Chapter 223

Ishii, an unassuming man of average build and plain features, was the first to emerge from his sleeping bag.

Noticing Ryofui's slightly panicked demeanor as he hurried to wake the others, Ishii maintained a calm tone as he inquired, "Ryofui, what's going on?"

"Ishii-senpai..." Ryofui began, his voice steadying as he explained, "Captain Shisui instructed us to stay alert and went to check the surroundings. But just now, at six o'clock, three red flares were launched about three kilometers away!"

Seeing Ishii's composed expression helped Ryofui regain his composure. He gestured in the direction of the flares to emphasize his point.

"Are you certain they were three... red flares?"

At this confirmation, Ishii's previously calm face darkened, his expression grim and foreboding, like ink staining the deep night.

Unsatisfied with Ryofui's report alone, Ishii turned his gaze toward a long-haired young man in the team, seeking further verification.

"Ryouta, can you see anything?"

The young man named Ryouta had a conventional appearance, with long hair and a somewhat old-fashioned demeanor. However, his striking, pure-white eyes set him apart—a hallmark of the Hyuga clan.

"This distance… I'll give it a try," he replied.

According to Ryofui, the flares had been launched from three kilometers away, a range that pushed the limits of Ryouta's Byakugan detection. Yet, given the urgency signaled by three red flares from Shisui, he knew he had to make the attempt, even if it yielded little.

"Byakugan!"

As Ryouta began forming hand seals, the Konoha ninjas surrounding him fell silent, their breathing stilled as they watched intently.

"There's a significant chakra presence in that direction…" Ryouta reported, his voice measured as his eyes focused. "The captain is engaged in combat... There are more than thirty enemies…"

"How strong are they?" someone asked urgently.

As if the initial report wasn't sufficient, Ishii pressed Ryouta further, his tone firm and his gaze unrelenting.

"Can you identify who they are?"

"Let me try!" Ryouta responded resolutely.

Under the weight of Ishii's expectant eyes and the tense gazes of his companions, Ryouta gritted his teeth and channeled even more chakra into his Byakugan.

The veins around his eyes, already prominent, bulged further under the strain, pulsating as though they might burst at any moment.

"The enemy's chakra presence is overwhelming…" Ryouta finally said, his voice tight with concentration. "They're all highly skilled—at minimum, they're at the level of special jōnin."

He paused, straining harder, his eyes wide to the brink of popping from their sockets. "Among them, there's a woman… Her chakra is on par with Captain Shisui's."

At last, Ryouta managed to discern the specifics of the distant battlefield, his strained features reflecting the intensity of his effort.

Even a single glance had nearly overwhelmed Ryouta, pushing his Byakugan to its limits. The strength of these enemies far exceeded his expectations, and the strain left him struggling to maintain his composure.

"Hngh…"

Whether from exerting too much chakra or from sheer shock at what he'd seen, Ryouta's chakra flow faltered, forcing him out of the Byakugan state.

"The enemy's identity… they're Mist Ninjas!" he managed to say, his voice strained but resolute.

Despite the setback, Ryouta's intense focus had paid off. By pushing his bloodline limit to its utmost, he'd caught a clear glimpse of the forehead protectors worn by their foes.

"Mist Ninjas…"

At Ryouta's words, Ishii's expression darkened. He turned, glancing toward the Mist Ninjas in the distance, who had likely noticed the commotion. A flicker of regret and bitterness crossed his eyes as he made his decision.

"Everyone… retreat immediately!"

Now was not the time for regret. Ishii fully understood the significance of Shisui firing three red flares. Without hesitation, he issued a decisive command.

"Forget about the Kiri negotiation team!"

Based on the prearranged alarm protocol between Shisui and the group, three red flares meant the mission was compromised beyond recovery, and everyone was to scatter and retreat immediately.

The Kiri negotiation team appeared normal for now, but Shisui's distress signal, combined with the presence of a large number of enemy attackers, made the situation unmistakably clear.

—

"Are you trying to warn your comrades to flee?"

Watching Shisui discard the flare gun, Mei's expression remained composed. She didn't seem concerned. Their mission target was Uchiha Shisui himself; as for the Konoha ninjas accompanying him, they were of little consequence.

