At first, there were only scattered Kakkō.
Remote counties were the first to raise the banner of rebellion, local garrison troops destroyed communication devices, and martial artists in the countryside spontaneously gathered.
The flames of resistance spread rapidly.
Though seemingly insignificant, the collective resistance of countless individuals transformed this vast empire into a boiling furnace.
Without unified command or coordinated deployment, all that existed was a shared will to fight the enemy. Heavenly Martial XIII ignited the last vestiges of courage in this nation with his death.
The morning light pierced through the thin mist, illuminating the makeshift campsite in the mountains and forests.
Naruto Uzumaki rubbed his sleepy eyes and sat up from the straw mat. His coarse cloth clothes were damp with dew, and his blond hair was hastily tied up with hemp rope.
This was a carefully designed disguise by the Shinobi Alliance.
Two weeks ago, they joined the Red Eyebrow Army as wandering warriors, fully equipping themselves with all their ninja tools, Forehead Protector, and even Chakra fluctuations.
At this moment, Naruto was no different from the other rebel fighters in the camp.
As for the twenty intelligent puppets responsible for protecting them, they were placed in an abandoned post station thirty miles away.
Anyway, the warriors in this camp are all weak. If Sasuke goes all out, he can wipe them all out in a short time.
Of course, another point is that, after spending time with them, the two discovered that the Red Eyebrow Army was a very pure place.
This may be related to the ideology of the Red Eyebrow Army leader.
Not for power, not for wealth, but simply to protect the unarmed people behind him.
Gradually, the two began to understand why the Red Eyebrow Army was able to gather such a powerful force in such a short time.
This is not achieved through coercion or the lure of profit, but because everyone here genuinely believes in the same ideal.
Although the death of Heavenly Martial XIII ignited their fighting spirit, what has truly sustained them in their fight to this day is their most basic love for this land and its people.
At this moment, Sasuke was already fully dressed, his black robes fitting him perfectly, and he was wiping a short sword in his hand.
"Hey, Sasuke!" Naruto straightened his rough clothes and said, "How long do you think we're going to have to stay here after infiltrating the Red Eyebrow Army?"
Sasuke tucked his short sword into his waistband and replied without looking up, "Until the Shinobi Alliance achieves complete control over the Heavenly Martial Empire."
"But these rebels are all good people!" Naruto suddenly raised his voice, then quickly lowered it again.
"Look at them, they helped the people drive away the tax collectors, and they even distributed the stolen grain to the poor."
"That's why the higher-ups changed the mission." Sasuke turned around and asked, "Otherwise, why do you think the Shinobi Alliance would recruit the Red Eyebrow Army?"
Naruto scratched his head. "Because they know the terrain?"
"Fools." Sasuke scoffed. " The Red Eyebrow Army is familiar with the terrain, enjoys prestige among the people, and most importantly..."
He lowered his voice, "They can help the Shinobi Alliance suppress other resistance forces in the three border states."
"Huh?" Naruto's eyes widened. "But aren't they the rebels themselves?"
"That's the most ironic part," Sasuke said with a cold smile. " The Shinobi Alliance needs them as guides, as vanguards, until the Empire is completely pacified..."
Although the sentence was incomplete, the meaning was quite clear.
Suddenly realizing what was happening, Naruto grabbed Sasuke's arm. "You mean, the Shinobi Alliance will eventually...?"
"Isn't it obvious? Do you think the Shinobi Alliance will allow a second resistance organization to exist?"
Just then, footsteps sounded in the distance, and the two immediately fell silent.
A young martial artist with a red headscarf ran up. "Gentlemen, the deputy leader requests your presence in the council chamber!"
"Understood," Sasuke replied.
After the man had walked away, he said to Naruto, "Remember our mission: gain trust, gather intelligence, and if necessary..."
"I know!" Naruto interrupted him impatiently, "But can't we find a way to satisfy both sides?"
Upon hearing this, Sasuke's eyes suddenly sharpened, and he said in a deep voice.
"Remember our identity and our stance!"
" Heavenly Martial XIII ignited the flames of rebellion across the country with his suicide. Now, new uprisings are happening every day. The Shinobi Alliance needs local strongmen like the Red Eyebrow Army to quell the unrest, and the Red Eyebrow Army also needs our protection."
"What's the meaning?"
"It means," Sasuke tightened his belt, "That if we don't bring them into the Shinobi Alliance League, all that awaits them after the war is over will be retribution."
Naruto was silent for a moment, then suddenly slammed his fist into a tree trunk. "This damn war!"
As dawn broke, the warriors in the camp began their day's work.
Naruto followed behind Sasuke, weaving through the bustling crowd.
