The bonfire blazed brightly, casting its light across the night sky in the wilderness.
Amidst the rustling of leaves, faint cries and distant commotion could be heard.
Three people sat silently around the bonfire.
Uchiha Shana glanced at the other two before speaking with a solemn expression:
"This mission, the real danger stems from an unexpected event."
"Just half a month ago, the Chinoike Clan submitted their third confession to the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning."
"However, the envoy sent by the Land of Lightning Daimyo was assassinated on the way, mentioning an underground exchange of rewards."
"The Land of Lightning Daimyo was furious and intends to continue imprisoning the Chinoike Clan."
"Desperate, the Chinoike Clan knew there was no way out, so they secretly contacted the Hidden Cloud."
"Hidden Cloud will send someone to liberate the Chinoike. In exchange, the Chinoike Clan will be integrated into Hidden Cloud Village as one of its bloodline clans."
Uchiha Seichiro was immediately puzzled, "Aren't the Chinoike themselves a bloodline clan of the Land of Lightning? How did they negotiate such terms with Hidden Cloud?"
Uchiha Jin shook his head slightly. Having read the original work, he had some guesses.
During the Warring States period, a daughter of the Chinoike Clan married into the Daimyo's family of the Land of Lightning as a concubine.
Shortly thereafter, the Daimyo died of illness, and due to jealousy and slander, the Chinoike family's daughter was exiled to the Valley of Hell along with her clan.
To put it bluntly, the Chinoike Clan had already risen to nobility, so naturally they were unwilling to lower their status and join Hidden Cloud Village in fighting and killing.
They would rather continue to languish in the Valley of Hell, hoping to be pardoned one day and restored as major nobles of the Land of Lightning.
"Now that hopes of pardon have been dashed, and with little hope of continuing on, they can only grit their teeth and join the camp of those barbarians in Hidden Cloud.
On the Hidden Cloud side, they also see it as a welcome development. With the Ninja World War approaching, the Chinoike Clan represents a formidable force.
Who knows, perhaps that envoy who was assassinated was the handiwork of Hidden Cloud.
Understanding this point, Uchiha Jin felt that seeing the whole event in a new light was akin to seeing the sun through the clouds.
Elder Uchiha Shana did not explain much to Seichiro, but spoke solemnly:
"You only need to know that the greatest danger now is from Hidden Cloud, and that's enough."
"Therefore, our first priority now is to safely reach the Valley of Hell and join our fellow Uchiha there."
"As night falls, Seichiro, you and Jin will take turns keeping watch and set up alert traps around."
"That's all. Go and do it."
With a casual wave of his hand, Uchiha Shana instructed Seichiro.
Seichiro didn't get an answer, but ended up with a lot of dirty work, feeling full of resentment as he grumbled and got up.
At this moment, Jin's eyes lit up and he asked, "Then why don't we travel at night? Shouldn't we try to reach the Valley of Hell as soon as possible in this situation?"
Seichiro, however, looked disdainful, casting a sidelong glance and scoffing, "That's absurd! Kid, have you even read the Ninja rules?"
"Do you want me to recite them for you? Rule number one states that Ninjas should avoid traveling at night as much as possible to avoid ambushes."
[Seichiro looks down on you.]
Reading the subtitles floating in front of him, Jin couldn't help shaking his head. It made sense in theory, but if they followed the normal procedure, they would set out again in the morning. Wouldn't that just leave Hidden Cloud waiting in vain?
He left the village for three things: fighting, fighting, and more fighting!
Moreover, Jin's point wasn't unfounded.
With this thought in mind, Jin smiled and stood up.
"It's all about analyzing the situation."
"Tonight, it's pitch dark and windy. Can't see a thing, let alone squatting for an ambush. I wouldn't even find toilet paper, and we're Uchiha. I don't know what you're afraid of."
The confidence behind Jin's words stemmed from the Uchiha's Kekkei Genkai, the Sharingan.
Even in pitch-black darkness, the Sharingan's dynamic vision and insight into Chakra flow made Hidden Cloud's ambushes no problem for the Uchiha.
If they achieved this, Shana and Seichiro Uchiha would likely break through Hidden Cloud's preset defenses.
