Chaotic Times

Uchiha Zhuang, who was constantly moving forward, reflected on the shortcomings of his actions last night. He was mainly too young and lacked experience in dealing with enemies. This time, he was facing bandits who were only fierce in front of ordinary people. If he had faced enemies who could use chakra, the situation last night would have been very grim. Moreover, even with the bravery of common bandits, if a group of them rushed forward and fought desperately at close range, Uchiha Zhuang might have died under their siege. Thinking back to Zabuza Momochi in the original work, who, after losing both arms and being exhausted, bit a kunai and killed dozens of Gato's thugs, he now realized that Zabuza was indeed very strong! The strongest force in the ninja world was chakra ninjas, followed by various other types such as monks, those with spiritual power, swordmasters, yokai, and individual combatants. Putting aside unnecessary thoughts, Uchiha Zhuang became more determined to cultivate his strength, because the weak are utterly defeated.

As Uchiha Zhuang continued to advance, he passed through some villages that looked like dilapidated ruins. Despite such dilapidated houses, many villagers were still surviving. The barren fields were overgrown with weeds, but in the corners, one could barely make out some green seedlings resembling crops. The leaves on some surrounding trees were gone, presumably eaten by hungry villagers. Sensing the villagers hiding in the ruins, Uchiha Zhuang stopped. He was tired from traveling today, so he decided to rest in this village. The surrounding villagers looked at the man carrying a sword as long as he was tall, moving swiftly, and became worried again, muttering in their hearts that this samurai should leave quickly, as there was no food here. Uchiha Zhuang knew that there was no food around. Wild animals must have left this broken village long ago, and there were no fish or shrimp in the river. After all, it was strange to expect wild game when people were eating leaves. Uchiha Zhuang was waiting for some foolish bandits or robbers to come and plunder, and then he would spread his wings and devour them all!

Looking at the slowly setting sun in the distance, Uchiha Zhuang felt as if his heart was sinking. In this chaotic world, most commoners were poorly clothed and fed. Perhaps only powerful lords and countries could ensure that their people were not subjected to the suffering of war. As for the vast number of ordinary people in the ninja world without backing or good luck, their fate was truly tragic. The tragedy of the era! The so-called peace was built on military strength. Perhaps the person who said "a bag of rice needs to be carried upstairs, a bag of rice needs to be carried to the second floor" was right. Peace comes either through force or through belief. Only when peace is created by violence can benevolence and governance be gradually considered. After sighing, Uchiha Zhuang unconsciously thought of that delicate little face, Akihime looking at him with pure innocence, and a wave of happiness surged within him. Forcibly suppressing his hormones, he took a deep breath. Uchiha Zhuang knew what was most important to him right now: strength!

Turning to look at the timid villagers, Uchiha Zhuang said nothing. He silently walked into a house that looked relatively clean, pushed open the slightly ajar door, and found a family of five inside: a young couple who looked like parents, two skinny little girls whose large eyes seemed to gleam with an inexplicable light, and an old woman lying on the side, covered with a tattered thin blanket. After Uchiha Zhuang burst into the room, the man protected his wife and children and knelt, his head pressed tightly to the floor, sobbing, "My lord samurai, I am extremely sorry for disturbing you. We did not entertain you in time, and I am truly deserving of death. Please wait a moment, and I will prepare a meal for you." After speaking, he quietly raised his head and looked up at the standing but silent Uchiha Zhuang. Seeing that Uchiha Zhuang's gaze was constantly sweeping over his wife and children, the man shouted loudly, "My lord samurai, I am deserving of death, please do not be angry. Please wait, I will bring you food. If you fancy my wife, please enjoy her freely. I am extremely sorry. My daughters have contracted a plague, and I fear they will defile your body. Please be merciful, sumimasen!" After the man finished speaking, the woman obediently untied her loose clothing, her two shriveled pockets dangling, as if to tell of her beauty.

"Stop." Uchiha Zhuang blocked the woman from taking another step. He paced over to the man, grabbed his shoulders, and pulled him into a sitting position. Then, Uchiha Zhuang looked him in the eyes and said, "I have no interest in your food, and I will not touch your family. I only wish to ask: are there any bandits nearby?" The man stared at him in disbelief, his heart pounding wildly, a high-pitched ringing filling his ears. He shook his head vigorously before slamming his forehead back onto the floor, shouting, "My lord samurai, there are bandits nearby—many bandits, robbers, and even yokai! Many in this village have been slaughtered by them, their bodies devoured. Please, my lord samurai, you must save us!" His voice dissolved into a sob by the end.

"Whose retainer were you?"

"My lord samurai, I was an official under the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers. When war broke out and the Daimyo's mansion fell into peril, he dismissed many retainers, keeping only his confidants and generals. I was forced to take my family back to my hometown, but life grew increasingly difficult. In the first few years of the war, we survived by farming by day and bolting our doors by night. Later, more and more robbers and bandits broke into the village, killing and looting. Many died at their hands, and no woman escaped their humiliation. My lord samurai, please save us! I am willing to give you my life—please, save my family!"

Uchiha Zhuang said nothing as he looked at the tearful man. He turned his gaze toward the emaciated women. The wife, if well-cared for, would have been quite attractive. As for the two little girls, they were dressed in rags like tattered sacks, their hair disheveled. The old woman in the back lay motionless; had Uchiha Zhuang not seen her chest rising and falling, he would have assumed she was already dead.

"What is your name?"

"My lord, commoners in this chaotic world do not deserve names. To avoid shaming my surname, please call me Fun'ya."

Uchiha Zhuang felt a surge of emotion. From nobility to the lowest class, this man had endured unimaginable hardships to reach such a state of resignation. "I agree to your request, but I will not take this old woman with me; she is dying. Furthermore, from now until evening, you will guide me to scout the terrain. Tonight, you will act as bait to lure the bandits into a trap. Can you do it?"

The man's kneeling body trembled before he replied in a hoarse voice, "Fun'ya is willing to die for you, my lord. Please, live well. These three women are now your property." After bowing to Uchiha Zhuang, the man walked out of the house to wait.

Uchiha Zhuang looked at the woman's tear-filled eyes and the helpless gaze of the two children. "Woman, you heard him. Your husband has traded everything for your lives. Pack what you need and set off immediately toward the Land of Fire. Be extremely careful in the forest. I will finish things tonight and catch up with you. I will try my best to keep your husband alive, but I do not want you to harbor any superfluous thoughts. Even if I help you escape this hell, I might die. I hope you understand your situation."

His cold, ruthless words made the woman tremble, and she knelt before Uchiha Zhuang. Uchiha Zhuang took a bundle from his robes, threw it to the woman, turned away, and closed his eyes. His vision blurred with moisture. They are all pitiable souls. I am willing to save you, but I am sorry—I have truly done my best.