Surrounded!!

Although Phantom Branch Village had achieved a stunning victory on the battlefield, problems with its personnel were beginning to emerge. The village was still in its infancy, and its members came from all walks of life: there were orphans who had been saved and were fiercely loyal, former Land of Birds soldiers who had been forced to join, rogue ninja drawn by the village's emphasis on strength, and even Jinchūriki like Fu, who had stayed for the time being after her complicated views began to change. Their loyalties varied, and the management system was far from complete.

Sakuya and Madara's terrifying power had temporarily suppressed all dissent, but obedience born of fear was not secure. Sakuya was severely depleted, busy recovering and mastering the power of the two Tailed Beasts he had just obtained; Obito had his mind mostly on Rin; Orochimaru was absorbed in his research; and Haku was weak after the Three-Tails had been extracted from her. The cracks in their administration quietly began to show once the fever of victory had subsided a little.

Konoha, in Shikamaru Nara's war room.

Smoke filled the room as Shikamaru stared at the model of Phantom Branch Village on the sand table, his brow furrowed. As the brains of the Allied Forces, he had never stopped thinking. Reports and images of the disastrous defeats on the front lines kept coming in. He had not fallen into despair like the others. Instead, he had keenly picked out Phantom Branch Village's weakness from the fragments of information: its members were not united.

The intelligence on Fu, the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, was particularly noteworthy: she had not joined of her own accord, but had been forced to stay after Sakuya's actions in saving the orphans made her waver. She was a potential opening.

"We only get one chance..." Shikamaru murmured, tracing a treacherous route across the sand table with his finger. "A feint to draw them away, sow confusion, then tear them apart from within..."

An extremely risky plan, but one with tremendous rewards if it succeeded, began to take shape in his mind.

Several days later, on the outskirts of Phantom Branch Village.

Small Allied Forces units launched several feints. Their targets shifted unpredictably, and they carefully controlled the intensity, drawing the defenders' attention without suffering major losses, as though they were testing something.

The Branch members patrolling the village were indeed drawn away, leaving the defensive line in unnecessary disarray as they rushed from place to place.

But the real killing blow had already slipped inside the village through an abandoned mine passage so secret that even the Branch had not fully discovered it. A strike team made up of Konoha's elite—including Shino Aburame, Kiba Inuzuka, and Hinata Hyuga—was heading straight for Fu's residence!

They moved swiftly and worked in perfect coordination, using the Aburame Clan's insects and the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan to evade most of the patrols.

However, just as they were about to reach their target, Uchiha Ren happened to spot them while patrolling nearby!

"Enemy attack!!" Ren immediately sounded the alarm. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated in an instant, and he charged forward without hesitation to try to stop them!

The battle erupted in an instant! Ren was no weakling, but faced with several Konoha jonin, he was quickly overwhelmed and found himself in mortal danger!

But his alarm had done its job!

Nearby Branch members hurried over to reinforce him! Leading them were Tie Xin of the Steel Branch and Zhua of the Beast Branch!

"Stop them!" Tie Xin formed a barrier with Iron Sand, while Zhua pounced on Kiba and Akamaru like a wild beast!

Amid the chaos, Ino Yamanaka of the strike team seized her chance. She formed hand seals and activated Mind Transfer Jutsu. Her spirit instantly took control of a nearby civilian who had been startled by the fighting and had opened the door to look outside.

And the civilian under her control happened to see Fu coming from another street!

"Fu! Run! They're here to capture you!" the controlled civilian shouted with all the strength she had left, then collapsed unconscious.

Fu's expression changed at the words, and she instinctively turned to flee!

But the moment she turned, a figure appeared behind her like a ghost—it was Uchiha Sakuya, who had rushed over as soon as he received the alarm!

His face was still pale, and his chakra was nowhere near recovered, but he was still incredibly fast. His cold gaze swept over the chaotic battlefield, then fell on Fu as she tried to escape. A flash of murderous intent crossed his eyes.

Traitors—or potential traitors—had to be eliminated.

He raised a hand, chakra gathering at his fingertips, enough to pierce Fu's heart in an instant.

Fu felt the icy killing intent behind her and despairingly closed her eyes.

But just as Sakuya's finger was about to thrust forward, it paused for the briefest moment.

In an instant, Fu's warm smile as she looked at the orphans flashed through his mind, along with the sight of her doing her best to cooperate in battle despite her reluctance, and... the vivid warmth of her time with the children, so different from his own cold path of revenge.

That hesitation, lasting less than a tenth of a second, was all it took!

"Mind Transfer Technique!" Ino Yamanaka's real body finally found the perfect moment! Her mental power crossed the distance and seized the opening in Fu's mind, created by her fear and despair. She successfully invaded her body!

