Talent

"But that's how it is. My talent is so powerful that I was born with the traits of the Mangekyō Sharingan. Even though I haven't awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan yet, I can still manifest those traits. I was born with a storage space. Anyway, don't tell anyone. This is a secret between us."

Uchiha Tenshu made sure to emphasize that.

There had indeed been people in the history of the Uchiha Clan who were talented enough to uncover the traits of their Mangekyō Sharingan techniques before awakening them, so Uchiha Tenshu wasn't exactly lying.

"But that's something that might happen with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and you only have one tomoe!" Uchiha Sakurako exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief.

"Just think of me as exceptionally talented!" Uchiha Tenshu said. Then, right in front of Uchiha Sakurako, he pulled the backpack from her back and demonstrated how he could store it in his space and take it out again and again.

Uchiha Sakurako was completely dumbfounded!

She really hadn't expected this sleazy, disgusting little punk to actually have such a talent!

It was so infuriating that she could barely eat.

"Hmph. You actually have this kind of ridiculous luck." Uchiha Sakurako turned her head and gritted her teeth in disdain.

"What do you mean, ridiculous luck? I'm exceptionally talented! Otherwise, could anyone else do this?"

"Hmph! I don't believe you!" Uchiha Sakurako's beautiful eyes brimmed with indignation as she insisted, unwavering.

"Fine! Think whatever you want!"

Uchiha Tenshu shook his head helplessly, looking as if he didn't care what she thought.

On the surface, Uchiha Sakurako pretended not to believe him, but deep down, she was already feeling profoundly unbalanced.

Could there really be a genius like that?

How was that possible? Why couldn't it be me!

Uchiha Sakurako could hardly believe it. Even if he was a member of the same clan, could he really be that much of a genius?

"Is this the choice Elder Raimon made?"

The pride in Uchiha Sakurako's heart had been completely shattered.

She was a genius too, and at fifteen, she had already reached Jonin level. Yet just now, Uchiha Tenshu had easily forced her back. Even if it had been an accident, she had still genuinely lost to him.

What was more, if the traits of the Mangekyō Sharingan had truly been brought out, then that meant he would surely awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan passed down within the clan in the future.

Even in the Warring States Period,

the Mangekyō Sharingan had been the Uchiha Clan's highest glory, something every Uchiha longed for!

And now, this little rascal...

"So, are you going to travel with me from now on, or keep following me from behind like before?" Uchiha Tenshu asked. Seeing Uchiha Sakurako's conflicted expression, he added, "You can come along. With you here, there's no point in traveling alone anymore anyway."

"Fine. I'll reluctantly agree." Uchiha Sakurako stood up, still putting on a show of reluctance even as she accepted.

Seeing that Uchiha Sakurako had agreed, Uchiha Tenshu finally turned his attention to the captive he had left alive.

"Hey! Get up!"

Uchiha Tenshu nudged him with his foot, waking the middle-aged man he had put under with a glance earlier.

The moment he woke up, the man hurriedly kowtowed. "Please spare me, ninja-sama! Spare me! I was only brought in to keep the accounts. The Otomo Clan robbed me too. I only came to work for them to save my life. Please, you have to believe me."

Nakayama Hiroshi was filled with sorrow. Though he kept begging for his life, he had already given up hope in his heart.

To ordinary people like them, ninjas were notorious killers, butchers who slaughtered without mercy. According to the stories told outside, these supernaturally powerful ninjas killed ordinary people for money. Whenever ordinary people ran into them, they were usually silenced under the pretext of keeping their information secret.

And now he was in a bandit's hideout.

Even if the Otomo Clan had forcibly dragged him here, there was basically no chance he'd make it out alive!

But Nakayama Hiroshi really didn't want to die!

Just as Nakayama Hiroshi was losing all hope,

"Your life is no use to me. Tell me honestly how much wealth this stronghold has, and how it operates. What value do you have to offer me? Once you've told me everything, I'll consider whether to let you live."

Uchiha Tenshu asked. Uchiha Sakurako watched silently from the side without interrupting.

"My lord, the stronghold carried out seven raids this month and took in three hundred thousand ryo. Everything else is goods that haven't been processed yet. If sold, they'd be worth around five hundred thousand. The stronghold's daily activities are just training and raiding settlements. Before each raid, a ninja from the Otomo Clan gives us word, and then we go. I don't know anything about what happened before that. The Otomo Clan captured me and brought me here this month."

At the possibility of surviving,

the middle-aged man explained everything in detail, head bowed respectfully, without hiding a thing.

He also explained his background.

Nakayama Hiroshi had been born into a merchant family. As a concubine's son, he had inherited very little, but fortunately, his family was harmonious, and there had been few disputes. He had loved learning from a young age. Early on, a teacher at the University of the Land of Fire had taken a liking to him and trained him closely, so he had acquired a great deal of knowledge, including literacy, mathematics, and some basic physics.

However, for reasons unknown, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire had ordered the University of the Land of Fire to close and had begun expelling and arresting scholars throughout the country. Many scholars were forced to flee abroad, seeking either further study or a means to survive. Nakayama Hiroshi had followed his mentor to the Land of Snow to take refuge. Two months ago, as the weather grew colder that year, they had ventured into other countries to purchase supplies in preparation for the possibility of an even harsher winter. As educated men, they knew that they would need to stockpile plenty of food and clothing to stay safe, so they had prepared early.

Unexpectedly, when his group returned through the Land of Fire, the Otomo Clan had not only robbed them of all their supplies but also taken them captive. To save their lives, they had no choice but to work for the clan and keep its accounts.

Who could have imagined

that before even a month had passed, Uchiha Tenshu would come knocking?

After listening to Nakayama Hiroshi's detailed explanation,

Uchiha Tenshu understood the man before him better. He couldn't help being impressed. The man not only knew several languages but could also speak languages other than the Land of Fire's common tongue fluently. Even more surprising, Nakayama Hiroshi said he had learned them while studying in other countries. It was clear how quick-witted he was.

Uchiha Tenshu realized that the man before him was undoubtedly a genuine talent. He was widely learned and capable of communicating across cultures, a rare combination in the world today. After all, not long had passed since the Warring States Period, and eighty percent of the world's population was illiterate.

Just the fact that he was fluent in all those languages already made him a talent.

Besides, since he had studied in other countries, he must have classmates and teachers he had studied alongside.

For Uchiha Tenshu, who was eager to find talented people, this was undoubtedly an excellent way to recruit them.

He could use the man's connections to meet more outstanding people and expand his own team. That would not only strengthen the team but also lay a solid foundation for the future.

With that thought, Uchiha Tenshu calmly glanced at him and asked again, "What exactly is the Otomo Clan's background? This is clearly inside the Land of Fire, and this road leads directly to the Land of Rain. Only major merchants usually travel here. If they dare to operate here, aren't they afraid of provoking someone they can't afford to offend? After all, major merchants who've been attacked can also put out a mission to get revenge!"

Uchiha Tenshu intended to wipe out the Otomo Clan.

On the one hand, he would avenge the man and win his loyalty.

On the other hand, he would root out the danger.

He had killed the clan's henchmen. What if they investigated and put out a mission to hunt him down?

There were so many bizarre techniques in the Ninja World.

Who knew what methods they had?

So, from the very beginning,

even if Nakayama Hiroshi had no particular talents, Uchiha Tenshu never planned to let the Otomo Clan off the hook.