The peaceful atmosphere of the Daimyo's estate shattered in an instant.
"Boom!"
A thunderous explosion echoed through the compound, shaking walls and sending servants and guards into a panic. The once serene courtyard erupted into chaos.
"Intruders! Intruders!" the guards shouted in alarm, scrambling to gather weapons.
Suddenly, a group of masked ninja emerged from the shadows, moving with deadly precision. They ruthlessly slaughtered the Daimyo's guards, their blades flashing under the sun. The estate had become a battlefield.
Just then, several Konoha ninja appeared, their faces grim with determination. Without hesitation, they engaged the attackers in fierce combat, steel clashing against steel.
The leader of the intruders bellowed orders, his voice cold and commanding. "We outnumber them! Hold the front lines while I strike for the Daimyo!"
"Yes, sir!" his subordinates responded with ferocious zeal.
The leader surged forward toward the main hall where the Daimyo was located, slicing through any opposition with lethal efficiency.
On the defensive side, the Konoha ninja rallied. "Stop them! Don't let anyone near the Daimyo!" their commander shouted.
Shurikens whistled through the air, aimed to intercept the approaching enemies. But the intruders were skilled, deftly blocking and dodging the attacks. The Konoha defenders were unable to prevent the leader's advance.
"Damn it!" one of the Konoha ninja cursed as he watched helplessly.
The intruder leader dealt swiftly with a Shadow Clone guarding the main hall. The remaining attackers pushed through, finally reaching the Daimyo's chambers.
Inside, the Daimyo and his retainers huddled behind heavy furniture, terror etched across their faces. Their sole protector was a young girl—Izumi, a ninja from Konoha, standing defiantly in the doorway.
The leader snarled, "Eliminate the girl first, then kill the Daimyo!"
With a chilling war cry, the attackers charged.
But Izumi was no ordinary ninja.
Her body suddenly crackled with electricity as she entered lightning mode. In the blink of an eye, she vanished, reappearing behind the leader.
Before he could react, a precise strike felled him instantly.
Around her, the enemy fell one by one, their expressions frozen in disbelief. "How is this possible? So fast!" they gasped, lifeless on the ground.
Izumi turned to the Daimyo, who was now standing, awe and gratitude shining in his eyes.
"Oh, you are truly amazing! So powerful! It is a blessing for Konoha to have a ninja like you," he exclaimed.
His wife nodded in agreement. "Husband, this is Uchiha Izumi. I've always admired her. In fact, I specially hired her to protect us. Don't you think I have excellent taste?"
The Daimyo smiled broadly, folding his fan. "An Uchiha, huh? Very good, very good. As expected of my wife's judgment. I must reward you handsomely. Here, take this."
A servant appeared promptly, carrying a sword with a striking black scabbard. He presented it reverently to the Daimyo, who then passed it to Izumi.
She held the sword carefully, her tongue peeking out slightly in concentration. Then she said politely, "Lord Daimyo, protecting your safety is the duty of every ninja in the Land of Fire. It is what we must do. No reward is necessary."
The Daimyo chuckled quietly. "That is a rare thing to hear. In the past, the ninja I rewarded always spoke of the Hokage's orders or instructions. You're the first who did not mention Hokage-sama even once. Could it be that I am the boss of the Land of Fire, hmm?"
Izumi smiled modestly. "I'm simply doing my duty."
The Daimyo nodded approvingly. "Take the sword, then. I did not expect a surprise attack today, especially when we were short-handed. Your arrival saved my life, which is far more valuable than any sword."
With reverence, Izumi accepted the sword using both hands. "Thank you, Lord Daimyo. Should you require any assistance, please inform me. I will do my utmost to fulfill your requests."
The Daimyo's chest swelled with pride. "She is perceptive indeed. I could use the help of capable ninja. I cannot always rely solely on Konoha. I've heard rumors that the Uchiha and Konoha have tense relations, that the Uchiha are somewhat disobedient. Perhaps I can bring some of them under my command. Even if not, having a few experts loyal to me will be invaluable."
