Chapter 8: Preparations Before the Mission

After talking with Ling, Uchiha Akihiko still followed his advice and applied to join the search team. However, the atmosphere within this team was not very harmonious during the mission.

For the task of exploration and sensing, it definitely had to be carried out by experienced clan members. The problem (Mondai) with this team was that the relationship between Uchiha Akihiko and the clan member in charge of exploration wasn't very good.

"Yo, what's up? Didn't you say you wouldn't come before? Did a fight with Ling at the training ground change your mind?"

Uchiha Akihiko glanced at the speaker without changing his expression, "Hiro, I'll accompany you as many times as you want to settle our personal grudges when we're back at the clan grounds. But if you delay the mission…"

"Tsk—I'm not that short - sighted." Uchiha Hiro sneered with a mocking smile on his lips, "At most, I won't relieve your pain when treating you."

"That's for the best." Uchiha Akihiko's mouth twitched subtly. He retracted his gaze and looked at the others, "If anyone has any objections, it's best to raise them now. I'm not Ling. I don't have his good temper to take care of your thoughts one by one."

The other Uchiha members all shook their heads and didn't say a word.

The feud between Uchiha Akihiko and Uchiha Hiro was no secret in the clan. As illusion (illusions) geniuses of the same generation, the clan members naturally compared the two.

Naturally, such a comparison would reveal a difference in level. Unfortunately, Uchiha Hiro was always coming in second place. And it wasn't just second in terms of illusions. He was second in every aspect among his peers.

He couldn't match Uchiha Akihiko in illusions, Uchiha Masaki in ninjutsu, and was even outperformed by their former young clan leader, Uchiha Ling, in Gitai and sensing. The only area where he could outshine his peers was in Mystical Palm Technique—and that was only because the most talented people of his generation didn't have Water or Earth attribute chakra and couldn't learn the Mystical Palm Technique.

This led to him being dissatisfied with these three people. However, all he did was keep challenging them and losing, and occasionally making some sarcastic remarks. He never disobeyed commands.

Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Uchiha Akihiko spoke up again, "Our mission this time is very simple: to find the hidden strongholds of the Senju clan and remove the hidden threats for the main force. Hiro is a sensory ninja and also the only medical ninja in our team. Everyone should pay attention to his position during the mission and don't let the Senju clan succeed."

Hearing this, Uchiha Hiro clicked his tongue in annoyance but didn't refuse. Instead, he said he'd cooperate and stay within the protection perimeter. After all, it was a common practice on the battlefield to target sensory and medical ninjas first. He wasn't crazy enough to take on a Senju squad alone.

"After we find them, what then? Kill them all?" Uchiha Masaki put his hands behind his head, looking rather relaxed. "Well, whatever. Just hurry up! I promised Maki I'd go to the town fair with her the day after tomorrow. I wanna wrap this up soon."

"Heartbreaker scumbag."

"How could you say that? I'm serious about every relationship! I only date one girl at a time!" Uchiha Masaki immediately dropped his hands, turned around, and glared at Uchiha Hiro. "And when we're together, I do whatever she wants. We always part on good terms. What gives you the right to call me a scumbag!

If you really want to talk about it, Ling's the real scumbag! So many cute girls have chased after him, but he's rejected them all, and so bluntly. I think that training maniac deserves to be single forever!"

Uchiha Hiro curled his lips and scoffed.

"What's that for? You, the perennial second-place finisher, have no right to laugh at me!"

"Heh."

"One-on-one! We have to have a one-on-one when we get back! Uchiha Hiro, you're in big trouble today!"

"Come on! I'll beat the crap out of you!"

Uchiha Akihiko: These two pain-in-the-ass guys... He said he didn't wanna come.

After all, since there's already an offensive team, the actions of this scouting team won't have a significant impact on the battle. At most, they'll just irritate the enemy.

Letting out a long sigh, Uchiha Akihiko clapped his hands to gather everyone's attention again. "You two sort this out privately later. Stop arguing in front of me. Listen, there's one requirement for this mission. After finding the enemy base, we only wound, not kill. Also, Masaki, Hiro, you need to be ready to use sealing techniques at all times."

When it came to business, the two stopped making noise. But after Uchiha Akihiko finished speaking, Uchiha Hiro frowned. "Only wound, not kill? Since when have you been so nice to the Senju?"

"Stupid. Akihiko obviously wants to use this to put pressure on the Senju in the main battle—" Uchiha Masaki laughed. "Hey, such a cautious approach isn't like you. Is it that training maniac Ling again?"

Uchiha Akihiko nodded, looking disgusted. "If it weren't for Ling asking, do you think I'd want to go on a mission with you two troublesome guys?"

"If Ling asked, then let's do it. Though it'll be a hassle." Uchiha Hiro frowned. "Only wound, not kill... It's okay to torture them to the brink of death, right?"

"Or we could just break their limbs. That'll stop them from pulling any tricks—Hey, Akihiko, what did Ling say?"

"Just make sure the operation is fast and make the Senju look miserable enough. But never kill them. It'd be best if they still have the strength to run back to the main battle area on their own, but are too weak to fight back."

"This is easy. Then let me take command after Uchiha Hiro finds the stronghold?" Uchiha Masaki licked his lips, clasped his hands together, his eyes full of interest. "I'm the best at the game of cat and mouse."

"Yeah, I'll leave it to you then. But watch your distance and don't push too hard." Uchiha Akihiko took out a map. "Ling told me a few suspicious areas before. I've marked them out. Uchiha Hiro, take a look and tell me which direction we should start from..."

"Hmm... Let's start from this place in the east," Uchiha Hiro reached out and pointed at the map. "I've also been quite suspicious of this area."

"Okay. You're better at this than me. I'll follow your lead. Everyone, remember the route. Take turns using the Sharingan to scout the surroundings as we move forward," Uchiha Akihiko marked the route Uchiha Hiro pointed out on the map with a pen and handed it to the clan members beside him. "Everyone, check your supplies again. We'll set off in ten minutes."