Pingjing City Grand Assembly

Chapter 32: Great Assembly at Pingjing City

Shortly after Uchiha Shin left the briefing room, Uchiha Tajima ordered his subordinates to post the list of ninjas selected for this escort mission on the briefing room's bulletin board.

Uchiha Hana happened to be on that list.

In truth, Uchiha Hana's reasoning was quite simple: since Uchiha Shin was participating in this mission, and the team leader was none other than his father, Uchiha Tajima...

How was this any different from picking up free merit?

As long as she stayed firmly by Uchiha Shin's side, whether it was earning credit or running for her life if the mission failed, she would always be safe.

Her own safety, Uchiha Hana's safety, would certainly be guaranteed.

Heh, sometimes one really has to admire Uchiha Hana's train of thought; she always manages to stumble into the optimal choice by sheer accident.

Under the Clan Head's orders, the war machine that was the Uchiha Clan immediately began to churn.

Because there was only one day of buffer time before the assembly.

Early the next morning, the ninjas on the list, having received their mission orders, rushed to the equipment depot without a moment's delay.

Because Uchiha Shin had already collected his ninja tools, explosive tags, military rations, and other necessary supplies from the depot in advance...

Uchiha Shin did not have to suffer through the long queues at the equipment depot early that morning.

"I'm back..."

By late morning, Uchiha Hana finally returned from the equipment depot, carrying a cloth bag.

As soon as Uchiha Hana entered, she saw Uchiha Shin lying lazily on his side on the living room tatami, propping his head up with one hand, with a teapot and some coarse snacks placed before him.

His life was simply too comfortable.

"Honestly, Lord Shin only knows how to slack off here..."

"You didn't even notify me to go collect equipment at the depot beforehand."

"Lord Shin, you are truly too cunning."

"There were too many people at the depot this morning, and there was only one senior Chunin in charge."

"I had no choice but to stand there and wait foolishly for the entire morning..."

Upon entering the living room, Uchiha Hana tossed the cloth bag aside, sat down directly in front of Uchiha Shin, and began to complain incessantly.

Aside from her unique way of thinking, Uchiha Hana was actually quite quick to get familiar with people.

After spending some time with Uchiha Shin, she had shed her initial caution and reserve, becoming quite boisterous.

Uchiha Shin actually quite liked this boisterous attitude of hers.

"You're talking about Kenichi, aren't you?"

"Given the situation this morning, it's true that he would have been a bit overwhelmed on his own."

Uchiha Shin responded with a chuckle to Uchiha Hana's complaints.

"Try these coarse snacks and see if they're any good?"

Seeing Uchiha Hana pouting, Uchiha Shin smiled and pushed the snacks in front of her.

"Coarse snacks?"

Looking at the snacks, Uchiha Hana subconsciously opened her mouth, then grabbed one in each hand and began to eat them right there.

"Don't mind if I do, these snacks are actually pretty tasty."

While eating, Uchiha Hana chuckled and offered her verdict on the snacks.

"Here, have some tea, don't choke."

Seeing Uchiha Hana's cheeks puffed out, Uchiha Shin chuckled again, poured a cup of tea, and handed it over.

"Here, drink up..."

Regarding Uchiha Hana's complaints, Uchiha Shin didn't bother to argue; he simply changed the subject and pushed the snacks toward her.

Having lived for thirty years in his previous life, Uchiha Shin had concluded one truth: never try to reason with a woman...

Because a woman's focus will always be on the most bizarre things.

For example, if your girlfriend tells you the water heater is broken and there's no hot water, so she can't shower.

Then you try to communicate with her, suggesting she check if the gas valve tripped or if the gas meter is empty?

But your girlfriend's ears will filter all of that out, and according to her logic: it was working fine when I showered yesterday, so why did it break right after you used it?

Did you break it?

A woman's focus will always remain on tracing the cause of the incident, while she remains deaf to any methods of resolving it.

Heh, so whether in his past life or the present, Uchiha Shin would never attempt to reason with a woman.

Otherwise, in the end, the man would always be the one in the wrong.

Therefore, the best method was to immediately change the subject, heh.

As expected by Uchiha Shin...

After Uchiha Hana accepted the snacks and tea, she stopped dwelling on why Uchiha Shin hadn't reminded her about this matter yesterday.

Instead, she began discussing the types of snacks and which ones tasted best with Uchiha Shin, haha.

So, to all the men with girlfriends, if your girlfriend is angry, haha, you might want to try this method of changing the subject.

Time passed quickly, and soon it was the next day.

Just as the sun rose in the morning, Uchiha Shin left home with Uchiha Hana.

By the time he and Uchiha Hana reached the main gate of the Uchiha Clan compound, a number of ninjas were already waiting there.

Not long after, Uchiha Tajima arrived as well.

Then, Uchiha Tajima began calling out names according to the list in his hand.

"Uchiha Kaori!"

"Present!"

"Uchiha Sarina!"

"Present!"

"Uchiha Edako!"

"Present!"

"Uchiha Shin!"

"Present!"

"Uchiha Hana!"

"Present!"

"Uchiha Atsushi!"

"Present!"

After Uchiha Tajima finished roll call based on the list in his hand and confirmed that no one was absent, he ordered the ninjas guarding the gate to open it.

There was no pre-battle mobilization, nor any morale-boosting speeches.

Uchiha Shin observed the expressions of those participating in this mission.

There was no surprise, no panic; their eyes were filled with determination, as if everything were exactly as it should be.

From the resolute gazes of this group, Uchiha Shin could tell that, apart from himself and Uchiha Hana, everyone else must be veterans.

Even the genin among this group were undoubtedly the elite of their rank, having been on the battlefield many times before.

It seemed his father, Uchiha Tajima, was determined to succeed this time.

Uchiha Shin, Uchiha Hana, and the rest of the group marched toward the assembly point for their mission—Pingjing City, the capital of the Land of Fire—facing the morning sun.

As for the allied Hagoromo Clan, as well as the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans, Uchiha Tajima had told Uchiha Shin privately that the four clans would meet up with the Uchiha Clan at Pingjing City.

The number of ninjas participating in this commissioned mission included sixty from the Uchiha Clan, fifty from the Hagoromo Clan, twenty from the Nara Clan, twenty from the Akimichi Clan, and twenty from the Yamanaka Clan.

With a total of one hundred and seventy ninjas, this force was certainly enough to intimidate most small-time troublemakers.

And that wasn't even counting the ninja monks from the Fire Temple, who were part of the escort force and served as the direct power of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

Hearing this number of ninjas, Uchiha Shin couldn't help but click his tongue.

It seemed this would definitely be a grand spectacle, and he would even get to witness the unique secret techniques of other clans, or perhaps even the "Talent of the Immortal Clan," the orthodox secret technique of the Fire Temple.

Thinking of this, Uchiha Shin couldn't help but feel eager to get started.

This was the kind of life a ninja should have!

Haha!

PS: Seeking recommendation tickets, favorites, monthly tickets, and investments. There will be at least one more chapter, depending on the situation, haha.