c15: Xiao Yin Bi
At the intersection of the Three Great Nations near the Hōyu River, nestled in a narrow valley hidden beneath dense foliage near Konoha's frontline base, two figures engaged in a fierce taijutsu bout. Nearby, a brown-haired girl stood with a slightly anxious expression.
Suddenly, a figure appeared next to her in a flash of movement a man with spiky blond hair, blue eyes, and a bright smile. He wore a standard Konoha flak jacket over a blue jumpsuit, his presence warm and reassuring.
"Ah, Sensei, you're here!" Nohara Rin visibly relaxed and smiled, her face brightening at the sight of him.
Minato Namikaze nodded gently and turned his gaze to the sparring duo. "Gen's taijutsu has improved significantly he can already keep up with Kakashi."
"Yes," Rin agreed. "Gen is progressing fast. He's a genius just like Kakashi."
As she spoke, Gen Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake ended their sparring match and walked over. Both were slightly winded, but their eyes glimmered with focus and mutual respect.
Gen had been dedicating himself to improving his taijutsu recently, deliberately engaging in hand-to-hand combat on the battlefield and regularly sparring with Kakashi to close the gap in their physical abilities.
Though Gen's natural strength lay in ninjutsu and genjutsu especially with his Sharingan he was determined to overcome his taijutsu disadvantage, and his effort was paying off.
"Sensei."
"Minato-senpai."
Gen addressed Minato as "senpai" at Minato's own insistence. Despite being a Jonin and a student of Jiraiya, Minato had always preferred humility in his relationships.
"We've received a mission. Pack your gear and prepare to move out," Minato instructed calmly.
"What's the mission, Sensei?" Kakashi asked.
"Orders from Lord Third Hiruzen-sama. I'm to lead an interception team against a Kumogakure strike force that's entered the Land of Fire."
"What? Kumogakure's invaded again?" Rin exclaimed.
"Yes. Our forces along the Kumogakure front are stretched thin. Even with Lord Orochimaru's tactical brilliance, it's difficult to respond to every threat instantly."
Konoha's intelligence system was renowned. It consisted of three layers: the Intelligence Division under the Interrogation Department, the ANBU, and the independent Root organization. Despite the secrecy of the operation and Raikage's caution, Konoha's intelligence operatives still uncovered the movement.
"Will we accompany you, Sensei?" Gen asked.
"No," Minato replied. "Kumogakure has split into two groups one covert and one open. I will lead the team intercepting the covert unit, commanded by the son of the Third Raikage. You three will be part of the rapid response unit to stop the frontal assault."
"Understood. Please be careful, Sensei."
Minato gave a soft smile. "You three should be careful too. Don't overextend yourselves. Fight smart."
With that, his figure disappeared in a blink, utilizing the Flying Thunder God Technique a space-time ninjutsu known only to him.
Unlike during the Fourth Great Ninja War when he was reincarnated with half the Nine-Tails sealed within him, the living Minato had limited chakra. Long-distance use of the Flying Thunder God Technique drained him quickly, so each jump had to be used wisely.
"Let's get going," Kakashi said.
Gen and Rin nodded, and in the next instant, the trio leapt into the trees, quickly becoming small black blurs fading into the canopy.
After returning to camp, they swiftly packed and joined the rapid response force.
The task force comprised seventy ninja chūnin, tokubetsu jōnin, and jōnin. All were selected for speed, and the leading squad was none other than the Ino–Shika–Chō trio.
Moving swiftly through the lush terrain of the Land of Fire, their movements were too fast for ordinary eyes to follow. As chakra waned or fatigue set in, they used high-grade soldier pills to recover their strength and stamina.
After traveling nonstop for a full day and night, the team arrived in the northeastern sector of the Land of Fire. There, they began laying traps along the expected approach route of Kumogakure's forces, using wire, seals, and explosive tools.
It was evident Konoha had inside intelligence. Someone had infiltrated Kumogakure or intercepted their plans.
During the brief rest, sensing ninjas remained on high alert. Members of the barrier team erected a field that scrambled enemy perception while enhancing internal awareness.
In every major shinobi village, sensory, sealing, and medical ninjas were invaluable.
Sensing and sealing experts were considered nearly as precious as medical specialists. Unless the situation was dire, commanders avoided exposing them to direct combat.
Roughly an hour later, a hidden sensing ninja issued a quiet signal.
The Konoha shinobi readied themselves.
Snap!
A nearly invisible tripwire was broken at the front of Kumogakure's formation, triggering a deadly trap.
Dozens of kunai and shuriken attached to exploding tags burst out from hidden compartments, launching at lethal speed.
