Chapter 70: Ambush in the Night
The formalities concluded, the Uzumaki clan sent six of their own clansmen to accompany the wedding procession—a necessary gesture of goodwill, especially since they were marrying off a stand-in. They could not appear neglectful.
"Move out!" Uchiha Raizen commanded, finding himself unofficially in charge of the logistics and pace of the return journey. As the highest-ranking elder present, the responsibility naturally fell to him.
The group set off, the mood noticeably lighter than on their arrival.
"Elder Raizen, look at my brother," Uchiha Senna whispered, falling into step beside him with a wide grin. "He's actually smiling. I haven't seen him smile like that since… well, since before. And it looks real."
"You're such a child sometimes," Raizen replied fondly, flicking Senna's forehead. "Just wait, your turn for this will come soon enough."
"Ha! When it does, you have to promise you'll be there to help me, Elder Raizen!" Senna laughed, his cheerfulness infectious.
The journey was slow and deliberate, out of consideration for Yana. By evening, they had reached the same sheltered mountain col where they had camped before. Tents were swiftly erected as dusk settled into a deep, star-dusted night.
Raizen made a point of checking on the Uzumaki envoys. "Are you all comfortable? Do you have adequate shelter?"
The leader of the Uzumaki group bowed respectfully. "Elder Raizen, we did not bring our own tents."
"Senna," Raizen called out. "Prepare three tents for our six guests."
Without question, Senna went to coordinate, soon returning with the necessary equipment.
Raizen addressed the Uzumaki clansmen again, his tone serious. "Your assistance would be greatly appreciated. I would like three of you to take turns maintaining a sensory perimeter throughout the night. If you detect anything abnormal, report it to me immediately."
While their combat prowess might not have matched the Uchiha's, their sensory skills were unparalleled. It was a logical use of their unique abilities.
"Of course, Elder Raizen. We will make the arrangements immediately."
Satisfied that the camp's security was as tight as he could make it, Raizen retired to his own tent. Yet, sleep eluded him. A deep, gnawing sense of foreboding coiled in his gut, a primal warning he had learned not to ignore. He considered speaking to Madara, but dismissed the idea. For the first time in years, Madara seemed genuinely at peace. He wouldn't spoil that with vague anxieties.
The hours ticked by. As midnight approached, Raizen gave up on sleep and stepped out of his tent to clear his head. He still had three pickup opportunities left for the day.
The moment his foot touched the earth outside, his Sage-enhanced senses screamed a warning. The natural energy around them was twisting, violated by a concentrated, malevolent presence.
"ENEMY ATTACK!" he roared, his voice cutting through the silent night like a blade.
Instantly, the camp erupted into controlled chaos. Uchiha shinobi burst from their tents, Sharingan already blazing crimson, kunai in hand, forming a defensive perimeter. Notably, the Uzumaki clansmen did not emerge; they were likely focusing their efforts on sensing the threat.
"Impressive, Elder Raizen," a chillingly familiar voice drawled from the darkness at the edge of the camp. A figure stepped into the flickering light of the dying campfire. "Your perception is even sharper than reported."
Uchiha Raizen's blood ran cold. This was the one person he least wanted to see here, at this moment. Because he knew, with a sinking certainty, that among their present company, there was no one strong enough to defeat him.