Fire Style: Dustless Bewilderment Jutsu

"Why is he here so late?"

Uchiha Qiongyue's hand, which was holding a scroll, paused. A look of confusion crossed his face, but then his eyes flashed. "Could it be..."

Although he had previously promised Kagami Uchiha that he would no longer force the kid to carry out missions, if he were to deliver himself to his doorstep...

"Then I can't be blamed for what happens!"

"Clan Head!"

Uchiha Setsuna also wore a look of joy. He leaned forward to ask for his opinion, "This kid must be here to accept that mission. Let him in."

"Hmm."

Uchiha Qiongyue nodded.

Uchiha Setsuna hurried over to open the door and ushered in Uchiha Ao, who was carrying a beer bottle and appeared slightly tipsy.

"Brother Setsuna, why be so polite? We're all brothers; talking outside would have been the same."

Uchiha Ao draped an arm over Setsuna's shoulder, speaking warmly, before catching a glimpse of someone out of the corner of his eye.

"Holy shit, why is the Clan Head, that old ba... that elder, here too?"

He coughed a few times and bowed in greeting.

"Clan Head."

The veins on Uchiha Qiongyue's forehead bulged. He suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice:

"It's so late, why have you come here?"

As the head of the clan, he had his own methods for managing subordinates. Even if he wanted someone to do something, he wouldn't show it on his face.

Uchiha Ao glanced at the anxious-looking Setsuna to the side and instantly understood the situation. He feigned difficulty:

"I originally intended to tell you this tomorrow, Clan Head. Since you are here today, I might as well say it now. Regarding that reconnaissance mission, I feel my abilities are limited, and I would like to resign from it to you and Brother Setsuna."

Over the past two days, he had been gathering information in the village, and there was indeed a feeling that a storm was brewing. Considering the butterfly effect, he had indeed considered giving up the mission for the sake of stability.

After all, no matter how sweet the reward was, one had to be alive to enjoy it.

But since someone else was more anxious than him, he might as well take the opportunity to squeeze out some benefits.

Even if he accepted the mission, if the border really was fraught with danger, he had plenty of ways to slack off. Then, he could rely on some memories from his previous life to pass off as intelligence.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Uchiha Qiongyue wore an expression as if he had just eaten excrement.

He was about to lose his temper, but then he remembered that as the Clan Head, he didn't have the time to fret over a B-Rank Mission every single day. He suppressed his impatience and persuaded him:

"I know this mission isn't simple, but as an entry-level task for joining the Police Force, it is perfectly appropriate.

As long as you agree, once this mission is completed, I can waive the requirement for the Police Force's entry threshold—the condition of having awakened the Sharingan!

How about that? This is a level of preferential treatment the clan has never offered before!"

"That's right, Sou. Joining the clan's Police Force is the dream of many Uchiha clansmen. If you miss this chance, you won't get another one this good."

Setsuna also chimed in to help persuade him; after all, getting rid of this troublesome mission as soon as possible would be one less headache for him.

"Actually, I want to go too..."

Uchiha Ao feigned shame and said:

"But... my strength is too weak. I'm afraid I'd be intercepted and killed by Rogue Ninjas on the road before I even reached the border, so I've been hesitating..."

"(¬_¬)."

Uchiha Qiongyue shot him a glance. He knew exactly what kind of scheme this kid was cooking up. He casually pulled a Ninjutsu Scroll from his robe, tossed it to him, and said irritably:

"This is Fire Release: Hiding in Ash. It's one of the few A-rank Ninjutsu in our clan. Even for clansmen in the Police Force, they would normally have to complete several missions to exchange for it. You're getting a bargain."

The reason he was being so generous was that he believed Uchiha Ao wouldn't be able to return from the border alive anyway, so he might as well throw him a bone.

Regardless, they had accepted the reconnaissance mission issued by the Village. If someone were to sacrifice their life because of it, the Village higher-ups wouldn't be able to say anything more.

Uchiha Ao caught the scroll with a backhand motion and quickly bowed in thanks: "Thank you, Clan Head. I will come to find Brother Setsuna first thing tomorrow morning to receive the mission."

He had heard of this Ninjutsu; it seemed to be the exclusive Fire Release Ninjutsu used by Madara in the original story. He hadn't expected this big shot to have it as well.

