Setting Off for Hell Valley

"You're sure to get it done. No matter how strong the Chinoike Clan is, they can't possibly be a match for you. Otherwise, the people Kumogakure sent wouldn't have been able to keep watch over them."

"You flatter me."

Within the Land of Lightning, the farther north one traveled, the more treacherous and bizarre the terrain became.

Far from the relatively prosperous region where Kumogakure stood, all he could see were steep, unbroken mountain ranges, bottomless ravines, and skies perpetually shrouded in thick, leaden clouds.

The air was filled with the mingled scent of sulfur and something rotten. From afar came dull rumbles from time to time, like the groans of the earth itself.

Uchiha Shaoyu raced alone along the rugged mountain path.

He had changed into dark, practical Kumogakure-style casual clothes, with a windproof cloak over them, remaining alert.

According to the map and the coordinates provided by Kumogakure, Hell Valley was not far away.

After crossing another ridge that seemed carved by blades and axes, the sight before him abruptly changed, causing Shaoyu's steps to pause slightly.

Ahead lay an unimaginably vast rift valley, as though a god had cleaved the earth apart with a massive axe.

On both sides of the rift stood nearly vertical, ink-black cliff faces, soaring into the clouds with their summits almost impossible to see.

A dim crimson glow seeped up from the depths of the valley floor, accompanied by rolling waves of heat and pungent sulfurous fumes. They rose upward and distorted the already gloomy air into an even hazier blur.

Dark red lava flowed through parts of the valley floor like slowly moving blood, gurgling as it wound onward. Where there was no lava, there were jagged rocks and bottomless fissures, from which poisonous columns of dark green or ghastly white gas occasionally erupted.

The entire canyon was shrouded in a strange mist that never dispersed, mixed with toxic gas, dust, and high-temperature vapor. The light was dim.

Gales tore through the canyon with shrieks like wailing ghosts, whipping up ash and poisonous dust from the ground into small dust storms.

The air was saturated with violent Fire- and Earth-nature chakra, along with a faint, peculiar residual energy that seemed to carry the scent of blood.

"Hell Valley... the name fits."

Uchiha Shaoyu muttered softly. There was no fear in his eyes; instead, a glint of intrigued curiosity flashed through them.

Though this place was harsh to the extreme, it was not a forbidden death zone for someone like him, with the Mangekyō Sharingan protecting him and a body tempered through countless trials.

On the contrary, such extreme environments often concealed interesting things—such as the rumored Chinoike Clan and their Ketsuryūgan.

He began making his way deeper into the valley along a perilous narrow path that had clearly been carved by human hands, though years and the brutal environment had eroded it until it was nearly unrecognizable.

The farther down he went, the hotter it became, the thicker the poisonous fumes grew, and the clearer the roar of flowing lava sounded.

His Sharingan allowed him to precisely avoid the toxic gas vents and the most unstable ground, while the chakra around his body formed a faint barrier that blocked the heat and harmful substances.

When he had descended to roughly halfway down and rounded a massive rock resembling the charred bone of some beast—

Whoosh!

A figure flashed out of the mist ahead like a phantom, blocking the center of the path.

The man was tall and wore a standard Kumogakure jonin flak jacket. His skin was rough and darkened from prolonged exposure to the harsh environment, but his eyes were sharp as an eagle's. He gripped a short blade etched with Kumogakure-style patterns. His presence was steady and concealed, marking him as an experienced expert in stealth and reconnaissance.

"Stop! This is a forbidden area of Kumogakure. Entry is prohibited without authorization!"

The man shouted in a deep voice, his gaze fixed firmly on Shaoyu with full vigilance.

He could sense that this unfamiliar young man who had suddenly appeared, though seemingly young, possessed an unfathomable aura. Those eyes in particular... gave him an extremely dangerous feeling.

Uchiha Shaoyu stopped, his expression calm. He had expected to encounter guards.

He neither attacked nor explained himself at once. Instead, he slowly took two items from his robes.

One was a metal token unique to Kumogakure elders, personally issued by the Raikage and embedded with an emblem of lightning patterns.

The other was a small, special kunai engraved with the character for "lightning." It was a personal token given to him by Ai, the Third Raikage, representing the highest level of authorization.

