Seeing that Fugaku and Hizashi's discussion was going to take a while, Mitsuki quickly found an opening to speak.
"Both of you understand the situation here far better than I do. Even though I'm the advisor, I'm completely confident leaving command in your hands."
The two clan leaders turned toward him. Hizashi asked,
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, I'll leave the camp to you two. I'm heading out for some solo action."
As soon as Mitsuki finished, he stood up to leave. Ever since arriving at the Kirigakure frontlines, he had been itching for a fight.
Seeing him about to depart, Fugaku hurried to stop him.
"That's too dangerous alone. At least let me pick a few skilled Uchiha to guard you."
Fugaku was still hoping Mitsuki would become the Fifth Hokage someday—there was no way he'd let him wander into enemy territory by himself. Hizashi, however, was quietly confused. He'd been thinking for a while that Fugaku was being a little too concerned about Mitsuki. Sure, he was a special advisor personally sent by the Third Hokage, but still...
Mitsuki turned back with a confident smile. "Don't worry. I've already mastered the Flying Thunder God. If I want to leave, no one can stop me. I'm actually more efficient on my own."
With that, he demonstrated it on the spot—disappearing in the blink of an eye. Before entering the camp, he'd already placed a Flying Thunder God seal outside, so returning was easy.
He didn't even bother going through the mission desk; instead, he activated his Six Eyes and began a large-scale scan. Soon enough, he picked up movement—about forty-eight kilometers away, a squad of four Kirigakure shinobi were advancing, headbands gleaming with the Mist insignia.
Without hesitation, Mitsuki tossed a special kunai and instantly warped to its location, blinking rapidly from point to point, closing the distance in seconds. The only reason he could sustain this kind of chakra burn was thanks to Shukaku, who had been generously feeding him chakra.
Otherwise, even with the aid of the Six Eyes, this kind of high-speed travel would've exhausted him in no time.
"Partner, want me to handle this one?" Shukaku's claws flexed eagerly, itching for a fight.
Mitsuki shook his head.
"No need. Their chakra signatures aren't that strong. This won't take long."
Hearing that, Shukaku simply nodded and perched lazily on Mitsuki's shoulder, refining chakra for him.
Deep in the dense forest, a team of four Kirigakure ninja darted forward swiftly. Their mission was to infiltrate the Fire Country's region for acts of sabotage.
"War sabotage" was just a fancy term for murder, arson, and destruction. Raised under the brutal discipline of Kiri's militaristic regime, none of them felt any guilt—only the thrill of devastation.
As they advanced toward their target, a kunai suddenly whistled through the air and embedded itself in the ground before them.A shadow flickered — Mitsuki appeared atop it.
"Sorry, gentlemen. The road ahead is closed."
He didn't waste time talking. Mitsuki drew Kirigiri, his blade gleaming with lightning.
"Chidori Current!"
Electric arcs danced across his body, stimulating his cells with power. In a flash, he slashed toward the lead Mist ninja.
A beautiful arc of lightning tore through the air—but to Mitsuki's surprise, the enemy dodged.
"Oh? Nice reflexes. What's your name?" Mitsuki asked with mild amusement.
The man smirked.
"Heh… Out for a simple mission and I run into the famed Konoha's Gale. Guess my luck's good today. Remember this name — Kaguya Shinosuke. The man who'll kill you."
His gaze locked on Mitsuki, a deranged smile twisting his face. He had reason to be confident—among the current generation of the Kaguya Clan, Shinosuke prided himself as the strongest. He had mastered both his Kekkei Genkai and the clan's secret techniques to perfection.
Mitsuki wasn't surprised. The Kaguya Clan had been known since the Warring States Era for their monstrous taijutsu. Dodging that strike was impressive, but expected. If it had been a Suna ninja, they'd already be dead.
"I heard the Kaguya are arrogant and battle-crazed. What's wrong? Not coming at me?"
Mitsuki's tone was calm, his posture relaxed—completely at odds with the tense Kirigakure squad.
One of the other Mist ninja, visibly unnerved by the suffocating pressure, whispered to his captain,
"C-Captain, maybe we should—"
He never finished. A sharp chirping filled the air.
A flash of lightning—and his head was gone.
Shinosuke reacted instantly, spreading his arms as ten bone bullets shot from his fingertips.
"Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!"
The projectiles whistled toward Mitsuki's vital points. But Shukaku clapped its tiny hands together—sand surged up, forming a shield that blocked every bone bullet.
"Huh? That's… Magnet Release? No—something different" Shinosuke muttered, frowning. For a man known for reckless aggression, his mind was surprisingly sharp.
Mitsuki didn't bother explaining. With a flick, he threw several more Flying Thunder God kunai. Shinosuke unsheathed a bone blade from his shoulder and deflected each one effortlessly, while the remaining Mist ninja dodged aside.
Then, using a strange, dance-like footwork, Shinosuke closed the distance in an instant, his bone sword slashing toward Mitsuki. Mitsuki parried with Mistcutter — lightning crackling across the blades.
Arcs of Chidori crawled along the contact point, trying to reach Shinosuke's body, but bone was a poor conductor. He quickly withdrew his weapon before the lightning could reach him, countering with another attack.
"Dance of the Larch!"
Dozens of bone spikes erupted from his body. Moving like a dancer, Shinosuke turned his entire frame into a weapon. Using his arm bones, he locked Mitsuki's sword in place, twisted his body, and kicked toward Mitsuki's head—his foot sprouting a sharp bone spike.
A crazed grin spread across his face — he could already see his victory.
But just before the strike landed, Mitsuki vanished.
Shinosuke's kick hit nothing but air.
At the same moment, Mitsuki reappeared beside one of his marked kunai.
"Alright, warm-up's over. Let me ask you something—where are the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist? Tell me, and I'll give you a chance to run."
The three surviving Mist ninja spun around, eyes wide, locking onto the man who had disappeared and reappeared like a ghost.
"What the hell is this jutsu…?"
Mitsuki waited a few seconds. No answer.
"So you want to protect your comrades, huh?" He raised his left hand, forming it into a mock pistol aimed their way.
"It seems the so-called cold-blooded assassins of Kirigakure aren't living up to their name. Well then…"
A calm smile spread across his face.
"Since we're all destined to meet on this battlefield anyway, I might as well send you ahead of schedule."