Seimei and his comrades received their orders and sprang into action. Follow current novels on NoveI★Fire.net
This time, however, they did not gather as one unit but instead headed individually to various battlefronts, each acting as the stabilizing force for their respective theaters.
Beneath the clear, bright moonlight, Seimei flew through the air, surveying the land below. Before long, he arrived at his assigned battlefield.
Looking down at the sporadic flashes of fire and hearing the faint sounds of combat in the distance, Seimei took a deep breath and quickly descended.
A scene of chaos unfolded before him. His appearance soon caught the attention of both allies and enemies alike.
A familiar voice called out, catching Seimei's attention. He turned to see Kobayashi Shunji, a subordinate who had served as his vice-captain in recent days.
Indeed, it was none other than Kobayashi, a Special Jōnin of the Leaf.
Although Seimei knew this battlefield was where he had led his troops a few hours earlier, he hadn't expected Kobayashi to still be alive.
Given the depth to which their unit had penetrated—second only to the Hyuga Clan-led squads—it was a miracle that Kobayashi had survived. Their unit had faced attacks far more intense than the skirmishes on the outskirts.
Now, seeing Kobayashi injured and pale from blood loss yet still standing, Seimei couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
Suddenly, Seimei's sharp eyes caught movement—a Mist ninja chūnin throwing a kunai at Kobayashi, who was momentarily distracted.
Without hesitation, Seimei flung his own kunai with incredible speed.
Kobayashi flinched as the kunai hurtled toward him. However, his instincts as a seasoned Jōnin kicked in. Realizing the kunai wasn't aimed at him but at an enemy behind him, he dove forward to dodge while glancing back.
The two kunai collided mid-air with a sharp *clang* before ricocheting off in opposite directions.
Following the trajectory of the hostile kunai, Kobayashi spotted a hidden Mist chūnin.
Before he could act, the enemy was suddenly engulfed in flames—a signature move of Seimei's that left no room for escape.
The Mist ninja let out a blood-curdling scream as the fire consumed him.
Seimei descended gracefully, landing before Kobayashi.
"Captain!" Kobayashi greeted him with a mix of relief and admiration.
Seimei nodded. "You've received the command from HQ?"
"Yes," Kobayashi replied, struggling to contain his excitement. "We'll fully cooperate with your plans to eliminate the Mist ninja forces."
Satisfied with the response, Seimei directed Kobayashi to rally the troops for an immediate offensive.
The results were remarkable.
Without a unified command, the Mist forces crumbled under coordinated assaults led by Seimei and the other commanding Jōnin. In just one night, the Leaf retook territories they had lost over the past two months.
The Mist forces only managed to stabilize when they regrouped and fortified themselves at Yujin Harbor.
Despite their momentum, Seimei and his comrades did not pursue the enemy further. Exhaustion and heavy casualties made it clear they needed to regroup and recover before planning their next move.
By dawn, the battlefields had quieted.
Standing on the Leaf's frontlines near Yujin Harbor, Seimei watched the first rays of sunlight break over the horizon. The bloodlust accumulated from a night of relentless combat dissipated, leaving him feeling lighter.
The harsh truth of prolonged combat had left its mark on him, reminding him of how war could twist personalities and give rise to both madmen and saviors.
"Breathe in... breathe out…"
As he exhaled, Seimei's thoughts drifted until a familiar voice broke his reverie.
"Seimei, what are you staring at?"
Startled, he turned to see Uchiha Shisui, looking weary but determined.
"Nothing," Seimei replied, shaking his head. "What's the matter?"
Shisui gave him a knowing look but didn't press further. "We need to report our results."
"Ah, I almost forgot," Seimei said, recalling Nara Keiko's earlier instructions to convene after the mission.
Together, Seimei and Shisui left the battlefield, heading toward the command center to deliver their report.