Ambush

Two days later, at dawn, a thin mist shrouded the woods outside the Uzumaki Clan Grounds.

Senju Tobirama led fifty elite ninja, standing silently in the morning fog.

"Captain Tobirama, they're here," a Senju ninja reminded him in a low voice.

The gates of the Uzumaki Clan Grounds slowly opened, and ten ninja in white medical uniforms filed out.

At their head was a red-haired girl, around twelve or thirteen years old, her eyes carrying a composure beyond her years.

"Miss Mito?" Tobirama frowned slightly. "Why are you leading the team?"

Uzumaki Mito gave a slight nod. "Grandfather believes that, as the heir, I should go out and gain experience too..."

A trace of doubt flashed through Tobirama's eyes. "But this journey is fraught with danger. I'm afraid..."

"Don't we have you?" Mito interrupted. "Besides, I'm fairly proficient in medical ninjutsu. At critical moments, I can provide you with medical aid."

Tobirama said no more and waved for the team to set out.

The fifty-person team silently disappeared into the morning mist, speeding toward the Kaguya Clan Grounds.

As they traveled, Mito suddenly moved closer to Tobirama. "Lord Tobirama, there's something I've always wanted to ask."

"Go ahead."

"Are we truly going to the Kaguya Clan Grounds this time only to treat their poisoned clansmen?"

Tobirama's gaze sharpened. "What is Miss Mito suspecting?"

Uzumaki Mito said expressionlessly, "If it is only to detoxify them, then there is nothing much to say. I only fear they have ulterior motives and want us to treat their kekkei genkai disease..."

"You're overthinking it, Miss Mito," Tobirama said in a deep voice. "I guarantee in the name of the Senju Clan that I will absolutely not allow the Uzumaki Clan's medical ninja to be placed in danger.

If the Kaguya Clan dares to demand treatment for their kekkei genkai disease, I will immediately terminate the cooperation and escort you back."

Mito pondered for a moment, then said faintly, "I hope so. However... I still feel this mission is far too suspicious.

The Kaguya Clan has always advanced and retreated together with the Uchiha Clan. Why would they choose to turn against them this time? I simply cannot make sense of it."

Tobirama gave a cold snort. "The Kaguya Clan may be foolish, but they aren't idiots.

All these years, Uchiha Tajima has used them as cannon fodder. In every major battle, he makes the Kaguya take the lead while he hides in the rear and reaps the benefits."

A trace of understanding flashed through Mito's eyes. "So the Kaguya Clan finally couldn't take it anymore?"

"That's right," Tobirama said coldly. "According to the report from our informant planted among the Kaguya, the Kaguya Clan's Grand Elder once denounced the Uchiha at a clan meeting for 'using the Kaguya Clan like dogs.'

This time, he took the initiative to contact us because he wants to break free of the Uchiha's control."

After hearing Tobirama's explanation, Mito gently fiddled with her red hair, damp with morning dew. "Since Lord Tobirama is so certain, I will not press further."

Mito's voice was soft, yet carried a force that could not be ignored. "However, as the representative of the Uzumaki Clan, I will remain vigilant. After all, the safety of my clansmen is my foremost responsibility."

Tobirama nodded slightly, feeling a little more admiration for this young yet exceptionally steady girl. "A wise decision. In the world of ninja, caution is never excessive."

The team continued forward, their speed slightly slower than before.

The medical ninja were protected in the center of the formation, while the elites of the Senju Clan spread out around them, vigilantly watching every possible point of danger.

Four hours later, the sun was already high overhead, driving away the morning mist but bringing a stifling heat.

The team arrived at a relatively open clearing in the forest, with tall trees around them forming a natural barrier.

"Rest where you are," Tobirama signaled with a raised hand. "We continue in half an hour. Sentry teams, keep rotating. Do not lower your guard."

The ninja immediately split into small groups. Some began checking their equipment, some took out dry rations to replenish their strength, and a few leapt onto the tall trees around them to stand guard.

Mito walked beneath an ancient tree, took a waterskin from the scroll she carried with her, and sipped from it.

"Miss Mito." An Uzumaki medical ninja approached her and lowered his voice. "I noticed just now that a few Senju ninja in the team have been secretly watching us."

Mito set down the waterskin without a change in expression. "Which ones exactly?"

"The two wearing masks at the left rear, and the one with slightly longer hair at the front right." The medical ninja indicated the directions with tiny movements.

Mito's gaze swept over those people without leaving a trace and found that they were indeed casting scrutinizing looks toward the medical team from time to time.

Even stranger was that when her gaze met theirs, they immediately pretended nothing had happened and looked away.

"Keep observing, but don't alert them," Mito instructed softly. "Tell the others about this. Have everyone stay vigilant, but do not show anything unusual."

The medical ninja nodded and left.

Mito leaned against the tree trunk and closed her eyes, pretending to rest, while in truth expanding her sensory ability to its maximum range.

As the heir of the Uzumaki Clan, she had been born with powerful chakra sensing ability, capable of detecting the chakra flow of living beings around her.

Within her perception, most of the Senju ninja's chakra appeared as a calm blue, which was the sign of a normal resting state.

But the chakra of those suspicious ninja showed unnatural fluctuations, as if they were deliberately suppressing something.

What unsettled her even more was that, roughly two hundred meters deep in the woods, she sensed at least a hundred unfamiliar chakra signatures approaching the team in a slow and concealed manner.

Mito's eyes snapped open, just in time to meet Tobirama's gaze from afar.

She quickly made several hand signals, indicating that enemies were approaching.

Senju Tobirama's eyes instantly sharpened. He immediately came before Mito and asked in a low voice, "Direction? Number?"

"Northwest. Around a hundred people. They're surrounding us," Mito answered in the same low voice.

Senju Tobirama raised his voice and shouted, "Everyone, attention! Enemies approaching from the northwest! Defensive formation!"

The Senju Clan's ninja were well trained. At Tobirama's command, they immediately formed a defensive formation, protecting the Uzumaki Clan's medical ninja in the center.

Kunai and shuriken were already gripped in their hands as they vigilantly scanned their surroundings.

"They're here!" Mito suddenly shouted, her hands swiftly forming seals at the same time. "Sealing Technique: Four Violet Flames Formation!"

A purple barrier instantly rose, just in time to block dozens of bone spikes shot from the northwest.

The sharp bone spikes struck the barrier, giving off piercing scraping sounds before falling to the ground one after another.

"The Kaguya Clan?" Senju Tobirama immediately frowned.

Before his words had even faded, dozens of Kaguya ninja suddenly leapt out from the surrounding woods. Sharp bone spikes protruded from their exposed skin, and bloodthirsty light flashed in their eyes.

"Kill! Leave none of the Senju Clan alive!" the leading Kaguya ninja ordered with a savage grin.

At the same time, a commotion also came from the woods to the east.