Fugaku's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing into slits. With Konoha's defensive perimeter fortified by the Byakugan, it should have been impossible for the Kirigakure forces to slip past undetected. Yet here they were, right at the camp's doorstep.
None of the Hyuga clan shinobi on duty had sent any warning signals.
"How did Kirigakure manage this?" Fugaku muttered under his breath.
Kato Dan frowned deeply, his gaze shifting towards the dense forest several kilometers away. The signal flare they'd seen moments ago had come from that direction, meaning the Kirigakure had struck there as well.
But how had they launched two coordinated attacks in such a short time?
Something's not right…
"Wind Style shinobi!" Fugaku barked suddenly.
At his command, dozens of Konoha ninjas leapt forward from the camp. They moved in unison, hands flashing through the same sequence of seals, before drawing deep breaths.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
A powerful gust erupted from their mouths, sweeping outward and slicing through the dense mist that had enshrouded the Konoha camp. The suffocating fog began to thin, revealing the silhouettes of an enemy army lurking within.
This wasn't natural mist. It was the Hidden Mist Technique—a signature jutsu of the Kirigakure shinobi.
As the fog cleared, the shapes of their adversaries came into focus.
"Attack!" Fugaku roared, his scarlet Sharingan gleaming, the three tomoe in his eyes spinning menacingly.
Deep in the forest, Obito and Shisui raced toward the area Obito's team had been responsible for. By the time they arrived, dozens of Konoha ninjas had already gathered.
Obito recognized the familiar faces immediately—Asuma Sarutobi, Genma Shiranui, and others stood amidst the tense crowd.
Landing abruptly, Obito's eyes darted around the area, searching frantically. His voice cracked with urgency as he asked, "Where are Kakashi and Rin?"
The question sent a ripple of confusion through the assembled shinobi. Asuma furrowed his brow.
"Aren't they your teammates?" he asked, puzzled.
"We were ambushed by Kirigakure forces, and I chased after them alone," Obito explained quickly, his heart pounding.
"That can't be," Genma Shiranui interjected, shaking his head. "We responded the moment we sensed something was off, and we haven't found any signs of the enemy."
Genma's words sent a chill down Obito's spine. The forest was divided into sectors, each patrolled meticulously. If the entire team had swept the area and found nothing, then Kakashi and Rin had truly vanished without a trace.
"Were Kakashi and Rin… kidnapped?" Shisui muttered, a frown creasing his brow.
The thought struck everyone like a thunderclap. Kakashi was a prodigy, his skills rivaling even seasoned jonin. For him to be captured so quickly—it didn't add up.
"This is impossible!" Obito snapped, his voice rising in disbelief.
"If the enemy could infiltrate this deep without detection, they must possess some technique we haven't encountered," Shisui reasoned calmly. "Otherwise, Kakashi and Rin would have sent up a flare… unless they were subdued before they had the chance."
His logical assessment made several of the shinobi nod reluctantly in agreement.
Obito's face twisted with rage and fear. "No… no way…"
His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, and his eyes were bloodshot with frustration.
"Obito…" Shisui began, stepping forward to offer some comfort, but a sudden, earth-shaking rumble from the direction of the Konoha camp cut him off.
It was the unmistakable sound of large-scale ninjutsu colliding.
"Oh no… there's a battle at the camp!" Asuma exclaimed, his eyes widening.
"Let's move!" Genma Shiranui barked urgently.
The group sprang into action, but Obito remained rooted in place, his body trembling with conflicting emotions. His teammates—his friends—were missing. But the camp needed them.
Shisui glanced at Obito, reading the turmoil in his eyes. He understood all too well—Kakashi and Rin were his friends too.
But standing there wouldn't help anyone.
"If Kakashi and Rin were captured by Kirigakure, they're likely nearby," Shisui reasoned aloud. "With the enemy attacking our camp, they might have taken them with the main force."
His words struck a chord in Obito. The despair in his eyes flickered, replaced by a burning resolve.
"Then let's go," Shisui urged. "We'll rescue them from Kirigakure!"
At those words, Obito's head snapped up. His expression hardened into one of fierce determination.
"Alright!" he growled.
Without another word, Obito surged forward, a blur of black lightning against the forest backdrop. His speed took everyone by surprise—even Shisui, who prided himself on his swiftness.
Sensei was right, Shisui thought, recalling Minato's words about Obito possessing a latent power that would awaken in moments of crisis. When it happens, it will make you take notice.
"Minato-sensei… you were absolutely right," Shisui muttered to himself, then sprinted after Obito, the rest of the squad following closely behind.
At the front of the group, Obito's mind was razor-focused.
Kakashi, Rin… I'm coming for you. I'll save you no matter what!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Outside the Konoha camp, the battle had erupted into chaos. Ninjutsu clashed in brilliant explosions of light and sound, the forest trembling under the force of the attacks.
Clang! Clang!
At the heart of the battlefield, Uchiha Fugaku faced off against Terumi Ryuunosuke, the Kirigakure commander. Their weapons clashed, sparks flying as their chakra-infused blades met.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" Fugaku bellowed, stepping back as he formed seals with practiced precision. A massive sphere of flames roared from his mouth, barreling toward his opponent.
"Lava Release: Dissolving Mist Technique!" Ryuunosuke countered, molding his chakra swiftly. From his lips spewed a viscous, magma-like liquid that expanded into a molten net.
Hisssss!
The molten net collided with Fugaku's fireball, instantly corroding the flames. Within moments, the fireball had been completely consumed, and the burning net pressed forward, aiming for Fugaku.
Swish!
Fugaku leapt backward, landing deftly a safe distance away. The dissolving mist struck the ground where he'd stood, sizzling as it ate through the earth.
Fugaku's sharp eyes scanned the battlefield. Just then, Hyuga Tenki appeared beside him, his face grim.
"What's the situation?" Fugaku asked without turning his head.
Hyuga Tenki's expression was dark. "All the Hyuga clan members stationed nearby have disappeared. No signs of a struggle—nothing."
Fugaku's heart sank. The Hyuga were some of Konoha's best scouts. For them to vanish without a trace was unnerving.
"How did they bypass the Byakugan's sight?" Fugaku whispered, his gaze hardening as it settled back on Terumi Ryuunosuke.
But unbeknownst to Fugaku, the Kirigakure commander was just as baffled. The Third Mizukage had given a direct order to attack, but when Ryuunosuke and his forces arrived at the Konoha perimeter, the Hyuga on duty had already disappeared—vanished without resistance.
They had approached the Konoha camp almost effortlessly.
Ryuunosuke's eyes darted to the battlefield. Despite their surprise attack, Kirigakure's forces were being pushed back. Konoha's elite—including Kato Dan and Senju Nawaki—were formidable opponents.
But retreat wasn't an option. The Third Mizukage's orders were clear: they could not withdraw unless specific conditions were met.
Ryuunosuke's gaze drifted toward the forest several kilometers from the camp, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.
And then he saw it.
In the distance, through the thinning mist, figures emerged from the treeline—rushing towards the battlefield with unrelenting speed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Support me at p@treon.com/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~