Chapter 5: The Land of Hot Water, a Land of Chaos
"Ci-kun."
Uchiha Shisui stepped forward, lightly patting Uchiha Ci on the shoulder.
He had keenly noticed the slight tremor that ran through Ci's body moments ago—an almost imperceptible shiver betraying his inner tension.
Despite having already graduated early, Shisui was still shorter than Ci. The gesture of reassurance, well-intentioned as it was, looked slightly comical, as if a fledgling bird were trying to comfort a fully grown hawk.
"You don't need to worry too much," Shisui said gently, smiling with an air of calm confidence.
"I didn't expect Elder Setsuna himself to personally lead this mission. That means the danger level on your end shouldn't be too high."
Ci blinked at him, utterly blank.
Damn it… you already stole my meat grinder mission in the Land of Rain, and now you're taking the so-called "suicide job" too?
Can you just—be human for once?
"Ci-kun, I still need to finish my current task before tomorrow's assembly," Shisui added, holding up a C-rank mission scroll, "so I'll take my leave."
With that, the boy turned, his black hair catching the moonlight, and vanished into the dim corridors of the Uchiha compound.
---
Night fell slowly over Konoha.
The clouds parted in fragments, letting the silver light of the moon spill across rooftops and alleys, casting everything in a cold, ghostly glow.
Within the heart of the Uchiha compound, a subtle rhythm of wooden clogs echoed against the polished floors. Elder Uchiha Setsuna slid open the door of a small chamber, his movements detached, calm, and precise.
Inside, nearly a hundred crimson eyes immediately snapped open.
"Great Elder!"
Voices rang out in unison, solemn and crisp.
Setsuna seated himself cross-legged in the central chair, a picture of composure, while beside him stood Uchiha Hachidai—the second-in-command of the Hawk Faction.
Before them, a formation of Chūnin and higher-level Uchiha shinobi stood at rigid attention. Every one of them had awakened Sharingan eyes, glowing faintly in the dim light. This was the foundation of the Hawk Faction—a disciplined, lethal assembly of the clan's elite.
"Great Elder, I thought it was already decided to send a capable squad to support the mission in the Land of Hot Water," Hachidai said with a faint frown.
"Why is there a genin on the list—one who hasn't even awakened his Sharingan? Did you not explain the danger of this mission to the clan?"
Setsuna calmly raised his teacup, his cold eyes meeting Hachidai's.
"I will personally be leading this mission," he replied, voice even and measured.
"With me alone, it's enough."
Hachidai's brow furrowed, concern sharpening his features.
"This isn't just about the Blood Pond Clan's unrest, or the increased pressure from guarding them. The Land of Hot Water sits right between the Fire, Lightning, and Water countries. Iwagakure and Sunagakure have already clashed with Kirigakure recently. The region has fallen into utter chaos."
He paused for a breath, then continued in a low, grave tone: "Espionage units, combat teams from every major village—mixed together. Add to that the small factions cropping up since the Second Great Ninja War: Xuanyuan Group, Hannya Sect, the Cult of Jashin, the Tsuchigumo Clan, remnants of Yangyan Village, Kirigakure's Rogue Mist Swordsmen, Iwagakure's Explosive Corps… even Rasa, trying to make merit at the Kirigakure front to become Kazekage—and the bounty hunters from the underground exchange.
"That place is already a boiling pot of madness."
Even a veteran like Hachidai found the notion of Setsuna's approach reckless.
A mission led by one Great Elder, accompanied by only a Chūnin and a single genin?
On paper, it looked like a death sentence.
Manpower was tight—the Uchiha Police Force couldn't simply leave the village without authorization from Konoha.
Hachidai hesitated.
"Perhaps we could request assistance from Konoha?"
"Enough."
Setsuna set down his teacup, tone absolute, sharp as a blade.
"With me alone, it's enough. Hachidai, the mission to guard Hell Valley wasn't commissioned by Konoha. It came directly from the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning.
It's one of our few reliable sources of income."
He raised his gaze, and the Sharingan glinted coldly, menacingly:
"Only the things you control yourself truly count. Anything given by others—you'll have to wag your tail like a dog to receive it. And if they grow displeased… they can kick you aside at any moment."
Hachidai remained silent.
For the Uchiha, ninjas were tools of war—detached from mere production or trade.
Their only reliable sources of income came from high-value missions contracted directly to the clan.
Guarding the Blood Pond Clan, for instance, brought in rewards equivalent to an S-rank mission every year—a stable, long-term revenue. This was why Setsuna refused Konoha's intervention, no matter the cost.
---
Clack.
Uchiha Ci had just opened the door to his modest home when—
A soot-covered boy, goggles slipping down his nose, fell out of a nearby tree.
The culprit was obvious: uneven chakra flow during tree-walking practice.
"Obito, what are you doing again?" Ci asked helplessly.
The boy scrambled to his feet, brushing dirt and leaves from his uniform.
"Yo, Ci! Haha, I was just training for the Chūnin Exams!" Obito said, forcing a laugh while rubbing the back of his head.
"Damn Kakashi! Using his Chūnin rank to boss me around like I'm some lackey! All that for a stupid cat-catching mission! When I master this, I'll shove my Chūnin vest right in his face!"
Ci blinked, piecing it together.
Obito had graduated the Ninja Academy last year. He was Ci's neighbor, his peer, and now a freshly minted genin navigating the same world of petty chaos.
The timeline was already shifting—Obito had spent a year in peace, completing D-rank missions under Minato's squad, oblivious to the wars brewing on the horizon.
The next Great Ninja War would erupt soon, dragging him and countless others to the front lines before he could claim his dream.
Obito's enthusiastic rant ended as he waved a hand:
"What are you spacing out for? Granny made noodles. Come eat!"
Ci nodded, agreeing to pause his thoughts for the moment. He would put his things away first.
On the way, he stopped by the river to retrieve a fork and his sandals. But the bag of recyclable cans he had collected over the week was gone. Most likely stolen.
Ci cursed under his breath.
What the hell is wrong with people these days…
Even last year, Konoha hadn't been like this.
Only recently, as the Uchiha Police Force had been tied up in war meetings, had petty theft and minor chaos begun spreading across the village.
Ci shook his head, a mix of exasperation and inevitability settling over him. He couldn't dwell on small nuisances—not with Hell Valley waiting for him.