Protecting the Younger Generation, Izanagi

"Alright."

Two-Tomoe Sharingan appeared in Uchiha Zhong's eyes as he carefully moved through the mist.

Other than being assigned to different squads for combat, the Uchiha Clan members generally gathered together during their downtime.

However, with the mist around, gathering the clan members would take some time.

The gale drove the mist along. The mist was not impossible to deal with, but it would take time.

And the Mist Ninja would not give the Konoha ninja time to completely disperse the mist. A large number of Mist Ninja used its cover to silently infiltrate Konoha's main camp.

The appearance of these Mist Ninja here meant that the patrol squads had all been wiped out, without even having a chance to fire a signal flare.

Uchiha Shin carried the heavily injured but conscious Hirota Uchiha on his back. The surrounding mist made it impossible to see anything, so he could only retreat based on memory.

"Captain, wait here. I can't abandon the clan members and escape alone."

Uchiha Shin placed Hirota Uchiha in a concealed spot, then turned and ran back.

A trace of gratification appeared on Hirota Uchiha's face as he forced his battered body to stand.

With younger generations like them, the clan had hope of prosperity. Even with this crippled body, he had to protect them to the death.

Uchiha Shin successfully met up with Uchiha Zhong, and together they led the clan members in a desperate battle against the Mist Ninja attacking from every direction.

More than half the mist had dispersed, but the Mist Ninja had already achieved their goal, forming an encirclement around the Konoha ninja. Only the rear route had not yet been completely sealed off.

"Uchiha brat, I love hunting genius ninja like you. I'll be taking those eyes of yours."

A Mist Ninja force led by an Elite Jonin, numbering over two hundred, had set its sights on Uchiha Zhong and the others.

"Zhong, Shin, take the clan members and leave. Leave this place to us."

"Go now. We can't hold them off for long."

Keisuke Uchiha, Masao Uchiha, Makoto Uchiha, Yuki Uchiha, Ayako Uchiha, and Kazu Uchiha stepped out from the crowd, their Two-Tomoe Sharingan appearing in their determined eyes.

"Trying to leave? Stay right here, all of you."

"Six mere Chunin think they can stop us? You're courting death."

"Kill them all."

The Mist Ninja captain laughed arrogantly, brandishing his long blade as he ordered his subordinates to attack.

"Kill!!!"

Uchiha Zhong and Uchiha Shin exchanged a glance, then attacked the Elite Jonin-level Mist Ninja alongside the six others at the same time.

The other Uchiha Clan members were no cowards either. Since they could not escape, they would kill. Killing one meant no loss; taking two down with them meant profit.

That helplessness of watching clan members fall beside them, that burdensome feeling of realizing how useless they were after being saved.

There were no reinforcements, no helpers. The clan members who had once laughed and talked beside them fell one after another.

Despair, sorrow, and pain flooded their minds at once, and crimson Sharingan awakened in response.

Squelch!

A blade tip suddenly emerged from the Mist Ninja captain's chest, but no blood appeared as his body gradually turned to water.

A sinister smile appeared on the Mist Ninja captain's lips as he swung his blade, directly killing the person who had ambushed him.

"Trying to sneak up on me? What a foolish Uchiha ninja."

Hikari Hozuki laughed wildly.

The one who had launched the ambush was Hirota Uchiha.

Unfortunately, this Mist Ninja captain had hidden himself too well, so Hirota Uchiha had not known that he was a ninja of the Hozuki Clan.

"Captain."

Uchiha Zhong and Uchiha Shin's eyes turned red and widened as tears immediately began streaming down their faces.

The two of them had been closest to Hirota Uchiha. They often stayed by his side and had received much instruction in ninjutsu from him.

To them, Hirota Uchiha was not merely their captain, but also a kind elder.

At that moment, their two pairs of Two-Tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly, gaining another black tomoe.

The boost from the Three-Tomoe Sharingan immediately sent their strength soaring, raising them directly to the Jonin level.

"I'll kill you."

"Die!"

The moment their Three-Tomoe Sharingan awakened, the two charged at Hikari Hozuki without regard for anything else, blades raised.

"Three-Tomoe Sharingan? Bringing them back to Kirigakure will be another great achievement."

Having witnessed everything firsthand, Hikari Hozuki formed hand seals and used Water Release to temporarily restrain the other six before greedily attacking the two.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Binding Blade."

Hirota Uchiha silently appeared behind Hikari Hozuki, the weapon in his hand crackling with lightning.

Crackle!

Hikari Hozuki could no longer turn to water. His heart was instantly shattered by Hirota Uchiha's Lightning Release.

"How could..."

Hikari Hozuki turned around with difficulty, staring in disbelief at the person who had attacked him.

"Die."

Uchiha Shin and Uchiha Zhong immediately followed up, directly beheading him.

"The older, the wiser. Hahaha."

Hirota Uchiha laughed, coughing up blood. His severely injured body could no longer support him in battle.

One of his Three-Tomoe Sharingan dimmed, turning grayish white.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!!

At that moment, kunai flew down all around them.

The surrounding Mist Ninja fell one after another, their necks torn open by sharp weapons as blood sprayed out. Each had been killed in a single strike.

This terrifying sight frightened the remaining Mist Ninja into retreating again and again.

Uchiha Kyu appeared beside Hirota Uchiha and supported his swaying body.

"Hirota, well done. Make it back alive, and I'll let you retire comfortably in the clan."

"Clan Head, I did not betray your trust."

Hirota Uchiha wiped the blood from his mouth. With only one Three-Tomoe Sharingan remaining, he revealed a relaxed smile.

Since the Clan Head had arrived, none of them would die.

"Kill!!!"

"Kill all the Mist Ninja!"

"Brothers, hold on! We're here!"

Konoha's reinforcements, who had traveled a long distance, rushed in with loud shouts, trying to frighten off the Mist Ninja and buy the brothers at the front lines a chance to survive.

"Damn it, Konoha's reinforcements are here! Retreat, retreat, retreat!"

Upon seeing Konoha's reinforcements arrive, the Kirigakure higher-up leading this surprise attack hurriedly gave the order to retreat.

This surprise attack on Konoha's defense line had originally been intended to completely seize it before Konoha's reinforcements arrived and establish a Kirigakure supply line.

What a pity.

Once Konoha's reinforcements arrived, the operation had lost its meaning.

How could Uchiha Kyu allow the Mist Ninja to retreat so easily? He personally gave the order to pursue.

They came when they wanted and left when they wanted. Did they really think this was their own home?

"Kill!!!"

Under Uchiha Kyu's command, Konoha's reinforcements charged after them without hesitation.

They slaughtered the Mist Ninja who had been too slow to retreat, chasing them all the way to the first Egawa Defense Line occupied by the Mist Ninja before finally stopping.

"Congratulations, you two. You successfully awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. The battlefield truly tempers people."

Uchiha Kyu was also surprised that the clan had gained two more Three-Tomoe Sharingan wielders so quickly.

This was tremendous news for the Uchiha Clan.