Silently lurking in a tall tree, Uchiha Kei cautiously activated his Sharingan to observe his surroundings.
Hyuga Aya and Imai Kenta were already in position. Neither of them looked in Kei's direction, giving him the courage to use his Sharingan.
As he watched the subtle chakra movements in the forest, Uchiha Kei contemplated their strategy. Although he had made some preparations, the specifics of their execution required careful thought.
Abandoning the use of explosive tags was his idea, as the vibrations caused by them would place them at a significant disadvantage.
Despite the mutual support inherent in their mission, it didn't align with Uchiha Kei's real objective of survival.
To achieve their goal while drawing the enemy's attention, the best substitute was naturally Fire Release.
However, the scale and coverage of the Fire Release had to be carefully considered. Too large, and they would become a beacon in the night, putting them in danger. Too small, and it wouldn't attract enough attention from the Iwa ninjas, hindering their operation.
Unfortunately, time was not on their side. Just as Uchiha Kei was still contemplating, the group of Iwa ninjas escorted a bunch of Konoha prisoners into their ambush zone.
With no more time for further consideration, Uchiha Kei quickly deactivated his Sharingan as the Iwa ninjas stepped into the ambush zone.
There weren't many Iwa ninjas this time, just a complete team of four. They formed a diamond formation around the Konoha prisoners.
It was clear that the Iwa ninjas at the rear were a bit tense. Even though the Konoha prisoners looked miserable, they didn't dare get too close.
The lead Iwa ninja, however, seemed quite formidable, giving Uchiha Kei a sense of caution.
"Whiz! Whiz! Whiz!"
The sound of projectiles breaking through the air rang out as the Iwa ninjas entered the ambush zone. Although the situation happened suddenly, the Iwa ninjas were evidently prepared. After all, this was a battlefield, and even near their rear, it was never truly safe.
The lead Iwa ninja, likely a battle-hardened fighter, remained calm, skillfully deflecting the incoming kunai with his own.
The kunai were not only aimed at the Iwa ninjas but also covered the Konoha prisoners. Uchiha Kei didn't need much thought to realize this was likely Hyuga Aya's initiative.
Uchiha Kei didn't blame her. Such probing attacks could gauge the Iwa ninjas' attitude towards the Konoha prisoners, despite the risk of collateral damage.
If it were up to Uchiha Kei, he might have made the same choice. Although harsh, it could mislead the enemy and gather useful information.
The three tense Iwa ninjas, though uninjured, had their formation thoroughly disrupted.
This time, Hyuga Aya and Imai Kenta didn't cause Uchiha Kei a headache like before. The moment the formation scattered, they rushed out, and Uchiha Kei knew it was time for him to act.
With swift hand signs, Uchiha Kei completed his jutsu in less than a second.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
The Dragon Fire Technique was a C-rank jutsu, but to maximize its power required certain tools—like ropes or wires—and strong chakra.
Uchiha Kei didn't bother with those. Their target was the vigilant lead Iwa ninja, the only one who felt truly dangerous.
As expected, the ninja's attention was briefly diverted, but he quickly evaded Kei's attack with a swift leap.
Uchiha Kei hadn't expected the jutsu to kill the ninja. Fire Release was known for its strategic rather than practical combat applications. In the original story, Kei never saw Fire Release killing enemies in direct combat; it was more about drawing attention.
Drawing his kunai, Uchiha Kei used the Body Flicker Technique to close in. His speed was impressive, but the ever-alert Iwa ninja noticed him.
Clang.
The clash of kunai produced sparks and a crisp metallic sound!
So fast!
Uchiha Kei was startled by the Iwa ninja's speed and strength. If it wasn't an ambush but a frontal fight, who knows how it would end?
However, a ninja without stealth isn't really a ninja. Uchiha Kei felt no guilt.
He remained cautious. An ambush only provided the initial advantage; maximizing it was crucial.
Clang, clang, clang.
Instantly, the two figures clashed fiercely in the forest!
The more Uchiha Kei fought, the more frustrated he became. How could he be so unlucky? Encountering two Jonin in such a short time!
Reflecting on his past, Kei realized his luck had never been great. His first team was ambushed by a Jonin and three Chunin. If not for his first captain's sacrifice and Kei's own cunning, he wouldn't have survived.
After several team changes, Kei always survived, but his teams rarely did.
Sometimes, Kei felt like a calamity star, but he also believed he was a survivor—after all, he always managed to escape.
Facing his current opponent, Uchiha Kei knew his strengths and weaknesses. Without activating his Sharingan, he wasn't confident of defeating this ninja.
However, with Hyuga Aya and Imai Kenta finishing their enemies and heading to support him, Kei knew his chances had improved.
But Kei was also aware that these two probably didn't want to support him. If not for the six Konoha prisoners watching, they might have just walked away.
While Kei didn't know the details of their cover mission, no one would willingly be bait, especially behind enemy lines.
(End of Chapter)