Uchiha Madara is Targeting Me?

"You're saying the chakra reaction disappeared?"

Qingye initially wanted to dismiss it.

Since the chakra reaction was moving away from them, it shouldn't be related to nearby reinforcements.

But as soon as he heard Hyuga Himon say that the person's chakra reaction vanished into thin air after sinking underground, Qingye froze.

It was like a bolt of lightning struck his mind!

Why had his original plan gone awry?

Because of that mysterious Leaf ninja who appeared out of nowhere!

Who was he?

Disguised as someone else, and Himon's Byakugan couldn't even detect any signs of the Transformation Technique... a disguise technique!

Sinking underground to move at high speed, and after that, no chakra reaction could be detected... Mayfly Technique!

There was no mistake, White Zetsu!

The special abilities possessed by White Zetsu perfectly matched these two characteristics!

So, that inexplicable "Leaf ninja" who seemed not very bright was actually White Zetsu in disguise?

But why?

"...Uchiha Madara!"

Qingye's expression shifted, and all the clues in his mind pointed to this conclusion.

Uchiha Madara was targeting him?!

When did he start targeting him? What did he want?!

If not for Himon's unexpected discovery, he would still be clueless, completely unaware that he had been tricked by Uchiha Madara!

"Qingye, the outpost has been blown up, let's go!" Yūhi Kurenai panted as she ran back.

"...Let's go!"

Qingye didn't have time to think further. He pulled out a scroll, sealed Gari's corpse inside, and then the three of them quickly fled down the mountain.

About a minute later.

Two waves of Iwagakure ninja arrived at the small hillside almost simultaneously.

"Lord Kitsuchi!"

Iwagakure Jonin Hokari and Oishi, who were rushing to reinforce from another direction, met Kitsuchi, who had also come to support.

"This place was actually ambushed by Leaf ninja, and it looks like they didn't leave anyone alive... Damn Leaf ninja!"

Oishi said with a grim expression.

Hokari scanned the surroundings, trying to find any traces. "They shouldn't have gotten far, we can still catch them if we chase now!"

On the other side, Kitsuchi's face was solemn, unmoved.

"This outpost should have been guarded by Sumoshi, right?"

A sharp-eyed Iwagakure ninja scanned the numerous corpses nearby and quickly found one. "Lord Kitsuchi, Sumoshi is here, also killed by Leaf ninja!"

"What?!"

Hokari's expression changed.

Although Sumoshi was only a Special Jonin, his combat power was not inferior. How could he have been killed so quickly?

After all, from the moment he saw the signal flare rise, only five or six minutes had passed until now!

In such a short time, Sumoshi, and so many elite Iwagakure ninja in this outpost, were all killed?!

"Lord Kitsuchi, I found them!"

A pursuing sensory ninja, who had been concentrating on sensing since arriving, finally found a clue and pointed towards the mountain. "Southeast, two kilometers away, a total of three people!"

"Lord Kitsuchi, let's go after them!"

"Just three people dare to be so arrogant!"

"We can't let those three damn bastards escape!"

A group of Iwagakure ninja chattered excitedly.

"The enemy has already gotten so far, it will be difficult to catch up," Kitsuchi shook his head.

It was only three people, they might have some strength, but defeating them wouldn't mean much.

Moreover, Kitsuchi felt something was wrong.

Frowning, he scanned the battle traces on the battlefield, feeling like something was missing.

The large-scale battle traces around clearly indicated a fierce battle had taken place, but who had fought here?

Sumoshi?

He was only a Special Jonin!

"You mean to tell me they're just going to let it go after killing so many of us?!" Hokari was full of resentment.

Kitsuchi let out a cold laugh. "Of course, we won't just let it go. Hmph, the Leaf ninja attacking this outpost must have been trying to destroy the medical supplies here, right?"

From this alone, it was clear that the Leaf's defenses were nearing collapse, and they could only resort to such tactics to slow down their Iwagakure offensive.

How much of an impact could such a minor scheme have?

"In five days, when we're fully prepared, we'll break through the Konrin Mountain Range defenses in one go and end this war!" Kitsuchi declared.

"...Hmph, let those three bastards live a few more days." Hokari said hatefully.

As they spoke, at the foot of the mountain, an Iwagakure Chunin rushed over. Upon seeing the group of people and the piles of corpses, he looked confused.

Kitsuchi frowned and questioned, "Ishikawa? Weren't you with Gari? Why are you here supporting us?"

If he remembered correctly, Gari was supposed to be on a supply escort mission. Why send his subordinate here?

"Support? Ah, no, Lord Kitsuchi."

The Iwagakure Chunin waved his hands repeatedly, explaining in a flustered manner, "Lord Gari was lured away by some strange person who appeared out of nowhere, abandoning the convoy. I was worried something might happen, so I followed to check."

"Oh right, why isn't Lord Gari here?"

He looked around but couldn't see Gari's figure.

"...You're saying Gari was heading this way earlier?"

Kitsuchi temporarily ignored the detail about Gari abandoning the escort convoy, his expression turning extremely grim. "Are you sure it was this way?!"

"Y-yes..."

What was going on?

The Iwagakure Chunin trembled, not understanding why Kitsuchi was so furious.

Seeing Kitsuchi's reaction, the others around them also started to realize what was happening, looking at the surrounding battlefield.

"Sumoshi was probably taken down without much resistance. So, the traces of battle here..."

Hokari's expression was one of horror.

Could it be the result of Gari fighting someone?

Who could fight Gari to this extent?

And where was Gari? Why couldn't he be seen?!

"Chase!"

Kitsuchi roared, abruptly turning his head towards the direction the sensory ninja had indicated. "Go after them! I want to see who it is that could defeat that bastard Gari so quickly!"

The Iwagakure Chunin who had arrived last was terrified to death. What did Lord Kitsuchi mean by that? Gari, Lord Gari, was killed?

How was that possible!

BOOM!

Kitsuchi quickly formed hand seals, and in his rage, his fist slammed into the mountainside beneath his feet.

With a cracking sound, the earth split open!

His heavy punch, empowered by the Earth Style: Heavy Rock Technique, tore apart the slope beneath them. Kitsuchi then grabbed forcefully, ripping out a ten-meter-wide section of the mountainside.

The shadow of the massive mountain passed over them. Accompanied by Kitsuchi's roar, the rock was thrown like a cannonball!

The storm of wind from the throw whipped back at the Iwagakure ninja. In just a moment, after the mountain section was thrown for over a thousand meters, it smashed into the distant dense forest. The violent tremors of the earth quickly returned.

"Chase!"

With Kitsuchi's furious roar and his leading action, the group of Iwagakure ninja followed, rushing down the mountain towards the Land of Fire.