After an unknown amount of time, Uchiha Yashiro turned around.
The anger on his face had settled, replaced by the cold hardness and calm of a veteran general making a final decision.
His Sharingan had been deactivated, but his gaze remained as sharp as ever.
He looked at Sho U, then at Young Ai, and finally swept his gaze over his scarred clansmen behind him, whose eyes were filled with anticipation and bewilderment.
"We need to discuss this."
Yashiro said in a deep voice, not loud, but carrying authority.
Sho U nodded slightly and retreated into the deeper shadows of the cave with Young Ai and Renka, giving them space.
The thirty-odd Uchiha gathered together, with Yashiro and Inaho at the core.
A low-voiced, intense discussion lasted for quite some time.
Some faces showed painful struggle, some were indignant, some remained silent, and in some eyes, a new fire gradually ignited.
It was a desire for survival, a rebellion against betrayal, and a faint longing for a possible new future.
Finally, Uchiha Yashiro walked out, followed by his clansmen with various expressions, but their eyes had mostly unified into a single resolve.
Yashiro stood still in front of Sho U, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled.
"Uchiha Sho U."
He addressed him formally, as if conducting an important handover.
"We... accept your proposal. From this day forward, Uchiha Yashiro and his unit of thirty-seven are dead on the battlefields of the Land of Rain. Standing before you are a group of nameless Uchiha seeking a new life and the fires of revenge."
He paused, his voice firm and decisive.
"We are going with you."
On Sho U's face, the first truly relieved yet ambitious smile of the day finally appeared. He reached out his hand.
These thirty-plus Uchiha could be said to greatly strengthen the power of the Uchiha Clan in Kumogakure. Moreover, these Uchiha were all in their prime, and their potential was quite good.
When the time comes, the position of Fourth Raikage will certainly be his. Compared to him, the current Young Ai has a huge gap that even being the son of the Third Raikage cannot bridge. Furthermore, given the Third Raikage's personality, he wouldn't do much to help his son.
The Uchiha Clan can be considered to have fulfilled the dream in Kumogakure that they couldn't achieve in Konoha.
As for the families of these Uchiha, over the next few years, he would contact Elder Setsuna to transport them over batch by batch.
After all, most of their family members were ordinary Uchiha. The disappearance of these ordinary people wouldn't attract the attention of arrogant people like Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura.
Even in Konoha's number one clan, the Uchiha, ordinary people made up a large portion.
People who can become Ninjas are very rare in the entire Ninja World.
In this Ninja World, the majority are ordinary people who might have a bit of Chakra but haven't reached the level of becoming a Ninja at all.
"Welcome," he said.
"Welcome to the beginning of the true future of the Uchiha."
Looking at the thirty-odd Uchiha before him, whose eyes were complex but who had already resolved to follow him, Sho U chuckled.
He quickly made arrangements.
"Renka, Ai."
Sho U turned to his two most capable lieutenants.
"I'll leave things here to you for now. Continue according to the original plan: operate cautiously in the border regions of the Land of Rain, gather intelligence, and observe the movements of all parties, but try to avoid direct conflict."
"Our primary objective has been more than accomplished."
He glanced at the new clansmen who were silently tending to their wounds and adjusting their mindsets.
Young Ai grinned and bumped his fists together, producing a dull thud.
"Don't worry, Elder Sho U! With me here, nothing will go wrong. It's a good chance to have this kid Renka teach me more of those delicate Uchiha tasks."
Uchiha Renka nodded steadily.
"I will act with caution. Lord Sho U, please be careful on your way back as well."
Sho U nodded and then formed a complex hand seal, his Chakra surging.
A dark shadow separated from beneath his feet, rapidly expanding and solidifying into the hideous Shikigami, Tiger Burial, which had a tiger's head, a human body, and held twin blades.
It stood quietly by Sho U's side, its crimson beast-like pupils scanning the surroundings alertly.
"Tiger Burial will stay here at your disposal."
Sho U said to Renka.
"It is extremely fast, can hide in shadows, and possesses both offense and defense. In case of an emergency, it's enough to stall a powerful enemy and buy time for your retreat."
