Chapter 24 Sand Ninjas

One night, as they were finishing another intense training session, a sudden rustling in the trees put them on high alert. The three of them instinctively moved into a defensive stance, their senses sharp.

From the shadows of the trees, one by one, ninjas wearing Sand Village forehead protectors appeared, their eyes locked onto Pakura, Hiro, and Mikoto.

"They found us," Pakura muttered, her voice edged with tension.

Mikoto's eyes narrowed, her Sharingan already activated. "Stay close," she whispered, her tone deadly calm.

Hiro, feeling the weight of his low chakra reserves, clenched his fists. He knew he had one shot with his Mangekyō Sharingan before his energy would be depleted. Every muscle in his body tensed, ready to strike.

The Sand Village ninjas initially approached with confidence, but as their eyes locked onto Mikoto's spinning Sharingan their expressions quickly shifted. The smirks vanished, replaced by wide-eyed shock and apprehension.

"That's... the Sharingan!" one of the ninjas stammered, his voice betraying a mixture of fear and awe.

Hiro did not activate his Mangekyō Sharingan, deliberately keeping it hidden. He knew that if word got out that someone in this world possessed the Mangekyō, he couldn't imagine how many enemies would come after him.

Whispers and murmurs spread among the group, the tension in the air thickening. They knew the legends, the stories of what an Uchiha could do. They had not anticipated facing such a formidable opponent.

"Is this the surviving member of the Uchiha Clan?" they murmured.

"Stay focused!" the leader barked, trying to regain control. "They may have the Sharingan, but we have the numbers. We take them down together!"

But the doubt had already taken root. The Sand ninjas hesitated, their earlier arrogance crumbling in the face of the Uchiha's feared abilities.

Pakura, sensing their fear, felt a flicker of hope. They had an advantage now—if they could exploit the enemy's hesitation, they might stand a chance.

As the Sand ninjas prepared to attack, Pakura unleashed her Scorch Style, filling the air with intense heat. Flames burst forth, forcing the enemy to scatter, but their numbers were overwhelming.

Mikoto moved with precision, her Sharingan predicting every move of the enemy, countering their attacks with lethal efficiency. 

She struck one down with a kunai, while her other hand formed seals for a lightning-based jutsu that crackled with power.

Hiro watched, biding his time, waiting for the right moment. He couldn't afford to waste his Mangekyō ability unless it was absolutely necessary. 

His eyes flicked to Mikoto, who gave a barely perceptible nod. They had to work together, using their strengths to compensate for his depleted chakra.

As the Sand ninjas regrouped, launching a coordinated assault, Pakura dodged and weaved through their attacks, her Scorch Style burning through the weaker ones, but they kept coming. 

Mikoto was holding her ground, but even she couldn't fend off so many at once.

It was then that Hiro saw his opening. One of the enemy ninjas broke through their defenses, charging directly at Pakura with a blade aimed at her heart. 

Hiro's eyes flashed, activating Gensei no Shi. The ninja suddenly froze, his face contorting in terror as he experienced his own death in the illusion. He collapsed, lifeless, before he could strike.

The remaining Sand ninjas, witnessing their comrade's sudden death, recoiled in horror. "What kind of power is that?!" one of them cried out, panic rising in his voice.

"They're monsters!" another shouted, taking several steps back, fear now fully gripping the group.

But the cost was high. Hiro staggered, his vision blurring as his chakra reserves plummeted. He had to rely on the others now.

Mikoto, sensing Hiro's struggle, fought with renewed intensity, taking down two more ninjas with a swift combination of taijutsu and ninjutsu. 

Pakura, seeing Hiro's condition, pushed herself harder, her Scorch Style raging with a fury that caught the remaining enemies off guard.

Finally, with one last coordinated effort, they took down the remaining Sand ninjas. The battlefield fell silent, the only sounds being their ragged breaths and the crackling of fading flames.

Pakura glanced at Hiro, concern in her eyes. "You okay?" she asked, her voice softer now.

Hiro nodded weakly, though he was clearly drained. "I'll manage," he replied.

Mikoto stepped closer, her eyes still scanning the surroundings for any more threats. "We need to move. They'll send reinforcements when these ones don't return."

"I... I think some of them escaped," Hiro said, his voice tinged with worry.

Pakura instantly became alert, her muscles tensing as she prepared to chase down the fleeing ninjas. She knew the danger they faced if word of the Sharingan—and the Mangekyō—spread. 

If those ninjas reported back, there would be no end to the pursuit, and Mikoto and Hiro would be hunted relentlessly. The thought filled her with dread.

"I have to stop them," Pakura declared, her voice firm as she prepared to rush off.

But Hiro reached out, stopping her with a gentle but firm grip on her arm. "No profit in going after them now," he said, his tone calm despite the gravity of the situation. 

"We should move as soon as possible. Chasing them will only waste time and energy we don't have."

Pakura hesitated, guilt gnawing at her. She felt responsible for the potential exposure of Hiro and Mikoto's secrets. 

If only she had been stronger, faster—perhaps none of this would have happened. She cast a troubled glance at Mikoto, wondering if the Uchiha woman shared her concerns.

Mikoto noticed Pakura's conflicted expression and stepped closer. "It's not your fault," she said softly, her voice carrying an unspoken understanding. 

"We'll deal with whatever comes our way. But right now, we need to stay together and keep moving."

Pakura nodded, though the weight of her guilt didn't fully lift. She hadn't known that Mikoto was an Uchiha too, and now, because of her, the secret might be revealed to their enemies. 

The realization left a bitter taste in her mouth, but she pushed it down, focusing on the immediate task at hand.

They gathered their belongings quickly, and without another word, the three of them set off into the night, knowing that the challenges ahead would only grow more difficult. 

Pakura silently vowed to do whatever it took to protect them, no matter the cost.