His speed was the fastest among the ten, and in less than half an incense stick's time, he had circled the mangrove forest once, silently eliminating two rogue Ninjas lurking in the ruins. Their bodies were dragged to a distant mass grave, leaving no trace behind.
When he returned, Chen had already begun performing Ninjutsu.
Chen quickly formed hand seals with both hands and shouted in a low voice: "Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
The ground suddenly vibrated violently, and shattered stones and mud rolled up to form a three-zhang high circular earthen wall, completely enclosing the open space in the center.
Immediately after, he formed seals again: "Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
His entire body sank into the ground like a swimming fish, leaving only the surface mud slightly undulating.
Deep underground, as his Chakra was continuously injected, the rock strata of the cavern were slowly widened. The rubble, wrapped in Chakra, was transported to the surface and piled up outside the earthen wall, blending perfectly with the surrounding ruins to conceal any construction traces.
At the same time, outside the South Gate of Konoha Village, three figures stood on a hillside, quietly gazing at the Village shrouded in a barrier.
The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled upon Konoha's Hokage Rock. The stone statues of the First through Third Hokage stood majestically, but in Xia Yin's eyes, the outlines of those statues exuded an indescribable coldness.
He clenched the rest permit note in his arms; the edges of the paper were crumpled from being squeezed, and the wound on his palm bled again due to the force.
Chi and Yan stood behind him, their gazes vigilantly sweeping over the security Ninjas at the Village entrance.
Konoha's South Gate was even more heavily guarded than the front-line camp. Not only were two Hyuga Clan Ninjas using their Byakugan to scan the area, but four Anbu members were disguised as villagers, hidden behind the tea stalls on either side of the gate, their fingertips constantly resting on their Ninja Tools.
In a Village during wartime, even the air was thick with an atmosphere of vigilance.
"Sir, shall we eliminate the hidden sentries first?" Chi asked in a low voice, the heavy tachi at his waist trembling slightly, seemingly eager to be unsheathed. Yan also gripped his Kunai, his eyes sharp with readiness for battle.
"No need." Xia Yin shook his head, his voice carrying a barely perceptible fatigue, yet also concealing a deeper forbearance, "We are Ninjas from 'Triumphant Return'; there is no need to invite unnecessary trouble."
He raised a hand to smooth his wrinkled clan robes, deliberately exposing the scratches on his shoulder—these were 'battle merits' he had intentionally left, enough to satisfy the questioning at the Village gate.
He looked at the Ninjas entering and leaving the Village gate; most were ragged and weary-faced, clearly having just retreated from the battlefield.
A few children cried while clinging to their parents' legs, their voices filled with fear, while the surrounding villagers discussed the battle situation with grave expressions.
This was the Village he was supposed to protect?
Yet, this Village could not accommodate his Clan.
A cold curve formed on Xia Yin's lips as his fingertips unconsciously rubbed the uchiha clan crest on his chest, where his revenge and his obsession were hidden.
"Let's go, home." Xia Yin started walking towards the Village gate, his dark Clan robes fluttering in the setting sun.
Chi and Yan followed closely behind. The figures of the three gradually approached the familiar yet strange Village. Far away at the Ruins of the Land of Whirlpools, Chen was still expanding the base underground, Hien's poison mist traps were set, and Jin stood atop the highest ruin, looking towards Konoha, guarding this layout concerning the Uchiha's future.
As he passed through the barrier at Konoha's South Gate, Xia Yin could clearly feel the cool sensation of the barrier's Chakra sweeping over his body—it was a spell left by Tobirama, which was especially sensitive to the Chakra fluctuations of the Uchiha.
When the Hyuga Ninjas at the gate retracted their Byakugan, the scrutiny in their eyes was undisguised. Even the surrounding villagers carrying vegetable baskets instinctively moved aside, their gazes passing over the clan crest on his chest with barely concealed apprehension.
Xia Yin walked forward expressionlessly, Chi and Yan following him like shadows. The sound of their footsteps echoed heavily on the bluestone pavement.
The atmosphere on the street was much more oppressive than before the war. Many houses still bore scorch marks from Ninjutsu bombardments. Uniformed Ninjas hurried past; no one dared to slow down at this time.
Occasionally, children would peek out, only to be abruptly pulled back inside by their parents, leaving behind only pairs of curious yet fearful eyes peering through the door cracks.
The Uchiha Clan's residential area was on the east side of the Village, requiring them to pass through the commercial street.
Xia Yin deliberately took a secluded small alley—he didn't want Chi and Yan exposed to too many people, and even less did he want to deal with the overt and covert stares.
Hidden deep in the alley was his home, a low-key two-story wooden house. Ivy climbed the courtyard walls, obscuring most of the windows, which perfectly blocked external prying eyes.
"Once inside, stay in the west wing room. Don't go out, and don't release any Chakra." As Xia Yin pushed open the courtyard gate, his voice was extremely low. His gaze swept over the Hidden Sentry markers in the courtyard corner—those were Danzo's informants planted in the Uchiha residential area; fortunately, they were only the lowest level of surveillance.
He took out two spare keys from his arms and handed them to Chi and Yan. "There is dry food and water in the kitchen. I will go to the Hokage Building to submit the permit and return. No matter what noise you hear while I'm gone, do not show yourselves."
Chi took the keys and said solemnly, "Sir, rest assured, we will guard this place."
Yan had already walked to the courtyard entrance and stood with his back to the door. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan quietly rotated, taking in all the movements at the alley entrance—he was guarding Xia Yin's retreat in his own way.
Xia Yin nodded, turned, and walked out of the courtyard gate again. This time he did not detour, heading straight toward the Hokage Building in the center of the Village.
The scenes along the way stung him with increasing clarity: Three Uchiha Clan Members walked by carrying Ninja Tool bags, followed by two Anbu 'escorting' them—under the guise of protection, they were actually surveillance;
The owner of a tea house saw him and hastily put away a wooden sign that read 'Uchiha Not Welcome,' yet still quietly locked his door as he passed by.
"Hmph." Xia Yin sneered inwardly, clutching the permit note from Jiraiya tighter, the edge of the paper almost digging into his flesh.
This was the Village where he had to 'report back,' and this was the 'Will of Fire' governed by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi—suspicion towards the Uchiha was already etched into the very bones and blood of Konoha.
The Hokage Building soon appeared before him. The white structure was particularly conspicuous in the setting sun, and the Hokage statues on the roof overlooked the entire Village, their majesty suffocating.
The two guards at the entrance were experienced Jonin. When they saw Xia Yin, a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes, but they still raised their hands to stop him: "The Hokage is currently holding a Council of Elders meeting. Do you have an appointment?"
"Uchiha Xia Yin, returning from the front lines to report, carrying Lord Jiraiya's rest permit note." Xia Yin produced the paper strip stamped with a red seal, his tone calm and even, yet carrying an undeniable confidence...
Advance chapter available on pãtrêon Got1808