Chapter 82: Promise (Slightly Edited)
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Chapter 82: Promise (Slightly Edited)
Fuyu Shirou stood to the side, hands in his pockets, a backpack on his back, and a Wakizashi sword at his waist, silently watching Uchiha Tetsu console his mother.
[Reality is indeed vastly different from anime!]
[I never expected that the Uchiha clan, which rarely appears in the TV series, would have such a touching scene!]
As he watched the touching scene unfolding before him, Fuyu Shirou silently thought to himself.
Fortunately, whether it was Sister Mika or the parents of his teammate Uchiha Honō, they were all active ninjas. They had a general understanding of the C-Rank Missions that new ninja teams would undertake. Therefore, they only verbally expressed their concerns and did not come to see them off like Uchiha Tetsu's mother. Otherwise, Fuyu Shirou and Honō would also be suffering from headaches.
C-Rank Missions generally involve tasks like delivering messages or escorting people, which require leaving the village but do not involve combat. Even if combat does occur, it usually involves common bandits who do not use chakra. If, by some chance, the mission involves a battle with other ninjas, the opponents would be rogue ninjas who have somehow acquired chakra through accidents and managed to use it.
Apart from their slightly superior strength and physical abilities due to chakra, which gives them a bit of an advantage in Taijutsu, they are completely inept in Ninjutsu and Genjutsu. Without the family lineage or the training provided by a ninja village, it is extremely difficult to achieve any significant mastery of chakra techniques. This has led to a significant increase in the price of ninja corpses in the black market, as many rogue ninjas hope to study the secrets of Ninjutsu from them. Of course, this also includes the involvement of major ninja villages, who want to better understand their opponents' weaknesses.
In ninja missions, once the fight involves Chunin or higher-ranked ninjas, the mission's rank immediately escalates from C to B or even higher. Even if they encounter rogue ninjas with Chunin-level strength, the presence of an Elite Jōnin like Uchiha Jūsai ensures their safety.
Of course, if you have bad luck and run into a secret elite team from another village on a covert mission, that's a different story. However, such teams usually have sensory ninjas to minimize contact with other village ninjas, ensuring the secrecy of their mission. If they do encounter a mission team from another village, they will avoid them from a distance, and the team leader will pretend not to notice, to ensure the safety of their team members.
It is almost impossible for two teams to accidentally run into each other. Besides the presence of sensory ninjas, the team leaders are usually elite ninjas who are unlikely to stumble into an enemy and engage in a surprise battle. Instead, both sides will usually detect each other's presence and engage in some form of reconnaissance before continuing with their respective missions.
On the main road of the Uchiha compound, a young man in his thirties was slowly approaching. He wore a standard green Jōnin vest, black seven-eighths pants, and high-top ninja sandals, with a backpack similar to Fuyu Shirou's.
The man was their Jōnin instructor, Uchiha Jūsai.
"Ah! It's Mrs. Rie! It's been a long time, I'm sorry for the lack of contact."
As Uchiha Jūsai approached the Torii Gate, he saw Uchiha Rie, Tetsu's mother, tearfully bidding her son farewell.
Rie is Tetsu's mother's name. As the younger brother of the clan head, Jūsai had met Tetsu's father and had a few encounters with Tetsu's mother. However, after Tetsu's father passed away, she became more reclusive, making her seem more distant.
As he greeted her, he bowed politely.
The ninja world, rooted in Japanese culture, often mirrors its customs, including the frequent bowing. This made Fuyu Shirou, a modern person from the 21st century, quite uncomfortable.
Just by glancing at the scene, Jūsai guessed what had happened before his arrival.
"Mrs. Rie, please rest assured. Although I cannot guarantee 100% safety, I promise you that Tetsu will return unharmed, as long as I am alive!"
Uchiha Jūsai looked at Tetsu's mother with a serious expression, speaking each word slowly and deliberately.
This was not just empty words; it was a vow he made to himself from the moment he became their instructor. He would not hesitate to sacrifice his life for this goal.
[Teacher Jūsai is really going all out, even saying something like this!]
Fuyu Shirou, who had been watching the scene, was surprised by his teacher's solemn promise.
During his time at the Ninja Academy, thanks to his decent interpersonal relationships, he had heard many stories of ninja teams. Many teams had their Jōnin instructors return, either in a close call or safely, but the Genin members were not so fortunate. Some suffered varying degrees of loss, while others were completely wiped out.
The village could not overly punish these Jōnin leaders. As long as they had some 'reasonable' excuses, no one would blame them too harshly. On one side were a few Genin, and on the other, the village's pillars. The Third Hokage would carefully balance the situation.
Of course, if your team included a Genin who was favored by someone important, and they died silently in your team—without a strong backing, it would be wise to prepare to run.
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Rie, who had been raising her child alone and devoted all her attention to her son, did not show any joy at Uchiha Jūsai's promise. Instead, she faced him with utmost seriousness, tidied her appearance, and performed a deep ninety-degree bow.
She did not say a word of thanks, but the long, bent back and the slightly trembling shoulders revealed her inner turmoil.
Teacher Jūsai accepted her bow with composure. Even the early-rising clan members or other ninjas who witnessed the scene remained silent, not daring to disturb them.
(End of Chapter)