Night deepened.
The clamor and clashing steel of the day were swallowed by darkness.
The container district fell into silence.
Pale moonlight filtered through the high ventilation bars, outlining rows of cold metallic silhouettes.
The daytime "sparring"—
Had been a key.
Not only had it allowed the backbone of the Kirigakure prisoners to regain their chakra—
It had also pried open something far more dangerous.
A crack in their will.
Into which seeped desperation.
And hope.
After returning to their containers, beneath the surface of obedience—
A silent network spread.
Knuckles tapped coded signals against metal walls.
Whispers were reduced to breath.
Glances carried meaning.
Communication born on the edge of death.
Kirigakure specialized in Water Release—
But they were not limited to it.
Wind-based derivatives—
Cutting.
Piercing.
Unlocking.
Breaking iron restraints—
Was not difficult.
They chose their moment carefully.
The latter half of the night.
When fatigue weighed the heaviest.
When vigilance dropped the lowest.
A mist began to spread.
At first—
A thin dampness.
Then—
Thickening.
Curling around the containers.
Clinging to the guards' legs.
Camp lights blurred into faint yellow halos.
Two Red Armor soldiers stood guard near Containers One and Two.
Their figures blurred in the fog.
Perhaps out of boredom—
Or something else—
Their conversation drifted faintly.
"Did you hear?"
The older one spoke quietly.
"News from the village. Advisor Koharu Utatane will arrive tomorrow."
The younger one hummed.
"She's coming to慰问 us, right?"
"For decades… first time Konoha actually cares about us."
"The first time?" the older man scoffed softly.
"This time, we bled for the eastern front."
"We blocked Kirigakure. Held the gate."
"The Hokage Tower can't ignore that forever."
"Sending someone with smiles and polite words?"
"Only natural."
"What are we worrying about… the General will—"
The younger man suddenly frowned.
His Sharingan activated.
"This fog…"
"Something's wrong."
"Move—!"
Too late.
A surge of water exploded from within the mist.
The prisoners moved simultaneously.
Dozens of Water Release techniques erupted at once.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Roaring torrents slammed into the containers.
Metal screamed.
Walls twisted—
Then burst apart.
Rows of containers ruptured like torn hives.
Figures poured out.
A flood of bodies.
"Kirigakure riot!"
"Red Armor Army—contain and suppress!"
Fugaku's voice rang through the night.
Signal flares ignited the sky.
Faces turned pale under crimson light.
The prisoners did not intend to fight.
They intended to run.
"Follow me!"
"Don't look back!"
Fuguki Suikazan burst forward first.
Water surged from his arm, blasting open a metal gate.
His massive body carved a path through the fog.
Destination—
A weakness in the camp's defenses.
One he had memorized earlier.
Kisame followed.
Hands forming seals rapidly.
"Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!"
The fog thickened further.
He understood—
Five hundred people was too many.
If surrounded—
They would all die.
The mass surged forward.
Feet crushed gravel.
Breathing turned ragged.
Bodies collided.
No one looked back.
Only forward.
Only escape.
Some fell.
Trampled instantly.
Screams swallowed beneath boots.
"Stop!"
The Red Armor Army reacted.
Sharingan glowed.
Blades rang.
But they did not charge blindly.
They formed ranks.
Controlled.
Precise.
"Wind Release: Gale Blade!"
Razor winds tore through the fleeing mass.
Kunai rained through the fog.
Screams erupted.
Some died instantly.
Others fell—
Then vanished beneath the stampede.
Blood mixed with water.
The air turned metallic.
The group shrank.
Rapidly.
Like cloth cut apart.
A wind blade tore into Fuguki's back.
Bone-deep.
Blood soaked his bandages.
He didn't slow.
He couldn't.
Revenge drove him forward.
Kisame covered him.
"Water Release: Water Wall!"
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
He blocked.
Cleared paths.
A kunai pierced his arm.
Blood dripped.
His eyes—
Turned colder.
Not toward the enemy.
