On the Road

Aside from completely ignoring Qiancao and Wuming, the Uchiha Clan's territory was no different from an ordinary village.

Qiancao had been thrown into captivity and abused immediately after crossing over, and had witnessed human experimentation. It all felt like a dream to him.

Even after they had left Uchiha territory, Qiancao still found it hard to believe.

Seeing him silent, Keisuke asked outright, "I heard you don't have any memories from before. Did seeing the Uchiha Clan members again bring anything back?"

"Nothing," Qiancao replied.

"Judging by your expression just now, I thought you'd remembered something," Keisuke said regretfully.

"I just thought it wasn't what I'd imagined," Qiancao continued.

That piqued Keisuke's interest. "Oh? What did you imagine the Uchiha Clan would be like?"

Qiancao didn't answer directly. He gave Keisuke a strange look, then glanced at Wuming, who was walking with her head down. It was as if he were asking, Can't you guess what I think of the Uchiha?

Keisuke understood what he meant and asked with a smile, "What do you think a ninja should be?"

Since crossing over, Qiancao hadn't given the question much thought. But remembering Naruto from his previous life, Jiraiya's famous words came straight to mind:

"A ninja is someone who endures. A ninja's most important talent isn't how many techniques they know, but their unwavering perseverance."

Keisuke and Shiri stopped in their tracks and stared at him in astonishment. Only Wuming showed no reaction. She kept walking and nearly bumped into Shiri.

After all, Wuming had never considered herself a ninja.

Keisuke paused as if gathering his thoughts, then smiled. "I didn't expect a fake ninja with no memories to see things so clearly."

"But even if what you said is right, it's not the whole picture. Why do ninjas have to endure? It's because they're forced to make sacrifices for their family and friends."

"In this world, you can't survive by simply being a good person. Only by shouldering the darkness and sins of the ninja world, the way we do, can we secure a peaceful life for our people."

Shiri frowned. "You're taking yourself a little too seriously."

Keisuke smiled. "What? Don't rush to dismiss what I'm saying. Think about yourself first."

"Your only ambition was to become a doctor. It wasn't until you discovered your talent for ninjutsu that you were forced to train as a ninja."

"Now your daily missions take you further and further from healing people. Instead, you're hurting your own clan members for nothing, all to study the secrets of the Sharingan. Haven't you had to endure pain, too?"

Shiri grew wary. Before becoming a ninja, she had wanted to be a doctor. Apart from her parents and a few childhood friends who had died in battle long ago, no one knew that.

How had the muscle-headed Keisuke found out?

Keisuke didn't notice Shiri's strange expression. Instead, he turned to Qiancao.

"You might not fully understand what I'm saying now, but if you get the chance to see more of the world someday, you'll agree with me eventually."

Qiancao said nothing, but inwardly he smiled wryly. Someday? I'm still locked in a dungeon, and I don't even have a cell to myself. How am I supposed to think about the future?

Besides, even Naruto and Sasuke, whose combined fighting power might rival the Sage of Six Paths, couldn't bring about lasting peace. For true world peace, someone would at least have to subdue the Six Paths with one hand.

But if I ever reach the Sage of Six Paths' level, maybe I can unite the world someday, revive Kaguya, and make her my second wife. Without Black Zetsu, things should be much more peaceful.

The topic was too heavy, and Keisuke knew they wouldn't reach any conclusions for now. So he began teaching Qiancao various wilderness survival tips for ninjas.

He covered things like what to eat when there was no food around, and how to find their bearings using various landmarks.

Keisuke taught Wuming and Qiancao like a real ninja squad leader as the four of them continued toward Mount Hakkoda.

The civilians they encountered along the way all looked haggard and numb, trudging down the road like living corpses.

Every now and then, they came across some thuggish soldiers blocking the road. It was unclear which daimyo they served, but they ruthlessly squeezed every traveler who passed.

Keisuke, dressed to look like the group's big brother, handled them each time, talking his way past the soldiers.

When there was no way around them, Keisuke knocked them out with Sharingan Genjutsu.

Seeing how useful the Sharingan was, Qiancao couldn't help asking, "How do you awaken the Sharingan?"

Keisuke was taken aback. "Hasn't your Sharingan already awakened?"

Qiancao smiled wryly. "But I've forgotten how to activate it."

"Once your Sharingan awakens, you'll know how to use it," Keisuke explained, choosing his words carefully. "Just tell yourself, 'I'm going to use the Sharingan!' and it'll activate on its own."

Qiancao did as he said, but nothing happened. He could only use the Sharingan when he was extremely angry. When his emotions were calm, it never responded.

Wuming, who had been silent all this time, spoke up. "The Sharingan isn't anything good. You're better off without it."

Qiancao knew Wuming had suffered a lot because of her Sharingan, and he gently patted her little head, his heart aching for her.

The group walked for an entire day and finally arrived at the castle beneath Mount Hakkoda, Xiaogu City, at dusk.

The mountain castle had suffered through countless battles. The walls built along the slopes were pockmarked everywhere.

The soldiers guarding the city gate yawned lazily. Their inspections were even more lax than those of the thugs who robbed travelers on the road.

The four of them slipped into the city with ease. Qiancao looked around. Xiaogu City's roads were bumpy, and most of its houses were low and dilapidated—worse even than the Uchiha Clan's settlement.

Most people on the streets walked with their heads down and solemn expressions. They were mostly old people and children; there wasn't a single young adult in sight.

Keisuke sneered. "See? This city has gone without the protection of a daimyo or a ninja clan for years. Whenever an army passes through, it loots the place. That's the price of having no power."

Qiancao fell silent, feeling even more pessimistic about this world.

Sensing that Qiancao was feeling down, Wuming secretly took his hand. When he turned to look, she quickly faced away and pretended to admire the scenery, not letting him see her face.

Shiri didn't argue with Keisuke. The way he'd acted throughout the journey made him seem like a stranger to her. It was better not to provoke him and to finish the mission as soon as possible.

"Let's get something to eat first," Shiri said calmly. "I know a restaurant in Xiaogu City that's popular with the locals. We can ask around for information while we're there."