Since they had the assistance of Uzumaki Yusuke, Konoha's special team did not stay long and immediately took Kushina and began evacuating toward the designated location.
Ahead, the sea glimmered silver under the moonlight, while behind them the battlefield was lit by bursts of violent detonations. The bombing had continued for over an hour with no signs of stopping.
It mirrored the state of the Whirlpool Country and Konoha perfectly-peace on one side, war on the other. Yamanaka Ao, leading the team, allowed just one trace of pride to show in his expression.
"Such a situation will not happen in Konoha."
Even with that confidence, he kept his guard up. Compared to other coastal routes rigged with explosive tags, this narrow path would've been impossible to find without help. Their scouting work had been meticulous for that reason. Upwind as they were, their detection radius was limited-but it was enough to establish one safe route out of the coastline.
Ten minutes later, Aburame Shishi used his parasitic insects to read chakra signatures and traced out the safe corridor-then sent his insect clone as confirmation. Once it reached the open sea unharmed, he gave Yamanaka Ao the word.
"No problem!"
"Move out."
They filed along the clone's path in silence and finally exhaled when everyone made it to open water.
"Go!"
On Ao's mark, the whole team vanished across the sea's surface.
At that same moment, the Watermelon Mountain Puffer Demon from Hidden Mist arrived at their planned intercept point. Just as they prepared their approach, one sensor ninja caught movement ahead.
"Lord Pufferfish-figures coming in fast from Whirlpool's direction."
"Hm?"
Puffer Demon didn't believe it could be Konoha's doing. With both villages locked in unspoken non-aggression, there was no reason for Konoha's shinobi to flee now-unless they were deserters or messengers.
One of his subordinates spoke up.
"Could be survivors. Or reinforcements looking to reach Konoha."
"What are we waiting for?"
Puffer Demon grinned as he pulled his blade forward. "Regardless-they're from Whirlpool. That means they die."
Without hesitation, his forces mirrored his bloodlust.
―――――
Konoha's elite team spotted them too-and immediately realized their options were few.
Retreating was impossible. Even if they turned back to Whirlpool Country, they'd be surrounded within moments. Old man Yusuke wouldn't abandon anyone left behind-and the mines covering the beach would blow them to bits before they made it halfway back anyway.
Detouring wouldn't work either-they'd be chased down before dawn and exposing their mission risked collapse on both ends.
Which only left fighting through-or negotiating.
Yamanaka Ao placed his odds on the Mist fearing retaliation for breaking peace with Konoha. That made them hesitate-and he wanted to be sure Kushina couldn't panic or interfere.
He used genjutsu on her before contact even started.
Both groups reached the meeting point-the Mist slowed only slightly, while Konoha stopped completely on cue.
"Stop!"
Puffer Demon barked sharply-and many of his stunned subordinates looked at him in disbelief. Five enemies vs fifty allies seemed like easy meat-not worth backing down from. They hadn't received any direct explanation about restraint from higher-ups.
"We avoid conflict until Whirlpool is ours."
Following the Mizukage's command weighed heavier than one cheap skirmish-Puffer Demon reined in their instincts by forceful reminder alone. The rest stewed but obeyed for now.
Across from them, Yamanaka Ao could tell they weren't being reckless anymore-and felt confident they'd hesitate longer if pushed right.
He drew breath and stepped forward-
"We are-"
Splash!
Two hands shot from beneath the sea and dragged him under before anyone registered what happened.
"Team leader!"
All four remaining shinobi stiffened-but facing fifty Mist ninja armed and ready made drawing weapons pointless. They hesitated-tension rising by the second.
"What the hell was that?!"
"I don't know!" Puffer Demon snapped. "I didn't say to engage!"
Every Mist ninja froze-in confused silence-until someone shouted again.
"Kill them!"
Kunai and blades filled the air instantly-raining down on Konoha's position from every direction. Aburame Shishi's eyes narrowed-the situation had spiraled hopelessly out of order already.
Puffer Demon cursed under his breath even as he lunged forward to block several stray projectiles himself-but it was too late to undo anything now. The agreement between nations would collapse once news of this spread.
Konoha's squad saw everything in one flash-and reached the only decision that mattered:
Kushina had to reach Konoha alive-no matter what it cost them.
"Suiton: Water Wall Formation!"
Shishi raised the barrier just in time-the wall surged up from below and deflected most incoming steel. Behind it, smoke bombs burst outward in tandem.
Bang!
White smoke blanketed both sides of the sea in seconds-swallowing everyone in blinding mist just thick enough to vanish into. Every member of the Konoha squad disappeared past that wall without hesitation.
"They're hiding in mist? Against us?"
Mist ninja laughed-but only for a moment. They hadn't realized Puffer Demon had gone deadly silent beside them-watching carefully in every direction.
"They're escaping," he whispered with fury beneath his breath. "Fan out! Seal off everything!"
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