On the grassy edge of a forest, a group of Iwa-nin raced past, shattering the eerie silence.
This place was one of the battlefields in the conflict between Konoha and Iwa. Just a few kilometers away, occasional explosions could still be heard.
From time to time, shadows of massive summoning beasts would flash by, accompanied by huge flames, screams, and explosions intermingled.
That was where the main battlefield, including Toshiro's seniors, was located. As for the ones here, they were merely protecting the flanks or guarding the main camp under the protection of their elders.
It wasn't that the elders of the clan were heartless, sending their younger generation to the battlefield too early. As members of the Uchiha clan, such actions were difficult for them to execute.
However, the Konoha command had allocated a defense position too large for the Uchiha clan alone to handle. How could the power of one clan compare to the entire Iwa village?
Even if the elders fought fiercely, the number of Iwa-nin not only didn't decrease but, driven by hatred, more and more ninjas sought revenge for their fallen comrades, increasing day by day.
"Everyone, pay attention. Our ninja has reported that a group of young Uchiha are stationed here. With our strength, we should be able to easily defeat or even eradicate them."
The leader of this hunting mission, a stocky Iwa-nin of short stature, began to motivate his subordinates as they neared their destination.
Typically, a ninja team consists of three members performing missions together. Teams of four are labeled as reinforced squads. This often includes the standard mentor-student formation, though such teams usually don't appear on frontlines.
The battlefield is no place for rookies still playing 'ninja games', even if their leading jonin is an elite meticulously selected by the village. Carrying three burdens into such a brutal setting rarely ends well: the mentor might sacrifice themselves for their disciples' escape, or the disciples might perish, leaving the mentor alone.
In the latter scenario, there's little the village can do, often sending the failed jonin to the frontlines to fend for themselves.
However, his current team comprised elite Iwa-nin, making the hunt for these young ones effortless. Even if they were famed Uchiha, their status as battlefield newbies remained unchanged. Moreover, the thrill of stomping notable clan heirs and hearing their desperate cries before death was something he relished.
Unable to exert such cruelty on his village peers, he had resolved to exact his pent-up frustrations on these targets, relishing the torment he would inflict. Envisioning this, the short jonin in red and yellow standard Iwa attire, with a square face, smiled cruelly—mismatched to his appearance.
"Oh! Kill these brats, avenge our fallen comrades…"
An orderly response echoed along the forest's edge. Some Iwa-nin, mechanically following their peers, had expressionless faces, while fervent ones, eyes bloodshot, resembled beasts more than humans.
"Captain Gangshan, there's something unusual~"
The sensing ninja, acting as the team's eyes, alerted the leader to the anomaly.
"What is it, Qingyan? Is there something off about the forest ahead?"
Stopping, he glanced at the young ninja, full of potential, with questioning eyes.
At thirty, the seasoned jonin had scrutinized the nearby forest since approaching. The unremarkable terrain aside from the grove suggested a perfect hiding spot for the young ninjas to deploy small tricks. He, a 'veteran,' wouldn't overlook this.
Before entering the forest, he rallied his team to psychologically pressure the enemy. Such tactics might coax the young Uchiha into revealing themselves, as now evidenced by Qingyan's detection.
"It seems our targets are cunning! Though they are just kids, they know to ambush from advantageous terrain first."
"Ha! Ha! Ha! The so-called Uchiha bloodline isn't much after all!"
Signaling Qingyan to reveal the enemy positions, he readied his comrades for the attack. The youthful nins were indeed naïve, exposing themselves due to his provocations and presence. Such rookies were his favorite: inexperienced, tense, and transparent in their actions, easy for him to read and conquer.
They also failed to grasp the brutal realities of a ninja's life. Fueled by ideals of comradeship and bonds, they often grew enraged, losing control and making fatal errors.
Seeing them break, cry, or succumb in despair when losing dear ones or facing death—it was such vulnerable kids that brought him the utmost satisfaction.
"Fourteen targets hiding along the forest edge, fifty meters away. Chakra responses indicate only two at special jonin level."
With closed eyes, Qingyan reported while unleashing a barrage of shuriken towards the perceived locations.