Chapter 8: Seven Sauce or Calamity Star
Silently perched atop a tall tree, Uchiha Kei carefully activated his Sharingan, scanning the surroundings.
Hyūga Ayaka and Imai Kenta were already in position. Neither of them even glanced in Kei's direction, which gave him the courage to use his Sharingan without worry.
While observing the subtle chakra fluctuations in the forest, Kei was also planning his strategy. He had already made some preparations, but how to execute them was still worth considering.
He had decided to forgo using explosive tags. The noise would draw too much attention and put them in a dangerous position.
Even though their mission was cooperative with other Konoha squads, it didn't align with Kei's real goal—survival. So, to achieve their objective and draw enemy attention, the best substitute would naturally be a fire-style jutsu.
But the size and range of the fire technique had to be carefully considered. Too large, and it would be like a beacon in the night—an obvious target. Too small, and it wouldn't attract enough of the Iwa-nin's attention, making it harder for Kei and his team to move.
Unfortunately, time waits for no one. While Kei was still weighing his options, the Iwa-nin escorting a group of Konoha prisoners stepped right into their ambush zone.
There was no time to hesitate. Kei immediately deactivated his Sharingan and focused.
This squad wasn't particularly large—just a complete four-man unit. They formed a diamond formation around the captured Konoha ninja. Still, the Iwa-nin at the back looked visibly nervous, even though the Konoha prisoners were all in bad shape. They didn't dare get too close.
The one leading, however, seemed formidable. That alone raised a red flag for Kei.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The sound of projectiles slicing through the air rang out the moment the Iwa-nin stepped into the trap. Though sudden, the enemy clearly anticipated it—this was a battlefield, after all, even if it was close to their rear lines.
The front-most Iwa-nin had sharp reflexes and possibly elite training. He calmly pulled out his kunai and deflected all the incoming projectiles.
The thrown weapons weren't just aimed at the Iwa-nin—they also covered the Konoha captives. Kei instantly realized this must have been Hyūga Ayaka acting on her own.
But he didn't blame her. It was a way to test how the Iwa-nin treated their prisoners. Even if it risked injury, it could reveal valuable intel.
If Kei were in her shoes, he might have done the same. It was harsh, but deception and information were just as valuable as direct attacks.
The other three Iwa-nin, clearly unnerved, lost formation even though they weren't injured.
This time, Ayaka and Kenta didn't give Kei a headache like before. They charged the moment the formation scattered. And Kei knew—this was his cue.
Forming hand seals at lightning speed, Kei completed his jutsu in under a second.
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
Although Dragon Fire is only a C-rank technique, maximizing its potential usually requires specific tools—like wires or rods—and a strong chakra supply.
But Kei didn't care about that. Their target was the man standing guard—the one who gave Kei a bad feeling.
Sure enough, the enemy's attention had shifted backward. But his reaction speed was still incredible. In just one breath, he leapt out of the way, dodging Kei's ambush.
Then again, Kei never expected this jutsu to kill him. Fire-style techniques had more strategic than lethal uses. In fact, in the original series, Kei could barely recall anyone actually dying from them in combat. He mostly used them to clear scenes or serve as a diversion.
Drawing his kunai, Kei instantly closed the distance with a Body Flicker. His speed was impressive, but the enemy had been on high alert and quickly responded.
Clang…
The clashing kunai sent a spark flying and echoed with a sharp metallic sound.
So fast!
Kei's heart sank. This Iwa-nin's speed and power were intimidating. If this were a straight-up fight, who knew what would've happened?
But this was the life of a ninja. Ambushes weren't dirty—they were survival. Kei didn't feel guilty in the slightest.
Still, Kei didn't let his guard down. A sneak attack was just the first step. Turning that edge into victory was what mattered now.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their silhouettes flickered between the trees, locked in fierce close combat.
The longer Kei fought, the more frustrated he became. Just how unlucky am I? He had barely stepped into this mission and already run into two jōnin?
Thinking back, maybe his luck had always been terrible.
His first team had been ambushed by one jōnin and three chūnin. If not for his captain's sacrifice and Kei's own cunning, he wouldn't have survived.
After being shuffled through several teams, Kei always survived—but his teams usually didn't.
Sometimes, he felt like a walking calamity. Other times, he fancied himself as "Seven Sauce"—a joke persona who just couldn't die, no matter the odds.
Looking at his current opponent, Kei clearly understood both his strengths and weaknesses. Without his Sharingan, he couldn't take this guy down easily.
But now, Ayaka and Kenta had dealt with their enemies and were heading to assist. Kei's odds were improving.
Still, he knew one thing for sure—those two probably didn't want to help him. If not for the six captured Konoha ninja watching, they would've turned and walked away without hesitation.
He didn't know the exact details of their mission, but no one wants to play the bait. Especially behind enemy lines.