Fu's body suddenly stiffened. Her eyes went blank, and when she opened them again, they were filled with Ino's resolve!

Without a moment's hesitation, she turned and sprinted toward the escape route Shikamaru had planned in advance!

Sakuya snapped back to his senses, his eyes blazing with cold fury! He knew Fu was under someone's control! He immediately gave chase!

But just then, Shino Aburame's insects and Kiba Inuzuka's Fang Over Fang swarmed him recklessly, holding him back for an instant!

That instant of delay was all it took! "Fu" (Ino) had already dashed into the narrow alley!

"After her!" Sakuya roared with fury and immediately gave the order! At the same time, he sensed that Ren, Tie Xin, and Zhua had driven off the first wave of enemies and were rushing over.

The members of the Ten Branches—except for Zhuo, Gu, who were badly injured, and Shen, who had to maintain the genjutsu—as well as Ren, almost instinctively obeyed the command and immediately chased after "Fu"! They absolutely could not let the Jinchūriki be taken!

However, they overlooked one thing: the escape route was far too "convenient"!

When they had advanced deep into a relatively remote, abandoned industrial district, Fu of the Feather Branch (Ino), who was leading the way, suddenly stopped and turned around. A triumphant smile appeared on her face.

The next second, she closed her eyes and fell unconscious. Ino's spirit had left her body.

At the same time, countless Allied Forces elites emerged from the shadows atop the surrounding buildings and from underground... Shikamaru Nara stood at their head! His Shadow Possession Technique had already linked him to several subordinates, and a vast web of shadows spread out in an instant!

"It's a trap! We've been lured into a trap!" Haku cried.

But it was too late!

"Ninja Art: Shadow Possession Technique: Formation!" Shikamaru commanded calmly!

Countless shadows lashed out like black tentacles, instantly wrapping around the ankles of the Ten Branches members and Ren who had rushed in! They could not fully control such powerful opponents, but they could severely limit their movement!

"Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Technique!"

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

"Lightning Release: Earth Flow!"

"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!"

The Allied Forces' ninjutsu squad, already prepared, immediately launched a sweeping attack! Countless techniques poured down like a torrential rain, engulfing the entire area!

"Defend!" Tie Xin roared, and an Iron Sand Barrier rose in an instant! Haku immediately created an ice wall! Fu, back in control of herself but still weak, scattered her scales! Zhua and Gu dodged with their speed! Ren's Sharingan spun wildly as he used lightning to split the attacks! Obito tried to use Kamui, only to discover that barriers prepared in advance were disrupting the surrounding space, making it extremely unstable!

Explosions and roars rang out without end! The Ten Branches were all powerful, but with their movement restricted, caught in an ambush, and vastly outnumbered, they were immediately thrown into a bitter fight! Each of them was targeted and attacked by multiple opponents!

Obito was tied up by Kakashi and Guy, who was still badly injured but had managed to join the fight! Tenten and Rock Lee's combination of Taijutsu kept Haku on the defensive! Temari targeted Fu with Wind Release! The Aburame and Inuzuka Clans harassed Tie Xin! Zhua and Gu were trapped in a circle of Hyuga Clan members using Gentle Fist! Ren faced Sasuke Uchiha, who was still injured but managing to hold on!

They charged left and right, but could not break through the carefully prepared encirclement! Casualties began to mount! Zhua took a Gentle Fist strike to a vital point while protecting Fu, then fell heavily wounded! Tie Xin's Iron Sand was blown apart by Explosive Tags, and he suffered internal injuries!

The situation was dire!

At that moment, back in the village, Sakuya had just finished off the Konoha ninja who had been holding him up. He reached the edge of the industrial district and saw the Ten Branches and Ren trapped and on the verge of defeat!

His expression turned horrifyingly dark! Fury and murderous intent threatened to burst from his chest!

But just as he was about to charge in, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood! The severe depletion of his chakra and his earlier injuries made him dizzy; he could not fight at full strength. If he forced his way in, he might get trapped himself!

And the village's strongest fighter, Uchiha Madara, had not come to their aid immediately for some reason—perhaps he thought a small-scale rescue was beneath him, perhaps he was getting used to his new body, or perhaps he had other plans.

On one side were his loyal subordinates and his younger brother, trapped in the encirclement. On another was the risk that, in his terrible condition, a forced rescue could get them all killed. And then there was Uchiha Madara, who did as he pleased and could not be fully controlled.

Sakuya stood rooted in place, both fists clenched, his nails digging deep into his palms as blood dripped between his fingers.

He had never felt so powerless.

The root cause of it all was that, because of that woman, he had hesitated for... just an instant.

A stalemate—an unprecedented stalemate!