Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 145: Splitting Into Three Groups, A Rapid Rescue!

On the battlefield, silence reigned for a moment.

The vast sky was filled with slowly shifting stars, reflecting the brilliance of the Milky Way above, an awe-inspiring and breathtaking sight.

Uchiha Ci let out a sharp gasp of pain. Before everyone's eyes, he had just been ruthlessly pummeled by Shisui's fists.

One moment, he was the proud and cold Uchiha, exuding an air of arrogance. The next, his image was utterly shattered, leaving his face metaphorically broken on the ground in a public humiliation that felt all too real.

It even felt like a critical hit!

Uchiha Ci couldn't help but raise his elbow to cover his face.

After mustering some strength, he attempted to push Shisui, who was pinning him down, off and was preparing to use words to salvage what remained of his utterly crumbled strongman image.

However, at that very moment,

Uchiha Shinichi, who had been silently observing Uchiha Ci with a complex expression, took a long stride forward, drew in a deep breath, and solemnly declared:

"I understand now!"

Hearing this, Uchiha Ci's breath caught, and his expression stiffened instantly.

What?!

Shisui was just a kid—fine, let him have his moment!

But, big brother, what on earth is your problem?

What the hell do you mean by 'I understand now'?!

Damn it!

When the Uchihas start thinking, even the gods must laugh!

At this moment, Uchiha Shinichi turned around to face the group and spoke gravely:

"Everyone!"

"This foolish brat may speak harshly…"

Facing the crowd, Shinichi began speaking with an unflinching frankness:

"But, he's right!"

Hearing this, the entire troop broke out in a clamor. Even Captain Shi'er from the middle squad frowned and stepped forward to question him:

"Captain, are you really saying…"

However, Uchiha Shinichi raised a hand to interrupt Shi'er's question and continued in a weighty tone:

"Listen, even among Jonin, there are differences in strength."

"In the face of true power, sheer numbers can lose their value!"

"However," he said, his gaze sincere and intense as it swept across the group,

"This is not a reason for us to feel diminished, discouraged, or despairing!"

"When we step onto the battlefield, as kunai rain down from above, and as the crisscrossing paths of the shinobi lead us to our destined end—"

"Each of us has a place where we must stand!"

"This foolish brat lacks tact, and for that, I apologize on his behalf!"

"But his desire for all of us to survive and reunite in the village—this hope is something I believe everyone can feel!"

Having said this, Uchiha Shinichi suddenly bowed deeply in apology before everyone's eyes.

The group was stunned, staring in disbelief at the scene before them.

For this Uchiha brat, Uchiha Shinichi—a man known for his arrogance and disdain for others—was bowing to apologize on his behalf?

This was a situation they had never imagined!

In the face of this shocking bow, no one spoke for a moment, silently waiting for Shinichi to continue.

When Uchiha Shinichi straightened up, his gaze became piercing as he swept over the group. After taking a deep breath, he declared in a resolute voice:

"And so—"

"From this moment, I will assign everyone their tasks!"

Pointing to the red smoke billowing ten miles away, Shinichi drew everyone's attention:

"First, confirm the enemy troubling even Aburame Ryoma. If the numbers are too great, it will only lead to unnecessary sacrifice. Thus, the ambush mission will continue but be carried out by an elite squad."

"That squad will consist of myself, Inuzuka Akira, Uchiha Shisui, and this brat here."

Hearing this, Uchiha Ci furrowed his brows and pushed himself up from the ground, gritting his teeth in protest:

"Wait a minute, Shinichi, I'm the commander here!"

"Tch."

Shinichi glanced disdainfully at Ci, who was trembling just trying to stand with his severed arm.

Shaking his head, Shinichi said indifferently:

"With the way you are now, even if you were Hokage, it wouldn't matter."

Uchiha Ci opened his mouth but was left speechless.

What could he say? Should he go along and say, "You'll regret this, Shinichi!"

But seriously—I'm the commander of this ambush unit! Why does this Uchiha get to override my authority so easily?

Meanwhile, hearing that he wasn't included in the ambush squad, Captain Shi'er anxiously asked:

"Shinichi, what about me?"

Shinichi turned and solemnly placed a hand on Shi'er's shoulder, signaling him to stay calm.

