Chinoike Clan

Deep within the Uchiha Clan grounds of Kumogakure, on the open-air platform outside the newly built clan head's residence.

That was right. Shaoyu was now the clan head of Kumogakure's Uchiha Clan.

It was somewhat like the distinction between the main and branch families of the Hyuga Clan.

The view here was excellent, overlooking part of the training grounds and the distant mountains.

Uchiha Shaoyu sat across from the young Ai. A simple tea set and several Land of Lightning specialties were arranged on the stone table between them.

They had just finished a routine sparring session and were now resting and chatting. Naturally, their conversation turned to the most sensational event in the shinobi world lately.

The outcome of the war between Konoha and Sunagakure.

"Seriously, Elder Shaoyu, have you heard? Konoha really got screwed over this time!"

The young Ai gulped down a mouthful of cold tea, wiped his mouth, and wore undisguised schadenfreude on his face.

"They won the war, but didn't get a single coin in compensation. Those paupers from Sunagakure had no money to give—and... it seems they don't have many lives left either."

He was straightforward by nature, and naturally delighted to see Konoha, Kumogakure's longtime rival, suffer a setback.

Uchiha Shaoyu lifted his teacup and gently blew on it, his expression calm.

"Only to be expected. The Land of Fire lies at the center of the continent. Its land is fertile, its resources abundant, and its commerce prosperous. It is the wealthiest of the Five Great Nations."

"Konoha has grown accustomed to drawing nourishment from a prosperous environment. But the Land of Wind..."

He paused, an image of endless yellow sands flashing through his mind.

"Harsh environment, scarce resources. Sunagakure's survival has always been difficult. To them, war is a gamble that drains the nation's foundations. Once they lose, naturally, they have nothing left."

"For Konoha to try squeezing oil out of Sunagakure is no different from digging a well in a dried-up riverbed."

"Makes sense!"

The young Ai slapped his thigh.

"Those Konoha bastards have had it too easy. Unlike us in Kumogakure, where every bit of strength has to be used where it counts. Still, Sunagakure got knocked flat this time, and they won't recover anytime soon. For Kumogakure, that means one less potential problem."

Shaoyu nodded slightly but made no comment. The balance between shinobi villages was far more complicated than that.

Just then, as if suddenly recalling something, the young Ai set down his teacup and grew serious.

"Right, Elder Shaoyu. I nearly forgot the real reason I came. The old man sent me here not just for our usual sparring, but because there's something he wanted me to tell you."

"What are Lord Raikage's instructions?"

Shaoyu set down his cup and turned his gaze toward Ai.

"It's not really an instruction. It's... well, more like a troublesome matter he wants to hand over to you."

The young Ai scratched his upright white hair as he gathered his thoughts.

"There's a place in the Land of Lightning called Hell Valley. Do you know it?"

"Hell Valley?"

Shaoyu raised a brow. He seemed to have seen that name while studying Kumogakure's geography and distribution of forces these past few days. If he remembered correctly, it was a forbidden land with an exceptionally harsh environment, full of poisonous gas and lava.

But why did it sound... so familiar?

"I've heard a little about it. They say it's a natural deathtrap."

"Yeah, that's the place!"

The young Ai nodded.

"That hellhole has a terrible environment. Normally, no one would go there. But Kumogakure has a clan imprisoned there—the Chinoike Clan."

"Chinoike?"

Something stirred in Shaoyu's mind.

"Yeah, that clan is a little special. Their Kekkei Genkai, the Ketsuryūgan, is also a dōjutsu. Its abilities are supposedly somewhat similar to the Sharingan, but it leans more toward controlling blood and creating illusions. Its awakening conditions seem to be harsher too, and there aren't many of them."

The young Ai explained.

"Many years ago, that clan was suppressed by Kumogakure over certain matters. The survivors were permanently imprisoned in that hellhole called Hell Valley, with the village assigning guards to keep them from escaping and causing trouble."

He paused, his tone becoming somewhat helpless.

"The problem is, guarding them takes manpower, and ordinary shinobi aren't up to the job. Hell Valley is dangerous, and though the Chinoike Clan is imprisoned, they do have a Kekkei Genkai. We can't afford to let our guard down."

"So the village has always stationed two elite jōnin, three regular jōnin, and several chūnin there long-term."

"Two elite jōnin and three jōnin..."

