The brutal death of Jinpachi Munashi, along with the birth of the name "Shunshin no Shisui" carried by Shisui Uchiha, cast a suffocating atmosphere over the Kirigakure front.
Fear.
Doubt.
A creeping chill that seeped into every soldier's bones.
Inside the command cavern, Mei Terumi stood before a detailed battle map.
Her emerald eyes moved calmly across the jagged markings.
Jinpachi's death was a heavy loss.
But also—
A necessary shock.
It gave her strategy urgency.
And authority.
The abacus in everyone's mind—
Was forcibly aligned by blood.
The remaining three Seven Ninja Swordsmen, at least outwardly—
Could no longer ignore her.
And then—
There was the second gain.
From Fuguki Suikazan.
The intelligence he passed—
Had been verified.
Every location.
Accurate.
Trust?
No.
Just—
Mutual exploitation.
Mei's gaze settled on a marked eastern town.
Fuguki wanted to live.
Wanted to return.
Then he had to prove his worth.
And this time—
The bait—
Was irresistible.
A fifty-man unit.
The Uchiha's Oniwabanshū.
Elite operatives.
Eyes and blades of the shogunate.
If they were wiped out—
It would not only damage Uchiha prestige—
But revive Kirigakure morale.
The risk?
High.
Possibly a trap.
But opportunity—
Never waited.
Mei turned.
Her gaze swept across the three figures in the cavern—
Kushimaru Kuriarare
Jinin Akebino
Raiga Kurosuki
—and finally landed on the silent boy in the corner.
Utakata.
"A fifty-man Oniwabanshū unit will pass through Rakufū Valley tomorrow at noon."
"It's a choke point."
"Perfect for an ambush."
Her tone turned sharp.
"This operation—"
"Is annihilation."
"No survivors."
"Fast."
"Decisive."
"Overwhelming."
Orders followed swiftly.
Kushimaru and Jinin—
Lead the assault.
Two hundred elite shinobi.
Utakata—
Standby.
If needed—
Ensure retreat.
Mei and Raiga—
Hold the outer perimeter.
Avoid detection—
Especially from Byakugan users.
"This is not war."
"It is execution."
Jinpachi's blood—
Would not be wasted.
"Understood."
The next day—
Rakufū Valley.
A river of red leaves drifted through the air.
Sunlight filtered through autumn fire.
The path below—
Narrow.
Silent.
The Oniwabanshū advanced.
Disciplined.
Alert.
A Nara Clan jonin frowned.
Something felt off.
But scans returned—
Clear.
No chakra disturbances.
No enemies.
He hesitated—
Then moved forward.
High above—
Beyond sensory range—
A hawk circled.
Then—
A leaf fell.
"Enemy—!"
Too late.
Two hundred shadows descended.
Blades.
Water.
Death.
Kushimaru Kuriarare struck first.
A nearly invisible thread—
Pierced toward a Hyuga Clan shinobi.
From the other side—
Jinin Akebino smashed into the formation.
Two bodies—
Crushed instantly.
The formation shattered.
"Ambush!"
"Defensive formation!"
"Counterattack!"
The Oniwabanshū resisted.
Fiercely.
But they were outnumbered.
Outpositioned.
Outplayed.
Water Release techniques erupted.
Blades cut through chaos.
Within minutes—
Order collapsed.
The Nara jonin caught sight of a figure—
Standing silently above.
Utakata.
His heart dropped.
Even a Jinchūriki…?
"Retreat—!"
Too late.
They were surrounded.
Fifteen minutes later—
Silence returned.
Fifty corpses.
None intact.
Blood mixed with fallen leaves.
The valley—
Turned crimson.
Kushimaru flicked blood from his blade.
Jinin breathed heavily—
Grinning.
Utakata blew a bubble.
It shimmered—
Then burst.
Above—
Mei Terumi watched.
No joy.
Only calculation.
Victory.
At minimal cost.
Morale restored.
Authority secured.
Fuguki—
Validated.
She burned the map.
Ash scattered into the wind.
Her gaze lifted.
Toward Infinite City.
Uchiha Anlan…
This world is not yours alone.
Infinite City — Shogunate Tower
On the eighth floor—
Uchiha Chiharu extended her arms.
A projection appeared.
The aftermath of slaughter.
Uchiha Anlan watched calmly.
As if—
It were theater.
Only when the image froze—
On Mei's burning map—
Did Chiharu lower her arms.
This time—
She remained conscious.
Across from her—
Mikoto Uchiha gestured gently.
Chiharu sat.
Quietly.
Watching.
Then—
Anlan spoke.
"Our 'gift'…"
"Was received well."
One side—
Kirigakure.
The other—
Konoha clans.
Their secret dealings—
He knew everything.
"Shelter without contribution…"
"Is unacceptable."
A lesson—
Was necessary.
Mikoto nodded.
"This loss… is significant."
"And Mei Terumi—"
"She's more decisive than expected."
"Trust?" she asked.
Anlan shook his head.
"Not trust."
"Just enough."
Then—
He leaned back.
Relaxed.
"Tell Fuguki—"
"It's time."
Mikoto understood instantly.
"New intelligence?"
"Something like that."
Anlan's voice was calm.
Precise.
"The shogunate is conducting internal audits."
"He needs merit."
"Desperately."
War merit—
Meant lives.
Now—
The choice was Mei's.
Sacrifice.
Or abandon.
Either way—
The outcome favored them.
No real loss.
Only control.
Mikoto stood.
"I'll handle it."
Then she turned—
Toward the quiet girl.
"Chiharu."
"Come with me."