Antares took the scroll from Sachinobu, unfurled the brittle paper carefully, and began to read the information written inside. He read every line, committing each name and detail to memory; among all the listed subordinates of Sachinobu's middle brother, one name leapt out at him and refused to be ignored: Umihiko Hoshigaki.
Umihiko Hoshigaki was no ordinary foot soldier — he was an exceptionally powerful ninja, an S-Rank shinobi. As Antares's eyes traced the letters, a cold truth resurfaced: this was the same man who had slain his uncle during Kirigakure's assault on the Uzumaki village. Antares had not witnessed his uncle's murder firsthand, yet through the reports, stories, and fragmented intelligence his clan had gathered during his childhood, he had come to know the name of his uncle's killer — Umihiko Hoshigaki. That name had never faded from his memory, and seeing it now felt as though the past had reached out and seized him.
"He was the one who killed my uncle," Antares said, his voice low but steady. "The world is small indeed. I never expected that fate would lead me to the name of the man who took him."
Anger flared behind his words and tightened his jaw. "Any of these men might flee, but Umihiko Hoshigaki will not escape my justice. I swear — by my blood and by my name — I will kill him."
Antares turned toward Sachinobu, eyes burning with intent. "What is your plan? Should I strike at once and hunt down these subordinates, or is there another course you favour?"
Everyone in the room felt the killing intent that laced Antares's words like a cold wind. The air seemed to tighten around him; even the candles on the low table flickered as if to acknowledge the promise.
Sachinobu met Antares's gaze and spoke with measured calm. "The high-ranking ninjas under my brother must be eliminated. They hold power and make decisions — they are the real threats. The younger, low-ranking ninjas, the ones who simply follow orders, need not be killed. They can be left alive; they are expendable and useless as targets. We'll proceed with that plan."
Antares listened, then inclined his head. "Very well. When do you want us to leave?"
"It would be best if you departed today," Sachinobu replied. "I've already summoned all my capable warriors. They will accompany you and prove useful in the field."
Antares said nothing more than a short, acknowledging nod. Pride made him disdain reliance on others, yet he accepted Sachinobu's offer without argument. Having some of Sachinobu's men at his side would serve two purposes: they would bolster his strength in battle, and their presence would reassure Sachinobu —his men would keep watch, ensuring the operation stayed in line with his interests. That quiet shadow of oversight, Antares decided, was a price he was willing to pay.
Sachinobu rose and bowed his head slightly. "Then please, follow me."
Isao rose at his side, and Antares and Makima fell in behind them. Isao walked just beside Sachinobu, while Antares and Makima kept a few steps back, their movements controlled and deliberate. The four of them made their way through the dimly lit corridors of Sachinobu's mansion, where paper lanterns cast soft, wavering light across the polished floors. The air was cool, the stillness of night pressing quietly around them.
As they entered, dozens of figures who had been standing in loose clusters snapped to attention. At the sight of Sachinobu and Isao their shoulders straightened and faces hardened — everyone knew this was no ordinary summons. Today would be an important mission.
Sachinobu pointed to the man at the front. "This is Morishima Yuma. He's not only a formidable ninja but also my general-in-command, who leads most of the fighting forces under me."
Antares and Makima inclined their heads toward Morishima in greeting; the gesture was brief but respectful.
"He will be assisting you today," Sachinobu continued. "Use my forces as you see fit. Your task is to ensure my middle brother's forces are crushed completely. If possible, spare the brother himself — though I confess I do not like him, he is still my blood."
Antares met Sachinobu's eyes and gave a firm nod. "You needn't worry. We will not kill your brother. If he chooses to throw himself in harm's way, we will not restrain him, but we will not execute him on your behalf."
Relief eased across Sachinobu's features at Antares's words. With a small, satisfied motion, Sachinobu stepped aside and gestured for Antares to address the assembled troops.
(Ai image in the comments.)
Antares nodded and stepped forward, positioning himself firmly in front of Sachinobu's fifty-man force. The courtyard stretched wide before them, torchlight spilling across the open field, casting long, flickering shadows over the soldiers' armour. He raised his voice, steady and commanding. "I have only one main instruction for you," he began. "Follow my commands throughout this mission. Your primary objective is not to fight on the front lines; it is to apprehend anyone who tries to flee the location we are going to attack. That is the single task I entrust to you, and I expect it to be carried out without fail. Leave the fighting to us." He let the words sink in, then continued, "It will do you well to know who gives those orders. My name is Antares Uzumaki, and my younger sister is Makima Uzumaki. You may have heard of us as the Uzumaki siblings."
As soon as Antares finished speaking, several voices began floating through the crowd, filled with awe and curiosity.
"So this is Antares—the same person who survived countless powerful attacks from someone like Hanzo and came out alive?" one whispered.
"I've also heard that he possesses the ability to transform into a half-dragon, a humanoid dragon," another voice added, tinged with disbelief.
"And Makima," someone else chimed in, "she can command a vast variety of summoning beasts, and that's not all—her skill in Genjutsu is remarkable, allowing her to manipulate and control her enemies effortlessly."
The mere mention of these two names was more than enough to convince everyone present. For those gathered, the Uzumaki siblings' reputation was already legendary, their strength and accomplishments having reverberated across the world, earning both fear and respect wherever their names were spoken.
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