The bonfire crackled, its flames reflecting against the wild night sky.
Amidst the rustling leaves, faint shouts and chaotic movements seemed to be heard in the distance.
The three of them sat around the campfire in silence.
Uchiha Setsuna glanced at the two of them and then said with a solemn expression:
"The real danger of this mission stems from an unexpected incident."
"Just half a month ago, the Chinoike [Blood Pond] clan submitted a petition for pardon to the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning for the third time."
"However, the envoy sent by the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning to repatriate them was killed on the road and taken to the underground bounty exchange for the reward."
"The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning is furious and intends to continue imprisoning the Chinoike clan."
"And the desperate Chinoike, seeing no way out, secretly contacted Kumogakure."
"In exchange, the Chinoike clan will merge into Kumogakure and become one of its Kekkei Genkai families."
Uchiha Seiichiro was immediately puzzled: "Isn't the Chinoike clan originally a Kekkei Genkai family of the Land of Lightning? How could they negotiate such terms with Kumogakure?"
Uchiha Setsuna shook his head slightly. Uchiha Ci had already guessed this from the original work.
During the Warring States Period, a daughter of the Chinoike clan married into a noble family of the Land of Lightning as a concubine.
Not long after, the Daimyo died of illness. As a result, the Chinoike daughter was framed out of jealousy, and the clan was exiled to Hell Valley.
To put it bluntly, the Chinoike clan had already become nobility and were naturally unwilling to surrender and join Kumogakure to fight and kill.
They would rather continue to be imprisoned in Hell Valley, hoping to one day be pardoned and become great nobles of the Land of Lightning again.
Now that the hope of pardon was gone, with no prospect of continuing, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and join the camp of Kumogakure's barbarians.
And Kumogakure was happy to see it succeed. With the Ninja World War imminent, the Chinoike clan was a good fighting force.
Perhaps the slain envoy was Kumogakure's doing.
After thinking this through, Uchiha Ci felt the clouds part and the sun shine brightly on the whole incident.
The Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna did not explain much to Seiichiro but said solemnly:
"You just need to know that the biggest danger now is Kumogakure. That's enough."
"So, the first priority now is to reach Hell Valley safely and join the Uchiha stationed there."
"It will be night soon. Seiichiro, you and Ci will keep watch in shifts and set up warning traps around the perimeter."
"That's all. Do it."
Uchiha Setsuna waved his hand lightly, giving the order to Seiichiro.
Seiichiro didn't get his answer but got a lot of grunt work instead. Full of resentment, he got up cursing.
At this moment, Uchiha Ci's eyes lit up slightly, and he asked,
"Then why don't we travel at night?"
"That way, shouldn't we reach Hell Valley as soon as possible?"
Seiichiro showed a look of disdain, glanced sideways, and said scornfully,
"What nonsense!"
"Kid, have you never read the Ninja Code?"
"Should I read it to you? The first rule of the code is that ninjas should try to avoid night marches to avoid ambushes."
[Uchiha Seiichiro despises you.]
Looking at the subtitles floating before his eyes, Uchiha Ci couldn't help but shake his head.
This was true, but if they really followed the normal route and set off again tomorrow morning,
Wouldn't that just give the lurking Kumogakure ninja more time to breathe?
He left the village for three things: to fight, to fight, and to fight!
Moreover, Uchiha Ci's suggestion wasn't without basis.
After thinking it over, Uchiha Ci smiled and stood up:
"Let's analyze the specific situation in detail."
"It's a dark and windy night; you can't see a thing. Forget about an ambush; you can't even find toilet paper when you squat down. Plus, we're Uchiha; I don't know what you're afraid of."
The confidence behind these words lay in the Uchiha's bloodline limit, the Sharingan.
Even in pitch darkness, with the Sharingan's dynamic vision and ability to see chakra flow, a Kumogakure ambush would be no problem for the Uchiha.
If they succeeded, then Uchiha Setsuna and Uchiha Seiichiro would very likely break through Kumogakure's preset defensive line.