As for him, Uchiha Jin, without the Sharingan awakened...
In such a battle, survival would be absolutely impossible!
In that case, he would just end up giving away his honor for nothing!
Upon hearing this, Elder Uchiha Shana couldn't help but lift his eyes slightly and glance at the clouds gathering in the sky.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Seichiro beside them let out a cold laugh immediately.
Stepping forward, Seichiro grabbed Jin Uchiha by the collar, pulling him close, his voice lowered and cold:
"Jin Uchiha, let me tell you again—"
"Because of you, I got dragged into this mess of a mission!"
Seichiro clenched his teeth, his gaze icy and his tone extremely disdainful:
"What makes you think you're anything special?"
"Do you even deserve to question the Ninja rules compiled by the Second Hokage?"
"Do you know how many Ninja in Konoha die every year because they didn't heed the advice of the rules?"
As the words fell, silence enveloped the surroundings, the wind and clouds quieting down.
Jin Uchiha calmly looked at Seichiro, able to clearly see the cold resentment in his eyes.
He paused for a moment, then calmly spoke:
"Seichiro Senpai, Ninjas climb walls because it's the easiest way. If jumping over them is more troublesome, then smashing through is also acceptable for a Ninja."
Jin Uchiha smirked, glanced at him, and slapped away Seichiro's hand, saying coldly:
"You've got it all backwards."
As these words fell, a deafeningly crisp sound rang in Jin Uchiha's ears.
[Clang!]
Hot springs mostly occur in riverbeds within valleys, while the Land of Hot Water, renowned for its hot springs, is characterized by its mountainous terrain.
From the Land of Fire to the Land of Hot Water, from hilly areas to high mountains.
Crossing the deep valleys between the mountains is a necessary path to cross the border between the two nations of Fire and Hot Water.
At this moment,
Under a large tree past the narrow passage, two Ninjas dressed in Hidden Cloud attire, carrying longswords on their backs, were leisurely and comfortably roasting meat.
The younger Cloud Ninja furrowed his brow and asked,
"Senpai Ramii, Senpai Dodai, is it alright to relax our vigilance like this? Could it cause some problems?"
"Moroi, you're too tense," Ramii, the elder, remained calm. He even handed over a roasted rabbit leg before explaining,
"We've got Hidden Mist Shinobi ahead of us keeping watch."
"If there's any movement, we'll receive signals immediately."
"Besides, Uchiha aren't invincible. After a day's journey, they must be exhausted. Knowing the danger ahead, they won't act rashly."
"Rest up. This time, it's Uchiha Shana leading them. Tomorrow will be a fierce battle."
"We must ensure they perish here to guarantee the destruction of the Valley of Hell's defense forces."
Moroi glanced at the three of them, considered it, and also relaxed.
One elite Jonin, one Jonin, and him as a Special Jonin.
No matter how you think about it, taking down an elderly Uchiha should be a sure thing.
Moreover, the three present are not ordinary individuals.
Ramii, a seasoned Jonin who has survived since the Warring States era, participated in the Second Ninja World War peace talks, and witnessed the transformation of the Nine-Tails into its gold and silver horn forms. Countless terrifying battles have not broken this old Jonin, making him tough and resilient.
Dodai, an elite Jonin with a single eye, wears a black hat, and was the right-hand man of the Third Raikage. He possesses the Kekkei Genkai Lava Release and recently served as the examiner for the 'Double Lariat' technique. In his prime, his strength rivals that of a Kage.
As for Moroi, a Special Jonin and the first Squad Captain of the Hidden Cloud's Barrier Division, he is the designated successor of the Barrier Division's leadership. He inherited sealing jutsu from the Uzumaki Clan, capable of immobilizing even a Jonin in an instant.
All three can be considered top experts in Hidden Cloud Village!
With such a lineup, even if another Jonin team were to come, they wouldn't stand a chance against them!
For the Chinoike Clan's integration into Hidden Cloud Village, Hidden Cloud has spared no expense this time!
They're just waiting for the hawkish leader of the Uchiha to arrive—
Then they will bury him and his team right here!