He displayed the token and kunai for the man to see.

That Kumogakure jonin was one of the five jonin who had been stationed here for a long time. His name was Nohara Daibi.

The instant he saw the token and kunai, his pupils contracted sharply.

As ninjas who had been stationed here for so long, they were not entirely cut off from outside news.

Not long ago, the village had informed them through encrypted communications of a major change.

The village had gained an exceptionally young elder, one whose strength was unfathomable and whose status was extraordinary.

Could this black-haired youth, who looked barely over twenty, be that legendary new elder?!

A storm surged within Nohara Daibi's heart, but he was an experienced jonin. He forcibly suppressed his shock and carefully examined the token and kunai for authenticity.

The chakra imprint on the token and the Raikage's unique aura could not be faked. The kunai was one of the personal tokens the Third Raikage almost never let leave his side.

After confirming that they were genuine, the vigilance on Nohara Daibi's face swiftly turned into astonishment and a trace of incredulous respect.

He immediately sheathed his short blade, stepped back half a pace, and performed a standard Kumogakure salute. His voice was slightly hoarse with excitement.

"Your subordinate, Nohara Daibi, captain of the Hell Valley guard squad, greets Elder. I did not know Elder would be arriving, and I have caused offense. Please forgive me."

Though he had never met Shaoyu, the token and the Raikage's personal token were the highest proof of identity.

Uchiha Shaoyu put away the tokens and nodded slightly.

"No matter. You were carrying out your duty. Jonin Nohara, where are the others?"

"Reporting to Elder, the other four jonin and eight chunin squad members are currently stationed and patrolling at several key points within the valley. I will send a signal to gather them immediately."

Nohara Daibi answered respectfully.

"Good. Gather everyone here," Shaoyu ordered.

"Yes!"

Without hesitation, Nohara Daibi took a specially made chakra whistle from his ninja tool pouch, one capable of transmitting signals in such a harsh environment. He raised it to his lips and blew several piercing notes of varying lengths.

The sound echoed through the canyon and carried far into the distance.

In only a short while, figures rapidly emerged from shadows throughout the canyon, from cracks in the rocks, and even from concealed high-temperature positions near the lava, converging on where Shaoyu and Nohara Daibi stood.

Soon, all five jonin including Nohara Daibi, along with eight chunin whose sharp eyes revealed them to be battle-hardened veterans, had gathered. All thirteen stood in orderly ranks before Shaoyu.

Their faces all bore expressions similar to Nohara Daibi's, a mixture of shock, curiosity, and reverence as they studied this absurdly young new elder.

Uchiha Shaoyu's gaze slowly swept across the thirteen faces, some weathered and some resolute.

He could sense that these were all genuine elites. Having been stationed in a hellish place like this for so long, not only was their strength formidable, but their will had to be unyielding as well.

Keeping them trapped here truly was a loss for Kumogakure.

He did not waste words and directly conveyed the Raikage's highest order.

"By order of the Third Raikage."

Shaoyu's voice was clear and forceful, reaching every ear despite the howling winds and roaring lava of the canyon.

"Effective immediately, the permanent Hell Valley guard unit is disbanded. The thirteen of you are to pack your belongings at once and return to Kumogakure headquarters to report for new deployment and appointments. All subsequent matters concerning Hell Valley will be handled solely by this elder."

The order was simple and direct, yet it exploded in the hearts of the thirteen ninjas like thunder.

The unit was being disbanded? They were returning to the village? That meant... they could finally leave this hellish place?!

After a brief deathly silence, uncontrollable joy flooded every face.

Even the most composed elite jonin, including Nohara Daibi, burst with dazzling light in their eyes.

They had been stationed here for anywhere from several years to more than a decade, keeping company with poisonous fumes, lava, and despairing prisoners day and night. Though they had faithfully performed their duties, who did not long to return to a normal village, undertake more meaningful missions, and reunite with their families?

"Yes! We shall obey the orders of Lord Raikage and Elder!"

All thirteen answered in unison, their voices loud and brimming with barely restrained excitement.

No one questioned or delayed. With the Raikage's order and the elder personally present, its authority was beyond doubt.