Fierce Battle! (Seeking Follow-ups)

After assigning the mission, the four of them split into groups to stand guard.

The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, after replenishing their energy and water and burying their forehead protectors, Shita Genichi and his three companions set off, crossed the border into the Land of Rivers, and reached the Daimyo Palace at top speed.

They did not strike immediately, however. Instead, they used the Transformation Technique to pose as commoners, entered the Daimyo Palace, and checked into an inn.

After resting at the inn throughout the day, Hatake Sakumo and Yamanaka En left after nightfall to gather intelligence.

At 10:00 PM, Hatake Sakumo and his companion returned to the inn, bringing back some unfavorable news.

The Daimyo's guard force had been increased, and there were suspected Sunagakure Ninja among them.

Furthermore, they could not rule out the possibility that other Sunagakure Ninja remained undetected.

Even so, Hatake Sakumo did not issue an order to abort the mission.

At 12:00 AM.

Donning his mask, Hatake Sakumo gave the order to begin the operation.

The team split into two.

Yamanaka En went to prepare an escape route and provide support, while Shita Genichi and Uchiha Namiichi followed Hatake Sakumo, sneaking into the Daimyo Palace under the cover of darkness.

The three then split again.

Shita Genichi and Uchiha Namiichi acted independently, while Hatake Sakumo headed straight for the Daimyo's bedchamber.

Having carried out missions here before, they were naturally well-acquainted with the terrain.

Thus, Shita Genichi soon arrived at the edge of a lake.

He formed hand seals to create a Water Clone, then hid his true body within the rockery by the lake, consuming a Military Ration Pill to restore his stamina.

As for the Water Clone, it leaped onto the surface of the lake without a sound.

The night was silent.

Shita Genichi waited less than two minutes before a roar echoed in his ears.

Looking up, the rising flames illuminated the night, shattering its stillness.

Suddenly, shouts erupted one after another.

On the lake, Shita Genichi took a deep breath, formed the "Zai" seal, then pulled his hands back and pressed them together in front of his chest.

Beneath his feet, the once-calm lake surface began to ripple in tight circles, and he began to sink into the water until only half his head remained visible.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of metal clashing rang out, accompanied by the whistling of projectiles cutting through the air.

Under the moonlight, Shita Genichi could see several figures moving toward his position.

It was Uchiha Namiichi, who was currently being besieged by two enemies, fighting as he retreated.

Behind him, others were in pursuit, throwing shuriken from time to time.

Shita Genichi mused that if it were him, he likely wouldn't be able to withstand such an onslaught.

But Uchiha Namiichi possessed the Sharingan, which granted him a massive advantage in the dead of night.

Moreover, the Sharingan's perception was astonishing, and Uchiha Namiichi was a master of taijutsu and swordsmanship.

Therefore, even while being besieged and pursued, Uchiha Namiichi safely led the enemies to the edge of the lake.

Leaping into the air, Uchiha Namiichi sheathed his blade, formed hand seals, and spat a massive fireball toward his enemies.

However, this move failed to inflict any damage, as it was immediately dispersed by a gust of wind.

Yet, this move was actually intended to provide cover for Shita Genichi.

As the fireball swept out, Shita Genichi had already risen from the lake, accompanied by a massive surge of water.

Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!

Just as the fireball was blown away, a rolling torrent of water roared onto the shore.

"An ambush!"

The two men besieging Uchiha Namiichi were startled and immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to leap into the air.

The surging water swept beneath them, but the three people chasing from behind, who had been throwing shuriken at Uchiha Namiichi in the air, were unable to dodge in time; they let out miserable screams as they were swept away by the current.

On the lake, Shita Genichi formed seals once more.

Qian - Si!

The water surged, swirling around his body at high speed.

A shuriken equipped with an Explosive Tag, thrown by one of the men pursuing Uchiha Namiichi, was blocked directly by the Water Formation Wall.

"This guy, he's so fast!"

