Chapter 13: Isn't This a Normal Level?
The first to intercept the enemy wasn't Uchiha Tekkō, nor was it Uchiha Dōka or Uchiha Hachidai.
These three Uchiha jōnin didn't even have time to react.
Amid the billowing smoke, the enemy, struck by a kunai, let out a painful scream before hastily retreating.
Meanwhile, the three Uchiha jōnin once again wore expressions of disbelief as they turned to look at Uchiha Dali.
Their gazes seemed to ask: How is your kunai-throwing technique this precise?
Only Uchiha Dali himself knew that his kunai never missed its mark.
After throwing two more kunai and injuring the enemy further, Uchiha Dali was the first to charge into the smoke.
"Wait!"
Seeing his reckless move, Uchiha Tekkō hurriedly tried to stop him but was a step too late.
Watching Uchiha Dali disappear into the smoke, the three had no choice but to grit their teeth and follow.
Once they passed through the smoke, Uchiha Tekkō and the others immediately saw Uchiha Dali's hands forming seals at lightning speed.
A massive fireball shot toward the enemy's retreating back.
"Great Fireball Jutsu!"
The three jōnin's pupils contracted slightly.
As soon as the words fell, they saw the enemy engulfed by Uchiha Dali's fireball.
Amid the roaring flames, the enemy let out agonized screams.
But the screaming didn't last long.
It abruptly ceased—because Uchiha Dali had already finished them off.
By the time Uchiha Tekkō and the others arrived at his side, Uchiha Dali casually clapped the dust off his hands and turned around nonchalantly.
"Alright, the enemy's been dealt with. We can continue our mission now."
"Where did you learn your kunai-throwing technique?"
Unable to hold back his curiosity, Uchiha Dōka asked.
"I trained myself. Isn't this a normal level for a ninja? What, you guys can't do it?"
Uchiha Dali countered.
For a moment, Uchiha Dōka was speechless. He opened his mouth as if to say something but was stopped by Uchiha Tekkō.
"Enough, let's not dwell on this."
"We need to complete our mission first!"
Tekkō gave Uchiha Dali a deep look.
He now had a new understanding of this clan member's strength, and his attitude was beginning to change.
After calling the other two to continue toward the dock, Uchiha Tekkō finally said to Uchiha Dali, "Next time you encounter an enemy, don't be so reckless."
"Rushing through the smoke bomb to chase them was dangerous. There could have been an ambush..."
"Understood, senpai."
Uchiha Dali nodded seriously, at least on the surface.
But only he knew the truth.
His powerful sensory abilities had long confirmed there was no danger behind the smoke—his target was within easy reach.
Otherwise, would he have rushed in so blindly?
…
A short while later, the four of them arrived at the seaside.
Hidden behind a pile of rocks, they cautiously observed the dock about a hundred meters away.
The area bore clear signs of an intense battle.
Both the trees along the shore and the beach itself were riddled with scars of destruction, the surroundings left in a state of devastation.
But it was obvious that the area was now back under Kirigakure's control.
Their ships were docking without hindrance, unloading troops freely.
Not long after the four arrived, they saw a ship approaching from the distant sea.
Then a second, a third, a fourth…
A total of six ships, carrying dozens of Kirigakure shinobi.
"These should be reinforcement troops from Kirigakure. We must report this to headquarters…"
Uchiha Dōka whispered.
But Uchiha Tekkō glanced up at the sky and shook his head.
"Our forces already know. We don't need to worry about them. Our mission is just to sabotage their ships!"
Hearing this, Uchiha Dali instinctively looked up as well.
His sharp gaze instantly locked onto a small black speck gliding slowly through the sky, about two hundred meters up.
His eyes functioned like a telephoto lens, automatically zooming in until the blurry speck became a perfectly clear image of a crow.
"Uchiha Shisui…"
The moment he saw the crow, Uchiha Dali immediately thought of that man.
The ninja known across the shinobi world for his Body Flicker Technique—Uchiha Shisui, who used crows as his summoning beasts.
Since a crow summon was here, it meant Uchiha Shisui was already aware of the situation.
So those dozens of Kirigakure shinobi weren't their concern.
The four remained silent, staying motionless in their hiding spot.
Soon, all six ships had docked.
Once moored at the shore, the dozens of Kirigakure shinobi swiftly vanished into the forest.
Only then did Uchiha Hachidai whisper, "Let's go blow up their ships with explosive tags!"
"Move!"
Uchiha Dōka was about to act when—
His shoulder was suddenly pressed down, holding him in place.
Startled, he turned to see Uchiha Dali.
The others also looked at him in confusion.
Uchiha Dali shook his head and whispered, "Not yet."
They didn't understand what he was thinking.
Frowning, Uchiha Tekkō said, "Opportunities pass quickly. If we delay the mission and let these ships return, they'll just send more reinforcements!"
Uchiha Hachidai also looked unhappy.
"Dali, what are you doing?"
Before they could say more, all their ears twitched slightly at the same time.
Their hearts tightened as they exchanged looks.
Outside the rocky hideout, a voice echoed with confusion:
"No one's here? Looks like Konoha's forces haven't reached this place. We can withdraw safely."
"Hold on, let's leave them a little surprise! These ships are old anyway—no need to keep them. We'll set up explosive tags on board. Maybe we can take out a few Konoha shinobi with them!"
Hearing the enemy's conversation, Uchiha Tekkō, Uchiha Dōka, and Uchiha Hachidai all stiffened.
Finally, they understood why Uchiha Dali had stopped Dōka from acting earlier.
Once again, they were stunned by Uchiha Dali's instincts.
But before they could express their admiration—
Uchiha Dali suddenly leaped from his hiding spot, exposing himself.
"Hey!! You idiot…"
Seeing him recklessly ignore his earlier caution and charge into battle again, Uchiha Tekkō felt a headache coming on.
Without hesitation, he rushed after him.