"How strange. Why would Sunagakure and Kirigakure appear nearby? Especially Sunagakure—there's still the Land of Rivers between us and the Land of Wind."
Hayakawa Mito frowned.
Uchiha Yuan remained silent with his eyes closed.
As for the appearance of Kirigakure and Sunagakure in the area, he already had a guess.
The two sides were probably making contact, preparing for peace negotiations.
In his memory, the events that would follow were clear.
In order for the negotiations to succeed, Sunagakure would agree to Kirigakure's request and betray one of their own heroes—
Pakura of the Scorch Release.
At the thought of Pakura, a sharp glint flashed deep in Yuan's eyes.
Ever since he learned he would be exiled to the southern border, Yuan had already begun planning.
Pakura of the Scorch Release was one of the targets in his plan.
And after her—
There was also Kirigakure across the sea.
At present, Kirigakure was still under the rule of the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.
Under Yagura's brutal "Bloody Mist" policy, Kirigakure had earned the notorious nickname:
The Village of the Bloody Mist.
In the future, however, that very policy would lead to disaster.
The village would begin suppressing the bloodline clans, eventually triggering internal rebellion.
Many members of those bloodline clans would flee Kirigakure.
And those fugitives…
were exactly the kind of subordinates Yuan intended to recruit.
"Lord Yuan, if Sunagakure and Kirigakure appeared at the same time," Yamazō Qiichi said,
"then there must be some connection between them."
Yuan opened his eyes and swept his gaze across the group.
"Leave two men behind to guard the outpost."
"The rest of you will go on patrol."
"If you discover any shinobi from Sunagakure or Kirigakure—"
"Do not approach them."
"Keep your distance and monitor their movements."
"Yes, sir."
Soon after, everyone gathered outside the outpost.
Yuan took two ninja with him and disappeared first with a swift movement.
Then Yamazō Qiichi led Nitta Taiga and the other two, leaping in another direction.
Their figures vanished into the forest within moments.
Meanwhile—
Yamamoto Torashi stood silently, staring at the direction Yuan had left.
His expression was complicated.
Hayakawa Mito walked up beside him.
"Yamamoto… what's wrong?"
Torashi clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked.
Then slowly—
he relaxed them.
"Mito…"
"The platoon commander wouldn't dare provoke Uchiha Yuan either… right?"
Torashi spoke in a low voice.
When the platoon headquarters sent news about Sunagakure and Kirigakure but never responded to his report accusing Yuan of rebellion, Torashi suddenly realized something.
The command unit would not respond at all.
Hayakawa sighed softly and patted his shoulder.
Torashi frowned.
"That brat is an exile—a criminal sent here by the village."
"Is the platoon commander really so afraid of the Uchiha clan?"
Hayakawa's expression grew solemn.
"Torashi… you were unconscious that day."
"So you didn't feel that terrifying pressure."
"Uchiha Yuan is a shinobi far stronger than either of us can imagine."
"Someone like him…"
"will never be restrained by mere rules."
He paused before continuing.
"I once sent a message to a colleague at headquarters."
"The reply I received was simple."
'Do not provoke him under any circumstances.'
"It's said that the jōnin who escorted them here even warned Commander Yoshikawa personally…"
"Never anger Uchiha Yuan."
Torashi's eyes widened in shock.
"Mito… are you serious?"
Hayakawa glanced at him and spoke quietly.
"Torashi."
"If you keep provoking him…"
"I believe Uchiha Yuan will truly kill you."
"And to cover it up…"
"He might even kill everyone in this outpost."
After all—
"This is the border."
"Any kind of accident can happen here."
"When the platoon and battalion headquarters investigate later…"
"They'll simply conclude we were killed by shinobi from another village."
Silence fell.
After a long moment—
Torashi clenched his teeth and growled unwillingly,
"Damn it…!"
"Damn it!"
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