Provoking the Mist Ninja and Sen's Trap

The morning several days later.

Kushina and Minato were assigned to protect a daimyo's relative during their outing nearby, while Jiraiya was also assigned to patrol duty.

As for Sen, he feigned that his injuries had not yet healed and recuperated in the medical department.

Watching his companions leave one after another, Sen took out Samehada from the summoning scroll, slung it over his back, and, alone, plunged into the vast ocean.

It took him some time to reach the east side of Lookout Island, where Mist Ninja had been launching sneak attacks. Dozens of kilometers across the water lay the territory of Kirigakure.

Konoha's war with Kirigakure had never crossed this line. Firstly, the environment was harsh and difficult to conquer. Secondly, the Land of Water was resource-poor, and occupying it would require significant maintenance.

But today, Sen crossed this unspoken boundary, and he was carrying the other country's famous sword, "Samehada."

One could imagine how enraged the people of Kirigakure would be at such blatant provocation.

He hadn't gone far when a Mist Ninja patrol boat appeared in his sight.

Confirming that it was only a Genin squad, Sen released a Mist Technique and then dove into the water, treading on its surface.

"The weather at sea is like this, it changes drastically at any moment. One second it's calm, the next..."

Before one Mist Ninja could finish his sentence, his head rolled onto the deck.

"Enemy!" another Mist Ninja roared, and a pair of scarlet Sharingan lit up in the mist.

Immediately after, the massive blade of Samehada flashed past.

BOOM!

The wooden boat exploded, blood staining the blue waves. Of the original three, only one ninja remained alive.

"Please... please, don't kill me!" The last surviving Mist Ninja was already scared out of his wits.

Seeing that the opponent had lost the ability to fight, Sen extended Samehada and devoured the two corpses clean before calmly saying:

"I, Uchiha Sen, don't kill brats like you. Go back and tell Jūzō Biwa that I've come for his Kubikiribōchō."

"Did you hear clearly?" Sen asked, directly extending Samehada.

"Ye... yes, clear, Lord Uchiha Sen."

Confirming the desired effect, Sen's figure vanished into the mist.

This kind of showboating happened twice more in the same sea area.

It wasn't until the fourth time, after Sen had attacked another Mist Ninja squad, that several powerful Chakras enveloped him from all directions, their gazes locking onto him!

He quickly retreated to observe. On the sea, Jūzō Biwa was leading five Jonin to pursue him.

A ninja beside Jūzō Biwa looked at the large sword in Sen's hand and said, "Captain Jūzō, quickly retrieve the sword, or it will be troublesome if the Mizukage finds out."

Jūzō Biwa's eyes flickered towards the distance and he said slowly, "Uchiha Sen, I didn't expect you to actually kill Suikazan Fuguki. I truly underestimated you!"

Sen ignored what they said and quickly formed hand seals, intending to use Water Dragon Bullet to cover his escape.

Just then, a Nuibari suddenly attacked from the side. Relying on his Sharingan, Sen barely managed to dodge it.

Looking again, he found himself surrounded by three ninjas, led by the ever-present Kushimaru Kuriarare.

"Uchiha Sen!" Kushimaru Kuriarare's eyes were filled with palpable hatred. "Today, I will pierce your head with hundreds of holes!"

"Oh? Holding it well?" Sen glanced at his slightly unnatural right arm. "Looks like you had it attached with your brother's arm? What a bastard, worse than an animal."

"Stop the nonsense! Kill him!" Jūzō Biwa waved his hand and ordered. "This brat is probably bait. Don't let him escape back to Konoha's defense zone!"

Seeing his plan had been seen through, Sen directly pulled out a kunai and thrust it violently towards his own neck!

"Don't look! It's an Illusion Technique!"

The Mist Ninja were momentarily stunned. When they came to their senses, Sen's figure was already fleeing towards the volcanic islands to the north.

"Bastard! How insidious! Chase!" Jūzō Biwa roared. "That's a volcanic area, the islands are full of poisonous gas! He'll either be chased to exhaustion or die from poisoning if he goes in there himself!"

The nine Jonin engaged in a high-speed chase on the sea.

Half an hour later, Sen looked at the islands in the distance, spewing thick smoke. He immediately took out cotton bandages from his ninja pouch and covered his mouth and nose.

"He's going into the volcano! Do we still pursue?" a Mist Ninja asked Jūzō Biwa.

Jūzō Biwa's eyes were red. "Chase! If the Mizukage has to summon Samehada back using a summoning jutsu, none of us will survive! Do you know the penalty for losing a treasured sword?

Also, go get other Chunin and bring gas masks!"

Hearing the severe consequences, the group, disregarding the poisonous gas on the island, accelerated their pursuit.

Passing through a scorched, dry area, Sen, with an evil smile, confirmed the Mist Ninja were following before switching to a professional gas mask and continuing his escape.

After all, he still needed to lead these people into a trap.

He arrived at a huge ravine that could only accommodate two people walking side-by-side, and Sen stopped.

"Why aren't you running anymore?"

The moment he stopped, Kushimaru Kuriarare's Nuibari struck like a shadow!

Sen dodged sideways, but his hands had already completed the hand seals.

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!

"Idiot!" Kushimaru Kuriarare sneered, "You think you can take on so many Water Style ninja by yourself with Fire Style?!"

A Mist Ninja formed hand seals and erected a massive water barrier, easily blocking the fireball.

Water and fire clashed, creating thick mist.

Just as they prepared to launch a surprise attack, dozens of synchronized shouts erupted from the dirt mounds behind them!

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Over ten Uchiha ninja leaped from behind the mounds, dozens of giant fireballs raining down like a meteor shower, completely engulfing the Mist Ninja!

At the same time, dozens of explosive tags thrown by Sen, concealed by the mist, had quietly attached themselves.

What followed was the sound of countless explosive tags detonating.

"Boom—Boom—Boom—"

The violent explosions nearly shook the entire island apart!

As the smoke cleared, Sen's brow furrowed tightly.

The ravines were almost blown shut, and several large black craters dotted the ground, yet the enemy had only suffered casualties of two Jonin!

The moment the explosive tags were thrown, they had joined forces, using Earth Style to withstand most of the blast!

Seeing this, a wave of regret washed over Sen:

His calculations were off! The enemy was entirely composed of such powerful Jonin; his ambush was completely inadequate.

"Go!"

Sen made a swift decision, forming hand seals and gathering nearly half his Chakra in his mouth!

Water Style: Water Colliding Wave!

Instantly, a vast, overwhelming wave, like a tsunami, surged towards the Mist Ninja positioned at lower ground!

Taking advantage of the enemy's distraction, he roared at his clansmen behind him, "Retreat! They won't last long against the poison gas here! Communications soldier, have you notified Orochimaru?"

A communications soldier carrying equipment immediately replied, "I've already notified him, they'll be here soon..."

Before the communications soldier could finish speaking, a Nuibari, glinting coldly, "swished" through the air and pierced his abdomen!

The blood from his wound interrupted his words, and then Kushimaru Kuriarare yanked hard, tearing out his intestines along with the wire from the side.

"Ah—!"

Witnessing their comrade's brutal death before their eyes, the eyes of all the Uchiha clansmen instantly turned blood red!