Chapter 76: All Uchiha Deserve to Die

"Why is it taking so long?", Sitting alone in the cave, Yūhi Kurenai no longer had the leisure to break branches and tend to the bonfire.

The rain outside had gradually stopped.

Hinata might be taking a bath, but Uchiha Kage, who had gone out earlier, showed no signs of returning.

"Shino, can your insects scout the surroundings now?"

The rain had stopped, and although the sky outside was still pitch black, it had become slightly brighter compared to before.

In such conditions, Shino's insects should be able to perform well.

"Yes," Without needing Kurenai to say more, Shino had already sent out his flying insects after the rain stopped.

But—

"Teacher, outside..."

Buzz... Another small insect flew into the cave from outside and landed on Shino's finger.

"Teacher, it's bad! There are unidentified ninjas approaching us!"

"What?"

'Of all times...'

'Could it be the pursuit squad from Kirigakure?'

Kurenai walked to the entrance of the cave and looked up at the sky.

The rain had stopped, and the moon, shrouded by dark clouds, gradually emerged from the mist.

But the clearer it became outside, the more anxious Kurenai felt.

"Which direction are Hinata and Kage in?"

"Well... I didn't send any insects to follow them earlier. It will take some time to locate them."

Detecting the sudden approach of two unknown ninjas was already the limit; Shino, who had been traveling all day, couldn't spare any more energy.

"I'll go outside to notify Kage and Hinata."

'Are there any suspected ninja approaching?'

'Could Hinata and Kage already be in danger?'

Thinking this, Kurenai couldn't just sit and wait.

"Shino, you stay hidden here. If the enemies come, use the traps to deal with them, but no matter what, remember to hide yourself!"

As for Shino, as long as he focused on hiding and utilized the traps set up near the cave... he should be fine.

"Yes!"

Putting away the flying insects, Shino and Kurenai extinguished the bonfire in the cave and then disappeared into the night.

———

"This heavy rain will surely make them let their guard down."

Unaware that their movements had already been detected by the Konoha ninjas, the sibling duo was quietly waiting for the rain to stop in a mountain hollow.

"When do we move, sister?", The male ninja, carrying a long sword, couldn't help but yawn.

They had been waiting in place for a long time.

"Now, when people are most tired, that's the time."

Flutter!

A lark flapped its wings and flew through the woods, then swooped down to land on the female ninja's outstretched arm.

Through the information relayed by the ninja bird, the female ninja had grasped the movements of the Konoha ninjas.

"Good!"

The male ninja, who had been impatient for a while, charged ahead.

"They must have set traps around, so..."

"Leave it to me, sister!"

The male ninja drew the ninja sword from his back.

"Traps won't work on me. I'll show them what passion is!"

"Don't be too reckless; they have a jonin too."

On Konoha's side, there was one jonin and three genin, while the siblings were a jonin and a chunin.

The genin's combat power could be ignored.

So no matter what, with two against one, they had a significant advantage. As long as nothing unexpected happened, they could quickly take them down.

"Wait, that jonin seems to have left the cave alone. Perfect, you deal with the genin, and I'll handle her!"

Under the cover of night, the female ninja, with her keen eyesight, quickly noticed the Konoha ninja running into the woods from the direction of the cave.

'A Konoha jonin skilled in genjutsu?'

'You're out of luck meeting me.'

The female ninja smirked coldly and then followed her into the woods.

———

"Judging from the traces left, Hinata must have gone that way..."

'It seems that after today, I'll have to teach Hinata how to cover her tracks properly.'

As a genin, Kage's footprints and traces were well concealed.

Even with the rain washing away the evidence, Kurenai, with her jonin-level perception, couldn't detect any trace of Uchiha Kage's departure.

'Except for possibly lacking some experience, Kage already has the qualities of a jonin, doesn't he?'

"It's just like Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha... Itachi back in the day."

Shaking her head, Kurenai put aside her emotions and looked in the direction where Hinata might be.

'The likelihood of Kage being in danger isn't high; I should head to Hinata's side...'

"Huh? This commotion? Is someone fighting in the woods?"

'It's Kage!'

Kurenai quickly sensed Uchiha Kage's chakra, as well as another ninja...

'So strong, this level of chakra.'

Without choosing Hinata, Kurenai rushed without hesitation towards the woods where Uchiha Kage presumably was.

But—

"Where... did they suddenly disappear to?"

Looking at the various chaotic traces in the woods and on the grass, Kurenai could determine that a fierce battle had taken place here not long ago.

'But how...'

'I could hear the sounds just moments ago, how could they disappear so quickly?'

'Could the battle already be over?'

'Kage...'

'It can't be, did Kage lose?'

'But if Kage didn't lose, how could I not find him here...'

Thinking this, Kurenai's heart was in turmoil.

'Who could the enemy be? Even Kage isn't a match?'

'What exactly is this mission...'

"Is this the quality of a Konoha jonin?"

Just as Kurenai was desperately searching for Uchiha Kage's traces in the woods, a cold and disdainful female voice suddenly rang out behind her.

And accompanying this voice was the buzzing thrust of a short blade.

'Lightning Release: Flying Blade Sparrow Dash!'

The short sword, entwined with lightning and Lightning Release chakra, thrust towards Kurenai's lower back like a thunderbolt under the moonlight.

"You are...", Relying on her body's instinctive reaction, Kurenai barely managed to twist her body to avoid her vital spot.

But she was still cut on the side by the short sword that had suddenly attacked.

"Not even knowing your enemy is approaching, and I thought you were a formidable opponent. Not cool at all."

Zzz!

Reapplying Lightning Release chakra to her ninja sword, the female ninja who had just ambushed Kurenai still wore that cold and disdainful expression.

Drip!

The blood dripping from the blade's tip added a touch of solemnity to the female ninja.

"You are... a Kumogakure ninja?"

The moonlight gradually filtered through the clouds.

With the lightning wrapped around the short blade, Kurenai finally saw the face of the newcomer.

And the Kumogakure insignia on her waist.

'Did she defeat Kage?'

'No, impossible. Her speed and the way she concealed her presence were good, but with just that, there's no way she could have dealt with Kage.'

Kurenai, enduring the pain in her side, took out a kunai from her ninja tool pouch.

"Why are Kumogakure ninjas here?"

Shouldn't it be the pursuit ninjas from Kirigakure?

Looking at the exquisitely featured Kumogakure female ninja, whose skin was as pale as frost under the moonlight and whose figure was more curvaceous than her own, Kurenai secretly frowned.

She had no idea that Kumogakure ninjas were also targeting them.

"Not even knowing this, it seems you're not only lacking in strength but also in intelligence gathering."

Continuing to mock the Konoha female jonin before her, the Kumogakure female ninja holding the short sword didn't hide her intentions and directly stated her purpose.

"A month ago, you and your genin captured my subordinates, have you forgotten?"

"A month ago..."

'So it is that incident.'

With all her attention occupied by the matter of Uchiha Itachi, Kurenai hadn't paid much attention to the Kumogakure genin they had captured and brought back to the village.

"Are they still alive?", Still in a detached tone, but with a hint of killing intent.

"Probably, Konoha doesn't have a habit of killing prisoners," Knowing the reason for the other party's arrival, Kurenai gradually regained her composure.

However, the disappearance of Uchiha Kage still left her heart in suspense.

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