Disguise

"Halt!"

A sharp shout cut through the dense curtain of rain.

Ahead, at the mouth of a narrow alley, six Amegakure Ninja, clad in black raincoats and wearing breathing masks, blocked their path.

They were well-equipped, accompanied by hunting dogs, and bore the insignia of Hanzō's personal guard.

"We're done for."

Namikaze Minato's heart clenched, and he instinctively reached for his ninja pouch.

"Don't move."

Uchiha Fugaku quietly stopped him.

The usually arrogant young Uchiha displayed excellent composure in the moment.

The three of them now looked like stray orphans who had crawled out of a garbage heap, shivering and wide-eyed with terror.

"Wh-who's there?"

Uchiha Fugaku feigned being scared out of his wits, his voice trembling, his body even shaking slightly.

If the Uchiha elders saw this acting, they'd likely fall over in shock.

Nishikawa Tetsu was also surprised. You've got some acting chops, kid?

The leader of the personal guard, the captain, covered his nose with disgust, a primal aversion from those living in the upper districts towards the common folk of the lower areas.

"Have you seen three Konoha ninja? About this tall, carrying bags." The captain gestured with the kunai in his hand, his tone icy.

"N-no, we didn't see them."

Nishikawa Tetsu cowered behind Fugaku, speaking in a timid voice with a regional accent. "Sir, we were just looking for something to eat. Please don't kill us."

"Get lost, get lost! You stink!"

The captain waved his hand impatiently. Looking at the three emaciated refugees covered in grime, he had no desire to waste another glance.

That ingrained humility and stench were definitely not something proud Konoha ninja could fake.

"Search over there!"

The captain kicked Nishikawa Tetsu aside and, with his team, hurried past them, chasing in another direction.

Nishikawa Tetsu, knocked into the muddy water, didn't resist. Instead, he rolled on the ground, feigning pained groans.

Only when the footsteps faded did he slowly lift his head, the timidity in his eyes vanishing instantly.

"Let's go."

The three exchanged no words, not even eye contact. They simply darted into another alley like startled mice, heads bowed low.

The hunting dogs let out excited barks, following the lingering scent and lunging forward like black lightning.

At the other end of the rain-soaked alley.

The personal guard captain, who had sprinted over a hundred meters, suddenly stopped.

"Captain? What's wrong? The dogs seem to have lost the scent," a team member asked, tugging at a restless dog.

"Something's not right."

The captain spun around abruptly, looking in the direction the three refugees had disappeared, his eyes turning sinister.

"What is it? They were just three refugees."

"The smell was right, the clothes were right, even the fearful tone was right."

The captain narrowed his eyes, replaying the scene in his mind, then his pupils contracted sharply:

"But... their feet."

"Feet?"

"This road is all mud and moss. Ordinary people walk heavily, their steps uneven, and their balance unstable."

The captain's voice turned chillingly cold. "But those three, despite pretending to stumble, were too light with every step they took on the mud. That's an instinct only ninja who have undergone long-term Chakra absorption training possess! They were subconsciously controlling the sound of their landing!"

"And the tallest one."

The captain stared intently into the rain-swept distance. "When I waved them away just now, although his head was lowered, his spine was straight. That subconscious pride is absolutely not something an ordinary person would have."

"Damn it! We've been tricked! Those three are Konoha rats!"

"Chase them! Leave no survivors!"

"Woof woof woof!!!"

At the captain's command, the hunting dogs, which had been sniffing around, seemed to receive an order and instantly changed direction.

Deep in the alleyway.

"They're back."

Nishikawa Tetsu, who had been moving quickly, suddenly stopped, pressing his ear against the damp, slippery wall.

"Their footsteps are hurried, and their killing intent is heavy. It seems our disguise has been seen through."

"I knew this beggar act wouldn't be reliable," Uchiha Fugaku snorted, reaching out and tearing off the foul-smelling rags he wore. Beneath them, his muscles, though dirty, were still taut.

He cracked his neck, a crisp sound echoing. The cowardice in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by the Uchiha clan's characteristic arrogance and coldness.

"Since we can't keep up the pretense, there's no need to. Besides, I didn't like the way that guy looked at me just now."

"There are six of them, all Hanzō's Elite Guard. Their strength is at least Special Jonin level."

Namikaze Minato also shed his disguise, his golden hair flying in the rain. He spun a specially made Kunai in his hand before gripping it tightly.

"It's a dead end ahead, and pursuers behind."

Nishikawa Tetsu glanced at the terrain.

"Looks like we'll have to deal with them here."

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Several sounds of air being torn apart rang out.

Six dark figures, carrying a foul wind, instantly landed on the rooftops and ground at both ends of the alley, surrounding the three of them.

"Running? Why aren't you running anymore?"

The captain of the Elite Guard stood on high, looking down at the three with undisguised killing intent in his eyes.

"Good acting, Konoha brats. You almost fooled me too."

"Too bad. That rat smell on you... no matter how much you wash, it just won't go away."

"Rat?"

Uchiha Fugaku slowly raised his head. His originally black pupils instantly turned blood red, three tomoe slowly spinning in the night.

"Are you talking about the Uchiha?"

Seeing those eyes, the captain of the Elite Guard paused for a moment, then grinned sinisterly. "So you're from the Uchiha clan, no wonder you're so stubborn. Perfect, I'll take your eyes!"

"Kill!"

With a command, the six Amegakure Ninja simultaneously formed hand seals.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"

"Lightning Style: Gratitude Wave!"

The ninjutsu and fangs intertwined, forming a net of death that instantly enveloped the narrow alley.

"Minato, left! Tetsu, fall back!"

Uchiha Fugaku shouted, his hands rapidly forming hand seals as his chest puffed out.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Blue flames exploded in the rainy night, colliding fiercely with the incoming Water Dragon, and steam filled the air.

Since they couldn't dodge, they would fight!