"Shi'er, you have a more important mission to accomplish!"

Turning to face the group, Shinichi took out a map from his storage pouch and hung it around Ci's neck.

He then shouted firmly:

"Everyone!"

"This battle is not just about ambushes, slaughter, and conflict!"

"We must understand what we are fighting for!"

Slamming his palm onto the map at their current location, Shinichi analyzed gravely:

"Right now, 300 Sand shinobi have fallen here, creating a massive breach in their frontline camps along the Rain Country's border—a breach that this brat created for us!"

"Our next step is to capitalize on this victory!"

Uchiha Ci, used as a human bulletin board and nearly knocked over by Shinichi's slap, glared at him indignantly.

At this moment, Ci was fully convinced:

This guy was settling a personal grudge!

However, there was nothing wrong with Shinichi's words.

At the onset of the Third Shinobi World War, both the Wind and Fire Countries stationed their forces at critical points within the Rain Country's borders.

Each location was vital, each an extreme stronghold impossible to breach from the front.

Now, however, the situation had changed.

Because the ambush unit was operating behind enemy lines, and most of the forces at this camp had been wiped out by Uchiha Ci's explosive actions,

He immediately realized—

This was a golden opportunity!

It was clear that Shinichi, who had been in the Rain Country longer, had realized this even earlier.

Turning solemnly to Shi'er, one of the three Jonin in the ambush unit, Shinichi instructed:

"Shi'er, take all the Chunin and destroy the Sand camps. Capture any remaining shinobi, devastate the terrain, and carve a massive strategic opening. This will be a major contribution, creating a breach that could potentially end this war quickly!"

Then, turning back to the group, he pointed toward their original route of arrival:

"All Genin in the ambush unit!"

"Your mission is even more crucial. It concerns the lives of all of us!"

Tracing a route on the map with his finger, Shinichi said solemnly:

"Based on how Sand has been encircling us, our intelligence has been leaked. The route from Konoha to this location is exposed, and we cannot guarantee its safety or that it is free of ambushes."

"I need you to split into twenty teams, retrace our steps, scout the situation, and return to Konoha's main camp!"

"Report the battle status to the command center and request the Hyuga clan's Byakugan support to chart a safe and updated path from the rear to the frontline!"

Lifting his head, Shinichi's eyes shone brightly as he declared to everyone:

"These are the responsibilities each of us must bear!"

"We will split into three groups and work together!"

"As Konoha's ambush unit, we will carry out a true behind-enemy-lines assault!"

Shinichi's words clarified the roles of everyone in the ambush unit.

The ambush squad would rush to aid Aburame Ryoma, completing the task of destroying enemy supplies—a gain for the present.

Shi'er and the Chunin would obliterate the Sand camp and devastate the terrain, broadening their advantage—a gain for the future.

Meanwhile, the twenty Genin teams, comprising sixty people, would scout routes and gather intelligence—ensuring the safety and retreat of the other two teams.

Their mission was perhaps the most perilous, as they faced the unknown.

They might return to camp unscathed, or they could encounter ambushes and suffer heavy losses.

However, when Shinichi finished speaking, the troops were no longer confused. Each raised their heads and responded in unison:

"Yes!"

Seeing the resolute morale, Shinichi nodded in satisfaction before turning to Uchiha Ci, who was still being used as a human bulletin board with the map hanging around his neck.

Shinichi's fox-like grin emerged as he asked:

"Well, Commander, do you have anything to add?"

Uchiha Ci returned the gaze with a blank expression, managing to respond stiffly,

"Nothing more."

After all, he had no talent for commanding. If he were in charge, his orders would only be one of two:

"Either everyone go home or stick to me like a cheerleading squad."

Strategic depth, expanding victories, intelligence gathering—

How would I know anything about that?

Uchiha Shinichi's words felt akin to Detective Di Renjie setting up the entire case and then asking,

"Yuanfang, what do you think?"

What could I possibly think? You've already said everything!

Damn it! So, I'm just here to play the villain and embarrass myself publicly?

Damn you, Lord Uchiha! You're too cunning!

