Fighting an enemy with a full map view is never something you can take a chance on.
Any decision that seems normal could be a trap set by the enemy.
In other words, Uchiha Jinsuke's choice to go around could also be exactly what the enemy wants.
Among all the choices, it's just a matter of probability of success.
But Uchiha Jinsuke still insisted on choosing the latter, for no other reason than his confidence in himself and the strength of his team.
Out of the three ninja squads and twelve members, only two are not Jonin, so there will be no problem with their pace.
As long as they are not surrounded, their chances of escape are very high.
The conditions needed to surround them from all sides would not be easy, even with the support of those rogue ninjas from the Land of Iron.
The cost in manpower is secondary; the key issue is time.
The route Konoha chose requires a half-day journey even to the closest area in the Land of Iron. From the time they entered the Land of Hot Water and were discovered, to the time reinforcements could be sent, there would absolutely not be enough time.
Unless, they were ambushed from the very beginning.
But if that were the case, it wouldn't matter if they just stood still. Since they couldn't escape anyway, they might as well take down as many enemies as possible.
Everyone here was a seasoned ninja, having faced life and death countless times, so they naturally knew the best course of action and quickly made a plan after a brief discussion.
However, when Uchiha Jinsuke wanted to send a distress signal, Kakashi stopped him.
Uchiha Jinsuke looked at him in confusion. Kakashi said slowly, "We alone are not worth the effort of the Kusagakure Ninja and the Akatsuki organization to invest so much. Their target might be Jiraiya-sama; we are just bait."
Unless this was the worst-case scenario, if the Kusagakure Ninja were just a routine attack, they absolutely couldn't stop this team.
And if they considered the worst possible outcome, they had to think even worse. Assuming the Akatsuki organization had planned this long ago, these few ninja squads clearly wouldn't be enough to satisfy their appetite.
They had a record of surrounding and killing a 'Konoha's Sannin' and severely injuring Orochimaru, so they couldn't afford to be careless.
Uchiha Jinsuke's expression darkened at this, and he suddenly understood that his previous considerations were somewhat insufficient.
If they had sent a flare and returned the way they came, then even if they encountered fighting, they would still have a chance to rendezvous with Jiraiya-sama.
Together, they could deal with the enemy's attack.
But if they chose to go around, they couldn't send a distress signal, as they couldn't expect the rescue team to follow them all the way.
They would either have to break through the enemy's blockade using the strength of their squad, or get trapped.
Choosing the latter would undoubtedly mean the squad bearing the risk alone, thus avoiding the worst-case scenario where the Konoha Sannin fell into peril.
But Uchiha Jinsuke did not hesitate and accepted Kakashi's request.
Although saying this made him feel quite disheartened, even if this squad's members were doubled, they were still far less significant compared to a 'Konoha Sannin'.
It had nothing to do with power or status, purely due to personal value.
"For the village" was not four light words, but meant risking one's life when a situation arose, to prevent greater losses for the village and to gain more value.
The Konoha group immediately turned from northeast to southeast and quickened their pace.
...
In a certain jungle in the Land of Hot Water, the Clan leader of the Yuki clan, Mizunashi Akane, led ninjas with bloodline limits from his clan, pausing on the treetops, quietly waiting for the Konoha Ninjas to arrive.
"At most ten minutes, the Konoha ninjas will arrive."
From a thick tree trunk, a strange head with short, grayish-green hair poked out, and said in surprise, "You actually predicted they would do this."
"Although that's not the case now, I was still a ninja in a great country's ninja village before, so I understand their thoughts perfectly."
Mizunashi Akane touched the scar that almost split his handsome face in two and smiled.
"However, calculating and scheming against these young people is ultimately just child's play. It would only be truly exciting to target the 'Konoha Sannin'."
"Your Akatsuki organization is so strong, you could make Orochimaru not show his face for over a year. Why have you been messing around with small things lately?"
"Now, if you instantly target Jiraiya, the chance of success is also very high."
"Heh heh, you've asked the wrong person." The White Zetsu clone chuckled strangely. "I'm just an eye; I don't do the thinking."
"That won't do. Please use those eyes to also function as a mouth." Mizunashi Akane also let out a laugh. "Notify Kakuzu and Taketori and tell them to hurry up."
From the very beginning, this Konoha squad had no way out.
