Chapter 14: Two Years

The spring breeze cleared the sky, the warm sun scattered its light, shining on the people moving along the street.

The weather was clear and pleasant, a fine day.

At the main gate of the Uchiha encampment, a red torii engraved with the clan crest stood towering; on the street paved with rectangular stone slabs, many ninjas wearing the Leaf Village military police uniforms flashed by, passing through the street and entering the Leaf Village.

Many clan members were out shopping or strolling, going in and out of shops. Some returned with bags full to bursting, others came back empty-handed, having found nothing. Continuing to look for the next goal, a faint sense of everyday life welled up.

A group of Uchiha clan youngsters came from afar in small clusters, their expressions relaxed, each shouldering a bulging pack, chattering noisily along the way.

Uchiha Dongshilang wore a black high-collared long-sleeved top, with a conspicuous red-and-white fan still on his back, matching-colored long pants, a ninja tool pouch tied at his waist behind him, white leg guards wrapped around his calves, and he held a two-foot-long short sword in his hand.

At six years old, Uchiha Dongshilang could already be called a little rascal. Proper physical training and sufficient nutrition made his height exceed 120 centimeters and his weight approach 30 kilograms. He looked quite sturdy, like a young calf, standing out among his peers.

After bidding farewell to the elders who had warmly greeted them along the way and the two Uchiha ninjas on guard at the torii, they left the gate and continued forward; the woods on both sides of the road were evergreen, remaining lush even in winter.

They were all half-grown children, chatting and laughing as they went, passing through the bustling main street of Leaf Village and heading southwest. After half an hour's journey, they arrived at their destination.

It was a picturesque river valley, the mountainsides on both slopes blanketed with vast patches of three-colored wildflowers, mixed in various hues, their stamens barely peeking out; higher up, pink camellias were interspersed, a dazzling array of purple and red that filled the eyes with splendor.

Between the two mountains, a white torrent gushed forth from the canyon, mixed with melted ice fragments, rushing onward with a 'splash-splash' sound, winding its way through the valley. The flat riverside plain was the destination of this outing.

This is the South Celebration River, the main source of domestic water for Leaf Village, a large part of which they rely on. To ensure drinking water safety and prevent enemy ninjas from poisoning it, although it is gradually being replaced by tap water, its role remains immense.

Nearby, in the not-too-distant future, this will become the new Uchiha encampment. Uchiha Shisui, who possesses the supreme genjutsu Kotoamatsukami, will drown himself here. Following his death, the 'filial son' Uchiha Itachi will, for the Leaf Village he holds in his heart, raise the slaughter knife alongside his dearest 'Otōto' and play a lament for this thousand-year clan.

Having arrived at the destination, they picked a stretch of lush green grass as today's campsite. A large group of nearly twenty youngsters gathered in small clusters. Some took their prepared fishing rods and baskets and headed for the riverbank. There were also girls. In twos and threes, they ran to where the wildflowers bloomed, picking the flowers they liked. Or they formed different card games, making it quite lively.

As for Uchiha Dongshilang, he found a relatively flat patch of grass, sat down, and began to enjoy the warm spring sun.

He glanced casually at the card game not far away. The youngsters were no longer limited to just Werewolf; there were tractors, upgrades, Texas Hold'em, and so on. He taught them all the various ways to play, blending in to pass the time.

At the same time, after being called 'Dongshilang Wolf', he also earned the second nickname 'Poker Prince'.

"Such warm, happy times always pass in a flash; I hope everyone can cherish them..." he sighed silently in his heart.

After a while, the sunbathing Uchiha Dongshilang, feeling lazy and drowsy all over, slowly rose to his feet and brushed off the dust on his backside.

"Does anyone want to go into the woods with me?" He glanced at his playmates. Uchiha Dongshilang, holding his short sword in one hand, spoke loudly.

"I"

"I"

"Count me in!"

In a moment, followers gathered; compared to playing by the river with their friends, venturing into the woods gave these youngsters a sense of novelty in exploring the unknown.

"Fire Release won't do; its chakra control is too poor, they can't even climb trees to avoid danger!"

"Dragon Fire is fine; last time I saw someone training Dragon Fire to climb trees very seriously."

Uchiha Dongshilang led four or five children toward the forest by the South Celebration River.

The forests surrounding Leaf Village were vast and unusually deep. Inside, resources were abundant—various rare medicinal herbs, precious timber, and poisonous snakes and fierce beasts appeared in endless succession.

Of course, he had no intention of taking his companions too deep; his own strength and that of his nearby companions were still insufficient to deal with the dangers of the forest.

This area, near the outskirts of Leaf Village, basically has no large wild beasts or poisonous insects, but creatures like pheasants, rabbits, and occasionally even wild boars may appear from time to time.

Uchiha Dongshilang led the group of youngsters into the woods for ten or so minutes, found a clearing and stopped, meanwhile directing his companions to begin setting traps.

This was another figure, panting, who came running toward them.

"How is it, nobody followed us, right?"

"No! Two who wanted to follow were stopped by Yan." The newcomer was Uchiha Mamoru, one year older than him. Since the ninja academy was currently on spring break, he had mixed in with them.

Such outings and hunting activities had already taken place several times. Each time the hunting segment arrived, there were always some youngsters not permitted to join who sneaked along behind. If it weren't for Uchiha Dongshilang's early preparations, with his adult-like mindset, they might well have slipped past unnoticed and followed secretly.

If that happened, it would indeed be too dangerous; although the area around Leaf Village lacks fierce wild beasts, a five- or six-year-old youngster rashly barging in would obviously be in peril.

Therefore, Uchiha Dongshilang set a simple standard: at the very least, they must be able to skillfully master the chakra control technique of 'tree climbing' before he would let his companions join.

For only then, when danger strikes, they can at least quickly climb trees to evade. At the same time he will ask Uchiha Yan to keep watch, lest some disobedient youngsters sneak along behind.

Uchiha Yan, said to be the daughter of the family's first platoon leader, is the one who underwent ninja training together with Uchiha Dongshilang. And on the very first night, she successfully refined chakra—a 'genius girl' whose skill among peers ranks among the very best……