Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 9: The Past of the Cloud and Thunder, Three People Spread Rumors

The campfire blazed brightly, illuminating the night sky in the wilderness.

Amidst the rustling of leaves, faint cries and distant chaotic sounds could be heard.

Three people sat in silence around the campfire.

Uchiha Setsuna glanced at the other two before speaking solemnly:

"The real danger of this mission stems from an unexpected event."

"Just half a month ago, the Blood Pool Clan submitted their third confession to the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning."

"However, the envoy sent by the Daimyo was killed en route, and his head was taken to an underground bounty exchange."

"The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning was furious and decided to continue imprisoning the Blood Pool Clan."

"In their despair, the Blood Pool Clan, seeing no way out, secretly contacted the Hidden Cloud."

"The Hidden Cloud agreed to send someone to liberate the Blood Pool Clan. In return, the clan would join the Hidden Cloud Village and become part of their bloodline limit families."

Uchiha Seijiro frowned in confusion. "Isn't the Blood Pool Clan already part of the Land of Lightning's bloodline families? Why would they strike such a deal with the Hidden Cloud?"

Uchiha Ci shook his head slightly. He had a guess based on what he knew from the original story.

During the Warring States period, a daughter of the Blood Pool Clan married into the Daimyo's family of the Land of Lightning as a concubine.

Shortly after, the Daimyo passed away due to illness, and the daughter of the Blood Pool Clan was subjected to jealousy and slander. As a result, the entire clan was exiled to Hell Valley.

To put it bluntly, the Blood Pool Clan had already risen to noble status, and naturally, they were unwilling to lower themselves and join the Hidden Cloud Village to engage in constant battles.

They would rather continue to rot in Hell Valley, hoping that one day they might be pardoned and regain their status as great nobles of the Land of Lightning.

Now that the hope of pardon was gone, they had no choice but to join forces with the barbaric Hidden Cloud.

And the Hidden Cloud was more than happy with this arrangement. With the impending Great Ninja War, the Blood Pool Clan would be a formidable addition to their forces.

Perhaps the envoy who was killed was a Hidden Cloud scheme from the start.

Understanding this, Uchiha Ci now saw the entire situation more clearly, as if the fog had lifted.

The elder, Uchiha Setsuna, didn't explain much to Seijiro. He simply said gravely:

"You only need to know that the greatest threat right now is the Hidden Cloud. That is enough."

"So, the top priority now is to safely reach Hell Valley and join up with our Uchiha clansmen there."

"Night is approaching. Seijiro, you and Ci will take turns keeping watch. Set up traps and alarms around the camp."

"That's all. Go do it."

Uchiha Setsuna waved his hand indifferently, giving his orders to Seijiro.

Seijiro didn't get any answers but ended up with a lot of grunt work, leaving him full of complaints as he grudgingly stood up.

At this moment, Uchiha Ci's eyes brightened slightly as he asked:

"Then why don't we travel at night?"

"In this situation, isn't it better to reach Hell Valley as soon as possible?"

Seijiro shot him a disdainful look, sneering as he said:

"Ridiculous!"

"Kid, have you even read the Ninja Code?"

"Do you want me to read it to you? The first rule of the code is that ninjas should avoid traveling at night to prevent ambushes."

Seijiro looked down on you.

Seeing the words float by in front of him, Uchiha Ci couldn't help but shake his head internally.

The reasoning made sense, but if they followed the normal schedule and departed at dawn...

Wouldn't the Hidden Cloud ninjas lying in wait end up waiting for nothing?

He had left the village for three things: to fight, to fight, and to fight some more!

Moreover, Uchiha Ci didn't propose this without reason.

With this in mind, Uchiha Ci smiled and stood up:

"You have to analyze the situation specifically."

"Tonight is pitch black and windy. I can't even see my hand in front of me, let alone spot anyone lying in wait. Plus, we're Uchiha. What are you so afraid of?"

Ci's confidence came from the Uchiha clan's bloodline limit: the Sharingan.

Even in complete darkness, the dynamic vision and ability to perceive chakra flow granted by the Sharingan made the Hidden Cloud's ambush a non-issue for the Uchiha.

