Encounter with Kumogakure

At the beginning of Konoha's forty-seventh year, the biting chill of winter had not yet fully faded. Yet the region where the northeastern border of the Land of Fire met the Land of Hot Springs was even colder than midwinter. The clouds of war had fully solidified into flashing blades and clashing swords, and small-scale skirmishes broke out repeatedly all along the border.

The temporary squad Kyohaku Uchiha belonged to had once again seen its mission rank raised. They were sent to this sensitive region to carry out a border reconnaissance and early-warning mission. No longer led by Chunin Furukawa, the team was now under a Special Jonin named Ira, renowned for his steady Earth Release and extensive combat experience. Besides Kyohaku and Genin Kenta, they had also gained a Chunin skilled in tracking and setting traps.

The four-man squad moved soundlessly through the dense border forests and rolling hills, the atmosphere grave. The experienced Ira constantly made warning hand signals, reminding his teammates to stay concealed. An almost imperceptible tension hung in the air, as though an enemy might be lurking behind every shadow.

"Stop!" Ira suddenly raised a fist, lowering his voice as his expression turned incomparably grim. He slowly crouched down and brushed his fingers over an exceedingly faint footprint, nearly covered by fallen leaves. His gaze sharpened. "Kumogakure boot tread... fresh. Be careful. Enemies are nearby."

Before his words had even faded—

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several Kunai wrapped in lightning shot in from different directions at astonishing speed! In an instant, they sealed off every possible route of escape!

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!" Ira reacted at once, slamming both hands against the ground. A thick earthen wall surged up with a roar, blocking most of the Kunai. Yet several exceptionally piercing Kunai, wrapped in Lightning Release chakra, still punched through the edges of the wall and narrowly grazed past the team members' bodies!

"Enemy attack! Prepare for battle!" Ira roared as he instantly drew his short blade.

At the same time, four figures flashed out like ghosts from behind the surrounding trees and rocks, encircling them. All of them were tall and dark-skinned, dressed in Kumogakure ninja attire, with savage eyes and dangerous Lightning Release chakra flickering over their bodies. The man at the forefront radiated an especially immense and dangerous presence. A vicious scar ran across his face, and his hawk-like gaze locked onto Ira.

"Konoha rats. Your noses are sharp," the Kumogakure Jonin said in a low, murderous voice. "Unfortunately, this is as far as you go!"

Ira's face instantly turned ugly. From the other man's undisguised powerful chakra and presence, he could tell that this was absolutely a true, battle-hardened Elite Jonin! On his side, there was only himself, a Special Jonin, leading two Chunin and one Genin. He had no idea of Kyohaku's true strength.

"Retreat! Split up and retreat immediately!" Ira gave the order without hesitation. Against such an overwhelming gap in strength, fighting head-on meant certain death.

"Trying to run? Too late!" The Kumogakure Jonin grinned viciously as his body was instantly engulfed in lightning!

"Lightning Release: Lightning Body Flicker!"

Boom! His figure practically became a blue bolt of lightning, appearing before Ira in an instant as his fist, wreathed in violent lightning, smashed down!

"Earth Release: Earth Spear!" Ira defended with all his strength, hard rock covering both his arms.

Bang!!

With a thunderous crash, Ira was sent flying. The rock armor on his arms shattered inch by inch, and he spat out a mouthful of blood before slamming heavily into a large tree, sending leaves rustling down.

In just one exchange, Konoha's strongest fighter had already been injured!

"Captain!" Kenta and the other Chunin were horrified.

The other three Kumogakure Chunin attacked at the same time. Lightning flickered as their assaults came fast and fierce, instantly forcing Kenta and the other Chunin into peril. They were completely on the defensive; defeat was only a matter of time.

Kyohaku Uchiha had already retreated the moment the attack began, concealing himself in the shadows as he calmly observed the battlefield. His Sharingan silently opened, its nearly Three-Tomoe form spinning rapidly as it captured every detail.

The situation was critical! Captain Ira was no match for the enemy Jonin. He would be defeated and killed within a few moves. Once the captain died, the entire squad would face annihilation!

There was no time to hesitate!

Kyohaku's mind raced, calculating the single slim opportunity that might turn the battle around. Facing an Elite Jonin head-on was suicide. Their only chance was an unexpected sneak attack, and it had to be fatal in a single blow—or at the very least, create an opening for Captain Ira to counterattack!

