Facing Uchiha Tenshu's question, Nakayama Hiroshi gave a bitter smile. "The Otomo Clan is a prominent local family. They're powerful landowners with hundreds of elite samurai and dozens of ninja, and they dominate this area. They also run moneylenders and a large number of underground casinos. Their influence is immense."
"As for what gives them the nerve to do this, it's the protection of the Land of Fire's government. The current head of the Otomo Clan is the brother of one of the Land of Fire Daimyo's concubines. So even when they rob caravans coming from the Land of Rain, no one does anything about it."
Nakayama Hiroshi paused again.
Only after looking at Uchiha Tenshu and his companion did he continue. "What's more, before every operation, they have ninja gather detailed intelligence. They leave anyone with connections alone, but any merchant without a powerful background who passes through the Otomo Clan's territory gets stripped of everything. If anyone manages to escape, ninja are sent to silence them. Even if a survivor makes it to Konoha to post a mission, their information gets leaked. That intelligence comes from Konoha Shinobi Village, and they're not worried Konoha will take a mission to retaliate against them. The two sides must have some kind of secret arrangement."
"What? From Konoha Shinobi Village? How could the village leak information about the people who post missions? That's just..."
Uchiha Sakurako exclaimed, unable to believe it. As a Uchiha who had joined Konoha, even though she didn't value Konoha as much as her own clan, it was still her home in name.
In front of outsiders, Uchiha Sakurako had always defended that home. And now this man was actually claiming that her home, Konoha, would stoop to such despicable behavior.
Uchiha Tenshu couldn't help but scoff. "Don't tell me you think being a ninja is some noble, honorable profession. Killing, arson, stealing intelligence, and hiring others to commit crimes—aren't those all perfectly normal?"
"Even our Uchiha Clan went on frenzied raids for resources and supplies during the Warring States Period."
"That's simply how society works. The strong prey on the weak, and only the fittest survive!"
"Fairness and justice, peace and beauty—those are just ways to dress up the act of devouring people and make it seem more refined!"
"And right now, influential families like the Otomo Clan are the ones keeping Konoha Shinobi Village fed. Those lucky enough to escape have no connections. What do they matter to Konoha?"
Uchiha Sakurako was left speechless by Uchiha Tenshu's words. She couldn't find a single argument to refute him.
Instead, she glared furiously at Nakayama Hiroshi.
Seeing Uchiha Sakurako's anger, Nakayama Hiroshi hurried to explain. "It's true. The Otomo Clan has been doing this for years. I used to worry that someone might come after us for robbing people on the road. But the leader of this bandit stronghold told me Konoha's ninja wouldn't accept a mission against them. And even if ninja from another country took a mission inside the Land of Fire, they wouldn't be able to get here!"
"With the God of Shinobi stationed in the Land of Fire, foreign ninja wouldn't dare take missions within its borders."
"So, by your logic, we should protect them?" Uchiha Sakurako said crossly.
This time, Nakayama Hiroshi squared his shoulders and stubbornly replied, "Maybe!"
He had come from the Land of Snow to the Land of Fire to buy supplies, only to be robbed by the Land of Fire's powerful families and captured, then squeezed for everything he had. He had suffered more than enough.
When it came to the Land of Fire and Konoha, Nakayama Hiroshi had nothing good to say.
After hearing him out, Uchiha Tenshu thought to himself that he'd already offended the Otomo Clan and planned to wipe them out. He hadn't expected them to have ties to the Land of Fire's government. But that didn't deter him—instead, it made him more determined.
"But first..."
Uchiha Tenshu's gaze sharpened as he looked at Nakayama Hiroshi. "I understand what happened. You really aren't one of them. But you should know how things work between ninja. To protect our intelligence, killing anyone who witnesses it is simply part of the job."
Just as Nakayama Hiroshi gave a bitter smile, thinking he was as good as dead,
Uchiha Tenshu changed tack. "I can spare your life. But from now on, you'll work for me. In return, I'll help you take revenge and destroy the Otomo Clan. What do you say? If you refuse, I'll have no choice but to..."
"I agree, I agree! I'll do it!"
Uchiha Tenshu hadn't even finished speaking before Nakayama Hiroshi nodded frantically. He understood perfectly well what the offer meant.
All it meant was that he'd be changing masters.
If he refused now,
wouldn't he be dead for sure?
Besides, Uchiha Tenshu had promised to destroy the Otomo Clan and avenge him. Remembering how he'd been robbed back then, Nakayama Hiroshi felt his hatred flare up all over again.
"Good." Uchiha Tenshu nodded, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Follow me, and you won't regret it. I'll take you to heights you've never reached before. Power and wealth—everything will be beyond anything you've ever known."
Then Uchiha Tenshu rapidly formed Hand Seals with both hands. As he moved, black cursed symbols emerged from his hands like ghosts. They seemed almost alive, trembling faintly in the air and radiating a mysterious, dangerous aura. Nakayama Hiroshi stared at them in shock.
Just then,
Uchiha Tenshu's finger suddenly moved, striking Nakayama Hiroshi as swiftly as lightning.
At that instant, a chill welled up from the depths of Nakayama Hiroshi's heart. Before he could react, he felt himself come under some invisible control. He hurriedly pulled open his shirt to check and immediately saw a Black Sun Symbol appear over his chest.
The Black Sun Symbol was like a curse, stamped deep into Nakayama Hiroshi's body and radiating an unsettling black light. Although Nakayama Hiroshi had already agreed to Uchiha Tenshu's terms, Uchiha Tenshu clearly wasn't fully convinced. He remained on his guard.
The Cursed Seal Technique was his insurance.
It was a Cursed Seal Technique Uchiha Tenshu had obtained from his clan. After two years of research and development, he had transformed it into a unique controlling seal. He could use it to take the target's life at any time, and it had another extremely dangerous property: it needed to be adjusted once every three years. Otherwise, it would immediately erupt, causing the heart of anyone marked by the seal to burst and killing them instantly. With the seal in place, whether Nakayama Hiroshi was sincere or not, he would have to do his job properly.
After all, the two of them had only just met, and Nakayama Hiroshi was still his prisoner. Naturally, Uchiha Tenshu had to take precautions.
He wasn't some chosen one blessed by fate, with everyone fawning over him and bowing the moment he unleashed his kingly aura.
"This Cursed Seal will serve as the basis for the trust between us. With it, I can trust you, and you won't have to worry about me abandoning you or killing you to silence you." As he spoke, Uchiha Tenshu explained how the seal worked.
To Nakayama Hiroshi's surprise,
he didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
If anything, he felt relieved.
Now he didn't have to worry that Uchiha Tenshu was just stringing him along and would kill him after destroying the Otomo Clan.
After traveling far and wide for so many years and enduring countless dangers, Nakayama Hiroshi had learned a thing or two.
He quickly knelt and declared, "From this day on, I pledge my loyalty to you, sir!"
His words were full of respect.
He didn't look down on Uchiha Tenshu because of his age, or mistake him for someone he could deceive.
After all, Uchiha Tenshu was clearly from a prominent family, and the woman beside him was obviously a bodyguard sent to protect him. Serving him might well be a good choice.
Next, Uchiha Tenshu asked him in detail about everything concerning the Otomo Clan.
Nakayama Hiroshi couldn't give him the full picture, but he did provide a fairly good understanding.
Before you continue