At this moment,

a Root ninja standing nearby, seemingly noticing the blatant awkwardness on Uchiha Ci's face, quietly stepped closer and whispered,

"Lord Ci, this man is seizing power without authorization. Should I discreetly eliminate him?"

Cough, cough, cough.

Hearing this, Uchiha Ci couldn't help but cough violently. He quickly raised his head and widened his eyes at the ninja.

Whose subordinate is this, so bold and fierce?

Is this something you can casually say in public?

Are you unclear on the situation? They're the ones seizing power without authorization, not me!

Nearby, Shisui, having cooled down after extracting the ambush team's location from Uchiha Shinichi, turned to look at Uchiha Ci, puzzled by his coughing.

"Ci, what's wrong with you?"

Uchiha Ci, like a startled bird, flinched and waved his hands repeatedly.

"Nothing!"

He then turned his head slightly and whispered back to the Root ninja,

"There's no need. Avoid saying things that harm unity in the future."

"Understood!"

Beneath his mask, the ninja's eyes curved slightly, revealing a sly smile.

In this moment, this cold, ruthless Root ninja, who lived solely for missions, seemed to exhibit a hint of humanity.

After Uchiha Shinichi made his arrangements, he swiftly led his men to further discuss the specifics.

As the captain of the ambush team, he was a professional in this regard, organizing how the three groups would communicate, transmit critical intelligence, destroy terrain post-mission, and render the Sand Hidden camp strategically useless.

In under five minutes, Shinichi, already familiar with his subordinates, had efficiently issued all necessary orders.

"Now, the results of the battle, and our future, are in your hands!"

He patted Ichi's shoulder, and the latter immediately sprang into action.

The entire unit mobilized alongside him.

Finally, as preparations were completed, the ninja's expressions grew solemn.

Even the sand in the wind seemed to carry a heavy air.

The night breeze whistled through the eroded rock pillars, producing a mournful horn-like wail.

A force of ninety assembled amidst the crackling sounds of wildfires scorching the ground, their eyes filled with determination and fighting spirit.

They raised their heads, gazing at the ambush team members standing atop the massive snake's head:

Uchiha Ci, Uchiha Shinichi, Uchiha Shisui, Inuzuka Akira, Akira Maru, and Root Ninja B.

Five people and a dog set out on a mission!

Uchiha Shinichi took a deep breath, looked at the bright full moon in the sky, snapped his pocket watch shut with a click, and turned to the scarred young man beside him, smirking as he said,

"It's time to give the order, Commander."

"Got it!"

Standing on Manda's head, Uchiha Ci looked down at the troops below,

his gaze carrying an inexplicable complexity.

When he chose to launch a solo raid to rescue Aburame Ryoma,

he had already acknowledged this mission as a one-way ticket.

Depleted of chakra and left with barely a fraction of his strength, he had no idea how he could rescue Ryoma.

But Ryoma had saved him, trusted him, and even charged at the future Fourth Mizukage—an opponent far beyond his match—for his sake. Regardless of the circumstances, Ci owed him.

He couldn't abandon Ryoma in his perilous situation, even if it cost him his life!

At this moment, as he prepared to embark on this ambush mission,

it wasn't about helping the others; it was his own selfish desire and acceptance of death.

Yet, in this seemingly hopeless situation—

These people had extended their hands to him.

With their help, he might actually be able to rescue Ryoma!

Feeling the scorched night breeze, the turmoil of indescribable emotions within,

the heavy yet determined breaths of those below, and the intensifying pounding of his heart,

Uchiha Ci suddenly opened his eyes wide.

Under the night sky, his scarlet Sharingan shone, filled with complex emotions and deep resolve!

Then, he raised his left hand, gripping the hilt of the Kusanagi Sword.

Facing his troops, those who extended their hands to him, he declared,

"Everyone!"

Uchiha Ci's clear yet resolute voice rang out,

"From this moment on, we will split into three groups and launch an ambush operation!

Let the enemy see the flames of our battle blazing brightly!

Let them hear the clash of our swords!

Let them witness our strength, our sweat, our spines, and our courage!"

With that, he drew the Kusanagi Sword and struck its hilt against his chest, his eyes wide as he roared,

"Now, Konohagakure Ambush Unit—

Advance!"