After leaving Tanzaku Town, three more days of rapid travel finally brought Uchiha Yuan's group to their destination—Naigawa City.
Naigawa City was the largest town along the southern border of the Land of Fire. Konoha had stationed an entire ninja battalion here to patrol and guard the entire southern frontier.
Inside the city stood a secluded mansion.
This was the Southern Border Command Headquarters.
At that moment, inside the main hall of the residence—
Sarutobi Seijirō sat facing a middle-aged man with dark skin and several vicious scars across his face.
"I understand the village's intention, Seijirō," the man said as he placed a stack of documents on the table.
"I'll keep an eye on these people."
The documents were the roster and personal files of Uchiha Yuan and the others.
Seijirō said quietly,
"Captain Yoshikawa, there's one person among them you need to be careful about."
He pointed at the very first file.
Yoshikawa Yūsuke lowered his gaze.
The first page displayed a photograph—Uchiha Yuan's half-body portrait.
"So it's an Uchiha."
"That does make things troublesome."
He stared at the photo for a moment before a cold smile spread across his scarred face, making him look even more ferocious.
"But even if he's an Uchiha, he's still a criminal exiled by the village."
"If he dares cause trouble, I'll show him why they call me 'The Cruel Wolf.'"
Seijirō's expression immediately turned serious.
"No, Captain Yoshikawa."
"I think you'll die."
"What?!"
Yoshikawa's eyes widened in disbelief.
"So my advice is simple," Seijirō continued calmly.
"As long as Uchiha Yuan doesn't abandon his post—leave him alone."
"Do not provoke him."
Yoshikawa stared at him in silence.
Then he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Seijirō, are you joking?"
"An Uchiha brat daring to act so arrogantly?"
Yet Seijirō remained completely serious.
The laughter slowly faded from Yoshikawa's face.
"You're not joking…"
His eyes narrowed sharply.
"If that Uchiha kid dares raise his hand against a superior officer, that would be open rebellion."
"Hmph. The moment he acts, I'll order everyone to surround and kill him."
"Even the Uchiha clan wouldn't have grounds to complain."
Seijirō's expression shifted slightly.
"Captain Yoshikawa… you seem to harbor resentment toward the Uchiha clan."
A trace of disgust flashed across Yoshikawa's face.
"Yes."
"I hate them."
"They humiliated me."
BANG!
He slammed his fist onto the floor.
"To be honest, I've clashed with the eastern border police force multiple times."
Seijirō frowned.
"What happened?"
The eastern and southern borders of the Land of Fire both bordered the sea.
Yoshikawa's battalion defended the southern frontier, while the Uchiha Police Force guarded the eastern border.
In the coastal regions where the two areas overlapped, Uchiha patrol units frequently chased Kirigakure infiltrators into Yoshikawa's territory.
However—
Coordination between them had been poor from the beginning.
The police force believed they were the primary pursuers and that Yoshikawa's unit should follow their command.
Yoshikawa's men believed the opposite—that anyone entering their southern defense zone should obey their authority.
The proud Uchiha openly looked down on Yoshikawa's forces.
During joint pursuits of Kirigakure ninja, Yoshikawa's men were often scolded and mocked by the police force.
Arguments broke out frequently.
Several conflicts even escalated into physical fights.
And every time—
The police force dominated the confrontation.
In one particularly humiliating clash, Yoshikawa and his entire squad had been beaten down and mocked by the Uchiha.
Since then, resentment between the two sides had only deepened.
After hearing the explanation, Seijirō finally understood Yoshikawa's hatred.
"Captain Yoshikawa," he said carefully.
"I understand your resentment."
"But Uchiha Yuan is not someone you can provoke."
"He's extremely powerful."
"And if you anger him… the consequences will be beyond your control."
Yoshikawa gave no clear response.
Seeing this, Seijirō could only sigh quietly.
He couldn't reveal the truth—
That Yuan had severed Danzō's arm, or that he had single-handedly slaughtered the Root assassins.
Either revelation would damage the village's prestige.
Meanwhile—
In a spacious courtyard at the headquarters.
Uchiha Yuan stood silently with his eyes closed, arms crossed.
Only a dozen people remained around him.
The others had already departed for their assigned outposts.
"Special Jōnin Inuzuka Hikaru.
Chūnin Taoka Yōichi, Amakusa Kawa…"
"You will be assigned to Outpost No. 61."
One by one, groups departed.
Soon—
Only five people remained, including Yuan.
Whoosh.
A blond ninja appeared in the courtyard holding a dispatch order.
"Jōnin Uchiha Yuan.
Special Jōnin Yamazō Qiichi.
Chūnin Nitta Taiga, Kaga Makoto, and Tazaki Fifteen."
"You will now be stationed at Outpost No. 58."
"Follow me."
Yamazō and the others said nothing.
Instead, they all turned to look at Yuan.
Seeing this, the blond ninja's gaze shifted to Yuan, his expression darkening slightly.
Yuan slowly opened his eyes.
He glanced toward a distant direction.
Then he said calmly,
"Let's go."
Swish—swish—swish.
Several figures vanished from the courtyard.
On a rooftop not far away—
Yoshikawa Yūsuke watched Yuan's departing figure.
"He noticed my presence…"
"What sharp perception."
Outpost No. 58
Located at the southernmost tip of the Land of Fire.
It bordered the Land of Rivers.
Because of this, the outpost had to monitor both the sea routes and the Land of Rivers border, as Sunagakure ninja occasionally crossed through that country into Fire Territory.
After several hours of travel—
At dusk—
The blond ninja finally brought Yuan's group to their destination.
"This is Outpost No. 58."
After handing them over to the stationed patrol squad, the blond ninja immediately departed.
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