Uchiha Chiyu's squad reached the highest point on the island and activated their Sharingan to locate the enemies:
One was in the wooden watchtower, and two were in a house a hundred meters below.
Uchiha Chiyu quickly gave his orders. "Mitsuhiko and Hien, you're coming with me to deal with the two in the house. Kato, Totsuka, go take care of the one in the watchtower!
"If you're at a disadvantage, just hold him off. We'll come support you as soon as we're done! Remember, the Jonin are protecting us from the shadows. Don't be afraid!"
The others nodded, and the battle began at once!
Chiyu and the other two formed Hand Seals simultaneously.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!
Three enormous fireballs roared toward the hut and engulfed it in an instant!
That was simply how ninja fought. If they could sneak up on their opponent and take them out in one move, they'd never bother with an honorable duel.
Besides, this was an attack the Uchiha Clan had used time and again with great success.
Unfortunately, it didn't work this time.
From the burning house came a booming shout:
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
With a mighty roar, a torrent of water surged out in every direction from the burning house, dousing the flames in an instant!
Two Mist Ninja leaped from the roof unscathed, kunai in hand, and watched them warily.
"That guy's a Jonin!" one of the Uchiha exclaimed. "His Water Release covers too wide an area!"
"No," Chiyu replied, frowning and shaking his head. "They're young. They can't be more than twelve or thirteen, about Totsuka's age. It's the environment here...the air is too humid, greatly amplifying the power of Water Release."
And our Fire Release is weakened.
He kept that last thought to himself so as not to hurt the others' morale. His voice low, he said, "Don't let them use Water Release again. Close in!"
With that, the three drew their weapons and charged.
Meanwhile, Kato and Totsuka had also engaged their opponent.
Their enemy wasn't especially strong, probably a Genin. With two against one, they were gradually gaining the upper hand.
But Sen, watching from the shadows, couldn't shake his unease. He turned to Jiraiya and the other two and said:
"Jiraiya, take them a little farther forward. Keep an eye on Chiyu's group for me. I don't think they're in any real danger, but the others shouldn't just stand around watching the fight. They should stay alert, like Minato."
When the two nodded, Sen pushed off with his feet and quickly approached Kato and Totsuka.
As he drew closer, he realized what was wrong. Kato and Totsuka's every attack bore the unmistakable stamp of the Ninja Academy. Their technique was textbook, but they lacked any killing intent.
The Mist Ninja's attacks were another matter entirely—
Every slash was deadly, every move a desperate gamble. He didn't even hesitate to trade wounds!
Just like now!
Seeing that he couldn't break through after a prolonged assault, the Mist Ninja's eyes flashed with madness.
He actually lit the Explosive Tag in his hand, stuck it to the tip of his kunai, and charged like a man possessed!
Kato and Totsuka had never faced an enemy willing to fight so recklessly. Panic seized them, and their movements faltered for a moment.
Their opponent seized the opening and unleashed a flurry of attacks, leaving them both covered in wounds and sprawled on the ground!
"We'll die together!" The Mist Ninja thrust his kunai straight at Uchiha Totsuka's eyes!
At that critical moment, a flash of white streaked past!
The Mist Ninja felt a chill at his wrist, followed by searing pain. The arm holding the kunai had been severed cleanly at the wrist!
There was no kunai in his hand anymore, only a wound spurting blood.
The severed arm, Explosive Tag and all, had been kicked high into the air in a single swift motion!
"BOOM—"
The blast's powerful shock wave sent even Sen, who had arrived just in time, tumbling to the ground.
He sprang back to his feet and swung Samehada in a backhanded strike, smashing the still-screaming Mist Ninja until his bones broke and putting an end to his suffering.
Totsuka gasped for breath. She'd just escaped death, and now the fear was starting to sink in. She stared at the dead Mist Ninja, hesitating before finally forcing out a few words:
"Thank you so much, Sen. If you hadn't been there just now, I'd probably be..."
"It's fine. Be more careful next time."
Sen gave a brief reply. Watching the fight in the distance, he ordered Samehada, "Eat this one, then heal those two."
The smell of blood had already excited Samehada. It immediately opened its huge mouth and swallowed the corpse, then returned the favor by releasing pure chakra to heal the pair's wounds.
More than ten minutes later, the battle on the other side ended too.
Uchiha Chiyu brought an enemy who was barely alive over to Sen. "Mission complete. The other one was killed by an Explosive Tag."
"Are you hurt?" Sen patted Samehada to let it know it could "eat."
"We're fine. We just used up a lot of chakra." Chiyu smiled sheepishly. "You said before that Water Release countered our techniques, but I didn't believe you.
"Only just now did the three of us manage to barely hold off one C-rank Water Release technique with our combined Great Fireball Jutsu."
"Good." Sen beckoned the others over and handed them Samehada. "This can help restore your chakra."
As everyone's chakra quickly recovered, Uchiha Chizuru finally asked in shock:
"Th-this is Kirigakure's Ninja Blade, Samehada, isn't it? How did it end up in your hands...?"
"I took it."
Sen answered casually, then led the team back to the boat and coldly ordered, "Move out. Next target. We're short on time!"
Uchiha Chizuru gave a wry smile. People had always called him the aloof Uchiha. He never thought that today, at thirty years old, he'd be treated so coldly by a kid.
Everyone returned to their respective boats and continued toward the next target.
But this time, when the Uchiha Clan members looked at Sen, not a trace of doubt remained in their eyes. All that was left was genuine respect and trust.
Everything that had just happened—from carefully arranging for the newcomers to get used to fighting, to saving a teammate who had nearly died, and finally his words, "I took it"—had proven his ability beyond doubt.
That was Kirigakure's famous blade. It wasn't as if just anybody could wield it, right?
"I think...Sen really is reliable," Chiyu said quietly.
"Definitely," Uchiha Totsuka agreed with a nod. "He just saved me, too. If it weren't for him, I'd be dead! Why did the Clan Leader make me spy on him in the first place...?"
"Don't forget where your loyalties lie!" Uchiha Chizuru reminded them when he heard what they were saying. "Don't forget that the Clan Leader raised you. We still have to serve him. This man is on the Great Elder's side. Don't forget that."
"But he saved us today! He helped us through so much! If we hadn't been with him, this squad's mission would never have gone so smoothly!" Uchiha Totsuka argued.
Uchiha Chizuru solemnly reminded them all, "I understand how you feel. He did save your life today, after all. But have you ever considered that Sen has almost no resources?
"Even if he's capable, the most he can do is advance within the Guard Unit. He'll never be able to match Fugaku's standing in both the clan and the village.
"For the sake of your own futures, treat him as a clan member worthy of respect, but don't publicly show your support for him."
His voice grew quieter and quieter, and at last he sighed helplessly. "Politics...is far more brutal than you think."
Before you continue