Undercurrents

"Have our spies in the Cloud Village deliver this to the Raikage's desk."

The subordinate who received the order looked at Danzo's sinister expression.

He lowered his head, not daring to say anything more.

"Yes! Lord Danzo."

Emerging from Uchiha Kagami's office, Genmei felt refreshed and invigorated.

Trying to play mind games with me? My perfectly correct nonsense must have left you completely baffled.

Forget it, let's go see how Sei is doing first.

He bought some gifts on the way to Konoha Hospital and arrived at Uchiha Sei's ward without any trouble.

Creeeak~

He pushed the door open.

What met his eyes was Uchiha Sei, wrapped in bandages from head to toe.

He was making muffled noises at a middle-aged man beside him, trying to say something.

"Yo~"

"Brother Sei, you seem to be in high spirits."

"But I must advise you to be quiet; after all, your mouth is sewn shut, so you wouldn't be able to say anything anyway."

Hearing Uchiha Genmei's clearly gloating tone, Uchiha Sei turned his head, his expression full of irritation.

"Mmph-mmph-mmph-mmph!"

This comical sight amused Genmei.

"It seems you're out of danger. I'll come visit you again once you can talk."

"I'll just leave the gifts here."

Having said that, he politely greeted the middle-aged man beside the bed and prepared to leave.

Uchiha Sei was an orphan like him, so parents were out of the question.

This must be an elder relative; with him looking after Sei, there shouldn't be any problems.

"Young man, wait a moment."

"Hm?"

Genmei, who had almost reached the door, turned around in confusion.

"You must be Genmei-kun, right? I am Uchiha Tetsu."

"Would it be convenient for us to have a chat, Genmei-kun?"

Assuming the man was indeed Sei's relative, Uchiha Genmei nodded.

"Sei-kun, I am going out with Genmei-kun for a moment. You should rest well."

"Mmph-mmph-mmph!"

Ignoring the comical Uchiha Sei, they left the hospital.

The middle-aged man led Genmei to a restaurant that was currently open for business.

After three rounds of drinks, Uchiha Tetsu set down his glass and looked at the water in Genmei's hand with a gentle expression.

"To defeat Guihao at such a young age, Genmei-kun truly lives up to the name of a genius!"

Uchiha Genmei nodded, neither confirming nor denying.

"Precisely because you are a genius, you should contribute even more to the clan. Young people ought to carry the banner of the Uchiha clan."

"Therefore, I would like to ask Genmei-kun..."

Hearing the first half, Uchiha Genmei realized something was wrong.

Is this guy really Sei's relative?

Bang!

He slammed the glass of water heavily onto the table.

Frowning, he cut off the rest of his words directly:

"Uncle, you aren't Sei's relative, are you?"

The gentle expression on Uchiha Tetsu's face faltered.

"Uchiha Genmei, I am here on behalf of Elder Setsuna to check on Jing, and also to invite you to the Elder's Mansion."

"Elder Setsuna wishes to speak with you."

Whoosh!

Uchiha Genmei stood up abruptly and walked away without looking back.

Reaching the doorway, he turned his head to look at the awkward-looking Tetsu.

"I don't think I have anything to discuss with you people; that was the case before, and it remains so now!"

Listening to Uchiha Genmei's calm tone.

Crack!

The sound of a shattered wine bottle and the blood flowing onto the table.

Made the person sitting in the shadows of the dining table.

Look exceptionally sinister.

"That brat still says that?"

Inside a residence.

A middle-aged man exuding a sinister aura.

Asked Uchiha Tetsu, who was currently reporting.

"Elder Setsuna, it seems Genmei cannot be won over."

"He is a fellow who doesn't understand clan honor; in my opinion, there is no need to follow up on him further."

The Uchiha named Setsuna nodded.

"Then give up on him. He has some skill to be able to take down Guihao."

"But! Without the power of the Mangekyo, he is not worth worrying about."

"You may leave. Naka should be arriving soon, and I have some things to discuss with him."

"Yes!"

