"The night feels especially deep tonight."
Uchiha Yuan stood in the courtyard, looking up at the sky. The bright full moon had long since disappeared behind thick, rolling clouds.
His mother and younger sister were still reluctant to see him leave, but after his reassurance, their emotions had finally settled. They were now asleep.
Yuan formed a hand seal with one hand.
In the next instant, his figure flickered and vanished from the courtyard.
Underground chamber.
The Uchiha youths who normally trained with fierce focus were unusually distracted tonight. Anxiety was written across their faces. They gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves, their eyes drifting again and again toward the high platform at the front.
On the platform stood Uchiha Daishi, Uchiha Kaede, and the others, looking down at the restless group.
"Everyone's hearts are unsettled. They can't calm themselves to train," Daishi said, worry etched across his face.
"Daishi, your heart is unsettled too," Kaede replied evenly.
Daishi pressed his lips together and glanced at Kaede and the others. Seeing their composed expressions, he asked, "Kaede, you're Big Brother's attendants. Aren't you worried at all?"
Kaede smiled faintly.
"Daishi, stay calm. Everything happening now is within the Leader's plan."
Daishi's tightly knit brows relaxed instantly. His eyes lit up.
"Then do you know what Big Brother's next move is?"
Kaede shook his head.
"After Orochimaru's defection, the Leader already told us how events would unfold and instructed us not to panic. Just as he predicted, everything developed accordingly. Even the village's punishment was within his expectations."
Admiration filled Daishi's face.
"Big Brother is incredible… so everything has always been under his control."
The others nodded in agreement, reverence shining in their eyes.
At that moment, Uchiha Takeno—commander of the Onibanshū, Yuan's personal guard, and Daishi's counterpart—spoke for the first time.
"We are the blades in Big Brother's hand. Blades do not need their own thoughts. We only wait for the Leader's command. Wherever his hand points, that is where our blades fall."
Daishi and the others froze briefly, then their expressions turned firm and resolute.
Kaede nodded solemnly.
"Takeno is right. We only need to wait. The Leader must already have everything arranged."
Whoosh.
Above and behind the platform stood a massive stone throne. A shadow flickered—
Uchiha Yuan appeared seated upon it.
Takeno, who had been watching the throne intently, immediately dropped to one knee and bowed deeply.
"Greetings, Leader."
Following his example, Daishi and the others turned and knelt as well.
"Greetings, Leader."
Yuan sat upon the stone seat, his gaze sweeping down over the crowd.
The entire underground chamber fell into absolute silence. The youths lifted their heads slightly, eyes filled with awe and devotion as they looked toward the towering figure above them.
Yuan raised a hand lightly, signaling them to rise.
His cool, composed voice echoed through the chamber.
"You have all heard by now that the village has exiled me. I will be stationed at the Southern Border for three years."
A ripple of restrained anger passed through the group.
But Yuan's expression did not change.
"This is not defeat. It is merely a change of battlefield."
He paused briefly.
"The Southern Border is unstable. There are foreign infiltrations, hidden forces, and constant skirmishes. The village thinks it is pushing me away from the center of power."
A faint smile curved his lips.
"In truth, they are giving me a frontier."
The youths' breathing grew heavier.
"Over the next three years, you will continue training. Strengthen your bodies. Sharpen your skills. When the time comes…"
His eyes turned sharp.
"…we will not merely return."
At that moment, a faint fluctuation of chakra appeared at the edge of the chamber.
Yuan's gaze shifted slightly.
A figure stepped from the shadows.
It was Kakashi.
He stood at a distance, one visible eye calm yet complicated.
"Uchiha Yuan," Kakashi said quietly, "I was ordered to ensure your departure tomorrow. The village hopes there will be no further… disturbances."
Yuan looked down at him from the stone throne.
"Kakashi," he said lightly, "do you think I lost?"
Kakashi did not answer.
Yuan rose slowly from the throne.
"Tell the Third this: I am going to the Southern Border because I choose to go. Not because I was forced."
He stepped forward, descending from the platform.
"And tell Danzo something else."
His voice grew colder.
"If he reaches toward my family again… I will not cut off just an arm next time."
The underground chamber fell utterly silent.
Kakashi held Yuan's gaze for several seconds.
Then he nodded once.
"I'll relay the message."
Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Yuan watched him leave, his expression unreadable.
After a moment, he looked back at his followers.
"Train."
"Yes, Leader!"
Their unified voices thundered through the underground hall.
Above them, beyond layers of stone and earth, the clouds continued to swallow the moon.
A storm was coming.
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