Chapter 8: The Ninja Survival Code, Clouds and Thunder Appear!
6:00 a.m.
Before the alarm even went off, Uchiha Ci smacked it with his palm, completely destroying the clock that had annoyed him for an entire year.
By then, he was already fully equipped—forehead protector, knee guards, shuriken leg wraps, gloves, foot straps, the scroll pouch tied to his side, and the ninja tool pack strapped to his lower back.
He put on his high-collared black robe emblazoned with the Uchiha clan crest, stood in front of the mirror, lifted his hair, pulled down his eyelids, and gave a sinister grin.
"Now, I can see your death!"
(Gale Sasuke KO Akatsuki Itachi Ultimate Move.jpg)
After basking in his self-satisfaction for a moment, at exactly six o'clock, Uchiha Ci jumped out of the window and happened to meet his neighbor, Uchiha Obito, performing the exact same action.
"Ci, are you heading out on a mission too?"
Uchiha Ci nodded coolly and reminded him, "Don't be late again."
"What are you talking about? I, Uchiha Obito, am going to be the Hokage—whoa, whoa, whoa!"
Before he could finish his boast, Obito pounded his chest confidently, only to step on air and fall headfirst from the second-floor window.
Uchiha Ci shook his head slightly. As expected of you, the perpetually late Obito.
That fall twisted his ankle and banged his head—anyone who didn't know better would've thought he just came back from the battlefield in the Land of Rain, proudly carrying his "injury combo package."
At this rate, after a quick trip to Konoha Hospital and treatment, he'd be at least an hour late to Minato's team.
But Uchiha Ci was already used to such scenes. He didn't bother with the guy below, only left a teasing smile and said:
"Obito, next time we'll meet at the Memorial Stone. Don't forget to burn some paper money for your big bro."
With that, Uchiha Ci kicked off from the rooftop, using the arch of his foot for momentum, leaping high toward the assembly point.
His steps carried a hint of impatient excitement.
Uchiha Obito: "???"
---
At the Uchiha clan compound, inside a grand mansion—
"That's how it is, Fugaku-senpai." Uchiha Shisui bowed respectfully before the young man, explaining his purpose for coming.
"Uchiha Ci, huh?" Uchiha Fugaku's expression was calm and unreadable as he nodded slightly, memorizing the name.
"I believe he'll become a bridge between the clan and the village. Fugaku-senpai, when you head to the Land of Hot Water, please look after my friend!"
"I'd be deeply grateful!"
Fugaku crossed his arms and spoke evenly.
"Go on, Shisui. I'll depart for the Land of Hot Water with Elder Setsuna later today. I'll keep an eye on your friend."
"As for you—once you reach the Land of Rain, contact our clan stationed at the camp immediately."
"Also, be cautious of a newly formed organization in the Land of Rain."
Shisui paused, slightly confused.
"A new organization?"
Fugaku frowned slightly.
"They call themselves Akatsuki. Their ideals are naïve, but you can try approaching them."
"After all, the three leaders of that group are disciples of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya."
"Inherently, their stance leans toward Konoha."
Shisui nodded thoughtfully, murmuring to himself after a moment of silence.
---
8:00 a.m.
At Konoha's main gate.
Two teams composed entirely of Uchiha members gathered.
Elder Uchiha Setsuna glanced at the sky, then swept his eyes over the assembled members and said in a calm tone:
"Since everyone is present, the mission begins now."
"Upon arrival at the designated location, each team leader will open their mission scroll and explain the objectives and assignments."
"That's all—move out!"
With that, Uchiha Setsuna took the lead, motioning for Uchiha Ci and Uchiha Seiichiro to follow as he stepped onto the road leading out of the village.
Given the situation, the six members across the two teams had no time for small talk.
Shisui smiled at Uchiha Ci, pounded his fist against his chest in a friendly gesture, and then followed his squad forward.
Uchiha Ci looked puzzled.
He shook his head, not thinking much of it.
Although Shisui seemed to misunderstand him, their missions were completely unrelated.
One was heading northwest toward the Land of Rain, while the other was heading straight east across the long hills toward the Land of Hot Water.
Ci refused to believe that Shisui, stationed in the Land of Rain, could somehow stop him from dying gloriously in the Land of Hot Water!
This time, the biggest risk factor had already been eliminated.
The advantage was his!
---
Uchiha Ci's team departed from Konoha and advanced toward the Land of Hot Water at a steady but swift pace.
A ninja's traveling speed rivaled that of a charging truck. Crossing the long hills of the Land of Fire to reach the Land of Hot Water would take them only a single day.
The three of them weren't the talkative type, so the journey was silent.
Once they left the prosperous lands of the Fire Country behind, the scene ahead changed drastically.
Refugees from the Land of Rain and vagrants from the Land of Hot Water filled their path, and the once-green scenery of spring vitality turned bleak and gray.
Bare branches, barkless trunks, and hopeless eyes leaning against them were what Uchiha Ci saw most along the way.
They were only halfway through their journey, yet traces of ninja presence had already appeared nearby—
abandoned cooking gear, perimeter traps, and the occasional watchful gaze from the shadows made all three of them more cautious.
On the eve of the Third Great Ninja War, the small countries caught between the great nations were the most chaotic.
The Hidden Hot Water Village couldn't protect its country and couldn't bear the punishment of failed missions. Many of its ninja became rogues, blending in with refugees who crossed into the Land of Fire—eventually becoming bandits with bounties on their heads.
---
As daylight dimmed, the sun dipped below the horizon, the red clouds fading into an approaching night.
Uchiha Setsuna halted the advancing squad.
He pulled out the mission scroll, spread it on a rock, and said coldly:
"Come here. It's time for the mission briefing."
Uchiha Ci straightened—this was it.
Whether he could earn the "Died Immediately After Leaving the Village" achievement depended on this.
"This mission's objective is to reach the Hell Valley of the Land of Hot Water and support the Uchiha stationed there."
"Tell me, where do you think the greatest danger lies?"
After a moment of silence, Setsuna suddenly asked the two.
Uchiha Seiichiro frowned. "Aside from what's written in the Ninja Survival Code, the main threat would be retaliation from the Chinoike clan, right?"
"Those lunatics—each one's crazier than the last."
Uchiha Ci said nothing but nodded in agreement. He shared the same thought.
Moreover, he knew—
above madmen, there were monsters.
The head of the Chinoike clan, or rather, Chinoike En, an elder of Itachi's generation—a true prodigy—had once, with his strength alone, annihilated his entire clan without any external help, leaving only his daughter alive.
It was hard to imagine how far his Blood Dragon Eye had evolved.
Compared to him, Chinoike Chino from Sasuke's later arc wasn't even worthy of carrying his sandals.
Now that was a real powerhouse.
However—
Uchiha Setsuna slowly shook his head, sighed, and closed his eyes, his tone heavy.
"You're both wrong."
"The real danger doesn't lie within the Chinoike… but above them!"
"What?" Uchiha Ci froze.
What the hell?
There's someone even stronger above the top experts?