Ambush

The Uchiha Clan's current relationship with the village was deeply awkward.

It could be said that ever since the Nine-Tails Rebellion, the conflicts that had already existed had repeatedly worsened. By now, they had reached an irreparable point.

Many of the village's higher-ups believed that the Nine-Tails' rampage back then had been a scheme orchestrated by the Uchiha Clan behind the scenes.

After all, most people had seen what the Nine-Tails looked like when it was under control.

So now, the village had more or less assigned people to keep watch on the more outstanding Uchiha ninja.

As for ninja at the Jonin level, there was no need to even mention it. Whenever they left the clan compound, Anbu—or... Root—would usually follow them in secret.

That was also why Ryosuke had felt relatively at ease setting up this practical combat exercise.

He did not think the Uchiha would be cautious enough to spare so many people just to deal with a brat who had not even graduated from the Ninja Academy.

Still, out of caution, Ryosuke had led Souji and Seisai in hiding the entire way, intending to confirm the strength of the incoming Uchiha before deciding what to do.

And now that they had confirmed the number of attackers and their approximate strength, he planned to make his move...

"Not a trace of them. Could they have already reached Chougenji Temple?"

Within the dense forest, the three Uchiha, unable to find even the slightest trace of Ryosuke and the others no matter how they searched, were extremely irritated.

They temporarily slowed their sprinting pace and began walking instead.

Maintaining the flow of Chakra for long periods and coating it over their bodies to enhance their movement would also tire them out.

Before they felt too fatigued, they would stop like this, resting while they walked to ensure that the moment they encountered their targets, they could strike in the best possible condition for an ambush.

"By all logic, they should have taken this route."

Another person spoke impatiently. "Could they have taken the main road? They're ninja. They can't seriously be walking the roads ordinary people use to seek protection, can they?"

Moving slowly now, they no longer bothered much with concealing the sound of their conversation.

They had already checked this area earlier. Not a single trace had been left behind, as though the three had vanished into thin air.

If they were traveling normally, they would not have left no trace at all like this—unless they had not taken this route.

"Unlikely. With the Hyuga Clan's appearance being so conspicuous, they would definitely draw attention if they took the main road."

The man with the most authority among the three spoke coldly, dismissing the guess. "Besides, judging by their movements through the previous towns, they had been traveling through the wilderness. They wouldn't suddenly switch to the main road just as we were preparing to strike."

"Besides, didn't we find their footprints entering the forest earlier?"

"But..."

One of them had just opened his mouth, intending to discuss something further.

Suddenly, Ryosuke, Souji, and Seisai—who had been waiting nearby for a long time—launched a pincer attack from three directions at the ninja who had spoken.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

The sound of air tearing rang out like thunder through the silent forest.

"Watch out!"

The instant the three revealed themselves, the apparent Jonin among the three Uchiha—and their leader—reacted immediately. He shouted a warning to his companions while deftly flinging Shuriken, intending to stop their advance.

But unfortunately for him, Ryosuke and the others had been lying in wait for this ambush for a long time and had made meticulous plans. They were faster.

Judging from the amount of Chakra he had and the degree of control he displayed, this ambushed Uchiha was probably the weakest of the three.

Before he could react, they had already reached his side.

Souji and Seisai each struck out with a palm from the left and right, severing the flow of Chakra within his body.

Meanwhile, the sharp Kunai in Ryosuke's hand flashed coldly as it sliced open the man's throat.

Blood gushed from the wound like a spring, and a living life was extinguished just like that.

This Uchiha might not even have figured out who the three of them were before he lost all breath.

Only then did the Shuriken thrown by the apparent Uchiha Jonin arrive late, and Souji easily knocked them away with his Kunai.

The remaining Uchiha Chunin instinctively retreated to join up with the Jonin.

The entire process had lasted less than a minute. Ryosuke and the other two had already widened the distance from the remaining pair of Uchiha again, watching their movements warily.

"Trash!"

Facing the body of his dead companion as it crumpled to the ground, the apparent Jonin muttered a curse. He stood alongside the remaining Chunin, equally wary of Ryosuke and the others.

"How was it?"

After the ambush succeeded and they had put some distance between themselves and the Uchiha, Seisai asked quietly.

"I'm fine. Keep going!"

His eyes calm and undisturbed, Ryosuke gave a brief reply. The three immediately moved again, having no intention of giving the remaining two Uchiha a chance to speak.

According to the original plan, they were not supposed to have this step of widening the distance.

After succeeding, they were meant to immediately attack the remaining Chunin, leaving the apparent Jonin for last.

But because it was Ryosuke's first time killing someone, Souji had suggested making some time to rest briefly and prevent an emotional reaction from affecting the battle.

Ryosuke had agreed with his suggestion.

Yet even he had not expected that, despite it being his first time, his movements had been swift and decisive during the attack. The slash across the throat had been steady, without the slightest hesitation.

Throughout the entire process, he had not experienced any physical discomfort or resistance.

The death of such a life had not placed the slightest burden on his heart.

If one wanted to kill, one had to be prepared to be killed.

Ryosuke did not think that was bad, or cold, or heartless.

"You..."

Before he could finish a single sentence, Ryosuke and the other two had already charged forward, intending to close in on them.

Knowing perfectly well how powerful the Hyuga Clan's taijutsu was, the two remaining Uchiha did not hesitate at all. They immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to flee, intending to widen the distance before finding another chance to strike.

The sudden ambush had already cost them one companion, and it had made them feel the threat to their lives.

From this point on, they would not underestimate the three of them in the slightest.

"Their Sharingan are activated."

Her Byakugan clearly detected the Chakra within the two fleeing figures converging toward their eye sockets. Seisai gave a reminder.

Still, all three of them were confident that they could keep the Uchiha here.

Their worst-case assumption had been that two of the three Uchiha were Jonin.

But from the looks of it, only one of them was an apparent Jonin. The other was clearly only at the Chunin level. His combat experience was lacking, and he was even inferior to Souji and Seisai.

During the ambush just now, due to a lack of experience and mental fortitude, the remaining Uchiha had only managed to retreat instinctively, unable to make a calm judgment about the battle.

"Be careful not to look into their eyes. What stage their Sharingan have reached is our only blind spot."

Ryosuke also reminded the other two beside him. "Like us, the Uchiha Clan is a powerful Bloodline Limit clan. With their Sharingan activated, their strength far surpasses ninja of the same level."

Thanks to reader King of Ancestor-Annihilating Hedgehogs for the donation support.