Uchiha's Pride

"Was this a promotion mission issued by the Hokage Building?"

"Because of the wartime conditions, there won't be any Chunin Ninja Exams. Instead, they'll use a practical assessment. For the promotion test, I have to form a squad with Nawaki and head to the battlefield in the Land of Rain where Orochimaru is stationed?"

Namikaze Yoru had slept until the next morning. When he received this unexpected mission, he was taken aback.

Thinking it over, the Second Shinobi World War was nearing its end. Konoha had an overwhelming advantage on the front lines, so the risks of heading to the battlefield had indeed decreased considerably. The war might be over soon.

Sending Nawaki to the battlefield had perhaps been planned long ago. It was also a form of training, after all. A peaceful greenhouse could never nurture a towering tree.

As for him, it was probably because he'd revealed some of his strength in front of Tsunade the day before, so he'd been casually added to the squad as "insurance."

Of course, it was also possible that Hiruzen Sarutobi had finally remembered him, the "Genin" idling at home.

Now that the mission had been assigned, he had no choice but to carry it out. They were leaving tomorrow, so he had the day to prepare.

Namikaze Yoru had originally been planning to see if he could make a contract with a Summoning Beast. Now that he was heading to the front lines, he might actually have better options.

Both the Toad Guild of Mount Myōboku and the Great Snake Collective of Ryūchi Cave were targets of Namikaze Yoru's. And then there was the tantalizing Sage Mode.

Before heading out, he checked that his body had fully recovered. The aftereffects of using the Eight Gates had disappeared completely in just one night, and his physical strength had even improved considerably.

In terms of physical strength alone, he might be slightly inferior to someone with Senju Wood Style. But when it came to vitality and recovery, the Uzumaki Clan was undoubtedly far ahead.

After all, recovery depended on abundant vitality. Just look at Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi, who had died early because of overexertion in battle.

Meanwhile, his wife, Uzumaki Mito, had the Nine-Tails sealed inside her—a debuff, if you will—and she was still alive and well. She hadn't relied on some so-called "mutual understanding"; she'd simply used Adamantine Sealing Chains to keep it under absolute control.

As soon as he stepped onto Konoha's main street, he was greeted by the usual bustle. Without slowing his pace, Namikaze Yoru made his way to the famous Ninja Tool Full Point Hall.

The moment he walked in, the owner came over with an enthusiastic greeting. Even when he saw that his customer was just a child, he didn't treat him any differently.

"What can I get for you, esteemed shinobi?"

Namikaze Yoru surveyed the shop. He rarely came to places like this. For one thing, money was tight; for another, standard-issue ninja tools were usually enough. The only time he'd made a special trip here was to buy Explosive Tags after using up his supply on the battlefield in the Land of Whirlpools.

Now he was heading to the front again. Since he still had a decent amount of money, he might as well stock up properly.

"Boss! Do you have any good Ninja Swords?"

"Certainly! What do you think of this one, sir? It contains a fair amount of Chakra Metal, so it's quite sturdy and durable!" The owner eagerly picked up a Ninja Sword and recommended it.

Namikaze Yoru reached out and took it, testing its feel in his hand. It wasn't as valuable as the long sword Nuibari, but it felt good, so he decided to buy it on the spot.

"How much is this Ninja Sword?"

"Fifty-five thousand ryo." The ninja tool shop owner quoted the price as if it were nothing.

"How about fifty thousand?"

"Deal." The owner smiled broadly as he replied.

Namikaze Yoru couldn't help wondering if he'd offered too much. Otherwise, why would the owner have agreed so readily?

But he'd already made the offer, so there was nothing to do about it. He added some Kunai and Explosive Tags. The total came to seventy-one thousand ryo, but the owner "generously" rounded it down and charged him an even seventy thousand.

It really was Konoha's biggest ninja tool shop. In the blink of an eye, he'd spent a pile of money, yet the owner's attitude had been so pleasant that he felt tempted to come back.

Just as he stepped outside, he heard a noisy argument.

He walked closer and saw a thickset man with an honest face, dressed like a farmer, confronting two members of the Uchiha Police Force. He kept protesting his innocence.

"How can the Police Department frame an innocent man? I haven't done anything!"

"You're a major suspect in this matter. Take him away." The Military Police Force member spoke coldly, ignoring his protests and moving to arrest him by force.

The villagers nearby didn't dare intervene, but their eyes were filled with hostility. They were clearly unhappy with the Uchiha's conduct.

Even as the man shouted, "Abusing your authority!" and "The Uchiha are bullying an honest man!", the two Uchiha remained utterly unmoved. After all, the proud Uchiha never stooped to explaining themselves to outsiders.

Just as the honest-looking man was about to be taken away, someone finally couldn't stand by any longer. He stepped forward, stopped the two Uchiha, and said, "Akita-kun isn't that kind of person! If you're taking him away, you'll have to show us some evidence!"

The Uchiha at the head of the group merely glanced at him. His eyes turned scarlet in an instant, revealing a Two-Tomoe Sharingan. Even without using any abilities, those ominous blood-red eyes were enough to make people back down.

"My name is Uchiha Yashiro. If you have any objections, you can come find me at the Police Department Building." His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.

The crowd parted instinctively to let him through. He walked forward without looking to either side, while the other Uchiha followed behind, impassively escorting the so-called "Akita-kun."

Watching from the sidelines, Namikaze Yoru finally understood why the Uchiha Police Force had such a bad reputation.

Everyone present was a villager of Konoha. Whether it was the Uchiha's pride or the need to keep the case confidential, this cold, heavy-handed approach was bound to make people resent them, even if they had good reason.

What's more, ever since the Second Hokage had taken office, the leadership had repeatedly suppressed the Uchiha, leaving them increasingly isolated and their reputation in steady decline. By the time the story began, they and the village were already at each other's throats.

The villagers might have been somewhat foolish and easily led, but Namikaze Yoru, watching from the side, had noticed something amiss.

Uchiha Yashiro hadn't actually framed the man. If he really were an honest farmer, his hands should have had thick calluses from years of working with farm tools. But his hands were smooth and pale, and far too nimble.

A shinobi disguised as a farmer—his purpose was obvious. He was most likely a spy from another village, or someone with other intentions.

After witnessing the Uchiha Clan Members' harsh way of handling problems, then thinking of Nawaki, the Senju heir who acted like a "landlord's dimwitted son," Namikaze Yoru couldn't help shaking his head. No wonder the Uchiha were so unpopular.

After buying the Ninja Sword, Namikaze Yoru planned to test its feel at the Training Ground. He'd already "exchanged" for Ninja Sword techniques from Kushimaru Kuriarare, but he still felt more at ease practicing them himself.

As soon as he reached the Training Ground, two familiar figures came into view.

Oh, shit. Namikaze Yoru was horrified. He turned around, intending to leave before they noticed him.

But the moment he turned, he felt a tug at the back of his collar. Tsunade had appeared behind him like a ghost. She spoke calmly. "Kid from the Namikaze family, you're just in time."