The Young Scorch Release User

Uchiha Makoto did not spend much time before finding where the Sand Village shinobi were resting.

It was beneath a large boulder, with a campfire burning nearby.

"There's such a huge rock in a place like this?"

This was the desert of the Land of Wind, where dunes rose and fell in every direction. There was not even a slightly larger piece of gravel in sight.

He led Sanjie toward the campfire while secretly activating Fearful Reverence. As they drew closer, the traces left behind by passing Sand Village shinobi around the boulder became increasingly apparent.

When he approached, Uchiha Makoto saw several Sand Village shinobi resting against the rock wall. Someone had already noticed him, and the Sand Village shinobi he had met earlier rose to his feet alertly.

"Don't be nervous. I mean no harm," Uchiha Makoto hurriedly explained, raising both hands to show that he carried no weapons.

Hearing him, the Sand Village shinobi relaxed slightly, though his eyes remained full of vigilance.

Uchiha Makoto smiled. "I'm the owner of a merchant caravan. I came to thank you for giving us a place to rest and to invite you to dinner. We brought some food and water from the Land of Fire."

The Sand Village shinobi looked at Sanjie behind him, then at Uchiha Makoto. After hesitating, he signaled to a companion nearby and turned to enter the only tent present.

Seeing this, Uchiha Makoto could not help but feel surprised. The shinobi he had dealt with earlier was a jōnin, yet even he could not stay in the tent. Could someone inside be one of the Sand Village's higher-ups?

Before long, the Sand Village shinobi emerged and gestured for Uchiha Makoto to enter. Uchiha Makoto did not hesitate and followed him into the tent.

The moment he stepped inside, he heard a clear female voice.

"You're the one who wants to invite us?"

Uchiha Makoto looked closely and saw a stunning woman with a graceful figure, green hair tied into buns, and a backless outfit sitting in the center. She stared sharply at him and looked to be around the same age as his sister.

Beside her was a little girl with purple face paint, watching him curiously.

"That's right. I hope we haven't disturbed you," Uchiha Makoto replied with a polite smile.

"Sit." The green-haired kunoichi pointed at a seat beside her. Uchiha Makoto sat as instructed while studying her, already reaching a conclusion in his heart.

Pakura, wielder of Scorch Release and a strong contender for the position of Fourth Kazekage. She had been betrayed and killed by the Fourth Kazekage near the end of the Third Shinobi World War, then reanimated by Orochimaru Kabuto during the Fourth. With her Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder, she was at least as strong as an elite jōnin right now.

But since he had encountered her, his plans ought to gain another branch.

"I don't think merchants like you would hand out benefits to others so easily."

Pakura's tone was openly disdainful.

"Yes, I would like to discuss a deal with you." Uchiha Makoto smiled pleasantly.

Pakura sneered. "A deal? What benefits can you bring us?"

Uchiha Makoto answered confidently, "I am a merchant. I can provide you with large amounts of food, water, and all kinds of supplies."

"And you? Why would you help us? What is your purpose? Could there be some ulterior motive you can't reveal?"

Uchiha Makoto shook his head and said frankly, "In this desert, having one more friend is better than having one more enemy. Besides, we need the Sand Village shinobi's strength to protect the caravan."

At this point, Uchiha Makoto paused briefly before continuing, "Also, we will establish a branch in the Sand Village in the future. I hope you can serve as the branch manager and look after us from time to time. What do you think? Would you be interested, or do you have any other ideas?"

Pakura did not answer after hearing his words, only watching him coldly. Under Fearful Reverence's influence, a Sand Village shinobi beside her quietly asked, "Teacher, can this man be trusted?"

After a moment of silence, Pakura rose to her feet and said indifferently, "Let's go."

With that, she immediately led her student outside.

Uchiha Makoto followed behind them, secretly pleased. So far, Fearful Reverence seemed quite effective in its normal state.

When the group followed Pakura back to the camp, her steps abruptly stopped.

Pakura's gaze swept across the crowds coming and going. Her keen instincts told her that a dangerous aura seemed to be lurking here.

There seemed to be far too many shinobi among these merchants.

These people looked no different from ordinary civilians, and ordinary shinobi would not be able to distinguish them. Yet the occasional glances they exchanged and their subtle movements proved without question that they were elite shinobi.

Pakura's heart sank to the depths.

She could not understand why there was such a merchant caravan in the desert.

No, they might not even be a merchant caravan.

Anbu?

Inside the tent, the little kunoichi watched everything with wide, watery eyes. Her delicate face still had a trace of baby fat, making her no older than twelve or thirteen.

She was Pakura's student from the original story—Maki.

"Maki!"

Pakura pulled her behind herself, then turned to Uchiha Makoto and demanded, "Who exactly are you? Why are there so many shinobi around you?"

Uchiha Makoto waved a hand, signaling everyone not to mind.

"When traveling through this desert, it is only natural to have more safeguards."

Pakura's eyes grew colder. She took a breath and barked, "I don't care who you are. Leave this place immediately!"

Uchiha Makoto sighed. A glint of red flashed through his eyes as he said, "At the very least, I can help you become Kazekage, can't I?"

Empowered by the Mangekyō Sharingan, the atmosphere instantly improved.

At that moment, members of the caravan brought over food. Everyone sat around the fire to eat together, and the mood soon became far livelier.

Maki kept secretly glancing at Uchiha Makoto, her eyes full of curiosity.

When their gazes met, Maki finally could not help asking, "Big sister, where are you from? Your skin is even better than Teacher's!"

Uchiha Makoto froze, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "I'm not a big sister. I'm a boy."

Maki's mouth fell open in surprise. She took a sip of water from her cup and gave an embarrassed laugh.

"S-Sorry... I thought you were a girl..."

Uchiha Makoto felt helpless. He might look a little delicate and have slightly soft skin, but he was definitely male.

"It's fine." Uchiha Makoto smiled reassuringly. "But why did you think I was a girl?"

Maki lowered her head with a blush and whispered, "Because... because you're very pretty. You look so beautiful."

Uchiha Makoto was left speechless.

"I see... Still, this is the first time anyone has said I look like a girl."

Maki looked up at Uchiha Makoto seriously. "But you really are pretty. You're prettier than lots of girls."

Uchiha Makoto shook his head helplessly and decided to change the subject. "Maki, how old are you this year?"

"I'm already twelve!" Maki answered excitedly. "I'm already a genin!"

Uchiha Makoto smiled and patted Maki's head. This child was really lively. He just did not know whether she would survive the Third Shinobi World War.