The forest in the Land of Fire was vastly different from the mist-filled Land of Water.
The air was fresh, sunlight filtered through the layers of leaves casting dappled spots of light, and the sounds of birds and insects were incessant, full of vitality.
"Captain, no Chakra reactions detected within one kilometer ahead."
A Chunin in the team who specialized in sensory techniques reported in a low voice.
Sweat was visible on his forehead; maintaining the sensory technique continuously was not an easy task for him.
"Mm, good work. Maintain the rhythm."
"Captain Makoto seems very cautious about this mission."
Ōkawa Yōsuke suddenly spoke up.
Along the way, Karatachi Makoto's performance was quite different from the silk-pants rich kid he had imagined.
He neither complained about fatigue nor gave random orders.
Even his arrangements for the marching route and rest points were quite seasoned.
"Carefulness steers the ship for ten thousand years."
"Heh, it's just a support mission."
Hoshigaki Shin beside him snorted lightly: "Konoha's front lines are strained, and their border forces are empty. Coupled with the destruction caused by the Lord Swordsmen, I even feel we could infiltrate directly into the heart of the Land of Fire, or even Konoha itself!"
And then get hit by Sarutobi Hiruzen's 'Tile Shuriken' plus 'Five Release Great Combo Technique'?
Even if Konoha is fighting on four fronts simultaneously, the Hokage can still sit firmly on the Diaoyutai, and the Darkness of Shinobi along with other high-ranking officials remain immovable as mountains.
With such a foundation, how can Kirigakure compare!
Karatachi Makoto glanced at him but didn't speak.
The ignorant are fearless.
At Karatachi Makoto's insistence, the squad's marching speed wasn't fast, but it was exceptionally steady, avoiding several terrains suitable for ambushes.
By the evening of the next day, they finally arrived at the designated support area.
A secluded clearing in the forest by a valley stream.
According to the plan, they would lie in wait here for the support signal sent by the Seven Swordsmen after completing their mission.
"Disperse, scout the surroundings, set up early warning traps."
Karatachi Makoto ordered in a lowered voice, while he himself leaped onto a huge rock by the stream, observing the surrounding environment from a high vantage point.
The view here was relatively open, yet shielded by trees and rocks; it was indeed a good support point.
Hoshigaki Shin and Ōkawa Yōsuke split up, taking two Chunin to set up the perimeter security properly.
The other sensory Chunin took the opportunity to rest and replenish Chakra.
The sky gradually darkened, and the light in the forest became dim.
The stream gurgled, insect chirps rose, and everything seemed very peaceful.
"Shoo—Bang!"
A sharp whistle pierced the night sky without warning, followed by a blinding red signal flare exploding violently over the forest to the northeast, dyeing a small patch of the sky red, completely out of place with the originally tranquil night.
"Signal flare?!"
Hoshigaki Shin cried out in surprise, a look of uncertainty appearing on his face for the first time.
"Why is it there, and the time is wrong too!"
According to the scheduled time, there were still at least three days until the planned support time.
Three days, a full three days early.
The location also had a deviation of several kilometers; this was definitely not a normal support situation!
"Everyone, emergency state!"
Karatachi Makoto shouted in a low voice: "Abandon the current position, advance at full speed towards the signal launch point immediately! Hoshigaki, Yōsuke, you scout ahead, stay concealed, and confirm the situation!"
"Yes!"
Two figures shot out first like arrows from a bow, blending into the dim forest.
Karatachi Makoto followed closely with the three Chunin.
The two places were not far apart; with a ninja's speed, they arrived in just a moment.
However, the scene before them made Hoshigaki Shin and Ōkawa Yōsuke, who arrived first, stop abruptly. Their pupils contracted sharply, almost unable to believe their eyes.
Three wretched figures were supporting each other, staggering towards their direction.
Leading them was none other than Biwa Jūzō.
He was covered in blood stains, and his famed Kubikiribōchō (Executioner's Blade) had only half of its blade remaining.
Behind him were Kurosuki Raiga and Suikazan Fuguki.
Both were equally ragged and in a sorry state.
Raiga was scarred all over, the light of the Kiba (Fangs) in his hands dim.
Fuguki had more than half of his long hair burnt, and the Samehada (Shark Skin) in his hand looked like it had just finished draining, wrapping listlessly around his wrist.
With that image, where was there any trace of the style of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen who awed the Ninja World?
The Three Auspicious Treasures!
They really became the Three Auspicious Treasures!
"It's... It's Lord Biwa Jūzō!"
