On the third day, Uchiha Jinzō takes a break from grinding his new "Heavenly Demon Kung Fu" training, since he's been running himself into the ground. Most of the Uchiha clan, including Fugaku and Yashiro, have already gone to the frontlines, leaving Konoha quiet and strangely empty.
He gets teased by a younger clan kid, Wildfire (Yehou), who asks for his autograph after delivering lunch. Jinzō trolls him, disappearing in a puff of smoke with the food, leaving the poor kid furious.
When Jinzō steps out, he runs into none other than White Fang (Sakumo Hatake), who, of course, corners him with a new mission: an S-rank recon assignment to scout the movements of Kumogakure. Jinzō freaks out ("Do you think this body can survive that?!"), but White Fang casually insists he'll bring him back alive again, leaving Jinzō no choice but to tag along.
Meanwhile, on the frontlines, Fugaku arrives with a group of Uchiha to reinforce Konoha's secret base in Yu no Kuni, only to receive grim news: Kirigakure shinobi have been appearing more frequently, raising the threat level.
The chapter closes on a foreboding note — Jinzō's brief peace in Konoha is over.
📖 Translated & Polished Chapter
The third day.Clear skies.
Jinzō slumped in the chair outside his family's shop, staring blankly up at the clouds. Two straight days of forcing his body through the new "Heavenly Demon Kung Fu" training had nearly driven him insane. Today, he swore, was for breathing actual air.
Yashiro had left yesterday.Fugaku too, along with seventy percent of the Uchiha who weren't civilians. When the young clan head marched to war, the rest followed. Even half of Konoha knew Fugaku was now on the frontlines.
That left only a handful of Uchiha behind to "maintain order."Which, honestly, meant nothing. Nobody in their right mind would stir up trouble inside Konoha during wartime. Whether the Uchiha were watching or not didn't matter much — most villagers only felt more on edge when they were around.
Jinzō changed into fresh clothes, stepped outside, and immediately heard the snide remarks start.
"Everyone else is fighting at the front. Why are you still hanging around here?"
It was Wildfire — little Yehou — shoving a steaming lunchbox into Jinzō's hands. His tone carried the sting of every Uchiha currently risking their necks.
Jinzō gave a long, helpless sigh. "You think I want this? If White Fang moves, I move. If he doesn't, I sit right here. It's called being shackled to your superior."
Sure, it looked safe. But the second Hatake Sakumo got a mission, it was never the easy kind.
Wildfire snorted. "A ninja contributes to the village. Don't give me excuses."
Jinzō studied the kid — taller now, voice a little sharper. Even he'd grown a bit, though not as fast. He smirked. "Why don't you use that old tone of yours? I'm not used to this serious act. What happened to calling me trash every day? You were happier barking back then."
Wildfire looked away, cheeks coloring. "You're an Uchiha genius now, not a failure."
"Yeah, yeah." Jinzō shook his head, unsure how to even respond.
He peeked inside the bento box — carefully prepared side dishes. Typical. Trash got spit on, geniuses got respect. That was the Uchiha way.
"The weather's nice today," Jinzō muttered at the sky, sighing like a man condemned.
Wildfire squinted. This guy… hard to believe he was the one people whispered about, the so-called Uchiha prodigy compared to the Second Hokage. He didn't look like a genius at all.
Then, as if summoning all his courage, Wildfire thrust a stack of paper at him."Can you… sign your name for me?"
"Huh?" Jinzō dug a finger in his ear, leaning closer. "What was that?"
"I SAID, can you sign your name for me?!"
"Why're you yelling? I'm not deaf." Jinzō edged away like Wildfire was diseased. "And when you're asking a favor, shouldn't you be polite?"
Wildfire clenched his jaw. Only the thought of his classmates saved him from exploding. He forced out a smile. "Brother Jinzō… would you sign it for me?"
Jinzō slapped his shoulder, grinning. "See? That wasn't so hard. An autograph? Easy."
Wildfire's eyes lit up.
Jinzō snapped his fingers. "But I'm not signing."
Poof!
His body and the lunch vanished in a puff of smoke.
Wildfire stared at the empty chair, stupefied, before his face went red with rage."Uchiha Jinzō!!!"
A few streets away, Jinzō smirked at the distant shout. "As if I'd ever let that brat hold something over me. An autograph, my ass."
He strolled down the road — until he spotted a silver-haired figure approaching.
White Fang.
Jinzō froze, then spun on his heel, but Sakumo blocked him with a few lazy steps.
"Am I really that scary?" White Fang scratched his cheek.
Jinzō gave him a sharp, humorless chuckle. He already knew what was coming.
"Alright," Sakumo said, "mission time."
Jinzō groaned. "Knew it. What's the job?"
The man produced a scroll. "S-rank. Recon on Kumogakure's movements."
Jinzō sucked in a breath and jabbed a finger at himself. "Do you see this body? Does this scream 'S-rank material' to you?! That's basically suicide!"
Sakumo didn't blink. "Don't worry. I'll bring you back alive, like last time."
"…Thanks," Jinzō muttered, rolling his eyes. Resistance was useless.
"You're welcome," White Fang said cheerfully, as if Jinzō hadn't meant it sarcastically.
Jinzō tilted his head back at the sky, clouds drifting across the sun. His short rest was over.
Yu no Kuni.
Uchiha Fugaku led his clansmen through winding valleys to a hidden Konoha stronghold.
"Lord Fugaku," the stationed Uchiha greeted with respect, though the other Konoha ninjas barely glanced their way. To them, Fugaku was still ranked an ordinary shinobi, nothing special. Only the clan treated him like a commander.
But when the latest reports came in, every Uchiha face grew grim.
"Patriarch, the situation isn't looking good. Kirigakure shinobi have been appearing more and more often."
The mood turned heavy. War was already brutal. With Mist's assassins entering the game, things were about to get far worse.