The Trap Revealed
Through the thin reflective surface of his mirror scrying technique, Uchiha Setsuna finally noticed the anomaly.
His three-tomoe Sharingan flared to life, sharpening his perception.
"How… is this possible?"
His face paled.
"Look here."
Umino Yoru adjusted the Telescope Technique, shifting its focus.
"We're surrounded!"
Setsuna staggered, nearly falling off his summoned giant hawk.
If the reflection wasn't an illusion, they weren't just cut off from retreat—they were about to be pincered from three directions.
Hundreds of Sand shinobi were converging—at least 700 to 800 in total.
After Umino's dust explosion wiped out 300 puppet troops, Suna had reinforced their numbers, but their entire frontline force in the Land of Rivers barely reached a thousand. This wasn't just a main force—it was their entire military might.
Did Suna not fear a full-scale assault from Konoha's main army while their defenses were stripped bare?
"Who leaked our intel?!"
Setsuna immediately realized: They'd been betrayed.
Otherwise, Suna wouldn't have mobilized everything and set up such a perfect ambush.
How naïve.
Even now, Setsuna still didn't suspect Shimura Danzo's scheme.
Umino didn't need intel analysis to know—Danzo had sold them out.
Their "deep strike" mission was never about disrupting Suna's rear. The real goal? Lure Suna's main force away so Danzo could break through their weakened defenses.
And as for the Uchiha's survival?
Danzo would celebrate if they all died here.
To sell the lie, Danzo had even sacrificed Umino—his own subordinate.
The plan was simple:
Let the Uchiha detachment bait Suna's main army. Danzo's main Konoha force would smash through Suna's unmanned defenses, reclaiming the Land of Rivers—maybe even pushing into the Land of Wind.
In short: The Uchiha weren't raiders. They were disposable bait.
The Escape Plan
"We need to break out before the encirclement tightens!"
Umino urged immediate action.
"Which direction, Yoru?"
Setsuna's tone had shifted—respect, born of desperation. Even the proud Uchiha now deferred to Umino's tactical genius.
Umino analyzed swiftly:
East (Retreat path): Guaranteed ambush. North (Suna HQ): Suicide. West (Deeper into enemy territory): No escape. South: The only viable route—break through, then loop east through the Shinano Forest Mountains back to friendly lines.
"South it is."
But Umino kept his doubts private:
Danzo's "main assault" would likely fail. Suna wouldn't have emptied their defenses without a backup plan. If Suna held their line, the Uchiha would be trapped in the mountains, hunted down.
Worst-case scenario?
Push all the way south to the coast. Hijack a ship and return to Fire Country by sea.
Food wasn't an issue—Umino's infrasound ninjutsu could harvest seafood effortlessly. But weapons and supplies? Their stockpiles wouldn't last a prolonged retreat.
"Danzo… don't screw this up."
If the Konoha main force failed to break through, Suna's hunters would have all the time they needed to exterminate the "bait."
Betrayal Within Betrayal
The Uchiha-led force charged south—Umino's squad following close behind.
Five kilometers in, the first Suna blockers appeared.
The ambush was blown—Suna's net was closing faster.
Uchiha Response:
"Fire Style: Yatagarasu Flame Symphony!" A massive combined fire jutsu ignited the forest, creating a burning barrier to stall pursuers.
The Uchiha raced through the gap—but left Umino's rear guard exposed.
If they rushed blindly, Suna's right flank would butcher the stragglers.
All Setsuna had to do was pause—cover their escape.
He didn't.
The Uchiha never slowed, sacrificing Umino's men to buy themselves time.
"Of course. We're on our own."
Umino had anticipated this.
His Countermove:
Front units pushed forward, breaking free. Rear guard executed a sharp flanking maneuver, hurling explosive tags at the Suna pursuers.
"Don't hoard those tags!Throw them all!This is survival!"
(Many of his men, raised in frugality, needed the reminder.)
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