https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-191-The-Collapse-of-the-Mist-Ninja-Frontline-/12832291/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-193-Third-Mizukage-Do-You-Want-to-Dance-Too-/12832293/
Chapter 192: Uchiha Mei: No Imitation, Only Inspiration!
Chapter 192: Uchiha Mei: No Imitation, Only Inspiration!
The southeastern coastal region of Fire Country, at the Izumo Fortress!
This fortress, constructed of both wood and stone, stands as the greatest stronghold for Konoha against the Mist ninja army.
The surrounding area is a dense and lush lowland jungle.
But now, this jungle has become eerily silent.
Countless mists have engulfed the region, making it impossible to see what lies beyond. Occasional screams and explosions are the only proof that there are still people within the mist.
At the heart of the mist lies a fortress scarred by the ravages of war.
A barrier protects this large fortress, keeping the mist at bay.
However, if the barrier were to disappear, the mist would quickly swallow the fortress whole.
On the fortress walls, a group of people gaze with deep concern at the thick, enemy-filled mist outside.
Many of them still have bloodstains on their bodies.
At the center of the group are the Uchiha clan's main branch ninjas.
Uchiha Shizuka, dressed in a black tight-fitting battle suit, seemed to have finally made a decision. She lowered her head and spoke to the young girl beside her:
"Mei, if we can’t hold out, go find Tohei..."
She couldn’t bear to watch the young girl, whom she had raised since childhood, die here.
Beside them, the tall and bear-like Uchiha Shouta remained expressionless, but his fists clenched tighter, a look of determination flashing in his eyes.
No matter what, he would protect the young girl.
"No need, Shizuka-nee!," Uchiha Mei said calmly and resolutely, "There has never been an Uchiha who abandoned their clan to run away!"
Pride dictated that she would rather die in battle than abandon her clan.
If she truly wanted to escape, she would have done so the moment the Mist ninja army arrived, not wait until now.
Seeing Mei’s determined expression, Uchiha Shizuka could only say with a hint of anger:
"It’s all Fugaku’s fault. You warned him that the sudden collapse of the Mist ninja could be a trap, but after receiving the village’s message, he ignored everything to turn the tide quickly!"
She had every right to blame him. If the main force hadn’t been defeated, they wouldn’t be trapped here.
After multiple battles, the main branch, which originally had nearly two hundred clan members, was now down to a little over a hundred, a loss of nearly one-third.
This was an extraordinary loss.
After all, while the main branch of the Uchiha clan numbered over a thousand, the majority were not ninjas. Losing several dozen was an unprecedented blow.
If all of them were wiped out, the remaining clan members in the security department wouldn’t be enough to sustain the main branch.
"Enough!"
Uchiha Mei shook her head, stopping the further discussion. She had never been one to speak ill of others behind their backs.
If she had something to say, she would say it to their face.
If Uchiha Fugaku were here, she might have slapped him, but since he wasn’t, it was pointless.
"I wonder what happened to Tohei. We’ve sent so many messages, but there’s been no response for days. If he were here, it would be a different story!"
Uchiha Shizuka, understanding Mei’s character, changed the subject.
"..."
Uchiha Mei was also thinking about this.
She didn’t doubt that Tohei would come to their aid, but something was off.
She had sent the message immediately; she wouldn’t risk the lives of the main branch clan members out of spite.
Yet, the distance to the Tenshukaku (which had been renamed and they were aware of it) was only a thousand kilometers. A single person could reach here in a day, yet there had been no response.
This meant either the message hadn’t been delivered, or someone had intercepted it.
Boom, boom!
At that moment, explosions began to ring out beyond the barrier.
Water Release techniques and attacks rained down on the barrier, as if they were free.
The Mist ninja had launched another assault.
They attacked whenever they had the chance, giving the Uchiha no respite.
No matter how strong the Uchiha were, their stamina and chakra were not infinite. They had no patience left for this kind of tactic.
As for breaking through?
With the endless mist outside, they were hesitant to take that risk.
Silent Killing Technique!
