216 Chapter 216: Wanderers Alike
Hello everyone,
I do apologize for the long hiatus. As AI has become more mainstream the more restrictive safeguards and regulations each big company uses to avoid legal problems have become. This has greatly affected my ability to produce what I consider quality work.
I have had to take a step back from my larger library of publications while attempting to find work arounds and alternatives. I am happy to say I have found an alternative to GPT that does not have me wasting hours redrafting the same chapter to get closer and closer to the actual details covered in the raws.
It is by no means perfect and will occasionally false flag my translation attempts as trying to work with directly copywritten subjects and IP but it's outputs have been far more stable and in the style I prefer compared to what GPT has become as of late.
Moving forward you can expect regular scheduling of releases for this book to resume. There may be additional delays some weeks until I can find a permanent AI solution that is not overly restrictive when dealing with IP, copywrite, fair use, and public domain.
This is one of the two books I made a priority to continue producing content for during my hiatus for my Patreon supporters. As such please look forward to a large release catching you all up to where you should have been had I not needed time to step back from publishing on multiple platforms.
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A day later.
Whoosh, whoosh.
Over the sea, dozens of figures dashed across the water surface at an incredible speed, heading straight for a coastal town. Leading them was the Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure.
"Hmm?"
From a distance, the Raikage noticed the Allied Shinobi Forces' camp by the shore. It was now reduced to charred ruins.
Seeing this, his heart sank. His worst fears had come true.
Without a doubt, the Uchiha clan had attacked the main camp of the Allied Forces. No one else had the audacity or the strength to do so.
Upon landing, the Kumogakure shinobi quickly navigated through the wreckage and soon found a few survivors from the Allied Forces. These survivors were injured, their faces reflecting the horror they had experienced.
"What exactly happened?"
The Fourth Raikage demanded, grabbing one of them.
"Lord Raikage..." The man stammered, recounting the events of the previous night.
As suspected, it was the work of the Uchiha.
"An army of three thousand was defeated by the Uchiha clan?" The Raikage asked incredulously.
From the survivor, he learned even more shocking information. The Uchiha, although numbering only around a hundred, had somehow mastered the First Hokage's Wood Release techniques. The combination of the Sharingan and Wood Release made them formidable, each capable of taking on ten opponents. The most terrifying part was the appearance of four Susano'o, representing four Mangekyō Sharingan users. Additionally, there was a wooden statue as powerful as the Susano'o, and the Three-Tails, Six-Tails, and now the Two-Tails, which had been controlled by the Uchiha.
Yugito Nii, the jinchūriki of the Two-Tails from Kumogakure, had also been defeated and controlled by the Uchiha's Sharingan, becoming a puppet.
Hearing this, the Kumogakure shinobi gasped in disbelief.
"We've lost Yugito Nii, just like Kirigakure lost their jinchūriki," Samui remarked gravely.
"To be honest, it's a good thing we arrived late. With our numbers, we might not stand a chance against the Uchiha clan," Darui commented, wiping away cold sweat.
Only the Raikage and Killer B had Kage-level strength in their group. If they had encountered the Uchiha, their chances of victory would have been slim.
The thought sent shivers down the spines of the Kumogakure shinobi, including the Raikage.
Regaining his composure, the Raikage asked, "Where did the Uchiha go after attacking this camp?"
The man shook his head, "I don't know. But they didn't return to the sea. They headed inland, towards the ninja world."
This news startled the Raikage. Was the Uchiha's next target Konohagakure or somewhere else?
He now regretted his decision. If he had known, he wouldn't have agreed to join the war against the Uchiha. Kumogakure could have remained neutral. Now, they had lost their jinchūriki to the Uchiha.
And the worst part? It seemed the Uchiha's counterattack had just begun.
...
In a vast, endless primeval forest.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Over a hundred ninja, dressed in high-collared blue robes and fully armed, marched swiftly through the forest. Their formation remained stable even at full speed, indicating a disciplined and formidable force.
It was the Uchiha clan.
"Clan leader," Tetsuhi reported after scouting ahead, "Fifty kilometers to the west is the former territory of the River Country."
The River Country, once a buffer zone between the Wind and Fire Countries, had now been annexed by the Wind Country after the Fire Country's fall.
Fugaku, upon hearing this, analyzed, "At our current pace, we should reach Sunagakure in about two days."
Indeed, the Uchiha's first target in their "home-switching" strategy wasn't Konohagakure but Sunagakure. After all, Konoha was now just a colony of the major ninja villages.
If the Uchiha attacked Konoha, the major villages wouldn't care. They'd hope for both the Uchiha and Konoha to weaken each other, allowing them to erase both from history.
With that, the major villages could rest easy.
So, to strike at the Uchiha's enemies and make them feel the pain, the best strategy is to target their homeland. Compared to the Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud villages, the Hidden Sand is the closest and is also the weakest among the major ninja villages, making it the most suitable target.
However, Tetsu, a scout, reported, "There's a battle not far ahead. If we don't detour, we might reveal our presence."
Oh?
Fugaku's brow furrowed. After a brief contemplation, he ordered, "Let's check it out."
Soon, the Uchiha clan silently approached the battlefield. Sounds of clashing weapons, exploding tags, and frantic battle cries echoed from the forest. The intensity was palpable.
