Ambush

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

Beyond the border of the Land of Waterfalls, a massive procession moved in orderly formation along the main road. A heavy atmosphere hung over the group, every face clouded by shadows, like a pack of sorrowful wolves driven far from home.

Enkō wore a fitted black outfit, a three-foot blade hanging at his waist. As he walked, he intently read a scroll in his hand. After a long while, he tiredly rubbed his brow, tucked the scroll back into his robes, and quickly made his way to the front of the procession.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, are you really not going to learn it? Honestly, the Flying Thunder God Technique could absolutely be called the most versatile support-type ninjutsu. Its applications in battle are extremely broad as well."

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

"That's right! I don't care for any ninjutsu invented by that Tobirama guy." Izuna chimed in as well. "Last time, I was just too careless. If I face him again next time, I definitely won't lose."

Enkō helplessly rubbed his forehead. He had finally managed to seize several ninjutsu from the Senju camp—techniques that would become some of Konoha's most closely guarded treasures in the future—yet his two brothers were both too proud to learn them.

Enkō shrugged. "Fine, then we'll save them for 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?"

Enkō considered it. "According to the intelligence Mu sent back yesterday, the Taketori Clan has successfully pushed into nearly forty percent of the Shemu Clan's territory. However, the other side seems to have something that can greatly increase a ninja's chakra for a short time, which has severely slowed our advance."

Enkō took out a map and checked their direction. "At our current pace, we should join them in about half an hour. Then we can sweep through the Shemu Clan in one push."

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

"Hm?" Enkō 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 been slacking in your training lately. Your perception has become this dull." Madara gave them an irritated look. "There are teams approaching us from both the front and rear, around two hundred people each. They are roughly five miles away."

"Heh heh..." Izuna gave a dry laugh, draped an arm around Enkō's shoulders, and said casually, "Enkō, what do you think? One of us takes each side. Let's see who finishes first."

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

"I've been idle for three days, and it feels strange. What about it? If you don't choose, I'll pick first."

Enkō smiled and shook his head. "Then I'll choose..."

"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 quite some time. At last, Enkō gave a bitter smile. "It seems Hashirama dealt Big Brother quite a blow. Fine, he can vent his frustration. Though the Shemu Clan will suffer for it. I had planned to absorb them into our ranks. After all, we can't grow without expanding our numbers. Now, though, we can only go collect their corpses."

Izuna thought for a moment. "Isn't there still a team behind us? I'll take care of that one."

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

On a raised hillside, Shemu Xin concealed himself within the shadows of the trees. Behind him stood the clansmen who had joined him in this ambush, every one of them carefully selected. It could be said that they had gathered the Shemu Clan's most elite forces.

Shemu Xin narrowed his eyes slightly and stared intently at the main road below. To enter the Land of Waterfalls, this road was unavoidable. He had arranged an ambush here in advance and sent a second team around behind their target, quietly 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 quietly, "Everything is normal so far. They probably haven't discovered us and are heading this way."

Shemu Xin nodded. "Good, but do not lower your guard. Based on the intelligence, judging by their numbers alone, they are definitely a top-tier second-rate clan. I suspect they may be a clan that was defeated within one of the Five Great Nations."

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

After a moment of contemplation, Shemu Xin shook his head. "That should be impossible. I have heard that Senju Hashirama, leader of the Senju Clan in the Land of Fire, is kind-hearted. Even if they were the defeated side, he likely would not drive them out of the country. I would guess they are most likely a clan from the Land of Earth."

Shemu Chuan's face filled with 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. From the far end of the road came the unmistakable sound of footsteps.

Tap, tap, tap...

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

Shemu Xin shrank further into the shadows, a trace of confusion flashing through his eyes. "A scout? Sending only one person is rather insulting. Stay hidden. Do not let him discover us."

Tap, tap, tap...

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

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

"Understood, Father!"

Whoosh—

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

Shemu Xin had nearly unified the Land of Waterfalls through the power of his clan alone, so his own strength was far from lacking. As his son, Shemu Chuan had always been his pride. Seeing this move, Shemu Xin nodded in satisfaction, a trace of comfort appearing in his eyes.

But before he could voice his praise, the sight before him froze the expression on his face!

Slash—

As the kunai carved a perfect white arc through the air, blinding blood surged toward the sky!

The corners of Shemu Chuan's mouth lifted slightly, but he suddenly felt a little drowsy. His vision became blurry, and then an exceptionally familiar back appeared before his eyes!

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

Before he could figure it out, the world began spinning before his eyes, and his final consciousness sank into nothingness.

Silence. An unnatural silence filled the entire scene.

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

"What... happened?"