Chapter 12: Bad News, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki! The Madman's Night Escape!
The Yugakure headband symbol features three wavy lines resembling flowing water.
After learning that Yu-nin were conducting searches ahead, Setsuna quickly led his team to encircle them.
The abilities of shinobi from major villages naturally far exceeded those from minor ones.
When he located the targets wearing Yu-nin headbands, before Tsukasa could even draw his shuriken for a combination attack, Great Elder Setsuna had already leaped into action.
Tsukasa could only watch as Setsuna drew his long sword, crimson flames swirling around the blade as he descended.
Like wildfire spreading across a grassland, wherever he passed, the three Yu-nin were cut down like wheat before they could utter a word.
This made Tsukasa feel like he was watching a max-level player power-leveling through low-level content.
After dispatching the three operatives, Setsuna placed his blade at one ninja's throat and asked coldly:
"Who sent you?"
The shinobi cowered in fear, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Seeing this, Setsuna activated his Sharingan and fixed the man with an icy glare.
A moment later, he deactivated his dojutsu and ended the ninja's life with a single strike.
Standing nearby, Tsukasa could see the Great Elder's expression suddenly shift. Then Setsuna turned and ordered:
"Move out immediately and cross the border under cover of night!"
"Once you've passed the border checkpoint, don't stop. Head straight for the capital of the Land of Hot Water and wait to rendezvous with Captain Fugaku of the Police Force."
"If intercepted by enemies, don't engage—retreat immediately."
"Great Elder, what happened?" Seiichiro swallowed nervously, growing anxious at the elder's expression.
Setsuna spoke concisely: "The Two-Tails Jinchuriki has appeared in the Land of Hot Water."
"Their target is most likely our clan's garrison at Hell Valley, and there's a high probability of intercepting forces ahead."
"The situation has spiraled out of control."
"We must immediately head to the Hot Water capital, Yugakure Castle, find the Ninja Cat Clan's liaison, and relay this intelligence back to the Uchiha."
"What?!" Seiichiro's face went pale with shock.
Kumogakure's Jinchuriki could be deployed as weapons of war.
If a Jinchuriki reached Hell Valley—where no elite combatants were currently stationed—it would spell catastrophe for their clansmen!
This is only the eve of the Third Great Ninja War, and Kumo is already deploying such devastating weapons on a minor nation's battlefield?
Standing nearby, Tsukasa's eyes gleamed with interest.
That's the Two-Tails Jinchuriki. No matter how advanced your shurikenjutsu becomes, it could crush you with a single blow.
After his brief exchange with Seiichiro, he'd realized that once shurikenjutsu reached such an absurd level of mastery, he had a decent chance of defeating even a chunin with a two-tomoe Sharingan.
This meant Tsukasa, a genin, now possessed chunin-level strength.
If shurikenjutsu could be considered a specialty, he might even qualify as a special jonin.
It's already difficult to commit insurance fraud with ordinary missions. Only by participating in more dangerous operations and fighting stronger enemies can I achieve a dignified exit!
Now, having just arrived on the battlefield and learning there was an ultimate boss ahead—the Two-Tails Jinchuriki—Tsukasa's feelings were indescribable.
Tears of joy nearly spilled from his eyes.
Setsuna glanced around, observing his subordinates' expressions, preparing to offer encouragement.
Seiichiro, that useless dove faction member, looked terrified with evasive eyes like a coward, as if wanting to bury his head in the sand.
Setsuna could understand this—encountering enemies of this caliber elevated the mission to S-rank difficulty. Some fear was normal.
But when Setsuna saw Tsukasa, his eye twitched.
What the hell is wrong with this kid?
Those eager eyes, the moisture at the corners of his mouth, and that excited expression—as if he'd been given performance enhancers.
He kept muttering "Fight! Fight! Fight!" under his breath.
It was as if the words "I WANT TO BATTLE!" were carved into his forehead.
Setsuna's eyebrows immediately jumped. What the hell is this?! This is terrifying!
Setsuna shook his head and swallowed the motivational speech he'd been about to deliver.
With a stern face and cold eyes, he drew his sword and pointed it into the pitch-black darkness ahead:
"Let's move!"
Advancing Through Darkness
In the lightless night, mountains crouched like sleeping dragons in eerie silence.
Because of Setsuna's decisive action, the Yu-nin who had been patrolling and standing guard for the three Kumo operatives were eliminated preemptively, allowing the Uchiha team to cross into the Land of Hot Water without incident.
Meanwhile, the night flew by like a crack of lightning.
Dark clouds covering the full moon broke apart, allowing cold moonlight to scatter and illuminate the valley.
Kumo jonin Rami, who had been dozing with his ninja sword in his arms, suddenly opened his eyes.
He frowned and muttered: "Something's wrong. Too quiet."
He leaned toward his teammate on watch duty and asked: "Moroi, has the regular report from the Yu-nin returned yet?"
Moroi, who was cleaning his ninja sword, also frowned slightly: "No. It's been over half an hour."
Rami's frown deepened. After a moment's consideration, he quickly ordered: "Send messages to our scouts in the border villages on both flanks and ask about the situation."
Moroi was about to perform a summoning jutsu when he suddenly looked up.
A carrier hawk flew overhead in the moonlight. He reached out to catch it, pulling a scroll from its leg.
"Rami-senpai, intelligence has arrived."
"The Uchiha have entered the Land of Hot Water, not far ahead of us. They've changed course—instead of heading to Hell Valley, they're moving toward Yugakure Castle."
Startled, Rami immediately woke Dodai, who was still resting.
"Something's wrong! We need to pursue them!"
"Uchiha Setsuna might already know our plan."
The Uchiha Squad
They had already crossed into the Land of Hot Water and passed through three more villages, not daring to pause.
The moon had set in the west, a faint glow shimmering on the horizon, and the calling cries of birds echoed through the mountains and valleys.
The three had been marching since 8 AM the previous day, and hadn't rested since reaching the border. After crossing into the Land of Hot Water overnight and another night of forced march, they were exhausted.
While Tsukasa had acquired advanced skills and considerable combat ability, his chakra reserves remained at genin level.
Even now, he was drenched in sweat, gasping for air as he leaned on his knees.
Fortunately, there was an abandoned village nearby where they could rest.
Seiichiro declared he could walk no further, and Setsuna frowned slightly before ordering them to rest in place.
He first instructed Seiichiro, who could still move, to clear an area. Then Setsuna strung wire around the village perimeter, hung explosive tags and warning bells, and took on tasks his two subordinates should have handled.
As for Tsukasa, he was too exhausted to move but still forced himself to stand and help.
The Great Elder knocked him unconscious with a firm tap to the back of the head.
Setsuna summoned a ninja crow as a lookout, then exhaled and spoke seriously to Seiichiro:
"It will take another half-day to reach Yugakure Castle. Rest here for two hours, then we move out immediately."
As soon as he finished speaking, Setsuna closed his eyes and began snoring loudly.
Seiichiro could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground, sleeping deeply.
All three finally got a moment's rest.
Little did they know that danger was rapidly approaching from behind.
Next Chapter: Roar! The Battle Begins!
End of Chapter 12
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