Ambush

In the blink of an eye, early summer had arrived, and the air gradually carried a trace of stifling heat.

Beyond the borders of the Land of Waterfalls, a massive procession moved orderly along the main road. A gloomy atmosphere hung over the group, every face shadowed, like a pack of sorrowful wolves wandering far from home.

Yan Hong wore fitted black combat clothes, a three-foot blade hanging at his waist. As he walked, he intently studied a scroll in his hand. After a long while, he tiredly rubbed his brow and tucked the scroll back into his robes before quickly making his way to the front of the group.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, are you really not going to learn it? Honestly, the Flying Thunder God Technique can absolutely be called the most versatile support ninjutsu. It has an extremely wide range of uses in battle as well."

Madara still wore his dark red armor. Hearing this, he glanced at the scroll in Yan Hong's robes and said evenly, "This ninjutsu does have considerable merit, but why would I, Uchiha Madara, need someone else's ninjutsu to become stronger?"

"That's right! I'm not interested in a ninjutsu invented by that Tobirama guy." Izuna chimed in as well. "Last time, I was merely too careless. If I face him again next time, I definitely won't lose."

Yan Hong helplessly rubbed his forehead. He had gone through great trouble to snatch several ninjutsu from the Senju camp—techniques that would become some of Konoha's most closely guarded secrets in the future—yet his two brothers were both too proud to learn them.

Yan Hong shrugged. "Fine. Then we'll leave them for the ninjas who make great contributions to the clan in the future."

Madara did not object. He merely suddenly turned his gaze toward the distance. "How much longer until we arrive?"

Yan Hong thought for a moment. "According to the intelligence Mu sent back yesterday, the Taketori Clan has successfully pushed through nearly forty percent of the Shemu Clan's territory. However, the other side seems to possess something that can greatly increase a ninja's chakra within a short period of time, seriously hindering their advance."

Yan Hong pulled out a map and checked their direction. "At our current pace, we should be able to join up with them in about half an hour. Then we can wipe out the Shemu Clan in one sweep."

"Is that so?" Madara said expressionlessly. "Then it seems they do not cherish these final thirty minutes."

"Hm?" Yan Hong did not understand. He looked at Izuna beside him and found a hint of confusion in his eyes as well.

"Hmph. It seems the two of you have both gotten lax in your training lately. Your senses have become this dull." Madara gave them an annoyed look. "There are teams approaching us from both the front and rear, around two hundred people each. They're roughly five kilometers away."

"Hehe..." Izuna gave an awkward laugh, draping an arm around Yan Hong's shoulders as he said casually, "Yan Hong, what do you think? One side each? Let's see who ends the fight first."

Yan Hong smiled. "They're only a second-rate clan. Why are you suddenly so interested, Second Brother?"

"I've been idle for three days, and I'm not used to it. So? If you don't pick, I'll choose first."

Yan Hong smiled and shook his head. "Then I'll take—"

"You two stay here." Madara's tone was cold and merciless. "I'll go."

Before either of them could react, Madara vanished from where he stood...

"Huh?"

The two stared at each other for a long while. At last, Yan Hong said with a bitter smile, "It seems Hashirama dealt Big Brother quite a blow. Well, this can count as letting off some steam. It's just that the Shemu Clan will suffer for it. I was originally planning to absorb them into our ranks. After all, if we want to grow, we need to expand our manpower. Now, all we can do is go over and collect their corpses."

Izuna thought for a moment. "Isn't there still another team behind us? Leave that one to me."

"Huh?" Watching Izuna's retreating figure vanish, Yan Hong said with an amused smile, "Looks like Big Brother isn't the only one whose defenses were shattered."

On a raised hill, Shemu Xin hid himself in the shadows of the trees. Behind him stood the clansmen who had joined him in this ambush. Every one of them had been carefully selected; it could be said that they represented the Shemu Clan's most elite forces.

Shemu Xin narrowed his eyes slightly and focused on the main road below. To enter the Land of Waterfalls, this road was the only route. He had prepared an ambush here in advance and sent a second team around behind them, faintly forming an encirclement.

"Chuan, what is the enemy's current situation?"

Behind him, Shemu Xin's son, Shemu Chuan, emerged from the shadows and said in a low voice, "Everything is normal so far. They probably haven't discovered us and are heading this way."

Shemu Xin nodded. "Very good, but do not underestimate them. According to our intelligence, judging from their numbers alone, they are definitely a top-tier second-rate clan. I suspect they may be a clan that was defeated in one of the Five Great Nations."

Shemu Chuan considered it briefly. "I heard there was a major battle inside the Land of Fire a few days ago. Could they have come from the Land of Fire?"

After pondering for a moment, Shemu Xin shook his head. "Unlikely. It is said that Senju Hashirama, leader of the Senju Clan in the Land of Fire, is kind-hearted. Even the defeated side should not have been driven out of the country. My guess is that they are most likely a clan from the Land of Earth."

Shemu Chuan's face was full of admiration. "As expected of Father. It seems I still have much to learn."

Shemu Xin smiled, pleased by the praise. Just as he was about to offer a few words of guidance, his ear twitched slightly. He heard a completely undisguised set of footsteps coming from the far end of the road.

Tap, tap, tap...

The footsteps were steady and powerful, neither hurried nor slow. As they drew closer, a tall figure gradually appeared in their sight.

Shemu Xin drew farther into the shadows, a trace of confusion flashing through his eyes. "A scout? Sending just one person is rather insulting, isn't it? Stay hidden. Don't let him discover us."

Tap, tap, tap...

The footsteps did not stop until they reached the center of the road. Then the figure suddenly turned and looked directly toward them!

Shemu Xin's pupils contracted sharply as he cried out, "What sharp perception! Chuan, go kill him! We absolutely cannot let him return to warn the others!"

"Understood, Father!"

Whoosh—

Shemu Chuan vanished from his spot in an instant, moving as swiftly as thunder. When he appeared again, he was already behind the newcomer. Though airborne, he made not the slightest sound, silent as a ghost. Before the man could turn around, a fierce gust surged from his hand, and a sharp kunai slashed horizontally toward the man's neck!

Shemu Xin had nearly unified the Land of Waterfalls through the strength of his clan alone, so his own abilities were naturally not lacking. As his son, Shemu Chuan had always been his pride. Seeing that move, Shemu Xin nodded in satisfaction, a trace of gratification appearing in his eyes.

Yet before he could voice his praise, the scene before him froze the expression on his face!

Slash—

As the kunai cut a perfect white arc through the air, blinding bloodshot soared skyward!

The corner of Shemu Chuan's mouth curved upward. Then he suddenly felt somewhat sleepy, and his vision began to blur. Immediately afterward, an exceptionally familiar back entered his sight!

"Strange... Why does that back... look like mine?"

Before he could figure it out, his vision began to spin. In the end, his consciousness sank into nothingness.

Silence. An unnatural silence filled the entire area.

Only when the headless corpse crashed to the ground with a heavy thud were the countless stunned ambushers finally jolted awake!

"W-What... happened?"