And he, Uchiha Ci, who hadn't awakened the Sharingan,
would absolutely have no chance of surviving such a battle!
In that case, he could gloriously sacrifice himself for free!
When the Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna heard this, he couldn't help but raise his eyes slightly and look at the clouds gathering in the sky.
Uchiha Seiichiro on the side immediately sneered.
Seiichiro took two steps forward, grabbed Uchiha Ci's collar, lifted him forcefully, put his head close to Ci's ear, and said coldly in a low voice:
"Uchiha Ci, let me tell you again—"
"Because of you, I got dragged into this messy mission!"
Uchiha Seiichiro gritted his teeth, his eyes cold, his tone dripping with contempt:
"Who do you think you are?"
"Are you worthy enough to question the ninja code compiled by the Nidaime Hokage?"
"Do you know how many ninjas die in Konoha every year because they disobey the rules and advice?"
After these words fell, silence fell all around; the wind and clouds seemed to stop.
Uchiha Ci looked at Seiichiro calmly, clearly seeing the cold anger in the other's eyes.
He paused, then said calmly:
"Seiichiro-senpai, a ninja climbs a wall because it's the easiest way over."
"And it would be more troublesome to jump over it."
"For ninjas, it's fine to smash through walls and move forward."
Uchiha Ci grinned, glanced at the other, slapped his hand away, and said coldly:
"You're putting the cart before the horse."
As these words fell, a deafening, crisp sound exploded in Uchiha Ci's ears.
[Ding!]
Hot springs mostly occur on riverbeds in valleys, and the Land of Yu (Hot Water), famous for its hot springs, has a terrain of high mountains and deep valleys.
From the Land of Fire to the Land of Yu, from hilly areas to mountains.
Passing through the deep valleys between the mountains was the only way to cross the border between Fire and Yu.
At this time,
Under a large tree behind the pass, two ninjas wearing Kumogakure uniforms and carrying long swords were leisurely roasting meat.
Another slightly younger Kumogakure ninja frowned and asked:
"Senior Ramī, Senior Dodai, won't there be a problem if we let our guard down like this?"
"Moroi, you're too tense." The elder, Ramī, was very calm and even handed over a roasted rabbit leg, then explained:
"There's a Yu ninja we sent ahead keeping watch."
"As soon as there's any movement, we'll receive the signal immediately."
"And the Uchiha aren't made of iron. They've been traveling all day and are exhausted. They won't show up knowing there's danger ahead."
"Rest well. This time, the Uchiha are being sent by that old guy, Uchiha Setsuna. There will be a fierce battle tomorrow."
"He must die here to ensure the Two-Tails Jinchūriki can destroy the garrison in Hell Valley."
Moroi looked at their lineup of three, thought about it, and settled down.
One elite Jōnin, one Jōnin, plus him, a Tokubetsu Jōnin [Special Jōnin].
No matter how you looked at it, taking down an already aged Uchiha was a sure thing.
Moreover, the three present were no simple characters.
Ramī, a veteran Jōnin, had survived since the Warring States Period, experienced the peace talks of the Second Ninja World War, and witnessed the transformation of the Gold and Silver Brothers into the Nine-Tails. Countless terrifying battles had not defeated this old master. It could be said he grew stronger with age.
Dodai, an elite Jōnin with one eye and a black hat, was the right-hand man of the Third Raikage. He possessed the Kekkei Genkai "Lava Release" and had recently served as the examiner for the "Double Bull Thunder Plow Hot Sword" ability test. He was at the peak of his power, his strength approaching Kage-level years ago.
And he, Moroi, a Tokubetsu Jōnin, was the first captain of the Kumogakure Barrier Team and the confirmed successor to the Barrier Team leader. With sealing techniques inherited from the Uzumaki clan, even a Jōnin would be immobilized if caught off guard for a moment.
It could be said these three were all masters within Kumogakure!
With this lineup, even another Jōnin team would be no match for them!
For the Chinoike clan to join Kumogakure, the village had invested heavily this time!
They just had to wait for the leader of the Uchiha hawks to arrive.
and bury him and his team here!