"A Zheng, your performance just now was incredible! You were no worse than a jonin!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
The Akai Squad, who had come to hand over their mission, surrounded Su Zheng in the hallway and praised him endlessly, making him a little embarrassed.
"Mm, it was nothing much. Captain Akai, what are you all doing here?"
"Oh, we finished our mission. When we came to hand it over, we found no one around. After asking, we learned everyone had come to watch your examination."
"Oh, I see!"
At that moment, a chunin walked up to them and said to Su Zheng, "Chunin Su Zheng, Lord Kaiyu Rui wishes to see you!"
The Akai Squad was tactful enough to stop pestering him when they saw that Lord Rui had summoned him. They said they would chat again another time, then left.
In the leader's office, Kaiyu Rui warmly took Su Zheng to the window and looked down over Amegakure below. "A Zheng, look. Amegakure was built generation after generation by our Gray Rain Clan. It finally flourished under Lord Hanzo's leadership. I truly feel immensely proud!"
Turning to the side, he looked at Su Zheng with fatherly affection. "Come back. Your family in the clan all miss you very much!"
Su Zheng nearly threw up inside. He truly admired the old bastard for being able to say something so nauseating. He sneered inwardly.
He spoke so nicely now, so why had he driven Mother away back then? Why had he forced them into such a life? Now that he saw this young master was a genius, he came to suck up to him. Shameless!
Though he mocked him inwardly, Su Zheng kept a calm face. Pretending to be troubled, he said, "Let me think about it."
"Fine! A Zheng, think it over carefully. No matter when, the people of the clan will always be your family!"
Kaiyu Rui appeared calm, but inwardly, he had already sentenced Su Zheng to death. Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit, huh? Then die together with Hanzo!
As Su Zheng walked down the street, he recalled what had just happened. He was basically certain that Kaiyu Rui had planned that previous attack, but the reason definitely was not him. That meant Uncle Hanzo had been suppressing their development!
Still, he was not afraid. He now had some ability to protect himself. What he feared most was them targeting the people around him.
"I hope you don't court death, Kaiyu Rui!"
"Teacher, today's meal is on Su Zheng. Add your share to the next one!" Shota said indignantly.
"Exactly! He even hid the chunin examination from us. Hmph!" Maki also turned her fire on Su Zheng.
They were still angry that Su Zheng had taken the chunin examination alone and kept it from them. Knowing he was in the wrong, Su Zheng said nothing. He simply smiled and led Konan and Haruna to their seats.
Maki watched them bicker with a smile and did not stop them. Squad members needed to trust one another.
Maki Jiro had just returned to the village with Amegakure's army today. His squad members invited him to have some barbecue with them and punish Su Zheng a little for deceiving them.
They were still at the barbecue restaurant they often visited, Imperial Meat Grill. It was nearly noon, so business was naturally booming, and every seat was occupied.
"Eat as much as you want today! Eat the bastard broke!" Shota enthusiastically greeted everyone and handed out the pre-meal snacks, deliberately skipping Su Zheng.
Su Zheng did not know whether to laugh or cry. Shota was a man of true temperament. Fortunately, his two good little sisters shared some with him, sparing him too much embarrassment.
Maki asked, "Teacher, I heard Konoha is about to attack us. Is that true?"
Maki Jiro responded, "Yes. Konoha has already begun mobilizing its forces. They will probably arrive soon."
Shota cut in, "Then will A Zheng be sent to the battlefield too? He was just promoted to chunin."
As soon as he said that, everyone turned to look at Maki Jiro.
Maki Jiro glanced at Su Zheng and explained, "Hard to say. A Zheng's uncle is Lord Hanzo. He will definitely make preparations before Konoha arrives. Whether A Zheng goes to the battlefield should also be up to Lord Hanzo."
Konan looked at Su Zheng hopefully. "Brother Zheng, your uncle definitely won't let you go to the battlefield, right?"
"Mm." Su Zheng could only stall for now as he gently rubbed her head.
