"That's no problem!"
Ren Takashi and Uchiha Nobuhiko's eyes lit up. If the plan worked, they wouldn't need to take excessive risks.
"As long as others provide the chakra to power the teleportation array, my burden is minimal," Ren Takashi explained. "So long as they're willing to leave, and we reach them before the capital falls, it's no problem."
"I'll handle the convincing," Uzumaki Mito assured him, her voice resolute. "Whether they want to or not, they'll listen to me."
"Oh, right! Nobuhiko, you said there were allies in the capital. Do they have my Flying Thunder God dagger?"
"Yes," Nobuhiko nodded. "Then Ren Takashi can teleport us straight in."
"Let's go now," Ren Takashi said without hesitation. He reached out, grasped Uzumaki Mito and Nobuhiko's arms, and vanished.
They appeared moments later in a dense forest outside the capital.
"Who goes there?!"
Uchiha Feng's team immediately raised their guard, but relaxed when they recognized the new arrivals.
"Clan head? Ren Takashi-sama?"
"We're here to scout. A hundred Uchiha and twenty Senju elites are ready nearby," Nobuhiko explained. "We need intel."
"No need," Mito interrupted, her expression solemn. "I've already sensed the situation. Most of the capital has fallen. Only the palace remains under protection—strong barrier formations are holding for now."
"I want to sneak into the palace," she continued. "Ren Takashi, can you get us in?"
"If you know the barrier's configuration, and I can get spiritual perception inside, I can place a mark remotely," Ren Takashi said.
"I helped design that barrier," Mito said. "I can guide your perception through the seals."
"Perfect."
Uchiha Nobuhiko turned to Feng. "Fall back to Yan's team. Don't get spotted."
"Understood."
Ren Takashi began his work. He used his refined mental power to extend perception, guided by Mito's knowledge. After successive jumps and careful scanning, they arrived within range of the barrier.
With Mito's direction, Ren Takashi bypassed the barrier's defenses and teleported all three into the palace.
"Someone's breached the barrier!"
Inside the palace courtyard, Uzumaki Luming jolted from his meditation. The barrier team stirred in alarm.
"Wait!" he called, halting an attack sequence. His eyes widened. "Mito-sama?"
All heads turned. The courtyard buzzed with shocked murmurs.
"It's me," Mito said, calm and dignified. "Luming, you've aged."
"Mito-sama, why are you here? Just the three of you?" Luming demanded. "Where was Konoha when we asked for help?"
"I only just learned of your distress," Mito said. "Thanks to Ren Takashi and the Uchiha's initiative. Konoha's leadership… deliberately withheld your cries for aid."
Luming's fists trembled with fury. "Those traitors! Sarutobi… Danzo…!"
"Focus," Mito cut in. "How long can your barrier hold?"
"Two hours under full assault. Four if the current pressure holds."
"And your people?"
"Evacuating through the tunnels. They left five minutes ago."
"Call them back," Mito ordered. "We have a better way."
She explained Ren Takashi's teleportation array.
"They'll never make it through the tunnels," she said. "Your enemies likely anticipated that. We teleport everyone out—all survivors and important relics. Leave behind decoys: incomplete or low-level sealing scrolls to distract the enemy."
Luming was stunned, but nodded slowly. "Understood."
The true rescue had just begun.