Ninja Survival Rules, Cloud and Thunder Gradually Appear!

At six in the morning.

Uchiha Ci smashed his alarm clock, which had been bothering him for a year, before it could even ring.

By this time, he was already fully armored.

Headband, knee pads, shuriken holster on his leggings, gloves, ankle straps, the Scroll Storage Bag wrapped around his left waist, and the Ninja Tool Pouch at his lower back.

He donned a high-collared black robe bearing the Uchiha Clan Crest, stood before the mirror, lifted his hair, pulled down his eyelids, and let out a sinister chuckle:

"Now, I can already see your death!"

(Storm Sasuke KO Akatsuki Itachi Ougi Image.jpg)

After a moment of self-indulgence, precisely at six, Uchiha Ci jumped out the window, only to bump into Obito Uchiha, who was doing the same from the apartment next door.

"Ci, are you going on a mission too?"

Uchiha Ci nodded coolly and reminded him, "Don't be late again."

"What are you talking about? I, Uchiha Obito, am going to be Hokage! Eeeeeee!"

As he spoke, Uchiha Obito slapped his chest, missed his footing, and plunged headfirst out the second-floor window.

Uchiha Ci shook his head slightly, thinking, Truly worthy of you, Late-arrival Obito.

With a sprained ankle and a bumped head, anyone would think this guy had just returned from the Battlefield of the Land of Rain with a "battle damage" package.

If he had to go to Konoha Hospital for treatment, he'd be at least an hour late to Minato Squad.

However, Uchiha Ci was used to such scenes. He ignored the guy below, leaving behind only a smile and a parting remark:

"Tsuchiko, let's meet at the Memorial Stone next time. Don't forget to burn some incense for your brother."

With that, Uchiha Ci pushed off the eaves, his arches flexing, and leaped up, rushing towards the Rally Point.

His steps were filled with an impatient eagerness.

Uchiha Obito: ???

In the Uchiha Clan Compound, within a tall mansion.

"That's how it is, Fugaku-senpai." Uchiha Shisui bowed respectfully to the young man before him, explaining his purpose.

"Uchiha Ci?" Uchiha Fugaku's expression was as calm as an ancient well. He nodded slightly, registering the name.

"I believe he will become a bridge between the clan and the village. Fugaku-senpai, when you arrive in the Land of Hot Water, please keep an eye on my friend!"

"I would be immensely grateful!"

Uchiha Fugaku crossed his arms and said calmly, "Go, Shisui. I will depart for the Land of Hot Water half a day after Elder Setsuna. I will keep an eye on your friend."

"As for you, upon arriving in the Land of Rain, remember to contact the clan members at the camp immediately."

"Also, you need to be aware of a newly emerging organization in the Land of Rain."

Uchiha Shisui blinked, looking up slightly, a little confused:

"An emerging organization?"

Uchiha Fugaku frowned slightly, "An organization called Akatsuki. Their goals are quite naive, but you can try to make contact."

"After all, the three leaders of that organization are disciples of Lord Jiraiya, one of the Sannin."

"They are naturally inclined towards Konoha."

Uchiha Shisui nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and then murmured to himself, "Akatsuki..."

At eight in the morning.

At the Konoha Gate.

Two squads, entirely composed of Uchiha, assembled.

Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna glanced at the sky, then at the assembled members, and said plainly, "Since all personnel have arrived, the mission begins now!"

"Upon reaching the designated location, each squad captain will unroll the Mission Scroll and provide explanations and task assignments."

"That is all. Depart!"

With that, Uchiha Setsuna took the lead, waved gently to Uchiha Ci and Uchiha Seiichiro beside him, and then set off on the road out of the village.

In this situation, the six people in the two squads had no time for pleasantries.

Uchiha Shisui smiled at Uchiha Ci, clenched his right fist, and tapped his chest before following the team.

Uchiha Ci stared, utterly bewildered.

He shook his head, not paying it too much mind.

Although Uchiha Shisui had some misunderstanding about him, the missions they were assigned were worlds apart.

One was heading to the Land of Rain, northwest of the Land of Fire, while the other was traveling straight east, crossing a long stretch of hills to reach the Land of Hot Water.

Ci couldn't believe it; if Uchiha Shisui was in the Land of Rain, how could he possibly drag him, who was in the Land of Hot Water, and prevent him from seeking death?

This wave, this wave's biggest source of risk has been eliminated!

Advantage is mine!

Uchiha Ci's squad departed Konohagakure, advancing at a steady, rapid pace towards the Land of Hot Water.

A ninja's travel speed was comparable to a dump truck. Crossing the vast hilly terrain of the Land of Fire from Konohagakure to the Land of Hot Water only took a single day.

None of the three squad members were talkative types. They traveled in silence. After leaving Konohagakure and moving away from the prosperous regions of the Land of Fire, the scenery abruptly changed.

Refugees from the border heading south from the Land of Hot Water and Refugees of the Land of Hot Water gradually filled their vision. The landscape transformed from the vibrant green of spring life into a desolate gray.

Withered branches, debarked tree trunks, and helpless, despairing gazes were the most common sights Uchiha Ci encountered along the way.

At this point, they had only reached the midpoint.

Traces of ninja were already appearing nearby.

Scattered remnants of picnics, surrounding alert traps, and the peering glances cast from the shadows made the three squad members slightly more cautious.

On the eve of the Third Shinobi World War, the smaller nations caught between the major powers were the most chaotic territories.

The Yugakure Ninja of Yugakure couldn't protect the Land of Hot Water, nor could they bear the punishment for mission failure. A significant portion would become rogue ninja, blending in with the refugees and entering the Land of Fire.

Eventually, they would become mountain bandits, appearing on bounty missions.

As the light on the ground gradually receded.

The sun set, the red clouds on the horizon faded, and darkness was about to descend.

Uchiha Setsuna called a halt to the advancing squad.

He drew out the mission scroll, unrolled it on a rock, and said in a cold voice:

"Gather around, we're going over the mission briefing now."

Uchiha Ci tensed, knowing the main event was about to begin.

Whether he could achieve the "Death Upon Leaving Village" achievement today depended on this.

"This mission's objective is to reach the Valley of Hell in the Land of Hot Water and support the Uchiha Clan Members stationed there."

"Where do you think the greatest danger comes from?"

Facing the other two, Uchiha Setsuna paused for a moment before suddenly asking.

Uchiha Seiichiro pouted, "Aside from the standard ninja survival rules, the main thing would be dealing with the Chinoike Clan's counterattack, right?"

"Those lunatics are all dangerous."

Uchiha Ci remained silent, merely nodding in agreement. His view was the same as Seiichiro's.

Moreover, he knew—

Above the lunatics, there were masters!

Blood Pond Oya Castle, or rather, Oya Castle En!

This senior of Itachi, this filial son, with his own strength alone, without any external help, went on a rampage and slaughtered his entire clan, eradicating everyone in the Chinoike Clan except his daughter from the ninja world.

It was hard to imagine what level his Ketsuryūgan had evolved to.

Chino of the Blood Pond, who appeared in the original work's Sasuke's Light Arc, was nowhere near qualified to even carry this man's shoes.

This was the truly significant figure!

However, Uchiha Setsuna shook his head, sighed, closed his eyes, and said with great gravity:

"You are both wrong."

"The real danger does not lie with the Chinoike Clan, but above them!"

"What?" Uchiha Ci was stunned.

What the hell, above the masters, there are even more masters?