Chapter 12: I'm Your Grandfather
As dawn approached, Uchiha Dali, acting as the temporary captain, led Hyūga Kōji and Uzuki Sen to rendezvous with the reinforcements from Konoha.
To their surprise, the leader of the reinforcement unit was none other than Uchiha Fugaku, the current head of the Uchiha clan.
After listening to Uchiha Dali and the others recount their battle against the enemy the previous night, Uchiha Fugaku was visibly impressed by Dali's strength.
"Since you've already joined the fight, you should return to the unit, Dali."
"As for you two, you can either continue forward with us to the frontlines or return to the rear to regroup with the other units—they're less than two kilometers behind us," Uchiha Fugaku informed Hyūga Kōji and Uzuki Sen.
The two exchanged a glance before deciding to rejoin their original unit.
Before leaving, they both approached Uchiha Dali.
"Even though it goes without saying, we still want to thank you for saving us," Hyūga Kōji said.
"I feel the same. Thank you for rescuing me, Dali," Uzuki Sen added, her clear eyes carrying a trace of something indescribable as she gazed earnestly into his.
"Stay alive," Uchiha Dali simply said.
After they parted ways, Uchiha Dali was assigned to a new team consisting of three other Uchiha clan members, tasked with supporting different areas of the battlefield.
His new teammates were Uchiha Tekkō, Uchiha Dōka, and Uchiha Hachidai.
All three were in their early twenties and had already reached the level of Jōnin, each possessing two-tomoe Sharingan.
However, when they learned they were being teamed up with Uchiha Dali, an unknown name until now, their expressions showed clear disdain.
"So, you're saying you single-handedly repelled the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?" Uchiha Hachidai asked skeptically.
"How many tomoe do you have in your Sharingan?" Uchiha Dōka inquired.
Hearing the clear hostility in their tone, Uchiha Dali casually replied, "I haven't awakened my Sharingan yet. Driving them off was just a stroke of luck."
"I'll be counting on you all to look after me."
The three instantly exchanged scornful looks.
However, given that they were all Uchiha clan members and currently in the middle of a battlefield, they restrained themselves.
"We'll be facing enemies head-on at the frontlines soon, so you'd better keep up," Uchiha Tekkō said.
"If we run into a strong opponent, don't try anything reckless. Leave them to us. I'll be leading this squad—you should already know who I am, so I won't waste time introducing myself."
"Let's move out!"
Uchiha Dali had no objections.
...
At full speed, the four-man squad traveled through the night and finally arrived at the eastern border of the Land of Fire at dawn.
"Just a few more kilometers beyond the forest lies the sea," Uchiha Tekkō stated.
"Our mission is to raid the enemy's landing dock, destroy their ships, and cut off Kirigakure's supply lines."
The other three nodded simultaneously.
"Kid, make sure to stick with us, and don't do anything foolish," Uchiha Dōka said, lightly patting Uchiha Dali on the shoulder as a reminder.
Just as he finished speaking, Uchiha Hachidai suddenly dropped down from a tree and made a hand signal for caution.
"A Mist Village combat unit has just landed and is heading this way."
At those words, the squad instantly became alert.
The four leaped into the treetops, hiding themselves.
Uchiha Dali extended his sensory perception, immediately pinpointing the enemy's exact location and numbers.
It was a four-man combat unit, the same formation as theirs—one captain and three subordinates.
At this moment, they were rapidly advancing from the shoreline into the forest, heading straight toward their position.
By analyzing their movement sounds, Uchiha Dali determined that they were still over a kilometer away. He calmly reached into his pouch and pulled out four kunai.
"Should we set up a trap and blow them up?" Uchiha Hachidai suggested.
"There's no time," Uchiha Dōka shook his head.
Uchiha Tekkō assessed, "The enemy squad likely has a Jōnin leader, while the other three are unknown. Be careful when the fight starts!"
As they spoke, the enemy finally entered the forest.
And at that precise moment—
Four kunai shot out simultaneously.
Three of them struck with blinding speed, hitting their targets instantly and taking down three enemies.
The last one, however, was blocked in time by the Mist Jōnin leading them.
The unexpected attack left Uchiha Tekkō and the others in complete shock.
It took them several seconds to process what had just happened.
"That guy really is a Jōnin!"
Suppressing their astonishment at Uchiha Dali's prowess, they refocused on the remaining enemy.
The Mist Jōnin quickly located their position, gripping his blade defensively as he spoke, "Impressive kunai skills! You must not be an unknown figure. May I ask who launched that ambush?"
"Ambush? Heh..."
Uchiha Dali casually stepped out of hiding, locking eyes with him.
"That was a straightforward attack. And the one who struck you was your grandfather—Uchiha Dali."
He pointed his thumb toward himself.
"Uchiha Dali?"
The Mist Jōnin's pupils contracted slightly as he instinctively glanced at the three other Uchiha who had revealed themselves.
Three Jōnin and one Chūnin.
After gauging their strength, a cold sweat broke out on the Mist Jōnin's forehead.
Still, he paid no real attention to Uchiha Dali's words.
How powerful could a Chūnin really be?
He assumed that one of the three Jōnin had been the one to launch that terrifyingly precise attack.
"The Uchiha clan... Kirigakure will remember this."
"Until we meet again!"
The Mist Jōnin knew he stood no chance alone. Without hesitation, he threw down a smoke bomb.
Boom!
Thick smoke erupted, covering his retreat.
"That guy is crafty!"
Uchiha Tekkō immediately gave chase.
But as he leaped forward, three shuriken shot out from the smoke.
Fortunately, he was on high alert and dodged in time—otherwise, he would've been killed on the spot.
The enemy was about to escape.
But just then, a muffled groan sounded from within the smoke.
A moment later, they saw Uchiha Dali hurl two more kunai ahead.