kunai.

Ishikawa Itsuki was terrified out of his wits.

He could not help crying out.

"I've told you everything, so why are you still going to kill me?"

"Spare my life!"

"..."

Chapter 28: Ishikawa Itsuki Dies, Mist Village Launches Its General Offensive

The Mist Ninja who was about to act could not help looking toward Jinin Akebino when he heard that.