By the time Uchiha Tajima's orders reached the north, five days had already passed.
After carefully reading the secret letter, Uchiha Tō immediately summoned all the clan's experts at the Elite Jōnin rank and above. In addition to them, he also specifically called for Uchiha Xuan.
"The war with the Senju has entered a white-hot phase, and the current situation is highly pessimistic. Otherwise, the Patriarch wouldn't have recalled me to the frontlines. After I leave, the affairs of the northern border will be temporarily handed over to Shinji. If any issues arise, you can discuss them amongst yourselves to find a solution. However, do not launch any offensive strikes. We will hold our ground and await further orders once the war with the Senju yields a definitive result," Uchiha Tō instructed, gripping the secret letter tightly.
He then glanced at Xuan and added, "Furthermore, although Uchiha Xuan is still quite young, he is the premier genius of our clan's next generation. His ideas are often very innovative. In certain matters, you all would do well to listen to his opinions."
"Lord Tō, has the situation on the main battlefield truly deteriorated to such a severe degree?" Uchiha Shinji asked, his face etched with surprise. Under normal circumstances, the clan very rarely redeployed the Kage-level commanders stationed at the northern or southern borders. The previous operation to reclaim the Kazama River Valley had been an extreme exception.
Uchiha Tō waved his hand with a heavy sigh. "I don't know the exact specifics, but it is undoubtedly grim. Sigh... truthfully, we also bear a portion of the responsibility. If those five Shadow Guards hadn't perished here in the north, the war with the Senju likely wouldn't have put us at such a severe disadvantage. It is best that I go. I leave everything here in your hands, Shinji."
Uchiha Shinji took a deep breath. Bowing solemnly, he declared, "I will not fail your expectations, my Lord!"
"Please rest assured, Lord Tō! As long as we breathe, Xin City stands! When you return, the city will be perfectly intact," the seven Elite Jōnin pledged, standing up simultaneously. Seeing this, Xuan quickly stood up alongside them, making the exact same solemn vow.
Uchiha Tō nodded gratifyingly, feeling a measure of relief in his heart.
He failed to notice the sharp, calculating gleam that flashed through the eyes of the young Uchiha Xuan standing at the very back—a look that absolutely did not belong to a child his age.
Uchiha Tō is actually leaving? Xuan's mind spun rapidly. Truth be told, this sudden variable wasn't part of his original plan. It also highlighted a glaring reality: Uchiha Tajima was genuinely struggling on the frontlines. Otherwise, he never would have crippled his northern defenses by recalling Tō.
However, this change of plans held absolutely no downsides for Xuan. In fact, it was bursting with benefits. Uchiha Tō was a Kage-level powerhouse; operating under his nose meant Xuan had to be extremely cautious with every move, constantly terrified of leaving behind clues. Now that Tō was leaving, it meant Xuan had a completely free hand to accelerate his own schemes.
[Ding! Quest Issued: Seize actual leadership of the Uchiha clan's northern forces after Uchiha Tō's departure, and pacify the remaining northern clans. Reward upon completion: 50,000 Points. Failure Penalty: Corresponding points deducted. If point balance is insufficient, Host will be obliterated. Time Limit: 7 Years.]
Suddenly, the long-lost, mechanical voice of the System echoed in Xuan's ears.
Xuan couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. This System truly was elusive, popping up out of nowhere just when he had almost completely forgotten about System Quests.
The very next day, acting with his usual lightning efficiency, Uchiha Tō packed his gear and departed alongside two standard Jōnin. The supreme command of Xin City automatically transitioned into the hands of Uchiha Shinji.
Watching Uchiha Tō's silhouette vanish into the distant sea of trees, a faint, fleeting smirk touched the corners of Xuan's mouth. From the corner of his eye, he subtly evaluated the eight men standing beside him who had come to see Tō off.
One Peak Jōnin and seven Elite Jōnin. These men now constituted the absolute decision-making core of the northern border.
As for Xuan himself, he probably counted as half a member. The only reason he had a seat at the table was because Uchiha Tō had explicitly elevated him. Now that Tō was gone, these Elite Jōnin wouldn't necessarily view him as an equal. After all, this was a world where strength dictated everything.
But that doesn't matter. I'll just have to teach them exactly what 'strength' means.
"Alright. Lord Tō has departed. Everyone must be even more diligent in your duties. Guard Xin City well and return to your posts," Uchiha Shinji commanded grandly, turning to face them.
"Yes, sir!" The seven Elite Jōnin nodded and blurred into black shadows as they dispersed. Xuan also offered Shinji a polite bow before returning to his own quarters.
Closing the door behind him, Xuan opened the System interface and carefully read through the Quest details, falling into deep thought.
The System had laid out two distinct objectives: seize actual control of the Uchiha's northern forces, and pacify the remaining northern clans.
Neither of these tasks was easy. For a normal six-year-old child, they were practically impossible. But then again, that only applied to normal children, and Xuan had never once considered himself normal.
There are two paths to gaining actual control over the north. The first path is for the Patriarch or the high-ranking elders to formally propose my leadership during a clan meeting, passing a resolution to officially appoint me as the commander of the northern border. Thinking of this path, Xuan couldn't help but laugh out loud. Who am I kidding? The upper echelons of the clan aren't brain-dead idiots. They would never pull a stunt that stupid.
The second path: I secretly mind-control Uchiha Shinji, and simultaneously display enough raw power to force those Elite Jōnin into absolute submission. By doing this, I effectively seize total control of the north. Xuan calculated the feasibility of this path, his eyes narrowing in thought.
The most difficult hurdle in this plan was successfully controlling Uchiha Shinji. The man was, after all, a Peak Jōnin with formidable strength and a fully matured three-tomoe Sharingan. Subduing him conventionally was entirely unrealistic, unless...
Thinking of this, Xuan's gaze turned frigid. He navigated the System menu to the Ninjutsu Redemption page and stared at his balance of 25,000 points.
System. Redeem Kotoamatsukami!
[Kotoamatsukami. Rank: S. Mangekyō Sharingan Visual Prowess. Cost: 10,000 Points. Prerequisite: Mangekyō Sharingan. Detected that the Host possesses a Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Host may forcibly redeem this ability for an additional 5,000 Points. Confirm redemption?]
The System's emotionless voice echoed in his mind.
"Confirm," Xuan stated firmly.
A sudden, intense surge of heat flooded his right eye. Xuan instantly knew that he had mastered Kotoamatsukami.
However... my current raw strength is still too weak. If the Jutsu fails because my spiritual or mental energy isn't strong enough to completely overpower a Peak Jōnin, the backlash will far outweigh the gains. It's safer to wait until my baseline strength reaches the Jōnin level before I make my move.
Xuan analyzed the situation cautiously. In the original series, there was very little detailed exposition on Kotoamatsukami. It was only known that it could manipulate a target's will completely undetected, but its exact activation conditions or limitations were never fully explained. Xuan wasn't entirely certain if the success rate was tied to the user's mental or spiritual strength, but it was always better to err on the side of caution.
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