Asahi and his team piled the sacks of grain into a single mound under the cold moonlight. Their movements were swift and silent, honed by countless missions in enemy territory. Once the final sack was placed, they stepped back.
Sarutobi Asuma exhaled and formed hand seals. "Let's begin."
Fire Style ∙ Flame Bullet!
A massive stream of fire erupted from Asuma's mouth, washing over the grain pile like a tidal wave of flame. The fire ignited the sacks instantly.
*Fwoooosh!*
The scent of scorched wheat filled the air as the flames roared into the night sky, casting flickering shadows across the nearby trees.
But the burning food wasn't the only trap.
Long before setting the blaze, Asahi had already planted explosive tags beneath the corpses of the four Kirigakure ninja they had eliminated. Should any Kirigakure shinobi come to investigate and attempt to check the bodies, they'd trigger an immediate explosion.
"The fire's going to draw them soon. Should we stay and ambush them?" Asuma asked, half hopeful.
Asahi shook his head firmly. "No. We don't have intel on how many enemies are nearby. We can't risk an encounter without knowing the odds. We evacuate."
"I agree." Yuhi Kurenai nodded. "We're deep in enemy territory. Caution is our best ally."
"Then let's move fast. I'll set a Flying Thunder God coordinate nearby so we can escape instantly if needed." Asahi said, already scanning the forest for the right spot.
Asuma grinned. "Man, your ninjutsu is too convenient! When I get back, I'm asking the old man to teach me Flying Thunder God too!"
"I heard that technique's insanely hard to master." Kurenai gave him a side glance, skeptical.
"Tch. If Asahi can do it, I don't see why I can't!" Asuma puffed out his chest.
"He's a genius." Kurenai said with a smirk.
"Alright, enough banter." Asahi interrupted, his tone low. "The Kiri-nin will be here any moment. Move out."
*Rustle*
The three melted into the forest shadows, disappearing from the area just as the fire roared higher into the sky.
After circling around to avoid detection, Asahi led his team to a hidden cave nestled between rocky outcrops. It was defensible, well-hidden, and had only one entrance. They set up a basic perimeter and then sat down to eat a light meal from their travel packs.
As the firelight from their small camp flickered across the stone walls, Asahi called the other two over.
"Listen. The Land of Water's political isolation means our intel on Kirigakure is practically nonexistent. We don't even know where their main village is located."
He unrolled a blank scroll and tapped it. "Our next goal is to gather that intel — pinpoint the location of Kirigakure village."
"For safety, we stay together at all times." he continued. "I'll set a Flying Thunder God coordinate here in this cave. But I'm not stopping at one. Tomorrow, I'll scout and plant coordinates at several fallback points within a few kilometers. Worst-case scenario, we get split or ambushed, I can still teleport us out."
"Smart." Asuma nodded. "But what if this cave is discovered while you're gone?"
"Then we still have backup coordinates. And if everything goes to hell..." He paused. "I have a coordinate locked back in Konoha. I'll take you both home myself if it comes to that."
Kurenai tilted her head. "You're going out alone now?"
"Yes. The Kiri-nin are out there hunting, but I won't engage. Just scouting. You two rest. Tomorrow, we move again."
"Why not let us help gather intel?" Kurenai asked.
"Because I won't be fighting. There's no need to risk all of us. Let me go alone."
But Asuma stepped forward. "Then let us scout in a pair. Kurenai and I have been a team for years—we've got each other's backs. If we split into two groups, we'll gather intel faster."
Asahi hesitated. Refusing again might offend them, and time was critical. After a moment, he reached into his pouch and handed over a pair of marked kunai.
"Fine. Take these. If you're not back by the time I return, I'll come to you."
"Got it!" Asuma gave a thumbs-up.
Once outside, the three split into different directions. Asahi sprinted silently across the trees, his thoughts heavy. He wasn't just scouting or planting escape points. His true purpose was more calculated—he was searching for Hatake Kakashi and Nohara Rin.
Because Asahi's so-called "Three-Tails Plan" was now in motion.
While many would consider it reckless or dangerous, Asahi saw it differently. If he could find Rin and confirm her capture, he could trace the Kirigakure's plans. They wanted to implant the Three-Tails into her, turning her into a Jinchūriki. That meant the real Three-Tails' host would need to be present.
And that meant exposure.
As was known, removing a tailed beast from a Jinchūriki caused instant death. No one—especially not someone raised in the blood-soaked Kirigakure—would willingly sacrifice themselves. That meant the Three-Tails' current Jinchūriki had to be subdued and dragged along for the transfer.
That was Asahi's target.
If he could identify the Three-Tails' current host, he could act. He could rescue Rin and, if possible, capture the Jinchūriki.
Not out of kindness.
Not out of sentiment.
But to watch what the puppet master, Uchiha Madara, would do next.
Asahi wasn't some do-gooder hero moved by emotion. He was a strategist, a planner, and he knew the plot of this world. Rin's death was the trigger that twisted Obito into the tool Madara needed. But what if Rin didn't die? What would Madara do then?
That was what Asahi wanted to know.
This wasn't just a rescue. It was a chess move—a way to force the opponent hiding in the shadows to reveal their next step.
Madara was old, weak, relying on the Outer Path statue to barely cling to life. His Rinnegan had already been given to Nagato. He wouldn't dare risk exposing Black Zetsu or White Zetsu just yet, especially not against someone who had mastered the Flying Thunder God technique.
Which was why Asahi felt confident.
Even if Madara's plan failed, he wouldn't retaliate directly—not now. He'd go back to the drawing board. But in the process, Asahi could gather valuable data.
If everything went well, he might even expose the spies Madara had already planted in Konoha.
He wasn't delusional. He knew Madara was leagues above him in strength—for now. But this wasn't about a battle of fists. Not yet. This was about outmaneuvering the man behind the curtain. This was about strategy, psychology, and subversion.
Asahi was the only variable in the Naruto timeline.
And he intended to make that count.
Someday, he and Madara would face off—not just in raw power, but in intellect. And Asahi would enjoy every second of that long-awaited confrontation.
Even if he lost.
Because it wasn't about winning.
It was about proving he could stand on the same stage as Uchiha Madara.
As he leapt silently through the misty forest, scanning for signs of Rin or Kakashi, a sharp grin crossed Asahi's face.
A grin not of arrogance, but of excitement.
The game had officially begun.
*****
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