"Found them!"
Amamiya Raizen's sharp voice echoed in the depths of the Songshan veins. He had finally located the remaining Amamiya clan ninjas. Without hesitation, he tossed a Flying Thunder God Kunai and vanished from sight, reappearing directly in front of the enemy.
"What?!"
The dim firelight cast long shadows across the narrow tunnels, and a piercing scream tore through the mine. The sound bounced off the walls, chilling everyone present. When heads turned toward the noise, they saw a small, determined figure with a strange kunai already plunged into a ninja's chest.
"Enemy attack!"
The Ueshi clan ninjas surrounding the Amamiya fighters shouted warnings, but it was too late. Three Genin lunged at Raizen, only to have their heads cleanly severed in an instant by his Flying Thunder God strike.
The surviving Ueshi ninjas froze. Their plan had relied on overwhelming numbers, but now Raizen's deadly efficiency disrupted their formations. Seeing four of their comrades fall in one swift assault, they hesitated to act rashly.
"There's movement outside… reinforcements?"
The Ueshi's stillness didn't mean the Amamiya clan was idle. From the inner tunnels, their ninjas heard sounds of preparation, and Miyame stepped forward. He glanced at the badly wounded Amamiya Jane and then looked to his comrades, voice low but resolute.
"We can't wait any longer. We have to break through!"
"Yes!"
The remaining Amamiya ninjas exchanged grim looks. Last night's surprise attack had left them shaken, but desperation now sharpened their focus. Success meant survival; failure, death.
"Leave the wounded behind! We move now!" Miyame barked. His decision was cruel but necessary—the injured could not keep pace and would slow the others down. The wounded fell silent, understanding the harsh reality.
"Miyame… if we survive this, tell Xiao Jin I couldn't celebrate my birthday with him," murmured one injured ninja, eyes shining with unspoken hope.
"I will," Miyame promised, voice thick with emotion. Despite the red burning in his eyes, he forced himself to push forward. Brothers had been abandoned, but survival demanded it.
"Follow me! Kill every Ueshi bastard in our way!"
Miyame surged ahead. Outside, Raizen had already decapitated the sixth Ueshi ninja. Over forty ninjas had been sent to the Songshan veins—half from the Tiannan Mine, the rest summoned by the family after Ueshi Tokusaka learned of the secret report.
By the time Raizen and the Amamiya ninjas moved, half of the Ueshi forces had already fallen. Though mostly Genin, their loss struck fear into the remaining Ueshi, shattering morale and giving the Amamiya clan a critical opening.