Chapter 46: The Worried Nara Clan
Uchiha Sen's stubborn remarks earned him another scolding from Uchiha Yugu before they set off. However, judging from his actions of lowering his voice and continuing to pester Ling with Mondai during the rest time on the way, it was obvious that he wasn't really reflecting on his behavior. This gave Uchiha Yugu a huge headache.
However, Ling, the person involved, didn't mind answering Uchiha Sen's various Mondai. In fact, he seemed to be quite enjoying it.
It wasn't until Uchiha Yugu had had enough that he sent Uchiha Sen and Uchiha Lin to scout for dangers in the surrounding area. Only then did the campsite where they were staying become quiet.
"Ling, don't spoil Sen so much. He's the kind of person who'll take an inch and make a mile of it. He'll do whatever he wants if you give him an inch," Uchiha Yugu's usually calm voice now carried a barely noticeable anger. "Moreover, if you tell him now, he won't really remember. He'll still ask the same Mondai next time. It's just a waste of time!"
"Well, don't say that. Sen is helping me deepen my memory," Ling said with a soft laugh. "By the way, where are we now?"
"We're currently on the border of the Land of Fire. I've sent a ninja crow to deliver a message. We just have to wait for a reply from the Nara clan, and then we can set off again. We'll reach our destination by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."
"I see. But I really haven't had much to do on this journey..." Ling sighed with a smile. "I hope the return journey will be just as relaxing?"
"Humph, that's not necessarily the case..." Uchiha Yugu sat down beside Ling. "There are plenty of people who have eyes but don't know how to use them. And, don't try to change the subject. I'm serious. Don't spoil Sen so much."
"Come on... Yugu, be a bit more easy - going with Sen sometimes. Although you're the same age, you're the older brother after all."
"I've already been very lenient with Sen. He's different from me. He has the talent for battle. Compared to my limited potential, he has more possibilities. But that also means he'll encounter more dangers. If others keep indulging him and let him keep this kind of personality, he'll only get himself killed faster. I'm doing this for his own good!"
"So..." Ling sighed. "You should tell Sen these things. How can it be useful to tell me?"
"Humph... That kid didn't listen to me when Father took him in and adopted him," Uchiha Yugu lowered his eyes. "But he's so affectionate with outsiders."
"Don't say that. Sen's cheerful and enthusiastic personality is just like yours," Ling said with a gentle smile. "How should I put it? It's like they say, 'They're not real brothers, but they're closer than real brothers.'"
"In my opinion, it'd be great if you could smile more like Sen. After all, you always have a cold look on your face. Many people are scared away before even talking to you. Who would know that you have a kind - heart?"
"Everyone has a kind - heart. It doesn't have anything to do with one's look."
"...Well, although you're right, that's not what I meant."
"Is it not? Well, then it's not..." Uchiha Yugu turned his head and looked at Ling, who had a helpless smile on his face. "It's all because you're always saying things like 'being open - hearted with the Senju clan'. Now, whenever I hear such words, I can't help but think in that direction."
"So, pay attention to my tone and the context. Can 'being open - hearted with the enemy' be the same as 'being open - hearted with one's own people'? It's obvious they're different, right?"
"
"But you always smile and speak gently no matter which situation you're in..." Uchiha Yugu withdrew his gaze, but his tone was more serious than ever. "Actually, if you think about it carefully, you're quite scary. You're just like the wolf in the story that uses a fake smile to deceive people and then eat them."
"...Then have you ever thought that wolves are pack animals?"
"Well, I know, so I'm very relieved about you."
Ling: ...
Forget it, let it be. I'm so tired.
Uchiha Yugu watched Ling showed an impatient expression and then lie sprawled on the grass, looking like he refused to continue the conversation. He also stopped talking and instead began to ponder in his mind how to act appropriately after getting a reply from the Nara Clan.
But compared to the considerations of Uchiha Yugu and his group, the current Nara Clan Leader, Nara Shikakazu, who received the message from the ninja crow, was really in a splitting headache.
Although the Nara Clan has inherited secret jutsu and is also known as a great ninja clan in the ninja world, in fact, they are in an awkward position between the upper and lower levels.
Firstly, their inherited secret jutsu doomed them to be unfit for frontal combat. So even though they have enough people, they are not a real great ninja clan. However, they are much stronger than those medium-sized ninja clans.
Secondly, even now when the Nara Clan is allied with two other ninja clans and their combined strength is quite powerful, there are still colossal forces in the ninja world that they can't afford to provoke.
Not to mention the distant ones, there are three powerful ninja clans nearby that have the ability to destroy their alliance - the Senju, who almost dominated the Land of Fire decades ago; the Uzumaki, who live near the sea, always use strange jutsu and have a good relationship with the Senju; and finally, the Uchiha, who are like crazy people with unpredictable tempers but each member is both beautiful and powerful.
These three powerful ninja clans that ordinary ninja clans can hardly deal with are the fundamental reason why their ninja clan alliance doesn't fight for anything, tries their best to be friendly with others, and even considers giving up missions when they meet ninjas from these clans - after all, money can be earned if it's gone, and things can be retrieved if they're lost, but if you lose your life, you won't have any more chances.
For this reason, these three ninja clans don't really care about the development of their alliance. Sometimes, they even send people to trade supplies and intelligence with them, which can be regarded as building a good relationship.
But the Mondai lies here - just look at the two trading letters on his table now.
One trading letter is from the Senju, and the other is from the Uchiha.
Which ninja clan in the Land of Fire doesn't know that the Senju and the Uchiha are at odds?
If these two ninja clans really meet, it'll be terrible!
But if they reply to one first and then the other and both sides find out, the situation will be even worse - "What's the meaning of this? Are you suggesting we're not as good as the Senju/Uchiha?"
As for not replying... The messengers are all summoned beasts. If the news gets back, there's a risk of being seen as disrespectful to the other party, which will only arouse suspicion.
Nara Shikakazu sighed - This whole thing is such a pain in the neck.