Uchiha's personal opinion

"Mastery of Ninja Tools - Wind Demon Shuriken!"

Just as the two sides were about to clash, Uchiha Shisui unsealed a giant shuriken from a sealing scroll, unfolded it, and hurled it at the Iwagakure ninja charging at the forefront.

"A trivial skill!"

The young Iwagakure members screamed and quickly formed hand seals to intercept Shisui with ninjutsu when they saw the ninja tool in his hand.

"Shuriken Clone Technique!"

Just as the Fuma Shuriken was thrown, Uchiha Shisui's left hand completed the hand seals, and the giant Fuma Shuriken instantly transformed into more than ten, each attacking the Iwagakure ninjas.

However, such a straight-line attack is nothing to a competent ninja, so the Iwagakure ninjas also felt that the teaching standard of combat was to dodge or intercept it.

"The balsam flower's claws are red—"

Just after the Wind Demon Shuriken flew out, a burst of Fire Release chakra suddenly ignited on its blade, transforming the giant shuriken into a series of fiery wheels.

"This……"

The Earth Release ninjutsu that the Iwagakure ninja had prepared seemed to be having difficulty blocking.

But that wasn't all. Uchiha Shisui flicked his right hand slightly, changing the trajectory of the Flame Shuriken by using the thin, invisible, specially made steel wire that connected it to the Fuma Shuriken, and once again attacking the Iwagakure members who had either managed to dodge or were trying to block it with the Earth Formation!

"Boom boom boom!!"

As the fire-style ninjutsu attached to the Wind Demon Shuriken exploded, flames carrying shuriken fragments transformed into a barrage of steel and fire, knocking down several Iwagakure ninjas.

Then, Uchiha Shisui also drew a leaping motion—

"Uchiha Style: Sun Halo Dance!"

……

"Very good..."

Witnessing Uchiha Shisui's fluid and seamless combo attacks, Uchiha Tokumitsu smiled broadly and nodded repeatedly.

Uchiha Shisui was simply the most quintessential Uchiha ninja!

That combo attack perfectly combines the Uchiha clan's ninja tool manipulation techniques, the Hokage lineage's shuriken shadow clone technique, and also incorporates fire-style ninjutsu. The method of changing the trajectory of the Fuma shuriken attack also incorporates the shadow windmill technique and the puppet manipulation techniques of the Sand Village!

Although it looks flashy, Uchiha Tokumitsu could defeat it with just one fireball, but there is no denying that this is the classic fighting art of the Uchiha ninja!

"Heroes emerge from among the young!"

"As expected, he is a genius ninja of the Uchiha clan!"

Holy crap!

...This praise came from the uncultured Kisame Hoshigaki, and seemed somewhat abrupt amidst the chorus of compliments.

"If any department is interested, they can send their own personnel to charge the enemy in small teams. Consider it a training opportunity!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu turned his head and gave the order.

As for this minor conflict, there's no suspense left.

Chapter 417 In a nutshell

When Huang Tu traveled through the southern counties where the riots were escalating and arrived at Ishikawa Castle, the southern capital, his heart was heavy.

This time, entrusted by the Third Tsuchikage, Lord Onoki, he will serve as the ambassador with full authority to communicate with the shogunate.

However, based on what was seen along the way, the situation in the southern counties was indeed not optimistic.

Although the ninjas, who moved swiftly through the air, paid little attention to geographical obstacles, the loess swept along the way, completely destroying bridges and roads wherever they went. Some towns they passed through also had their city walls demolished. The mob completely disregarded all rules and order, waving metal weapons they had obtained from who-knows-where and rushing back and forth.

However, although the nobles and samurai armies who were supposed to maintain the old order were no longer present, the southern counties did not descend into complete chaos and bloodshed as Huang Tu had imagined. Although the trees were covered with the dried corpses of nobles and samurai, a new order based on rebellious mobs seemed to have spontaneously formed in the towns and villages.

At least, people are still working on the terraced fields, and the markets in the town are still bustling with people.

It seems that these mobs are doing quite well even after they've completely broken free from the nobles' control...

This also differs significantly from the traditional understanding of loess.

In the traditional cognitive concept of Iwagakure, the daimyo is the brain of a country, the court nobles are the five senses that express the brain's will, the nobles are the torso, the ninjas are the hands that defend against foreign enemies, and the commoners are the feet that carry the burden forward. In this way, each social class is content with their lot and strives for their own good life. So how could there be any reason for the feet to move freely?

Huang Tu's face grew increasingly gloomy, and it wasn't until they arrived at Ishikawa County that his expression finally eased.

The only regret was that Huang Tu didn't encounter the so-called "rebellious Iwagakure" along the way, otherwise he would definitely have captured them and interrogated them thoroughly!

