Several days later, early in the morning.
Kushina and Minato had been assigned to protect a Daimyo's relative on a sightseeing trip nearby, while Jiraiya had been sent on patrol.
Sen, meanwhile, pretended he hadn't fully recovered and stayed at the medical unit to recuperate.
As he watched his comrades leave one after another, Sen took Samehada from the Summoning Scroll, strapped it to his back, and slipped alone into the vast ocean.
It took him a while to reach the eastern side of Lookout Island. Mist Ninja were still launching surprise attacks here, and the Land of Water lay just a few dozen kilometers away.
Konoha's war with Kirigakure had never crossed this line. For one thing, the enemy's terrain was treacherous and difficult to occupy. For another, the Land of Water was short on resources, making any occupied territory costly to maintain.
But today, Sen crossed that unspoken border—and did so carrying the enemy nation's famous blade, Samehada.
It was easy to imagine how furious the people of Kirigakure would be at this blatant provocation.
He hadn't gone far when a Mist Ninja patrol boat appeared in sight.
After confirming it was only a Genin squad, Sen used the Hiding in Mist Technique, then walked across the water and slipped toward them.
"That's how the weather is out at sea. It can change in an instant. One moment it's calm, the next—"
The Mist Ninja's sentence was cut short as his head rolled across the deck.
"Enemy!" another Mist Ninja shouted. A pair of scarlet Sharingan glowed in the mist.
Then the massive shadow of Samehada's blade swept toward them.
"Bang!"
The wooden boat shattered, and blood stained the blue waves. Of the original three, only one ninja remained alive.
"P-please, don't kill me!" The last surviving Mist Ninja was already scared out of his wits.
Seeing that his opponent had lost the ability to fight, Sen held out Samehada and let it devour the two corpses. Then he said, unhurriedly,
"I, Uchiha Sen, don't kill brats like you. Go back and tell Jūzō Biwa that I'm coming for his Kubikiribōchō."
"Did you hear me?" Sen asked, pointing Samehada at him.
"I-I heard you, Lord Uchiha Sen."
Satisfied that he'd made his point, Sen vanished into the mist.
He pulled the same stunt twice more in those waters.
On the fourth time, after Sen attacked another Mist Ninja squad, several powerful chakra signatures closed in from all directions. Their owners fixed their eyes on him.
Sen quickly retreated and looked around. On the sea, he spotted Jūzō Biwa pursuing him with five Jonin.
One of the ninjas beside Jūzō glanced at the blade in Sen's hand. "Captain Jūzō, we have to take back the sword. If the Mizukage finds out, we'll be in serious trouble."
Jūzō's gaze flickered toward the distance. He spoke slowly. "Uchiha Sen, I didn't think you'd really be able to kill Suikazan Fuguki. I underestimated you."
Sen ignored him and rapidly formed Hand Seals, intending to use Water Dragon Bullet as cover for his escape.
At that moment, a Nuibari shot at him from the side. Thanks to his Sharingan, Sen barely managed to dodge it.
When he looked again, three ninjas had surrounded him from behind. At their head was the ever-persistent Kushimaru Kuriarare.
"Uchiha Sen!" Kushimaru's eyes burned with hatred. "Today, I'm going to put a thousand holes in your head!"
"Oh? Had your hand reattached?" Sen glanced at his right arm, whose color looked a little off. "Looks like they grafted on your brother's arm. You're lower than an animal, you piece of trash."
"Enough talk! Kill him!" Jūzō ordered with a wave of his hand. "The brat's probably bait. Don't let him escape back into Konoha's territory!"
Seeing that his plan had been exposed, Sen suddenly pulled out a Kunai and stabbed it toward his own neck!
"Don't look! It's an Illusion Technique!"
The Mist Ninja lost focus for a moment. By the time they came to their senses, Sen was already fleeing north toward the volcanic islands.
"Damn it! What a dirty trick! After him!" Jūzō roared. "That's volcanic territory. The islands are full of poisonous gas! Either we chase him down and run him to death, or he'll go in there and get poisoned!"
Nine Jonin launched into a full-speed pursuit across the sea.
Half an hour later, Sen saw the islands belching smoke in the distance and immediately took a cotton bandage from his Ninja Tool Pouch to cover his mouth and nose.
"He's heading into the volcano! Do we keep chasing?" a Mist Ninja asked Jūzō.
Jūzō's eyes were bloodshot. "We keep going! If the Mizukage has to summon Samehada back with a Summoning Technique, none of us will live! You know what the punishment is for losing a treasured blade, don't you?
"Also, call in the other Chunin and bring the gas masks!"
The consequences sounded dire enough that the group didn't hesitate over the poisonous gas. They quickened their pace and charged after Sen.
After crossing a stretch of dry, charred ground, Sen gave a sinister smile. Once he confirmed that the Mist Ninja were following, he switched to a proper gas mask and continued fleeing.
After all, he still needed to lure them into the trap.
Sen came to a halt at a huge ravine just wide enough for two people to walk through.
"Why'd you stop running?"
As soon as he stopped, Kushimaru's Nuibari was already on him!
Sen dodged to the side, but his hands had already finished forming Hand Seals.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!
"Idiot!" Kushimaru sneered. "You think one person can use Fire Release against all of us Water Release ninjas?!"
A Mist Ninja formed Hand Seals and raised a massive Water Formation Wall, easily blocking the fireball.
Water and fire collided, billowing thick clouds of steam.
Just as the Mist Ninja prepared to launch a surprise attack, dozens of voices shouted in unison from the mound behind them!
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
More than a dozen Uchiha leaped out from behind the mound. Dozens of giant fireballs rained down like a meteor shower, engulfing the Mist Ninja.
At the same time, dozens of Explosive Tags thrown by Sen slipped closer under the cover of the mist.
Then came the dense, rapid sound of Explosive Tags detonating.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The violent explosions nearly blew the entire island apart!
As the smoke cleared, Sen's brows drew tightly together.
The ravine was close to collapsing, and several huge, blackened craters pocked the ground. But the enemy had only lost two Jonin.
The instant the Explosive Tags flew in, they had worked together to use Earth Release, withstanding most of the blasts.
Seeing this, Sen was overcome with regret.
I miscalculated! They're all far stronger Jonin than I expected. This ambush isn't nearly enough.
"Retreat!"
Sen made his decision at once, forming Hand Seals and gathering nearly half of his chakra in his mouth!
Water Release: Exploding Water Wave!
In an instant, an overwhelming surge of water swept toward the Mist Ninja below like a tsunami!
Taking advantage of the moment they spent dodging, Sen turned and yelled to his clanmates, "Retreat! They won't last long in this poisonous gas! Messenger, did you notify Orochimaru?"
A messenger carrying equipment immediately replied, "I did. They'll be here soon—"
Before he could finish, a gleaming Nuibari shot through the air and pierced his abdomen!
The blood pouring from his wound cut him off. Kushimaru yanked hard, and the wire sliced out from the side, dragging the messenger's organs with it.
"Argh!"
Seeing their comrade die before their eyes, every Uchiha's eyes instantly turned bloodshot!
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