"Ci." Uchiha Shisui stepped forward and patted Uchiha Ci on the shoulder.
He keenly observed the tremor that Uchiha Ci had just made.
However, because Shisui graduated early and was still young, he was as short as a radish, so his comforting actions were somewhat funny.
"You don't have to worry too much. I didn't expect Elder Setsuna to personally lead the team for this mission. From this point of view, the risk factor on your side should not be high."
Uchiha Shisui smiled kindly and offered words of comfort.
Obviously, he had chosen the more dangerous battlefield in the Land of Rain, yet here he was comforting Uchiha Ci.
Uchiha Ci came back to his senses and looked at him helplessly.
For heaven's sake, even if you snatch my pig-feeding job from my brother, can you also snatch a life-threatening mission from me?
Can I even be a human being?
"Ci, I have to complete the task before gathering tomorrow, so I'll excuse myself now."
Uchiha Shisui shook the C-rank mission file he had just received, then left immediately.
After Shisui left, Uchiha Ci's eyes flickered twice.
Is the danger factor of Hell Valley in the Land of Hot Water really not high?
This is not necessarily the case.
At night, the full moon broke through the clouds, and the clear light covered the earth.
Within the Uchiha clan compound.
Uchiha Setsuna stepped on his clogs and indifferently opened the wooden door.
In the small room, pairs of scarlet eyes suddenly lit up.
"Great Elder!"
Amidst the successive greetings, Uchiha Setsuna sat down cross-legged at the head of the room in the center.
Sitting next to him was the second-in-command of the Hawk Faction, Uchiha Yashiro.
And below them were all members of the Uchiha clan who were at least Chunin level and had awakened the Sharingan. There were nearly a hundred people.
This was the core of the hawk faction.
"Great Elder, haven't you already decided to support a group of clansmen with good combat ability to go to the Land of Yu?"
Uchiha Yashiro frowned slightly and asked aloud,
"Why is there a Genin on the list, and a Genin who hasn't even activated the Sharingan at that?"
"Didn't you explain the danger of this mission to the clan?"
Uchiha Setsuna picked up the tea cup, glanced at Yashiro, and said calmly, "I will lead this mission personally."
"Just me alone is enough."
"But this time it's not just a simple change within the Chinoike [Blood Pond] clan or an increase in guard pressure," Uchiha Yashiro analyzed with a frown.
"The Land of Yu is located between the Lands of Fire, Lightning, and Water. Furthermore, both Iwagakure and Sunagakure have recently engaged in small-scale wars with Kirigakure. This place has fallen into extreme chaos."
"There's a mixture of spies and combat troops from various nations. Additionally, there are many small organizations that appeared in minor countries after the Second Ninja World War, such as the Xuanyuan Clan, Prajna Clan, Evil God Cult, Earth Spider, and the remnants of the destroyed Kagero [Fleeting Rain] Flame Village. Kirigakure's Hunter-Nin, the Oi Ninja, and Iwagakure's Rasa, who is making military exploits on the Kirigakure front to ascend to the position of Kazekage, and bounty hunters from the underground bounty exchange."
"This place has turned into a complete mess." Uchiha Yashiro shook his head solemnly, feeling that Uchiha Setsuna was being a bit overconfident.
In this situation, even if the Third Hokage himself took to the field, he might not be able to handle it smoothly.
Although Uchiha Setsuna was a veteran Uchiha from the Warring States Period, it seemed inappropriate to only bring one Genin and one Chunin.
However, the clan's manpower wasn't actually abundant. Members of the Security Force were restricted by Konoha and couldn't leave the village without reason.
Uchiha Yashiro suddenly suggested, "Perhaps we can request assistance from Konoha?"
"That's enough." Uchiha Setsuna put down the tea cup; his tone was calm yet brooked no argument.
"I alone am enough!"
"Yashiro, the mission to garrison Hell Valley does not come from Konoha. It is a long-term mission entrusted to the Uchiha by the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning. It is also one of the few reliable sources of funds we have now."
"Don't base your sense of security on others, especially Konoha, Sarutobi, and Danzo." Uchiha Setsuna raised his head, a pair of scarlet Sharingan lighting up, terrifyingly cold.
"Only things you can decide for yourself truly count. If others give you charity, you have to nod and bow like a dog to receive it. And if someone becomes dissatisfied, they can kick you away at any time."
Uchiha Yashiro fell silent under these words.
Ninjas were fighting tools independent of production. The wealth the Uchiha could obtain, aside from ancestral businesses and real estate within Konoha Village, came primarily from the finances developed by relying on clan ninjas to complete large-scale missions undertaken by the clan itself.
The annual reward for the mission guarding the Chinoike clan was equivalent to an S-rank mission.
Long-term. Stable.
This was also the reason why Uchiha Setsuna did not allow Konoha to get involved in this mission.
Snap.
Uchiha Ci just opened the door to his residence.
A gray-faced young man wearing goggles fell from the tree in the yard.
Uchiha Ci could tell at a glance that this guy fell because his chakra distribution and output were uneven when he was practicing tree-walking, and he didn't hold onto the trunk firmly enough.
"Obito, what are you doing now?"
Seeing this uninvited guest, Uchiha Ci was slightly speechless.
This person was Obito, who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy last year.
He was also his current neighbor.
"Oh, it's Ci! Haha, I'm preparing for the Chunin Exams!" Uchiha Obito touched the back of his head and laughed, then showed annoyance.
"Damn Kakashi, he actually used his status as a Chunin to boss me around and made me have to obey his orders!"
"It's obviously just a simple cat-catching mission!"
"When I succeed in my training, I will definitely throw my Chunin vest in his face!" Uchiha Obito cursed and recounted what happened.
Uchiha Ci was slightly startled upon hearing this, feeling a bit enlightened.
Unknowingly, he had spent a whole year in Konoha, which was still relatively peaceful.
Only then did he realize the timeline had reached this point. Obito had already formed a three-man team with Kakashi and Nohara Rin last year, led by Namikaze Minato, and had been doing D-rank missions for some time.
However, Obito's wish to become a Chunin this year might not come true.
The Ninja World War was about to break out. Namikaze Minato, as an elite Jonin, was about to rush to the front lines. This team would likely just follow Minato around this year.
It wouldn't be until the Land of Lightning slowed its offensive, giving Konoha a chance to breathe, that a Chunin Exam would be held in Konoha in year 48.
It was also at that time that Obito was seriously injured by a kick from Might Guy. Although he lost the match, he was finally promoted to Chunin.
"Why are you in a daze? Grandma made noodles. Come over and eat." Obito waved his hand in front of Uchiha Ci's face and asked, tilting his head.
"Okay, let me put my things away first." Uchiha Ci nodded and did not refuse the invitation.
On the way back, he had passed by the river and retrieved his forked stick and shoes.
However, a sack full of cans that could have been sold for money was gone along with the bag. It was unknown which scoundrel had taken it.
Uchiha Ci cursed secretly; the world's morals are really declining.
How could such a thing happen in Konoha last year?
It's just that the Uchiha clan's Security Force has recently been affected by the coming war.
There are too many meetings and no time to take care of things.
This has caused the current trend of petty theft in Konoha to rise.