"All hidden sentries have been eliminated."
"Excellent."
After receiving confirmation from the Hyūga clan, Uchiha Fugaku nodded in satisfaction.
Reconnaissance truly was something best left to professionals.
The Byakugan's surveillance ability proved its worth once again—every single Cloud Village outpost had been silently erased without alerting the main camp.
With the sentries gone and no alarms raised, Fugaku led the main force straight up to the edge of the Kumogakure encampment without resistance.
Inside the camp, the Cloud ninja remained blissfully unaware of the danger creeping in.
Perhaps they assumed Konoha had only just arrived and needed time to rest.
Or perhaps they believed Konoha wouldn't dare launch a surprise attack.
Either way, the Cloud camp was dangerously relaxed.
No vigilance.
No tension.
Fugaku didn't intend to waste such an opportunity.
"Squads, move independently. Infiltrate from the perimeter and assassinate targets silently."
"Do not create noise."
"If any squad is discovered, all units regroup immediately."
"Understood?!"
"Yes!"
With a single command, the allied force split apart like shadows in the night, squads melting into the darkness as they slipped into the Cloud camp.
Pshk!
"You—ghk… gurgle—"
In an instant, the Cloud ninja stationed on the outer edge were wiped out.
Some barely had time to react before their throats were slit, blood bubbling uselessly as they collapsed with eyes full of disbelief.
It was almost shocking how little resistance there was.
The outer guards—likely expendable cannon fodder—were slaughtered with terrifying efficiency.
The Konoha squads quickly found themselves intoxicated by success.
This was merit.
War merit—earned almost effortlessly.
With confidence surging, they pushed deeper into the camp.
Further in, Cloud ninja grew stronger.
Silent kills became harder, more dangerous.
Yet even so, the squads performed flawlessly.
Meanwhile, inside one of the central tents, Yugito Nii suddenly frowned.
Something felt… wrong.
She stepped outside and looked toward the edge of the camp.
Under the moonlight, the surroundings were unnaturally quiet.
Too quiet.
Sniff… sniff…
Her senses sharpened—and a voice echoed within her mind.
"Yugito, be careful. I smell blood."
"Your camp has been attacked."
Her expression changed instantly.
"Damn it—careless!"
"These Konoha bastards really picked their moment!"
She immediately fired a signal flare into the sky.
Fwoosh!
The sleeping Cloud camp snapped awake.
Shouts rang out.
Torches flared to life.
Cloud ninja scrambled into formation.
Killer B burst out of his tent at once.
After exchanging a few words with Yugito, his face darkened.
When the remaining Cloud forces finally regrouped, the situation became horrifyingly clear.
The outer ranks of genin—gone.
Most of the chūnin—missing.
Even several jōnin had vanished without a trace.
"Damn it!"
"Everyone—watch your surroundings!!"
The losses were infuriating.
Even if the main army hadn't arrived yet, these were still elite advance forces.
And they'd been butchered before a real battle even began.
But at the moment Yugito fired the flare, the Konoha forces had already withdrawn.
Like disciplined hunters, every squad regrouped instantly.
Judging by the grins on their faces, Fugaku knew this operation had been a massive success.
"Ha… let's go."
"Before the Cloud's main force arrives—"
"We'll devour their vanguard in one sweep."
With Fugaku's order, the allied army surged forward, rolling toward the heart of the camp.
Soon, the Cloud forces spotted them.
"Killer B-sama! Enemy spotted to the north!"
"West side too!"
"Enemies to the east as well!!!"
Reports came flooding in.
Yugito and Killer B's expressions grew heavier by the second.
Three sides.
They were being surrounded.
Only the southern route remained open—clearly intentional.
Konoha wasn't sealing them in completely, avoiding a desperate last stand.
After all, there were two Jinchūriki in this camp.
If they transformed into Tailed Beasts, even Konoha would pay a brutal price.
Yet confusion gnawed at them.
This level of coordination didn't feel like Sarutobi Hiruzen or Danzō's style.
And Konoha's current frontline strength shouldn't be capable of something like this.
Then—
Gasps erupted from the Cloud ranks.
Frontline ninja staggered backward in terror, some nearly losing their footing.
The formation wavered.
"What's happening?!"
"Hold the line—what do you see?!"
No one answered clearly.
They only pointed—hands shaking—toward the darkness ahead.
"U-U… Uchiha…"
Following their gaze—
At the forefront stood Uchiha Fugaku.
Behind him, a massive force of Uchiha ninja advanced in perfect formation.
And every single one of them—
Had activated their Sharingan.
Under the cover of night, countless crimson eyes locked onto the Cloud forces at once.
The pressure was suffocating.
Even Yugito felt her heart seize.
This wasn't just killing intent—
It was pure dominance.
A terror etched into shinobi history.
"U-Uchiha…?"
"How is the Uchiha clan on the battlefield?!"
Fear rippled through the Cloud ranks like a plague.
The red eyes of the Uchiha reflected in their pupils—
And for the first time that night,
They understood what it meant to face a legend reborn.
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