"The mission continues. As long as I'm here, nothing will happen to you."
After careful consideration, Tsunade resolved to press on.
First, abruptly abandoning a mission because of a few Genin attacks was completely undignified.
Second, she had full confidence in her own abilities—and in those of her two teammates. Even if the leader of the Hidden Rain Village, Hanzo the Salamander, personally appeared, the three of them together could easily get the kids out safely.
Tsunade's pride blinded her; she had no real concern for the Rain Village.
Hearing this, Shimizu Nara fell silent. He glanced at Genbu Akimichi, who hadn't spoken. What was wrong with him? Wasn't he usually the type to wipe out dozens of enemies in one go?
This shouldn't be happening… Shimizu thought. When Uncle Qufeng took us to execute the traitors, I didn't notice anything unusual.
In fact, Tsunade had guessed wrong. This wasn't Genbu's first kill. Shimizu and Yu Yamanaka had executed rogue ninjas before as well.
No household would send a ninja to the battlefield without first seeing blood.
So why hadn't Genbu realized the danger of this mission?
He had. He knew that this mission's risk was likely aimed at him. As the only outsider with Uchiha blood, would the radical elements of the Uchiha clan simply let him walk?
The leader of the Uchiha had spent tremendous effort suppressing the dissenters within the clan.
Until now, he had remained in the village, unable to take action. Now he was abroad, and it would be strange if the Uchiha radicals didn't try to cause trouble.
But if he knew the danger, why risk it?
Because in the village, not only could the Uchiha not touch him, he also couldn't act against them.
You want my life, but why wouldn't I want yours?
Without a reference genome like yours, how could I introduce mutations and perform genetic recombination?
Two kilometers from their convoy, inside a mountain cave, a masked ninja reported:
"Commander, we underestimated the strength of the three Konoha Genin, especially the mission target. Our eight Genin were almost instantly killed; they didn't even dare approach the convoy. He likely possesses the strength of a quasi-Jonin."
Furthermore, only Tsunade herself had appeared. Orochimaru and Jiraiya, mentioned in the intelligence, were absent. The scouting team detected no other chakra besides that of the four Konoha ninjas.
The leader, also wearing a mask, raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Danzo told us the Third Hokage's three disciples were here, yet only Tsunade has appeared. The other two… did they split up upon entering the Rain Country?"
He had no idea that Orochimaru and Jiraiya had sealed almost all their chakra using the Five Elements Sealing Technique, leaving only small traces between their fingers—just enough to undo the seal.
Unless the Uzumaki clan used the Heart of Kamui to scout, there was no way to detect it. The Rain Village's half-baked sensory ninjas were no match, not even Yu Yamanaka could sense them. They couldn't even measure chakra strength accurately. Worse, they couldn't detect Jiraiya and Orochimaru inside the convoy.
"Lord Hattori, what shall we do next?"
"Danzo wants to use that brown-haired boy to trade for intelligence. He's even willing to sacrifice the Third Hokage's three disciples to get him. Lord Hanzou is also interested. Have you identified him?"
Danzo's only instruction was to capture Genbu Akimichi—no other details were provided.
"According to Konoha intelligence, his name is Genbu Akimichi. He is skilled in the Akimichi clan's inherited Yang-nature techniques—the Clone Technique. His chakra is Earth and Fire, and he has not displayed any special Kekkei Genkai. His parents are deceased; his father, Akimichi Todo, fell during the Kin-kaku Gin-kaku rebellion in the Hidden Cloud Village."
His mother's identity, however, was extraordinary. She was from the Uchiha clan, but with mediocre ninja talent, considered a disgrace to her lineage. She died three days after giving birth to him.
If Genbu Akimichi ever heard this Rain Village report, he would undoubtedly curse Konoha's high command—especially Danzo. What are you doing with Root? How can a Rain Village spy know such critical intelligence? Damn you!
Hattori Heiji, the Rain Village's third-ranking ninja, realized immediately. "What? Genbu Akimichi is half Uchiha? That explains Danzo's intentions. Fortune favors me—I've discovered a lone Uchiha here. I must capture him at all costs… alive."
During the Warring States period, the Uchiha name was every family's nightmare.
After the establishment of the ninja village system, as the Senju gradually faded, the Uchiha became the strongest clan. Claiming to be second-best was impossible—none dared dispute them.
Elite Uchiha possess the Sharingan, capable of sensing chakra flow and granting extraordinary dynamic vision. They can predict enemy movements, use genjutsu without hand seals, and copy any taijutsu or ninjutsu at will.
In one-on-one combat, only a Senju with Sage Physiology could challenge them.
A strict rule in the ninja world remained: never fight an Uchiha alone.
The world coveted the Sharingan, but before the village system, none could match the Uchiha—they were peers of the Senju during the Warring States. Even mighty Senju could only hold them to a draw until Hashirama's appearance.
During the First Ninja War, Uchiha in battle were tightly organized, refusing to cooperate with outsiders. Capturing them alive was nearly impossible. Records show defeated Uchiha often self-destructed, destroyed their Sharingan, and their clansmen fought to the death to reclaim their bodies.
Other nations' ninjas could only weep over the blood spilled. At that time, no nation possessed genetic engineering.
It was clear: arrogant as they were, every Uchiha defended their clan's honor with their life. They never married outsiders, preserving their exclusivity.
Now, a living Uchiha—or half Uchiha—appeared before Hattori. Only fifteen, not yet fully mature. Capturing him meant studying the awakening of the Sharingan, and potentially using him to breed new Uchiha with Sharingan potential.
Hattori resolved: the boy must be taken alive. "Tonight, we strike."
He also ordered surveillance strengthened, particularly of the two merchants in the convoy. Any sign of genjutsu control, and they were to be detained and interrogated.
A subordinate hesitated: "Lord Hattori, if they might be compromised, why not capture them directly?"
Hattori rolled his eyes. "Do you think I don't want to? If they weren't connected to Lord Hanzo, I wouldn't bother at all. But we cannot harm innocents. That's the law."
He was revered by his subordinates as wise and fair.
"Gather the team. Wear Hidden Mist disguises. Launch the raid tonight. Leave the others behind. Kill only if necessary. Above all, focus on Genbu Akimichi. He possesses quasi-Jonin strength—take one Jonin and four Chunin and eliminate him.
"The Hidden Mist Village is tens of thousands of ri from the Rain Country. Incredible, but evidence is everything. Even if it happens in the Rain Country, who could prove it's us? Proceed carefully."
"Yes, Lord Hattori."
With their orders clear, the Rain ninjas vanished using their teleportation techniques, returning to seek reinforcements.
…
One kilometer from the convoy, three others were investigating Genbu's movements.
"Lan, it seems we're not the only ones targeting Genbu Akimichi. Another team is also tracking Tsunade's squad. Judging by their clothing, they're from the Rain Village."
"Oh, how interesting. They intend to ambush Konoha ninjas during peacetime. Other than knowing that villain's identity, I can think of no reason. Truly, this disgraceful Uchiha should not still live."
Uchiha Lan's hatred for Genbu deepened.
"What should we do now?" Uchiha Luo asked.
"We watch and wait. If he chooses to die on the battlefield when facing adversity, perhaps there is still a spark of Uchiha pride within him. If he surrenders or is captured, then let this wretched boy bear yet another humiliation for the Uchiha clan."
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