Shaoyu's gaze narrowed. That was no small number.

Five jōnin-level combatants were an important strategic force in any shinobi village, not to mention the accompanying chūnin.

Keeping them tied up in a guard duty for the long term was indeed a tremendous waste of resources for Kumogakure.

"The old man thinks it's too wasteful to keep those elite forces stuck in Hell Valley. And lately, the shinobi world hasn't been peaceful. It feels like another war may be brewing."

The young Ai continued, his face showing agreement as well.

"The village needs manpower everywhere right now. Sunagakure has quieted down for the moment, but we can't relax in other directions either. So the old man wants to hand this task over to you."

"Hand it over to me?"

Shaoyu was slightly surprised.

"That's right. You're an elder of the village now, so you're qualified to handle this sort of matter."

The young Ai spoke with certainty.

"The old man means for you, as an elder, to formally order all the guard shinobi stationed in Hell Valley back to the village, where they'll be reassigned to combat units or important missions. As for the Chinoike Clan imprisoned there..."

He looked at Shaoyu, his gaze carrying both inquiry and a trace of trust.

"You'll have full authority over them. Whether you keep them imprisoned, or... simply dispose of them, or have other ideas, it's all up to you. The old man said he trusts your judgment and abilities."

Uchiha Shaoyu fell silent for a moment, his mind racing.

Recalling those elite combatants would be good for Kumogakure. He was happy to see it happen.

As for the Chinoike Clan...

He remembered this so-called Chinoike Clan now.

They seemed to have appeared in one of the movies.

Like the Yotsuki Clan Ai belonged to, the Chinoike Clan had originally been a Kekkei Genkai shinobi clan active in the Land of Lightning during the Warring States Period.

There had never been many Kekkei Genkai clans in the Land of Lightning, and the Chinoike Clan had been quite strong, so like the Yotsuki Clan, they had been very famous.

Later, a girl from the Chinoike Clan married the daimyō of the Land of Lightning and became his concubine.

Not only was this concubine beautiful, but she was also very gentle and obedient, earning the daimyō's affection.

Then disaster struck. Because the daimyō favored her, his principal wife became intensely jealous of and hostile toward the concubine.

Then, in a stroke of terrible luck, the daimyō fell ill and died.

The daimyō's principal wife then accused the concubine from the Chinoike Clan of using some kind of method to murder him.

Though the concubine had been deeply favored, the forces in her hands could not compare to those of the principal wife at all, so everyone else believed the principal wife.

Thus, the Chinoike Clan suffered a catastrophic disaster. The daimyō's principal wife not only enlisted the locally renowned Kekkei Genkai clan, the Yotsuki Clan, but also invited the Uchiha Clan from the Land of Fire to deal with the Chinoike Clan.

Overnight, the Chinoike Clan suffered devastating losses. Countless clan members were killed or wounded, while the scattered survivors were escorted to Hell Valley and imprisoned there by the Uchiha Clan and the Yotsuki Clan.

The Chinoike Clan possessed a Kekkei Genkai called the Ketsuryūgan, which could control blood and cast genjutsu. It was considered a very decent Kekkei Genkai.

There seemed to have been a little girl in the movie who had even bared her teeth at the later-version Sasuke. But that was after the Valley of the End, when Sasuke had a better temper. Put her in Shippuden, and he would have blown her away on the spot.

Uchiha Shaoyu was rather interested.

He raised his head and looked at the young Ai, his voice calm and clear.

"I understand. Please inform Lord Raikage that I will handle this matter properly. I will set out for Hell Valley in the coming days. After personally examining the situation, I'll make a decision."

"Good! Straightforward!"

The young Ai happily slapped the table.

"I knew you were dependable, Elder Shaoyu. If you need any help, just say the word. I can go with you too."

"No need."

Shaoyu shook his head. "Since it has been entrusted to me, I can go myself."

"Ai, you only recently mastered Lightning Release Chakra Mode. This is the crucial time to consolidate and improve it. It's more important for you to remain in the village and train."

"Then... all right."

The young Ai was somewhat regretful, but he knew Shaoyu was right.

"Still, you have to be careful. Hell Valley is an evil place. You're strong, but the Chinoike Clan isn't easy to deal with either."

"Don't worry."

A faint curve touched Shaoyu's lips, and a glimmer seemed to flow through his left eye.

"I'll handle it."