Still, she mused, those ordinary Konoha ninjas could serve as useful bargaining chips if necessary.

"Bitao, take a pair of elite soldiers, link up with Whitebait, and hunt down those Konoha ninjas!"

Mei's sharp gaze remained fixed on the battlefield. Knowing Shisui's concern for his companions, she planned to exploit the distraction to separate him from Mangetsu.

"Yes, ma'am!"

A petite woman with emerald-green hair responded without hesitation. Accompanied by two Kiri-nin, she quickly turned and set off in the direction of the negotiation team.

"Ao… still no findings?" Mei Terumi asked tersely, her tone reflecting growing frustration.

"My apologies," Ao replied with a bow, his voice tight. "I haven't detected anything unusual."

"Mangetsu…" Mei muttered, her expression souring as she observed the battlefield. "That idiot fell into the genjutsu so easily!"

At the center of the battlefield, the man wielding the twin blades, Hirama, was ruthlessly tearing through the Kizuna clan members, reducing them to scattered pools of water. Mei Terumi watched in seething frustration, her teeth clenched so tightly it felt as if they might crack.

This bloodthirsty fool had been the first to charge headlong into the fray, attacking recklessly. His opening move had brutally crushed a member of the Yuki clan into a pulp. Seizing the chaos, he unleashed his destructive force, even striking down unprepared Kiri Ninjas in his path.

The cost had been devastating: two dead and three severely injured.

If not for Mei's quick thinking—ordering the Hozuki clan to engage him with their water transformation technique—the casualties would undoubtedly have been much worse.

What made the situation even more dire was Shisui's proximity to Mangetsu. Anyone attempting to break the illusion affecting Mangetsu was swiftly eliminated by Shisui's uncanny body-flicker technique.

The battlefield had become a deadly stalemate. Mangetsu, using his water transformation ability and the twin blades in his hands, was relentlessly cutting down everyone in his path. Meanwhile, Uchiha Shisui lingered just behind him, waiting for the perfect moment to strike with his swift body-flicker attacks, systematically dismantling the Kiri Ninja forces.

"I'll create an opening for you," Terumi Mei said coldly, her tone sharp as she fixed her gaze on Ao. "Can you remove the illusion on Mangetsu?"

Her eyes gleamed with an icy chill, her patience clearly wearing thin.

This incompetent fool hadn't even realized that Mangetsu had fallen under an illusion. If he couldn't break it now, what use was he?

"Yes… I will do my best! I won't let you down!"

Ao's voice trembled slightly, his fear evident. He was acutely aware that failing to dispel the illusion would render him useless, and in the Mist Ninja ranks, there was no mercy for those deemed worthless.

"I won't let you succeed!"

Among the dozen or so clones of Shisui encircling Mangetsu, one of them paused, raising his head to observe the Mist Ninja circling nearby.

Bitao, who was advancing toward the camp behind her, noticed the unusual movement. Her frown deepened, and she spoke with a resolute tone.

The surrounding Mist Ninjas weren't blind to this subtle but significant difference in behavior. It was clear they had noticed something was amiss.

However, none of them dared to launch an attack hastily.

They had been lured into similar traps multiple times in earlier skirmishes. The two corpses lying at their feet were grim reminders of their mistakes.

It was only through the intervention and sacrifices of their comrades that the number of fallen hadn't been greater. The two bodies on the ground could have easily been multiplied.

Of course, much of the credit for holding the line belonged to Mangetsu Hozuki. Yet, this didn't earn him admiration from the Mist Ninja—quite the opposite. Many cast unfriendly glances toward the members of the Hozuki clan, frustrated by their leader's reckless actions.

This animosity weighed heavily on the Hozuki clan members, who were tasked with restraining their own prodigy. The pressure was palpable.

"Shisui, if you think you can save your comrades... it's nothing more than a fool's dream!"

A sudden roar, tinged with madness, echoed across the battlefield, causing the nearby Mist Ninja to flinch involuntarily.

--------------------------------

AN: Check out my P@treon For +60 extra chapters.

Thank You For your Support!!

www.p@treon.com/noviceauthor777