Chapter 178: Returning to the Uchiha Clan Grounds

Chapter 178: Returning to the Uchiha Clan Grounds

Konoha Village.

Before the ordeal of carrying sacks of rice up several flights of stairs, the village's economy was highly prosperous, with a per capita GDP ranking among the top in the ninja world. Despite occasional threats from villains aiming to destroy Konoha, which never succeeded, the villagers enjoyed a high happiness index.

On holidays, the village's streets and alleys were filled with residents out for a stroll.

Naturally, the well-off Konoha ninjas were also a common sight.

Today happened to be a day off.

The lively sounds of shopkeepers' calls, friends bantering, and children's laughter were much louder than in previous days.

The entire village was bustling.

Except for one area.

Once the scene of a massacre, the now ghostly Uchiha clan grounds.

Located in the most remote part of the village, the expansive Uchiha clan grounds had been abandoned since the massacre. No one dared to go there, let alone live there.

With the passage of time, the once magnificent Uchiha clan grounds had fallen into disrepair.

Close observation revealed traces of blood from that fateful night.

Covered in moss and overgrown with weeds, the high walls had crumbled, casting a pall of gray-green over the area.

The only hint of vivid color was the Uchiha clan emblem prominently displayed.

After the departure of Sasuke Uchiha, who was the rightful heir, the Uchiha clan grounds were expected to disappear completely.

But today, its former masters had finally returned.

"Wow~~~~"

At the village gate, one of the gatekeepers, Kotetsu Hagane, yawned loudly, causing his friend Izumo Kamizuki to follow suit and stretch.

"Such a beautiful day, wonderful weather, and everyone is out having fun. Kotetsu, here we are working overtime, guarding the gate from dawn to dusk without any other duties. It's really boring!" Kotetsu said, bored.

Hearing this, Izumo adopted a serious expression: "Kotetsu! The Hokage entrusted us with the important task of guarding the gate because of his absolute trust in us. Think about it, if Konoha were to be invaded, where would the first battle take place? Right here! It's precisely because of our ability and sense of responsibility that we can shoulder this duty!"

"The Hokage sees us that way?" Kotetsu felt ashamed of his earlier laziness and immediately sat up straight, his eyes sharp, scanning the gate to prevent any intruders.

But then Izumo added, "Although, having another job would be nice. With our capabilities, we should be shining in various roles for Konoha."

"Kotetsu, you have a point," Kotetsu agreed.

But just as he finished speaking, Kotetsu noticed something amiss.

Wait, isn't Izumo basically repeating what I just said?

He turned to argue further with Izumo.

At that moment, a series of rapid whooshing sounds approached from outside the gate, getting closer.

"Someone's coming! Judging by the sounds, there are more than ten of them. Any large teams out on missions recently?" Kotetsu quickly refocused, ignoring the previous topic, and exchanged a look with the equally alert Izumo, moving to the gate to meet the newcomers.

Soon, they saw the approaching group.

No ninja headbands, not Konoha ninjas!

Black hair, black eyes, and wearing blue cloaks.

On the cloaks, there seemed to be an emblem resembling a clan's symbol.

Kotetsu scanned it closely.

It looked like a fan, with the top half red and the bottom half white.

"Seems familiar, where have I seen this before?"

Kotetsu was pondering this.

At that moment, Izumo, with a voice full of disbelief, stammered:

"It's... it's the Uchiha clan emblem."

The Uchiha clan?

The Uchiha clan!!!

Kotetsu's eyes narrowed as he remembered.

The fan-like symbol on the blue cloak was indeed the Uchiha clan emblem.

But the Uchiha had been wiped out long ago. If Izumo hadn't reminded him, he wouldn't have thought of it.

But weren't there only Sasuke and Itachi left in the Uchiha clan? Why did all these people have the Uchiha emblem on their clothes?

The events at Lockfront Village were classified information in Konoha.

As mere gatekeepers, Izumo and Kotetsu were not privy to it.

Now, seeing the expressions of these people wearing the Uchiha emblem, it was clear they were not here with good intentions.

Izumo and Kotetsu exchanged looks, sensing trouble.

Izumo discreetly reached for the signal flare to call for backup.

Before he could act.

One person from the Uchiha group moved forward swiftly.

"So fast!"

Before Kotetsu and Izumo could react, a familiar cold face appeared right in front of them, the black pupils quickly turning into three-tomoe Sharingan.

A simple glance.

Kotetsu and Izumo's eyes rolled back, and they fainted instantly.

Two more people from the group stepped forward.

One supported the unconscious Konoha ninjas back into their chairs, while the other set up a visual genjutsu in the surrounding area.

After finishing, all the Uchiha ninjas silently headed towards the Uchiha clan grounds.

Among them, the only one without the Uchiha emblem on his clothing but bearing the Hagoromo emblem, Hagoromo Gengetsu, did not follow.

Returning home, revisiting old haunts, there was bound to be pain.

He decided to give them some space to vent their emotions.

As for himself.

Hagoromo Gengetsu glanced at the bustling streets of Konoha, especially the steaming food stalls.

Just as he was about to head off for some food, a high-pitched scream pierced the air.

"Ah!!! Pervert! Peeping Tom! Girls, we must catch him this time!"

Hagoromo Gengetsu hadn't walked far when he saw a group of women in yukatas, enraged, chasing after a white-haired man.

"Jiraiya is in Konoha too."

Hagoromo Gengetsu withdrew his gaze from the distant figure of Jiraiya and was about to continue walking when he noticed a prominent display of books in a nearby bookstore.

"Icha Icha Paradise," authored by Jiraiya.

"Come to think of it, I haven't read this famous book yet."

Hagoromo Gengetsu walked over, casually flipping through a copy.

Then he bought it and continued on his way without a change in expression.

Less than a minute later.

Having quickly shaken off his pursuers, Jiraiya returned, scanning the area seriously.

"Is he gone?"

When passing by Hagoromo Gengetsu earlier, he didn't know who the stranger was, but his honed instincts from years of battles had alerted him.

Intending to turn back and investigate.

But the person was nowhere to be seen.

Jiraiya sighed, "The ninja world nowadays is full of experts. It's getting harder to keep track."

"Better go and warn Tsunade."

Jiraiya headed towards the Hokage building.

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