**Blackstone Outpost**
Overhead, a figure approached silently. Seimei exhaled in relief as he surveyed the scene below: though tense, the positions remained orderly. This likely meant the second Mist Ninja team hadn't arrived yet, just as they had predicted.
Now, if Sano Nobuhisa and his team could return in time, this dangerous situation might be resolved.
Below, a few Leaf Ninjas seemed to notice Seimei's presence, looking up at him one by one. Initially, he had planned to ignore them, but he reconsidered. They might soon need these warriors to resist a Mist Ninja assault, so he descended.
As soon as he touched down, a Leaf Jonin used the *Body Flicker Technique* to approach him.
"Seimei, what's the situation on your end?" the Jonin asked, his voice laced with urgency and a hint of worry.
Knowing exactly what the Jonin was concerned about, Seimei replied directly, "Don't worry, Captain Mori. The ambush was successful. The enemy suffered heavy casualties, and Captain Sano is leading our forces back now."
"Phew…"
Captain Mori exhaled deeply, visibly relieved. But sensing that Mori might let his guard down, Seimei quickly added, "But be prepared—the remaining Mist Ninjas have escaped and are heading this way. We're still uncertain if they'll attack directly, so stay vigilant."
"What?" Mori's heart skipped a beat.
Nearby, other Leaf Ninjas who were eavesdropping stiffened, tension sharpening their focus.
Seeing this reaction, Seimei gave a slight nod of approval. As the saying goes, "A journey of a hundred miles is only half done at ninety." He couldn't afford for these warriors to falter at this critical juncture.
Soon, Mori gathered himself and inquired about Ayaka Yasuda and her team's condition. Seimei detailed his observations. Although Ayaka and her team had weakened after a "cut and run" tactic, they still held considerable strength—enough to assist those currently guarding Blackstone Outpost. The real concern lay with the other Mist Ninja team heading toward them by sea. If they arrived simultaneously and launched a combined assault, the outpost's position would be perilous.
The more Mori thought about it, the graver his expression became.
Seimei, noting this, didn't want him overly pressured, potentially leading to a miscalculation. "Relax," he said. "Two squads are pursuing the enemy, and Captain Sano has dispatched reinforcements. It's unlikely they'll launch a direct attack."
"Is that so?" Mori's expression softened slightly, though he still looked tense. Seeing this, Seimei knew the situation was under control.
After bidding Mori farewell, Seimei activated his *Wind Release: Wings of Wind*, soaring skyward and heading toward the sea to track the other Mist Ninja squad. To win, he'd need to understand both friend and foe, and with the Wings of Wind, he could gather all the intelligence he needed.
Half an hour later, after flying high enough for a wide view, Seimei spotted the Mist Ninja squad. When he arrived, he saw them engaged in battle—some Mist Ninjas had left their vessels and were surrounding several Leaf Ninjas. Seimei recognized them as the interference squad sent by Sano Nobuhisa.
He activated his Sharingan to scan for any others but found no trace of them; perhaps they were hidden, waiting for a chance to act, or perhaps they had already fallen.
Judging by the strength of the few Leaf Ninjas still in sight, they couldn't stop the Mist Ninja fleet. Though some Mist Ninjas had been deployed to handle them, the fleet itself continued sailing at full speed. If the fleet kept this pace, they would reach Blackstone Outpost's perimeter before Sano Nobuhisa's forces returned, creating a critical risk.
Thinking quickly, Seimei sighed, "Looks like I have to step in."
He shot down at the Mist Ninjas surrounding the Leaf Ninjas at a speed of forty meters per second, utilizing his chakra wings.
Why not attack the fleet directly? It was simple: it would be too risky alone. This time, the Mist fleet was packed with capable warriors. A solo assault wouldn't be deadly, but it could be painful, and it would only delay them briefly. However, rescuing the Leaf Ninjas would allow him to deploy tactics more effectively, even if they were only decoys.
With their help, he could create enough opportunity to perhaps destroy a ship or two, which would impact the enemy's overall plan.
Just as Seimei swooped down, the Mist Ninjas finally noticed him. Although they had scouts watching the sky, they reacted too late, and Seimei had already neared the fleet.
As the Mist Ninjas sounded the alert, he completed a series of hand signs, executing the *Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique*. Despite the limitations of fire techniques over water, sufficient chakra compensated for the reduced power.
With a battle cry, he launched his fiery assault, diving into the fray.