The flickering light of the lamp.

Reflected.

A letter on the table, half-hidden in shadow.

A line of text emerged.

Respectfully, Shimura Danzo!

One month later.

At the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.

"Lord Genmei, we are about to enter the Land of Lightning."

"Although we are carrying out this mission according to precedent and the Cloud Village shouldn't cause any trouble."

"Still, we cannot afford to lower our guard."

Among the group of sprinting ninjas, all wore the fan crest.

The man leading them was none other than Uchiha Genmei.

Hearing his subordinate's warning.

"Rest assured. Even though this is my first time executing this mission, I will not be careless." Genmei nodded calmly.

They were on their way to.

Relieve their brothers from the Military Police Force stationed in the Land of Lightning.

That's right, the rotation was in the Land of Lightning.

The reason was simple.

Since the Warring States period, the Uchiha clan had been employed for generations by the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning.

To guard the Chinoike clan.

This was a mission the Land of Lightning had entrusted to the Uchiha since ancient times. Even though Konohagakure had always wanted to keep the Uchiha confined to the Military Police Force.

There were still loopholes to exploit; this was one of the few missions the Uchiha could take.

A legitimate mission that allowed them to leave the village, one that the high-ranking officials of Konoha had to grit their teeth and accept.

Did the Konoha leadership dare to block them? Even Senju Tobirama wouldn't dare!

If they really stirred up trouble, did they still want their share of the missions from the Land of Lightning?

Do not be fooled by the current era of hidden villages into thinking the ninja world has developed any real concept of nationhood.

Why did the ninja clans slaughter each other in rivers of blood during the Warring States period? Why did the hidden villages fight until the world turned dark?

It is quite simple.

They were fighting over the missions distributed by the feudal lords.

The era of hidden villages is no different.

Why is the Cloud Village so displeased with Konoha?

That, too, is simple.

The era of hidden villages has only just begun, and the old generation of feudal lords has not yet fully passed away.

They still believe that the Senju and Uchiha are the most reliable.

The feudal lords of the Land of Lightning, needless to say, prefer to hire the Uchiha above all others.

With the Daimyo leading the way, a century of cooperation has made them a gold-plated brand!

Take the task of guarding the Chinoike Clan—a job that has been their rice bowl for over a hundred years.

Even though the First Shinobi World War was fought with such bloody intensity.

Even though the Uchiha joined the Senju to form a village in the Land of Fire.

The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning still recognizes the Uchiha!

Under such circumstances, it would be strange if the Cloud Village were not annoyed; they have long coveted this mission that guarantees a steady income regardless of the weather.

Something is wrong, very wrong!

His sixth sense told Uchiha Genmei that this mission was highly suspicious.

The Uchiha indeed held this long-term, lucrative mission.

It required personnel to rotate shifts in guarding the Chinoike Clan.

But!

The rotation schedule should not have reached him for quite some time.

He had just performed a great service and received a promotion.

According to custom, he should have spent at least half a year familiarizing himself with his new post.

Only then would the Chinoike Clan mission have been assigned to him.

Yet, his superiors had simply said, "You are already a renowned powerhouse within the clan; you should take on more responsibility."

"As it happens, the police chief on that mission is rotating out, so we have assigned you!"

So be it.

There is no use in overthinking it; no one knows that my Sharingan has evolved into a Mangekyo.

If something truly happens, I will let the enemy know what a surprise really is!

Inside a residence within the Uchiha clan grounds.

Uchiha Setsuna wore an unreadable expression, staring blankly at the fan crest on the tabletop.

"Do not blame me, Genmei-kun!"

"Who told you to be so stubborn and unyielding all this time?"

Although he had acted as if he held Uchiha Genmei in contempt in front of Tetsuya earlier.

Only he knew what it meant to be able to kill a ninja comparable to a Kage at fifteen years old without a Mangekyo.

That was something even that great person could not have accomplished at that age!

In the cloud-shrouded Cloud Village.

Inside the Raikage's office.

"Are you certain we should do this, Raikage?"