Deadly Sneak Attack

"Hm? They've changed targets?"

Uchiha Kei keenly noticed that Kitsuchi seemed less interested in him now. While this gave him some relief, he was also contemplating how to escape.

In truth, their group had basically exposed their objective by fighting this far. If the Iwa Ninja weren't so confident, they could have retreated all the way back to Kannabi Bridge.

However, based on the reactions and judgments of his Shadow Clones earlier, Uchiha Kei concluded that these Iwa Ninja likely intended to keep them all here!

If that was the case, Uchiha Kei pondered if the Iwa Ninja were experiencing some sort of troop shortage.

After all, Kumogakure was no pushover compared to Konoha. Especially since the Third Raikage was the Fourth Raikage's father, the Fourth Raikage would absolutely not let such a grave offense slide.

Of course, there was another crucial factor: Kumogakure had already withdrawn its troops from Konoha. Without the major headache of Konoha, he could fully 'negotiate' with the Iwa Ninja.

This made it perfectly normal for the Iwa Ninja to feel pressured. They were probably focusing on gathering heavy troops along the coast and in the Land of Rivers to prevent those lunatics from Kumogakure from directly attacking their homeland.

If that was the case, did it mean their rear defense line didn't have many troops, which was why they didn't want them causing trouble in the rear?

After all, if they managed to reach that area, it would be difficult for the Iwa Ninja to find them.

I don't know if Kakashi and the others in the original story encountered such bad luck, but I know I have. So, I shouldn't worry about how things were in the original story. I'll just do what needs to be done.

Uchiha Kei thought to himself. He glanced at the disheveled Kakashi, then turned his attention to the other two Iwa Ninja.

Although Kakashi was in a sorry state and severely depleted of Chakra, with the help of his Sharingan, as long as he wasn't surrounded, he probably wouldn't die anytime soon.

Therefore, Uchiha Kei decided to deal with the other two first, and then they would all gang up on Kitsuchi!

If the plan succeeded, a single Kitsuchi wouldn't be able to cause much trouble, and it was even uncertain if they could defeat him!

Now that Kitsuchi is wary of me, a sneak attack is impossible. So...

With that thought, Uchiha Kei once again attacked Kitsuchi. However, Uchiha Kei's focus was no longer on Kitsuchi.

He quietly shifted his gaze to the other two Iwa Ninja. Uchiha Kei quickly chose his target – the Iwa Ninja who was currently beating up Hyuga Aya!

It wasn't that Uchiha Kei was being chivalrous. If he truly wanted to be chivalrous, he'd rather direct that feeling towards Nohara Rin. At least Nohara Rin was much more straightforward than Hyuga Aya.

Uchiha Kei was purely assessing the opponent's level of concentration. Clearly, besides the Byakugan for scouting enemies and examining corpses to gather intelligence, the Hyuga Clan's defensive capabilities were truly formidable.

At this moment, Hyuga Aya was like a turtle shell, leaving the Iwa Ninja completely helpless. This forced the Iwa Ninja to focus entirely on dealing with Hyuga Aya.

Such concentration was absolutely perfect for a sneak attack. However, the other Iwa Ninja fighting Imai Kenta seemed to have the same idea as Uchiha Kei.

Uchiha Kei gritted his teeth. Looking at Kakashi, who was still fighting, Uchiha Kei subtly made a gesture to him.

Then, without caring whether Kakashi saw it or not, he formed hand seals. Chakra formed a blue arc around Uchiha Kei. The next moment, a large fireball hurtled towards Kitsuchi.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

After using this Ninjutsu, Uchiha Kei immediately created a Shadow Clone during the opening and directed it to continue attacking Kitsuchi, while his true body temporarily concealed itself.

However, Uchiha Kei also knew that this space was not enough for him to hide and lurk for long, and his Shadow Clone wouldn't last either.

Gazing at the Iwa Ninja assaulting Hyuga Aya, Uchiha Kei immediately found an opportunity!

Watching the Iwa Ninja shatter Hyuga Aya's defense with one punch and then throw another punch towards her chest with a terrifying force that made Uchiha Kei himself feel breathless, Hyuga Aya's face turned even paler. She could completely imagine the consequences of that punch. Gritting her teeth, Hyuga Aya immediately gathered all her remaining Chakra and placed it in front of her chest.

But unfortunately, even doing so wouldn't allow her to withstand such a piercing punch.

While the ninjas of the Land of Earth didn't engage in as much close-quarters combat as the barbarians of the Land of Lightning, it didn't mean the Iwa Ninja had poor physical conditioning.

On the contrary, the Iwa Ninja's physical prowess was terrifyingly strong, perhaps matching their favored element. Their strength was particularly troublesome.

With that punch, Hyuga Aya felt as if her entire lower abdomen was being sliced by a knife. Most crucially, Hyuga Aya felt like the bones in her hands were shattered by this blow!

"Damn it!"

Hyuga Aya cursed inwardly. With this hit, she had completely lost her combat ability!

Looking at the relentless Iwa Ninja, Hyuga Aya's heart was filled with despair. She was unwilling to die now, with so many unfulfilled wishes!

At the same time, she inwardly resented Uchiha Kei, wondering why he hadn't summoned Namikaze Minato. Did he only consider it a critical moment when his own life was in danger?

In fact, Uchiha Kei did think that way, and Hyuga Aya had guessed correctly.

But just then, Uchiha Kei stopped hiding. As his Shadow Clone was pierced by Kitsuchi's Earth Spear, he burst out from the ground!

The incredibly fast Body Flicker Technique made Uchiha Kei's breathing difficult, but he didn't care about such trivial matters.

His Kunai, infused with his Chakra, gave the Iwa Ninja no chance to react. Uchiha Kei fiercely thrust it into his chest!

The Iwa Ninja truly hadn't reacted. He was fully focused on fighting Hyuga Aya, believing his captain could handle two brats without issue.

But he never expected that his captain, whom he trusted so much, would let a brat slip right under his nose and then sneakily attack him.

Unfortunately, the Iwa Ninja didn't have time to think much more. Uchiha Kei's Kunai, after piercing his left rear chest, was also twisted fiercely, which completely closed the Iwa Ninja's eyes!

"Shadow Clone? Genboku! Ah! You damn fellow!"

Uchiha Kei's sneak attack enraged Kitsuchi, it was like a slap in the face!

The furious Kitsuchi looked up at Uchiha Kei. Genboku was Kitsuchi's old subordinate, even an old friend, and they shared a deep bond.

But at this moment, Uchiha Kei had done such a thing, how could Kitsuchi let him go?

He had originally intended to keep a survivor to interrogate for Intelligence, but now he had completely abandoned that idea.