Chapter 18: Everyone's Envy, Mission Assigned

Uchiha Jin left.

But Uchiha Shisui stood there, face pale with shock, staring blankly at Jin's retreating back.

His mind went blank, and cold sweat covered his forehead.

His heart was unsettled.

Jin's final words had clearly struck him with tremendous force.

Although Uchiha Shisui did not particularly like Uchiha Yoshio and the others, he had to admit that the three of them were among the clan's elite.

At only twelve or thirteen years old, they had already awakened their Sharingan.

That alone proved everything!

Perhaps they could not compare to him, but even across the entire Hidden Leaf Village, they were far from ordinary among the younger generation.

Yet Uchiha Jin claimed that he had killed those three.

Did that not prove Jin was absolutely qualified to enter Class A?

He was far from what he showed on the surface; even within a powerful clan like the Uchiha, he was undoubtedly one of the geniuses.

So, why?

Why did he hide it?

He could not figure it out!

Several times he wanted to chase after him and demand answers from Uchiha Jin.

But on the battlefield, he could not do that.

So he could only bury his inner restlessness deep within his heart.

Next came thought.

Should this be reported?

In the past, Uchiha Shisui would never have hesitated.

But this was Jin!

After thinking it over countless times, he could only sigh helplessly.

He decided to wait until he had time later to talk properly with Jin before making a decision.

Yes.

Jin had quietly told him something so important; what immense trust that showed, and he understood it clearly.

On another level, it also proved that Jin was absolutely not a bad person!

Not to mention that Uchiha Shisui himself did not get along well with Uchiha Yoshio and the others.

Forget it!

After shaking his head helplessly, he looked bitterly toward the main group.

"Jin-kun, Itachi..."

"Itachi have truly given me a huge problem!"

"How on earth should I face Itachi?"

Meanwhile, on the other side.

After Uchiha Jin returned to his squad, he received everyone's envy.

This was a Lock-Pendant Inner Armor!

For every ninja, obtaining such an inner armor was a dream.

However, unfortunately,

forging a Lock-Pendant Inner Armor was no easy task; it was far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Just look at how even Nara Kazama wore an envious expression.

As a member of the Nara clan, he belonged to a wealthy family within the Hidden Leaf Village.

They certainly had Lock-Pendant Inner Armors, but as a branch-family member like him, he received only fixed monthly resources; to obtain the clan's finest items, he had to exchange them for battle merits.

Uchiha Jin, however, was different!

This was a personal gift from Uchiha Shisui.

But at the same time,

they felt even more strongly that Uchiha Jin was not simple; he was far from just an ordinary Uchiha branch member.

Especially Nara Kazama.

Though his strength might not be exceptional, as a member of the Nara clan, he had inherited the clan's most crucial asset: wisdom.

He thought much more deeply.

Precisely because of this realization, his eyes began to flicker even more.

"Jin-kun, Itachi are amazing!"

"What exactly is your relationship with Uchiha Shisui-kun, that he would give Itachi an inner armor of such caliber directly?"

"..."

Everyone spoke up in turn.

Especially Kudo Shin, who, when facing Uchiha Jin, spoke with growing closeness.

Having experienced the battlefield, he had long since lost his former restlessness.

He understood the distinction between noble families and commoners better than most.

Even if he had no ambition to rise in the world, simply wanting to survive the war meant he should get as close to the nobles as possible.

After all, the information they had access to was inherently easier for them to obtain than for us commoner ninja.

Even without teaching ninjutsu, merely whispering a bit of news could make the difference between life and death.

Uchiha Jin said nothing more on the matter.

Items like inner armor simply cannot be hidden.

So, forget it.

Let these people think whatever they want.

It is not a big deal.

However.

Nara Kazama and Kudo Shin were fine; their expressions were normal.

Only Ishikawa Ki.

In his gaze toward him, envy and resentment dominated.

It seemed.

He would have to be wary of him from now on.

Having lived two lives, he knew well that such small figures might not achieve great things, but causing trouble was quite simple.

Just then, a Chunin wearing a green vest approached.

"Team Seven, this is your mission."

His expression was calm.

He glanced once at the inner armor of the Uchiha, handed out the mission scroll, and then turned to leave immediately.

Kudo Shin became serious.

He read the mission scroll directly, then spoke with grave solemnity.

"Our team's mission is to escort supplies to the front lines."

"Move out!"

Without a word of nonsense, he turned and left at once.

Yes.

As a ninja who had experienced the battlefield, he knew exactly what to do and when.

Uchiha Jin and Nara Kazama simply followed behind Kudo Shin.

Only Ishikawa Ki.

He looked deeply displeased.

He resented almost everyone in this team.

The reason was simple.

At the academy, he had been in the top three of his class, which was his greatest pride.

But upon actually joining the team, he found that what he took pride in seemed to be disregarded by everyone.

To put it plainly.

He saw no look of admiration in anyone's eyes.

It could even be said they were ignoring him!

How could someone like him, who had stood so high in the academy, bear this?

Kudo Shin was one thing.

But what did Nara Kazama and Uchiha Jin amount to?

Although they came from noble families, their grades in class were merely average or below; on what basis did they look down on him, this 'excellent' student?

Was it just because of their lineage?

Thinking of this, he could not help but glance again at the inner armor on Uchiha Jin.

Something he might never obtain in his entire life.

Why?

Just because he was a commoner?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and his gaze naturally turned fierce.

Clearly.

He had never considered that their grades were average only because they chose not to compete.

A few top spots in a Class B held no attraction in Konoha.

It was merely a trick to fool commoners; no noble family took such honor seriously.

Shortly after.

The group arrived at the supply depot. Using the mission scroll, they directly collected enough supplies for three horse-drawn carts, along with a civilian escort team of eight people.

Yes.

Although scroll technology existed in this era, the cost could not be reduced.

Therefore, unless the supplies were critical or voluminous, transport still relied on mules, horses, and commoners.

"My lord ninja, shall we depart now?"

"Yes, move out!"

Facing this group of civilians, Kudo Shin appeared extremely proud.

Yes.

Even if he was once a commoner, the moment he became a ninja, he and true commoners became beings of two different classes.

When facing the noble families of the Hidden Leaf Village, his status seemed utterly worthless.

But when facing this group of true commoners, his pride as a ninja was instantly laid bare without a doubt.