Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 224 The Resolve Named Clan Chief, Uchiha Special Operations Team

A month later.

Maintenance of all the crossbows in Daming Prefecture was forced to stop. Because there were no spare parts available, the crossbow carts were simply left to gather dust in the warehouse.

Da Ming was very angry.

He sent people to Konoha to reprimand them.

Orochimaru simply shrugged.

"Takaya Trading Company is a private company. The factory fire was an accident, and there's nothing we can do about it."

This is the effect of Sosuke's previous arrangements.

Konoha and the Takaya Trading Company are a community of shared interests. Since the Daimyo wants to sow discord, Konoha will tacitly cooperate with Sousuke to impose sanctions.

Upper reaches of the Naka River, Uchiha Armory.

Sosuke walked through the factory area.

When the workers passing by saw him, they all stopped and bowed.

Sosuke walked all the way to an office.

Push open the door.

There was no one inside.

"Where is the chief priest?"

Sosuke asked the security guards at the door.

"The clan chief is in Forging Workshop No. 3." The guards bowed their heads.

Workshop No. 3 is the forging ground for core ninja tools.

Sosuke frowned, then turned and walked towards the workshop.

Just as I reached the door, I heard a dull clanging sound of metal being struck.

"when!

","when!"

"when!"

Sosuke lifted the heavy partition curtain and went inside.

The workshop was sweltering.

A man stood in front of the stove, his upper body bare.

Uchiha Souji.

He was covered in sweat, his muscles glistening in the firelight, and his skin was covered in soot.

He gripped a heavy iron hammer and struck the red-hot steel billet again and again.

Sosuke did not make a sound to disturb them.

He stood quietly to the side, watching the young clan chief.

Zongsi's strength was immense.

With each swing of the hammer, the muscles in his back would contract and stretch violently.

His eyes were scarlet, with intricate kaleidoscope patterns.

He was actually using the Mangekyou Sharingan to forge iron.

"Hiss—"

Zongsi picked up the forged steel billet and immersed it in the cold water tank next to him.

Large amounts of white smoke rose into the air.

He tossed the clips aside, picked up a towel, and wiped his face, removing the grime and sweat.

"Mr. Sosuke."

Soji saw Sosuke at the door.

"You've arrived."

"You don't look like a clan leader at all."

Sosuke stepped forward, scooped a ladle of cold water from the bucket next to him, and handed it to Soji.

Zongsi took the water ladle, tilted his head back, and gulped it down in one go.

Water flowed down his chin to his chest, carving a white groove.

Zongsi threw the water ladle back into the bucket.

He walked to a wooden box and sat down, gesturing for Sosuke to sit as well.

"Why aren't you in the office?" Sosuke sat down on the anvil opposite him.

"I can't sit still."

Souji stared at the burning furnace, the red light of the kaleidoscope gradually fading in the leaping flames, turning back into black pupils.

"I want to get some exercise."

His voice was calm.

But Sosuke knew he was not at peace.

"You want to go and get the itch back," Sousuke stated a fact.

"Yes."

The official in charge of the Imperial Clan made no attempt to conceal this.

"That is the only bloodline of the Fugaku clan chief. His being left to wander outside is the greatest humiliation for me, the new clan chief."

"But you didn't go."

"Because I know I can't go."

"The Daimyo's mansion is waiting for us to make a mistake. If we force our way into the Daimyo's territory, it will be considered a rebellion. At that point, the Uchiha clan will lose even their foothold in Konoha."

"I cannot sacrifice the lives of the rest of my people for the sake of one baby."

Soji chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"What you taught me: to be rational. To see the bigger picture of interests."

"I did it, Mr. Sosuke."

Sosuke fell silent.

This young man used to be a hawk, but he toned it down somewhat after becoming the clan leader. However, he is still a warrior at heart. He can get angry and impulsive.

But now, he has fully learned to be patient.

He swallowed all the humiliation.

"You did the right thing."

Sosuke nodded.

But you're not convinced.

"Yes. I'm not convinced."

Sōji stood up and walked to a row of ninja swords.

He casually pulled out a handful and flicked it with his finger.

Buzz—

The blade emitted a clear, dragon-like roar.

"A fine knife."

Souji looked at his own face reflected on the blade.

"Mr. Sosuke said something to me before Yashiro defected."

He said, "We've become the lackeys of businessmen, mere tools of production. Our Sharingan is degenerating."

Sōji turned around and looked directly at Sōsuke.

"I argued with him at the time. But during this time, I stood here forging iron and watched those people gradually become complacent and indulge in comfort."

"I suddenly realized—maybe he wasn't entirely wrong."

Souji's eyes deepened.

"If we, the Uchiha, no longer take pride in fighting. If our first reaction upon encountering an enemy is not to draw our swords, but to calculate the cost—"

"If our Sharingan can only be used for quality control of ninja tools, then what's the difference between us and those blacksmiths outside?"

Sosuke remained silent.

This is a soul-searching question for the Uchiha clan.

"I don't plan to give up my current business. Money is a good thing; it can keep my people fed and clothed."

Soji's tone became firm.

"Uchiha, you can't just be my employee."

Zongsi plunged the knife in his hand into the wooden pillar beside him.

The blade penetrated deep into the wood, its tip trembling.

"We must master our own power."

He walked up to Sosuke and bowed slightly.

This is a powerful clan leader negotiating on equal terms with his allies.

"Mr. Sosuke, I need your technology. I need the technology that can turn Hyuga Masaru into a monster. If Hyuga can do it, the Uchiha can do it too."

"I plan to select a group of clan members who have awakened the Sharingan to form a special operations team. They will be subject to your experiments. Furthermore, this team will no longer be bound by the Konoha Police Force regulations."

"They only obey my orders."

"Once we've gathered enough strength, we'll go to the Daimyo's residence and snatch Itachi back."

"If you are willing to support me, you will always be a friend of the Uchiha clan."

"If you are unwilling—"

Zongsi paused.

"Then our cooperation will continue. But the Uchiha's sword will only be drawn for itself."

Inside the workshop, the furnace was burning, making a "whooshing" sound.

Sosuke smiled. It was a smile of satisfaction.

What he fears most is not that his allies have ambitions. What he fears most is that his allies are useless cowards who only know how to obey.

Now, Souji has finally shed the last trace of his naivety.

He was no longer a hotheaded youth blinded by hatred, nor a young man dependent on Sosuke's guidance.

He transformed into a true, ambitious patriarch of a powerful family.

"I understand, Patriarch Zongsi."

Sousuke stood up, his expression serious. He showed his respect for this transformed, powerful figure.

"As you wish. The Special Operations Team is yours to manage. I will train a powerful team for the Uchiha."