Whether they advanced, retreated, or chose a surprising move like going around, they would be intercepted by the stationed forces, and then be wiped out with the support of two other routes. The only difference would be the location.
And for their consideration of the village, they chose a dead end, cutting off their last sliver of hope for survival. Speaking of which, it's truly ironic.
"I already did that from the start."
White Zetsu muttered, retracting his head into the tree trunk, leaving only the words, "Be careful, they're here."
"Oh?"
Mizunashi Akane, the Clan leader of the Yuki clan, put away his smile, his dark eyes faintly flashing with cold light.
"Kids, go and surround them. Catch the big ones and let the small ones go, keep them busy."
"Yes!"
Rushing sounds echoed through the jungle.
...
The Konoha group moved rapidly through the jungle, the atmosphere in the team growing increasingly tense.
Since Uchiha Jinsuke's warning, Hyuga Hi-maru, the eyes of the team, had increased the frequency of his reconnaissance, reporting the monitored content in real-time.
And in Hyuga Hi-maru's vision, the cold gazes of the White Zetsu hidden underground made him feel like thorns were pricking his back.
After the enemy realized they were exposed, they made no attempt to conceal themselves anymore, clearly telling the Konoha squad through the Byakugan—you are being watched.
In this increasingly oppressive atmosphere, Hyuga Hi-maru suddenly shouted, "There are over ten ninja reactions ahead, at least three of them are Jonin."
The expected ambush had appeared, and the members of the Konoha Ninja squad instead felt a sense of relief.
The greatest fear comes from the unknown, which slowly erodes one's reason. But once exposed and visible, it's not as terrifying.
Upon hearing this news, Uchiha Jinsuke immediately ordered, "Rest here, and await the enemy's attack."
It's not that he didn't expect that there might be other enemies coming from the surroundings. At this moment, pushing through the encirclement in one go would be the best strategy.
But he feared the phrase "once emboldened, then discouraged." By retracting his fist now, he could strike with more force when he unleashed it again.
Da da da...
A series of footsteps sounded, and the Konoha ninjas each took their positions on a tree trunk, forming defensive formations, looking straight ahead, ready for battle.
The enemies came very quickly, covering three to four kilometers in just a few minutes.
The distance between them was only a few dozen meters. Just as they were about to enter each other's attack range, the ninjas of the Yuki clan made the first move.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Over a dozen Chunin unleashed it together, instantly creating a huge wave that forced the Konoha ninjas to scramble, their formation completely broken.
However, these ninjas had attacked too early, and their distance judgment was poor, giving the Konoha ninjas too much time to react. Apart from breaking a dozen small trees, they didn't cause any injuries to the ninjas.
But the ninjas of the Yuki clan were not there to inflict casualties.
Led by Mizunashi Akane, the Clan leader of the Yuki clan, three bloodline Jonin leaped onto the water's surface.
They clasped their hands together and said in unison, "Ice Release: Demonic Mirror Ice Crystals!"
"Stop them quickly!"
As the ice spread, Uchiha Jinsuke's roar followed. He had witnessed the Yuki clan using this technique on the battlefield between Konoha and Kirigakure and knew how troublesome it was.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
...
The Konoha ninjas who were skilled in Fire Release immediately used their techniques.
However, the dispersed formation of the team could not focus the power of their Ninjutsu, and their individual tactical intentions were not unified. Some attacked directly at the three Ice Release ninjas, while others aimed to melt the spreading ice with flames to open a path.
All these ideas were correct, but they all failed.
Not only because their strength was divided, but Fire Release, after all, was just one of the five basic nature transformations, weaker than bloodline Ninjutsu.
In terms of form change alone, even if the flames melted the ice, they would still need to evaporate the water to counteract its power.
And in that interval, a new layer of ice would be formed again.
The evaporated water vapor, these former ninjas of the Land of Water did not waste, "Water Release: Hiding in Mist Technique!"
White mist spread out, filling the space like an inverted ice bowl.
After trapping most of the Konoha ninjas, Mizunashi Akane looked at his Ninjutsu, a hint of wistfulness in his eyes.
Ice Release ninja, combined with Kirigakure assassination techniques, had buried countless enemy ninjas, but now when brought out, they could only function to keep people confined.
The Taketori clan and those like Kakuzu were violent ninjas; they couldn't fully utilize the cage's potential.
