Chapter 10: Uchiha Hiro Wants to Seek Advice

"Anyway, that's the situation, meow."

 "I see. Thank you for coming to tell me so late." Ling smiled softly and gently hooked the little furball's chin with his finger, "Your name is... Yukimaru, right? You're Hiro's summoned beast."

 "That's this meow...," Yukimaru clearly enjoyed Ling's stroking, wriggling his body and showing his belly, then hugging his hand with his front paws, "This meow has never seen you in the Cat Village. Otherwise, this meow would definitely have made a contract with you, meow~"

 "Hahaha... Making a contract with me is very hard work. Do you want something to eat?"

 "This meow will ask Hiro for food during the day," Yukimaru looked up at the scar on Ling's face and let out a purring sound in his throat, "Then this meow will go to rest. If you have anything to ask, just ask Hiro tomorrow, meow."

 "Okay."

 As the words fell, Yukimaru turned into a puff of white smoke and disappeared. Ling gently rubbed the fingers that had just stroked the soft fur and let out a sigh of helplessness, "If I had known things would be like this, I should have gone to the Cat Village earlier to make a contract with a summoned beast... I hope I can get some results when I go to Yugu tomorrow."

 But before Ling could go to Yugu to see if he could find a crow as a summoned beast, Uchiha Akihiko and the others who had completed their mission came to him.

 "It seems that last night's mission went smoothly," Ling waved to Madara who had seen him off all the way, "Madara, go for your training too. Akihiko and the others will take me to Yugu next."

 Madara looked up at the three with bandages on their bodies and couldn't help showing a skeptical expression, but finally nodded very reluctantly, "Okay, big brother, take care on your way."

 "Sure enough, little Madara only becomes docile and cute in front of you, Ling~," Uchiha Masaki ignored Madara's murderous look, "You don't know how scared my younger brother, who was in the same batch as little Madara, was by him—"

 "Madara's a reasonable and well - behaved kid. If he fights with someone, it's probably because the other person provoked him," Ling laughed softly, "Didn't you also cause me trouble because of some things, Masaki?"

 Uchiha Masaki froze instantly. He coughed into his fist as if to cover it up and then said, "I was just young and reckless when I was after Chiho."

 "What's there to hide? Isn't it because Chiho likes Ling and you like Chiho, so you foolishly and recklessly challenged him and got beaten so badly that you couldn't get out of bed for three days?" Uchiha Hiro sneered, "I think you'll end up dead because of women sooner or later.

"

Uchiha Masaki: "… Uchiha Hiro! I'm going to fight you to the death!"

Listening to the fight sounds beside him, Ling smiled slightly. "These two are still the same as ever. They start fighting at the slightest provocation. Did they cause any trouble during the mission?"

"Well, I was just about to tell you…" Uchiha Akihiko didn't even bother to look at the two guys who only gave him a headache. "The intelligence we got this time, was indeed a ruse by the Senju…"

It turned out that last night, after Yukimaru left to spread the news everywhere, Uchiha Akihiko and the others had searched another stronghold and engaged in a fierce battle there. As a result, every member of the squad got slightly injured.

Because the squad transmitted the news in time, the main force avoided the [Explosive Tag array] buried underground. Even so, they were still affected by the explosion's aftermath and lost some clan members. Moreover, the Senju left at the stronghold were determined to die, and the stronghold was completely destroyed by the explosion.

It could be said that in this confrontation between the two clans, the Uchiha only had a slight edge. Compared with their usual performance on the frontal battlefield, they only managed to kill a few more Senju [ninja]. They didn't gain any advantages in other aspects.

"Well, it's only natural that the [Senju clan] has managed to hold its own against us Uchiha for decades. They must have some tricks up their sleeves," Ling said with a smile. "It seems that our clan still needs to train more [sensory ninja]. Have you mentioned this to the elders?"

"Yeah, I mentioned it when we got back early this morning. But don't get your hopes up too high. Becoming a [sensory ninja] is even more difficult than becoming a [medical ninja]. Among our generation, the number of people with the aptitude for it, even counting you and Hiro, can be counted on one hand."

Uchiha Akihiko sighed. "At this point, we really have to admire the [Senju clan]. Among every ten [ninja], there are at least two sensory types, and about 80% of them know the Mystical Palm Technique. They really can mass - produce in this aspect."

"After all, they are the [Forest Senju]. Each and every one of them is a physical powerhouse," Uchiha Masaki limped over, covering his swollen face. "We Uchiha are better at [illusions] and [ninjutsu]."

Uchiha Hiro also walked over, holding his lower back in a strange posture, grimacing in pain. "Agreed. After encountering the Senju in the forest, it wasn't a battle at all. It was torture."

Ling laughed. "Really? I think it's okay."

"We're not freaks like you…" Uchiha Akihiko folded his arms. "By the way, you really gave me all the credit for this mission? Since the news was transmitted in time, there's quite a lot of credit this time."

"Yeah, after all, you were the one in charge of the mission. And I don't have any use for the credit right now…" Uchiha Ling shook his head with a smile. "So why did you three come to see me so early in the morning? Don't tell me you're here to spar with me."

"No, I just came to tell you the details of the mission. I have no interest in getting beaten up twice in such a short period of time." Uchiha Akihiko showed a hint of disgust. "I have a splitting headache right now. I just want to rest."

"You asked for it! I've told you not to use your eye power over and over again. A wound that would have healed in one night now will take at least seven days."

Uchiha Hiro frowned and let out a sigh. His voice lowered as he said, "My matter isn't urgent. Wait until they're done speaking, and then I'll tell you. I'll lead you to Yugu."

Ling nodded slightly. "Then what does Uchiha Masaki want from me?"

"Huh? I just came to see how well you've recovered," Uchiha Masaki said, hooking his arm around Uchiha Akihiko's shoulder. "When do you plan to come back?"

"Well... I suppose it'll take some more time. At least I have to make sure I won't get lost, right?" Ling's smile remained on his lips. "Although I can use chakra to survey the surroundings, doing so would only increase the danger as there would be too little left for reacting and fighting."

"That's true..." Uchiha Masaki stroked his chin. "But you'd better hurry up. Otherwise, I won't be polite about taking your title as the number one among our generation."

"I can't just ignore those words," Uchiha Akihiko retorted, elbowing Uchiha Masaki. "Even if Ling isn't the number one among our generation, it definitely won't be you. Let's go. Really, it's so vexing."

Uchiha Masaki didn't waste any more time. He waved goodbye while holding his stomach and then left.

"Now, Uchiha Hiro, you can tell me. What do you want from me?"

Uchiha Hiro clicked his tongue and turned his head away. His voice was barely audible. "It's not a big deal. It's just... just can you..."

"Huh?"

"Can you teach me how to..."

Uchiha Ling gave a helpless smile. "Uchiha Hiro, I'm different now. I can't read lips, and your voice is so soft... Can you speak louder and tell me what you want me to teach you this time?"

Uchiha Hiro's face flushed red, and he was about to storm off. But when his eyes met Uchiha Ling's helpless smile, his anger deflated. After stammering and struggling for a long time, his voice finally became just loud enough for Uchiha Ling to hear. "It's... Can you teach me how to pet a cat?"