"Are you questioning my orders?!"
Uchiha Setsuna's hand gripped the hilt of his sword. If Umino Yoru gave the wrong answer now, he might very well be executed for insubordination on the spot.
The surrounding Uchiha shinobi closed in, their eyes locked onto Yoru, ready to seize him and his officers at Setsuna's command—effectively taking full control of the entire battalion.
In response, allies like Hagane Kotetsu, Shiranui Genma, and Yamashiro Aoba immediately stepped forward, standing firmly beside Yoru in support of their commander.
Yoru raised a hand, calming his men, then ignored Setsuna's glare and walked toward the scorching-hot stone walls. With swift hand seals, he unleashed a jutsu.
"Water Release: Water Gun Technique!"
A thin stream of water shot from his mouth, splashing against the heated rock.
CRACK—BOOM!
The rapid cooling caused the stone to fracture violently, and a massive chunk of the cliffside crumbled away.
The demonstration spoke louder than words.
Every shinobi present froze, realizing the danger—had they followed Setsuna's plan, the entire mountain pass could have collapsed, burying them alive. Only elite jōnin with Shunshin might have escaped.
Grateful (and slightly awed) glances turned toward Yoru—even from the Uchiha.
This was the man known as Konoha's Iron Wall, the one who had annihilated three hundred Sand puppeteers single-handedly. Respect for him deepened instantly.
"Hmph!" Setsuna scoffed, too prideful to admit fault. If not for Yoru's reputation, his wounded ego might have driven him to seize command by force.
"Allow me to clear the path. Everyone, wait here."
Yoru summoned two shadow clones, then formed another set of seals.
"Water Release: Hiding in Mist Technique!"
A thick fog billowed from his mouth, spreading across the area. The clones, positioned on opposite sides of the pass, then unleashed:
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Twin gales howled through the canyon, carrying the mist deeper inside.
BOOM—CRACK—RUMBLE!
The temperature plunged, triggering more fractures—but nothing catastrophic. After several more wind blasts, the clones dispersed, leaving the pass cooled enough for shinobi to traverse safely.
"Move out!"
Yoru led the charge, his battalion advancing ahead of the Uchiha.
Not for glory—but because he didn't trust Setsuna's judgment. With his Sonic Radar Technique, he could detect threats early and adjust tactics.
Yet his caution proved futile.
The moment they exited the canyon, Setsuna blazed past them, retaking the lead like a petulant child.
"This isn't a race!" Yoru wanted to yell. Most commanders let allies take risks first—but the Uchiha seemed hellbent on proving their superiority, even at the cost of strategy.
Resigned, Yoru trailed behind, maxing out his radar's range to six kilometers.
Setsuna's plan was bold: a direct strike on the Sand's supply base, "Rapids Fortress", aiming to cut off their logistics and trap them between Konoha's forces.
A solid strategy—if everything went perfectly.
But Yoru knew better.
"Ambush!"
His pulse spiked.
Six kilometers behind them, a massive Sand force was closing in—cutting off their retreat.
He urgently called a halt and rode his summoned desert hawk, Shiro, to catch up with Setsuna's speeding vanguard.
"Elder Setsuna! We're walking into a trap!"
Setsuna signaled a green-haired sensor-nin—one whose abilities had been crucial in bypassing the Sand's earlier defenses.
The man shook his head. "No enemy presence detected."
"My range is two kilometers—beyond even the Hyūga's average," the sensor sneered. "Unless you have proof, you're wasting our time."
Yoru couldn't reveal his radar, but he had another idea.
"Then ride with me. Let's see for ourselves."
He gestured to Shiro, now a ten-meter-wingspan desert hawk thanks to his Gluttony Technique.
Setsuna, arrogant as ever, leapt aboard.
As they soared hundreds of meters up, Yoru formed a sequence of seals.
"Water Release: Telescope Technique!"
Three massive floating mirrors materialized in the sky—