Ar The command tent at the forward camp was Fugaku Uchiha, his hands resting calmly against the wood as he studied the battlefield map laid out before them.
Around the table sat several of the Leaf's strongest shinobi assigned to the Mist front.
To Fugaku's right stood Shinosuke Sarutobi, Beside him sat Shinji Uchiha, Across from him leaned Shisui Uchiha, Next to Shisui sat the massive frame of Choza Akimichi.
The war council had only been going for a few minutes. But the tone of the conversation already made one thing clear. This battlefield was nothing like the Sand front.
Fugaku looked toward Shisui.
"Report."
Shisui straightened "The Mist shinobi rarely attack during the day."
He tapped a marked patrol route on the map.
"They prefer night operations." "Small hunter squads." "Usually five or six shinobi at most."
Choza nodded beside him. "They don't go for the camp directly." "They pick off patrols."
He pointed to several red markings scattered through the forest. "Every one of these marks is a patrol squad that got ambushed in the last two months."
Shinji leaned forward slightly. "They avoid full engagements.?"
Shisui nodded. "Exactly." "They're assassins."
Shinosuke spoke next. "So the goal is psychological pressure."
Choza scratched his beard. "And attrition." "Every patrol they kill weakens the perimeter."
Fugaku's eyes moved across the map. "They want us afraid to leave the camp."
Shinji studied the pattern of attacks carefully.
His analytical mind worked quickly. "They rotate their ambush locations."
Shisui smirked slightly. "Glad someone else noticed."
Shinji tapped one of the forest routes. "They strike near blind terrain." "Areas where the trees block vision." "Or where fog builds the thickest."
"They're hunting." "And hunters choose terrain that favors them."
Fugaku gave a faint nod of approval.
Shinosuke leaned forward. "How often do these attacks happen?"
Shisui answered. "Every few nights." "Sometimes every night."
Almost as if the forest itself had heard those words A loud alarm horn suddenly echoed through the camp. Everyone at the table immediately stood.
Outside, shinobi voices began shouting orders.
Choza sighed. "Well."
He cracked his knuckles. "Speak of the devil."
Fugaku's voice remained perfectly calm.
"Enemy attack."
He looked at Shinosuke. "Lead the response squad."
Shinosuke nodded immediately.
"Yes sir."
Then he turned toward the tent entrance. "Shinji. Shisui." Both Uchiha were already moving. "You're with me."
The three of them stepped outside the tent.
Leaf shinobi rushed toward the outer perimeter.
One of the perimeter guards shouted from the watchtower.
"Patrol squad under attack!" "Northwest forest!"
Shinosuke didn't slow down.
He grabbed three shinobi as he ran past the supply tents. "You three. With us." The shinobi immediately fell into formation behind him.
One of them was a tall chunin with pale eyes. A Hyuga clan shinobi. Another carried a short sword at his hip. The third held a long spear strapped across his back. Six shinobi in total.
Shinosuke spoke quickly as they ran through the forest.
"Enemy squad size?"
The Hyuga activated his Byakugan. Veins bulged around his pale eyes as his vision expanded across the battlefield. "Five enemies."
"Two engaged with the patrol."
"Three approaching from the rear."
Shinosuke nodded. "We cut through the center." "Take them before they collapse the patrol."
Branches snapped beneath their sandals as they raced through the fog-covered forest.
Soon the sounds of battle became clear. Then they reached the clearing. Two Leaf patrol shinobi were already down. Three Mist shinobi surrounded the remaining patrol member. The attackers wore dark armor with the symbol of Kirigakure etched faintly into the metal.
Shinosuke gave the signal. "Engage."
The Leaf squad exploded into motion.
Shisui vanished instantly in a blur of speed.
His famous Body Flicker Technique carried him across the clearing faster than the eye could track.
One Mist shinobi barely had time to react before Shisui's kunai slashed across his shoulder.
The man stumbled backward.
Shinji moved just as quickly.
His Sharingan flared to life.
Three tomoe spun inside his crimson eyes as he entered the fight. One of the Mist shinobi lunged toward him with a curved blade. Shinji stepped aside.
The attack passed inches from his chest. Shinji countered immediately. A swift strike to the wrist disarmed the attacker.
Then a brutal elbow to the ribs sent the Mist shinobi crashing into the dirt.
Across the clearing Shisui had already dropped his opponent. The two Uchiha moved through the battlefield like mirrors of each other.
Within seconds two Mist shinobi were down.
The remaining attackers hesitated. Then suddenly
The Hyuga chunin shouted.
"Another enemy!"
