After learning that they were being led by two of the Uzumaki siblings, every ninja present felt a wave of relief wash over them. When Antares's speech came to an end, he glanced toward the assembled fifty-man unit and said simply, "Let's go."
With Makima at his side, he began moving ahead, his over coat stirring faintly in the breeze. The ninjas quickly fell into formation behind them, their movements disciplined and silent. Morishima Yuma, the commander, turned to Sachinobu and gave a firm nod—an unspoken reassurance that the mission would be accomplished. Then he too followed in step.
Their departure from the capital of the Land of Sea was smooth and quiet; the faint rustle of grass and cloth was the only sound marking their presence. Soon, the group disappeared into the distance, heading toward another town—the one where Harunobu, the Daimyo's middle brother, had gathered his main forces. Harunobu rarely stayed in the capital. His strained relationship with the Daimyo had pushed him away, and maintaining distance allowed him to build his own army more freely, hidden from both of his brothers.
Meanwhile, Sachinobu remained uneasy. Though he knew that Antares and Makima were immensely powerful, a sliver of doubt still lingered. From beside him, his advisor Isao spoke in a calm, steady tone. "Don't worry, my lord. Now that you've made your decision, have faith in it—and in your own judgment."
Sachinobu exhaled softly, the tension easing from his shoulders. "Yes, you're right," he murmured. "I should have faith in my choice." With that, he turned away and began walking back toward his study room, the faint sound of his footsteps echoing in the quiet hall.
----
After nearly three hours of travel, Antares finally arrived in one of the towns of the Land of Sea, accompanied by Makima and the fifty-man ninja force. The moonlight glinted faintly off their headbands as they gathered in the shadow of the city's outer wall.
Antares spoke in a low, commanding voice. "You all already know where Harunobu's forces are distributed. Spread out through the entire town and keep eyes on their bases. We'll move discreetly and eliminate their forces one by one."
Every ninja present nodded silently, understanding the gravity of the mission. Without another word, they melted into the streets, their figures vanishing like smoke into the night. This strategy had been planned from the very beginning—swift, silent, and precise.
Now only Antares and Makima remained. Before leaving, Antares turned toward her. "Be careful," he said quietly. "There's little chance anything could threaten us, but still—stay alert."
Makima smiled faintly and replied, "Don't worry, oni-chan. I know. I'll be very careful."
Forming a quick sequence of hand seals, she knelt and pressed her palm against the ground. A faint ripple of chakra spread outward, and with multiple soft boom, several dark crows materialized, their eyes gleaming red in the dim light. They took flight, scattering through the city like shadows on the wind.
Makima cast a brief glance over her shoulder at Antares, offered a resolute nod, and disappeared into the winding streets. Antares lingered only a moment before setting off toward his destination—the mansion of Harunobu, where Umihiko Hoshigaki was known to reside. As an S-rank ninja and Harunobu's chief protector, Umihiko was the central focus of Antares's mission.
Antares soon arrived at the front gate of Harunobu's mansion. The area was heavily guarded—rows of armored samurai stood firm, their stances disciplined, while two figures among them radiated sharper chakra signatures. From a single glance, Antares could tell they were Kirigakure chunin.
He didn't bother hiding his presence. Walking calmly down the open path, the faint moonlight glinting in his eyes, he looked more like a man taking a stroll than someone approaching an enemy base. The guards immediately noticed him.
"Stop right there! You can't move any further!" one of the Kirigakure ninjas barked.
Antares didn't respond. His steady footsteps echoed against the stone road, unhurried and utterly unconcerned. So noisy, he thought, continuing forward as if walking through a deserted land.
The two Kirigakure ninjas' patience snapped. "Bastard!" they shouted in unison and lunged at him, weapons gleaming under the torchlight—one wielding a chained sickle, the other gripping a short sword. Their speed was sharp, their killing intent evident.
But before their blades could even reach him, both were sent hurtling backward—faster than they had charged. The impact threw up a gust of dust and debris, and their bodies crashed into the stone wall with a heavy thud.
The remaining samurai froze. They had barely seen anything—just a blur of movement, a flicker of motion—and suddenly the Kirigakure ninjas were on the ground, groaning. When their eyes refocused, they saw Antares standing exactly where he'd been, both fists extended slightly forward, his posture relaxed.
There wasn't the faintest strain on his face. It was as if the attack hadn't required effort at all. That quiet, effortless power sent a shiver down the spines of every guard watching him.
Antares, not wanting to waste any more time, raised his hand and snapped his fingers. In an instant, several blazing fireballs materialized before him, swirling with intense heat. With a faint flick of his wrist, they shot forward and struck the main gate of the mansion.
The explosion was deafening. Flames engulfed the entrance, consuming the wooden beams and scattering molten fragments across the courtyard. The entire front area was obliterated, and the blast wiped out every guard stationed there—including the two unconscious Kirigakure ninjas, their bodies lost to the inferno.
The massive gate collapsed into ash and smoke. Through the wall of fire, Antares strode forward, his face calm and untouched by the heat. The flames parted around him as though recognizing their master. To him, fire was nothing but a companion.
(Ai image in the comments.)
The roar of the explosion shattered the mansion's silence. Within moments, shouts and hurried footsteps echoed from inside. Dozens of figures—ninja and samurai alike—poured out into the courtyard, weapons drawn. In less than a minute, more than thirty men had gathered, forming a tense semicircle around the burning entrance.
Inside the mansion, Harunobu jolted awake, startled by the thunderous noise. "What is happening outside?!" he shouted, his voice trembling. "What's this commotion?"
A guard rushed into the room, bowing deeply. "My lord, someone has attacked the gates of the mansion—and the guards have been killed!"
Harunobu's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Who would dare to attack my mansion?" His voice cracked with fear and anger.
"We don't know yet," the guard replied quickly. "We're trying to identify the intruder. As soon as we do, I'll report immediately."
Harunobu exhaled sharply and sat back on his bed, his face pale. He couldn't step outside—he knew it. In terms of battle, he was a complete weakling. Going out there would only make him a burden, not a help. So he stayed where he was, clutching the edge of his blanket as the sounds of chaos grew louder beyond his walls.
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