Just as the Hidden Cloud squad was about to enter the Hidden Flame Village’s territory, a voice suddenly rang out from the surrounding forest.
“Attack!”
The six Uchiha with Three-Tomoe Sharingan hidden in the shadows immediately obeyed the command, emptying every weapon from their ninja pouches.
A barrage of kunai and shuriken rained toward the Hidden Cloud team.
“It’s an ambush!”
The instant Samui’s squad realized they had been trapped, all three entered combat mode.
Each of them used Lightning Release to stimulate their cells, dramatically increasing their speed and reflexes.
Among all the infiltrating teams, the Hidden Cloud shinobi were undoubtedly the most troublesome.
Thanks to the Hidden Cloud’s signature Lightning Release Body Flicker techniques, the Uchiha’s thrown weapons posed little real threat.
Realizing that ordinary kunai were ineffective, the Uchiha guards simultaneously activated their Three-Tomoe Sharingan and charged forward to engage the three Cloud shinobi in close combat.
Meanwhile…
Elsewhere on the battlefield, the Uchiha Guard Force had already subdued the Hidden Stone and Hidden Sand squads with ease.
“Everyone from the Uchiha Clan, our Hidden Sand Village has no hostile intentions toward you.
We only came here to—”
“Quiet.”
Uchiha Ren interrupted coldly as he escorted the captives away.
The Hidden Flame Village had anticipated that the other hidden villages would send spies.
Before leaving, Seigen had privately instructed Itachi that if enemy scouts appeared, they should avoid completely destroying relations whenever possible.
Disable them.
Capture them.
But don’t kill them.
After all, future cooperation with the other villages remained a possibility.
If they slaughtered every reconnaissance team…
What if the other villages flew into a rage and declared war outright?
Although the Hidden Flame Village was already quite powerful…
It still needed more time to develop.
Besides…
Capturing enemy shinobi meant they could later demand generous compensation in exchange for their release.
“Captain Baki…
I don’t think they’re planning to kill us.”
One of the Sand shinobi quietly whispered beside Baki.
“I know.”
“Let’s wait and see.”
He had expected his squad to be wiped out by the Uchiha.
Instead…
They had simply been taken prisoner.
What exactly is the Hidden Flame Village trying to do?
“Kitsuchi-sama…
what should we do?”
The captured Hidden Stone team also communicated quietly among themselves.
“It doesn’t seem like they intend to kill us.”
“If they take us into the village, we might even obtain more intelligence.”
Meanwhile…
Samui’s Hidden Cloud squad was still locked in fierce combat against the six Uchiha guards.
“Captain Samui!
We can’t keep this up!”
“We need another plan!”
“Prepare to break through!”
“We’ll rush straight into their village and create chaos!”
The Uchiha’s abilities were simply too troublesome.
Their taijutsu matched the Hidden Cloud’s own.
On top of that…
Their shuriken techniques and relentless Fire Release made every exchange exhausting.
The moment Samui saw six Three-Tomoe Sharingan users, she understood that the Hidden Flame Village had deployed its elite forces.
She had also noticed the sounds of fighting from farther behind.
The other villages had likely already encountered the Uchiha as well.
Which meant…
If all of the Uchiha elites had been dispatched here…
The village itself had to be lightly defended.
That was why she had decided to force her way through.
” Itachi.”
“The Hidden Cloud squad has broken through and is heading toward the village.”
Itachi nodded calmly.
“Don’t worry about them.”
“My father will deal with it.”
Gathering the rest of the guards, Itachi ordered everyone to escort the prisoners back toward the village.
“Hahaha!”
“Captain Samui, we actually made it through!”
Unlike her teammates, Samui wasn’t celebrating.
The Uchiha they had just fought…
Hadn’t pursued them at all.
Instead…
They had simply stood there, silently watching as the Hidden Cloud squad entered the village.
The strange behavior immediately put Samui on guard.
Soon, the three of them caught sight of the Hidden Flame Village’s buildings.
Standing alone in the middle of the road…
Was a middle-aged man.
It looked as though he had been waiting for them all along.
“It’s Wicked Eye Fugaku Uchiha!”
“Charge!”
“He’s alone!
He can’t stop all three of us!”
Faced with Fugaku, Samui could only grit her teeth and rush forward.
“You will not destroy our village.”
Unlike before…
Fugaku no longer intended to conceal his true strength.
If the Hidden Flame Village wanted to establish itself…
It needed overwhelming military power to intimidate the other hidden villages.
Seigen’s strength alone…
Wasn’t enough.
“I’ll show you…”
“…the true power of the Uchiha!”
Fugaku activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Orange chakra instantly erupted around his body.
Without the slightest hesitation…
He unleashed the Mangekyō Sharingan’s supreme technique—
Susanoo.
“W-What is that?!”
“That’s impossible!”
“It…
it has to be a genjutsu!”
The three Cloud shinobi stared in disbelief at the gigantic orange Susanoo surrounding Fugaku.
With a single motion, Fugaku controlled the Susanoo’s enormous arms and smashed them downward.
The Hidden Cloud trio were instantly knocked unconscious beneath the overwhelming blow.
“Take them away.”
After the battle ended, Fugaku called over the nearby patrol squad, who had been watching the fight unfold.
Then he calmly turned and walked away.
Behind him…
The gathered Uchiha could barely contain their excitement.
“He’s incredible…”
“I never knew Fugaku was this powerful.”
“Yeah…”
“He possesses the same kind of power as Flame Shadow…”
“Enough talking.”
“Hurry and bring the prisoners back.”
” Itachi should be returning soon.”