Six o'clock in the morning.

Before the alarm clock rang, Uchiha Ci smashed the annoying clock that had bothered him for a whole year with a slap.

At this moment, he was fully dressed in protective gear.

With a forehead protector, knee pads, shuriken pouch around his legs, gloves, foot straps, a scroll storage bag wrapped around his side waist, and a ninja tool pouch at the back of his waist, he was ready.

He donned a high-collared black robe bearing the Uchiha clan emblem, stood in front of the mirror, swept his hair back, pulled down his eyelids, and chuckled:

“Now, I can see your demise!”

(Sudden Wind Sasuke KO Akatsuki Itachi Secret Technique.jpg)

After indulging in his self-satisfaction for a moment, at exactly six o'clock, Uchiha Ci jumped out of the window and happened to run into Uchiha Obito, who was making the same move next door.

“Ci, are you going on a mission too?”

Uchiha Ci nodded coolly and reminded him, “Don’t be late again.”

“Are you kidding? I, Uchiha Obito, am going to become Hokage... eh eh eh!”

While speaking, Uchiha Obito patted his chest, stepped into empty space, and fell directly out of the second-floor window.

Uchiha Ci shook his head slightly, thinking to himself, “You really live up to your reputation, Obito the latecomer.”

With this fall, he twisted his ankle and bumped his head; anyone who didn’t know would think he just emerged from the Rain Country battlefield with a delightful damage package.

After a trip to the Konoha hospital, by the time he made it to Minato's class, he would be at least an hour late.

However, Uchiha Ci was already used to such scenes. He didn't pay attention to the guy below and just laughed as he left a remark:

“Obito, let’s meet at the Memorial Stone next time; don’t forget to burn some paper for me.”

Having said that, Uchiha Ci kicked off the eaves, using his foot arch to propel himself, leaping up and rushing towards the assembly point.

His steps exuded an impatient excitement.

Uchiha Obito: ???

In the Uchiha clan territory, inside a tall mansion.

"That's how it is, Senior Fugaku," Uchiha Shisui respectfully bowed to the young man in front of him, explaining his intentions.

“Uchiha Ci, is it?” Uchiha Fugaku’s expression remained calm, slightly nodding as he noted the name.

“I believe he will become a bridge between the clan and the village. Senior Fugaku, please keep an eye on my friend when you reach the Land of Soup!”

“I would be very grateful!”

Uchiha Fugaku crossed his arms and spoke calmly:

“Go on, Shisui. I will head to the Land of Soup half a day later than Elder Shana, and I will pay attention to your friend.”

“On your side, remember to contact the clan members at the camp as soon as you arrive in the Rain Country.”

“Also, be cautious of a new organization emerging in the Rain Country.”

Uchiha Shisui was taken aback, slightly raising his head in confusion:

“A new organization?”

Uchiha Fugaku furrowed his brows slightly,

“An organization called Akatsuki. Their goals are quite naive, but you might want to try to make contact.”

“After all, the three leaders of that organization are disciples of Lord Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin.”

“They naturally lean towards Konoha.”

Uchiha Shisui nodded slightly, pondering for a moment before murmuring:

“Akatsuki...”

At eight o’clock in the morning.

At the entrance of Konoha.

Two teams, all composed of Uchihas, gathered.

Elder Uchiha Shana glanced at the sky and then at the assembled members, speaking淡淡:

“Since everyone has arrived, the mission will begin immediately!”

“Upon reaching the designated location, each team leader will unroll the mission scroll and explain, assigning tasks.”

“That’s all; let’s depart!”

After saying this, Uchiha Shana took the lead, lightly waving to Uchiha Ci and Uchiha Seiichirou, and then stepped onto the path out of the village.

In this situation, the six members of both teams didn’t have time for small talk.

Uchiha Shisui smiled at Uchiha Ci, thumped his chest with a fist, and then joined the team.

Uchiha Ci looked on with a puzzled expression.

He shook his head and didn’t pay much attention.

Although Uchiha Shisui had some misunderstandings about him, the tasks they were assigned were completely unrelated.

One was heading to the Rain Country in the northwest direction of the Land of Fire, while the other was heading east across the long hilly terrain to the Land of Soup.

Ci didn’t believe that Uchiha Shisui, being in the Rain Country, could drag him from the Land of Soup and prevent him from dying.

This time, the biggest source of risk had already been eliminated!

The advantage was mine!

Uchiha Ci’s team set off from Konoha Village, quickly advancing towards the Land of Soup at a steady speed.

The speed and pace of the ninjas were comparable to that of a dump truck; it only took a day to traverse the long hilly area from Konoha Village to the Land of Soup.

The three people in the team were not chatty by nature, remaining silent all the way. After leaving Konoha Village and moving away from the prosperous areas of the Land of Fire,

the scenery ahead suddenly changed.

Refugees from the southern border of the Land of Soup and displaced people gradually filled their view, and the landscape transformed from vibrant spring green to a desolate gray.

Withered branches, barkless tree trunks, and helpless gazes leaning against them were the most common sights Uchiha Ci encountered along the way.

At this point, they had only reached the midpoint.

Numerous signs of ninjas had already appeared nearby.

Scattered items from camping and surrounding warning traps, along with occasional prying eyes from dark corners, made the three members of the team a bit more cautious.

In the lead-up to the Third Shinobi World War, the small countries caught between the great nations were the most chaotic areas.

The Soup Ninja Village could not protect the Land of Soup and could not bear the punishment for mission failure, resulting in many becoming rogue ninjas, blending in with the refugees into the Land of Fire.

Ultimately, they became bandits and appeared on mission bounty lists.

As the light on the land gradually diminished.

The sun set, the red clouds in the sky faded, and darkness was about to fall.

Uchiha Shana stopped the advancing team.

He pulled out the mission scroll, spread it out on a stone, and spoke in a cold tone:

“Everyone come over; we will now conduct the mission briefing.”

Uchiha Ci felt a shiver, knowing that the main event was about to start.

Whether he could achieve the goal of leaving the village or dying would depend on this session.

“This mission’s objective is to reach Hell Valley in the Land of Soup to support the Uchiha clansmen stationed there.”

“Where do you think the greatest danger comes from?”

Facing the two, Uchiha Shana fell silent for a moment before suddenly asking.

Uchiha Seiichirou curled his lips: “Aside from the contents of the ninja survival code, the main thing is dealing with the counterattack from the Blood Pool clan, right?”

“Those madmen, one more dangerous than the other.”

Uchiha Ci remained silent, only nodding in agreement, sharing the same view as Seiichirou.

Moreover, he also knew—

Above the madmen, there are experts!

The Blood Pool Castle, or rather, the Flame of the Castle!

This great filial son Itachi’s predecessor single-handedly rampaged through and slaughtered his entire clan without any external help, eliminating everyone from the Blood Pool clan except for his daughter from the ninja world.

It’s hard to imagine the level to which the Blood Dragon Eye of the opponent has evolved.

The Blood Pool Chino that appeared in the original work’s Sasuke Light arc is no match compared to this one.

This is the real heavyweight figure!

However,

Uchiha Shana shook his head, sighed, closed his eyes, and said with great heaviness:

“You are wrong.”

“The real danger does not lie in the Blood Pool, but above the Blood Pool!”

“What?” Uchiha Ci was taken aback.

There’s actually someone above the experts?