Ambush

Night fell, the bright full moon rose, and stars reflected upon the river. A few white egrets occasionally took fright and scattered into flight.

Kurenai Yuhi crouched halfway down by the riverside bushes.

Asuma and the others stood on tree branches.

Five people and one dog watched the upstream stretch of the not-too-wide river with meticulous attention.

The bleak river wind stirred the slightly curled, wavy locks hanging over Kurenai Yuhi's forehead.

Her graceful figure was reflected upon the water beneath her snow-white feet, elegant and captivating as it rippled with the waves.

In just a few short minutes earlier, Asuma had led the team in setting up an Explosive Tag trap on the river. Ordinary shinobi—even Jonin—would surely be blown to pieces if they entered the minefield without realizing it.

Worry showed openly in Kurenai Yuhi's almond eyes. She feared Ingetsu would come, yet also feared that he would not.

Her breathing quickened, and her heart pounded wildly.

If Ingetsu came, she had to save him at the first possible moment. As for the other Uchiha, she did not need to care about them.

Kurenai Yuhi's pupils trembled slightly as she made her decision. She had never liked to drag things out; once she decided to do something, she would not hesitate.

This bold and heroic temperament of hers

could be traced back to the night of the Nine-Tails' rampage.

Her father, Yūhi Shinkō, a Konoha Chunin and Genin instructor, had been responsible for protecting and evacuating the Genin who had graduated from the Ninja Academy alongside Kurenai Yuhi during the Nine-Tails' rampage.

Treated as a child by her father, Kurenai Yuhi had stood up against his authority and declared that, as Konoha shinobi, even if they could not join the battle, they should still devote themselves to rescue missions.

That night, Kurenai had spoken her heart to her fellow graduates, Might Guy, Kakashi, and the others.

She won Yūhi Shinkō's approval and was entrusted by her father with the Will of Fire.

But no one knew

that the person who had encouraged Kurenai to bravely express herself was Uchiha Ingetsu, who had stood beside her at the time, constantly encouraging and comforting her.

While she had been hesitating, Ingetsu had given her a push.

It was also that very night

that Kurenai watched her father and the other Jonin die beneath the claws of the Nine-Tails Fox.

If Ingetsu had not made her brave enough to express herself, the Genin from her class might have been protected and evacuated.

She would never have been able to stay by her father's side when he was grievously wounded and dying, as he called her name before his death, allowing him to pass in peace.

"Red, what are you thinking about?"

Seeing the vacant look in Kurenai Yuhi's eyes, Asuma immediately leaped down from the tree and asked curiously.

Kurenai Yuhi came back to her senses, took half a step back to deliberately put some distance between herself and Asuma, and shook her head. "Nothing."

Asuma frowned deeply and gave a bitter smile before leaping back into the tree.

Halfway up Mount Kikyo, the trees grew thick and lush.

The Uchiha Rogue Squad entered the mountain path. Kikyo City, glittering with countless lights, and the river resembling a ribbon of liquid silver lay to their east.

"Achoo—"

Ingetsu sneezed, raised a hand to wipe his nose, then resumed his cold and proud expression as he led the team onward, leaping through the trees.

His gaze was sharp as a torch. Even at night, he could distinguish directions with the faint moonlight.

While traveling, Ingetsu kept pondering matters, filling in the gaps in his defection plan and considering the current shinobi world.

Before and after the Night of the Clan Annihilation, the shinobi world appeared calm on the surface, and no undercurrents stirred in secret either. In short, nothing particularly significant had happened.

"If there isn't, then I'll make it happen!"

Ingetsu mused inwardly.

The more chaotic the shinobi world became, the safer it would be for him—and the easier it would be to profit amid the turmoil.

Otherwise, the Five Great Shinobi Villages would all be watching their Uchiha Rogue Squad with undisguised attention.

Even with Yachihoko and Kotoamatsukami, Ingetsu would be unable to survive safely in the shinobi world.

However, he had long since made plans for stirring things up. Their escape was also one link in that plan.

After the battle with Danzo.

Ingetsu had discovered the limits of Yachihoko Mangekyo: at full capacity, its Mangekyo Yin Release Chakra could control around 120 elite mid-to-high-ranking Jonin like those in the Root Organization in a first encounter.

This was directly related to his still-weak Pupil Power. Uchiha Pupil Power came from love turning into hatred—the stronger the hatred, the stronger the Pupil Power. It was also tied to the strength of one's spirit and Chakra.

