Deep within the forest outside Infinite Castle.
The temporary gathering point of Kirigakure forces lay under a suffocating silence. Only the wind slipping through the treetops and the occasional suppressed groan of pain broke the stillness.
The last scout stumbled out from the shadows like a frightened leech and dropped to one knee before Fuguki Suikazan.
His chest heaved violently, breath ragged. Fear lingered in his eyes—mixed with a feverish excitement.
"The target is confirmed," he said quickly. "The Ginza consortium's main warehouses are concentrated in the western district. Guard presence is visibly weak. No high-level barrier detected."
He swallowed, voice trembling.
"Sensor types confirmed multiple times—less than three hundred active chakra signatures inside the city."
"Scattered. Disorganized. Like they're protecting noble estates, not forming a defensive line."
"A few weak barrier traces—standard protection, not military."
He paused.
"The noble districts and main streets… are too quiet."
"Of course they are."
Fuguki turned slowly, pulling Samehada from the chest of a collapsed bounty ninja.
Blood dripped from its jagged edges.
The corpse twitched once, then stilled.
Samehada hummed in satisfaction.
"Over thirty scouts died inside today. Two jonin among them."
"If the Uchiha didn't notice us by now, that'd be a joke."
He planted Samehada heavily into the ground, lips curling.
"They even posted a bounty on us in the black market."
"A few capable ones escaped—but the rest? Trash."
"And they expect that to stop us?"
He laughed, full of disdain.
"So this is the 'strongest clan' now?"
"With the Senju nearly gone… the Uchiha have rotted from within."
That only confirmed it—
They were stretched thin.
Otherwise, their pride would've driven them to attack already.
Instead, they relied on mercenaries.
Weak.
Pathetic.
And that "one hundred million ryo"—
Like a naked prize laid before him.
"Still worrying about nobles at a time like this?"
He raised his hand sharply.
"Orders!"
"Full stealth. Advance on the western warehouses!"
"Use Hidden Mist!"
"Primary objective—loot everything!"
"Secondary—kill every Uchiha!"
"Anyone who resists—kill them!"
"Anyone who blocks us—wipe them out!"
At once—
Fifteen hundred elite shinobi moved.
Silent.
Fluid.
Like water merging with darkness.
Or sharks drawn to blood.
Mist surged.
Blades flashed.
Fuguki led from the front, eyes locked on the city.
Behind him—
A young ninja with shark-like features, Kisame Hoshigaki, stared ahead.
More precisely—
At Samehada.
—
At the top of the Ginza tower in Infinite Castle.
Uchiha Ren stood overlooking the city, crimson armor restored, a Digimon egg resting in his palm.
His gaze cut toward the northeast.
A Hyūga scout stepped forward.
"They're within three kilometers."
Beside him, Mikoto Uchiha spoke calmly.
"Numbers match expectations. Approximately 1,300 to 1,800 enemies. Juzo Biwa remains with the encirclement force."
On the other side, Fugaku Uchiha stood with hand on his blade, Sharingan already active.
Ren nodded.
"Signal all units. Hold positions until they enter."
Fugaku gave a silent order and vanished into the city below.
Ren turned slightly to Mikoto.
"Tsunade is handled. No immediate concern."
"If necessary… she can be used as reinforcement."
Mikoto's eyes brightened slightly.
"That increases our chances."
She paused.
"…That quickly?"
"Everyone has a weakness," Ren said simply. "I just found hers."
Mikoto's gaze softened.
"…As expected."
They didn't say more.
Their fingers brushed—then intertwined.
Below them—
The city slept.
Above—
War approached.
—
The Kirigakure forces slipped into the city.
Silent killing techniques.
Chakra suppressed to the extreme.
Like wind moving through empty streets.
Outer sentries disguised as civilians fell one by one—
Soundlessly.
Everything—
Too smooth.
Too easy.
Even the Mist shinobi felt it.
Something was wrong.
Fuguki landed on a rooftop, staring down at the warehouses.
No alarms.
No resistance.
He frowned.
"…Did they run?"
He signaled.
Dozens of shinobi moved in, breaking locks and entering.
He stayed outside.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then—
"WHOOOSH—BOOM!!!"
A piercing roar tore through the night.
All heads snapped up.
At the center of the city—
A blazing sphere erupted atop the Ginza tower.
Like a miniature sun.
Light exploded outward—
Dispelling the mist.
Exposing every hidden figure.
At the same moment—
Lights ignited across the western district.
Warehouses.
Buildings.
Everything.
"—It's a trap?!"
Fuguki's expression froze.
"Pull them out! Formation now!"
Too late.
"BOOM—!!!"
"RUMBLE—!!!"
The warehouses exploded from within.
Flames burst through windows, walls, rooftops—
Everything ignited.
Fire surged skyward, forming a raging inferno.
Smoke painted the sky in burning orange and dark purple.
The heat—
Crushing.
Closest shinobi were swallowed instantly.
No screams.
Only fire.
"DAMN IT!!!"
Fuguki understood.
There were no supplies.
No weak defense.
This—
Was a furnace.
And they were the fuel.
"Retreat! Scatter! It's a trap!"
But his voice drowned—
In something greater.
From within the sea of flames—
Figures appeared.
One by one.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
Red armor gleaming.
Fan crests blazing.
Eyes—
Crimson.
Sharingan spinning coldly.
Hands moved.
Seals formed in perfect unison.
"Fire Release—"
A single, unified voice thundered across the battlefield.
"—Great Dragon Fire Technique!!!"
"ROOOAR—!!!"
Flame dragons erupted.
Hundreds of them.
Pure fire given form.
They surged upward—
Feeding on the inferno.
Growing larger.
More violent.
Then—
They descended.
From every direction.
Devouring everything in their path.
Fire roared.
Dragons screamed.
Explosions shook the city.
Infinite Castle's night—
Became a blazing hell.
And in that inferno—
The hunt began.
"Water Release—Great Waterfall Technique!"
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