Hana's Plan to Repay Her Debt

Chapter 14: Hana's Plan to Repay Her Debt

After leaving the old physician's yard, Uchiha Shin hurried without pause toward the Uchiha Clan's so-called mission hall—the place where the clan issued missions.

Every shinobi clan's territory in the Warring States Period probably had a place like this!

After all, most of a shinobi's income in this era came from the rewards paid for completing missions commissioned by others.

Each clan had shinobi who dealt specifically with outsiders. They brought missions back from clients and posted them in their clan's mission hall.

The clan's shinobi could form teams or take missions alone, depending on their strength.

Once they completed a mission, the family took a certain percentage of the reward, and the shinobi who'd completed it divided the rest among themselves.

When Uchiha Shin had first learned about this, he'd instantly felt as if he'd become a yellow-suited courier or a blue-suited courier.

After entering the mission hall, Uchiha Shin saw that, sure enough, a crowd of shinobi had gathered around the mission board in the middle, hoping to take on missions.

He bypassed the mission records desk and walked straight into the adjoining room.

Holding the mission scroll, Uchiha Shin saw Uchiha Tajima sitting cross-legged beside a low table, his head bowed as he focused on something.

"Father, I'm here to turn in my mission."

Uchiha Shin plopped down opposite Uchiha Tajima, put the mission scroll on the table, and slid it toward him.

At the sound of his voice, Uchiha Tajima looked up at his son, who'd returned after completing the clan's trial mission, and gave a slight nod.

Uchiha Tajima had already learned the details of how Uchiha Shin had handled the mission from the shinobi who'd secretly guarded him.

Overall, Uchiha Tajima was very pleased with his son's conduct during the mission.

"Bold, meticulous, decisive, and ruthless!"

That was how the shinobi who'd secretly guarded Uchiha Shin had described him after returning from the mission.

As a Genin, Uchiha Shin was unquestionably qualified.

Among the Genin candidates in his batch who'd completed the clan's trial, no one had done a better job than he had.

"Since you've completed the clan's trial, you're now a qualified Uchiha Genin."

"That means it's time to give you the insignia of an Uchiha Genin."

"Keep working hard, my son."

"I hope you'll go farther and steadier on the path of a shinobi than I have."

With a smile, Uchiha Tajima said this to Uchiha Shin, then stood and took a small metal suit of armor from the cabinet in the corner of the room.

"You're now a qualified Genin. Congratulations, my son."

"This armor bears the Uchiha Clan crest. It's yours now."

Uchiha Tajima carried the armor over to Uchiha Shin and handed it to him with a smile, congratulating him on becoming a Genin.

Uchiha Shin reached out and accepted the small suit of armor from Uchiha Tajima.

He was a little surprised. Could this be the shinobi clans' tradition in the Warring States Period?

After passing the clan's trial and becoming a Genin, instead of giving you something like a Forehead Protector, they gave you armor with the clan crest on it?

And was red armor the Uchiha Clan's standard issue?

Uchiha Shin ran his hand over the armor and then knocked on it twice. It rang out with a crisp, clear sound.

Better than nothing. At least it could block Kunai and Shuriken.

Did this count as getting a new skin?

Uchiha Shin put the armor on, silently grumbling to himself.

Once he'd put on the small suit of armor...

Uchiha Shin said goodbye to Uchiha Tajima, who still had work to do, then left the mission hall alone and headed home.

As he passed a pond, Uchiha Shin suddenly stopped.

Standing at the edge of the pond with his arms crossed, he gazed down into it with a haughty look...

"With this look, this outfit, this presence, and this peerless beauty, I'm starting to look a bit like the future Lord Madara!"

"Hahaha!"

Uchiha Shin was having the time of his life cosplaying as the future Lord Madara. He had no idea...

That four-year-old Uchiha Madara was standing a short distance behind him, staring at his big brother's odd performance as if he'd seen a ghost.

Was this a case of Li Gui running into Li Kui?

Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, three days went by.

With the old physician's care, the injured Uchiha Hana soon recovered. During that time, her parents and younger brother came to visit her several times.

When they heard from the old physician that Uchiha Hana would recover soon, they finally stopped worrying. They just told her to rest and get well, and not to worry about the family.

Now fully recovered, Uchiha Hana thanked the old physician and left to go home.

But she'd also found out from the old physician that Uchiha Shin, the clan leader's eldest son, had saved her.

For a drop of kindness, repay with a spring of gratitude.

How much more so for a life-saving kindness?

Uchiha Hana decided she had to repay Uchiha Shin for saving her.

But you couldn't show up at someone's door empty-handed!

At the thought, Uchiha Hana scratched her head, troubled.

She looked up at the nearly bare house and couldn't help feeling dejected.

Her family was too poor. They didn't have anything worth giving.

She was afraid Uchiha Shin wouldn't think much of anything ordinary.

"After all, Uchiha Shin is the clan leader's eldest son. What hasn't he eaten? What hasn't he seen?"

Uchiha Hana wondered to herself.

"Ah...!"

Six-year-old Uchiha Hana let out a long sigh.

She thought about all the food Uchiha Shin had eaten and all the toys he'd played with—things she'd never eaten or played with herself...

Uchiha Hana immediately became even more withdrawn.

"What should I bring to thank Uchiha Shin for saving my life?"

Feeling frustrated, Uchiha Hana went outside and crouched by her doorway, scratching at her hair as she tried to think of something.

"Wait..."

Suddenly, inspiration struck Uchiha Hana.

"If I can't find anything good to thank Uchiha Shin for saving my life..."

"Then why not sell my life to him? Hahaha!"

"Fighting for the clan means risking my life. Fighting for Uchiha Shin means risking my life too. It's all pretty much the same!"

"Hahaha!"

"I'm such a clever Uchiha Hana, hahaha!"

At the thought, Uchiha Hana jumped to her feet and proudly put her hands on her hips. She was impressed with herself for coming up with this way to repay him.

"Since I'll be risking my life for Uchiha Shin..."

"The very least he can do is feed and house me!"

"If I can't eat and drink like royalty, then at least I should get Mr. Braised Rabbit once a week, right? And plenty of white rice. Surely I'll get to eat those!"

"Hehehe..."

Uchiha Hana's imagination ran wild. Proud of herself for coming up with such a brilliant plan, she burst into laughter.

"Hehehe..."

"It's settled. I'll go see Uchiha Shin first thing tomorrow morning."

"Even if I have to prostrate myself before him, I'll make sure he accepts my offer to repay him!"

Uchiha Hana clenched her fists, her heart filled with joy.