The third location where ninjas had gone missing was far from the hot spring inn.
Leaving the victims at the hot spring inn was already an act of mercy on their part.
For the trio, the mission was their top priority.
After leaving the inn, they hurried toward their destination, swiftly navigating through the dense forest. A gust of wind trailed behind them.
Passersby felt something brush past overhead, but when they looked up, there was nothing.
The three were moving at full speed, not daring to waste a single moment. The longer they delayed, the worse the situation would become.
"Yashiro, what do you think the Hidden Mist is up to?"
Despite their rapid pace, conversation flowed easily among them. Uchiha Mui couldn't comprehend the purpose behind the Mist ninjas' actions.
"They left the Hidden Mist Village and headed straight for the hot spring inn. Judging by their actions, they weren't there to relax."
The Land of Hot Water was famous for its hot springs. If their goal had truly been to enjoy the baths, they wouldn't have killed Konoha ninjas. Moreover, they could have simply left afterward, yet they returned to eliminate witnesses when they realized they were being pursued.
The key point was—witnesses were useless to ninjas.
It was nothing short of brutality.
After a moment of contemplation, Yashiro replied, "The Hidden Mist Village is a place of oppression. I don't know what the Third Mizukage was thinking, but in that village, the weak are meant to die, and the strong can take everything."
"That's what makes the Hidden Mist different from us."
If war was a time of widespread death, then the Hidden Mist Village was perpetually at war. Even their genin graduation required a bloody massacre.
Their ninja rankings weren't based on comprehensive skills—only pure strength.
It was a paradise for the strong and a hell for the weak.
This was the information they had extracted from the minds of the Mist ninjas they'd killed.
Yet, such a village had produced many powerful individuals.
Those who survived its crucible were far from benevolent.
"So the Hidden Mist is just an evil organization?"
Uchiha Mui felt he had stumbled upon the truth. After all, only criminals would act this way.
"Perhaps."
Yashiro shook his head. He didn't know how to define the Hidden Mist, but such a village was far more dangerous than others.
If not for the Uchiha clan holding the line here, Konoha would have lost its foothold in the Land of Hot Water long ago.
"What matters is defending this place. Otherwise, it'll become a stain on the Uchiha's reputation."
The Hidden Hot Water Village hadn't been conquered by them but by a team led by the White Fang. Back then, the Hot Water ninjas had referred to him as the "White Fang."
Yashiro wasn't sure how that name had originated.
He secretly wished for a title of his own—like "The Squinter."
The trio fell into silence as they pressed forward.
Trees blurred past them until their destination came into view: a deep gorge.
As they scouted the area, Yashiro suddenly spoke up.
"There are traces of ninjutsu here."
The other two turned to him, their Sharingan active, yet they hadn't noticed anything amiss.
Yashiro had detected it far quicker.
He rubbed his fingers together, feeling a faint dampness.
"Likely the Hidden Mist Technique."
Creating dense fog was a specialty of Mist ninjas.
This reminded Yashiro of a certain unit from the Hidden Mist—the Assassination Squad.
The Hidden Mist Technique was one of their foundational jutsu.
A squad formed to eliminate enemy leaders, they possessed terrifying assassination skills.
A sense of unease crept over Yashiro.
"Yashiro, your visual prowess surpasses ours?"
Uchiha Mui couldn't hide his curiosity.
All three of them had the three-tomoe Sharingan, so how had Yashiro noticed the traces so easily?
"I'm a few years older than you," Yashiro replied with a chuckle. "Besides, I've been training in the Basic Internal Energy Technique. It enhances my visual perception, which in turn strengthens the Sharingan."
"Such a thing is possible?"
Fugaku was astonished.
He had underestimated the ninjutsu created by Uchiha Kin.
The Six Styles taijutsu was already impressive, but the Basic Internal Energy Technique could even amplify the Sharingan?
He had never considered that.
"I have a copy of it. If you're interested, I doubt Kin would object."
Yashiro brought it up casually, hoping to ease the tension between Fugaku and Uchiha Kin.
Their relationship was beyond strained—it was bordering on lethal.
Even without Hokaku's influence, Kin had little patience for Fugaku.
"Then thank Kin for us."
Uchiha Mui stepped in, answering on Fugaku's behalf.
Regardless of the clan heir's feelings, it was unwise to reject something that could enhance their strength.
Fugaku remained silent, tacitly agreeing.
By now, they had thoroughly searched the area but found few useful clues.
"They passed through this gorge. Does anyone know where it leads?"
Fugaku gazed toward the other end of the canyon.
The only exits were the paths ahead and behind.
"If we continue this way, we'll reach the sea," Yashiro said, frowning. "Beyond that lies the Land of Lightning."
The three exchanged glances before pressing forward.
But the moment they stepped out of the gorge—
"Something's wrong!" Yashiro shouted.
They leaped back just as the ground beneath them collapsed with a thunderous boom.
Figures emerged from the canyon walls, and a thick mist began to spread.
Ninjas with Hidden Rain forehead protectors blocked their escape routes.
"It's... a trap."
Their expressions darkened.
Yashiro clenched his fists in frustration.
He hadn't noticed it.
"Don't blame yourself, Yashiro," Fugaku said calmly.
Though the world was already at war, the Hidden Mist Village had remained quiet until now.
No one could have anticipated they'd set a trap at this stage.
Their actions were unexpected—or perhaps perfectly logical, but Konoha had failed to recognize it.
War...
The other villages wouldn't just stand by and watch.
"Only three of them?"
The leader of the enemy group frowned, clearly dissatisfied.
"We'll have to keep fishing," said the woman beside him, licking her lips.
"If we delay any longer, Konoha will catch on."
The Hidden Mist intended to join the war, and weakening Konoha's forces here was their first step.
So far, they'd only caught five squads, including this one.
"Tch, these aren't ordinary Konoha ninjas," sneered a short, white-haired elder with a cruel grin.
"They're elite Uchiha."
Three pairs of crimson eyes locked onto them.
"Fight your way out!"
The trio unsheathed their blades in unison.
The Uchiha's swordsmanship was renowned for a reason.
"Kill them!"
The leader's command echoed as the mist swallowed the three whole.
...
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(End of Chapter)