Chapter 40: The Hunter and the Prey
The climate of the Land of Fire was similar to the country where Ryosuke had lived in his previous life.
With few landowners actively developing the terrain, lush green forests covered nearly half of the Fire Nation. These vast woodlands not only painted the landscape with natural beauty but also offered an ideal battlefield for ninja confrontations.
Deep within one of these dark, dense forests—where even sunlight struggled to pierce through the canopy—three shadowy figures darted through the trees, as swift and silent as wild cats.
"The three Hyuga targets left Fire Nation just yesterday," said the leader of the group, his voice low and steady as he leapt between branches. "Judging by their route, they're heading toward Konoha. Keep your eyes sharp—we can't afford to lose track of them."
He glanced at the forest below, his tone turning colder. "The clan leader emphasized the importance of this mission. We must eliminate them before they return to the village, retrieve the contract scrolls, and deliver them to the daimyo in Kyoto. If we succeed, we'll derail whatever agreement they're trying to seal."
His two companions followed closely behind, their movements equally agile.
"But... this doesn't sound like a formal mission from the patriarch. More like—" one of them started to question.
"I said the order came from the patriarch," the leader snapped sharply, cutting him off. "That's all that matters."
He continued, voice laced with suppressed frustration. "The tension between our clan and the village is reaching its limit. Patriarch Fugaku is too indecisive—he hesitates to take the next step. That leaves us, the ones in charge, with no choice but to act preemptively and prepare for what's coming."
"I believe the coup is only a matter of time. And what we gain from the daimyo this time might be the edge we need to ensure our success. So we're doing this cleanly and efficiently. Understood?"
"Yes!" the other two responded in unison, no longer questioning.
They continued on in silence, expertly scanning their surroundings while leaving no trace behind.
Unbeknownst to them, they were already being watched.
On a high cliff overlooking the forest, three figures lay prone, concealed by the terrain. Ryosuke and his companions, Souji and Hoshicai, had a clear vantage point of the forest path below.
Through her sensory ninjutsu, Hoshicai had already picked up on the chakra signatures of the three masked ninjas.
"They're not wearing forehead protectors," He whispered, "but there's no doubt—they're Uchiha."
Their chakra flow remained smooth and steady even as they moved at high speed—something only skilled ninja with excellent chakra control could maintain.
"From what I've detected, it's likely two Chunin and one Jonin," Hoshicai analyzed calmly, his Byakugan still active. "Though… it's also possible all three are Chunin. We won't know for sure until we engage."
He turned to Ryosuke, awaiting his decision.
He remained silent, eyes fixed on the forest below.
After all, he hadn't come this far just for a relaxing mission. If that were the case, it might as well have been a spring picnic.
Ryosuke knew his own nature—he wasn't the type to polish his blade only after the battle had begun.
Yes, he longed for a peaceful life, one where he could quietly grow stronger—but he understood the truth of this world: conflict was inevitable. Avoiding every confrontation wasn't wisdom; it was cowardice.
A ninja who only trained behind closed doors, without ever testing his skills in real combat, would end up possessing power without knowing how to wield it.
This mission was an opportunity. Not a deadly trial, but a real, manageable fight. Exactly what Ryosuke needed to gain practical experience before he inevitably faced more dangerous enemies down the line.
He'd already anticipated something like this.
The Hyuga and Uchiha clans had always been rivals. So when he heard the Uchiha were also trying to gain favor with the daimyo—seeking higher pay and more influence—he knew trouble was likely.
A Hyuga ninja traveling to meet the daimyo wasn't going to be ignored. The Uchiha were bound to figure out the clan's intentions. Sabotage was almost guaranteed.
That's why Ryosuke had delayed his return in Fire Nation for a few extra days—to give them time to make their move.
And now, they had.
"Let's fall back," Souji suggested quietly. "Use the Chunin as training dummies. If we spring the ambush, there's a chance things won't go to plan."
"Even if Master Ryosuke's skills are Genin-level," Hoshicai added cautiously, "we—"
"Prepare for action."
Ryosuke's calm voice cut them off as he rose slowly to his feet, the usual warmth in his expression replaced with serene focus.
Unlike the survival drills with Hiashi, this was real.
His first actual battle. His first time facing the possibility of death.
But Ryosuke wasn't afraid. In fact, he felt completely at ease.
"My father must've told you," he said, looking calmly at both of them, "that during missions, I'm the one in command."
"I'm making this decision based on the possibility of the worst-case scenario."
His gaze sharpened. "Even if two of them are Jonin… even if both have awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan… we'll manage."
Confidence. That was the difference between life and death in battle.
He could already sense hesitation in his teammates—an instinct to retreat. He couldn't allow that.
"They've been cautious in their movements," he continued, "but not because they're afraid of our strength."
"No. They're cautious because they don't want to scare us off. They're trying to prevent us from running. That means they think this is a guaranteed win."
Ryosuke paused, letting that idea sink in.
"They've studied us. They think they know our strength. They see me as a liability—a burden. They're confident. Too confident."
"They never even considered the idea that we might detect them and try to strike first."
"They see themselves as the hunters."
He smiled faintly.
"They've completely forgotten that hunters… can also become prey."
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