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The forehead protector of the Hot Springs Shinobi featured a three-water pattern, resembling the character '川'.
Upon learning that there were Hot Springs Shinobi searching ahead, Uchiha Setsuna quickly led his team to flank them.
The capabilities of shinobi from major nations naturally far surpassed those of minor nations.
When he spotted the target wearing the Hot Springs Shinobi forehead protector, Uchiha Shi hadn't even had the chance to pull out his shuriken for a quick three-shot combo before Uchiha Setsuna, the Great Elder, had already leaped forward.
Uchiha Shi could only see him draw his long sword, flames swirling around the blade, before he plunged down.
Like a wildfire spreading across a barren plain, the three Hot Springs Shinobi didn't even have time to speak before they were cut down like grass.
Uchiha Shi felt a bit like a noob being carried by a max-level player.
After dealing with the three minor enemies, Uchiha Setsuna placed his sword at the throat of one of the Hot Springs Shinobi and coldly asked:
"Who sent you?"
The Hot Springs Shinobi shrank back in fear, hesitating to speak.
Seeing this, Uchiha Setsuna activated his Sharingan and gave him a cold, piercing look.
A moment later, he deactivated his Sharingan and swiftly beheaded the Hot Springs Shinobi.
Uchiha Shi, standing to the side, noticed a change in the Great Elder's expression.
Then, the Great Elder turned around and instructed:
"We depart immediately, crossing the border tonight!"
"After crossing the border pass, do not stop. Head straight for the capital of the Land of Hot Springs, Hot Mist City, and wait to meet with Fugaku, the head of the security forces."
"If you encounter enemy interception, do not engage in prolonged battles. Retreat quickly."
"Great Elder, what's happening?"
Uchiha Seiichiro swallowed hard, his nerves on edge at the Great Elder's demeanor.
Uchiha Setsuna was concise:
"The Two-Tails Jinchuriki has appeared in the Land of Hot Springs."
"Their target is most likely our clan's garrison in Hell Valley, and there will likely be intercepting shinobi ahead."
"The situation is out of control."
"We must immediately depart for Hot Mist City, the capital of the Land of Hot Springs, find the Neko-Nin Clan contact, and relay the message back to the Uchiha."
"What?!"
Uchiha Seiichiro's face changed dramatically, filled with shock and horror.
The Jinchuriki from Kumogakure could be used as a weapon of war.
If a Jinchuriki were to reach Hell Valley, where there were no top-tier experts, it would be a catastrophic disaster for the Uchiha clan members there!
This was only the prelude to the Third Great Shinobi War, and Kumogakure was already deploying Jinchuriki on the battlefield of minor nations?
Standing to the side, Uchiha Shi's eyes flashed with a glint of excitement.
That was the Two-Tails Jinchuriki.
No matter how fancy your shuriken techniques were, a single palm from the Jinchuriki could turn you into a meat patty.
After a brief exchange with Uchiha Seiichiro, he realized—
Even with the Sharingan, a Uchiha chunin's chances against a shuriken master at the pinnacle of skill were not insignificant.
In other words, Uchiha Shi, a genin, now possessed the strength of a chunin.
If shuriken techniques were considered a specialty, Uchiha Shi might even be rated as a special jounin.
It was already difficult to coast through regular missions.
Only by participating in more dangerous missions and facing more dangerous enemies—
Could he achieve a dignified exit.
And now, just as he had entered the battlefield, he heard that there was a Two-Tails Jinchuriki, the ultimate boss, ahead. Uchiha Shi's feelings were indescribable.
Tears were almost streaming from the corners of his eyes.
Uchiha Setsuna surveyed his subordinates, noting their expressions, and was about to give them a pep talk.
Seiichiro, the useless pacifist, looked terrified, his eyes darting around, like a coward who wanted to hide his head in his pants.
But Uchiha Setsuna could understand.
After all, encountering an enemy of this caliber during a mission was akin to an S-rank mission.
Being a little afraid was quite normal.
However, when Uchiha Setsuna saw Uchiha Shi, his eye twitched involuntarily.
What was this kid up to?
The eager look in his eyes, the tears at the corners of his mouth, and the excited expression on his face, as if he had been injected with a stimulant.
He was muttering under his breath, "Tatakae! Tatakae! Tatakae!"
It was as if he had 'I want to fight!' carved on his face.
Uchiha Setsuna's eyebrows shot up. What the heck?!
He was startled!
Uchiha Setsuna shook his head and swallowed the motivational speech he was about to give.
He glared coldly, his eyes icy, and pointed his sword into the pitch-black darkness ahead.
"Let's go!"
---
Plunging into the darkness, they moved forward.
In the moonless night, the mountains lay like a sleeping dragon, eerily quiet.
Due to Uchiha Setsuna's decisiveness, they had swiftly dealt with the Hot Springs Shinobi who were patrolling for Kumogakure, allowing the Uchiha team to cross the border of the Land of Hot Springs without incident.
On the other side, the night was fleeting, and the clouds covering the full moon parted, allowing the cold moonlight to illuminate the valley.
Kumogakure jounin Rami, who was dozing with his blade, suddenly opened his eyes.
He frowned and muttered, "Something's not right, it's too quiet."
Then, he leaned over to his teammate, Moroi, who was on night watch, and asked, "Moroi, has the Hot Springs Shinobi who was supposed to report back arrived?"
Moroi, polishing his blade, frowned slightly and replied, "No."
"It's been over half an hour."
Rami frowned, pondered for a moment, and immediately instructed, "Send a message to our spies in the border villages and ask them for an update."
Moroi, about to perform a summoning jutsu, suddenly looked up.
A messenger pigeon flew in under the moonlight. He reached out and took the scroll from the pigeon's leg.
"Rami-senpai, the message has arrived."
"The Uchiha have already entered the Land of Hot Springs, not far ahead of us. They've changed their direction and are heading towards Hot Mist City instead of Hell Valley."
Rami was startled and immediately woke up Daidai, who was still resting.
"Something's not right, let's hurry and catch up!"
"Uchiha Setsuna might already know our plan."
Back with the Uchiha team.
By now, the team had crossed the border of the Land of Hot Springs and passed through three villages, not daring to stop for a moment.
The moon had set, and the sky was beginning to lighten, with the calls of apes echoing through the high mountains and deep valleys.
The three had been traveling since 8 AM the previous day, and after crossing the border, they had not rested at all, marching through the night.
They were utterly exhausted.
Although Uchiha Shi had acquired high-level skills and possessed considerable combat strength, his chakra reserves were a limiting factor.
He was drenched in sweat, panting heavily, and leaning on his legs for support.
Fortunately, there was an abandoned village nearby where they could rest.
Uchiha Seiichiro was calling out that he couldn't move any further, and Uchiha Setsuna, frowning slightly, ordered a brief rest on the spot.
He first instructed the still-mobile Seiichiro to clear a space, then set up wires around the village, hanging explosive tags and bells to take on the tasks that should have been done by his subordinates.
As for Uchiha Shi, he was so exhausted that he couldn't move, but he still struggled to get up and help.
The Great Elder slapped him on the back of the head, knocking him out.
Uchiha Setsuna summoned a ninjutsu crow for vigilance, then exhaled and said to Seiichiro with a serious expression, "It will take half a day to reach Hot Mist City. We'll rest here for two hours, then depart immediately."
With that, Uchiha Setsuna closed his eyes and began to snore loudly.
Uchiha Seiichiro couldn't hold out either, collapsing on the ground and sleeping like a little pig.
The three of them got a brief respite.
Unbeknownst to them, danger was rapidly closing in from behind.
---
Next Chapter: Thunder! The Battle Begins!
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