Ambush Uzumaki Mito?

In the southwest canyon, the Sarutobi Clan's secret trade base.

Ever since the stronghold was destroyed by Sosuke, the trading site had been relocated to this hidden location.

The Sarutobi Clan would prepare essential strategic supplies like Kunai, Shuriken, and Explosive Tags in advance, and buyers would come to pick them up on a regular schedule—one hand paid the money, the other delivered the goods.

For ninja clans, there were only so many ways to make a living.

First: taking on missions.

Based on a clan's strength, reputation, and other comprehensive factors, clients would issue missions with equivalent compensation.

Most clan conflicts centered on mission competition—what was commonly called fighting over market share.

The pie was only so big; if you ate, I went hungry. A starving clan naturally had to find ways to cause trouble.

Second: fixed assets.

For a major clan like the Uchiha, there were fixed assets within their sphere of influence—fertile fields, land, even mineral resources.

Mineral deposits especially were key. The ability to produce one's own weapons was the true mark of a fully mature clan. Otherwise, every war meant buying from outside, and the economy could collapse mid-campaign.

Third: the circulation and trade of goods.

The Sarutobi Clan was the most typical example.

They believed in keeping a low profile. While other clans fought for supremacy, they kept expanding their market sales channels.

Now, Sarutobi-made weapons had already opened a route to the Land of Water.

Earlier, someone had falsely accused Sosuke of colluding with the Uzumaki Clan. In reality, it was the Sarutobi Clan who had real profit ties with other nations.

The large stockpile of ironware stored in the canyon was meant for sale to a major clan in the Land of Water.

Besides gold, silver, and iron, "human cargo" was also an important commodity in foreign trade. The biggest expert in that field was the Fūma Clan.

The Sarutobi had also dipped into this gray industrial chain. The alliance of the three clans was never just about dealing with the Uchiha.

At the end of the day, profit was the core issue. Otherwise, why would the Sarutobi Clan go out of their way to antagonize the Uchiha?

At this moment, Sarutobi Kiyoshi, the overall person in charge, was leisurely browsing documents in the break room.

The clan's business was booming, and he personally was raking in a fortune. If there was one thing that bothered him, it was that fierce battle at the stronghold that day.

If he had been more serious, going all out from the start, that brat named Uchiha Sosuke would already be a dead man under his blade.

Things would never have escalated to this point, dealing a heavy blow to the three-clan alliance.

"Sigh, regret is useless now." Sarutobi Kiyoshi couldn't stop shaking his head and sighing.

He casually picked up a letter from the desk. It clearly recorded that an overseas force was targeting the three parties' trade from every angle.

After careful investigation, the source pointed directly to an isolated island nation overseas—the Land of Whirlpools.

To ensure the trade route remained open, the clan in the Land of Water decided to set a trap in advance and slaughter any enemies who dared to disrupt the deal.

"The Land of Whirlpools." Sarutobi Kiyoshi was puzzled. He didn't understand why those people, who spent all their time studying Sealing Techniques, would want to oppose them.

Especially that young princess—she acted as if she wouldn't rest until they were wiped out. Anyone who didn't know better would think she was once a victim of human trafficking herself.

"This is what happens when you meddle in other people's business." Sarutobi Kiyoshi tossed the letter carelessly onto the desk, looking unconcerned.

At the end of the day, he was just the seller. He only needed to ship the goods. Whether the buyer could transport them safely back to their country wasn't really his problem.

Besides, this time's partner was extraordinarily powerful. Even the Sarutobi Clan couldn't claim they would definitely win against them.

The Uzumaki Clan might seem formidable, but when it came to actual combat strength, they might not be a match for this opponent.

"They're a bunch of lunatics." That was Sarutobi Kiyoshi's assessment.

Rumble!

Just then, a violent explosion suddenly rang out from outside, followed by a series of piercing screeches.

By the time Sarutobi Kiyoshi put on his signature black robe, the sounds of fighting outside had already faded away.

In less than twenty seconds, the clan ninjas stationed here had all fallen to the attacker's hands.

Sarutobi Kiyoshi stopped dead in his tracks, his expression shifting violently for a moment. Finally, gritting his teeth, he fled the canyon alone through another exit.

Let the goods be lost. Nothing was more important than his own life.

The Sarutobi Clan controlled two small iron mines with abundant resources. There was no need to risk his life fighting the enemy over a bit of supplies.

If his guess was right, the attacker was that brat who had escaped before.

If it were just one person, Sarutobi Kiyoshi wouldn't mind finishing the fight they'd left unfinished. But from the sound alone, he knew the enemy had sent at least ten people.

That many people unleashing Chidori at once—even he couldn't guarantee he could withstand it head-on.

Listening to the footsteps drawing closer, Sarutobi Kiyoshi sneered coldly, turned around, and walked away without looking back.

There would be plenty of time to settle accounts with that brat later.

When the time came, he would make him understand the consequences of opposing him.

Soon after, Sosuke arrived at the Black-Robed Man's office.

He didn't find many valuable items, but the letter on the desk caught his attention.

"A trap?"

Unlike Sarutobi Kiyoshi's confusion, after a moment's thought, he roughly understood that this was Uzumaki Mito cutting off the Fūma Clan's population trade.

No trade, no killing—she intended to resolve the matter at its root.

But that little princess hadn't anticipated that her enemy's difficulty far exceeded her imagination. Far from fearing the Land of Whirlpools, they were instead eager to counterattack.

If she really plunged headlong into the trap, Sosuke estimated there was at least a sixty percent chance she would fall into enemy hands.

If one ranked the Kekkei Genkai clans of each nation, the Land of Fire would be first, and the Land of Water would undoubtedly be second.

The clan colluding with those three families was among the strongest even in the Land of Water.

Its Kekkei Genkai was hailed as the bane of close-combat Taijutsu, holding an extraordinary position of dominance during the Warring States Period.

"What a hassle." Sosuke sighed inwardly, hesitating over whether to rush over and help.

Without that chance encounter, Uzumaki Mito would never have gotten involved in this kind of matter, let alone become a target.

In principle, he ought to lend a hand—at the very least, he could earn some points to spend.

"Right, I can't let those points slip by. Normally, it's not easy to find that many hostile shinobi."

This was his personal affair; he shouldn't drag the unit into it. After cleaning up the battlefield, Sosuke ordered Uchiha Shū to temporarily lead the team back to the base.

As for himself, he immediately set out for the enemy's ambush point, afraid that if he arrived too late, there would be no meat left to claim.