UCHIHA: THE ATTACK ON KONOHA

"The first task ahead is to wipe out the bandits, without leaving any survivors." Mei Uchiha said calmly, his Sharingan glinting in the moonlight.

"What? Can't you do it?" His voice remained indifferent. "If you hesitate, repeat the task in your heart, grip the kunai in your hand, and step into your ninja path." With that, Mei vanished in a flicker of movement, the faint rustle of his cloak the only sound left behind.

Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Retsu adjusted the strap of his kunai holster and stepped into Wuming Mountain first. Uchiha Yang and Uchiha Yan exchanged glances before following, their figures melting into the darkness.

The night was silent save for the chirping of insects and the dull thuds of bodies hitting the ground. The outer guards had been eliminated without an alarm being raised, allowing them to push further inside. Scattered across the clearing were several earthen huts, simple structures that housed the enemy.

Uchiha Retsu carefully set up tripwires laced with explosive tags around the perimeter, signaling the others to proceed. Yang activated his Sharingan and silently vaulted over the hut's entrance, casting a genjutsu on the sleeping figures within. Regardless of age or gender, his blade struck true, ensuring none would wake.

Uchiha Yan, crouched near a window, observed the room before slipping in. His shuriken found its target in a sleeping man's throat, silencing him instantly. Meanwhile, Uchiha Retsu perched atop the final hut, eyes scanning for movement, prepared to intervene if needed.

One by one, the rooms were cleared without raising an alarm. The metallic scent of blood thickened in the air. Only two huts remained. Yang gestured toward Retsu, offering him the opportunity. Retsu nodded, gripping his kunai tighter before rushing in. At the same time, Uchiha Yan darted into the adjacent room.

Moments later, Yang surveyed the aftermath, ensuring no secret passages had been overlooked. The three dismantled their traps and left quietly, retracing their path to their meeting point.

Mei Uchiha was waiting, arms crossed, his crimson eyes studying them. "You performed well—better than I expected. Even though there were elderly and children among them, none of you hesitated. That level of resolve is rare for your age."

His gaze sharpened. "However, Yang, you failed to check for hidden mechanisms before entering. Yan, though your kill was swift, your movement risked waking those nearby. The reason Yang used genjutsu first was to prevent precisely that. Retsu, your execution was solid, but your final charge was reckless."

His tone was firm but not unkind. "This was the first mission I selected for you. If you couldn't complete it, you wouldn't be fit to call yourself shinobi."

His expression darkened. "But understand this: as ninja, we are bound to violence and death. Mercy is a weakness that will get you and your teammates killed. Look around—do you want to be the reason your comrades die?"

He let the words sink in before continuing. "Whether those people deserved to die is not our concern. Judgment is the domain of the Shinigami. Our duty is to the mission."

"Sensei, if completing the mission meant sacrificing a comrade, would you abandon the task or the teammate?" Yang asked.

Mei's gaze didn't waver. "I would abandon the mission. We are not just ninja—we are Uchiha. Our clan comes first, always."

Yang hadn't expected such an answer, yet it made perfect sense. The Uchiha prized their own above all else. He thought of Shisui and Itachi, of how their loyalty to the village had led to their tragic ends. Hiruzen Sarutobi really had a way with brainwashing. That accursed 'Will of Fire' cost the clan too many promising lives.

"Rest here for the night. We continue at dawn." Mei's voice broke through his thoughts.

. . .

Morning came, and they set out again. The air was crisp, and the grim atmosphere of the previous night had dissipated.

"Hold," Mei ordered abruptly. "There's a fight ahead. Westward."

They moved quickly, blending into the forest shadows. The sounds of battle grew clearer. Masked figures—Root operatives—were locked in combat with three rogue ninja.

Retsu glanced at Mei for instructions. Mei signaled for restraint, watching as the fight played out. The rogue ninjas fought fiercely, but one by one, they fell, taking a single Root member down with them. The remaining Root operatives, though injured, began disposing of the bodies.

Mei signaled a retreat, but Yang suddenly made a hand sign—attack.

A slow smile spread across Mei's, Uchiha Retsu and Uchiha En hesitated for a moment, their confusion evident as they followed their teacher's unexpected signal. Despite their uncertainty, their training and instincts took over, and they entered the assault formation.

"Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Uchiha Yang whispered three times, his Sharingan spinning into motion.

