Leaf Village: I, Uchiha, Am Done Lying Flat! Part 38

Although he looked down on ninjas like Ishikawa Itsuki, Jinin Akebino still had to make the call when it came to ninjas willing to defect.

Jinin Akebino sneered disdainfully.

"What use do we have for such a useless Leaf Village Genin?"

"We of Mist Village don't need trash!"

"Kill him."

Hearing those utterly merciless words, Ishikawa Itsuki was completely dumbfounded.

This... wasn't right!

He was already willing to betray his village, so why did they still want to kill him?

At that moment, he truly regretted it.

Thinking about his short life, he could not help but think of those teammates he had never taken seriously.

Before, he had been resentful and thought himself superior.

But when the rain truly came, he finally understood who had gone out without an umbrella.

Those teammates he had looked down on were still alive and well, while he was about to die.

He could not help but wonder now—if he had not been so arrogant, if he had made friends with everyone instead of looking down on them, or if he had chosen to leave with Kudo Shin just now, would his ending have been different?

But it was too late!

Before he could fully work through that question, the Kunai in the Mist Ninja's hand tore straight through his throat.

Scarlet blood sprayed everywhere. He felt it becoming harder and harder to breathe, while his vision gradually blurred.

He died.

And his death was utterly worthless!

That was right.

In truth, his death had come somewhat late.

The moment he abandoned the team, created a rift with his teammates, and angered everyone, he should have died already.

The only difference was whether he died sooner or later.

Unless his strength defied the heavens!

But unfortunately.

Even the Uchiha, whose strength could be called the greatest in Leaf Village, still ended up with their entire clan exterminated after offending every clan in Leaf Village.

He was merely a civilian ninja with neither backing nor strength.

Did he have that qualification?

Therefore.

His death was certain!

Yet none of the Mist Village ninjas cared about him at all. Instead, they turned to Jinin Akebino, who stood at their head.

"Nara? Uchiha?"

"It seems our ninja squad didn't die for nothing!"

"Leave three squads behind to hunt down Leaf Village Team 7, and leave behind a sensory ninja to assist them."

"Everyone else, attack the Leaf Village Frontline Camp at full speed."

"Send the signal for a full-scale assault to our base. Since we've already been exposed, we can't leave Leaf Village any time to prepare."

After saying that.

At Jinin Akebino's command, a Mist Village Signal Flare shot into the sky and burst with dazzling light.

The many Mist Village ninjas no longer concealed themselves and charged directly toward the Leaf Village Frontline Camp.

As for the three Mist Village squads left behind, they also pursued Uchiha Jin and the others under the sensory ninja's direction.

Frontline Camp.

Miyamoto Yukie sat within the Command Tent, staring blankly at the map hanging on the wall.

His brows were tightly furrowed.

His expression was grave, his eyes filled with thought.

This was his first time serving as frontline commander-in-chief, and he naturally felt the burden on his shoulders was immense. He did not dare relax in the slightest. Even though it was already deep into the night, he still found it hard to sleep, constantly afraid that a mistake in his command would lead to disaster.

He had no choice.

As a civilian ninja, this opportunity had not come easily.

He did not seek merit; he only sought to avoid fault!

He did not need to defeat Mist Village. As long as he could endure the difficult period and hold out until the Leaf Village army arrived, he could be considered to have accomplished his task.

And with this achievement, he would be qualified to enter the Konoha higher-ups.

That was also the greatest wish of his life!

But unfortunately.

Even now, he did not know that his goal could never succeed.

If there had truly been an opportunity to earn merit, how could it possibly have fallen to a civilian ninja like him?

To put it bluntly, he was there to take the blame.

Leaf Village had long learned through Spies that Mist Village was preparing to declare war.

It was only because the other battlefronts were deadlocked and they could not spare enough ninjas for the moment that they had sent a scapegoat like him, along with a group of Leaf Village cannon fodder, to hold the line.

Frankly speaking, Leaf Village had never expected him and a group of cannon fodder to hold out.

As long as they could buy Leaf Village a little time to mobilize its true powerhouses, that would already be enough for Leaf Village.

As for afterward?

If he died, then so be it. Even if he survived, he would still be destined to bear responsibility for the failure.

A true civilian who had not joined the Hokage faction was destined never to become one of the higher-ups.

Just as he was deep in thought, a ninja rushed in.

Miyamoto Yukie frowned, but before he could grow angry, the ninja spoke first.

"Jonin-sama!"

"An emergency Signal Flare has been spotted—the highest-level red one."

"The signal came from Outpost 27, according to our investigation!"

Gasp!

Upon hearing that, Miyamoto Yukie instantly sucked in a sharp breath.

It had finally come!

He knew that his greatest test officially began now.

Without bothering to respond to the ninja before him, he hurried out of the Command Tent and saw the Red Signal Flare in the sky.

His expression turned ugly.

This was the highest-level Signal Flare, proving that the situation was truly at its most urgent.

But he could not understand it!

What exactly had happened that warranted firing such a Red Signal Flare?

Just as he was thinking, he suddenly saw another Signal Flare shoot into the sky.

However.

This purple Signal Flare did not belong to Leaf Village.

That meant only one thing: Mist Village!

Realizing this, he no longer hesitated and immediately shouted at everyone.

"All personnel, be on alert!"

"Notify the Medical Squad to withdraw. Third Battalion will protect the Medical Squad."

"Everyone else, prepare to face the enemy with me!"

With Miyamoto Yukie's orders, the entire Frontline Camp instantly sprang into action.

The piercing alarm sounded. Whether they were patrol squads on duty or ninja squads resting, everyone began moving.

About half an hour later.