In the plains, a light mist began to spread over the grassland. From a distance, it looked like the common morning fog in a forest. Although the timing was a bit early, it did not attract anyone's attention. After all, it wasn't long until dawn.
Within this thin fog stood a square barrier, enclosing a scene of ruins and debris. The faint moonlight shone quietly, making the place resemble a ghostly domain. Amongst the rubble, beyond the occasional groans of pain from those who couldn't suppress their agony, there was no other noise.
"It's almost time to move to the next phase of the plan!"
Observing the surroundings, Tōshirō gave no further instructions, calmly directing his clan members to proceed according to the original plan.
"Everyone, be careful!"
Reluctantly, at the last moment, he reminded his clan members, feeling slightly uneasy. These people had followed him through numerous battles and survived until today. If possible, he didn't want any of them to get hurt.
"..."
Without more words, everyone, including Shisui, just nodded towards Tōshirō before grouping into teams of three and infiltrating the broken stronghold to carry out the final sweep. They knew this was the most dangerous moment for them.
The ordinary low-level ninjas might not survive their attack, but experienced middle and high-level ninjas, who were caught off-guard by the sudden assault, were hiding underground or behind collapsed buildings, carefully observing the situation. Once they figured things out or regrouped, trouble would follow.
Meanwhile, Tōshirō wasn't idle. He took out a green flute from his waist and began to play slowly. The melodious sound flowed like a maiden's whisper, seeping into the ears of every Iwagakure ninja who heard it. The tune was poignant, filled with sorrow.
A melody under the moonlight started to echo in this battlefield. As the flute played, hidden Iwagakure ninjas uncontrollably began humming, exposing their locations and turning themselves into easy targets for the Uchiha clan members who moved in trios, harvesting the lives of injured Iwagakure ninjas.
"This is bad... it's Genjutsu!"
A ninja wearing a red headband was the first to realize something was wrong. Upon hearing the flute, he felt as though he was floating on a soft cloud, surrounded by an endless sea of clouds. A bright moon cast its cool light on this sea and on him, and the melodious flute made him want to immerse himself in this picturesque scene forever.
"We can't stay passive any longer! If we don't interrupt the Genjutsu user, no one in this outpost will escape!"
Observing his comrades being easily killed by the attackers through a secret technique while hiding underground, he grew anxious. Especially since the pained cries from the earlier injured were becoming fewer and fewer.
[Someone must stand up and interrupt the opponent!]
Gritting his teeth, he decided to test the waters. "Earth Release: Mud Dragon Bomb."
With the formation of a mud dragon head on the ground, it spat large mud bombs infused with chakra, aiming fiercely at Tōshirō. Seeing someone take action, the remaining Iwagakure ninjas, capable of moving, also launched their long-prepared attacks. The stronghold turned lively at once, with various earth-element ninjutsu targeting the Uchiha members harvesting the wounded.
Although they escaped the Genjutsu, they knew only skilled ninjas could manage it. If a Genjutsu expert was left unchecked, their outcome was nearly doomed. Seeing someone take the lead, they joined in, hoping to defeat the opponent or at least save some comrades.
"Is this... an illusion clone?"
As the mud bombs and earth-element attacks hit Tōshirō, nothing changed. His body rippled like a moon reflected on water, then reverted to normal. Even the flute sound remained unchanged, as if nothing had happened. If not for occasionally saving comrades under Genjutsu, he would have doubted it happened.
"What now? Chief Tsuchikage, the Genjutsu is troublesome! If we stay underground we are fine but on the surface, the Genjutsu's power is terrifying!"
A familiar chakra approached, speaking.
"We need to deal with the Genjutsu user, or we'll be suppressed even if we go up!"
"I know! But it was a decoy, the real body is untraceable!"
He couldn't stop the twitching of his eye corner, asking, "What's our situation now, how many are left?"
(The chapter ends.)