Chapter 35 - The Raid on the Supply Convoy (1)
The silver glow of the moon bathed the war camp, casting long shadows over the weary shinobi as they moved about, finishing their final preparations for the night.
After parting ways with Orochimaru, Kazane walked leisurely toward his tent, savoring the rare moment of quiet. The night was crisp, the air filled with the scent of damp earth and burning wood from the scattered campfires.
But as he neared his tent, he noticed a figure standing silently before it.
His footsteps slowed.
Even before stepping into the light, Kazane could already tell who it was.
"Lord Fugaku, do you need something from me?"
Kazane's voice was polite but firm. He had no intention of lowering his guard.
Fugaku turned to face him, his sharp features illuminated by the moonlight. But instead of the usual sternness, his expression carried an unusual warmth and enthusiasm of youth.
"Haha, Kazane, tomorrow we'll be carrying out a mission together. Quite the coincidence, isn't it?" His tone was friendly, almost conversational. "You are Lord Orochimaru's disciple, and my son, Itachi, has also recently become his student. That makes you two fellow disciples. I hope you can look after Itachi in the future."
Kazane raised an eyebrow.
So, Itachi Uchiha had become Orochimaru's student.
He couldn't help but find the situation ironic. It seemed that his presence had indeed caused ripples in history. Orochimaru had once sought Itachi as a vessel, drawn to his prodigious talent. Now, under these changed circumstances, he had taken him on as an apprentice instead.
If that was the case, Kazane made a silent decision—he would guide Itachi properly, ensuring the boy's path didn't take a turn for the worse.
Still, he doubted that Fugaku had come all this way just to share that news.
"Itachi Uchiha, huh?" Kazane mused. "I'll be sure to take good care of him. But Lord Fugaku, I doubt you came just to tell me this, did you?"
Fugaku chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"Haha! Sharp as ever. You're right—there's something else." His tone shifted subtly, turning more serious. "Tomorrow's mission is critical. Its success will determine the course of the war. That's why I want to personally take on Iwa's Jonin, Hikaru. After all, in our squad, only you and I have the strength to challenge him."
Kazane listened without interrupting.
Fugaku continued, "But I don't have the ability to swiftly take down the other Iwa ninja. If any of them escape and bring reinforcements, we'll be in trouble. So, I hope you can leave Hikaru to me while you eliminate the other ninjas before coming to assist me."
He paused, then added smoothly, "You swordsmen have exceptional offensive capabilities—so the more work you can handle, the better. What do you think?"
Kazane narrowed his eyes slightly.
Fugaku's words were well-crafted. He wasn't outright doubting Kazane's ability to take on Hikaru; instead, he was framing it as a strategic decision, making it sound like the most efficient plan. A diplomatic way to keep the strongest enemy for himself.
It was an expected move.
Kazane knew that Fugaku, despite recognizing his strength, still didn't fully trust him. The Uchiha leader wanted control over the battlefield—wanted to ensure that the most dangerous and famed opponent was handled personally rather than leaving it to someone he hadn't fully evaluated.
Kazane crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly.
"You want to handle Hikaru while I take care of the others…" His voice was calm, but his words carried a hint of skepticism. "Has Lord Orochimaru approved this?"
Fugaku's expression remained steady, but there was a flicker of something in his gaze—relief, perhaps.
"I'll handle things with Lord Orochimaru. You don't need to worry about that," he said smoothly. "Just don't take this the wrong way! I only suggested this because I believe you can take out the others much faster than I can."
Kazane could tell that Fugaku had expected some resistance. That was why he was quick to clarify—he wanted to avoid making Kazane feel slighted or challenged.
And yet, beneath his carefully chosen words, the meaning was clear.
He didn't want Kazane to face Hikaru.
Kazane watched him for a moment longer before nodding.
"Alright then. As long as Lord Orochimaru agrees, I'll follow your plan."
Turning around, a smirk tugged at the corner of Fugaku's lips. Thinking he had won this exchange, because he'll be catching the big fish and claim all glory while Kazane takes on numerous small fries that'll give him no recognition.
However, Kazane had already decided—this arrangement suited him just fine. He can't care less about fame.
---
Dawn – The Border of the Land of Earth
The first light of dawn painted the horizon in muted shades of orange and gray, casting long shadows over the jagged terrain. The winds howled through the mountain ravines, carrying with them the scent of damp earth.