He paused, then continued thoughtfully, "If the situation demands it, I will discuss with the Hokage the possibility of granting your clan greater freedom and influence."
Izumi bowed deeply. "Thank you, Lord Daimyo. I will discuss this with our Clan Head."
"Excellent, excellent," the Daimyo laughed heartily.
The banquet resumed, filled with music and laughter, while Izumi stood silently behind the Daimyo and his wife, vigilant as their protector.
The Daimyo's wife had always been fond of Izumi, but after this event, her affection deepened. When Izumi prepared to leave, she promised warmly, "I will continue to hire you at a generous price next time!"
---
As Izumi walked back through the village, she examined the sword gifted to her—the "Black Fish." Its scabbard was jet black, matching the blade, which bore intricate triangular patterns etched along its length. The hilt was adorned with a black and gold fish motif, giving the weapon an elegant yet deadly appearance.
Curious, Izumi drew the sword and swung it gracefully. With a clean, decisive stroke, the blade sliced a tree neatly in half at the waist.
"Wow! This is incredibly sharp—almost as good as the finest weapons from my old Sake Ninja Village's legacy!" she exclaimed with pride, swinging it several more times. The sword felt perfectly balanced and comfortable, truly worthy of the Daimyo's prized collection.
Carefully, Izumi sealed the sword with a talisman and wrapped it around her wrist, concealing it beneath her guard.
---
Back in the village, Izumi completed her mission report for the Hokage. Afterwards, she went to see Uchiha Fugaku, the Clan Head, to update him on her success.
She had expected Fugaku to be pleased, as she had effectively strengthened the Uchiha Clan's ties to the Daimyo, who now desired to employ their support. This could be a major step toward greater autonomy and respect for the clan.
But Fugaku's response was cold and sharp.
He snorted dismissively. "Uchiha Izumi, you were reckless. You bypassed the Hokage and made private contact with the Daimyo. This will only make the Village more suspicious and displeased with us. They will believe we Uchiha are dissatisfied and have aligned ourselves with the Daimyo in defiance. It will be seen as betrayal, increasing our isolation."
Izumi's voice carried a mix of frustration and conviction. "We are already isolated, aren't we? The clan's resentment is growing. No one can predict what may happen next. What I did was offer the Uchiha an alternative path."
Fugaku's face darkened with anger. "Am I the Clan Head or are you? These matters are beyond your authority to decide. If the Hokage learns of this, it will bring serious trouble to all of us. You are still just a child. Though you have grown stronger, you do not yet understand. Leave now. From this point, stick to your missions. The Daimyo, powerful as he is, is not enough."
Izumi was silent for a moment. Then she nodded quietly, "Yes, I understand."
Without another word, she turned and left.
Outside, she spat fiercely to the side, muttering bitterly, "You're so powerful, yet your own son slaughtered you. You didn't even have the courage to strike back. In the end, your two sons lived while the rest of the clan perished. You don't deserve to be the Clan Head, Uchiha Fugaku."
She spat two more times, her eyes burning with disdain.
---
Upon her return, Izumi was greeted warmly by fellow Uchiha clan members.
"Back from another mission, Izumi?" asked one smiling woman.
"Yes, finished. Now I can rest for a while," Izumi replied lightly.
"The mission must have been easy, right?" a cheerful uncle joked.
"Of course," Izumi said with a proud smile. "I'm an elite of the Uchiha Clan, after all."
"Indeed, the Uchiha Clan is the strongest," others chimed in with pride.
Izumi greeted the mothers with their children, the kind elders, and the friendly uncles—all good people she had come to care about deeply over the years. Their warmth brought her a pang of reluctant hope.
She vowed silently to try harder.
Once she awakened her Mangekyo Sharingan, the Uchiha would possess three Mangekyo wielders—an unprecedented show of power. The Village would have to reconsider how it treated the Uchiha.
Izumi's determination burned brighter than ever.
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