"What a shame."
Mizunashi Akane stared at Uchiha Jinsuke and slowly sank into the ice surface.
Even with the mist obscuring his vision, Uchiha's Sharingan was not to be trifled with.
...
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
On the treetops covered in ice shards, Uchiha Jinsuke continuously spat flames towards the ground.
His goal was not to attack, but to use it as a signal to gather everyone.
Before long, eight members had gathered.
Uchiha Jinsuke looked around and frowned, "Kakashi, where did he go?"
Hyuga Hi-maru replied, "When they used the Ice Release Ninjutsu, he used his speed to rush past."
Also absent were two others, a Chunin and a Jonin, who were at the edge before the Ninjutsu was activated and were lucky enough to escape.
"I see."
Uchiha Jinsuke nodded slightly. "That's good. He's not much use here, but he can be more useful outside."
Among the five elemental Ninjutsu, although Fire Release was not very effective, it was the most suitable for dealing with Ice Release, and Kakashi was not good at Fire Release.
With the enemy choosing a conservative entanglement strategy, Lightning Release, used for attack, and Earth Release, used for defense, would be useless.
"The most important thing now is to break this ice shell."
As Uchiha Jinsuke said this, he subconsciously touched his temples.
If he had Susanoo like Shisui, this level of Ninjutsu would be a trifle, purely a joke.
But now, it required several times more effort to escape from it in a disheveled state. This was truly...
Uchiha Jinsuke looked around and divided them into two groups based on their proficiency in Fire Release. "You few keep watch around here, to prevent the Ice Release ninjas from sneak attacking."
...
Standing on the branch of a large tree that had not been washed away by the water waves, Kakashi looked at the ice shell not far away, his brow deeply furrowed.
The headband on his forehead had been straightened, but even with the tomoe flowing in his eyes, he couldn't make out anything meaningful.
The chakra flowing within the ice shell interfered with the Sharingan's observational abilities, making it impossible to find the traces of the three Ice Release ninjas.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh...
Amidst whistling sounds, senbon needles flew continuously towards Kakashi and the other two ninjas, forcing them to retreat from the ice shell.
A Konoha Jonin retreated dozens of meters and suddenly shouted at Kakashi, "Captain, they are trying to force us back."
"..."
Kakashi had naturally seen this. He even knew that if he turned and fled now, along the predetermined route, these rogue ninjas from Kirigakure wouldn't even pursue him further.
Eight Jonin and one elite Chunin, with two strong Doujutsu users among them. For the Kusagakure Ninja, leaving these people behind was already a huge profit.
After all, they had not mobilized a large amount of manpower and resources as previously speculated.
Kakashi thought of this and subconsciously touched the scroll hidden in his chest, which contained the funds for purchasing rare ores in the Land of Thunder this time.
Since they now knew that this operation was an ambush, what they needed to do next was to minimize the losses for the village.
He should turn and flee now.
There were still over a dozen Chunin on the enemy side. For a short period, the three of them would find it difficult to pose a significant threat to the ice shell and reunite with their teammates inside.
Not to mention, the enemy had reinforcements, and after choosing this path, they had already abandoned hope of rescue from the village. Now, the more people who could escape, the better.
But...
But...
Kakashi raised his hand and touched his left eye, where the tomoe flowed, filled with the power of his eyes, as if it still held the hot blood of a deceased friend.
This time, he was facing a choice again.
But it was different from before. It wasn't a deliberate choice to save or not save due to emotional blindness. The current situation had developed because of the combined choices of all twelve of them.
As a whole, they could be damaged and suffer losses, but they could never abandon one another due to division.
Such a thing was absolutely not allowed.
Therefore, after a moment of hesitation, Kakashi shouted to his two companions, "You two do your best to hold them off, I will find a way to destroy this ice shell."
As soon as he finished speaking, without considering whether they responded, he lowered his waist slightly and gripped the short sword at his side.
The two Konoha ninjas were stunned by this order. Without hesitation, they charged towards the rogue ninjas from Kirigakure.
Fighting sixteen people with two was clearly a desperate struggle, but since their captain Kakashi was fighting desperately, why would they be timid?
His two eyes, one black and one red, reflected the scene before him. In Kakashi's mind, he recalled the sword technique he saw on that large lake after the Nine-Tails' rampage.
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