UCHIHA: THE ATTACK ON KONOHA

Uchiha Yang glanced back but didn't see the two injured shinobi. Turning to Uchiha En and Uchiha Retsu, he asked, "Did you see any enemy shinobi on the water earlier?"

The two exchanged glances and shook their heads. "No."

Yang smirked. "Then I'd wager our sensei has already taken their leader's head. I have a plan—this might be our chance to turn the tide."

The three huddled together, discussing in hushed voices, their expressions soon twisting into knowing grins.

Moments later, their attack began. "Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!" Dozens of spinning projectiles rained down, merging with "Uchiha Shuriken Jutsu" to create a relentless barrage. Though the enemy remained unharmed, the overwhelming assault forced them to break formation.

A second volley followed. This time, the shuriken targeted only the middle and leftmost enemies, forcing them to evade. The three shinobi on the right, having not reacted in time, unknowingly pulled ahead of their comrades.

Seeing this, Uchiha Yang broke off to the right, while En and Retsu pressed forward. The three enemy shinobi on the right signaled that they would handle Yang and pursued him.

Yang moved erratically, circling as if tracking an invisible center point. He hurled shuriken intermittently, forcing his pursuers into a pattern. Suddenly, they noticed something off—their target had collapsed.

Just as they hesitated, a flicker of chakra flared— "Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

The tree branch beneath them exploded, sending all three tumbling to the ground.

"Earth Style: Yellow Spring Marsh!"

The terrain beneath them softened, dragging them down into the mire. Before they could react—

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

From their left, a roaring inferno engulfed the swamp.

Yang, having anticipated the moment, bolstered the flames with "Wind Style: Gale Palm!" The combination jutsu intensified the blaze, instantly incinerating the three Genin.

Yang exhaled, then turned to his communicator. "Sensei, En and Retsu are leading the remaining enemies to the valley's left flank—where we changed into our disguises earlier. We're close. We should set up traps now."

Their instructor, hidden in the treetops, nodded approvingly. Pride flickered in his Sharingan-filled gaze, but now wasn't the time for praise. They needed to move.

Yang and his teacher arrived at the valley first, setting up their final ambush. Yang marked a signal for En and Retsu, then lay in wait.

Before long, his teammates arrived, panting and battered. They spotted the signal and subtly adjusted their escape route, leading the enemies deeper into the trap.

The pursuing Genin followed, unknowingly stepping into the prepared kill zone.

The moment they felt they had cornered their prey, Yang manually triggered the detonation seals. Boom!

Two of the enemy Genin reacted instantly, leaping backward.

"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!"

Yang emerged from the flames, cutting one down in an instant and engaging the other in combat.

Meanwhile, En and Retsu launched their combination attack.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

The resulting firestorm consumed another enemy, forcing the lead ninja to break away. The battlefield fragmented, splitting into three separate duels.

Yang's opponent was formidable. His Sharingan struggled to keep up.

He had tried every trick—clones, feints, misdirection—but his opponent's skill rendered them ineffective. Chakra depletion was setting in.

Meanwhile, Mei Uchiha steadily gained the upper hand in her battle. Her opponent, already wounded, could only defend. It was only a matter of time.

But time was a luxury Yang did not have.

His opponent, a Root shinobi, was toying with him. "You Uchiha think you're special, but your entire clan is a disease upon Konoha," he sneered. "Danzo-sama will wipe you all out one day."

Yang barely had time to react before a brutal kick connected with his temple. Blood dripped from his nose and ear as he staggered back.

The Root ninja advanced for the kill.

But Yang smirked. "Funny. I was just waiting for you to get close."

"Fire Style: Majestic Dragon Flame!"

A massive torrent of fire erupted, momentarily forcing his opponent back. But the pain was excruciating—his head pounded, his vision blurred.

The Root ninja chuckled. "Your mother was the same. She took down several promising Genin from Root. My brother was one of them. I look forward to delivering your corpse to her personally."

Yang froze. So that's what happened. His mother had killed for him. A slow smile crept onto his face.

She really is incredible. I need to live. I have to ask her about this.

Yang's vision sharpened. He met his enemy's eyes.

Sharingan. Two tomoe.

The Root ninja's sneer faded as he saw something impossible—his long-dead brother, standing right before him.

Yang whispered, "It's too late."

"Genjutsu: Sharingan."

The illusion swallowed the Root ninja's mind. In that instant, Yang's blade flashed.

Blood splattered the forest floor.

As his opponent's body fell, Yang slumped against a tree, panting.

I was so close to dying. I'm still too weak.

That was his last thought before darkness claimed him.