Deep into the night — Mist frontline.
"Lord Ao, we've lost contact with the scouts near the enemy camp. The reconnaissance team stationed close to the Uchiha may have already been wiped out."
The two aides held the intelligence report, their expressions grim.
The attack hadn't even begun, and it had already been detected.
What chance of victory was left?
Was this really worth continuing?
Ao took the report, his face composed.
Over the course of the afternoon, he had recalled every shinobi in the surrounding area—except those specifically assigned to monitor the Uchiha.
"No matter. I will personally lead this operation."
With the Byakugan beneath his eyepatch, his reconnaissance ability surpassed ordinary scouts. His involvement reassured them slightly.
"Lord Ao, the troops have assembled. When do we withdraw?"
A subordinate entered the tent to report, unaware of the true objective of the mobilization.
"There will be no withdrawal," Ao said calmly. "Tonight, we launch a night raid on the Konoha camp."
"…What?!"
"Shisui! They're really coming!"
Uchiha Hikaru rushed back from the front, both excited and bewildered.
He had been bored—but he had never truly believed the Mist would dare attack again.
"…Why?"
Shisui frowned deeply, his head throbbing as he tried to reason it out.
He turned to Sima Yi.
Even Sima Yi could only shake his head slightly.
"Forget the reason," Hikaru said, cracking his knuckles. "Since they've come, let's show them what the Uchiha can do!"
Their forces outnumbered the enemy. There was no reason to hesitate.
"No."
Shisui cut him off.
"Until we understand their intent, do not act rashly. Go to the front and gather everyone. Withdraw according to plan."
He then looked outside the tent.
"Yoshiyuki. Is everything prepared?"
A young shinobi stepped in — Shiraki Yoshiyuki, a member of Shisui's squad.
"Captain. All preparations are complete. Each unit has received instructions. The Mist scouts have been eliminated."
"Wait—what instructions? Why don't I know about this?" Hikaru stared, confused.
Shisui ignored the question.
"You and Hikaru go together. Explain the plan to him on the way."
"Yes!"
"And remember — do not engage unless necessary."
"Yes, Captain."
After the two departed, Shisui turned to Sima Yi.
"Teacher, only Ao—the White-Eyed Killer—remains as their commander. I'll intercept him personally. I leave the rest to you."
Sima Yi nodded.
"Go. You need only force them to abandon the attack. Every Uchiha life is future leverage. Preserve your strength."
"Yes, Teacher!"
After Shisui left, Sima Yi remained seated, still troubled.
He had been thinking all afternoon and still could not discern the enemy's true motive.
He had even considered the possibility of a hidden force — that this attack was merely a diversion while another unit slipped past into the Land of Fire's interior to plunder.
Or perhaps something bolder.
A strike at Nara Suzaku's withdrawing main force.
Or even a direct assault deep into Konoha's heartland.
"Truly… one must never underestimate the heroes of the world."
At the forest's edge near the Land of Fire's border, Ao's unit advanced quietly.
Though some subordinates were dissatisfied, the Mizukage's authority still carried weight. They obeyed.
Ao activated his Byakugan.
Through the flow of chakra, his expression shifted slightly.
"As expected… they noticed. In a single afternoon, they've laid this many traps."
The forest was riddled with explosive tags and layered mechanisms.
Ao did not warn the others.
Instead, he gave a calm order.
"I will draw attention from the front. Takechi Jūbei will lead a flanking assault."
"Hmph. No need."
The towering, savage-looking Jūbei pushed past him with a grin.
"I'll crush them head-on!"
"As you wish. Watch for traps."
Ao sighed faintly and took two squads toward the flank, leaving the frontal assault to Jūbei.
"Cowards! What's there to fear? Charge! Kill every Uchiha!"
"Charge!"
Boom—!
Explosions thundered almost immediately after Ao withdrew.
He glanced back, eyelids twitching—but suppressed his reaction and continued forward.
With the Byakugan's aid, ordinary traps posed little threat. They advanced rapidly.
Then—
"Ah!"
Several shinobi beside Ao suddenly stiffened, losing control of their bodies.
"Who?!"
Ao's expression changed sharply.
He pushed his Byakugan to its limit.
Through layers of trees, hundreds of meters away—
He saw them.
Crimson eyes.
A suffocating aura.
Terrifying ocular power.
Their gazes met for only a split second.
Sweat poured down Ao's back as he immediately averted his eyes.
"Shisui of the Body Flicker… of course it's you again."
Even he felt helpless before those eyes.
"…Retreat."
Breaking the genjutsu affecting his teammates, Ao did not hesitate. He turned and withdrew immediately.
Hundreds of meters away, Shisui watched in mild surprise.
"This man is the acting commander of the Mist… and yet he personally came to the front."
Suspicious.
But he remembered Sima Yi's warning.
He did not pursue.
Half an hour later, Hikaru reported back.
Takechi Jūbei had died to explosive tags.
The Mist frontal force had suffered over half its strength in losses and retreated.
Other than Ao, none of them had even laid eyes on an Uchiha.
"So what was that?" Hikaru grumbled back in the tent.
"Did they come here just to die?"
Under Shisui's orders, they had not launched a single offensive strike. The Mist had simply blundered into traps and fled in panic.
Shisui dismissed him before turning to Sima Yi.
"Teacher… from what we've seen, the Mist don't seem to have a follow-up plan. Should we strike now and eliminate them completely?"
Sima Yi shook his head.
"I may not know their intent. But I know ours."
"Once the Hokage's proclamation declared the war over—it ended."
"If you attack now, even victory will be labeled as reigniting war. They would have justification to further suppress the Uchiha."
"That would greatly damage your position."
Shisui's frustration deepened.
Everything he did was for Konoha—yet they continued to restrain him.
"But they attacked first tonight. Why can't we press the advantage?"
They hadn't even killed a single Mist shinobi directly. They had only watched as the enemy fled.
Sima Yi looked at him steadily.
"You must weigh gain and loss. And think long-term."
"This battle offers you no benefit in victory."
"But defeat—even the slightest misstep—would hand them a weapon against you."
"Your current objective is to integrate the Uchiha into Konoha. If both the clan and the village grow dissatisfied with you, how will you maneuver?"
"…You're right. I was impatient."
Shisui lowered his gaze.
He still had not fully shed the mindset of earning merit to gain respect.
Sima Yi nodded faintly.
"And above all—"
"Preserve your strength."