"Lord Loess..."

Perhaps noticing that Huang Tu's expression was a bit off, Chi Tu, who came to greet him, didn't say much. He simply led him directly to the residence of the Southern Guardian and explained the current situation to him.

"...I've seen what happened along the way, so let's not talk about what happened in the south!"

After patiently listening to Chi Tu's rambling for a while, Huang Tu impatiently interrupted him, asking, "How is the Bird Country now? What's the situation with the Demon Leech's ninja army? How many Konoha ninja have come from the other side?"

"Furthermore, what exactly are their intentions? Have you conducted effective intelligence analysis?"

Huang Tu stopped in his tracks, standing before the imposing gates of the Guardian's Mansion, and said solemnly, "Furthermore, what exactly is the nobles' attitude towards the rebellious mob? Have they said anything about it?"

"Should we only execute the ringleaders or kill them all? Has this been decided?"

A barrage of questions left Chitu speechless.

"Since that's the case, there's no need for me to waste any more words with these people..."

Huang Tu pursed his lips at the Guardian Mansion: "Tell him I'm going straight to the Bird Kingdom's front lines!"

"...Yes, sir!"

Akatsuki, who had been severely reprimanded, felt ashamed but could only offer a reluctant bow.

"Also, where is the Anbu Jonin, Da Luo?"

Huang Tu continued to ask.

He was also one of the high-ranking members of Iwagakure who knew Ashura's true identity.

"...Still a ninja force on the front lines in the Land of Birds."

Chitu wiped the sweat from his forehead and answered softly.

"You bastard..."

Huang Tu glared at him fiercely.

Ashura's identity is extremely sensitive, and everyone knows how bad the relationship is between the Holy Land and the Shogunate. If something unexpected happens on the front lines, causing Ashura's identity to be exposed again or if he is surrounded and killed, then Iwagakure and Kumogakure will suffer a huge loss!

"Furthermore, I hope that the issues I just mentioned can be answered at least once before I return!"

Before leaving, Huang Tu turned back and gave him a final word of advice.

"understand……"

Although he felt deeply humiliated, Huang Tu was, after all, the son of the Tsuchikage, and also had the status of assisting the Tsuchikage and the leader of the Jonin team. Akatsuchi, on the other hand, was just a member of the Kage's Guard and naturally had no chance of fighting against him.

……

After being overwhelmed with problems and resigned to his fate, the leech could finally breathe a sigh of relief after the arrival of the yellow earth.

After all, although the Konoha ninja on the other side did not launch an attack, the squad's raids never stopped.

After explaining the situation of the ninja army in detail, Huang Tu fell into deep thought.

According to Hiru's report, although a considerable number of Konoha ninja were gathered at the front, they exercised a certain degree of restraint in their actions. Otherwise, if Uchiha Tokumitsu were here alone, Hiru's ninja forces would have been defeated.

"Are you sure it was just a group of hot-blooded young ninjas who acted on their own?"

Huang Tu confirmed it again.

"Yes."

The leech answered with absolute certainty.

Although he had provoked those young Iwagakure ninjas into acting on their own after verbally harassing them, he never directly issued any probing orders for attack, and besides, there was no way to verify their actions...

Thinking of this, the demon leech glanced at Asura in the corner.

"This guy shouldn't be too talkative, right..."

The only person who might know the inside story and would speak out without restraint is this mysterious "Anbu ninja".

"I understand. You may leave now. Let me have some peace and quiet..."

After pondering for a moment, Huang Tu sent the demon leech away.

"Mr. Ashura..."

With only two people remaining in the tent, Huang Tu stopped pretending not to know them and immediately and warmly invited Ashura to come forward and sit down.

"There is something I'm embarrassed to say, but I hope Mr. Ashura can give me some pointers..."

Huang Tu asked very humbly, "May I ask if what the demon leech said earlier is true? And what is your opinion on the shogunate's actions this time?"

"Most of it is true."

Ashura said casually.

Upon hearing this, Huang Tu's heart skipped a beat—the so-called "mostly true" meant... that there was still a part that didn't match the facts!

"You mean..."

"Those young ninjas weren't exactly acting on their own; they were influenced by something..."

"I understand."

Huang Tu was unwilling to listen any longer.

He had been in power for some time, and Ashura would naturally understand what was going on once he spoke of it.

"Iwagakure..."

The loess seemed to want to speak but hesitated.

"The daimyo spend money like water, the nobles levy exorbitant taxes, and the ninjas kill without restraint..."

Ashura said expressionlessly.

"Uh……"

Huang Tu was taken aback.

"This is the consensus of the mobs in the southern counties."