With this powerful Shikigami as a guarantee, Sho U felt more at ease about the safety of the stay-behind group.
After the arrangements were made, Sho U wasted no more time and immediately led Uchiha Yashiro, Inaho, and the thirty-odd others back toward the Land of Lightning, using the secret paths and contact points Kumogakure maintained on the Land of Rain border.
This team was silent and efficient. Although the newly joined Uchiha were still mentally shaken, their discipline as Ninjas ensured they followed orders strictly.
---
A few days later, in Kumogakure, the Raikage's Office.
When Uchiha Sho U appeared before the Third Raikage with over thirty Uchiha Ninjas who clearly had just been through battle, looking travel-worn but unable to hide their elite aura.
The Raikage, renowned for his strength and boldness, was first stunned, then suddenly stood up from behind his massive desk.
"This is...!"
A golden legend!
The Third Raikage's voice was like muffled thunder, and a light of pleasant surprise erupted in his eyes.
He strode around the desk to Sho U and slammed a palm the size of a cattail leaf fan heavily onto Sho U's shoulder.
"Good lad! Sho U! I knew I wasn't wrong about you. How long have you been out? To think you'd bring back so many Uchiha talents! Hahahaha!"
The Raikage's laughter made the office window frames buzz; it was joy from the bottom of his heart.
Absorbing over thirty Uchiha at once, including two Elite Jonin and several Jonin, was a tangible and massive boost to Kumogakure's strength.
Even more so, it was the most powerful validation of his decision to implement an open recruitment policy and place Sho U in a position of importance.
If Ōnoki of Iwagakure found out, he would probably be so jealous he couldn't sleep.
Among the Kage of the Five Great Ninja Villages, besides Konoha, Iwagakure had the deepest understanding of the terrifying power of the Uchiha Clan.
After all, Ōnoki had been ruthlessly humiliated by Uchiha Madara as if he were just a bug on the side of the road.
Standing beside the Raikage was Elder Yotsuki Yume, a female high-ranking official known for her composure and wisdom. At this moment, she couldn't help but step forward to carefully observe these newly arrived Uchiha.
Perhaps because she was too excited and moved too much, she suddenly cried out "Ah," clutching her lower back with a look of pain and embarrassment on her face.
"Elder Yume?" The Raikage turned his head in concern.
"It's nothing, it's nothing," Yotsuki Yume waved her hand.
"Elder Sho U, you really... gave us a huge surprise! Well done!"
"Truly young and promising. I'm getting old too; Chiyo, who is from the same generation as me, has already retired to the second line, and I'm about there myself. In the future, I'll leave my affairs for Elder Sho U to handle."
??????
Hearing Yotsuki Yume's words, both the Third Raikage and Sho U were somewhat stunned.
Elder Yume's meaning was that she wanted to transfer the power in her hands to Sho U.
Was this a sign that she favored Sho U to be the next Raikage?
As expected of Kumogakure, where strength reigns supreme.
The Third Raikage was only stunned for a moment and didn't care much. After all, he also favored Sho U, and seeing him become the next Raikage was something he was willing to see.
Although his own son also dreamed of becoming Raikage, he knew that with Sho U's strength, Young Ai's goal of becoming Raikage would likely be strangled in its cradle.
He had no intention of helping Young Ai.
If you want something, you have to fight for it yourself, not rely on the help of others.
Sho U smiled and gave a brief report to the two highest-ranking officials of Kumogakure. The Raikage and Elder Yume nodded repeatedly, and their eyes shone with peculiar light, especially when they heard about Hanzou's appearance and how Sho U's special summoned beast successfully intercepted him to cover the retreat.
The Third Raikage had seen Sho U's strange summoned beasts before.
Although they were no match for him, he had to admit that with those summoned beasts cooperating, almost none among the Kage-level experts could win.
Even he himself had suffered quite a few injuries before taking them down.
"We'll discuss the specific details later. First, take your clansmen to settle in."
The Raikage waved his hand, very straightforward.
"Whatever supplies or medical support you need, go straight to the logistics department and tell them I said so! From now on, they are the Uchiha of my Kumogakure."
Advance chapter available on pãtrêon Got1808