The forehead protector of the Hot Water Ninja (Yugakure) bore a triple-wave emblem, resembling the character '川' (kawa).
Upon learning that Yugakure forces were patrolling ahead, Uchiha Setsuna swiftly led his team to encircle them.
The abilities of ninjas from great nations far surpassed those of small-nation shinobi.
As soon as they spotted the targets wearing Yugakure forehead protectors, Uchiha Renzou had yet to pull out his shuriken to unleash a three-strike combo when—
The Grand Elder, Uchiha Setsuna, had already leaped forward.
Renzou could only watch as the elder unsheathed his long blade, flames spiraling along its edge before he dove down.
Like a wildfire spreading across the wasteland, the three Yugakure ninja were felled in an instant, unable to utter a word.
Renzou felt as if he were a low-level player being power-leveled by a maxed-out veteran.
After swiftly eliminating the three, Uchiha Setsuna pressed his blade against a Yugakure ninja throat and asked coldly:
"Who sent you?"
The Yugakure ninja shrank back in fear, hesitating to speak.
Seeing this, Setsuna activated his Sharingan, his icy gaze piercing through.
Moments later, he deactivated his Sharingan and swiftly ended the shinobi's life.
Renzou, observing from the side, noticed the elder's expression shift suddenly.
Turning to his subordinates, Setsuna issued an urgent command:
"Move out immediately! We cross the border tonight!"
"Once past the checkpoint, don't stop—head straight for the capital of the Land of Hot Water and rendezvous with Fugaku from the Security Division."
"If intercepted, do not engage—retreat at once!"
"Grand Elder, what's happening?"
Uchiha Seichirō swallowed hard, growing anxious at the elder's demeanor.
Setsuna spoke tersely:
"The Two-Tails Jinchūriki has appeared in the Land of Hot Water."
"Their likely target is our clan's garrison in Hell Valley. And ahead, there's a high chance of enemy ambushes."
"The situation is spiraling out of control."
"We must reach the capital, Yūkakure, immediately, locate the contact from the Ninja Cat Clan, and relay this to the Uchiha."
"What?!"
Seichirō's face turned pale with shock.
A Jinchūriki from Kumogakure was a living weapon of war.
If the Two-Tails reached Hell Valley, where no elite Uchiha currently stood guard, it would spell utter devastation for their stationed kin.
The Third Great Ninja War hadn't even begun in earnest, and yet Kumo was already deploying Jinchūriki in small-nation skirmishes?
Renzou, listening from the side, had a gleam in his eye.
That was the Two-Tails Jinchūriki.
No matter how skilled one was with shuriken, a single swipe from them could turn you into a smear on the ground.
After briefly sparring with Seichirō, Renzou had realized—
At an unreal level of shuriken mastery, even against a two-tomoe Sharingan Chūnin, he had a fair chance of victory.
Which meant—
Despite being a Genin, Renzou effectively wielded Chūnin-level strength.
If his shuriken skills were formally recognized as a specialization, he might even qualify as a Special Jōnin.
Simple missions wouldn't cut it anymore.
Only by undertaking high-risk assignments, facing deadlier foes—
Could he find a glorious exit.
Yet before he had even settled into this war, news of the Two-Tails Jinchūriki had already surfaced.
Renzou's emotions were complex.
Tears welled at the corners of his eyes, threatening to spill down his mouth.
Setsuna glanced around at his subordinates, ready to bolster their morale.
Seichirō, ever the cautious and fearful type, looked utterly terrified, his eyes darting about like a startled turtle.
Setsuna understood.
After all, facing an enemy of this caliber bordered on an S-rank mission.
It was natural to be afraid.
Then his gaze fell upon Renzou—
And his eye twitched.
What the hell was wrong with this kid?!
That eager gleam, the tears of excitement, the hyperactive grin—
Renzou was whispering under his breath, over and over—
"Tatakae… Tatakae… Tatakae…" (Fight! Fight! Fight!)
He might as well have carved 'I WANT TO BATTLE' onto his forehead.
Setsuna nearly jumped in fright.
Shaking his head, he swallowed down his planned speech.
Instead, he drew his blade and pointed into the pitch-black night—
"Move out!"
Into the Darkness, Moving Forward
The mountains lay sprawled like sleeping dragons beneath the moonless sky, eerie in their silence.
Thanks to Setsuna's swift elimination of the Yugakure scouts, the Uchiha squad managed to cross the border unscathed.
Meanwhile—
In the veil of night, shadows streaked past.
The clouds parted slightly, allowing pale moonlight to illuminate the valley.
Kumogakure's Jōnin, Ramii, who had been resting with his blade in his arms, suddenly opened his eyes.
He frowned, muttering:
"Something's off. Too quiet."
He turned to his teammate, Moroi, who was keeping watch.
"Moroi, has the Yugakure patrol sent their scheduled report?"
Moroi, polishing his blade, also furrowed his brows.
"No. It's been over thirty minutes."
Ramii thought for a moment before issuing an order:
"Send word to our scouts in the nearby border villages. Have them investigate."
Moroi was about to perform a summoning jutsu when—
A messenger pigeon soared through the moonlight.
He caught it and retrieved a small scroll tied to its leg.
"Ramii-senpai, we just received intel."
"The Uchiha have entered the Land of Hot Water. They've changed course—
Instead of Hell Valley, they're heading toward Yūkakure."
Ramii's expression darkened.
He immediately roused another resting Kumo shinobi, Dodai.
"Something's wrong. We need to pursue them!"
"Uchiha Setsuna might have already caught on to our plan."
Back with the Uchiha Squad
By now, they had crossed the border, passed through three villages, and hadn't stopped once.
Dawn was breaking, the chirping of mountain birds echoing through the valleys.
They had been marching nonstop since yesterday morning.
Renzou, despite his skill, was drenched in sweat, legs trembling from exhaustion.
Just ahead—
An abandoned village. A chance to rest.
Seichirō immediately collapsed, unable to take another step.
Setsuna frowned but relented, ordering a short break.
He had Seichirō clear the area, while he set up wires, explosive tags, and bells around the perimeter.
Renzou, barely able to stand, still tried to help—
Only for Setsuna to smack him across the back of the head, knocking him out.
After summoning a ninja crow as lookout, Setsuna exhaled and warned:
"We still have half a day's journey left. Rest for two hours. Then we move."
With that, he immediately fell into a thunderous sleep.
Seichirō collapsed beside him, snoring like a pig.
For now, they had a moment's peace.
Unaware that danger was closing in fast.