Under Umino Yoru's command, his battalion finally shook off the pursuing Sand shinobi, putting several miles between them.
However—
The enemy forces from both flanks had now merged into a single, larger unit.
Then—
"Kreeee!"
A piercing cry echoed across the desert.
Two massive desert hawks soared into view, flanked by a swarm of smaller flying summons.
The Sand's northern ambush force had dispatched their airborne unit to intercept.
"The Sand still has an air division?!"
Yoru's eyes narrowed.
Ever since Hatake Sakumo destroyed the Sand's summoning beast breeding grounds, their aerial forces had been crippled. Most remaining units were deployed to the Land of Rain front. For them to spare even this much for pursuit meant they were confident in their main camp's defenses.
Smaller flying summons were manageable, but large ones? Rare and invaluable.
Across the entire shinobi world, only Konoha and Sunagakure could field them in organized numbers—Konoha through sheer wealth, the Sand through their harsh desert's unique ecosystem.
For the Sand to send two adult desert hawks (each comparable to a jōnin in combat) plus supporting units? They were investing heavily in this chase.
Yoru had no choice but to fall back, rejoining his troops.
Meanwhile, one of his shadow clones finally caught up to the Uchiha vanguard.
"Uchiha! Are you deserting your allies? Send reinforcements for the rear guard!"
The clone blocked their path, even invoking the Third Hokage and the Will of Fire to pressure them.
"Keep moving!"
Uchiha Tekka waved his men onward, coldly opting to sacrifice Yoru's battalion for more escape time.
Beside him, Uchiha Inahoshi unsheathed his sword and slashed at the clone—
—Only for another figure to intercept the strike with a metallic clang!
"Uchiha Shun. You dare betray us?" Inahoshi's voice dripped with menace.
"If we don't cover the rear, they'll be slaughtered!"
Shun—unlike his aloof clansmen—radiated an almost un-Uchiha-like camaraderie, even openly admiring Hiruzen.
"Tch. Die if you want." Inahoshi sheathed his blade.
Seizing the opening, Shun turned to the others. "Who will stand with me?!"
Silence.
Only his two teammates—Yamashiro Midori and Shiranui Makoto—stepped forward.
Yoru's clone smirked inwardly.
He hadn't truly expected the Uchiha to help. His goal was simply to save whoever he could from this doomed retreat.
Among the 200 Uchiha-led troops were many allied clan shinobi, dragged into this mess unwillingly.
Like Yamashiro and Shiranui—minor clans loosely aligned with the Uchiha, similar to the Hatake.
Konoha's clan politics were a tangled web, broadly split into three-and-a-half factions:
The Hokage's faction—Hiruzen's coalition, anchored by the Ino-Shika-Chō and various smaller clans. Powerful but loosely organized. The Uchiha bloc—their staunchest allies since the Warring States era. The Hyūga traditionalists—allied with ancient clans (even some outside Konoha, like the Tsuchigumo).
The "half" faction?
The Senju.
Though diminished, their influence lingered. Many of their former vassals had been absorbed into the Hokage's camp, further tilting the balance against the Uchiha and Hyūga.
But even the Hokage's side wasn't monolithic—just as the Uchiha had their dissenters.
Uchiha Shun was clearly one such dove, and his teammates likely leaned pro-Hokage rather than blind Uchiha loyalty.
"Pity."
The clone sighed. His attempt to save more had failed.
This Uchiha battalion's fate was sealed. Their plan to loop east through the mountains? Impossible. Between the Sand's main force and Danzō's schemes, survival was unlikely.
His Sonic Radar had already detected kikaichū in the area—despite no Aburame being part of this mission.
Danzō's playing a deeper game. This isn't just about using the Uchiha as bait…
He's after their Sharingan.
As the Uchiha vanished into the distance, the clone didn't wait. With Shun's trio, he headed south—setting an ambush ahead of the retreat.
Meanwhile, Yoru's main force diverted south, fully splitting from the Uchiha.
The Sand pursuers divided their forces too—but prioritized chasing the Uchiha, assigning only their air units to harry Yoru's group.
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