"The power dynamics in the southern Land of Fire are incredibly convoluted. While it isn't quite as chaotic as the north with its dozen or so mid-tier clans engaged in a constant free-for-all, it's not much better. The Fūma, the Aburame, and the Chiba clans are the three dominant factions here. Originally, the Fūma and the Chiba were roughly equal in strength, with the Aburame trailing slightly behind. However, after we taught the Chiba a brutal lesson twenty years ago, they dropped to the bottom of the big three. I'm not sure how much they've recovered since then, but given our current strength, we should avoid conflict with them if possible. We need to end this battle quickly and complete the mission."
As two figures darted through the dense forest canopy, one of them broke the silence to explain the geopolitical landscape.
Xuan glanced sideways at him, his enthusiasm visibly lacking. "Alright, alright. I already said I'm just here to play your assistant this time. We'll do everything according to your grand 'plan.' I just want to get this over with as soon as possible."
Compared to Xuan's utter lack of interest, Madara was practically bursting with ambition, his face radiating the intense eagerness of someone looking for a major fight.
The Uchiha clan compound was located near the center of the Land of Fire, but their destination lay far to the southwest. The journey was even longer than Xuan's previous trek to hunt down the Blood Ninja. Even moving at their absolute top speed, it took the two prodigies three full days of non-stop travel just to reach the southern border of Uchiha territory.
Upon arriving, they first met with the local Uchiha border commander—the former Third Elder, Uchiha Yutaka. He was the one who had originally relayed the intelligence regarding the Hyūga Jōnin back to the main compound.
When Yutaka saw the two eight-year-olds walk into his command tent, he was visibly stunned. A bitter smile crossed his face. "Has the clan's manpower truly been stretched this thin? I explicitly requested at least two Jōnin."
Being underestimated never felt good. However, since Xuan wasn't the "main character" of this mission, he just kept his mouth shut and complained internally: Blind old fool. It serves you right being exiled out here to the border. I could comfortably solo three standard Jōnin right now.
Madara, however, confidently stepped forward. "Be grateful. The two of us are far stronger than two random Jōnin. Hurry up and give us the exact details."
"Are you absolutely sure you two can handle this?" Yutaka asked one last time, his tone heavy with doubt.
Madara flashed a highly arrogant smirk. "Of course. Did you think we ran all the way out here just for fun?"
"Sit."
Yutaka pointed to a pair of cushions. Madara and Xuan both sat down cross-legged. Ever since Madara noticed Xuan always sitting like this, he found it far more comfortable than the traditional kneeling posture and had unknowingly adopted the habit himself.
"The intelligence came from our spies scattered throughout the south," Yutaka explained. "They discovered that the Yomu clan has been secretly acquiring massive quantities of grain. Furthermore, rumors state that a shinobi with the Byakugan was recently spotted inside their compound. It is highly likely to be the Hyūga Jōnin. Your mission is to verify this intel. If it's true, find an opportunity to assassinate the Hyūga target. If you don't find a Hyūga shinobi, you still need to uncover why the Yomu are hoarding grain and exactly where they plan to send it."
Madara and Xuan listened quietly, mentally organizing the information. "What is the overall combat strength of the Yomu clan?" Madara asked. "I only know their Clan Head is roughly at the Jōnin level. I don't know anything else."
"The Yomu are a vassal of the Chiba," Yutaka elaborated. "They are a very minor faction. There are only two Jōnin in their entire clan: the Clan Head and his younger brother. Aside from them, there is no one else you need to be particularly wary of."
Xuan silently memorized the details. In that case, we'll have to face a maximum of three Jōnin.
"Alright. We understand the situation. We're going to head out and finish the mission now. Await our good news." Madara stood up with absolute confidence and immediately turned toward the exit.
"Hey, hold on," Xuan groaned. "I know you like to move fast, but come on. We've been running non-stop for three days. Shouldn't we at least rest for a night?"
Seeing Madara already stepping out the door, Xuan felt incredibly reluctant. But since he had already agreed to help, he could only accept his fate and follow the battle-crazed idiot.
Leaving the border outpost, the two officially crossed out of Uchiha territory and entered the deep south of the Land of Fire.
Later, inside a second-floor room of a run-down inn within a small southern town, Xuan was silently devouring a plate of hot food. While the taste was mediocre at best, it was infinitely better than the dry rations and cold rice balls they had been choking down on the road. After three days of traveling, his mouth had felt completely devoid of flavor.
Time is completely frozen inside my Kamui dimension. Why didn't I think to store a bunch of hot, freshly cooked meals in there?! My IQ really dropped the ball on that one, Xuan lamented as he chewed, deeply missing his little maid's phenomenal cooking.
Just as he was silently complaining, Madara pushed the door open and sat down across from him. "I've scouted it out. The Yomu clan's compound is that massive estate located just east of the town limits. We strike tonight."
Xuan picked up a skewer of grilled fish from the table. "Alright. I actually have a plan. We can secretly investigate the Yomu compound first to map out their patrol routes and daily habits. Once we find an opening, we capture a VIP—like the Clan Head's son—and interrogate him. Ideally, we force him to reveal the exact location of the Hyūga Jōnin. Once we have a confirmed target, we team up and assassinate him silently."
Madara immediately shook his head. "Too convoluted. We agreed on the way here that we would do things my way. Tonight, I will launch a frontal assault and smash straight through their main gates. While I draw all of their attention, you slip inside, locate their grain stockpile, and set it on fire. If that Hyūga Jōnin is hiding there, he definitely won't be able to sit still while their supplies burn. The second he shows his face, we team up and kill him."
Xuan froze, the grilled fish hovering inches from his mouth. He stared blankly at Madara. You call that a plan? That can be summed up in two words: Frontal Assault. You aren't the invincible god of the shinobi world twenty years from now! You're an eight-year-old kid! Do you really have to be this ridiculously arrogant?!
Noticing Xuan's deadpan stare, Madara calmly explained his logic. "I've already calculated the combat strengths. Including the Hyūga operative, they have a maximum of three Jōnin. Based on your successful hunt against the Blood Ninja, you can definitely solo one. With your bizarre spatial Ninjutsu, stalling two of them won't be a problem either. I'll quickly kill the third, and then we team up to finish the rest. Our chances of winning are extremely high."
"Where exactly is this absolute confidence that you can solo a Jōnin coming from?" Xuan asked skeptically. "If I remember correctly, the last time a Hyūga Jōnin ambushed us, you nearly died."
Xuan wasn't worried about the three Jōnin himself; even without using Kamui, his Flying Raijin Jutsu gave him an overwhelming advantage. But he seriously questioned where Madara's inflated ego was stemming from.
Madara smiled confidently. "Don't worry. You aren't the only one who made massive improvements after that near-death experience. The me standing here today is completely different from the me back then. As long as we team up, we will be invincible under the heavens."
I'll believe that in ten years! Xuan retorted silently. However, he generally trusted Madara's combat instincts. If Madara explicitly claimed he could handle a Jōnin alone, he definitely wasn't just spouting hot air.
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