Finally Out of the Newbie Village

The Uchiha Clan, the residence of Clan Head Tajima.

"Little Sosuke is here."

The Clan Head seemed unusually warm today. Anyone who didn't know better might have thought the two of them were close.

Unfortunately, it was all just for show. Sosuke was sure that Uchiha Tajima, for all his smiling, was as calm as still water inside, without the slightest ripple.

Otherwise, no matter how busy he was, he wouldn't have ignored a hero who had saved the clan's future.

Sosuke knew the score, but his face wore the same smile he might have shown on seeing a relative. "Yes, I heard the Clan Head wanted to see me, so I came right away."

If you like putting on an act, then I'll play along to the end.

An old fox and a little fox sat on the empty viewing platform, each silently confirming the other's acting chops.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Tajima decided the time was right. He picked up a sheet of intel from the table. "Take a look."

The clan's home had nearly been robbed. Uchiha Tajima had no intention of letting the culprit get away with it.

After a brief investigation, he had successfully identified a target. The intel sheet recorded the man's details.

Yamanaka Koji, male, thirty-eight. He had recently met in secret with the Senju Clan and was suspected of having finalized the Uchiha Extinction Plan.

From the intel, the Senju's sudden withdrawal was likely meant to support this plan.

"Our enemy knows us well and has made full use of the Uchiha's traits." Tajima sighed. Anyone facing an opponent like this would have a headache.

Sosuke silently repeated Yamanaka Koji's name a few times, committing it to memory.

The man who had crippled him—if he got the chance, he would settle that score with his own hands.

Sosuke placed the intel sheet on the table and asked, "What do we do next?"

"Hmph. Of course we make them pay in blood." At that moment, the Clan Head's presence surged around him. His robes fluttered without a breeze, and his every glance brimmed with the domineering air of a ruthless leader.

He didn't just want revenge. He also wanted to use this chance to show everyone what happened to those who dared oppose the Uchiha.

The Ino-Shika-Cho Clans had always stood together. If the Uchiha made a move, they would surely incur the other two clans' hostility. But Tajima seemed not to care in the slightest.

Those fellows had probably chosen to act after being led astray by Senju Butsuma, believing that load of nonsense about love and peace.

What a pity. Only self-interest was eternal in this world. The love the Senju professed was simply what they believed would let them win over the other clans more effectively.

The weak always wanted the strong to show them respect and act as though they mattered. The Senju had simply taken advantage of that.

If things had gone according to plan, the Senju would have reignited the conflict and joined forces with the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans to wipe out the Uchiha.

But things were different now. Senju Butsuma wouldn't start a major war for the sake of a clan that couldn't even handle a few small tasks.

If the Uchiha wanted to fight, then let them. The Ino-Shika-Cho Clans weren't pushovers, and whether or not they were wiped out, they would weaken the Uchiha to some degree.

Then the Senju would step forward and condemn the Uchiha's cruelty, preach their ideals of love, and take up the baton to continue the war between them.

As a man skilled in schemes and stratagems, Tajima could easily see through his opponent's plan.

But he couldn't control his clan members' emotions. Even if they knew there was a pit ahead, they would still grit their teeth and jump in with their eyes closed.

The Clan Head glanced at the boy standing before him, still too innocent to understand, and shook his head without going into detail. Perhaps he thought that even if he explained, Sosuke wouldn't understand.

Tajima picked up another item from the table and placed it in the boy's hands himself. He said earnestly, "These are my personal notes on ninjutsu. Take them home and read them at your leisure. I hope they'll help you survive on the battlefield."

"Remember, life is one vast battlefield. You must keep overcoming yourself, staying true to your principles, and pressing forward. The Uchiha's future rests in your hands."

As he spoke, Tajima tossed him a third item.

"Uchiha Sosuke!" The Clan Head's tone suddenly turned stern.

"Here!"

"We've received an urgent report from the Western War Zone. There's been frequent unrest in the Valley of Hell lately, and the clan has decided to send more ninja to suppress it. You'll go with them."

I can finally leave the newbie village?

In that instant, Sosuke was so excited that tears welled in his eyes. Even Tajima, his expression still stern, couldn't help laughing.

"Looks like the boy's been cooped up at home too long."

In the academy battle, Sosuke had proven his strength. The clan needed capable people, so Uchiha Tajima decided to send out all three of its most promising young men for experience.

His eldest son would head to the Southern War Zone to oversee the campaign against the three Ino-Shika-Cho Clans.

His second son, Izuna, would go to a certain mine to clear out the ronin and hostile clans that showed up from time to time.

Sosuke would head to the Western War Zone to guard the Valley of Hell and continue carrying out the mission commissioned by the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning.

In fact, the Uchiha's missions weren't limited to the Land of Fire. Their area of operations stretched far and wide.

Even the current Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, far away in his own country, would personally issue them commissions. The specific task was to watch over the Chinoike Clan, a family of criminals exiled to the Valley of Hell.

Everything had gone smoothly at first. Unexpectedly, the criminal clan, which had willingly accepted its punishment, had begun to show signs of unrest. It seemed someone no longer wanted to suffer in that hell.

The clan had come up with this special mission to tighten its control and give young Sosuke some experience.

Seeing how delighted Sosuke was, Tajima said coolly, "Remember, the goal of this mission isn't to kill. The Daimyo wants the Chinoike to languish in hell for all eternity."

"What a coldhearted bastard."

"Who cares? As long as he pays."

Even so, judging by the Clan Head's expression, he probably didn't think much of the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning either.

No matter their influence, many people saw ninja as tools to be summoned and dismissed at will.

The Chinoike Clan had served the Daimyo for generations, and look where it had gotten them. They were still doomed to die a miserable death.

That was why Tajima had always insisted that the Uchiha must never side with any Daimyo, no matter how high the offer.

Watching the boy leave with a spring in his step, Tajima sat back down and propped his cheek on one hand, seemingly lost in thought.

The Ino-Shika-Cho Clans were no big deal. As long as the Uchiha could spare the manpower, dealing with them would be no problem.

But the true instigators were always that rival clan to the east: the Senju of the Forest.

How to deal with them was the real problem Tajima needed to consider.

Having received the first mission of his life, Sosuke was visibly excited.

Leaving the clan grounds meant he'd have plenty of chances to earn Points.

Guard the Valley of Hell?

No problem. He could simply leave behind a Shadow Clone while his real body went out to find suitable prey.

Once he'd left the clan grounds, did they really think a mere order could keep him in line?

"The Valley of Hell, the Chinoike Clan... Those names sound familiar."