Quietly lurking atop a tall tree, Uchiha Kai activated his Sharingan, scanning the surroundings with precise vigilance.
Hyūga Aya and Imai Ken were already in position, their Byakugan and keen senses ensuring that they avoided unnecessary attention. Neither of them glanced in Kai's direction, which emboldened him to fully utilize his Sharingan without fear of exposure.
As he observed the subtle chakra fluctuations within the dense foliage, Kai formulated potential countermeasures. While he had made certain strategic preparations, their execution remained a challenge worth deliberating.
The decision to forgo explosive tags had been his. The concussive force and noise would alert enemy reinforcements, putting their team at a severe disadvantage. Despite the mission's cooperative nature, Kai understood that their true objective wasn't just completing the task—it was survival.
To divert the enemy's attention, Fire Release (Katon) was the most viable alternative. However, the size and intensity of the technique required careful consideration. If the flames burned too brightly, they would expose the team's position in the darkness. But if the flames were too weak, they wouldn't create enough of a distraction to lure the Iwagakure shinobi.
Unfortunately, there was no time for further contemplation. Just as Kai was weighing his options, a squad of Iwa-nin escorted a group of captured Konoha shinobi straight into their ambush zone.
There was no more time to hesitate. Watching the enemy approach, Uchiha Kai deactivated his Sharingan to conserve chakra.
This Iwa-nin squad wasn't particularly large—only a standard four-man unit. They guarded their captives in a diamond formation, ensuring minimal escape opportunities. Yet, something about their movements unsettled Kai. The rear guards seemed tense, hesitant to approach even their battered prisoners. Meanwhile, the leader at the front exuded a different aura—calm, battle-hardened, and dangerous.
"Boo! Hah! Hah!"
The sudden whistle of kunai cutting through the air signaled the start of the ambush. The four Iwa-nin reacted instantly—they had anticipated danger. After all, this was a battlefield, and even within their rear lines, safety was an illusion.
The lead Iwa-nin, likely a seasoned jōnin, remained composed. In a fluid motion, he drew his kunai, deflecting the incoming barrage with practiced ease.
But the projectiles weren't aimed solely at them. The scattered kunai also rained down near the Konoha captives. That must have been Hyūga Aya's call. Uchiha Kai didn't need to ask. It was a calculated move, testing the Iwa-nin's reactions to their prisoners while also sowing momentary confusion.
Kai didn't fault her judgment. In war, a bit of ruthlessness could be a valuable tool. If it were him, he might have done the same. After all, misleading the enemy was just as important as eliminating them.
The three less-experienced Iwa-nin, rattled by the sudden assault, had already lost their formation. That was the opening they needed.
Hyūga Aya and Imai Ken wasted no time. Unlike their last skirmish, this time they charged in immediately. Recognizing his cue, Kai prepared to make his move.
With swift hand seals, he completed his jutsu in under a second.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
Despite being a C-rank jutsu, the Dragon Fire Technique could be devastating when used strategically. Properly executed, it could be amplified by wires or other conductors to maximize its effectiveness. However, Kai wasn't relying on such tricks. His target was clear—the battle-hardened Iwa-nin who stood out among the rest.
As expected, the enemy noticed the attack, but even so, his reaction speed was unnerving. With a swift leap, he evaded the flames entirely, displaying reflexes that confirmed Kai's suspicion—this wasn't an opponent to take lightly.
Of course, Kai never expected a single Fire Release jutsu to take down a skilled shinobi. Fire techniques, while powerful, were more often used for battlefield control rather than outright kills. Even in the original Uchiha clan's combat style, Fire Release was rarely the finishing blow—it was a means to an end, a way to manipulate the battlefield.
Kai didn't waste a second. He lunged forward, kunai in hand, his body flickering with the aid of the Body Flicker Technique. His speed was formidable, but his opponent had been on high alert.
Clang!
Their kunai clashed, sending sparks into the air.
He's fast.
Kai gritted his teeth. The enemy's strength was unsettling. A direct confrontation wouldn't favor him. If he had faced this opponent head-on without a sneak attack, the outcome would be far more uncertain.
But a ninja who doesn't rely on ambush tactics isn't a ninja at all.
Despite gaining the initiative, Kai remained cautious. A sneak attack was only useful if one knew how to fully capitalize on it. He needed to press the advantage.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Steel rang against steel as the two combatants clashed in a flurry of strikes, their silhouettes darting between the trees.
Kai's frustration grew. Why does my luck always run this bad?
It hadn't been long since he left Konoha, and already he found himself facing not just one but two jōnin-level opponents. Then again, his luck had never been great. His first mission squad had been ambushed by a jōnin and three chūnin. If it weren't for his former captain's self-sacrifice and Kai's own ruthlessness, he wouldn't have survived that ordeal.
Every time he joined a new team, they either died or disbanded, yet he always managed to scrape by.
At times, Kai wondered if he was a harbinger of disaster. And yet, despite his grim musings, he also had the eerie resilience of someone too stubborn to die.
With Aya and Ken finishing off their opponents, they now turned their attention to his fight. Kai's odds had just improved.
But he knew one thing for certain: If those Konoha prisoners weren't here, Aya and Ken wouldn't have stayed to help. Their mission required secrecy, and no shinobi wanted to be a sacrificial pawn, especially behind enemy lines.
With that thought in mind, Kai braced himself. The fight was far from over.