Border Rearguard, Cooperating with Snake Auntie

Three days later.

In a sparse pine forest on the northern border of the Land of Fire.

Several figures were lurking within the dense foliage, maintaining constant vigilance.

In truth, to protect the clansmen fleeing together, Natsume, as the young clan head, had naturally devised a strategy.

He had broken the group into smaller units.

The elderly, the weak, women, and children, whose physical stamina was lacking, were arranged in batches to join merchant caravans heading toward the Land of Fields, moving silently and unnoticed.

The younger ninjas with greater stamina traveled through treacherous terrain like dense forests and rocky lands, leaving behind trails to mislead any Konoha pursuers following in their wake.

He had even personally taken several Jonin to stay behind and cover their retreat.

He was striving to ensure there would be no slip-ups.

This location was one of the main thoroughfares leading from the Land of Fire to the Land of Fields.

If Konoha ninjas were to pursue them, they would, in all likelihood, pass through here and be discovered by the Uchiha ninjas stationed on guard.

At this moment, Natsume was lurking here with three capable Uchiha Jonin.

They were performing the final watch.

"Young Clan Head, how much longer must we keep watch here?"

"Another hour and a half. I estimate that by then, the last batch of clansmen will have crossed the border of the Land of Fire and reached the Land of Fields."

"Once they are in a foreign country, even Konoha ninjas cannot act as they please. They will be essentially safe."

Natsume made a slight calculation and provided his answer.

"To be honest, apart from a few small-fry Konoha scout ninjas, we haven't really encountered any large-scale pursuit. I originally thought Konoha would chase us down like madmen!"

Uchiha Teng sighed with emotion and joked with a smile.

Back then, the reason most of the radicals in the clan did not choose to defect was largely due to their fear of Konoha's pursuit.

After all, no one wanted to spend their whole life living in the terror and anxiety of being hunted.

"Need you ask? They must have been terrified by the Young Clan Head's immense strength! How could they dare to pursue us!"

Beside him, the equally young Uchiha Gin, only sixteen years old and viewing Natsume as his idol, hurriedly boasted with a grin.

He couldn't help it!

Three months ago, when the Young Clan Head first awakened his Mangekyo, he had used him as a sparring partner for testing.

That battle had left this genius Uchiha Gin, who had attained Jonin status at only sixteen, with psychological trauma.

Nowadays, in his eyes, there was no ninja more powerful than the Young Clan Head.

Of course, Natsume did not indulge in such flattery.

"I suspect the contingency plans I left behind are working."

"Itachi, that guy, is truly reliable."

"From here on out, Konoha shouldn't be sending large groups of ninjas to hunt us down for a short while."

"We should be able to gain a period of relatively stable development."

"However, further down the line, those who come to hunt us might be the other clansmen who remained in Konoha..."

"Ah! Doesn't that mean we'll end up killing our own?"

"Those damn Konoha bastards! How could they be so vicious!"

Uchiha Gin cursed in anger, feeling quite frustrated.

"Rest assured, I already have a plan. When the time comes, I won't let everyone be put in a difficult position."

Natsume's eyes flickered as he spoke in a low, steady voice.

Clearly, he had long since prepared a countermeasure.

"By the way, Young Clan Head. I also have a question: why are we fleeing to the Land of Fields?"

"The Land of Fields is a small country, far inferior in strength to the Land of Fire. If Konoha pressures the Land of Fields through the Land of Fire in the future, such a small country might just sell us out, right?"

"Why not flee to the other four great nations?"

Natsume glanced at Uchiha Nichiyo beside him.

This young man had a bright future! That was a good question.

Thus, he explained to him:

"The complexity of the power struggles between the great nations far exceeds what ordinary ninja villages imagine. Moreover, the five great hidden villages keep each other in check and restrain one another; the slightest ripple could shatter this balance."

"To maintain this balance, and to avoid other ninja villages harboring their own defectors, they act accordingly."

"Once we, as Konoha defectors, go to seek refuge in other great nations, in all likelihood, we will be rejected. It is not even impossible that a more radical hidden village might slaughter us all and return our heads to Konoha."

"In that case, we can both tarnish the reputation of Konoha and force them to owe us a favor. It's a win-win situation that other ninja villages would find hard to resist."

"Furthermore, our Uchiha Clan is distinct from other ninja families. Our Sharingan, our Kekkei Genkai—in the eyes of any village, they are a treasure, a walking gold mine!"

"Tell me, would the other four great hidden villages pass up such a fat piece of meat delivered right to their doorstep?"

"I see!"

Nichiyo Uchiha suddenly realized, finally grasping the pros and cons of the situation.

Likewise, the other two couldn't help but exclaim with eyes shining bright.

Clearly, Natsume's analysis of the great power struggle left them all in awe!

It was truly hard to imagine that their young clan head was only ten years old, yet possessed such deep foresight and resourcefulness!

As expected, following the young clan head meant a future of limitless potential!

"But why not choose a small country further away from Konoha? Isn't this Land of Fields a bit too close to Konoha?"

"The reason for choosing the Land of Fields is also because..."

"Wait, I'll explain that next time. We have a guest."

"You three go first and protect the last group of clansmen leaving the border. I need to have a chat with this future 'good neighbor' first!"

Natsume's explanation came to an abrupt halt as he gave orders to the three people beside him.

The three did not hesitate in the slightest; they followed Natsume's instructions with absolute obedience.

After exchanging a glance, they quickly rose and leaped away, chasing in the direction the clansmen had taken to exit the country.

The moment the three of them left.

The next instant.

From the massive tree trunk behind Natsume.

A figure resembling a snake gradually emerged.

"Orochimaru, the way you show up is as disgusting as ever!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Natsume-kun, this is only our third meeting... how can you say it's 'as ever'?"

The pale-faced Snake Auntie stuck out his long, eerie tongue.

Licking his lips, he laughed with a sinister grin.

He couldn't help it; the young body before him was simply too tempting!

Only ten years old, with massive chakra! A perfect Mangekyo Kekkei Genkai!

To Orochimaru, this was truly a one-of-a-kind vessel for possession!

He had spent countless nights longing to occupy this young and vibrant body!

It was just a pity that he couldn't beat him...

Natsume glanced at Orochimaru; he couldn't exactly say that he had grown tired of seeing Snake Auntie's twisted form in his past life.

He had no choice but to quickly change the subject.

"Since you're here, it means things in the Land of Fields are already arranged, right?"

"Of course, my subordinates have already met your clansmen. They are currently leading them to the place you selected."

"And there, the initial dwellings have already been built. If they squeeze in, accommodating a few hundred people won't be a problem at all."

Orochimaru slithered his body, stretching into a long line as he circled around Natsume while responding.

Sometimes, even he was amazed.

The gap between people could be so vast!

Two months ago, when this ten-year-old Uchiha brat approached him, claiming he wanted to cooperate and defect from Konoha, he had thought the kid was insane!

He never expected that everything would turn into reality tonight.

This kid had actually managed, through his own strength, to lead so many clansmen out of Konoha.

It was truly insane!

Is this kid really only ten years old?!!