Chapter 143: Pre-Battle Mobilization
When Ling went home to tidy himself up briefly and then headed to the meeting hall, there was a large crowd outside. Ling stopped outside the crowd and planned to perform Hand Seals to summon Yata and ask his Father alone - after all, as the son of the clan leader, it was still okay to jump the queue to receive a mission.
But before he could act, he heard someone calling his name -
"Ling-kun! Over here! Come quickly!"
Ling paused in the middle of performing Hand Seals. After slightly turning his head to confirm the direction, he walked over tapping his staff sword. "Is everyone here?"
"Yes, except for people like Yugu who focus on logistics, everyone is here," Uchiha Akihiko, who was standing at the front, said. "They are currently dividing the battle zones for the uncles of the clan. It hasn't been our turn yet."
Just then, Uchiha Chiho, who had just spoken, walked over. "Long time no see, Ling-kun~"
"Long time no see, Chiho," Ling turned in the direction of the voice and nodded slightly. "Your eye power has improved a lot."
"Of course. I have to work hard to stay alive," Chiho raised her hand and flipped her high ponytail. "Although our Uchiha clan has a great reputation, there are so many blind people in the black market. When we're not wearing our clan uniforms, they're just like a pack of wolves smelling blood."
"Speaking of this, I also encountered something like that last time," Uchiha Kenji also leaned over with his arms folded. "That uncle suddenly came over and put his arm around me. It really grossed me out..."
"Well, there's nothing you can do. You're prettier than many girls in the clan," Uchiha Hiro scoffed. "If you're really annoyed, just wear a veil. I think you're actually enjoying it."
Uchiha Kenji snorted and pointed at Hiro. "Although I can't recognize faces, Hiro, there's no one else in our generation who talks in such an annoying tone like you."
"Wow, amazing. You actually got it right, Kenji."
This time, Uchiha Kenji glared in the direction of the voice with his Sharingan. "And you, Uchiha Yakuki. With your so distinctive voice, don't think I'll mistake you. After this battle, I'll definitely teach you two a good lesson!"
"Let's see if you can find us by then..." Uchiha Yakuki rubbed the back of his neck, looking rather exhausted. "Come on, spare me, a peace - loving Uchiha. I don't like fighting."
Uchiha Hiro glanced at him. "Isn't this different from when you were playing a chase - game with the enemies?"
"I did that to make it easier to capture them for later interrogation. You don't know how much my conscience was gnawing at me when I did that!"
"Huh? You have a conscience?" Uchiha Akihiko's eyes showed a mixture of disgust and confusion. "I remember you once said you loved playing cat - and - mouse the most."
"
"Hey, hey, hey, the other side was the Senju clan back then..." Uchiha Yakuki tried to find an ally. Finally, his eyes wandered and landed on Ling. "Hey, Ling, come and judge for me. The Uchiha clan should hate the Senju clan, right?"
"Although I think the Senju's methods are quite Cruelty, I don't hate this kind of opponents...," Ling tilted his head slightly. "Rather, I kinda like them?"
"Heh, trying to find an ally from Ling," Uchiha Hiro tilted his chin up. "Do you need me to check your head?"
"Uchiha Hiro, watch your mouth. If I'm not afraid of Ling, do you think I'll be afraid of you, the perennial second place? Don't think you're so great just because you've awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan!"
"Who the hell are you calling the perennial second place?!"
"Yo, you're getting angry~ Who's so pitiful that they always come in second no matter what they do? Oh — it's you~"
The two young and hot - blooded Uchihas started arguing like this. Uchiha Kenji stood by, cheering them on and fanning the flames, trying to make their feud even bigger. The other Uchihas made no attempt to stop them. Instead, they clearly took sides and pointed fingers at each other, looking like they were enjoying the show.
Ling, who was initially surrounded in the center by everyone, was squeezed out by the onlookers. He stood on the outskirts and shook his head.
Uchiha Chiho also squeezed out and couldn't help looking back and complaining, "Really, they can even argue about such a trivial matter... How childish."
"Haha, but they're quite reliable, aren't they? And keeping a relaxed mindset is also good for performance on the battlefield," Ling laughed in a low voice, but his smile quickly faded. "There's much less of the familiar chakra... Does Chiho know anything?"
"This...," Chiho turned back to look at her peers who were gathered in twos and threes, peeping curiously at the commotion here. She also lowered her voice a bit. "Hatsuki, Chika, Wakasa..."
One name after another came out of her mouth. After naming about twenty names, Uchiha Chiho finally added the last sentence, "These people... have passed on to the Pure Land.
Most of the others who didn't come are as ignorant of fighting as Yugu. So the Uchiha clan didn't call them this time — after all, we're not the main combat force of the two clans. But if Yugu and the others can survive smoothly, they'll probably have to go to the battlefield when they reach the right age later."
Ling was silent for a moment and then nodded. "There are fewer people than I expected... But it's really terrifying. It doesn't seem like much time has passed, but so many familiar people are now just a name."
Uchiha Chiho just lifted her hand to twirl the hanging hair. Her expression was a bit lonely. "Yeah, life is really too fragile... Hey, Ling-kun."
Ling felt his hand being grabbed. He let out a confused grunt, "Huh?"
"Ling-kun, won't you really consider it again?"
Uchiha Chiho looked at the white silk ribbon on Ling-kun's face. Her beautiful eyes were filled with nothing but worry. "Ling-kun doesn't have to push himself like this anymore. Isn't it better to choose a safer way to live?"
"Haha, for someone like me who loves fighting, it would be even more an act of Cruelty for me if I were really kept away from battles."
"But, Ling-kun will have to face not only the targeting from his peers," Uchiha Chiho's voice quavered slightly. "If, if..."
Uchiha Chiho's uneasiness was clearly conveyed through her voice and her involuntarily - trembling hands. After a brief silence, Ling-kun held the girl's hand tightly, his voice gentle. "Don't worry. I'll come back safe and sound this time, just like I always do.
Moreover, didn't you all say that I'm the best among my peers? Well, since I'm the best, I'll try my best to win no matter how difficult it is. After all, you're all right behind me, aren't you?"
[You can find the author's complaints about the original work in the author's note when you turn the pages backward. If you're interested, take a look.]