At dawn, after a night's rest, the squad began their sweep of the bandit perimeter. Layer by layer, they pressed inward. Progress was steady, until the final clash forced them into a direct fight.
The bandit leader, a rogue chūnin with wild, undisciplined swings, tried to stand his ground.
But against three coordinated Uchiha, he was crushed. Renji, Retsu, and Yan didn't bother with honor duels; their principle was simple, if you can gang up, never go one-on-one. None of them came away with more than scratches.
Elsewhere, a Root pursuit squad stood before the ashes of the second bandit camp. Their masked captain studied the blackened ruins in silence.
"Captain," one Root operative reported, "we've checked the mission logs. Three squads were operating nearby, but none with three or more fire-style specialists. One ANBU patrol passed through, but no anomalies.
"As for the bandits closest to this site, the mission exists in the village registry, but no one has taken it. The ruins we're standing on were only assigned this morning to a genin squad, they'd still be en route."
The captain's voice was flat. "Then someone is hunting bandits in Fire Country without reporting to Konoha. Not mercenaries. Hired killers wouldn't provoke ANBU. Whoever killed our men struck, cleaned up, and kept moving as if nothing happened. Either they're fearless, or we're being treated like fools.
"Add reinforcements. Whoever this squad is, they're sowing chaos in our territory. Post teams at every remaining bandit den nearby. Report immediately if you see shinobi."
Meanwhile, the Uchiha campfire burned low.
"We can't keep doing bandit missions," Yan said. "It's too easy to connect the dots. If someone checks the mission logs, they'll know exactly where to wait for us. Root only has to sit on a bandit hideout and we walk into their knives."
Kenshi smiled faintly. "No need to worry. These bandit assignments didn't come from the mission desk. Only the spy hunts did."
"Still," Retsu argued, "why risk it? Better we pull back now."
Renji nodded. "We'll finish the spy hunt and return. Next time, we take missions officially."
Retsu picked up a scroll, eyes bright. "This one's near the Fire Capital. Rock-nin spy. We could actually see the capital on the way! I've never been there."
The others exchanged glances. Curiosity tugged at them too. Kenshi shrugged. "Do as you like. Whoever hires us pays all the same. No one dares cheat Uchiha."
So they set out toward the capital, unknowingly stepping out of Root's snare.
Three days passed. The Root captain called off his ambushes.
"No more waiting. Three bandit camps down in days, and ANBU blood on their hands. If they wanted to keep hitting, they would have. They're not suicidally reckless. They'll lie low until their next move. Withdraw. We wait."
His voice was calm, but under the mask his teeth clenched. "Rats. Catch you once, and you'll never crawl free again."
The Uchiha squad slipped into the valley described in the mission scroll. It was supposed to be a hideout, yet inside was a bustling black market. Stalls, wandering shinobi, even inns.
The three huddled in a tavern, ordered food, and watched.
"That's him," Yan murmured. Their target strolled in casually, bought two bottles of sake, and walked out again. No disguises. No subtlety.
Retsu crouched on a rooftop to track him. "He's moving fast. After him."
They followed, through alleys, out of the valley, until the man sprinted for a lakeside. Just before diving into the water, he glanced back at them and smirked.
Retsu tensed to leap after him, only for Yan to grab his arm. "Wait. Something's wrong."
Renji's blade whispered from its sheath. The forest shifted, and ten masked figures stepped into view. Root.
"Uchiha Kenshi," one said coldly, "Danzo-sama invites you to come along quietly."
The spy surfaced from the lake, joined by four more Root shinobi. Together they closed the circle.
So it's a trap. Danzo, you filthy old dog, you won't stop until we're ashes.
Renji's hand moved in silent signals behind his back. Break through the lake side. Kenshi will be close. If he kills their jōnin, we live.
"Uchiha Shuriken!""Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!""Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire!"
Flames and steel exploded forward as the three cut toward the water.
Root countered instantly. "Water Release: Water Formation Wall!" "Water Dragon Bullet!" "Great Waterfall Technique!" Waves surged to shove them back onto shore.
But the Uchiha answered with fury.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball!""Fire Release: Dragon Flame!""Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
The three elements fused into a roaring inferno, Fire Release: Grand Flame Art!
The lake boiled. Three Root shinobi were incinerated outright; two more staggered out wounded. The Uchiha trio burst through the gap and dove for the opposite shore.
"Bastards!" a Root operative snarled. "The captain's targets, kill them all! Don't let them escape!"
The chase thundered into the forest. Behind, two wounded shinobi limped back to summon reinforcements.
They didn't make it ten steps. A blade flashed. A torrent of fire swallowed their screams.
Kenshi stepped out of the smoke, sword dripping, eyes cold.
.
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