Jiekong was shocked. He had thrown the shuriken to disrupt Shita Genichi's hand seals, but he hadn't expected the opponent to be this quick. He immediately charged into the lake to strike at Shita Genichi.

He had to stop the opponent from using Water Release; the terrain here was far too advantageous for him.

Just then, a scream rang out.

On the other side, the real Shita Genichi, who had been hiding, formed hand seals: Genjutsu-Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!

The target was the other ninja who had previously been besieging Uchiha Namiichi; his vision was completely sealed off, plunging him into absolute darkness.

Then, this man was easily finished off by Uchiha Namiichi with a single blade strike.

Jiekong turned his head to see his fallen companion and immediately leaped backward from his forward charge.

But at this moment, the Water Clone finished its hand seals.

Snake-Ram!

Water Release-Water Dragon Bullet Technique!

The water dragon roared, and Jiekong leaped to dodge, only to be met by the charging Uchiha Namiichi.

Clang!

Their ninja blades collided, and immediately after, with a bang, Uchiha Namiichi kicked Jiekong flying.

The water dragon, which had just swept across the ground, soared into the sky, bit down on Jiekong, and then dove back down.

Boom!

The water dragon exploded, and Jiekong fell.

Shita Genichi's eyelids twitched, and then he saw two figures clashing in mid-air, sparks flying everywhere.

The next moment, Uchiha Namiichi let out a muffled groan and flew backward, landing on the surface of the lake.

"Cough, cough, be careful, it's a Jonin!"

Shita Genichi nodded, then saw two more people appear on both his left and right sides.

It was now six against two, and one of them was a Jonin.

As expected, this was an incredibly dangerous mission!

"There are only two people here; it seems to be a trap. Captain, leave this to us!"

A Sunagakure Ninja on the left shouted.

Shito stared at the two people on the lake and said, "Finish them off first."

"Don't worry too much about the Daimyo's side."

As his voice fell, Shito charged toward the lake.

Shita Genichi formed hand seals at high speed.

Snake-Clap!

This time, he pushed his chakra to the limit, and the water of the entire lake surged upward and began to rotate.

"What?"

Shito was startled and hurriedly retreated: "Watch out for this guy!"

Jiekong, who had caught his breath in the back, hurriedly warned: "This guy's Water Release is very powerful, and his hand seals are short and fast!"

Just as his words fell, a roar erupted, and the surging river water rushed toward the left, right, and front, attacking all six enemies simultaneously.

"Scatter!"

Shito shouted.

One figure after another leaped backward.

The real Shita Genichi, hidden on the rockery, finished his hand seals.

In an instant, he leaped up, and the vision of the two Sunagakure Ninja who were about to land on the rockery was completely stolen.

Draw-Sword Strike!

Shita Genichi leaped up, and the two men, deprived of their sight, were finished off by him one by one.

The commotion was completely masked by the surging, sweeping water.

The surging water reached its limit and then rolled back into the lake.

The two Sunagakure Ninja on the right immediately charged fiercely toward Shita Genichi on the lake, and two puppets had already lunged out a step ahead.

These were two puppeteers.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Dense hidden weapons whistled through the air.

Uchiha Namiichi charged forward, ignoring Shita Genichi behind him.

The real Shita Genichi, behind the rockery, had already landed on the water surface, his hands forming seals.

Snake-Ram!

Shito saw this scene, understood immediately, and shouted hurriedly: "Careful, that's a clone!"

Bang!

The Water Clone was hit by the hidden weapons and immediately disintegrated into a stream of water that fell away.

At the next moment, Shita Genichi's main body completed his jutsu.

The water surged upward to condense into a Water Dragon, which then dove downward, instantly tearing the two lunging puppets to pieces.

The Water Dragon continued its charge, slamming into one of the Sunagakure Ninja and sending him flying.

The other Sunagakure Ninja leaped aside to dodge, but the moment he landed, a blade pierced straight through his chest.

It was Uchiha Namiichi!

On the other side, the Uchiha Namiichi who had been kicked away by Shito exploded into a puff of smoke with a bang.

It was a Shadow Clone!