Chapter 210: 211. Chapter 207: Ninja World Scourge, Uchiha Obito

211. Chapter 207: Ninja World Scourge, Uchiha Obito

"Why would they let him join me on the mission? Can he even handle it in this condition?"

Hui looked at his elderly father with a disdainful expression; Yizheng had been active on the battlefield for years, taking a heavy toll. Although he was a bit younger than Sima Yi, his condition was far worse than Sima Yi's now.

Yizheng, hearing that, raised his hand in irritation and slapped the back of Hui's head.

"Nonsense! Your old man is still a senior Uchiha ninja, I'm not too old to go to the front! And I applied for it myself!"

Hui touched his head, expression speechless, too lazy to tangle with his old father and simply slipped aside.

"Our clan lacks manpower, so we have no choice," Shisui said apologetically. Hui, helpless, could only give up.

Sima Yi also said, "I still need to discuss the mission details over at Rain Hidden Village with Shisui. Hui, you go and summon Yangzhe first."

"Yangzhe is indeed more reliable than dad."

"You brat!"

Yizheng's old face fell, he raised his hand to grab, but Hui, seeing the danger, instantly vanished.

After he departed, Shisui let out a chuckle, stepped forward and said, "Uncle Yizheng, actually I called you today because there's something I'd like you to help with."

"Hmm? Some special mission?"

Yizheng was somewhat puzzled; since he retired from the front he hadn't taken on a mission for a long time, so being asked to go on one suddenly was indeed odd.

"Um, I guess so."

Shisui exchanged a smile with Sima Yi, then slowly explained his purpose.

A few days later, Nara Suzaku, under Shisui's orders, began mobilizing ninja, which left the Leaf Village higher-ups somewhat puzzled; the current state of Hidden Mist didn't merit the Leaf Village launching a major campaign, after all Hidden Mist was just putting on a show, and both sides had long lost the desire to continue fighting.

What then does the Hokage intend to do? Danzo, upon hearing the news, grew a bit nervous, silently staying at the Root, rarely showing his face.

Hui then found time to discuss mission details together with Yangzhe and Yizheng, acting on Shisui's orders, and set off immediately to investigate the Rain Country.

Meanwhile, far away in the capital, Yan Shifan also began to exert his force.

"You, want to die?"

In the manor's backstage, a group of masked ninja quarreled because two ninja were fighting each other on the arena.

A ninja bearing a massive sword on his back exuded a fierce killing aura, causing the surrounding ninja to instinctively step back.

But the person in front of him was not scared at all; instead he continued to taunt, "Why are you so angry? Could it be that you also come from that worthless Hidden Mist?"

"Oh~ I see, I told you, those who can't beat Leaf's people just take out their anger on us little‑place ninja, how terrifying~"

"You!"

The great‑sword ninja, enraged, immediately swung his blade in an attacking stance.

The opponent was not to be outdone; he drew a katana, its blade wrapped in crackling electricity. Though his aura was weaker than the other's, his elemental advantage made him feel he could take the fight.

The two faced each other; the surrounding ninja kept quiet, but in their hearts they were eager for a big showdown, hoping the two would just start fighting.

"What are you doing?"

Just as the two were on the brink, a deep voice sounded, and Izayoi, also wearing a stern mask, slowly approached, his icy gaze sweeping over everyone.

A mountain‑like pressure bore down; everyone averted their eyes, daring not to stare directly.

"Only arena combat is permitted here; private duels will be met with death!"

A shiver ran through the crowd; the two leaders sensed they were no match for Izayoi, exchanged a glance, then each snorted coldly and left.

Izayoi glanced at the two and turned away.

"Elder, the news has already spread, the Lord should have learned of it by now."

In the monitoring room, Yan Shifan had already learned what had just occurred.

The backstage crowd came from all corners—some ninja, like Izayoi, sent by the Leaf Village; others recruited by Yan Shifan while Hidden Mist's morale was scattered along the two coastal routes; and wandering ninja from various nations who came to the underground gambling arena for fame. They were all swayed by Sima Yi.

However, their backgrounds were too complex; there might still be grudges among them, risking internecine slaughter. Yan Shifan could only order them to wear masks and hide their names. Yet now their usefulness seemed limited; fortunately Izayoi was in charge, and the unruly ones were all beaten.

Yan Shifan glanced again at the monitors, then said, "As long as the Lord knows, Shisui and the others will handle the rest."

Now there's word from the Western Mountain Road; the Lord has begun moving against Tokugawa Sō. Prepare yourself—Tokugawa Sō will soon raise troops. We must keep constant watch on the Lord's residence, waiting for his defenses to be lax, then strike immediately!

"Yes!"

At the same time, in the Lord's residence, the Lord listened to his subordinates' reports with a very grim expression.

