Mamoru thought of his father, the Uchiha Clan Head. Compared to this, the residence they lived in was worlds apart. His home could only be considered a small courtyard, there was no comparison between the two. Both were the main families of their respective clans, yet the scale of their mansions was so vastly different.
But there was no helping it, who told the Uchiha clan to go through that forced migration?
He remembered that after the last Nine-Tails Incident, the Konoha Higher-Ups, led by Danzo, had used it as a pretext to make a big deal out of things. Using the excuse that 'the Sharingan can control Nine-Tails,' the Uchiha clan was listed as suspects in the attack on the village.
Subsequently, the Higher-Ups forcibly drove the Uchiha clan away from the center of the village, allocating a remote corner downstream of the Naka River as their new clan lands.
From then on, the Uchiha clan was not only banished to the edge of the village but also completely excluded from the village's core of power. Since then, an irreconcilable gap had gradually developed between the Uchiha and the Konoha Higher-Ups.
As time passed, the long-aggrieved Uchiha finally chose to plot a rebellion. Unfortunately, a traitor emerged within the clan, and the entire plan was ruthlessly nipped in the bud before it could be implemented.
As a transmigrator with memories of his past life, Mamoru looked back at this history calmly from a bystander's perspective. He believed the Uchiha clan itself was not in the wrong. The clan's temporary forbearance was met with the Konoha Higher-Ups' increasingly aggressive suppression. Since the other side was heartless, they couldn't blame his side for being unjust, resistance was the only way out.
As for Itachi's reason—'not wanting the Uchiha to bear the infamy of rogue ninjas'.
In Mamoru's view, this reason was simply too absurd.
Had Itachi been completely brainwashed by the 'will of fire' pyramid scheme? Didn't he understand that history is always written by the victors?
"Mamoru, Shino, sorry to keep you waiting."
A soft, gentle voice interrupted his churning thoughts, pulling his mind back to reality.
Mamoru looked up and saw Hinata running out from the grand gate of the Hyuga house. She was panting slightly, her face flushed with a thin layer of red from the run, and the bangs on her forehead swayed gently with her movements.
"We just arrived ourselves." Mamoru replied naturally, composing his thoughts.
Shino nodded silently beside him.
After the three of them met up, they walked together along the wide street toward the village gate.
When they reached the meeting point, they found that Kurenai, their Jōnin instructor, had not yet arrived.
Near the Konoha gate, there was a very sturdy-looking cargo carriage parked, its dark brown body showing some signs of wear. Two sturdy brown horses were hitched to the shafts, their hooves occasionally pawing at the ground restlessly.
A person was standing by the carriage, waving his arm vigorously in their direction.
"Mamoru-sama! Over here!"
That person was Komatsu, his face brimming with a warm smile.
Mamoru and the other two walked over quickly. As they approached, they saw Komatsu holding some hay in one hand and stroking the horse's neck extremely gently with the other, carefully handing the fodder to the horse's mouth. The horse lowered its head submissively, took the hay from his palm, and gave a comfortable snort.
"A small thing like feeding them requires you to do it yourself?" Mamoru asked curiously, watching his meticulous movements.
"Haha, they are important pack animals after all. It's more reassuring to do it personally." Komatsu replied with a smile, reaching out to gently stroke the horse's smooth neck. The horse gave a comfortable snort.
"Mamoru-sama..."
"Stop!" Mamoru raised a hand to interrupt him. "Stop calling me 'sama'. It sounds weird. I give you permission to call me by my name directly."
"Alright, Mamoru." Komatsu followed his lead, unable to help a chuckle. "You really are... very interesting."
"What do you mean?" Mamoru raised an eyebrow, looking at him with an inquiring gaze.
"Sorry, I didn't mean any harm." Komatsu quickly waved his hands in explanation, his eyes sincere. "I just feel that the way you speak is very special, quite different from everyone else I've met before."
"Is that so?" Mamoru gave him a suspicious look, then joked with a serious face, "Let me warn you first, I'm not gay."
"Gay? What does that mean?" Komatsu looked blank, completely failing to understand this term from another world.
Mamoru laughed to himself.
However, Komatsu's words made him slightly concerned. So, he leaned closer to Hinata beside him and asked in a low voice, "Hinata, is the way I talk really that strange?"
"N-n-n... No!"
Hinata was instantly flustered by this sudden proximity. Her small face turned bright red at a speed visible to the naked eye, and she froze in place, at a loss for what to do.
"I-I think Mamoru-kun speaks v-v-very well. It-it's just..." Her voice grew smaller and smaller, finally almost dissolving into the air, "T-too close..."
Seeing her face completely flushed, Mamoru leaned forward with concern. "Hmm? What's wrong?"
"Your face is so red. Are you feeling unwell?" He naturally reached out, wanting to touch her forehead.
"N-n-n... No..."
Hinata jumped back a small step, her hands waving frantically in front of her chest, even her ears turning completely red.
Mamoru couldn't help but laugh, thinking that this little girl was easy to embarrass.
He shrugged and was about to lower his raised hand.
"You brat!" Kurenai's voice came from a distance, carrying a hint of feigned anger. "I could see you bullying Hinata from all the way over there!"
Before her words finished, Kurenai's figure had arrived. She immediately pulled Hinata into her arms, glaring at Mamoru like a mother hen protecting her chick.
"I didn't. Don't go making false accusations." Mamoru immediately raised his hands in surrender, his voice full of grievance. "Even if you're the leader, you can't just frame people. Genin have human rights too."
"Human rights? What nonsense are you talking about now?" Kurenai was stunned by his crooked logic, her red lips slightly parted, momentarily unsure how to respond.
"Hahaha..."
Beside them, Komatsu finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"As expected, what Mamoru says is truly very interesting."
"I told you I'm not gay. Don't try to get cozy with me." Mamoru glared at him irritably.
"Alright, stop messing around." Kurenai massaged her forehead helplessly, feeling that her career as a team leader was full of challenges.
"Tch." Mamoru curled his lip and finally quieted down, putting his hands back in his pockets.
Kurenai took a deep breath, as if to suppress all her helplessness.
She turned to Komatsu, regaining the composure of a professional ninja. "Komatsu-san, we can set off now."
"No problem."
Komatsu brushed the grass clippings off his hands, his expression becoming serious. He gave the horse's neck one last soothing pat. "We can leave at any time."
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Kurenai nodded.
She turned to face the three of Team 8, her expression turning stern. "From now on, the mission officially begins. Although this request is a C-rank Escort Mission and theoretically we won't encounter ninjas, you must never let your guard down. Is that understood?"
"Yes." Hinata and Shino immediately straightened their bodies and replied with spirit.
"Yeah..." Mamoru drawled his response, sounding listless.
Kurenai's gaze lingered on him for a moment with a warning look, but she ultimately said nothing more.
She gave a sharp wave of her hand. "Then, let's head out."
(End of Chapter)
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