At a glance, Fugaku discerned the identities of the combatants. One side was a large caravan, more like a big family, including the elderly, women, and children. Their mounts weren't horses but heavy armored rhinos and tall pink flamingos. These creatures not only carried goods and people but also had some offensive capabilities, protecting the caravan's members and assets.
At this moment, the caravan's men were battling a ruthless bandit group.
"It's the Nukenin (Rogue Ninjas)," Fugaku recognized.
Nukenin are defectors from various countries, using their ninja techniques to raid and plunder. When they attack villages or caravans, they not only loot all valuables but also leave no survivors. They're truly vicious.
The sight was grim. Kakashi and Tenzo felt the weight of the situation. Ever since the Daimyo's fall, Konoha's collapse, and the Fire Country's division, its citizens have been suffering. Ordinary people were oppressed by major countries and also faced threats from increasingly rampant bandits like the Nukenin. For the Fire Country's millions, it was an unprecedented disaster.
Bang!
With the last caravan guard falling, the brief battle concluded. The Nukenin, with cruel smiles, prepared to enjoy their spoils.
However, at that moment, the Nukenin leader, codenamed "Shura," shouted, "Who's there? Show yourself!"
Emerging from the forest, Fugaku and his group approached, their expressions colder than the bandits'. Seeing the fully armed group, Shura's face changed. He warned, "Whoever you are, mind your own business, or you'll regret it."
The Nukenin readied their weapons, sneering at Fugaku's group, waiting for Shura's command to attack.
Facing Shura's threat, Fugaku shook his head, pitying his ignorance. "Finish this quickly. And remember, leave no one alive. We can't risk being discovered."
"Yes!" The Uchiha clan members responded in unison, their Sharingan eyes blazing.
"Those eyes...," Shura gasped, stepping back in fear. "It's the Uchiha clan."
"Attack!"
Before the Nukenin could react, the Uchihas were upon them, showing no mercy. Mere bandits, even if they were rogue ninjas, stood no chance against the Uchiha.
In moments, the once arrogant Nukenin were slaughtered, their screams echoing.
Shura barely managed to escape, terror evident on his face. But could he really get away?
Wood-style tendrils shot from behind, binding Shura tightly. As he struggled, Kakashi appeared in a flash, his Chidori piercing Shura's heart.
"Scum like you should repent in hell sooner," Kakashi coldly remarked, retracting his hand as Shura's lifeless body collapsed.
With that, the battle concluded, all within less than five minutes.
The nearby caravan members were left in shock. As they regained their senses, they whispered amongst themselves, casting wary glances at the Uchiha members. Even though they were rescued, they weren't sure if they had moved from one hell to another.
After all, these blue-robed ninjas with crimson eyes seemed even colder and more ruthless than the Nukenin.
At this moment, an elderly man hurriedly approached Fugaku, bowing deeply. With a trembling voice, he said, "Sir, thank you for saving our caravan. My gratitude is beyond words..."
Fugaku responded simply, "You're welcome," and gently lifted the old man's shoulder, signaling him to rise. This gesture eased the elder's anxiety.
The elder introduced himself as He Yan, a short man with a prominent red nose, which gave him a somewhat comical appearance. But as the saying goes, appearances can be deceiving. He was the leader of the caravan, having traveled the ninja world for years, accumulating vast experiences. He was a wise, brave, and meticulous man.
According to He Yan, their caravan was a large family without a permanent home. They traveled between countries year-round, leading a nomadic life. Hence, they were known as the "Wandering Folk."
This time, they were traveling from the Wind Country to Konoha for business but were ambushed by the Nukenin.
Fugaku, intrigued, asked, "The Wandering Folk? I've heard of you. But do you know who we are?"
His Mangekyō Sharingan eyes glinted mysteriously, captivating He Yan, who quickly replied, "Sir, I do. Rest assured, I won't speak of this to anyone."
Suddenly, a brown ferret with black limbs and lively eyes darted out from He Yan's clothes. It seemed to be a rare breed among ferrets.
"Nilugu! Come back!" He Yan cried out, clearly alarmed.
Uchiha Izumi swiftly caught the ferret, cradling it and remarking, "Such a cute little fellow."
She then returned Nilugu to He Yan, who repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
Curious, Izumi asked, "Grandpa, is this your pet? The name Nilugu is quite unique."
He Yan chuckled, "He's not just any ferret. He's a royal pet from an ancient empire, living even longer than me."
Realizing he might have said too much, He Yan quickly fell silent. Fortunately, the Uchihas didn't seem to notice.
"It's time to go," Fugaku announced.
Saving the caravan was merely a spontaneous act. Given the Uchiha's pride, they wouldn't expect any rewards.
The Uchiha clan resumed their journey, soon disappearing into the vast forest, leaving the caravan members in awe.
"Grandpa, who were they?" A child tugged at He Yan's sleeve, eyes filled with curiosity.
"They, like us, are wanderers in this ninja world," He Yan murmured.
He was aware of the Uchiha clan's history. They were one of the founders of Konoha, but now they were not only exiled from the village but also hunted by the entire ninja world. They had to wander and flee desperately.
Their plight seemed even more dire than that of He Yan's caravan. Were the Uchihas planning to escape to the Wind Country, seeking refuge in its vast deserts to evade the major ninja villages?
He Yan hoped for their safety and good fortune, silently praying for the Uchiha clan, their saviors.
