Chapter 22

It could even be said.

If he died, everyone would be even happier!

Yes.

Uchiha Jin and Nara Kazama were both truly intelligent people.

Kudo Shin survived a war; naturally, he could not be a fool.

And precisely for this reason.

If the three of them cooperated, their chances of survival in future wars would be very high.

But with Ishikawa Ki joining, the situation changed.

This arrogant, ignorant fool was truly more of a hindrance than a help.

Everyone would be doomed because of him!

Under these circumstances, naturally, no one felt sorry for him.

Two days later.

The three of them, carrying a cart full of supplies, finally found a boat and reached the front-line camp on the evening of the third day.

Uchiha Jin and Nara Kazuma were casually assigned to a tent.

The two requested a stretcher, carried Ishikawa Ki to the medical camp, and only then entered their own tent.

"Are Itachi sure that story of yours will hold up?"

Seeing no one around, Uchiha Jin spoke quietly: "After all, we lost two full carts of supplies. Are Itachi certain we won't be held accountable?"

"Don't worry, it's fine," Nara Kazuma smiled. "This kind of thing happens often; everyone does it."

"So far, no problems have arisen. Even if no scapegoat is found, the worst that happens is a reprimand, which might slightly affect future promotions."

"Especially during wartime, it's usually a case of atoning for one's crimes by performing meritorious deeds, with no impact on promotions at all."

"This time, we've even found a scapegoat, so there's no need to dwell on these things."

"Trust me, nothing will happen."

"Not even a reprimand!"

"Two carts of supplies? For a war, what does that amount to?"

"Those truly ruthless would dare to empty the front-line camp's storage warehouses, then, when the enemy attacks, deliberately destroy the warehouses and report to the village that the enemy did it."

"That is called 'war damage'!"

"The supplies stored in the front-line camp's warehouses are worth no less than five billion ryō."

Hiss!

Uchiha Jin looked utterly bewildered.

He had tried to lower his expectations of their integrity, but he still overestimated them.

Good heavens!

This maneuver was far too familiar.

He just couldn't understand why, after being transported here for so long, he had never heard of such things.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but speak up.

"This... doesn't make sense!"

"After all, I'm from the Uchiha clan, one of the noble families in Konoha."

"Why have I never heard of such a maneuver?"

Hearing this, Nara Kazuma looked at Uchiha Jin with an expression full of inexplicable meaning.

He frowned slightly.

Clearly.

For a moment, he truly didn't know how to explain this to him.

Seeing this.

Uchiha Jin spoke directly.

"We've fought together, and now we're teammates in the same squad."

"If Itachi have something to say, just say it."

Nara Kazuma looked slightly helpless.

But after a moment of thought, he helplessly said, "The reason is something Itachi said yourself: because Itachi are an Uchiha."

Hearing this, no further explanation was needed.

He suddenly understood.

Yes.

Uchiha Jin truly understood!

He knew better than anyone what the Uchiha were like.

No brains, stubborn, arrogantly proud.

Things like these battlefield shenanigans were basically unspoken rules among the Konoha leadership.

Everyone did it!

Whether it was the great noble families or even the Sarutobi clan, they often did it too.

And they took the biggest share.

As for the reasoning, it was quite simple.

These supplies belonged to the village, funded by the Daimyo's annual budget.

Gone?

No problem!

Just ask the Daimyo for more.

Presumably because of this logic, the Uchiha and the village seemed so out of place with each other.

Yes.

If the Uchiha knew about this, they would certainly disdain to join in such corruption; instead, they would blow the matter up to prove the Uchiha's honor.

The Uchiha are proud.

And precisely because of this pride, they were destined never to mix with the other families of Konoha in this lifetime.

In his past life, he had always been puzzled.

Although there were many troublemakers in the Uchiha, did Hiruzen Sarutobi really need to wipe out the entire clan?

Although the Uchiha had radical factions, did those guys really have the brains to overthrow the Third Hokage's rule?

Absolutely ridiculous!

Setting aside the fact that many ninja clans remained neutral, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio belonged to the Hokage faction.

As long as the Uchiha rebelled, even Tsunade and the other two would absolutely stand on Hiruzen Sarutobi's side.

Furthermore, the Konoha Anbu Black Ops, Danzo's Root, and perhaps even the Uchiha moderates, or even Fugaku the clan head, would choose to support Hiruzen Sarutobi.

If that is the case, why exterminate the clan?

Would it not be better to keep the Uchiha?

Even if war broke out, sending them to the front lines to die would have been acceptable!

In his past life, he had always believed Hiruzen Sarutobi was an idiot, a typical case of a broken mind.

Now, he understood.

The core reason was a clash of ideologies.

Everything else was nonsense, merely superficial appearances.

No wonder the Uchiha could not become Hokage.

If the Uchiha truly became Hokage, how could everyone continue to happily embezzle the village's assets?

Thinking of this, he let out a bitter laugh.

"Fine, no need to say more."

"I finally understand completely why the Uchiha cannot become Hokage and why they are targeted by everyone."

"Tobirama Senju was right; truly, the Uchiha are evil!"

Nara Kazama wore an awkward expression.

However.

To hear an Uchiha describe his own clan as "evil"?

He had truly opened his eyes.

Honestly, he was a bit surprised that Uchiha Jin could think so deeply after just a slight hint from him.

Since when did the Uchiha have such brains?

Moreover, what mattered was.

Even after understanding everything, Uchiha Jin apparently did not get angry.

That final remark sounded more like a sigh of reflection.

Clearly.

Even though Nara's mind worked quickly, he still could not figure it out at that moment.

In the end, he could only conclude that his teammate was not at all like an Uchiha.

"Ahem, this was your own idea."

"It has nothing to do with me. Itachi must not tell anyone else."

"Otherwise, I'm dead!"

Nara Kazama's face was bitter.

He truly had not expected Uchiha Jin to be so smart.

If he had known this earlier, he would not have done it.

Honestly.

He truly regretted it.

If his actions truly caused the stubborn Uchiha to finally understand why they could not become Hokage and why no one supported them.

Hiss!

Thinking of this, his scalp went numb.

But there was no way out.

Since things had come to this, what could he do?

He could only hope that Uchiha Jin was not the type to gossip.

"Rest assured, I will not say anything," Uchiha Jin said with a smile. "I am not one to meddle in others' affairs."

"It will not affect Itachi. Just rest easy!"

Unfortunately.

Even though Uchiha Jin said so, Nara Kazama still frowned deeply, sighing repeatedly.

Clearly.

Uchiha Jin's promise could not truly put him at ease.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Led by a ninja, Kudo Shin went straight to the front-line command tent.

Seeing Miyamoto Yukie before him, Kudo Shin immediately knelt on one knee.

"Jonin, I am deeply sorry."

"Our squad encountered two elite Mist squads. Squad member Ishikawa Ki ignored orders, causing the mission to fail. We barely managed to save one cart of supplies."

"Please review the detailed account and the bodies of the Mist members, Jonin!"