Ambush

Naoki and the others followed the Hyuga Branch Family ninja through the dense forest and arrived at a secluded high point overlooking the riverbank.

"Right there." The Hyuga Branch Family ninja pointed toward the winding river below. "According to the intelligence, Kirigakure's transport fleet will pass through this stretch tonight. Over there..." He gestured toward a bend in the river. "The channel narrows there and the current quickens. The ships will have to slow down, making it the perfect place for an ambush."

Naoki crouched and carefully studied the terrain below.

The riverbank was steep, with a small shoal at its base. Beyond it lay the main channel. At the bend, the water churned as it struck the rocks in the riverbed, making a deep, rumbling sound.

"What do you think?" Naoki turned to look at his companions.

Uchiha Setsuna squinted as he studied the area for a moment, then said slowly, "The bend narrows the channel. The fleet will inevitably slow down as it enters. If we can cause chaos before they reach the bend or while they're turning, we can trap them there with no way forward or back."

"Well said, senior." Naoki nodded, then looked at the Hyuga Branch Family ninja. "About how many guards are with the Kirigakure fleet?"

"Roughly forty or fifty, including at least eight Jonin. The rest are mostly Chunin." The Branch Family ninja paused, then added, "But this cargo is extremely important to them, so we can't rule out the possibility that there are hidden experts aboard."

Naoki pondered for a moment, then turned to the others.

"We'll need to split into two teams.

"One team will set traps ahead of the bend and force the fleet to slow down.

"The other will ambush them at the bend. Once the first team succeeds, they'll use Explosive Tags and ninjutsu to launch the main attack and sink the transport ships as quickly as possible."

"I'll lead the main attack," Uchiha Setsuna said.

Naoki nodded.

"Then Zongxin, Itachi, and I will draw their attention," Uchiha Zongye volunteered.

"No." Naoki shook his head. "The ones drawing their attention shouldn't be too many, but they need to be agile, able to fight and run... I'll go. Zongye, you'll work with senior Setsuna, Shi, and Shin to lead the main attack!"

"I'll go too," Hyuga Hiroshi suddenly said.

Naoki frowned at the boy wearing goggles.

"You?" Uchiha Zongxin looked him up and down. "Do you even have any combat experience?"

Hyuga Hiroshi lifted his chin slightly. "How long have you been on the Southern Border Battlefield? I've been through more battles here than you've had meals!"

"You—!" Uchiha Zongxin angrily swung a fist at him.

Just as the two boys were about to start arguing, Naoki and Uchiha Zongye each stepped between them and pulled them apart.

Naoki glanced at the Branch Family ninja, who had nothing to add, then spoke up.

"Enough. Hiroshi will join senior Setsuna and the others in attacking the transport fleet. Zongxin, Itachi, and I will draw the Kirigakure ninjas' attention."

He looked around at everyone. "That's the plan. Any objections?"

"None..."

The others all shook their heads.

The sky gradually darkened, and a thin mist rose from the river.

Naoki, Uchiha Zongxin, and Itachi hid in the bushes upstream. Camouflaged with branches and leaves, they blended almost perfectly into their surroundings.

"Are the Kirigakure shinobi really going to pass through here?" Uchiha Zongxin whispered, sounding somewhat doubtful.

"How would I know? My Sharingan can't see thousands of miles away." Naoki kept his gaze fixed on the bend in the river.

Uchiha Zongxin pursed his lips and said nothing more.

Itachi lay quietly beside Naoki, his dark eyes fixed on the river. Even at such a young age, he already showed extraordinary composure.

Time passed second by second. Other than the occasional bird or insect flying past, nothing stirred on the river.

Just as Uchiha Zongxin was about to doze off, Naoki suddenly spotted several heavily laden transport ships emerging faintly from the mist. Kirigakure ninjas stood along both sides of the vessels, weapons in hand as they warily scanned the riverbanks.

"Three, four, five... twelve ships!" Naoki silently counted. "That's a lot more than we expected."

Uchiha Zongxin gripped the kunai in his hand tightly.

The fleet drew closer to the bend. On the deck of the lead ship, a Jonin dressed in black and wearing a black mask that left only his eyes exposed warily watched his surroundings.

Naoki held his breath and gently pressed a hand against Uchiha Zongxin's arm, signaling him to stay quiet.

Twelve transport ships. If they were all carrying supplies, this cargo would be enough to support Kirigakure's front-line army for at least three months.

If they could complete the mission, then Hyuga Akira had been right: Kirigakure's army probably wouldn't last much longer, and the war would end before autumn arrived.

But... Naoki couldn't help looking again at the transport ships slowly moving across the water.

Clearly, the intelligence provided by Hyuga Akira and Hyuga Ryosuke, the Branch Family ninja stationed here, was wrong. Judging by what he saw, there were probably more than forty or fifty guards—maybe another ten or twenty. And there was no telling whether the transport fleet had any hidden experts aboard...

Naoki's side, including Hyuga Ryosuke and the other ninjas already stationed here, numbered only thirteen. Facing several times their number, even he couldn't help feeling a little apprehensive.

But the feeling lasted only a moment before he forced it down.

They had already made it to the enemy's rear. They had to act. If they kept hesitating, who knew what the consequences would be?

With that thought, Naoki slowly rose and crouched between Uchiha Zongxin and Itachi. "Get ready. Once I set off the Explosive Tags on both riverbanks, use Fire Release to attack them from a distance!"

"If senior Setsuna's group makes a move, don't wait for me. Go meet up with them."

Uchiha Zongxin raised an eyebrow.

"What about you? Where are you going?"

"Don't worry about me. I'll adapt as things unfold."

Uchiha Zongxin was about to say something, but Itachi stopped him.

"Let's listen to Naoki."

The twelve transport ships moved slowly through the mist, riding low in the water. They were clearly loaded with supplies.

"Now."

Naoki took a deep breath and quickly formed Hand Seals.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

Dozens of fist-sized fireballs shot from the bushes, their bright tails streaking through the night as they struck the Explosive Tags planted along both riverbanks.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the first Explosive Tag detonated, a chain of explosions erupted along both banks.

The blasts shattered the quiet of the night. Flames soared into the sky, and rocks along the riverbanks were blasted to pieces, sending fragments flying like raindrops.

"Enemy attack!"

After recovering from their initial panic, the well-trained ninjas aboard the fleet quickly reacted and prepared for battle.

Then Uchiha Setsuna, Zongye, and the others, lying in wait along both banks, unleashed their Dragon Fire Technique in unison, turning the fleet into a winding dragon of flames!