Upon receiving the order, the Kirigakure warships hurriedly began to turn.
Oars churned through the waves.
Sails shifted.
The fleet angled toward deeper waters.
On the shore—
Rows of Uchiha soldiers stood like mountains, silent and unmoving.
Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Tekka, and Uchiha Shisui stood atop a raised reef, watching the enemy retreat.
"They're withdrawing… just as expected."
Yashiro's tone was calm, though faint disappointment lingered beneath it.
"Jūzō Biwa is aboard those ships… along with more than three hundred Kirigakure ninja."
"A pity we couldn't finish them in one battle."
The Volcano Army and Wind Forest Army were newly formed.
On land—they were formidable.
At sea—
Against Kirigakure—
Their advantage diminished.
Once the enemy boarded ships, interception became difficult.
"Hmph. At least they know when they're beaten."
Tekka crossed his arms, his expression sharp and arrogant.
"But what is this?"
"They think they can come and go as they please?"
"This is Uchiha territory."
He glanced at the others.
"Let's wipe them out."
Shisui remained silent at first.
His three-tomoe Sharingan tracked the retreating ships, recalling every detail of the earlier pursuit.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Fuguki took most of their elites."
"What remains—no more than forty chūnin."
"Jōnin… fewer than ten."
Yashiro glanced at him in surprise.
This young prodigy truly lived up to his reputation.
After a moment, he nodded.
"That matches my judgment."
"In elite strength—we're not weaker."
"In fact… we have the advantage."
Tekka's eyes lit up.
"So we board them?"
"Close-range combat."
"Exactly."
Yashiro nodded.
"Select elites above chūnin level. Travel light."
"Pursue them at sea."
"Destroy them before reinforcements arrive."
Tekka grinned.
"Sixty against three hundred?"
"More than enough."
Shisui gave a slight nod.
The order was issued immediately.
Over sixty elite ninja were selected.
Each at least chūnin level.
Nearly twenty—
Uchiha.
They discarded unnecessary gear.
Moved fast.
Then—
Pretended to withdraw.
Disappearing from Kirigakure's perception range.
On the flagship—
Jūzō Biwa watched the shore.
Tense.
When the Uchiha forces finally withdrew—
He exhaled.
Good.
They weren't insane enough to chase into the open sea.
He turned.
The deck was filled with exhausted survivors.
Fear.
Relief.
Silence.
Morale was fragile.
As commander—
He had to speak.
Even if only to convince himself.
Jūzō slammed the Executioner's Blade against the deck.
"Look carefully!"
"Even the Uchiha must think twice on the sea!"
He pointed toward the dark horizon.
"This is our domain!"
"The sea is our fortress!"
"The waves—our army!"
"Once they leave land…"
"What can those red eyes do?"
The soldiers stirred slightly.
But not much.
Reality had already crushed them.
Night fell.
The moon rose.
Silver light shimmered across the ocean.
Beneath that calm surface—
Death approached.
Over sixty figures skimmed across the sea.
Silent.
Fast.
Chakra gathered beneath their feet.
They clung to the hull like shadows.
Then—
Boarded.
The killing began quietly.
Sharingan flickered.
Uchiha appeared like ghosts across the deck.
Guards died without sound.
Blades pierced throats.
Hands caught blood.
No alarms.
Only—
Soft thuds.
Faint gasps.
Bodies falling.
Death spread like a shadow.
Until—
"Enemy—!"
A throat was cut mid-scream.
"Sharingan—!"
"They're here—!"
Too late.
Chaos erupted.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Flames ignited sails and ropes.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets!"
Invisible blades tore through cover.
Uchiha warriors moved like predators in confined corridors.
Screams filled the ship.
Metal clashed.
Fire spread.
Blood soaked the deck.
Kirigakure—
Caught completely off guard.
Then—
Mist.
Thick.
Sudden.
"Hidden Mist Technique!"
"Stay together!"
Visibility vanished.
"Shhk—!"
Several Infinite City ninja fell.
Yashiro frowned.
"Hold formation."
In close quarters—
Stealth lost its value.
The Sharingan spun slowly.
Then—
He changed tactics.
"Break the hull."
"Now."
BOOM—!
The ship exploded open.
Massive holes tore through the structure.
Moonlight and fire flooded in.
The mist scattered.
Enemies exposed.
"Attack."
"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon!"
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
Flames surged.
Wind fed the fire.
Inside the ship—
Inferno.
"No—!"
"Save me—!"
Screams filled the corridors.
Fire devoured everything.
Wood.
Steel.
Flesh.
The ship became a furnace.
Outside—
In the sea—
Jūzō had already fled.
The moment the fire spread—
He knew.
The ship was finished.
Without hesitation—
He dove.
Silent.
Like a shark.
Swimming away.
But the burning ship—
Lit the sea.
And revealed him.
Byakugan.
Hyūga Hizashi saw everything.
"Target spotted."
"In the water."
"Jūzō Biwa."
He spoke quietly.
Uchiha Inabi's eyes sharpened.
"Perfect."
"After him."
Five figures shot forward across the sea.
A signal flare rose into the sky.
On the burning ship—
Tekka and Shisui saw it.
"That's him."
"Inabi found him."
They moved instantly.
Jūzō surfaced—
And froze.
Ahead—
Enemies.
Behind—
Faster ones approaching.
No escape.
"Water Release: Water Dragon!"
He attacked desperately.
But—
Before the Sharingan—
Nothing was hidden.
Inabi countered.
Tekka attacked.
"First Form — Dust Whirlwind Slash!"
A wind blade tore toward Jūzō's legs.
"Third Form — Clear Storm Wind Tree!"
Shisui appeared beside him.
Faster.
Sharper.
Three strikes.
Jūzō blocked one.
Missed the others.
"Slash—!"
Blood sprayed.
His arm faltered.
"Don't underestimate me!"
He roared—
But Tekka was already moving.
"Second Form — Claw Wind!"
Wind blades sealed his retreat.
Jūzō blocked—
Barely.
Arms shaking.
And in that instant—
His focus broke.
That was enough.
Inabi appeared before him.
Three-tomoe Sharingan—
Reflected in Jūzō's eyes.
"Genjutsu."
No seals.
No warning.
Jūzō froze.
The battle—
Ended.
That was the power of the Sharingan.