If they managed this, Uchiha Setsuna and Uchiha Seijiro would have a good chance of breaking through the Hidden Cloud's defensive line.

But as for him, Uchiha Ci, who had not yet awakened his Sharingan...

In such a battle, there was no way he could survive!

That way, he could gloriously throw himself into danger!

Elder Uchiha Setsuna raised his gaze slightly upon hearing this, glancing at the thick clouds in the sky.

Meanwhile, Seijiro sneered again.

Taking two steps forward, Seijiro grabbed Uchiha Ci by the collar, lifting him and pulling his head close to Ci's ear. Lowering his voice, he said coldly:

"Uchiha Ci, I'll tell you again—"

"Because of you, I got dragged into this mess of a mission!"

Seijiro gritted his teeth, his gaze icy, his tone full of contempt:

"What do you think you are?"

"You think you're qualified to question the Ninja Code written by the Second Hokage?"

"Do you know how many ninjas in Konoha die every year because they don't heed the warnings of the code?"

As his words fell, the surroundings fell into a deathly silence, the wind and clouds coming to a halt.

Uchiha Ci stared calmly at Seijiro, clearly seeing the cold fury in his eyes.

After a moment of pause, Ci spoke faintly:

"Seijiro-senpai, ninjas climb walls because it's the easiest way."

"But if jumping over the wall makes things harder..."

"Then for a ninja, breaking through the wall is also an option."

Uchiha Ci grinned slightly, brushed off Seijiro's hand with a slap, and coldly said:

"You've got your priorities mixed up."

As his words echoed, a sharp, ear-piercing sound rang out beside Uchiha Ci's ears.

Clang!

Hot springs are mostly found in riverbeds within valleys, and the Land of Hot Water, famous for its hot springs, is largely mountainous and filled with deep valleys.

From the Land of Fire to the Land of Hot Water, the terrain shifts from rolling hills to towering mountains.

Passing through the deep valleys between these mountains is the only way to cross the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water.

At this moment,

Under a large tree near a narrow pass, two ninjas wearing Hidden Cloud uniforms, each carrying a long blade, were leisurely roasting meat with relaxed expressions.

One of the younger Cloud ninjas furrowed his brow and asked:

"Rami-senpai, Dodai-senpai, isn't it a bit risky to be so relaxed?"

"Moroi, you're too tense." The older Rami remained calm, even handing over a roasted rabbit leg as he explained:

"We've got Hot Water ninjas keeping watch up ahead."

"If anything happens, we'll receive the signal immediately."

"Besides, the Uchiha aren't made of iron. They've been traveling all day and must be exhausted. Knowing that danger lies ahead, they won't dare to make a move."

"Relax. Tomorrow, we'll face Uchiha Setsuna, that old fox. It'll be a tough battle."

"We have to make sure he dies here. Only then can we ensure that the Two-Tails Jinchuriki destroys the Hell Valley garrison."

Moroi glanced at the three-man team and, after thinking it over, began to feel more at ease.

One elite jonin, one jonin, and himself, a special jonin.

With such a lineup, taking down an aging Uchiha seemed like a sure thing.

Moreover, the three of them were no ordinary ninjas.

Rami, an old-timer, had survived since the Warring States period, witnessed the Nine-Tails transformation of Kinkaku and Ginkaku, and participated in the peace talks of the Second Great Ninja War. He had faced countless terrifying battles and emerged unscathed. Despite his age, he remained as strong as ever.

Dodai, an elite jonin with one eye and a black hat, served as the right-hand man of the Third Raikage. He possessed the Lava Release kekkei genkai and had recently overseen the exam for the "Severing Bull Lightning Plough Hot Sword." He was at his peak, his strength approaching Kage level.

As for Moroi, the special jonin, he was the captain of the Hidden Cloud's Barrier Team and the confirmed successor as the next squad leader. He had mastered sealing techniques passed down from the Uzumaki Clan, capable of immobilizing even jonin if caught off guard.

These three could be considered some of the strongest in the Hidden Cloud Village!

Even if another jonin squad were to show up, they wouldn't stand a chance!

The Hidden Cloud had spared no effort in ensuring the Blood Pool Clan would join their ranks this time!

As soon as the Uchiha's hawkish leader arrives,

He and his squad would be completely buried here!