Smoke rose in wisps as several women cooked wild vegetable porridge in a large pot, its aroma wafting through the morning mist.
" Naruto- kun!" A little girl with pigtails ran over, holding two steaming hot roasted sweet potatoes. "Here you go!"
Naruto knelt down, took the sweet potato, and ruffled the little girl's hair. "Thank you, Xiao Tao!"
His smile was warm and sincere, completely masking his earlier gloom.
Sasuke stood to the side, his gaze sweeping across the camp.
The warriors gathered in twos and threes, some sharpening their weapons, others repairing their armor.
His movements were practiced and focused, and his face wore a calm expression.
These people were once farmers, blacksmiths, and hunters, but now they have become members of the resistance.
The council chamber was a simple shed built with a few thick logs and thatch.
The deputy leader was a burly man in his early thirties with a hideous scar on his left cheek. He was discussing something with several captains.
Upon seeing the two enter, he immediately greeted them, "You've come at the perfect time!"
He unfurled a rough map, pointed to the markings on it, and said, "Scouts report that Blackwater Village to the north is being destroyed by an Imperial army. They're poisoning the wells and burning down entire wheat fields."
"These lunatics..." an old martial artist with a weathered face spat, "They're even going to destroy their own land?"
The deputy leader said in a deep voice, "They believe in 'scorched earth tactics,' preferring to destroy everything rather than leave anything for the Shinobi Alliance."
He looked around at the crowd and said in a deep voice, "But we, the Red Eyebrow Army, absolutely do not condone this practice and must stop them!"
Naruto suddenly stood up. "Let me lead the team! Those villagers... they don't deserve to suffer like this."
Sasuke didn't immediately respond, but his fingers unconsciously rubbed the hilt of his sword.
There might be something that can be used in this.
" Sasuke," the vice-leader suddenly spoke, "You take the third squad to handle this matter."
He paused, then added meaningfully, "The leader values this operation very much."
Just as Naruto was about to protest, Sasuke readily nodded.
"Clear."
After leaving the council chamber, Naruto complained to Sasuke, "Why wouldn't you let me go?"
Sasuke explained, "Because the vice-leader values me more and wants me to move to the upper echelons, while you... are not suitable."
Naruto opened his mouth, but ultimately fell silent.
He knew Sasuke was right.
While the Red Eyebrow Army respected the two men's strength, they were concerned about Naruto's impulsive nature, while Sasuke was more trusted because of his calmness and efficiency.
"Remember," Sasuke concluded, "If you want the Red Eyebrow Army to survive, you must make them part of the Red Eyebrow Army Shinobi Alliance."
Naruto gave a sullen reply, watching Sasuke walk towards the assembled group.
When those martial artists saw Sasuke, their eyes showed not the affection they had for Naruto, but rather a sense of awe.
It's like dealing with a drawn sword; you want to rely on it but dare not get too close.
The deputy leader stood on high ground, watching the group depart.
The old martial artist beside him whispered, "Why not send that blond kid? He's quite strong."
"That's precisely why," the deputy leader touched the scar on his face, "That Naruto was too naive, easily swayed by emotions. And this Sasuke..."
He squinted. "He looks just like the leader when he was young."
The group traversed the misty mountains and forests.
Sasuke walked at the very front, his steps steady and precise.
The warriors behind him unconsciously imitated his rhythm, even their breathing became lighter.
This silent control is precisely the quality that the Red Eyebrow Army's leadership values most.
" Sasuke," a young warrior mustered his courage and asked, "Can we... really save those villagers?"
Sasuke, without turning his head, said, "Yes."
That single word instantly boosted the morale of the entire team.
That's why they trust Sasuke; he doesn't need grand words, he always does what he says.
The mountain road was rugged, and the trees along the way became increasingly sparse.
Thick black smoke rose in the distance, and the air was filled with the smell of burning.
When they arrived at Blackwater Village, the scene before them froze everyone in place.
A dozen or so thatched huts were burning, and the fields engulfed in flames were piled high with the corpses of villagers.
More than twenty martial artists were dragging several crying children toward the well, one of them holding a ceramic jar containing green liquid.
"These beasts! They're ruthless to their own people, but if they're so capable, why don't they go kill the Shinobi Alliance members!"
A bearded warrior in the group suddenly gripped his spear tightly.
Sasuke stood at the front of the group, his cold gaze sweeping over the burning village.
Their gazes finally settled on the martial artist holding the poison jar.
The man was grinning maliciously as he waved the clay pot over the children's heads, causing them to cry incessantly in terror.
"Divide into three teams."
"Team one, rescue the children; team two, put out the fire; team three, come with me to deal with those scum."