It seemed that before Madara left the Uchiha Clan, he had left a few things behind for the clan.

As far as he knew, this Ninjutsu had excellent survival capabilities!

"Dismissed."

"Yes."

Having secured the benefits, Uchiha Ao turned and walked out.

Setsuna, standing to the side, eagerly escorted him to the door and said warmly:

"Sou, the journey to the border to scout for intelligence is indeed not easy..."

As he spoke, he pulled a scroll from his robe and handed it over. "This contains some of my experience with the Puppet Shuriken Technique. Take a look when you have time; it will be helpful."

Uchiha Ao gave him a surprised look. Didn't this grandson always look down on the original owner? Why was he acting like this now...

Screw it, if there's a benefit, take it!

Thinking this, he reached out to grab it, but it didn't budge. He tried again, and it still didn't budge...

He looked up and saw Uchiha Setsuna smiling as he handed over the B-Rank Mission scroll along with the other one.

Seeing this, how could he not understand? This grandson was afraid he would go back on his word again tomorrow morning.

Uchiha Ao's mouth twitched. He took both scrolls with his hands and turned to leave.

"Have a safe trip~"

Uchiha Setsuna waved enthusiastically from behind.

Uchiha Ao stiffened; the hand gripping the wine bottle tightened.

Damn it, one after another—do they really think I'm going to the border to die?

When I get back, I'm definitely going to slap you all in the face with these mission scrolls!

In a village on the border of the Land of Fire.

"Mm-ah..."

A thin man wearing a Cloud Village headband stood up from a disheveled woman whose consciousness was fading, exhaling in satisfaction.

"The women of the Land of Fire are just so tender; you can practically squeeze water out of them."

As he spoke, he pinched the woman's chin hard. "I don't know what the Raikage is thinking. That Hashirama Senju is clearly dead, and Konoha is at its weakest. Why won't he give the order to attack?"

A brawny, dark-skinned accomplice nearby slowly released the woman in his hands, who was already breathless. He said coldly, "I heard they are testing the status of Uzumaki Mito. After all, she is a perfect Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. In terms of combat power, she is definitely no less than a Kage Level ninja, which is why the higher-ups have been slow to make a decision."

"I really hope that day comes soon!"

The thin accomplice leered, "I hear the female ninja of Konoha are even better, especially those from the Kurama Clan. The dual pleasure of genjutsu and the physical body, that is truly..."

Step, step...

"Who's there?!"

Hearing footsteps, the two men simultaneously drew their kunai and looked around.

Swish!

From the depths of the twilight, a flash of silver blade swept past, followed by the screech of a sharp blade cutting through the air.

The two of them didn't even have a chance to react before a thin Blood Line appeared on their necks, and they collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"Kagami Uchiha, you were still a step too late!"

Shimura Danzō, clad in armor and carrying a long blade on his back, leaped down from a tree, his tone laced with mockery.

Kagami Uchiha ignored him. He sheathed his blade, walked over to the disheveled woman in a few strides, wrapped her clothes around her, and said softly:

"It's alright now. The enemies are dead."

As he spoke, the three tomoe in his eyes rotated once, and the woman, who wore a broken expression, drifted off to sleep in his arms.

Danzō stood behind him, a flicker of envy flashing in the depths of his eyes.

The dōjutsu of the Sharingan... If I had that too, the Hokage would surely value me even more!

Kagami Uchiha picked up the sleeping woman.

Swish! Swish!

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Utatane Koharu arrived at the scene, their faces stained with blood.

Kagami Uchiha handed the woman to Koharu and instructed her to take her to a village not far behind them, then looked toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Hiruzen, how is the situation on your end?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the slaughtered civilians scattered around, a flash of rage in his eyes as he said in a low voice:

"Most of the Cloud Village forces that invaded the border have been wiped out. This invasion was likely just a probe; there is a possibility of further attacks later on.

In a few days, the village's reconnaissance ninjas should arrive, and by then, we will surely have more comprehensive intelligence."

"Understood. Thank you for your hard work."

After closing the eyes of a woman who had died with a look of lingering resentment, Kagami Uchiha's expression turned heavy.

He had already witnessed this same tragic scene no fewer than ten times in the past few days.

The cruelty of war far exceeded the fighting between ninjas.

Why did the Clan Head and the others still want to incite war?