A storm of shuriken filled the night sky, each weapon splitting into countless copies, creating a lethal barrage. Five remaining Root operatives reacted instantly, raising their kunai to block, but the sheer volume was overwhelming. Uchiha Yang capitalized on the chaos, his form flickering forward with Raikō Kenka (Lightning Blade Creation), channeling chakra into his blade.

Simultaneously, three voices whispered in unison: "Doton: Yomi Numa!" (Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld).

The ground beneath the Root ninjas liquefied, a deep swamp sucking at their legs, restricting movement. Their right and rear flanks collapsed into similar muddy pools, cutting off escape routes.

One injured Root shinobi, already weakened, was impaled by a dozen shuriken, his body resembling a pincushion. Two others flailed, their attempts to deflect the projectiles failing as well-placed kunai struck vital points.

A streak of lightning tore through the battlefield—Uchiha Yang had arrived. With Kenjutsu: Homura Tōbu (Sword Leaping Flame), his blade ignited with searing fire, carving through one opponent. Across the field, Uchiha Retsu executed Mikazuki no Mai (Dance of the Crescent Moon), his afterimages misleading the last opponent before delivering a fatal strike. The battle ended in mere moments.

Retsu and Yan moved to incinerate the bodies with Katon: Gōka Mekkyaku (Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation), but Yang stopped them.

"Sever the heads. Burn those separately," he ordered, his voice devoid of hesitation. "The bodies must look hastily abandoned. Search them—those missing-nin might have carried something worth taking."

Yang's strategic mind was already several steps ahead. "We'll leave a single weak point in our escape route—if their reinforcements arrive, we set traps and gauge their numbers. If manageable, we strike. If not, we retreat. Trust me—I'll explain later."

Uchiha Mei remained silent, an implicit approval of Yang's plan. Though still uncertain, Retsu and Yan chose to follow their comrade's lead. Their search yielded a single storage scroll. There was no time to check its contents—they would inspect it later.

As expected, a second Root team arrived shortly after. Their search led them straight into the pre-laid trap. Hidden tripwires triggered a hail of kunai and exploding tags, forcing them into a defensive stance.

From their previous battlefield, a second wave of traps activated—shuriken fired from concealed mechanisms, followed by cross-darts and explosive kunai. Smoke bombs detonated from the treetops, plunging the area into thick fog.

At that moment, the trio struck.

"Katon: Ryūka no Jutsu!" (Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique)

"Fūton: Kamikaze!" (Wind Release: Divine Wind)

"Fūton: Daitoppa!" (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough)

The elements combined into a raging inferno—Katon: Enjin Senpū (Flame Vortex Whirlwind). The blazing hurricane consumed everything in its path. When the smoke cleared, the battlefield was reduced to charred remains. The six-man Root squad had been annihilated.

The entire ambush had lasted only two seconds. Precision, deception, and overwhelming force had left no survivors. Throughout it all, Uchiha Mei had not moved.

"Clear the area," Yang commanded. "We leave now—our next priority is finishing the bandit purge before Root regroups."

With the battlefield cleansed by fire, they moved out.

Hours later, they reached the second target. Yang turned to their mentor. "Sensei, this one is yours. Before we start mission three, I'll explain everything. We don't have much time—Root will come looking."

Uchiha Mei gave a curt nod. Within minutes, the bandit hideout erupted in flames. The screams inside were brief, then silence reigned, broken only by the crackling fire.

---

Far behind them, a larger Root force arrived at the prior battle sites. Only charred ground remained.

One operative observed, "Captain, the teams were wiped out. No trace left behind—all consumed by fire."

The Root squad leader shook his head. "No, this fire is the clue. It wasn't natural—this was high-level Katon jutsu. Three users, minimum. The difference in burn intensity suggests different chakra signatures."

He knelt, running a gloved hand over the scorched earth. "No plant roots. No intact stones. The burn pattern is unnatural, the result of a coordinated Katon combination attack—perhaps Katon: Enjin Senpū or something similar."

His masked gaze darkened. "This means our targets are not random enemies but highly trained fire-release users. Find teams of three or more. Focus on those skilled in Katon. Whoever did this is not an ordinary missing-nin."

"Yes, sir." The squad dispersed.

The captain muttered under his breath, "Danzō... this will not go unanswered."