Death

"Scatter!"

At the shout, the Cloud shinobi scattered into the forest, avoiding a head-on clash.

Explosive Kunai flew out from every corner of the forest, hurtling toward the Supplies guarded at the center.

Explosion after explosion sent out shock waves. Branches flew, dust billowed, and trees were blasted into pieces that caught fire and burned black.

"I never thought a simple supply run would require the Three Great Konoha Families and the Clan Heads of Ino-Shika-Cho.

"Looks like Konoha really is running out of people. Hmph. Its defeat is only a matter of time."

"The Hokage knew Kumogakure wouldn't let this go. He expected you to strike during this supply run.

"We were waiting for you to walk into our trap. Not one Cloud shinobi will leave here alive," Elder Genki said.

Figures burst from the Supply Team and charged toward the Cloud shinobi on all sides.

Everyone's attention was fixed on the battlefield. Not far away, several figures hid behind tree trunks, quietly watching the fight.

"Move. Slip into the Cloud shinobi's ranks while everything's in chaos."

They transformed into Cloud shinobi one after another. Amid the explosions and flying dust, several uses of the Body Flicker Technique brought them rapidly toward the battlefield.

In the chaos, neither the Cloud shinobi nor Konoha's forces noticed the extra figures among the Cloud shinobi.

Fugaku quietly appeared behind a Cloud shinobi hiding off to one side. He glanced around. No one was watching.

His Kunai flashed across the man's throat, and he stuck an Explosive Tag to the corpse.

The explosion left nothing of the Cloud shinobi's body. Fugaku took on his appearance and blended into the crowd again.

Explosive Tags detonated in succession as Fugaku rushed forward. Dust and smoke spread across the entire battlefield.

Leaves and charred branches filled