"The Fujiwara Mountain vein is one of our clan's three major mines. It produces high-quality iron ore, which is used to make nearly all the clan's ninja tools. We also have a surplus to export to the various Feudal Lords and generals, making it an extremely important source of income for the clan.
"About half a month ago, five groups of bandits suddenly appeared. They began disrupting the mine's operations and ambushing ore shipments bound for the clan, causing severe losses and bringing transportation almost to a halt. If this continues for another month, the clan will lose over a million."
Uchiha Tadashi pointed to the map of the mine on the table and carefully explained things to Uchiha Shin. The several roads he indicated were the only routes for shipping out the ore, and the bandits had already cut them off.
Shin studied the map, pondering for a moment before asking, "Have you fought them? You're clan shinobi, after all. Even ordinary Genin should have no trouble dealing with bandits. How did they manage to cut off the trade routes? Do they have shinobi too?"
Uchiha Tadashi gave a bitter smile. "Yes. I fought one group of bandits. They had two Chunin, and I was no match for them, so I retreated and asked the clan for reinforcements. The others also found signs of shinobi among the other bandits, but we can't confirm their ranks."
Shin silently studied the map, analyzing what he'd heard. Something about this situation felt strange to him.
Smack!
A rough palm slapped down on the map in front of him. A huge face reeking of alcohol loomed over him. Shin frowned in displeasure. He recognized the man as one of the five Genin stationed here, named Uchiha Kyo.
"Kid, quit pretending you know what you're doing. I don't know why the clan sent a brat like you here, but this isn't the place for you. Why don't you go home and drink your milk? Let the clan send some real shinobi!"
Shin hated being interrupted while he was thinking. The Genin in front of him was so crude that his dislike only grew stronger, and his gaze turned cold.
"Haha! You all have to see this. The kid's got a scary look in his eyes, like a little tiger baring its fangs... No, wait, more like an angry kitten. A little kitty... Haha!"
The other Genin nearby joined in, their ridicule unmistakable.
The Fujiwara Mine was so close to the clan that it was practically under its control. As a result, the shinobi stationed here to guard it had been all but forgotten. They only had to supervise the miners, and the clan barely paid them any attention. They'd long been nursing some resentment, and seeing that the clan had sent a child only made them angrier. That was how things had come to this.
Uchiha Tadashi looked embarrassed. He was unhappy that the clan had sent only a child too, but the boy was still a junior member of the clan. All they had to do was politely send him home and ask the clan to dispatch someone else. There was no need to gang up on a child.
"Little kitty?"
Shin repeated the words, a cold smile forming as he slowly rose to his feet.
"Oh, so what if I called you a little kitty? Planning to fight me? You sure can put on a convincing face, but let your uncle teach you: this world runs on strength... Hmph..."
Bang!
Before he could finish speaking, a tremendous force struck him, sending him flying. He slammed into the wall with a crash. The impact left countless fine cracks in the wall, and the man passed out, unable to withstand the blow.
It all happened in the blink of an eye. No one saw how Shin had struck.
"Go on, laugh! Keep laughing!"
Uchiha Shin turned to look at the four Genin who had just been laughing uproariously. His eyes had turned an eerie red, and the Three Tomoe were clearly visible within them.
"Guh... guh... guh..."
Everything had happened too suddenly. Even now, they couldn't process what had taken place. Their smiles froze on their faces, their expressions grotesque as they let out strange, choking sounds.
"Th-Three Tomoe!" Uchiha Tadashi stumbled backward, his face filled with shock. He murmured unconsciously, "How is this possible? Three Tomoe... How could someone so young have the Three Tomoe?"
The other four Genin could only stare blankly at the three Magatama in Shin's eyes, their minds too sluggish to even turn over the thought. Wasn't the Three Tomoe a level only the clan's Jonin could attain? How could a child have it? What in the world was going on?
Shin slowly sat down. The Three Tomoe in his eyes turned, then faded until his eyes returned to their normal color. He said calmly, "Continue telling me about these bandits."
Uchiha Tadashi jolted and hurried to Shin's side, his attitude completely changed. He stood respectfully and began pointing to the map as he detailed the situation with each group of bandits. Whatever else was going on with this child, his Three Tomoe Sharingan was real, and that was enough. In the Uchiha Clan, the level of one's Sharingan was a symbol of status.
Shin listened quietly without interrupting. When Uchiha Tadashi finished, he rhythmically tapped the table with his right hand. After a moment, he said, "Something's wrong."
Uchiha Tadashi froze and asked instinctively, "What?"
Shin said calmly, "The situation is too strange. I can't figure out what these bandits are after. What do they actually want?"
Uchiha Tadashi smiled, shaking his head inwardly. No matter how talented he was, he was still just a child. He couldn't even see the bandits' obvious goal. "This is a mine. The ore it produces is famous throughout the Warring States Period. Of course they're after the ore."
Shin turned to look at him, puzzled, and asked seriously, "What do they want the ore for?"
Uchiha Tadashi felt a little exasperated. The child in front of him was certainly strong, but why did he seem a little slow? Was that the price of awakening the Three Tomoe at such a young age?
"They want the ore to forge weapons, of course. Wait... forge weapons?" Uchiha Tadashi suddenly jolted. He realized what Shin meant and stared at him in surprise.
Once he saw that Tadashi understood, Shin continued, "Exactly. Ore is an important resource, but ore isn't the same thing as a weapon—not even the same thing as iron. The iron ore from Fujiwara Mountain has to be professionally smelted and purified before it becomes iron. Turning it into weapons requires even more specialized skills, and these bandits have none of that. To them, the ore is just a pile of useless rocks. Tell me, would anyone go out of their way to steal useless rocks?"
Uchiha Tadashi shook his head in bewilderment, staring at Shin with his mouth agape. One word echoed in his mind: "Monster."
Shin paid him no heed and continued, "Besides, this is the Uchiha Clan's property, and it's close to the clan. A Jonin could get here in less than a day, yet they still dare to rob the place and blockade the trade routes. This isn't about making money anymore; they're practically asking to die. What kind of bandit would be stupid enough to do that? Don't you agree?"
Shin smiled at Uchiha Tadashi and asked softly.
Uchiha Tadashi could only nod woodenly.
Before you continue