Toward Fuguki.
Reinforcements arrived.
More Red Armor soldiers.
Closing in.
Compressing the escape route.
"Break through!"
Fuguki roared.
A water dragon erupted—
Shattering the western wall.
Kisame followed—
"Water Release: Great Shark Bullet!"
The wall collapsed.
They broke through.
Into the barren plains beyond.
They stopped.
Turned.
Out of five hundred—
Fewer than eighty remained.
The rest—
Dead.
Trampled.
Abandoned.
The survivors collapsed.
Gasping.
No one celebrated.
Only silence.
"We move."
Fuguki wiped blood from his mouth.
His voice low.
"Regroup with Jūzō Biwa."
"Then strike."
His eyes turned cold.
"That old woman from Konoha wants to慰问 the front lines?"
"We'll prepare a gift."
"Her head."
Behind them—
The camp lay in ruin.
Broken containers.
Blood-soaked ground.
Weapons scattered.
Torches flickered.
Fugaku stood at the center.
Expression solemn.
"The prisoners escaped."
"As the commander—this is my responsibility."
The atmosphere turned heavy.
Some Uchiha—
Nearly laughed.
If they hadn't held back—
No one would have escaped.
Fugaku turned.
"Clean up."
"Count losses."
"Reinforce defenses."
"No more mistakes."
Then—
He left.
Eighth floor.
Ginza Building.
Anlan leaned against the window.
Looking out.
Toward the camp.
Everything—
Had gone exactly as planned.
The riot.
The escape.
The route.
Even Fuguki and Kisame's choices—
Perfectly predicted.
"…A bit boring."
He yawned.
Then placed two items on the table.
[Item: Ballpoint Pen]
[Evaluation: Common object. No special value.]
[Origin: My Girlfriend Is a Villain]
[Item: Ninth Set of Radio Gymnastics]
[Evaluation: Basic exercise routine.]
[Origin: My Girlfriend Is a Villain]
Anlan narrowed his eyes slightly.
Same origin.
Twice in a row.
…Interesting.
As his ocular power grew—
Not only were rewards improving—
Patterns were changing.
He had wanted another Peach.
Instead—
These.
Tomorrow, then.
He would try again.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Fugaku entered.
Carrying the scent of blood.
"General."
"The operation was completed successfully."
"The escape route is being tracked."
"As predicted—they are heading east."
"They will regroup with Jūzō Biwa."
"If Fuguki leads an assassination attempt on Koharu Utatane…"
"We will move afterward."
"Koharu dies."
"The Mist force is destroyed."
"A clean result."
Anlan tapped the armrest lightly.
"That's the ideal outcome."
"But reality…"
His gaze sharpened.
"…is rarely so obedient."
"Kirigakure reinforcements are coming."
"This is their weakest point."
"If Jūzō is cautious—"
"He won't follow Fuguki's reckless plan."
"That would trap them between Konoha and us."
He paused.
Then spoke calmly.
"The most likely outcome…"
"Fuguki splits the army."
"Driven by humiliation."
"Driven by ego."
He looked at Fugaku.
"Notify Shisui."
"Monitor closely."
"If they split—"
His voice turned cold.
"The Red Armor Army will move with the Volcano and Wind Forest Armies."
"Destroy Jūzō's forces."
Completely.
He continued—
"But if they stay united…"
"Let them pass."
Fugaku nodded.
Then left.
Silence returned.
Dawn approached.
Light slowly spread across the horizon.
Anlan stretched lazily.
His expression calm.
"There is no third outcome."
Jūzō confronting Fuguki directly—
Unlikely.
Fuguki and Kisame together—
Still superior.
This was a timing gap.
A perfect one.
Once reinforcements arrive—
Fuguki and Kisame would be discarded.
But now—
Anlan smiled faintly.
"Whichever path they choose…"
"It's a win-win for the Uchiha."
"And Kirigakure…"
His gaze drifted toward the distant sea.
"Will fall."
Sooner or later.