Hoshigaki Shin exclaimed, his tone filled with disbelief.
How could the illustrious Seven Ninja Swordsmen fall to such a state!
"Lord Jūzō, Lord Raiga, you... where are the others?"
"Cut the crap, retreat quickly!"
Biwa Jūzō coughed up a mouthful of bloody foam, still in shock: "Konoha pursuers will probably arrive very soon, retreat quickly!"
Pursuers, huh.
Looking at the Three Auspicious Treasures in front of him, Karatachi Makoto actually felt relieved.
With the Three Treasures on stage, Might Duy must have already burned out.
However, the strength of the Konoha pursuers behind them is probably not weak; otherwise, even if the three Swordsmen were heavily injured, they shouldn't be fleeing in such panic and wretchedness.
"Yōsuke, Shin, take the three Lords and retreat according to the original plan!"
Ōkawa Yōsuke didn't say much and immediately stepped forward to support Kurosuki Raiga, who was most heavily injured.
Hoshigaki Shin also reacted and quickly went to support Suikazan Fuguki. Karatachi Makoto looked at Biwa Jūzō in front of him, grabbed a somewhat dazed Chunin from the side, and pushed him to carry Biwa Jūzō on his back.
"Lord Jūzō, pardon the offense!"
"Smoke bombs, explosive tag traps, use everything we brought to delay time as much as possible."
"Yes, yes, Captain!"
The remaining two Chunin frantically began setting up obstacles, while Karatachi Makoto left a sentence, "I'll scout the retreat route first," and directly disappeared from everyone's sight.
This textbook-level procedure left the three Swordsmen stunned.
"Go!"
Ōkawa Yōsuke was concise, carrying Kurosuki Raiga on his back and leading the way towards the planned retreat route.
Hoshigaki Shin and the other Chunin followed immediately. Smoke bombs hissed, and dense smoke instantly enveloped the valley entrance.
...
"Captain Fugaku, the remaining three Mist Swordsmen are at the end of their tether. This pursuit will surely be an easy capture!"
Several figures sped through the bushes.
The leader wore the iconic Konoha Jonin flak jacket, had short black hair, a serious face, and the Uchiha clan crest embroidered on his shoulders. A pair of blood-red three-tomoe Sharingan were quickly scanning the surrounding situation.
Following behind him were four Konoha ninjas.
One wore a trench coat and sunglasses, looking quite cool and aloof.
The other three looked different, but their every move formed a cleverly complementary stance, like a single entity that had coordinated countless times.
"Do not be careless."
Uchiha Fugaku's voice was steady.
"Those three are, after all, the long-famous Swordsmen of the Mist. Even if heavily injured, their dying counterattack cannot be underestimated."
"Yes!"
The group increased their speed again.
However, just as they broke through a patch of shrubs, a large amount of dense gray smoke exploded instantly, obscuring their vision.
"Hiss!"
"Watch out for ambush!"
One person shouted low, and the group immediately stopped, vigilantly assuming defensive postures.
Uchiha Fugaku frowned slightly, his hands forming seals rapidly.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A strong gust of wind spewed from his mouth, instantly blowing away most of the smoke and simultaneously triggering those crude explosive tag traps.
Several explosions rang out. Their power was limited, merely kicking up more dust, causing no harm to the combat-ready Fugaku squad.
"Just ordinary smoke bombs and explosive tags, set up very hastily."
A guy with a pineapple hairstyle and the Nara clan crest on his collar quickly checked the surrounding situation.
"However, with the Swordsmen heavily injured, someone must be here to support them, setting up a simple interception before retreating quickly."
"They are carrying wounded; even with support, they can't run far." Fugaku glanced at the messy traces on the ground: "How is it, Shibi, can you still lock onto their position?"
Aburame Shibi beside him pushed his sunglasses, dense swarms of black bugs pouring out from his cuffs, emitting a low buzzing sound.
"Yes, they are severely injured and left behind strong enough Chakra traces... The bugs have already locked onto the direction, it's to the southeast."
"Very good."
The three tomoe in Uchiha Fugaku's eyes rotated slowly, his voice icy cold.
"These bastards must pay the price for the crimes committed in the Land of Fire."
Although the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were defeated quickly, the destruction they caused in the heart of the Land of Fire still resulted in significant casualties, including many Uchiha clan subsidiary businesses.
This debt must be repaid with a sufficient price!
"Chase! Be sure to intercept and kill them before they escape back to the Land of Water!"
"Yes!"