Infiltrating Mist Hidden! Operation Begins

Seeing Sasori of the Red Sand immediately activate the Third Kazekage human puppet, Uchiha Ye's body also began to glow intensely. Molten lava was continuously compressed within him, radiating a heart-stopping, oppressive fluctuation.

It finally erupted into a terrifying, crimson shockwave released indiscriminately: "Molten Realm: Scorching Flow Burst!"

The moment Uchiha Ye launched this attack, the members of Root sensed that something was wrong and scrambled to retreat at top speed.

But!

Compared to this raging, tsunami-like wave of destructive heat, their speed was simply too slow.

"Ah!!!"

It was as if they had been cast into a scorching hell; their flesh evaporated rapidly, and their chakra dried up. Even their bones shriveled under the intense heat before being utterly annihilated. They only had time to let out a single, desperate scream before their entire beings vanished from this world.

Even while hovering a hundred meters in the air and shielded by the Third Kazekage, Sasori of the Red Sand still felt a searing pain, as if his chakra core were about to be incinerated.

Naturally, the same could be said for the earth below. The once-lush forest was now a charred wasteland, reduced to scorching sand and soil, with only rolling waves of heat drifting through the air.

"Ye's strength has grown once again!" Sasori of the Red Sand could naturally sense it. Compared to the time he killed Orochimaru, the temperature and destructive power of this strike had increased significantly.

This guy really is a freak! His growth rate is just too fast! He had known Uchiha Ye was talented, but he hadn't expected him to be this powerful. The speed of his progress was enough to startle even him.

"Let's go," Uchiha Ye said calmly after Sasori of the Red Sand touched down. However, a closer look would reveal the hidden coldness in his eyes.

There was no reason for Uchiha Ye not to realize what Sasori of the Red Sand could. The fact that the Root members could ambush them here with such precision meant that someone within the Akatsuki had betrayed his movements. And there could only be one person capable of that.

Uchiha Obito, are you already so impatient to get rid of me? Only he could know the route he was taking to Kirigakure while simultaneously coordinating with the members of Konoha's Root. Very well. Since you can no longer restrain yourself, it is time to settle our grudges!

He was no longer the passive youth he had been when he first joined. He now possessed the strength to confront Uchiha Obito head-on. Since Uchiha Obito was so impatient, he had nothing to fear. He would simply meet the challenge head-on!

It's just that you might be disappointed; the idea of using Root members to gather intelligence on me won't work! Uchiha Ye glanced at a patch of ground behind him, his lips curling into a look of clear mockery.

Exactly two hundred meters behind him, the presence of Zetsu had appeared. Thanks to his mastery of Life Return, his Observation Haki's range had increased significantly, and both his sensory precision and the limit of how many targets he could track had improved. His previous limit of one hundred meters had now expanded to two hundred!

"This guy... he actually found us again?" After Uchiha Ye departed, Zetsu, disguised in his pitcher-plant-like form, emerged from the ground. Watching Uchiha Ye's retreating back, he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. "His sensory range has actually increased by this much all of a sudden!"

"It seems the one piece of intelligence we had on him is no longer valid." Before this, they had been certain that Uchiha Ye's sensory range was limited to one hundred meters, but that was clearly no longer the case.

"Furthermore, this guy actually sensed our intentions immediately and ended the battle in an instant. He didn't give us any chance to understand or gather information on him at all."

"This is troublesome. Now, Obito will have no choice but to slowly probe this guy's abilities during the fight."

The two of them suddenly understood.

Why Uchiha Obito was in such a rush to eliminate Uchiha Ye.

"He possesses a mind not inferior to Uchiha Itachi's, yet he also has a sense of mystery and insight that Itachi cannot compare to."

"If it were me, I would also eliminate this guy first!"

The dark-faced Zetsu said with a sharp gaze.

And this received strong agreement from White Zetsu.

Four days later!

The two arrived at Hengbing Port in the Land of Water as scheduled.

Before them, Uchiha Itachi and Biwa Juzo were already waiting there.

After waiting for another half day, Deidara and Zabuza arrived.

Immediately, the group began to discuss the specific action plan.

"The main capture mission will be left to me and Brother Sasori."

"Itachi, Brother Juzo, you two are responsible for intercepting the Mizukage's guards and any other enemies that might appear."

"Deidara, Zabuza, you two wait in the air and are responsible for monitoring the surroundings at all times, providing us with off-field support."

"What does everyone think?"

Uchiha Ye explained his plan.

"If things don't go smoothly and we end up surrounded, how should we respond?"

Uchiha Itachi glanced at Uchiha Ye and asked, "After all, we are breaking into a power like Kirigakure; we must be fully prepared!"

Hearing this, Sasori of the Red Sand and the others also looked at Uchiha Ye.

Because they felt Uchiha Ye's plan was better.

They did not state their own plans, choosing instead to follow Uchiha Ye's plan directly.

"We will retreat in a basic formation of two-man teams!"

"Deidara will be responsible for aerial support. After striking at the enemy's pursuit, I will take over to control the situation."

"At the same time, Brother Sasori will connect chakra threads to me, and then Deidara will carry everyone into the sky. I will continue to rain down attacks from above to ensure the retreat is completed successfully!"

Hearing Uchiha Ye's response regarding the retreat, everyone nodded in approval.

They also felt a bit more recognition and goodwill toward Uchiha Ye.

Naturally, this also made Uchiha Itachi even more wary of Uchiha Ye.

Because he knew that Uchiha Ye definitely held no goodwill toward Konoha.

Yet, Uchiha Ye's abilities were so outstanding.

Therefore, whether out of the desire to protect Konoha or to protect his only younger brother, he had to remain vigilant against Uchiha Ye at all times.

"Good, since no one has any objections, we will execute the plan we just discussed."

As he spoke, Uchiha Ye looked at Uchiha Itachi and the others, "If a situation outside the plan arises, Itachi, I hope you will not hold back your wisdom so we can discuss a strategy to escape together!"

Uchiha Itachi's mind was extremely sharp; Uchiha Ye certainly couldn't let him just stand on the sidelines.

"Understood!"

Uchiha Itachi replied calmly.

With the strategy set, the operation began.

According to the intelligence provided by Zetsu, after suppressing the Kaguya Clan, the Fourth Mizukage remained at a certain seaside area outside Kirigakure to handle government affairs.

It was an opportunity to let all the opposition in the village reveal themselves, so he could round them up later and clear the obstacles to his rule over Kirigakure.

It was also to intimidate the various forces that had been acting restlessly lately, as he was personally stationed on the front lines to prevent enemy infiltration.