His gaze locked tightly onto the Kumogakure Jonin, who was attacking with wild aggression. The man was incredibly fast, his movements broad and forceful, overflowing with power. But perhaps because he held an absolute advantage, his vigilance against threats from underground seemed weak.

Now!

Just as the Kumogakure Jonin became lightning once more and threw a punch at Ira, who was struggling to get back to his feet—

The ground beneath the Kumogakure Jonin's feet rippled like water without warning! A faint yet extremely unusual chakra fluctuation flashed past!

"Hm?" The Kumogakure Jonin possessed immense combat experience. Though he had not detected any specific threat, instinct told him that something was wrong. His attack hesitated for one ten-thousandth of a second, and the lightning around him stalled slightly.

To an ordinary person, that hesitation would have been negligible.

But to Kyohaku Uchiha, whose Sharingan was active and who had long been prepared, it was an opening that lasted more than long enough!

He did not attack directly from underground—that would have been too easy to notice and defend against. Instead, he used the Mayfly Technique to travel rapidly beneath the earth. At the instant the Kumogakure Jonin hesitated, he silently emerged halfway from the ground several meters off to the man's side and rear!

His hand seals had already been completed!

It was not a large-scale Genjutsu requiring lengthy preparation. Instead, he highly condensed his immense spiritual power and the ocular power of his Sharingan, then explosively drove them into the opponent's mind the instant their gazes met!

"Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!"

It was not an elaborate illusionary world, but the most direct and brutal mental assault, meant to produce an instant of disorientation and an opening!

The Kumogakure Jonin felt his vision suddenly blur. He seemed to see horrifying visions of countless comrades who had died miserable deaths coming to demand his life. Kyohaku had made a slight adjustment based on the possible psychological weaknesses of Kumogakure ninja. It felt as though his brain had been struck by a heavy hammer. His movements instantly stiffened, and the lightning around him fluctuated violently!

"What?!" The sudden change filled the Kumogakure Jonin with shock. He desperately tried to break free from this bizarre Genjutsu.

But for Ira, that less-than-half-second of stiffness was a gift from heaven! He had no idea what had happened, but a ninja's instincts made him seize the fleeting opportunity!

"Earth Release: Rock Fist Technique!" he roared. Ignoring his injuries, he poured all his remaining chakra into his right fist and slammed the massive stone fist into the stiffened Kumogakure Jonin's chest!

Bang!!!

A heavy, muffled impact rang out! The Kumogakure Jonin took the blow squarely. The crack of his breastbone breaking was clearly audible, the lightning around him fully dispersed, and he flew backward while spraying blood. He crashed heavily onto the ground, struggled a few times, and then stopped moving.

Everything had happened too quickly! The remaining three Kumogakure Chunin had no time to react. How had their invincible captain suddenly been defeated?!

In the instant they were stunned by their captain's sudden defeat—

Kyohaku's figure appeared like a ghost behind one Kumogakure Chunin, his Kunai slicing precisely across the man's throat.

At the same time, Ira endured his injuries and lunged at another Chunin.

Kenta and the other Konoha Chunin also seized the opportunity and fought back desperately.

The tide of battle reversed in an instant!

Without the Jonin's command and intimidating presence, the remaining Kumogakure Chunin were soon wiped out under the desperate counterattack of the Konoha group and Kyohaku's unpredictable ambushes.

The battle ended. The clearing in the forest was a mess, and the smell of blood filled the air.

Leaning on his blade, Ira panted heavily. His face was pale, and his injuries were severe. He looked toward Kyohaku as he stepped out of the shadows, his expression immensely complicated, filled with shock, lingering fear, and a trace of disbelief.

"That just now... was you?" he asked hoarsely. That bizarre Genjutsu interference had unquestionably been the key to turning the battle around.

Kyohaku's pale face remained calm as he merely nodded. "The situation was critical. If we hadn't seized the chance, we'd all be dead."

Ira drew a deep breath and did not press for details. Everyone had their own secrets, especially on the battlefield. Staying alive was what mattered most. He looked at the Kumogakure corpses scattered across the ground, still shaken.

"Clean up the scene and withdraw immediately! A Kumogakure squad won't operate alone for long!" Suppressing the surging blood in his chest, he gave the order decisively.