In front of Fugaku, Terumi Ryuunosuke's face darkened. The situation had shifted drastically.
The Kirigakure forces, once confident in their superiority, were now at a severe disadvantage. Three of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—who had been expected to control the battlefield—had been injured by Uchiha Yoruki. The balance of the battle had tipped in an instant, and now, Terumi Ryuunosuke could see that continuing this fight would lead to disaster. Not only would the Kirigakure troops suffer heavy losses, but they might even lose one of their legendary swordsmen.
The battle could no longer be fought.
"Everyone in Kirigakure, move toward the sea!" Terumi Ryuunosuke ordered sharply, his voice unwavering.
Terumi was a master tactician, always able to assess a situation quickly. His ability to recognize when to retreat had helped the Terumi clan overcome past crises, and it was this same instinct that was guiding him now. He knew the battle was lost, and the best option was to retreat before they suffered further losses.
Fugaku's gaze darkened as he surveyed the battlefield. The Kirigakure forces had deliberately spread out, avoiding a concentrated engagement with Konoha. This was to buy time, and their retreat towards the sea would further complicate things. If they reached the coast, their combat strength would increase, and Konoha's forces would be at a disadvantage.
However, Fugaku would not allow them to escape so easily.
"Try to delay the enemy as much as possible and increase their casualties!" Fugaku ordered, his voice firm.
With their respective orders given, the Kirigakure ninjas moved without hesitation. For them, retreating was just another order to complete, and their discipline ensured they followed Terumi Ryuunosuke's command without question, even if it meant facing death.
The members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, including Kushimaru Kuriarare, looked toward Uchiha Yoruki with wariness. Fear was evident in their eyes, though Kushimaru's mask hid his expression. However, his long years in Kirigakure had taught him not to fear easily, and soon enough, the fear faded.
Once Terumi Ryuunosuke gave the signal, the seven rushed toward the sea.
Uchiha Yoruki had no intention of stopping them. Instead, he flashed across the battlefield, moving with deadly speed to intercept a Kirigakure Jonin who was being pursued by Konoha ninjas.
The Kirigakure Jonin's face paled when he saw Yoruki appear before him, but he quickly steeled himself. He knew that hesitation would only lead to his demise.
The Jonin swung his sword at Yoruki, but the latter remained calm. With a swift motion, Uchiha Yoruki drew his own blade and blocked the Jonin's strike.
"Clang!"
The sound of metal hitting metal rang out, and the Kirigakure Jonin's sword was cleaved in half. Without missing a beat, Uchiha Yoruki flipped his blade and brought it down with deadly precision.
"Puff!"
The Jonin's sword hand was severed in a single clean stroke. The pain was unbearable, and the Jonin gritted his teeth to stifle a scream. But before he could react further, Uchiha Yoruki appeared behind him, delivering a swift blow that knocked him unconscious.
Nearby, a Konoha ninja watched in surprise. "I heard Uchiha Yoruki always ruthlessly wipes out his enemies. Why did he knock him out this time?"
Shisui, who was nearby, chuckled and replied, "We've suffered losses in this battle because we didn't understand the enemy's abilities. Now that we have a chance, capturing Kirigakure's elites will be more beneficial than simply killing more ninjas."
The Konoha ninja blinked, realization dawning. He looked at the young Shisui with renewed respect. "It seems Namikaze Minato taught you well. You're quite sharp for someone so young."
At that moment, Uchiha Yoruki approached Shisui and the Konoha ninja, carrying the unconscious Kirigakure Jonin.
"I'll leave him to you two. Make sure he's brought back safely," Yoruki said, tossing the Jonin at their feet. The man's hands and feet were bound, and his mouth was gagged to prevent any attempts at escape.
Shisui paused for a moment, then nodded with determination. "Yes!"
With that, Uchiha Yoruki vanished in a blur, leaving Shisui and the Konoha ninja behind. By now, most of the surviving Kirigakure ninjas had reached the seaside. But Uchiha Yoruki had no intention of letting them slip away so easily. He would continue to press the attack, just as Fugaku had ordered.
A short chase ensued, but the Kirigakure forces were not fast enough. Before they could fully withdraw, dozens of them were cut down by Konoha ninjas.
A Few Days Later...
The Konoha interrogation teams had successfully extracted valuable information from the captured Kirigakure Jonin. They learned key details about the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and the weapons they wielded. This information quickly made its way back to Konoha and was distributed across various battlefields.
In the Land of Grass, inside Jiraiya's tent, Konoha's top strategists gathered to discuss the implications of the recent battle.
"I didn't expect Kirigakure to strike before gathering their full forces," Jiraiya remarked, his voice thoughtful. "Unlike the Iwagakure and Kumo strategies, they didn't wait to concentrate all their forces before launching a full-scale attack from multiple directions."
Minato, along with other Konoha elites, sat around the table, reviewing the situation. The Iwagakure forces, now numbering over three thousand, had camped in different locations across the Land of Grass. Though they outnumbered Konoha's forces, Minato had predicted they would spread their forces thin, rather than concentrate them in a single location.
"It seems someone anticipated our movements and launched an offensive before Fugaku and the others could locate the Kirigakure base," Minato said, his expression serious. "I was once in Kirigakure myself, and I remember the risks of being so close to the Third Mizukage's chakra-sealing barrier."
Jiraiya and the others looked concerned. "Over the years, it seems Kirigakure has been planning something big," Jiraiya continued. "The Seven Ninja Swordsmen shouldn't be underestimated."
As the conversation turned to the broader strategy, Jiraiya looked at Minato with a knowing expression. "But let's not forget, the reason Konoha was able to take the initiative against Kirigakure was largely due to Uchiha Yoruki."
Minato's lips curled into a faint smile, but a hint of sadness flashed in his eyes. Uchiha Yoruki's strength had altered the course of the war. But even so, Minato knew that the challenges ahead would not be so easily overcome.
"Uchiha Yoruki," Minato muttered to himself.
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