"Why would the Third Mizukage issue an order at this time?"
Terumi Ryuunosuke furrowed his brow, confusion flashing across his face as he carefully unrolled the scroll. His eyes scanned the text, and as the meaning of the message sank in, his expression darkened.
"How could the Third Mizukage, who is far away at the Hidden Mist front line, know such details?" His voice was tinged with disbelief.
The message ordered the Hidden Mist ninja to act in coordination with Sasori of the Red Sand's plan. But this revelation sent a chill down Ryuunosuke's spine—Sasori's plan had been shared with him mere hours ago. How could the Mizukage already know?
His hands trembled slightly as he clenched the scroll. The Third Mizukage's uncanny ability to gather intelligence, even from great distances, was no secret. Yet the speed and precision of this information left Ryuunosuke uneasy.
After a long pause, he steeled himself, his expression hardening. Turning to his subordinates, he barked, "Everyone, prepare your gas masks. When the signal comes, we'll launch an assault on Konoha."
Meanwhile, on the coastline of the Land of Fire, in a quiet corner of Konoha's camp, Uchiha Yoruki sat within his tent. The dim glow of a single lamp illuminated his stoic face as he meticulously cleaned his weapon, the rhythmic movement of the black cloth against steel the only sound breaking the silence.
"What are you doing here?" Yoruki's voice was calm and cold, his gaze never leaving the blade he held.
Behind him, Uchiha Yoru stood, his face betraying a mixture of hesitation and frustration. "During this war, you've fought against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen multiple times. Many of the clan members are in awe of your strength. Your reputation and—"
Yoruki turned, his Sharingan glowing ominously, the three tomoe spinning slowly. "I thought I told you not to bring that up again," he said, his tone devoid of emotion.
Yoru's face turned pale. "I'm your father," he began, his voice rising with indignation.
Before he could say more, Yoruki's weapon was unsheathed and pressed lightly against his neck.
"This is a battlefield," Yoruki said softly, yet with a razor-sharp edge to his words. "If you ever speak of that again, I won't hesitate to act."
As he withdrew his blade, Yoru stood frozen, his face a mix of fury and disbelief. Yoruki, unfazed, exited the tent without a backward glance.
Stepping outside, Yoruki took a deep breath. A breeze swept in from inland, ruffling his dark hair. The coastline was quiet, the lull before the inevitable storm.
As he patrolled the camp, Yoruki noted how the other ninjas regarded him. Their expressions ranged from admiration to wariness—a natural response given his prowess in battle. Yet Yoruki cared little for their opinions. His focus had been singular for over a decade, and nothing else mattered.
"Oh, there you are!"
The cheerful voice of Nawaki Senju interrupted his thoughts. Nawaki approached, his grin wide and his steps light despite the tension in the air.
"Do you need something?" Yoruki asked, his tone flat.
"Can't I just have a chat with an old friend?" Nawaki quipped. "We've known each other long enough—"
"I don't have time for idle chatter," Yoruki said curtly, turning on his heel to leave.
Nawaki chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Don't be so cold!" he called after him.
Before Nawaki could follow, he paused, sniffing the air. His cheerful expression gave way to confusion.
"Something smells… strange," he muttered, glancing around.
Yoruki ignored him, his focus returning to the horizon. Suddenly, a bright flare shot into the sky from the direction of the coastline, bursting into a fiery bloom.
Bang!
Both men turned toward the sound, their expressions immediately sharpening. From their vantage point, they could just make out small black dots moving along the coastline.
"They're here again," Nawaki said grimly, his carefree demeanor replaced by cold determination.
Within seconds, the camp sprang to life. Konoha ninjas poured out of their tents, their movements swift and disciplined. Years of war had honed their instincts, and they fell into formation with practiced ease.
Uchiha Fugaku appeared beside Nawaki and Yoruki, his expression stern as he assessed the situation.
"Move out!" he commanded, his voice carrying authority.
The assembled ninjas surged forward, heading toward the advancing enemy forces. The coastline, devoid of natural barriers, provided a clear path for both sides to engage.
But as the two armies drew closer, something unexpected happened.
A Konoha ninja in the front line suddenly staggered, then collapsed without warning. His comrades, startled, rushed to his aid.
Before they could react, more ninjas began to fall. One after another, they dropped to the ground, their bodies trembling as if paralyzed. Though they were alive, their strength seemed utterly drained.
"What's happening?" Fugaku demanded, his voice laced with urgency.
Even as he spoke, he felt his own limbs growing heavy. A wave of numbness spread through his body, and he struggled to remain standing. Beside him, Yoruki's condition was no better.
"It's poison," Nawaki said, his voice grim but steady. Unlike the others, he seemed relatively unaffected. His lineage as a Senju had gifted him an extraordinary constitution, allowing him to resist the effects.
"Poison? How could Kirigakure poison us without getting past our defenses?" Nara Shikaku asked, his voice weak as he collapsed to the ground.
Nawaki shook his head. "This isn't Kirigakure's doing. They don't have anyone capable of this. Only one person comes to mind—Sasori of the Red Sand."
The mention of Sasori's name sent a ripple of unease through the group.
"He's the only one with the skill to pull this off," Nawaki continued. "My sister anticipated this possibility. That's why she had me bring these."
From a scroll in his ninja tool pouch, Nawaki retrieved several bottles of pills. He swallowed one himself before hurrying to administer them to Fugaku and Yoruki.
"Take these," he urged. "They're special antidotes my sister created."
Though hesitant at first, the poisoned ninjas obeyed, swallowing the pills Nawaki distributed. Slowly, the numbness began to fade, replaced by a renewed sense of strength.
"We don't have much time," Nawaki warned. "Kirigakure's forces are closing in fast!"
Fugaku, now able to stand, nodded. "Distribute the antidote to everyone immediately. We can't afford to falter."
As the ninjas scrambled to recover, Yoruki turned to Nawaki. "You're certain this is Sasori's work?"
Nawaki nodded. "There's no doubt. Minato and my sister were concerned he might target Konoha during the war, but his whereabouts were unknown—until now."
Yoruki's gaze hardened. "Sasori... the rogue Sand ninja whose parents were killed by Minato and Sakumo."
...
==============================================
Support me at [email protected]/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
=============================================