A shadow moved through the fog.
Before anyone could react, a dark figure appeared directly beside the Hyuga. Blood sprayed across the fog. The Hyuga chunin collapsed instantly.
Shinji's eyes snapped toward the attacker.
A tall Mist shinobi stood over the fallen Leaf ninja.
His blade still dripping.
The man's chakra felt different from the others.
Across the clearing, Shinji felt his stomach tighten.
His Sharingan spun slowly as he studied the enemy.
Next to him, Shisui Uchiha landed lightly beside Shinji, his own eyes sharp as he assessed the situation.
"New player," Shisui muttered.
The masked shinobi tilted his head slightly.
His voice, when it came, was quiet.
"You're the Uchiha."
"Two of them."
Shinosuke stepped forward behind them, blade already drawn.
"You're outnumbered."
The Mist shinobi didn't move. "You misunderstand." "I already completed my objective."
Shinosuke spoke sharply. "Enough talking." "Capture him."
Shinji and Shisui moved at the exact same moment. The ground exploded beneath their feet as both Uchiha launched forward.
The masked shinobi reacted instantly. His body blurred. He moved backward through the mist in a flash of speed.
Shinji saw the movement before it fully happened. Shinji adjusted mid-stride. His kunai cut through the fog toward the enemy's flank.
At the same time Shisui appeared from the other side in a burst of Body Flicker Technique speed.
The masked shinobi blocked Shinji's strike. But Shisui's kick slammed into his ribs an instant later. The impact sent him sliding several meters through the clearing.
He recovered quickly. Landing in a crouch.
Shinji and Shisui didn't give him time to breathe. Shinji feinted high. Shisui attacked low.
The Mist shinobi blocked both strikes but barely. But fighting two elite Uchiha at once was another matter.
Shinji's fist smashed into the man's shoulder. At the same time Shisui's blade sliced across the enemy's thigh.
The masked shinobi staggered.Then he threw a smoke bomb. The clearing vanished in a thick cloud.
Through the smoke he tracked the enemy's chakra movement.
"Running," he said calmly.
Shisui grinned slightly. "Thought so."
They burst through the smoke together.
But by the time the cloud cleared The Mist shinobi was already gone. Shinji stopped at the edge of the clearing.
Behind them, Shinosuke approached slowly. "Report."
Shisui sighed. "He slipped away."
Shinji looked down at the ground where the Hyuga chunin lay. The man's body was still.
Shinosuke gave the order. "We're done here." He gestured toward the fallen shinobi. "Grab the body." "We're returning to camp."
The squad moved quickly. The surviving patrol shinobi gathered their wounded comrades.
Then the Leaf squad began the march back through the fog-covered forest.
The command tent was quieter now.
Fugaku Uchiha stood waiting when they entered.
His eyes immediately moved to the covered body being carried inside. "Casualty?"
Shinosuke nodded.
"A Hyuga chunin."
Choza cursed quietly under his breath.
Fugaku's expression remained calm.
Shinji stepped forward. "There was a second squad." "But one shinobi stood out."
Shisui crossed his arms. "He killed the Hyuga in one strike."
Shinosuke added, "Highly skilled."
Fugaku studied them carefully. "Did you eliminate him?"
Shinji shook his head.
"He retreated."
Fugaku rolled up the map on the table. "Double the patrol rotations." "Until we understand who that shinobi is."
Shinosuke nodded. "I'll handle it."
The meeting ended soon after.
Sunlight broke through the fog slowly.
The mist still clung to the forest, but the camp had begun to stir as shinobi prepared for another day on the front lines.
Shinji stepped outside his tent just as a messenger sprinted into the camp.
The man looked exhausted. Covered in mud and sweat.
He rushed directly toward the command tent.
Moments later a loud shout echoed across the camp. Choza's voice.
"What?!"
Shinji and Shisui exchanged a glance before heading toward the command tent. Inside they found several jonin gathered around the table. Choza stood in the center holding a message scroll. His eyes were wide.
Shinosuke looked equally shocked.
Fugaku read the report silently.
Then he looked up slowly.
"Repeat that."
The messenger swallowed. "Yes sir."
He took a breath.
Then said clearly:
"Yesterday evening Might Duy engaged the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."
The tent fell completely silent.
The messenger continued. "He opened the Eight Gates." "Only one of the Swordsmen survived."
Shisui blinked. "You're kidding."
Choza shook his head slowly.
"All seven of them"
Shinosuke exhaled quietly.
"That changes things."
Fugaku folded the message scroll. "The Mist just lost their strongest strike force."