Ding ding ding
Boom boom boom
Screams erupted as metal clashed and explosions tore through the air. The front lines of Kumogakure's strike unit suffered immediate and devastating losses. Bodies dropped from the trees, and the few survivors were visibly injured.
"Konoha knew we were coming! Fall back!"
The leading Kumogakure jōnin issued the retreat command without hesitation, prioritizing the survival of his remaining troops.
After hearing the command, the Kumogakure ninjas began a swift retreat. However, the Konoha shinobi were not about to let their enemies withdraw unscathed. From their concealed positions in the foliage and underbrush, they surged forward with practiced coordination, launching a direct assault to force Kumogakure's troops into open battle.
Amid the chaos, a single Kumogakure ninja subtly detached from the formation. He bore a green ribbon tied to his right arm the covert marker of a reconnaissance operative or internal informant. Exploiting the commotion, he slipped through the trees without drawing fire from the Konoha side.
Clearly, this operative was a planted spy. With his mission presumably complete likely involving information retrieval or confirmation of Konoha's troop deployment his withdrawal was neither reckless nor random. Attempting to return directly to Kumogakure would be suicide; Kumogakure's ANBU, known for their zero-tolerance policies and brutal internal vetting, would likely treat him as compromised.
"Kill!"
Three elite Kumogakure ninjas brandished short chakra-forged blades and rushed toward Konoha's Team Minato. With fluid footwork and the agility characteristic of Lightning Release-enhanced movement, they dodged shuriken launched by the Konoha team with ease, showcasing the precision and momentum of high-level frontliners.
Without hesitation, Kakashi Hatake and Gen Uchiha dashed forward to intercept. Steel clashed with steel as sparks flew. Kumogakure shinobi were well-known for their affinity with kenjutsu and Raiton (Lightning Release) styles, but in terms of raw taijutsu, they found themselves evenly matched if not slightly outclassed by the duo from Konoha.
Despite their numbers advantage, the three found themselves on the defensive. Kakashi's tactical precision and Gen's aggressive unpredictability kept them from gaining ground.
Exchanging subtle glances, the Kumogakure trio changed tactics. One ninja broke formation and veered toward Nohara Rin, who stood ready with a kunai, her stance stable and calm.
Gen reacted instantly. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled three shuriken toward the attacker. The enemy ninja deflected them with practiced swings of his blade, barely breaking stride. But instead of falling away harmlessly, the shuriken curved mid-air and homed in again.classic Sharingan-controlled trajectory manipulation.
Momentarily startled, the Kumogakure ninja still kept his cool. He slashed and twisted, avoiding serious damage only a shallow cut formed along his waist. But that was enough.
In that instant, Rin, having anticipated his path, released two kunai. Her aim was precise and her timing impeccable. The enemy twisted mid-leap to avoid vital organs, but the weapons found their mark.
He exhaled sharply, then faltered. The poisoned blades had done their job.
As a trained medical ninja under Minato Namikaze's command, Nohara Rin had been taught to handle all aspects of battlefield medicine including the use of toxins. Though she had previously refused to implement such deadly tactics, Uchiha Gen had persuaded her to prepare for all eventualities, insisting that morality meant little if she couldn't protect her comrades.
Within moments, the poisoned Kumogakure ninja collapsed, his face darkening as paralysis took hold.
Then, with barely a murmur, Gen's Sharingan flickered to life. His eyes transformed into the three-tomoe Magatama form. He locked eyes with the remaining two enemy ninja just long enough.
Genjutsu: Sharingan.
Instantly, their bodies froze mid-motion. Unlike most Uchiha who fought with overt pride, Gen operated with ruthless efficiency. He didn't wear the Uchiha clan crest, nor did he reveal his dōjutsu until the moment of decisive impact.
This calculated deception was something only a pragmatist could employ.
Seizing the moment, both Gen and Kakashi moved.
Four blurs crossed paths in an instant. Blood sprayed into the forest air as the two entranced Kumogakure ninja fell, their throats opened cleanly. Their corpses landed with a pair of soft thuds beneath the trees.
Perched on a branch, Kakashi let out a quiet sigh. He looked toward Gen with a half-smirk.
No matter how many times he witnessed it, he always felt the same thing: Gen's approach was cunning almost unnerving.
He was Uchiha, yes, but without the pride or showmanship. And that made him dangerous.
"So," Gen turned toward him, eyes gleaming, "how about I take the main carry this time?"
Having worked together for over a month, Kakashi had grown used to Gen's odd lingo terminology drawn from who-knows-where. Terms like "main C" and "support role" had become part of their informal banter.
"Sure," Kakashi said with a calm expression. "I'll take sub-carry. Rin can handle utility support."
"I accept!" Rin replied cheerfully, raising her right hand with a bright smile that belied the chaos they had just endured.
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