Chapter 45

Before the remaining Hidden Mist could act, they struck again, and in the blink of an eye, they wiped out all of the Hidden Mist.

"Next location, move out!"

After clearing the battlefield and gathering the spoils, Uchiha Shisui spoke softly.

Time passed slowly.

As their squad fought continuously, their coordination improved, and their efficiency in completing missions and killing enemies grew higher.

In just three days, they swept through a full fifty outposts.

They killed nine Jounin alone, while Chunin and Genin were countless.

Deep night.

Deep within the dense forest, an unnamed small hill.

In an inconspicuous valley, inside a small cave.

Beside a modest bonfire, Uchiha Jin and the other three ate a simple meal, then stared blankly at the fire.

"Now I announce that the adaptation missions are over."

"After these three days, everyone's coordination has improved greatly."

"Once we return this time, we must take on high-difficulty missions."

Uchiha Uchiha Shisui spoke with a smile.

For him, these few days had been like a vacation!

Yes.

Although he was currently only a Chunin, his actual combat strength long exceeded that of ordinary Jounin.

The missions he usually accepted were either impossibly complex or involved enemies who were famous masters from various villages.

For him, the missions of these few days truly held no difficulty at all.

But, unfortunately.

In response to Uchiha Shisui's words, the others remained silent.

Uchiha Jin and Nara Kazama were one thing; they only wanted to survive the war quietly. Even Hyuga Ayumi frowned slightly, showing no sign of happiness.

Uchiha Shisui: "..."

He looked utterly confused.

He had never encountered this situation before!

This was not his fault; as a traditional Uchiha.

The teammates he had previously encountered were either lacking in brainpower, shouting 'Uchiha Glory' before charging recklessly, or were fellow Uchiha clansmen.

Even when working with Hidden Leaf ninja, he had only dealt with true elites who had been trained.

Those people's concerns were different from Uchiha Jin and his group!

"Hey, what's wrong?" Uchiha Shisui couldn't help but ask, "Aren't Itachi the least bit excited?"

Uchiha Jin rolled his eyes.

"What is there to be excited about? I just want to lie here until the war ends."

Nara Kazama nodded hurriedly.

He couldn't help but yawn, looking equally uninterested.

Yes.

Don't let his closeness with Uchiha Jin fool Itachi; that was merely out of necessity for self-preservation.

Essentially, he was a traditional Nara.

He had no interest in anything; unless necessary, he only wanted to lazily sleep at home.

Even Hyuga Ayumi couldn't help but speak up.

"I actually hope this war drags on as long as possible."

"Ideally, it should never end."

"That way, we wouldn't have to return to the village."

Her tone was gentle.

Her eyes were full of sorrow, and her voice was unbearably bitter.

Obviously.

After three days of contact, she had come to understand these three teammates a little.

They had also developed a degree of trust in one another.

Especially after just escaping the slaughter and finally relaxing, they naturally opened their hearts slightly.

Uchiha Shisui: "..."

His mouth twitched.

He still did not quite understand the thoughts of these three teammates.

The Nara clan, after all, all act lazily.

Uchiha Jin was passable.

As a junior clansman of his, if not for the war, he could have stayed hidden forever.

Only, Hyuga Ayumi.

Why was she like this too?

However, seeing the sorrow in Hyuga Ayumi's eyes made Uchiha Shisui frown involuntarily; did some hidden reason exist here?

After pondering for a moment, he spoke first.

"Ayumi, have Itachi encountered some difficulty?"

"If there is anything, Itachi might as well speak up. We are comrades now; if we can help, we do not mind offering assistance."

"Especially, Kazama!"

"He is from the Nara clan; their family has the best brains."

"He will surely think of a way."

Uchiha Shisui is not stupid!

As a member of the Uchiha, he naturally knew the situation of the Hyuga clan.

Her problem was most likely the Caged Bird Seal.

However.

Although this problem could not be solved, it did not mean that the specific issue could not be addressed by changing one's approach.

After all, it was the Hyuga clan; those who knew, knew!

Perhaps within the clan, they oppressed the branch families with arrogance, but when facing the entire Hidden Leaf Village, they cowered like quails.

So.

No matter what Hyuga Ayane had encountered, as long as there was a suitable method, solving it was not truly that difficult.

Nara Kazama hesitated slightly.

Matters unrelated to him were simply not worth the mental effort.

But.

Hyuga Ayane was indeed quite good.

Although she bore the Caged Bird Seal and was merely from a branch family.

To be honest.

There was absolutely no value in recruiting her!

Yet, considering the camaraderie of these past two days, as long as it did not affect his own plans, offering a little help was of no consequence.

Thinking this, he spoke with a smile.

"Mm, right!"

"Ayane, if Itachi trust me, then Itachi might as well tell me and let me hear it."

"If I can help, I will do my best!"

As the two spoke, Ayame Hyuga fell silent.

Uchiha Jin narrowed his eyes slightly.

He had paid attention to Ayame Hyuga.

However.

He was covered in his own mess; how could he spare the time to care about such things?

Although she was very beautiful, Uchiha Jin at this moment had no mind for matters of men and women.

But since Uchiha Shisui and Kazama had both spoken, and considering this girl was indeed worthy.

Thinking this, he also smiled and spoke.

"Ayame, speak it out."

"It is fate that we meet; if we can help, we will all do our best."

Only.

In response to the three speaking, Ayame Hyuga could only offer a bitter smile.

So, silence.

After a long while.

She helplessly sighed, took a deep breath, and spoke.

"Since everyone is interested, I will say it; consider it a way to pass the time."

"Everyone should know I come from the Hyuga Branch Family."

"Last year, a useless person from the Hyuga Main Family, because my parents accidentally offended him, ordered their immediate execution."

"That, I could accept."

"The fate of the Hyuga Branch Family; we of the Branch Family have actually accepted it."

"But this year, that Main Family member has set his sights on me; he wants me to return after this war ends to be his concubine."

"Is it not ridiculous?"

"Last year he just killed my parents; now he wants me to marry him."

"Truly, it is pathetic!"

"If it were only me, I would simply choose to take my own life."

"But, I have a younger sister!"

"To prevent that beast from harming my sister, I can only accept this matter."

Hiss!

As Ayame Hyuga spoke, all three present drew in a sharp breath of cold air.

Even Uchiha Jin, who had read the original story, did not expect the Hyuga Main Family to be so domineering.

This, is humiliation!

Uchiha Shisui was the first to lose his temper; he immediately shouted a curse.

"How can the honorable Hyuga Clan be so shameless?"

"Simply, scoundrels!"

"Kazama, do Itachi have a way?"

"Your Nara Clan has the highest intelligence; Itachi must be able to think of a way, right?"

"We must help Ayame; she is our teammate!"