Orochimaru, Jiraiya

The weather in the Land of Rain is perpetually drizzly, yet today, for a rare change, the rain had ceased, though the sky remained overcast.

For the Land of Rain, this was a rare "sunny day." Tsunade walked in the lead, with Uchiha Xiao following behind.

Tsunade's mind was filled with the joy of reuniting with her peers, while Uchiha Xiao was busy calculating how to secure the greatest benefits for Lady Tsunade.

A short while later, under the watchful eyes of villagers and soldiers, the two arrived at the village entrance, where Uchiha Xiao saw Orochimaru and Jiraiya.

The two men wore combat uniforms similar in style to Tsunade's, each leading a troop. Judging by the numbers, Orochimaru's force was around seven hundred, while Jiraiya's was about six hundred.

This was normal; war inevitably brought casualties. To have arrived here in four days with a combat loss of less than half proved the capability of both men.

Seeing the two, Tsunade smiled and said, "Orochimaru, Jiraiya, you two have finally arrived!" As she spoke, she stepped forward to welcome them, her face beaming with joy.

A glint of light flashed in Jiraiya's eyes when he saw Tsunade. "Oh, it's Tsunade. You're looking spirited, hahahaha!" His boisterous laughter drew a look of disdain from Orochimaru.

Subsequently, Orochimaru shook his head and looked at Tsunade, noticing that there wasn't a trace of fatigue or even sorrow on her face. He was quite curious about her condition, especially since even he had only recovered his own state yesterday.

Just as Orochimaru was pondering this, Uchiha Xiao suddenly spoke up. "Lady Tsunade, Lord Orochimaru, Lord Jiraiya, there are too many eyes and ears outside the village. Please, enter quickly so we may discuss military and political matters."

Tsunade smiled slightly. "Xiao-kun is right. Orochimaru, Jiraiya, you two follow me into the village. As for the troops, they may enter as well, provided they follow the rules."

"Rules?" Orochimaru's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected the ninjas in this village to actually abide by rules, and he wondered what kind of rules they were.

Tsunade then explained the Five Killings, and the fervor in Orochimaru's eyes became undisguised.

"Princess Tsunade, who came up with these Five Killings? Could you introduce me? This person is a talent, a true genius!" Orochimaru laughed.

Tsunade smiled faintly and pointed to Uchiha Xiao, who had just spoken. "It's the one who just spoke, Xiao-kun, also known as Uchiha Xiao."

"Uchiha?" Jiraiya frowned. Shouldn't the Uchiha be in his unit? How were they assigned to Tsunade?

He knew that although the Senju clan had become civilianized and dropped the Senju surname, Tsunade's troops were, in fact, authentic Senju forces. How could they tolerate an Uchiha bossing them around?

Tsunade, lacking any guile, poured out everything Uchiha Xiao had done, including the Magnet Release: Eye of True Sight.

Orochimaru's eyes shone as he listened. Could I get a dozen such confidants? He probed, "Princess Tsunade, my army also lacks such a talent. How about..."

Jiraiya didn't feel much, but Tsunade frowned. "This is the confidant my grandmother chose for me." The implication was self-evident.

Orochimaru curled his lip. Fine, I just asked for a person, and you immediately bring out Lady Mito. How is one supposed to play this? He sighed, "It seems I am not fated to have Xiao-kun."

The three walked into the office, and without anyone taking the head seat, they began discussing their next moves together.

At the village entrance, Uchiha Xiao surveyed the two units, followed by many Senju jonin.

Orochimaru's troops were manageable; they included ninjas from the Hatake, Hyuga, Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka clans, most of whom were reasonable and understanding.

Jiraiya's troops, however, consisted of the Uchiha, Aburame, Kurama, and Gekko clans. He didn't know if Sarutobi Hiruzen had done it on purpose, but compared to Orochimaru's army, Jiraiya's force was clearly significantly weaker.

That Jiraiya could keep the troop count at six hundred under such pressure was something he genuinely admired.

The other clans greeted him politely, with the exception of the Uchiha. Some recognized Xiao and curled their lips, while others sneered aloud.

The Senju jonin behind Uchiha Xiao smirked. Laugh, go ahead and laugh. The more arrogant you are now, the more miserable you'll be when you get disciplined later.

Uchiha Xiao knew the nature of the Uchiha clan well, so he didn't mind. He walked to the front and said, "Everyone, thank you for your hard work traveling such a long distance and fighting along the way. I am here to welcome you into the village."

Hearing this, no one had any objections, but his next words caused a stir, especially among the Uchiha.

"Lady Tsunade has established these rules. Anyone who violates them will be executed without mercy! 1. Trespassing into civilian homes: death. 2. Plundering supplies: death. 3. Molesting the populace: death. 4. Bullying the weak: death. 5. Forced buying or selling: death." Uchiha Xiao repeated the Five Killings to ensure there would be no trouble when he ordered action later.

"We have already heard what you said, so can we enter the village to rest now? Everyone here is already exhausted," a Uchiha jonin said coldly.

Except for the Uchiha, no one else made a sound, merely watching the scene in silence. The Senju jonin frowned; this Uchiha clan was truly detestable.

Uchiha Xiao looked toward the voice. Ho, it was an older man. A Uchiha jonin, Uchiha Xiao, rumored to be a veteran from the Warring States period. He held great authority within the clan and had been sent to lead the Uchiha forces this time.

"What? Do you have an objection?" Uchiha Xiao narrowed his eyes at Uchiha Xiao. The older man was stunned; this guy didn't seem as cowardly as the rumors suggested.

However, he wasn't someone to be pushed around either. "What if I do? What if I don't?" Uchiha Xiao retorted haughtily.

The Senju jonin behind Uchiha Xiao couldn't take it anymore and were about to move, but Uchiha Xiao commanded, "Stand down!" The Senju jonin were stunned, then obediently stepped back.

Uchiha Xiao's pupils constricted. He hadn't expected that the "waste" widely rumored in the clan would hold such high status in the eyes of the Senju!

It seemed this guy wasn't simple. He began to grow cautious, though he still wore a look of disdain on his face.

"If I recall correctly, this senior is named Uchiha Xiao, right?" Uchiha Xiao said calmly. He stepped forward, eyes narrowing.

He was currently representing Lady Tsunade in pacifying the ninja troops, so his actions reflected on her. He could not ignore Uchiha Xiao's provocation.

Doing so would not only lose face for himself but also for the troops and Lady Tsunade. Therefore, he had to stand his ground.

"That's right, I am Uchiha Xiao. What objection do you have, Uchiha Xiao?" Uchiha Xiao emphasized the name "Uchiha," reminding Uchiha Xiao not to forget that he was a member of the Uchiha clan.

Uchiha Xiao smiled slightly. "Nothing much, my hands are just a bit itchy. I wonder if I could ask for some pointers from you, senior." As he spoke, he performed the Seal of Reconciliation toward Uchiha Xiao.

The Uchiha clan members widened their eyes, and Uchiha Xiao himself looked on in disbelief. This kid, who had just turned eighteen, was actually this bold!