"Are you saying that the masked man from the Water Country controlled the Mizukage, started a war, and also wants to control the Water Country's Lord?"

Controlling the Mizukage, he doesn't care; starting a war, he doesn't care either, but how can he control the Lord?

When he thought that the mysterious masked man could even control the shadow of a great nation, the Lord instantly felt that the palace itself seemed somewhat unsafe.

"It's the Uchiha again, sending more ninja squads; we must protect the palace!"

"Yes!"

"Send another message to the Hokage, have him immediately capture the Uchiha traitor ninja; we must not let such a scourge of the ninja world live on."

"Yes!"

On the other side, Shisui had already prepared for war, waiting patiently for the Lord's letter. After several more days, the Lord's order finally arrived.

Shisui immediately replied, informing the Lord of the masked man's abilities and the original attack on Leaf, and indicating that the masked man was likely hiding in the Rain Country.

He then handed the specially crafted kunai to the ANBU, sending them together with the messenger to the capital to deliver it to the Lord's residence.

Half a month later, Leaf received news that the Lord had been attacked by a powerful ninja wearing a white‑tiger mask that rendered him immune to physical attacks and possessed a Copy Wheel Eye.

Fortunately, the Lord's side was heavily guarded; several ninja squads kept 24‑hour close protection, rescuing the Lord from the assassin's grasp.

This bizarre ability, the strange mask, and the Uchiha's Copy Wheel Eye all clearly pointed to that Uchiha traitor ninja.

The Lord, enraged, scolded Shisui, then ordered him to immediately dispatch troops to exterminate the assassin hidden in Rain Hidden.

Shisui, upon receiving the order, immediately gathered ninja from all divisions and said bluntly, "The Lord's crown has been attacked; this person is the very one who released the Nine-Tails and killed the Fourth Hokage's couple, the mysterious ninja who recently controlled the Mizukage. He truly is a scourge of the ninja world. Now he has set his sights on the Lord again; any harm to the Lord would be a disaster for the entire Leaf Village!"

Everyone's expression grew solemn; the Leaf's Hokage came from the Uchiha, and any negative news about the Uchiha would affect Leaf, which was unavoidable.

The others wore solemn expressions; Konoha's Hokage comes from the Uchiha, and any negative news about the Uchiha in the ninja world will affect Konoha, which cannot be avoided.

Moreover, it concerns the great lord; if he truly angers the great lord, he could outright hire ninjas from various nations to launch a strong attack on Leaf, and destroying Leaf is not entirely a joke.

"We will obey the great lord's summons to declare war on the Rain Country; the survival of Leaf is at stake, and ninjas of every division must give their all!"

"Yes!"

"War is about to begin again."

"Yes, it has expanded again; the war hasn't ended yet!"

The villagers of Leaf have become numb to the war's renewed outbreak, while the ninjas can still understand, knowing it is for Leaf, for their future. Ordinary people only feel that Shisui as Hokage and the other two Hokage in power seem no different; it's war year after year, parting day after day.

Shisui constantly monitors the villagers' discussions and quickly grasps their thoughts.

He is also helpless about this; if he doesn't strike now, waiting until the opponent's wings are fully grown will make them harder to deal with.

He can only continue lecturing at the ninja academy and elsewhere, hoping everyone can understand.

When Sima Yi learned of this, he suggested: "It's enough for the villagers to speak of sentiment, but those ninjas need some additional tangible rewards."

Shisui followed Sima Yi's advice, and after inventorying the village storehouse and supplies, decided to issue a wave of benefits.

When facing war, Leaf distributes basic supplies: five explosion tags, two kunai, five shuriken, with ration pills and medicine counted separately.

After the Third Ninja World War, a single explosion tag cost about 300 taels, but as the war between Leaf and Mist Village flared again, the price rose back to 500 taels; kunai and shuriken prices remained relatively stable at 1,000 taels and 300 taels respectively.

To confront the Rain Country, Shisui mobilized five thousand ninjas.

For five thousand people, just the basic supplies cost 28 million taels (discounted), a configuration no nation can match; for example, the Sand Village forces cannot even provide two explosion tags per person.

Although the great lord's war funds are still en route, Shisui can still afford this amount.

So he made a grand gesture, granting each person an extra ten explosion tags, one kunai, and five shuriken.

Chain armor is too expensive, cannot be mass‑produced for now, so it is abandoned.

Once the armaments arrived, the ninjas selected for the war instantly felt a great increase in security.

One should know that a well‑used explosion tag can kill even a Jonin, and it is more convenient than ninjutsu, especially for Genin with little chakra; its cost‑performance is extremely high.