In the end, they did not eat Su Zheng into bankruptcy, though they still made him bleed heavily. The six of them ate a total of 2,000 ryo, about 1,000 yuan.
After lunch, everyone went home. Su Zheng still had to visit his uncle that afternoon.
Hanzo's home was built in a traditional wooden style, which was rather distinctive in the Land of Rain. Though he was already in his forties, he had no wife, not even a woman by his side. That was one drawback of his strength—no one wanted to approach the poison of Ibuse.
In front of the house, Su Zheng could see two squads of guards in plain sight, with many more hidden in the shadows. Perhaps that was also why Hanzo could control the Land of Rain.
"Lord Hanzo is waiting for you in the inner room."
"Alright."
Back home, Hanzo had finally removed his outer armor. Dressed in casual clothes, he was making tea.
Before his own nephew, he did not need to remain stern. He said gently, "You're here. Sit. You adopted two girls. When were you planning to tell me?"
Su Zheng smiled sheepishly, took a sip of tea, and praised him. "Uncle, your skill is still as good as ever!"
Hanzo glared at him. "I asked you a question!"
Unable to dodge it, Su Zheng could only say, "They're both orphans. I met them while carrying out a mission and wanted to take them in. You don't like children, so I was afraid you wouldn't let me adopt them."
"Who said I don't like children?"
Su Zheng retorted, "Then why haven't you found me an aunt? It's been over ten years!"
Ever since a poison sac had been implanted in Hanzo's body, poisonous fumes had constantly emanated from him. He could only wear a mask. Who would dare approach him? It was an eternal pain in his heart.
Hanzo deliberately put on an angry expression and laughed as he scolded, "You brat, you dare tease me too!"
Hanzo could only coax him for quite a while. In front of Su Zheng, he could shed his disguise and temporarily forget all the schemes and intrigues.
Hanzo suddenly asked, "Tell me. What did you come to see me for?"
Su Zheng stated it directly. "Uncle, Konoha is about to attack, right? I'm already a chunin. I want to go to the battlefield."
Hanzo's expression suddenly turned serious as he refused. "No. Konoha is coming fiercely this time. A lot of people will probably die. You absolutely cannot go!"
"Uncle~" Su Zheng used his usual trick and acted cute.
"Not happening. Don't even think about it this time." Hanzo put on a stern face and refused flatly.
Fine. It looked like there was no way around it. If he wanted to obtain Uchiha Clan members, he would have to think of another way.
Hanzo fell silent for a long time before speaking. "Besides, the village is not as peaceful as you think."
"I'm sure you've already guessed it. The ones who attacked you last time were not Sunagakure ninja, but Amegakure ninja."
Seeing Su Zheng's calm expression, Hanzo nodded and continued, "As for why I still keep them around, it is only because they are still useful."
"I'm just worried about you. If you go to the battlefield, they will have far too many ways to deal with you. If you stay in the village, at least they will not dare act openly."
"So, what do you choose now?"
So that was it. Su Zheng suddenly understood. No longer conflicted, he answered, "Then I'll stay in the village. They..."
Hanzo knew what he wanted to ask. He led Su Zheng into the courtyard and warned him, "You don't need to worry about them. I have contingencies in place. As long as you don't fall into their trap, you'll be fine."
After giving his instructions, Hanzo looked at Su Zheng fondly and said, "You've already been promoted to chunin, so I'll give you my greatest specialty."
Su Zheng asked, "Ibuse?"
"No. Though Ibuse is strong, once its poison is countered, it is not very useful. What is truly formidable is Water Body Flicker and swordsmanship."
"When those two are combined, they are unstoppable in the Land of Rain's environment. Even if you can't win, escaping is also your specialty!" Hanzo said proudly.
For the next half month, Su Zheng would visit Hanzo's small courtyard to learn Water Body Flicker and swordsmanship. During that time, he did not neglect his other techniques either, especially the Sharingan. Su Zheng was confident that he would awaken the Three Tomoe before Konoha arrived.
Before you continue