There was no unnecessary mobilization, no impassioned speeches; the orders were brief and precise, as if every step had been meticulously calculated.
The warriors quickly dispersed and acted according to Sasuke's instructions.
"Remember," Sasuke added finally, "Leave them alive."
Before he finished speaking, his figure had already darted out like a ghost, his black cloth robes fluttering in the wind, and his short knife gleaming coldly in the morning light.
Before the martial artist holding the can could react, he felt a chill on his wrist.
The moment the earthenware pot left his hand, Sasuke kicked it towards a distant rock, shattering it into pieces.
"You!!!"
Just as the martial artist was about to roar, a cold blade was pressed against his throat.
"Who ordered this?" Sasuke's voice was as cold as ice.
The martial artist recognized the other's disguise and sneered, "You traitors of the empire, sooner or later..."
"Snap!"
Sasuke dislocated his jaw and casually tossed him to the arriving Red Eyebrow Army warriors. "Tie him up."
Battles broke out throughout the village.
Sasuke's figure darted across the battlefield, each strike incredibly precise.
He deliberately suppressed his Chakra, using only Taijutsu to maneuver, but even so, his movements were still dazzlingly fast.
" Sasuke! There's an ambush to the east!" a warrior shouted a warning.
Sasuke didn't even turn his head, and threw the short sword with a backhand motion.
A flash of light, and an enemy who was about to launch a sneak attack fell to the ground clutching his shoulder and howling in pain.
"Waste."
Sasuke coldly, dodging the spear that came from behind, and then grabbed the shaft and pulled it with force.
The attacker stumbled forward and was struck on the temple with an elbow, instantly losing consciousness.
The fire was gradually brought under control.
The villagers were rescued and gathered in terror in the open space in the center of the village. Several children clung to each other tightly, their eyes filled with fear.
Sasuke stood in the center of the battlefield, with seven or eight unconscious warriors lying at his feet.
His black clothes were stained with blood, but his breathing remained steady, as if the battle just now was merely a warm-up.
" Sasuke!" a warrior ran up to report, "Six have been captured alive, the rest..."
"That's enough. Take them back for interrogation, and kill the rest." Sasuke interrupted, "Clean up the well and move the bodies out for burial."
The martial artists immediately sprang into action.
Sasuke walked towards the group of trembling villagers, squatted down, and looked at a little girl with tears streaming down her face.
"It's alright now."
His voice remained indifferent, but it had lost some of its sharpness.
The little girl looked at him timidly, then suddenly threw herself into his arms and burst into tears.
Sasuke's body stiffened for a moment, but he ultimately did not push her away.
In the distance, the warriors of the Red Eyebrow Army watched this scene with even deeper awe in their eyes.
This taciturn man not only possesses terrifying strength, but also a reassuring power.
" Sasuke." A young martial artist strode over, his voice filled with suppressed anger.
"The interrogation results are in. These people are from the Shinobi Annihilation Alliance, they..."
"We'll talk about it when we get back." Sasuke Teuchi him, his gaze sweeping across the camp.
The warriors here are preparing for tomorrow's operation; the sounds of sharpening knives and whispering mingle together.
Unlike those fanatical resistance organizations.
The Red Eyebrow Army never directly targets the Shinobi Alliance.
They rescued civilians and protected villages, but were therefore regarded as traitors by other resistance forces.
"Those bastards!" A bearded warrior slammed his knife into the ground. "How many villages have we saved? And they have the nerve to accuse us of treason!"
"Forget it, Old Li," another martial artist patted him on the shoulder. "As long as we have a clear conscience, that's enough."
Five days have passed since the death of Heavenly Martial XIII. War has broken out across the empire, and even the three border states that the Shinobi Alliance first conquered have fallen into chaos.
The Shinobi Annihilation Alliance, the Boundary Breaking Society, the Shinobi Slaying Corps...
These organizations would rather burn down villages, pollute water sources, and poison civilians than fail to cause trouble for the Shinobi Alliance.
Given the Red Eyebrow Army's modus operandi, they naturally became 'traitors' and 'cowards' in their eyes.
On the way back to camp, the atmosphere among the troops was much heavier than when they had arrived.
Sasuke walked at the front, the suppressed curses of the warriors ringing in his ears from time to time.
"Those kids are so young..."
"I heard they prey on pregnant women..."
"Beasts! Just because they think those villages are traitors?"
Inside the deputy chieftain's tent, candlelight flickered.
After hearing the report, the deputy leader's face turned terribly grim. " The Shinobi Annihilation Alliance... Have they gone mad? Don't they know how many civilians this will kill?"
He paced back and forth, the scars on his face appearing particularly gruesome in the candlelight.
"The leader must be notified immediately."