For the time being, Ingetsu had no way to rapidly improve it. He could only temper his spirit over time and perfectly refine and control his Chakra.

"Nearly three days have passed since the Night of the Clan Annihilation. My Yachihoko Mangekyo Yin Release Chakra has only recovered to thirty percent. Kotoamatsukami has finished cooling down, though. Still, that's enough."

Ingetsu felt considerably more at ease.

The original owner of this body had been a Three Tomoe Uchiha, born as a captain of the Uchiha Police Force, proficient in Uchiha swordsmanship, Fire Release, and close-quarters taijutsu.

But even so, if Ingetsu had only a pair of Yachihoko Mangekyo with a single ability during their escape, without the strongest genjutsu, "Kotoamatsukami," the pressure of fleeing would inevitably increase drastically.

As for Susanoo, he was still exploring it.

That was also why Ingetsu had insisted on killing Danzō, taking enormous risks to seize the Kotoamatsukami Mangekyo.

Just as the group swept over a mountaintop, Swish—swish—swish—

five pitch-black figures rose from waist-high bushes, blocking the Uchiha Rogue Squad's path.

Under the moonlight, they could clearly see that the five wore headbands and held weapons in their hands.

Uchiha Ingetsu was the first to stop. Half-crouching on a tree branch, he activated his Three Tomoe and stared straight ahead, then raised a hand and gestured behind him.

In that instant, aside from Nanfeng, who carried Tamao on his back, and Izumi, who was looking after Mikoto, the other Uchiha flashed away, scattering into concealed positions throughout the dark forest.

Their movements were swift and their coordination flawless.

Mikoto's beautiful dark eyes flickered with faint surprise. The Uchiha clan's ninja truly possessed such outstanding adaptability in battle.

But as a Three Tomoe bearer and a Konoha Jonin herself, Mikoto also knew

that no matter how strong each member was individually, without a central pillar, a team could never respond as one, coordinate seamlessly, and fight in concert.

What did he do to make you fear him so deeply while trusting him so sincerely?

Confusion flashed through Mikoto's eyes as she looked at Izumi.

Izumi shot Mikoto an annoyed glare, tightening her grip on the ninja blade in her hand as she prepared for battle, without responding.

Izumi was still thinking about whether this old woman was suitable for Captain Ingetsu.

So what if she was Itachi's mother?

Did being Itachi's mother mean she could rob the cradle?

Izumi puffed out her cheeks in anger and gripped her ninja blade tightly. If she were not looking after the woman beside her, she could already be at Captain Ingetsu's side, fighting side by side with him.

Mikoto's eyes revealed incomprehension and confusion at Izumi's hostility. She mistakenly assumed the girl was still excluding her.

Mikoto did not know about the Night of the Clan Annihilation.

While her eldest son slaughtered civilians, Ingetsu had led these Uchiha in a surprise attack, assassinating Konoha's core leadership and killing Shimura Danzō to avenge the Uchiha.

Izumi suddenly sighed. "Sigh, perhaps Captain Ingetsu's choice wasn't necessarily right either. He chose the mountain route, and now we've run into a pursuing ninja squad. If we'd chosen the water route, things might have been different."

Mikoto paid no attention to Izumi's muttering. She naturally maintained her gentle, composed demeanor, her beautiful eyes fixed on Ingetsu's upright back.

At the front of the group, "Hm?"

Ingetsu narrowed his eyes and assessed the situation. In the next instant, he decisively drew his ninja blade from his back and Body Flickered toward the five shadows ahead.

In only an instant, Mikoto's eyes widened. Her vision blurred, and when she could see clearly again, not only had Ingetsu appeared, but all the other Uchiha who had previously departed had reappeared as well.

They surrounded the five shadows, their ninja blades crossing against the five men's throats.

The five were caught completely off guard.

The scene fell into dead silence.

Ingetsu pressed his ninja blade against one man's throat. The sharp edge bit into his skin, drawing a line of blood.

Using the moonlight, he cast a sidelong glance and saw the man's face clearly.

The other party was a thin-faced young man wearing a Kirigakure Rogue Ninja Headband. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but his eyes were fierce as he tightly gripped the bow and arrows in his hands.

The frail young man was also sizing Ingetsu up. Suddenly, his pupils contracted, and he cried out in delight:

"Captain Ingetsu!!!

It's me.

Yager!

You saved us before."