This Mist ninja skill was famous throughout the ninja world, much like the Konoha Body Replacement Technique.
In this situation, holding the fortress and relying on the terrain was their only hope, as the enemy was also unwilling to suffer too many losses.
If they abandon their advantageous position and the mist continues to hinder the Sharingan, their limited numbers won't stand a chance against the enemy’s onslaught.
Uchiha Mei watched the fluctuating barrier, her eyes flashing with determination.
Initially, they had planned to hold their ground and await reinforcements, but it was clear now that help wouldn't arrive. She wouldn't wait to die, so she raised her voice.
"Everyone, listen up!"
At her call, over a hundred Uchiha on the walls and several hundred civilian ninja (including those left behind for defense) turned to her.
"Place explosive tags everywhere. When the barrier breaks, detonate them in sequence. Then, we will break through to the east!"
Uchiha Mei intended to 'borrow' a tactic from the battle at Kikyo Mountain.
However, she didn't plan to counterattack; instead, she aimed to break through.
Their strength was too weak. Even if they could severely wound the Mist shinobi, the final outcome wouldn't change. Their only option was to break through.
The reason for choosing the eastern route was carefully considered.
The north led to Konoha, and the west to Kikyo's encampment—both directions would be heavily guarded by the Mist shinobi.
The south was the sea, leaving only the east as the only viable escape route.
Uchiha Mei might have her flaws, but her strategic acumen was unparalleled. She quickly identified the sole weak point in the Mist shinobi's encirclement.
"Yes!" the Uchiha clan members responded in unison, and the civilian ninja followed suit.
While the villagers in the village might fear and resent the Uchiha, this sentiment didn't extend to the front-line shinobi.
On the battlefield, you could always rely on the Uchiha.
As long as you could tolerate their cold demeanors and bad tempers, the Uchiha were the best teammates to have.
Several hours later!
Explosive tags were placed all over Yuzuki Fort.
Only Konoha would dare to use so many explosive tags; other shinobi villages wouldn't have the resources to do so.
Pop!
The barrier finally broke under the continuous onslaught of the Mist shinobi. A flood of Mist shinobi and mist surged in.
Looking at the fort where they had been stationed for years, Uchiha Mei, who had already retreated with her people to the eastern side, gave the order.
"Detonate!"
The explosive tags, hidden in strategic locations, began to ignite through chakra lines.
"Charge!"
"Break through Yuzuki Fort!"
"Don’t let those Konoha shinobi escape!"
...
The Mist shinobi, ready for a brutal slaughter, entered the fort.
But instead of blood and screams, they were met with a different sound.
Sssss!
The countless fine burning sounds left the Mist shinobi who had just arrived in the mist momentarily stunned.
Instantly, they recognized the sound.
"Explosive tags!"
"Run!"
"Damned Konoha!"
"Kill them!"
...
Panic and chaos erupted.
The Mist shinobi followed an 'elite policy,' placing more emphasis on individual strength rather than teamwork and discipline.
As a result, the Mist shinobi, with their different choices, fell into disarray.
Command... what was that?
Before they could reach a consensus, the explosive tags began to detonate.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Thunderous explosions shattered Yuzuki Fort, causing significant casualties among the Mist shinobi.
Even the dense mist was forced back by the flames and explosions.
At that moment, Uchiha Mei leaped out of the pit.
"Charge!"
She moved like a tigress descending from the mountains, sprinting eastward at full speed.
Her Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated, and her chokuto in hand, she was ready to cut down anyone in her path.
On her left was Uchiha Shizuka, on her right, Uchiha Shota. Behind them were over a hundred members of the Uchiha main house, followed by several hundred civilian ninja, mostly genin.
Together, they numbered in the hundreds, making a desperate bid to break through the encirclement.
The process was surprisingly smooth. The Mist shinobi in the eastern encirclement hadn't expected them to break through this way, so they were easily cut down.
But just as they burst through the mist, Uchiha Mei, leading the charge, halted abruptly, a look of despair crossing her face.
(End of Chapter)
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