Kazane crouched low among the rocky outcrops flanking the main road, his body perfectly still, blending seamlessly with the rugged landscape. Surrounding him, the Uchiha ninjas lay in wait, their crimson eyes gleaming faintly in the dim light as they monitored the road below.
This was the fastest route to the frontlines—if Iwa planned to reinforce their forces, they would have to pass through here.
It was a bold, almost reckless maneuver. Given Konoha's precarious position, outnumbered on three fronts, the enemy would never anticipate a raid so deep behind their lines. That very unpredictability was what made this ambush a gamble.
And yet, if it succeeded, it could shift the tides of war.
Fugaku's gaze flickered to Kazane's position, and for a moment, he felt a flicker of surprise.
Even with his fully matured three-tomoe Sharingan, he couldn't detect the slightest flaw in Kazane's concealment. The boy had vanished so completely into his surroundings that, had Fugaku not known his exact location beforehand, he might have mistaken him for nothing more than a shadow cast by the rocks.
But what truly unsettled him was Kazane's absolute suppression of his chakra.
The Sharingan excelled in reading movement, predicting attacks, and perceiving chakra flow within a person's body. And yet, as he focused on Kazane, it was as if nothing existed there at all. Not even the faintest trace of life.
It wasn't like the Hyuga's Byakugan, which could see through solid objects and discern chakra networks directly, but still—it should have picked up something.
But there was nothing.
What Fugaku didn't know was that Kazane's chakra reserves were naturally low—so minimal that even the Byakugan wouldn't find much to see.
Shaking off the thought, Fugaku turned his attention back to the road. Their target would be appearing soon.
The valley was silent save for the occasional clatter of loose stones dislodged by the wind. No sound of breathing, no stray movements.
This was how a proper ambush should be executed.
Failure to remain undetected would render the entire effort meaningless.
Time stretched on, the moments dragging, each passing second making the possibility of failure weigh heavier on them. If Iwa had chosen an alternate path, the ambush would be for nothing.
But then—
A hint of movement.
Four figures emerged in the distance, moving steadily along the road.
The tension in the air shifted instantly.
Every Konoha shinobi pressed themselves even deeper into the shadows, hands tightening around their weapons, hearts steadying as they prepared for the signal.
As the Iwa shinobi drew closer, Fugaku's fingers formed the Tiger seal.
A sharp flicker of chakra ignited—
Then—
BOOM!
A violent explosion erupted beneath the feet of the approaching Iwa ninjas.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A chain reaction followed, the sheer force of the detonations tearing through the earth, sending rocks and debris flying in all directions. Flames and smoke consumed the battlefield in an instant, turning the road into a chaotic inferno.
The sudden attack was overwhelming, the force of the explosion so intense that even the mountain winds struggled to disperse the rising dust.
But before anyone could celebrate—
A thick, yellowish cloud of smoke billowed out from the impact zone, obscuring the aftermath.
"Tsk."
Fugaku's brows furrowed. Even though he hadn't expected the explosion alone to completely wipe out their targets, he had hoped it would at least weaken them.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A sharp gust tore through the battlefield as Uchiha Koutan exhaled a powerful burst of wind from his mouth, scattering the dense smoke in an instant.
As the dust cleared, what was revealed made Fugaku's expression darken.
A massive dome of hardened earth stood at the center of the road.
Cracks began to form across its surface. Then—
With a resounding crack, the dome split apart, its hardened layers crumbling away, revealing four unscathed Iwa shinobi.
At the rear of the group, a Special Jonin stood with his hands still forming seals, his breathing controlled, his gaze sharp.
He had reacted fast enough to erect a defensive barrier the moment the explosion was triggered.
Fugaku exhaled slowly through his nose.
The fact that their ambush had been anticipated, or at least accounted for, was troubling.
"damn it."
One of the Iwa shinobi—clearly their leader—stepped forward, his expression twisted with fury. His build was solid, his stance aggressive, his hand already shifting toward the massive blade strapped across his back.
"Konoha shinobi?"
His voice was filled with scorn.
"You dare show up here just to die?!"
His eyes burned with rage.
This was their land. The Land of Earth was supposed to be on the offensive, pushing Konoha back.
How dare these Leaf shinobi infiltrate their territory and launch an ambush against them?!
TN/
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