However, there were still differences between the four great shinobi villages.
With the support of Devil Fruits and puppeteers, Sunagakure's efficiency was undoubtedly the highest.
Konoha came second.
The environment of the Land of Fire was complex, so Konoha's shinobi also had varied chakra natures.
Fire, wind, water, earth, lightning.
They had all kinds.
The village in the worst situation was actually Kumogakure.
Kumogakure focused mainly on taijutsu and Lightning Release. They had shinobi with other attributes, but not many.
And when it came to deep-sea mining, Lightning Release was far less helpful than the other attributes.
Because efficiency differed, it was inevitable that some people would begin entertaining other thoughts.
Theft, robbery, assassination…
The entire mining area became fraught with hidden danger.
"This is an opportunity!"
Uchiha Yashiro's eyes flickered.
"Kill Konoha shinobi and avenge our clansmen!"
Before long, Uchiha Yashiro gathered the Uchiha elites.
Inside the meeting room.
Uchiha Yashiro swept his gaze across everyone present.
"Everyone, Konoha was originally founded by our Uchiha clan. But that evil old Senju ghost stole what rightfully belonged to us Uchiha, then passed it down to that old dog Sarutobi."
"That fellow Hiruzen Sarutobi became Hokage and occupied the position for decades."
"Throughout those decades, he continuously targeted and suppressed the Uchiha clan."
"I will not forget this hatred. I believe none of you have forgotten it either."
"And now, our opportunity for revenge has come."
"The mining area is crowded with forces from all sides. The situation is complicated. Among them are large numbers of Konoha shinobi."
"This is our best chance."
"Kill those Konoha shinobi and avenge our dead clansmen. At the very least, we must interfere with Konoha's mining efficiency and make them pay for targeting the Uchiha."
Everyone's emotions were stirred.
"Revenge!"
"Revenge!"
"Kill those damned Konoha shinobi!"
"Avenge our clansmen!"
Uchiha Yashiro looked toward one figure.
"Tekka, go to the Hyuga clan. I have something to discuss with them. I believe they also want revenge against Konoha. If the Uchiha and Hyuga cooperate, our assassination efficiency will definitely increase greatly."
Uchiha Tekka hesitated slightly.
"Yashiro-sama, what about the Kaguya clan?"
"We have been allied with the Kaguya clan for a long time. The Hyuga clan once publicly declared that they were severing ties with the Kaguya clan. If we cooperate with the Hyuga, the Kaguya clan may be displeased."
Uchiha Yashiro said indifferently, "The Uchiha are not vassals of the Kaguya clan. We cooperate with whoever we wish to cooperate with."
"If the Kaguya clan can understand that, then good."
"If they cannot understand it, there is nothing I can do."
"Compared to the Hyuga clan, the help the Kaguya clan can provide us is far too limited."
"Setting aside their decent individual strength, those Kaguya people are simply lunatics. Once they start killing, it is as if they enter a frenzy. Sometimes they even attack their allies."
"Such unstable people are not good partners."
"Go quickly. Time waits for no one."
Uchiha Tekka nodded.
"Yes, Yashiro-sama."
After the meeting ended, Uchiha Yashiro went to a training ground.
A training ground specially built for Uchiha Itachi.
"That person truly did not deceive me. Uchiha Itachi's talent is indeed far higher than that of other Uchiha. He learns ninjutsu as soon as he is taught. Even at such a young age, he is calm and composed."
"With such talent, perhaps he really might reach Madara-sama's level one day."
"If that happens, it would be wonderful."
"Awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan would make him unmatched in this era."
"There will not be a second Senju Hashirama."
"Even Rasa, the current strongest man in the shinobi world, would not be Itachi's opponent."
"With such strength, he would be able to lead the Uchiha back to Konoha and take back everything that belongs to us!"
"I truly hope Itachi can grow faster."
"I truly hope I can see that day within my lifetime."
Uchiha Yashiro's arrival interrupted Uchiha Itachi's training.
"Yashiro-sama."
"Itachi."
Uchiha Yashiro revealed a smile.
"Have you encountered any problems in the training ground?"
Uchiha Itachi shook his head.
"Reporting to Yashiro-sama, no."
"That is good. If you do, come directly to me. As long as I can answer, I will answer you."
Uchiha Yashiro paused.
"These years, the Uchiha clan has suffered too much injustice and too much targeting. We have been forced to this point. This is all Konoha's fault. It is all Hiruzen Sarutobi's fault."
"Itachi, you are the genius of our Uchiha clan. The future of the Uchiha clan depends on you."
"You must lead the Uchiha to take back what belongs to us!"
Uchiha Itachi nodded.
"Yes, Yashiro-sama."
Uchiha Yashiro left in satisfaction.
But what Uchiha Yashiro did not notice was this—
As Uchiha Itachi looked at Uchiha Yashiro's back, a complex meaning appeared in his eyes.
"The village… the clan…"
"Without the village, where would the clan be?"
"Yashiro-sama's vision is too narrow."
"The people of the clan are too selfish."
"But training properly is not wrong."
"When I possess sufficient strength, I will be able to bring the Uchiha back to Konoha and admit our mistakes."
In the end, the Kaguya clan still set aside their conflict with the Hyuga clan.
They did not mention the Hyuga clan's public declaration of severing ties with the Kaguya clan.
The three clans jointly formed a raiding squad.
Their target was Konoha.
Ambushes, theft, harassment…
They did not seek to gain anything.
They only sought to make Konoha suffer.
This left Konoha miserable.
This was not the Land of Fire. If they wanted reinforcements, it would not be so easy.
Konoha also could not transfer too many shinobi to the mining area. Hiruzen Sarutobi was worried that once Konoha's defensive strength became insufficient, Sunagakure and Kumogakure might seize the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Konoha.
Kirigakure held a deep grudge against the Kaguya clan.
But at this moment, even if they saw Kaguya shinobi, they chose to remain still.
Konoha suffering losses made Kirigakure happy too.
Kirigakure would not forget how Konoha had betrayed and sold them out back then.
Even if Konoha refused to admit it, most of Kirigakure believed that Konoha had done it.
"Damn it!"
When the news returned to the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face instantly darkened.
"The Uchiha, the Hyuga—none of them are any good."
"Even the Kaguya clan has joined in? The Kaguya clan has no feud with Konoha, yet they still attack us. They truly do not know life from death. I will make them pay the price!"
Meanwhile.
Sunagakure.
A figure quickly rushed into the Kazekage's office.
"Kazekage-sama, we have found Roshi's trail."
"He is still in the Land of Wind."
"He is in a town called Falling Stone City. There is one of Sunagakure's shinobi outposts nearby. There is a high probability that he intends to attack our outpost again!"