Uchiha Yuma's Shadow Clone would serve as insurance, following the others all the time.
The three companions, hearing Yuma's words, all looked extremely serious.
"Is it a very powerful enemy?" Shiranui Genma asked in a deep voice.
"That's right! A very powerful enemy!" Uchiha Yuma responded solemnly.
The situation was more serious than he had initially imagined. His perception range wasn't small, and a few kilometers ahead, he sensed more than a dozen chakra signatures. Among them, seven had a faint trace of "water vapor," a signature unique to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. One of these chakra signatures stood out—a vast reservoir of chakra that was almost inhuman.
Yuma's mind immediately jumped to the wielder of Samehada, the infamous Fuguki Suikazan. But something didn't add up.
In the original story, only the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had ambushed Might Guy and his companions. Why were there so many more chakra signatures this time?
Faced with this unexpected deviation, Yuma trusted his instincts. He ordered his companions to retreat immediately. Alone, he could take on the enemies, but protecting his team while fighting against such overwhelming odds would be impossible.
Having spent considerable time together, Yuma had grown fond of his companions. He wouldn't let anything happen to them. And so, his decision was firm.
Upon hearing Yuma's assessment of the enemy's strength, the three companions didn't argue. They turned around and began their retreat without hesitation. As they left, Might Guy glanced back at Yuma one last time.
"Brother Yuma, you must come back alive," Guy whispered in a deep voice.
Yuma grinned and replied confidently, "Don't worry, I won't die!"
With his Shadow Clone escorting the three, Yuma's eyes glinted with determination.
Buzz—!
In an instant, his scarlet Sharingan flared to life. Yuma's gaze sharpened as he drew his "Immortal" ninja sword.
"This deviation from the original timeline… It must be because of me," he muttered. "So be it. Let me see who's so interested in me."
With a fierce grin, Yuma's dark murderous intent spread around him.
Boom!
The ground beneath his feet shattered as Yuma's figure shot forward like an arrow.
As the leader of this mission, White Zetsu suppressed his usual erratic temperament. He was no ordinary White Zetsu—he was special, personally entrusted by Madara himself to lead this operation. This was his chance to prove his superiority over that "other" guy, Black Zetsu. He wouldn't fail.
"Stay focused," White Zetsu muttered to himself.
"What's that, Lord Zetsu?" the Fuguki Suikazan asked, confused.
"Oh, nothing," White Zetsu quickly recovered. "I was just thinking about how treacherous that Danzo can be. Betraying his own subordinates… What a despicable man."
Hearing this, the Fuguki Suikazan chuckled. "Danzo's reputation as the 'Darkness of the Ninja World' is well-earned. If there's a conspiracy you can't figure out, just blame him, and you'll probably be right."
White Zetsu's eyes widened. "That's it!" he exclaimed. "From now on, I'll attribute any strange events to Danzo."
The Fuguki Suikazan smirked but grew serious as they approached the ambush site. "Enough joking. We're almost there. Let's focus."
White Zetsu's sensory abilities suddenly picked up a powerful chakra signature rapidly approaching their location.
"Everyone, be alert! A strong chakra is heading this way!" he shouted.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen tensed, their chatter dying down. They quickly prepared for battle.
"Is it the target?" one asked.
"Whoever it is, charging toward us is a death sentence," another sneered.
Before they could say more, a massive Fire Style jutsu lit up the horizon. The flames roared toward them, consuming the sky and earth in a wave of heat.
"This… This is Great Fire Destruction!" White Zetsu exclaimed, recognizing the scale of the jutsu.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen and the few Hidden Mist shinobi accompanying them immediately launched a counterattack.
"Water Style: Water Barrier!"
Dozens of Water Barriers merged into a massive torrent, colliding with the inferno in a deafening explosion. Steam rose, blanketing the forest.
As the mist cleared, a lone figure emerged. Standing on a tree branch, sword in hand, Uchiha Yuma glared down at them, his Sharingan spinning menacingly.
"So, this is the welcome party?" he said, his voice dripping with disdain.