*Chapter 7: The Night Squad*

The white mist in the air grew thicker, and the damp, oppressive atmosphere felt suffocating.

After clearing the battlefield, the losses they tallied made every ninja in the Konoha camp at Futada Village feel both furious and terrified.

Two large warehouses were destroyed, including one that contained strategic supplies sufficient for a thousand ninjas on the front lines for three days, all burned to ashes.

Thirteen Jonin and fifty-eight Chunin were killed in action, and Shisui of the Body Flicker was gravely wounded, losing one of his Sharingan eyes.

Konoha had suffered its greatest loss since the beginning of the war on the Mist Ninja battlefield. The most critical aspect of this tragedy was that it didn’t happen on the front lines but in logistics!

Inside the command tent...

All the Konoha Jonin from Futada Village’s logistics gathered. Sitting at the head of the group, Uchiha Fugaku's face was dark and grim as he looked around.

Losses in war were normal—people die in battles.

But what Fugaku could not accept was that Uchiha Shisui, a genius renowned across the ninja world, had been instantly defeated by the enemy, even losing one of his Three Tomoe Sharingan eyes!

The leakage of a Kekkei Genkai is something no clan can tolerate. Recently, there had already been significant controversy within the Uchiha clan over Kakashi Hatake inheriting Obito Uchiha’s Sharingan after the Battle of Kannabi Bridge.

And that was within their own village. But now, Shisui's eye had been taken by the enemy!

"According to the information I extracted from the prisoner’s mind, the perpetrators were the First Squad of the Mist Ninja assassination unit. The members include the First Squad Captain, Suigetsu Hozuki; Second Squad Captain, Yukiko Fuyunai; Third Squad Captain, Ameyuri Ringo; and Fourth Squad Captain, Yumi Uzumaki."

"And leading them was a rising star from Kirigakure’s Anbu, known as the ‘Blade of the Bloody Mist’—Yoru Mizuki."

Yamanaka Inoichi spoke gravely, "Their mission was clearly to destroy our supply depot. I suspect the enemy aims to cut off our supply lines to ease the pressure on their front lines, similar to what we did at Kannabi Bridge during the Iwagakure campaign."

"Hozuki Suigetsu, Uzumaki Yumi?"

"Mizuki Yoru?!"

Hearing these names, the expressions of those present changed, with many frowning in deep thought.

The Hozuki clan’s reputation was unquestionable. Among the Mist Ninja, they were the most prominent noble family, and their representative, the Second Mizukage, had been especially famous!

As for Uzumaki Yumi...

During the Second Ninja War, the Land of Whirlpools and Uzushio Village were annihilated, and most of the Uzumaki clan was slaughtered, with only a few survivors.

Who would have thought there would still be a remnant of the Uzumaki clan hidden in Kirigakure?

And as for Yoru Mizuki…

To be honest, just like the others, they had never heard of this name. But they were certainly familiar with the Mizuki clan.

In the current ninja world, every village had a few noble clans with Kekkei Genkai, like the Uchiha and Hyuga clans in Konoha.

And it was the same for Kirigakure.

The Mizuki clan held the same status in Kirigakure that the Hyuga and Uchiha clans held in Konoha. Their unique Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, especially in misty environments, could wreak havoc comparable to a natural disaster!

The Hozuki clan, Mizuki clan, Uzumaki clan...

Was this assassination squad really this elite?

“And according to the intel from his subordinates, Yoru Mizuki hasn’t even awakened the Mizuki clan’s Kekkei Genkai,” Yamanaka Inoichi said solemnly.

“Hasn’t awakened his Kekkei Genkai?”

The crowd was once again shocked.

To achieve such feats without awakening his bloodline limit?

“That man never used Ice Release during the battle. In fact, the techniques he employed were all quite unusual, not ones typically used by Mist Ninjas,” a heavy voice sounded from outside the tent. Sarutobi Shinnosuke entered the command tent, his eyes scanning the room before settling on Uchiha Fugaku. “His swordsmanship, secret techniques, and body flicker techniques were terrifying. But what was most concerning were the secret techniques he possessed.”

“Invisibility, binding control, instantaneous bursts of power.”

“His secret techniques seemed born for the battlefield. If we don’t prepare a proper response, he could cause us massive problems!”

“The most important point is that our Byakugan failed to detect this man or his squad at all. It’s clear the enemy possesses some special countermeasures against the Byakugan!”

Shinnosuke’s words were like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone’s heads, awakening them from their earlier confidence that the war would soon end in their favor.

Especially his last statement.

The Hyuga clan’s Byakugan had always been one of Konoha’s most valuable assets on the battlefield. The all-seeing white eyes were invaluable for stealth, intelligence gathering, and guarding against ambushes.

Konoha’s repeated victories in the face of attacks from other ninja villages were largely due to the strategic value provided by the Byakugan.

But now, the enemy had developed countermeasures against the Byakugan, and the Konoha ninjas couldn’t help but feel panicked.

Even Uchiha Fugaku’s expression was filled with uncertainty.

Kirigakure had managed to quietly cultivate such a monster without anyone knowing. Was this the terrifying power of the Village Hidden in the Mist?

By using brutal methods, they raised the strongest of warriors. No wonder they had remained so quiet at the start of the war, only to emerge now, at the critical moment, to reap the fruits of victory...

"Immediately report the intel on Yoru Mizuki and the possible Byakugan countermeasures to Lord Third Hokage. We need all the information we can get on them, as soon as possible!" Fugaku ordered with a stern expression. "Also, notify the front-line headquarters and alert all combat units to remain on high alert and not let their guard down."

"Kirigakure has sent a monster our way!"

"Yes!"

As Fugaku's orders were issued, a Konoha ninja quickly left the tent to relay the messages.

The tent fell into a heavy silence.

The sudden rise of Yoru Mizuki had caught them off guard. Even Shisui of the Body Flicker had been soundly defeated by this man, who was likely a terrifying prodigy on par with the Yellow Flash!

"Where is Lord Jiraiya?"

"By my calculations, he should have arrived by now. But for some reason..." Nara Shiomizu from the Nara clan frowned in confusion.

"Emergency!"

The tent’s flap was abruptly lifted, and a Konoha Jonin hurriedly entered, face full of urgency. "Lord Hiashi has detected a massive chakra reaction several kilometers away! Based on the chakra signature, it’s very likely Lord Jiraiya!"

"What?!"

(End of Chapter)