Chapter 4 : Chikara Uchiha II

"One month since I've been assigned to the East Border Guard team. The silver lining to these mundane days is that there haven't been any battles."

Chikara stood in a training courtyard, shaded by a tree. After a whole morning of intense training, he was out of breath and resting alone. While most Uchiha of his age usually stuck together, Chikara had never been able to socialize much.

"Chikara, it's your turn for patrol. Join your group."

"Understood, Genzo," Chikara replied.

The tasks at the border involved checking the identities of people allowed to pass and patrolling to prevent potential attackers. Crossing the muddy terrain of the outpost, Chikara observed other clan members going about their tasks. Some were practicing kunai and shuriken throwing, while others stood guard and checked those entering or leaving the territory.

Reaching the group's rendezvous point, Chikara could already see two figures basking in the sun.

"Hey, Chikara, you're late," the first one spoke, Noboru Uchiha, around twenty years old, the team captain and the main striking force in case of an attack.

"Sorry, captain. Yesterday's training tired me out a bit too much, and I slept a little too long..."

"It's always the same with you..." retorted the second figure, Yōta Uchiha, about fifteen years old. He always looked tired and sleepy, but one had to be careful not to anger him. At fifteen, he had already survived several battles.

Indeed, no Uchiha over fifteen could be considered weak. The only ones left were those who had survived and had been toughened by blood and war.

"Alright, Yōta, let it go. We've already wasted enough time. Let's finish our patrol, and then you can argue as much as you want. And you, Chikara, I don't want to hear any excuses next time," Noboru ordered.

Yōta nodded, while Chikara lowered his head in apology. Together, they headed out of the outpost. Before them stretched a dense forest, with trees seemingly stretching into infinity. Situated in the Land of Fire, the territory was very fertile and conducive to abundant vegetation.

Propelling themselves from tree to tree, the three ninjas headed east, following their usual patrol route.

"Chikara, pick up the pace a bit. You're slowing us down. How do you manage to stay so weak despite all this training..." Noboru criticized.

"I'm sorry, Noboru. I'll train harder next time..."

"You're lagging behind the others, Chikara. If you survive long enough, it'll be your job to protect the next generation of the clan. We can't afford to have weaknesses in our ranks."

Nodding silently, Chikara pushed himself to run faster, so as not to slow down the team.

After several tens of minutes, Noboru, who had remained silent until now, stopped abruptly.

"Stop!"

Following Noboru's direct order, Yōta and Chikara halted and assumed defensive positions.

"About ten people, moving fast, about 100 meters ahead. Stay focused."

While Noboru was giving these instructions to his team, about ten ninjas appeared in front of them, at the edge of the trees, about 20 meters away. They were clad in khaki armor from head to toe, kunai in hand and katana in their sheaths. The newcomers stopped in their tracks upon seeing the three Uchiha, two of whom had the characteristic blood-red Sharingan eyes. The two groups sized each other up, remaining on guard.

"Friends! Friends! We are from the Hije clan. We come as friends!" one of the ninjas from the group exclaimed, raising his hands in the air to signal that they had no intention of launching a sudden attack.

"Calm, we are not enemies, I am Takaaki Hije, we have come to represent our clan and request an audience with the Uchiha Patriarch"

A tense silence settled in. The wind murmured softly through the leaves, caressing the ninjas' hair. As tension mounted between the two groups, Takaaki Hije, the leader of the group, maintained a friendly smile on his face.

After what felt like an eternity, Noboru finally decided to interrupt the patrol and escort the Hije clan group to the outpost to avoid any problems.

While leading the group, Noboru ran alongside Chikara and Yōta. They kept about 50 meters of distance between them and the members of the Hije clan, who followed them in silence. Leaping from tree to tree, they left blurry images behind them, while the Hije clan members observed them attentively.

After about twenty minutes of running, Chikara's group, accompanied by around ten Hije clan members, finally reached the outpost.

Under the watchful eyes of the Uchiha ninjas guarding the entrance, the group ventured cautiously into the Uchiha compound.

"Stay in front of the gate and wait for further instructions," Noboru ordered.

"Understood," Takaaki replied with a big smile.

As Noboru went to inform Genzo, Chikara and the other Uchiha from the outpost surrounded the intruders, waiting for new instructions.

Entering Genzo's quarters, Noboru came to deliver his report: "Genzo, there was an unexpected development during the patrol."

Genzo raised his head from his reports and looked directly into Noboru's eyes. "What kind of unexpected development?"

"We encountered a team from the Hije clan. They say they've come to speak to the patriarch," Noboru replied.

"The Hije clan, huh... Where are they now?"

"They're waiting at the gate, about ten people, and their leader is someone named Takaaki Hije."

"Did they say why they want to speak to the patriarch?"

"No." ...After several seconds of contemplation, Genzo decided to summon Takaaki to his office.

Meanwhile, as Takaaki followed Noboru toward Genzo's office, deep in the forest over 5 kilometers away, a team of over 100 ninjas were running in the direction of the outpost. Dressed in black and moving in total silence, they were off the beaten path.

If anyone saw them, they might think they were headed for war.

...

"Chikara, since the patrol has been canceled, you should use your free time to train," Yōta said, his tone a mix of condescension, his weary eyes carrying a hint of pity.

Chikara nodded, concealing his disappointment behind a forced smile. He headed to his quarters, mentally preparing himself for a training session until exhaustion.

As the outpost gradually sank into the darkness of night, Chikara trained alone, ignored by the other Uchiha who went about their tasks with unsettling confidence. He struggled through repetitions with determination.

Sweat dripped down his forehead as he grappled with his physical limits. Muffled whispers from the other Uchiha, filled with mocking undertones, seemed to hang in the air. As the hours passed, Chikara felt his willpower gradually eroding. He was destined to be the pitiable shadow among the Uchiha prodigies.

While the night progressed, the Uchiha guarding the outpost changed their shifts. Their silent, confident steps resonated in the darkness.

Meanwhile, the members of the Hije clan stood apart, gathered around a campfire, isolated and enigmatic. Their furtive glances betrayed hidden intentions, a glimmer of opportunism. They seemed to study the Uchiha, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses with veiled attention.

In this oppressive atmosphere, the night stretched on, enveloping everyone and their secrets.

Chikara remained there, alone, struggling to find his place among the Uchiha prodigies, wondering how Ino was faring on the Western front...

...

As the moon reached its zenith, two kilometers away from the outpost in the pitch-black night, two teams of over a hundred ninjas each gathered in heavy silence. Both teams were armed, without any distinctive markings. One wore uniform armor, while the other donned a variety of armors, indicating their status as mercenaries.

"Is everyone here?" person 1 said.

"Everyone's present," person 2 replied.

"Very well. According to our sources, there are only about sixty of them, maybe more. Rest for an hour, and then we'll launch the attack on their outpost. We need to be fast and efficient. We'll only have one chance," person 1 ordered.

Time passed quickly, and an hour flew by. The group set off toward the outpost under the cover of trees. The wooden walls of the outpost were illuminated by torchlight, casting dancing shadows on the ground. The ninjas moved quietly, concealed within the shadows and blind spots of the outpost.

Meanwhile, on Chikara's side, after his intense training in his quarters, he had no energy left. Resting on the floor, he started to drift off to sleep.

BOOM!

"Enemy attack!!"