At dawn, the Konoha Hundred had laid numerous traps in the forest, yet the Mist ninja were nowhere to be seen.
Clearly, the Kirigakure shinobi had been delayed by their relentless pillaging along the way.
While Sunagakure ninja were often called desert bandits for their habit of raiding, at least they understood sustainable plundering—they mostly targeted merchant caravans and rarely harmed civilians.
The Mist ninja, however, were far more brutal.
Disguised as pirates, they made no distinction between commoners and nobles—everyone was fair game.
Raised in Kirigakure's oppressive environment, those who survived to become shinobi often carried deep psychological scars. Now, masquerading as raiders, they indulged in their darkest impulses, surpassing even real pirates in cruelty.
The lower and mid-ranked Mist ninja were driven by greed and lust, resorting to rape and plunder. The higher-ranked ones, however, took it further—they killed for pleasure.
Wherever the Mist army passed, villages were reduced to scorched earth.
The civilians along their path were either slaughtered or turned into playthings.
But upon detecting the movements of the Konoha Hundred, the Mist ninja abruptly abandoned their usual lax behavior. Without hesitation, they executed every captive—even the women they had taken.
A wave of bloodthirsty, iron discipline swept through their ranks.
Umino Yoru, scouting from atop his giant white falcon, Shiro, couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.
In terms of elite forces, Kirigakure's shinobi were undoubtedly the best in the ninja world.
Their ruthless efficiency alone set them apart from ordinary armies, not to mention their unmatched individual combat prowess.
These two hundred Mist ninja exerted even greater pressure than Chiyo's three-hundred-strong puppet battalion.
In terms of high-level combatants, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were at least on par with Chiyo—if not stronger.
And with many of the Mist shinobi hailing from clans with Kekkei Genkai, the threat only multiplied.
"A commander from the Hōzuki clan?"
Yoru's eyes narrowed, his heart sinking.
Even through the thick mist, he could make out the unmistakable features of the Mist commander—a member of the Hōzuki clan.
This complicated things.
The Hōzuki were infamous war maniacs, reveling in battle. Peaceful negotiations were likely impossible now—a bloody fight was inevitable.
Still, judging by how the Seven Swordsmen seemed to disregard the Hōzuki commander, Yoru guessed he wasn't Kage-level—probably just an elite jōnin.
Despite the slim odds, Yoru refused to abandon diplomacy.
"I am Umino Yoru," he called out. "Commander of Kirigakure, would you step forward to parley?"
"Bone Spear!"
The Hōzuki commander had no interest in talking. Without hesitation, he hurled a sharpened bone projectile straight at Yoru.
Shiro swiftly dodged the attack.
"Hōzuki Hyakusen, you're slipping!"
Ameyuri Ringo sneered before launching Kubikiribōchō—the Executioner's Blade—toward the giant falcon.
Again, Shiro evaded.
But even as the blade missed, its attached wires—controlled by Ringo—lashed out like serpents, attempting to ensnare the bird mid-air.
"Damn it!" Yoru's expression darkened.
He hadn't expected Kubikiribōchō to have such formidable aerial combat capabilities.
That blade must be forged from chakra-conductive metal—otherwise, it wouldn't be this maneuverable.
Fortunately, his Sonic Radar Technique allowed him to track the chakra flow in the wires.
Acting fast, Yoru manipulated his own chakra strings to alter the blade's trajectory, barely saving Shiro from being shredded.
"If negotiations are impossible… then we fight."
Yoru ascended higher, his gaze icy as he glared down at the Mist ninja below.
"Don't let him escape!"
The Hōzuki commander immediately dispatched all aerial units to assist Ringo in chasing Yoru.
The other Swordsmen, eager for battle, joined the pursuit—even those without aerial combat abilities.
Though Kirigakure's air force wasn't as strong as Suna's, it was more cohesive. It took Yoru considerable effort to whittle them down.
If not for Ringo's relentless interference, he would've crippled them much sooner.
Seeing no further advantage, Yoru chose to retreat.
After slaughtering their captives, the Mist army moved with terrifying speed, soon spotting the Konoha Hundred in the river valley.
"It's those Kirigakure maniacs! Run!"
The Konoha forces feigned panic—their acting so exaggerated it was almost comical—immediately scattering upon sighting the enemy.
But instead of chasing directly, the Mist ninja took a detour upstream along the river.
Soon, they discovered a massive dam.
"Ao," the Hōzuki commander grinned, clapping his subordinate on the shoulder. "Just as you predicted—White Death left us a trap."
The young tokubetsu jōnin named Ao bowed slightly. "All thanks to your leadership, sir."
"Kree—!"
Shiro let out a pained cry as Ringo's wires continued their assault.
Yoru, still mounted on the falcon, glared down at the dam below, his face a mask of frustration.
"Now."
As they passed directly overhead, Yoru formed the Tiger Seal.
A flash of light erupted from the dam's base—explosive tags detonated.
BOOM!
The structure collapsed instantly, unleashing a torrent of water.
"White Death, you can't escape us!"
The Hōzuki commander laughed triumphantly, convinced he'd outsmarted Yoru.
Within minutes, the flood subsided.
"Cross the river!"
With a wave of his hand, the commander led the Mist army in pursuit of the Konoha Hundred.
A minor delay meant nothing.
Soon, they caught up.
"Hah! White Death has run out of tricks!"
The Hōzuki commander roared with laughter when he saw the Konoha forces fleeing into the forest.
Morning mist clung heavily to the trees—perfect conditions for Kirigakure's infamous Hiding in Mist Technique.
Running into a fog-filled forest?
Suicide.