Chukichi was convinced this was the best move left; the comrades sacrificed would not die in vain. With his sensory skills, he still had a chance to find a way out.
Konoha had somehow baited them, but in this chaotic melee the Chakra signatures were wildly fluctuating, scrambling both sides' perception—perfect for slipping through unnoticed.
He had no idea a bunch of stealth-cheat "old-sixes" were tailing him.
Even less did he know that the dense search party he sensed was, from start to finish, just one Konoha brat putting on a show.
So when they turned to dash back into the forest and saw a crowd of Konoha Ninja rushing out of it, their confusion was off the charts.
Who are you people? Where did you come from? Why can I see you right in front of me yet sense absolutely nothing?
Are we seeing ghosts?
Asuma Sarutobi couldn't care less. The moment he spotted enemies, it was as if merit itself were waving at him, the Hokage seat beckoning, and his despised old man forced to sigh: "Asuma has finally grown up!"
Then he found those dreams slipping further away—his beloved Kurenai Yuhi even stepping in front of him.
The Sarutobi Jonin leading the squad wasn't about to let him run wild. Rebellious on normal days was one thing; this was a death match against elite foes.
So he'd kept an eye on Asuma from the start, and when the youth charged, he grabbed the back of Asuma's collar and flung him rearward.
The Jonin reacted in an instant. As that Sarutobi Jonin reached the front, two three-tomoe Uchiha—Hachidai and Inabi—struck.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique x2
Fire Release: Great Flame Technique
Signature opening moves of Uchiha and Sarutobi—two fireballs and a sea of flame burst forth.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough x2
Higashino Shin and Gekko Yun Jian fanned the flames from opposite flanks.
The five nature transformations counter and boost one another. In a straight clash of equal power, Fire beats Wind.
But if both are aimed the same way instead of fighting, Wind can amplify Fire.
Wind lent fire its strength, the combined blast surging straight at Chukichi's group.
The powerful Chukichi and one other Kirigakure Ninja snapped out a quick Water Release: Wild Water Wave to shield themselves.
But two Mist Ninja in front, too slow to react, were first scorched, then—while recoiling—knocked by their own teammate's water straight back into the flames.
Fire and water mixed for a savage cocktail; after the full "Nine Heavens" treatment they were dead on the spot, faces unrecognizable.
After the exchange, Konoha's forces drew blades and surged forward, chasing the fleeing Chukichi pair.
Higashino Shin pointed at Chukichi and shouted: "Watch the red-goggled Kirigakure—he's the leader and sensor!"
A big fish.
Uchiha Hachidai's squad immediately shot after them, quickly closing with the chaotic eastern battle and letting Konoha pinch the Kirigakure between two fronts.
Higashino Shin didn't recklessly spearhead; instead, with Hayate and Yūgao, he advanced in formation under Gekko Yun Jian.
His own squad had earned enough credit today—comrades' safety came first now.
In this melee Hayate could cope, but someone of Uzuki Yūgao's level could be carved up in moments if an enemy elite slipped beside her.
The Sarutobi Jonin used the same formation, shielding his squad from the front.
Nara Suzaku's Ino–Shika–Chō trio sized things up and sprinted to support the distant fight.
Asuma Sarutobi: "…"
If only I weren't the Hokage's son.
Chukichi and his lone remaining comrade hacked desperately at the four-Uchiha onslaught. Behind red goggles he kept his head low, but his partner, locking blades with Uchiha Hachidai, accidentally met those crimson eyes.
In an instant the Mist Ninja spun and slashed at Chukigi, bewitched.
"Damn it!" Chukichi cursed. He knew he'd been caught by Uchiha genjutsu. That's why the Ninja World loathes this heaven-blessed clan—in a one-on-one you might never know how you died.
Why can't accursed Konoha learn from Kirigakure and wipe out every red-eyed bloodline? We even slaughtered those pretty red-eyed femboys—are Uchiha any prettier?
All he wanted was to survive. After parrying his comrade's strike he kicked the man toward the enemy and bolted deeper into the force.
Nowhere was safe, but there he might find others to share the pressure.
That's Kirigakure Ninja for you: comrade? What comrade? Anyone who can take a blade for you is a good comrade!
The four Uchiha, hot on the leader, left the genjutsu-addled Mist Ninja for the rear; Gekko Yun Jian ended the poor man's misery with a casual slash.
In large melees, only the opening exchange allows a couple of Ninjutsu volleys; once tangled, it's brutal kenjutsu and taijutsu.
White blades in, red blades out—Kunai and Ninja swords find necks or hearts, limbs fly and blood fountains.
There's no time for hand seals; a jutsu might kill your own. Real life lacks friendly-fire immunity.
Though every Mist Ninja was elite, they were badly outnumbered and dropping fast. Both sides, blood-crazed, paid no heed.
When Chukichi burst in, he spread a wide Hidden Mist Jutsu and roared to the rest: "Don't linger—scatter and break north and south!"
The demoralized remnants obeyed mechanically, sprinting both ways.
Chukichi led a few north; the rest fled south. Futile: it was an encirclement; Konoha reserves waited on both sides.
From the moment Konoha spotted them, their deaths were sealed.
The mist, too thin, blocked little. Konoha forces merged and split in pursuit.
Higashino's squad and Shisui's turned north; Asuma's followed Ino–Shika–Chō south.
Soon both groups linked with their respective reinforcements. One large ring became two smaller ones—equally lethal.
Chukichi finally admitted defeat: the mission had failed; they would all die here.
Fine—he would drag as many Konoha bastards down with him as he could.
Eyes red, he abandoned defense, fighting life-for-life. The other Mist Ninja did the same; after all, every Ninja ends on a battlefield.
But with the advantage, Konoha wasn't stupid enough to trade casualties.
They split the field, using hit-and-fade harassment to bleed their desperate foes.
At last Chukichi stood alone, no comrades left.
He knocked aside the Senbon aimed at his vitals, let the rest turn him into a pincushion, and slashed at the kid holding the Senbon, trying to take one more life.
A green flash caught him—Konoha's signature Leaf Hurricane kick sent him flying.
That familiar outfit… the intel on the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's opponent?
Why does Konoha still have such freaks?
He could ponder no more; the pain in his heart signaled the end.
Turning mechanically, he saw the boy who had earlier exposed him as the sensor.
One last sensing: the youth stood before him, some unseen jutsu piercing his heart, yet to perception the spot was empty.
"So it was you!"
In death, he understood everything.