Then Shisui also advanced part of the deployment funds; after the villagers received them, the complaints about money immediately dwindled, and with Shisui's daily lectures, they finally began to openly perceive Leaf's difficulties and understand the war's significance.

With the army's deployment imminent, Leaf is filled with partings everywhere.

Only Hui feels restless and depressed, because Shisui and Sima Yi constantly cite untimely timing as the reason for not letting them go on missions.

Until October, the great lord's war funds arrived; this war concerns his safety, so the great lord unusually became generous, providing ample funds—almost the equivalent of two and a half years of Sand Village's military budget.

"The military funds have arrived; on the chosen day the army will march to the front line. Hui, you set out immediately for the Rain Country; I've arranged for someone there to receive you, and be careful on the road."

"Yes!"

Hui's expression turned solemn as he left at once; Team Hui had been ready long before, and after receiving Shisui's orders, they departed the Village that same day.

But what Hui didn't know is that after they left the Village, Shisui secretly followed.

Late at night, more than a hundred li from Leaf, in a primeval forest, the three found a safe spot to rest.

"Why did I have to go on this mission with him? I regret it."

They were still within the Fire Country's borders, relatively safe, so Yizheng naturally let Hui start a fire and cook, while he himself leisurely drank wine nearby, a relaxed demeanor that made Hui clench his teeth!

"What are you muttering again? Hurry up and grill, eat, then rest early."

"If you won't do it, don't speak!"

Seeing the two bicker, Yangzhe sat quietly aside, unable to help but find it amusing.

Yizheng, however, unusually continued to make various demands of Hui, until Hui, a bit impatient, said: "Just grilling some meat, why so many demands? We're here to carry out a mission, not to go on a picnic. If you can't handle it, just go back to Leaf!"

With a boom, Yizheng stood up, pointing at Hui with an incredulous expression.

Hui's complexion shifted slightly; actually he regretted his words immediately, but his temperament prevented him from apologizing at once.

Seeing his father's expression, he was even more at a loss for how to handle it.

Yangzhe saw this and immediately said, "Hui, how can you speak to Uncle Yizheng like that? Quickly apologize to Uncle Yizheng!"

Hui heard this, and the words he had been brewing became even harder to utter; he bluntly said, "I didn't say anything wrong. At this age, why are we still on missions? Better just stay in the village!"

Silence! Yizheng stared at Hui in mute, his face ashen, then waved his hand and said bluntly, "Fine, you don't respect me, then your father can go alone!"

Having said that, Yizheng turned and left without looking back.

Hui's eyes changed; just as he was about to plead, Yangzhe said, "Hui, you're already an adult, why act so rashly? If Uncle Yizheng is in danger alone, what will you do? Hurry and go after him."

After Yangzhe finished, Hui felt his legs as heavy as poured lead, unable to move.

And Yangzhe, seeing Hui standing still, said in a disappointed tone, "Hui, you are truly too impulsive!"

Having said that, he headed straight after Yizheng, leaving Hui standing there with a bewildered expression.

"This"

Hui couldn't understand; they had just left Leaf less than a day ago, how did the team disperse? What madness have his father and Yangzhe caught?

These thoughts quickly turned into worry, but then he thought that they were still in central Fire Country, in a primeval forest; two Uchiha Jonin traveling together shouldn't face much danger.

With that thought, Hui instantly gave up looking for the two, extinguished the fire, and rested alone.

"It should... not be a problem, right?"

Thus, until midnight.

The cool moonlight filtered through the leaves, leaving spots at the cave entrance; a cold wind surged into the cave, causing the drowsy Hui to suddenly open his eyes.

"Damn, it should not be a problem, right?"

A strong sense of guilt prevented Hui from resting properly; he stared at the crimson spots before the cave, which looked like bloodstains.

"Wait?"

Crimson spots? Hui's complexion changed, about to step forward to investigate, when a sudden rumble of a massive sound came from afar.

"Fireball? Oh no!"

Three Tomoe appeared; Hui, panicked, ignored everything else and rushed out of the cave toward the distant flames.

A moment later, Hui saw a scene that made his eyes want to burst.

They saw Dai Tu, wearing a white tiger mask, gripping Yang Zhe's throat, while his father, clutching a broken arm, lay far away and was struggling to stand.

Run

A hoarse voice came from Yang Zhe's mouth.

Hui immediately rushed forward, slashing at Dai Tu with a single strike, but it passed through the opponent's body, and Yang Zhe also fell to the ground.

Illusion?

Hui, recalling the opponent's intel, immediately lunged toward Yang Zhe, but heard Dai Tu let out a cold laugh and move even faster; with a backhand he knocked his arm off, then launched a fierce assault, subduing Hui in just a few moves.

"Your Copy Wheel Eye, I have taken it." (End of chapter)