At the border of Hidden Xuan Village, the morning mist had yet to clear.
The Uchiha Anbu had already gathered intelligence on Kumogakure's attack route.
Xuandou now stood on high ground, waiting for the Kumogakure forces to arrive.
Behind him stood Fugaku, Shisui, Itachi, and two hundred elite Uchiha Anbu.
They wore matching black combat uniforms with red patterns, kunai pouches at their waists and swords of varying lengths on their backs.
Before them stretched an open plain.
On the distant horizon, a long black column slowly approached.
One thousand elite Kumogakure ninja marched in orderly ranks, dressed in dark combat uniforms and radiating killing intent.
At the head of the column, Yugito Nii wore a dark blue bodysuit beneath lightweight chest armor.
A short sword hung at her waist.
Behind her, Darui followed lazily off to one side.
As the Kumogakure forces approached, the two sides faced off.
Despite the disparity in numbers, the Uchiha's presence was no less imposing.
The Anbu were all expressionless, as though the thousand people opposite them were beneath notice.
Just then, a system notification sounded in Xuandou's mind:
[Ding! Host has triggered a main quest: The battle to establish the village] [Quest description: Hidden Xuan Village faces its first foreign invasion since its founding. Kumogakure seeks to subject the Uchiha to military blackmail. As the lord of Hidden Xuan Village, you must repel the invading enemy and declare to the Shinobi World: Hidden Xuan Village is not an easy target for just anyone to bully.] [Quest reward: Lottery draws ×1]
A faint smile touched Xuandou's lips.
A lottery draw?
Just in time.
Across from him, Yugito Nii stepped forward, stopping roughly fifty paces from Xuandou.
Her cool voice carried across the field:
"Uchiha Xuantou, I've heard much about you."
Xuandou folded