Amidst the eruption of Fire Release, the Iwa-nin Chūnin was completely reduced to ashes.
Uchiha Kai and his two teammates quickly set off, their objective now clearer than before. However, as Kai glanced at his companions, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. These two were too smart for their own good—something that, ironically, made them both invaluable and insufferable in his eyes.
Still, he needed their strength. This mission was not something he could accomplish alone.
Although Kai speculated that the enemy force currently guarding their target was likely composed of Genin, there was no telling whether a Jōnin had stayed behind instead of heading to the front lines. The uncertainty made things riskier, but he had no choice.
Kai's strategy was simple: using his knowledge of the future, he aimed to make small but effective investments—so long as they didn't endanger him.
As for rescuing the captured Konoha-nin? That was merely a means to an end.
These prisoners held a deep resentment toward Iwa-nin, and it wasn't unlikely that some among them were gripped by sheer terror. Regardless, the fact that they were still alive meant one thing—they hadn't broken under interrogation. Confessing rarely guaranteed survival; more often than not, those who outlived their usefulness were executed first.
Iwa's two-front war required extensive logistics and support, and they wouldn't waste resources on 'worthless' prisoners.
Of course, all of this was speculation on Kai's part, but he was confident in his deductions. With Genjutsu existing as a tool of interrogation, there was little need for Iwa to keep unnecessary captives. The ones still alive had either resisted torture or were being saved for further questioning.
Kai's team had one goal: to free these captives and fuel their hatred against Iwa, using it as a tool to further their own mission.
It was a ruthless tactic, but effective. Hatred had a way of clouding judgment. Even if the prisoners were weak, their desperation could create chaos in Iwa's rear ranks.
Survival? That wasn't Kai's concern.
His team's only responsibility was to break them free and subtly hint at their own objectives. The captives would likely seize any opportunity to contribute to a strike against Iwa. Even if they didn't, Kai could always 'accidentally' let an Iwa-nin escape to spread misinformation.
That, in turn, would draw attention to Iwa's rear defenses—helping Namikaze Minato's team execute their mission undisturbed.
Of course, such things were better left unspoken. Any direct admission of this plan would be suicidal.
Yet, both Aya Hyūga and Imai Kenta had already pieced it together. Kai had to admit, their ability to read between the lines was impressive. They had the cunning to survive in the shadows of war, even if history never recorded their names.
Why, then, did they not exist in the original timeline?
Perhaps they perished on this very mission, or maybe they abandoned the village and became missing-nin.
After all, the odds of survival were slim. Whether Minato succeeded or failed, those left behind to "draw enemy attention" were nothing more than expendable pawns.
If the mission failed, they would be forced to continue fighting a lost battle. If it succeeded, they would face Iwa's full-scale retaliation. Either way, their fate was sealed.
Unless, of course, they chose another path—betrayal.
A clean cut across the forehead protector, an escape from the battlefield, and a life far from the Five Great Nations' endless conflicts.
They wouldn't become legends, but they would be alive. And to Uchiha Kai, survival was the most important thing. If pushed to the brink, he wouldn't hesitate to take that route himself.
Especially knowing what the future held for the Uchiha Clan.
For now, however, their focus remained on the mission.
After two days of cautious travel, they finally encountered the Konoha prisoners being escorted deeper into Iwa's rear territory.
At this point, they had fully infiltrated enemy lines. Patrols were frequent, making every step more dangerous.
Aya Hyūga, as the team's primary scout, activated her Byakugan. Without her, they might have walked straight into an ambush.
"There are four guards, a full squad," Aya reported, her white eyes scanning their surroundings. "The six Konoha-nin are still alive, but they're in bad shape."
"No surprise there," Kai muttered. "How close is the nearest support point?"
"About three or four kilometers away, moving in the opposite direction," Aya responded, closing her eyes briefly. "If we act quickly, we should be able to rescue them before reinforcements arrive."
Imai Kenta grinned. "Captain, maybe we should get ahead of them and set some traps. A few well-placed explosive tags could work wonders."
Setting traps was standard shinobi practice—especially against slow-moving enemy squads transporting prisoners. By predicting their path, they could create an ambush with ease.
Kenta's plan aligned with Kai's thinking, but there was a problem. Explosions were loud. Too loud. Drawing attention was the last thing they needed.
"It's too risky," Kai decided after a moment of thought. "Our mission is to rescue, not to lure in reinforcements."
Pausing, he continued, "We'll set up traps, but no explosives. When they step into the ambush, you two will attack from the flanks. I'll apply pressure with Fire Release. Understood?"
"Understood, Captain."
Smart teammates made things easier. Both Aya and Kenta immediately grasped the plan and moved into action.
Explosive tags had their uses, but subtlety was the better approach here.
Within a short time, they had prepared a simple but effective trap. The three of them then concealed themselves in the dense foliage, taking up positions from three different angles.
Now, they just had to wait.
Their prey would arrive soon enough