Defection

The night was thick as ink. The Abandoned Watchtower on the edge of the Uchiha compound crouched like a silent beast within the massive shadow cast by the Hokage Rock.

Long since eroded by weeds and vines, the wooden structure gave off a scent of decay—a corner the patrol squads were too lazy to inspect closely.

There was a quarter of an hour left until two in the morning.

Uchiha Shaoyu and Shisui swept onto the second floor of the crumbling tower like two wisps of smoke.

The view here was relatively open, offering a faint glimpse of the scattered lights of Konoha in the distance, yet it was cleverly obscured by rock walls and trees, making it an excellent temporary rendezvous point. The tower was thick with dust, and the air felt stagnant.

Shisui leaned tightly against his brother, his small hand still clutching the corner of Shaoyu's garment. Through the dim moonlight filtering in from the broken window, he peered around with a mix of curiosity and vigilance.

His breathing was very light, showing excellent stealth training, but his slightly quickened heartbeat betrayed his inner tension.

Shaoyu patted his back gently, silently conveying reassurance.

As for Shisui, Shaoyu could only think that he was truly worthy of being the future Body Flicker Shisui. At only six or seven years old, his Body Flicker Technique had already reached a quite proficient level, and his chakra reserves were already at the level of a chunin. He was a genius, through and through.

Time ticked by second by second. In the forest, there was only the rustling of the night wind through pine needles and the occasional, muffled sound of night training or patrols in the distance.

Finally, a few minutes before the appointed time, the first figure appeared on a tree branch outside the tower like a ghost, then landed lightly and flipped into the tower after a few bounds.

It was Uchiha Lianhuo.

He wore dark, tight-fitting gear, with a bulging but neatly bundled tactical backpack on his back. His ninja tool pouch at his waist was full, likely containing quite a few items. His gaze was sharp; he locked onto Shaoyu's position immediately and nodded slightly.

Immediately after, a second, a third... figures appeared one after another. Two Uchiha jonin arrived almost simultaneously: the cold-faced Uchiha Mihuo, carrying a long sword on his back, and the composed Uchiha Chikage, his fingers wrapped in chakra threads.

Their presence was restrained, their movements clean and efficient.

They were worthy of being Uchiha jonin, far stronger than jonin of the same rank.

Next were seven chunin.

Uchiha Rei, skilled in genjutsu and medical ninjutsu, had changed into a purple, form-fitting combat suit designed for mobility, her long hair tied back neatly.

Uchiha Mei, skilled in tracking and reconnaissance, was petite and agile, her eyes appearing exceptionally bright in the darkness.

The remaining male chunin also took their positions, all well-equipped, with no extra baggage beyond their necessary gear.

Over a dozen people gathered on the cramped, dilapidated second floor of the tower.

No one spoke; there was only the rustling sound of people slightly adjusting their breathing and gear. The air was filled with a mixture of tension, determination, and a faint sense of excitement.

Moonlight occasionally swept across faces both young and resolute. Those pairs of Sharingan, glowing faintly in the dim light, looked like scarlet stars lurking in the darkness.

Shaoyu's gaze swept slowly over everyone. Very good. No one was late, no one had fallen behind, and everyone was fully prepared.

His gaze lingered briefly on Shisui, who was trying hard to straighten his back, attempting to look more reliable.

He patted Shisui's head.

"Everyone is here."

Shaoyu spoke, his voice low but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"Check your final gear and confirm communication methods. We are about to embark on a journey of no return. The road ahead is treacherous; Konoha's pursuers, the obstacles along the way, and even the unknowns after arriving in Kumogakure await us."

He paused, the Mangekyō Sharingan in his left eye swirling slightly. That strange band of light seemed to absorb the moonlight, giving his words more weight.

"But remember, we are not stray dogs fleeing in defeat. We are warriors who have chosen a new life, carrying the pride and future of the Uchiha! Every step we take is for ourselves, for each other, for the clansmen who cannot come with us, and so that the name Uchiha will no longer be trampled upon!"

The breathing of those present grew slightly rapid, and the scarlet in their eyes burned brighter.

The reason Uchiha Shaoyu had sought out Elder Setsuna to discuss this, rather than just taking Shisui and defecting on his own, was entirely because if it were just the two of them going to Kumogakure, Shaoyu suspected he would be captured by the ambitious Third Raikage and used as a stud.

After all, if there were only one or two Uchiha bloodlines, using them for breeding was the best method. Ten or twenty years later, a bunch of powerful bloodline-limit ninjas would appear in Kumogakure.

For Kumogakure, male bloodline-limit ninjas were far better than female ones.

After all, a female bloodline-limit ninja could only give birth once a year, while a male bloodline-limit ninja could keep producing offspring indefinitely.

However, with over a dozen people going together, plus Uchiha Shaoyu's Kage-level combat power, they would be a small ninja clan the moment they arrived in Kumogakure. Even the Third Raikage would not underestimate them, and they would receive the respect they deserved in Kumogakure.

"Now," Shaoyu took out the Secret Passage Scroll given to him by Elder Setsuna and slowly unfolded it.

It was a finely drawn map, marking several extremely secret underground tunnel exits outside the Uchiha compound that even utilized loopholes in early Konoha defensive fortifications.

"Our first goal is to use the secret passage to leave the range of Konoha's barrier silently and enter the border forest of the Land of Fire."

"Lianhuo, you lead the team in reconnaissance; Tiehuo, Chikage, you are responsible for covering the rear and clearing any traces we might leave; Rei, keep an eye on everyone's physical condition; Mei, watch for movement behind and on the flanks. Everyone else, maintain a defensive formation and protect the core. Shisui," he looked at his younger brother.

"Stay close to me. Do not leave my side by more than ten steps at any time."

"Yes, brother!" Shisui nodded firmly.

"Yes! Shaoyu-kun!" the group responded in a low, unified voice.

Shaoyu pointed out the key parts of the map to Lianhuo and the others before carefully putting it away.

"Keep the route in your hearts. Once we set off, everything will proceed according to plan, but we must be ready to adapt. If an emergency occurs, my orders take top priority. Do you understand?"

Ninjas had excellent memories; in a short time, they had all memorized the map.

"Understood!"

"Then," Shaoyu took one last look at the shadowy outline of Konoha in the distance. That was where they had lived for over a decade, where the familiar training grounds were, the eaves of their compound, and countless repressed memories and impending conflicts.

But he was a transmigrator, so he didn't feel deeply about it. His eyes held no lingering attachment, only a cold, icy resolve.

"Move out."

The moment the order was given, thirteen figures shot out from the Abandoned Watchtower like arrows that had been held for a long time. There was no earth-shattering noise, only the faint hiss of clothes cutting through the wind and the subtle friction of feet hitting the ground.

They merged into the night, moving in their established formation, and sped toward the first secret passage entrance marked on the map, located at the very edge of the Uchiha compound near the Forest of Death.