Konoha.
Tall walls, heavy iron gates, and heavily armed guards standing on the gate towers.
This is the largest village in Shinobi World, an existence that countless people once looked up to.
But at this moment, the iron gate slowly opened, and what greeted them was not the triumphant hero, but two young people.
Shaoyu steps into Konoha.
He raised his head and looked at the guards on the gate tower.
The guards were watching him too.
There was fear, anger, unwillingness, and helplessness in their eyes.
But no one dared to move.
Because outside the village, three thousand Kumogakure elites were waiting in formation.
Because in the village, their Hokage personally accompanied them without saying a word.
Shaoyu withdrew his gaze and continued to move forward.
The boots made a crisp sound when they stepped on the bluestone.
On both sides of the street, the villagers of Konoha stood at a distance, looking at the two strange young people and the tall figure wearing red armor.
They didn't know what happened, but they could feel that something big had happened.
"Who is that person?"
"Kumogakure's ninja? Why did you enter the village?"
"Lord Third is next to you... what's going on?"
Whispers spread among the crowd.
Shaoyu Listening to those voices, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
Konoha Diao Min, it's really been a long time.
He looked at the buildings on both sides of the street, the dumpling shop he often visited as a child in the original memory, the training ground where he once trained, and the big tree he once climbed with Shisui.
Nothing has changed.
Everything has changed again.
He took a deep breath, feeling an indescribable emotion well up in his heart.
Wealth and honor do not return home, just like walking in brocade at night.
When he led eleven tribesmen and fled Konoha in embarrassment, who could have thought that one day he would come back in this way?
Riding a war horse and leading an army, let Hokage personally accompany you.
No.
There is no army.
Just him and Shisui.
Two people walked into this village that had abandoned them.
This is the real thing--
Return home rich and wealthy.
Sarutobi Hiruzen walked beside him and looked at his expression, feeling mixed emotions in his heart.
He could see that Shaoyu was enjoying this moment.
Enjoy this moment of revenge.
Enjoy this moment to prove yourself.
He didn't speak, just silently Earth Flow.
The team continued to move forward, more like a group of silent people than a team.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Minato, Orochimaru, several jounin, and the two young men from Kumogakure.
They passed through the commercial street, passed through the residential area, passed through the training ground, and finally stopped at the edge of the village.
In front of a gate.
There is a plaque hanging on the door--
"Uchiha".
Shaoyu stopped, looked at the plaque, and was silent for a long time.
Shisui stood beside him, also looking at the plaque, with complicated emotions in his eyes.
Now, they are back.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood aside, looking at the two young people, feeling an inexplicable emotion in his heart.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he didn't know what to say.
Shaoyu stood in front of the gate of Uchiha Compound, looking at the familiar plaque, and was silent for a long time.
After a long time, he raised his hand and gently pushed the door open.
Behind the door is an open martial arts field, which is where the Uchiha Clan clan members train daily.
At this moment, there were many people in the martial arts arena, including young ninjas who were sparring, middle-aged men who were coaching nearby, women playing with their children, and a few old people sitting in the shade of the trees chatting.
As expected, Konoha is ostracizing Uchiha. During this kind of war, it seems that there is no such thing as Uchiha. The atmosphere is completely different from the outside world.
The sound of the door being pushed open startled them.
Everyone turned their heads at the same time and looked towards the door.
Then, their expressions changed.
That figure in red armor, that familiar yet unfamiliar face, those eyes as calm as water -
"That's...Shaoyu?"
"Uchiha Shaoyu? Didn't he defect?"
"Why is he back? Still wearing Kumogakure's armor?"
"Lord Third is here too? What's going on?"
Whispers spread among the crowd. Some people had shock on their faces, some had anger, some had doubts, and some had indescribable complex emotions flashing in their eyes.
Shaoyu ignored those voices and just stepped into the martial arts arena.
His steps were steady and his eyes were calm, as if this was not the place where he once defected, but his own backyard.
Shisui followed him, also silent.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Minato, Orochimaru and several jounin stood at the door, hesitated for a moment, and did not follow them.
This is Uchiha's family affair.
They have no right to intervene.
Uchiha Shaoyu won't let them interfere either.
Shaoyu walked to the center of the martial arts arena and stopped.
He looked around, scanning every face - those he was once familiar with, those he was no longer familiar with, those with hostility, those with hidden expectations.
Then he spoke.
"All Uchiha people, come here."
His voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
The noise in the martial arts arena suddenly fell silent.
No one moved.
Shaoyu didn't urge, just stood quietly.
After a while, someone moved.
An old man with white beard and hair walked slowly out from the shade of the tree on crutches. His steps were slow, but every step was steady.
Uchiha Setsuna.
Great Elder.
Shaoyu looked at him, the corners of his mouth raised slightly.
"Elder Setsuna." He nodded slightly, "Long time no see."
Uchiha Setsuna walked up to him, stopped and looked at him.
Those cloudy old eyes were shining with a complex light.
"Shaoyu." His voice was hoarse, "You are really back."
Shaoyu nodded.
"I said, I will come back."
Uchiha Setsuna was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly.
He turned around and looked at the tribesmen who were still hesitating.
"Come here, everyone." His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable dignity, "Shaoyu has something to say."
Uchiha Setsuna As the Great Elder, Uchiha people are still willing to listen to his words.
This time, no one hesitated.
Now that the great elder has spoken, they don't need to say anything more.
Just in time to see what Shaoyu has to say.
People in the martial arts field began to gather in the center. More people came out from the depths of the clan. Those who heard the news, those who were called, and those who came on their own came.
Soon, the martial arts arena was filled with hundreds of people, men, women, old and young.
Uchiha Of course these people are not the only ones, there are many more people coming one after another.
Shaoyu looked at these people and felt a surge of complicated emotions in his heart.
This is Uchiha.
Uchiha, which once frightened countless people during the Warring States Period.
Uchiha who once established Konoha together with the Senju Clan.
Uchiha who once shed countless blood for this village.
Now, Uchiha is driven to the edge of the village, monitored, guarded against, and treated as an unstable factor.