CHAPTER 124
The moment they stepped into the camp, countless scrutinizing gazes silently converged on them.
The Uchiha shinobi throughout the camp, whether wiping their kunai or speaking quietly among themselves, all paused what they were doing.
Their calm eyes settled upon the three unfamiliar faces.
There was no obvious hostility in those gazes.
But there was no welcome either.
There was only a faint sense of distance and observation reserved exclusively for outsiders.
The atmosphere throughout the entire camp was so quiet that it felt somewhat oppressive.
It was completely different from the camps at Mount Kikyo or the Land of Waves, where even amid wartime tension, the sounds of training, conversation, and daily activity never truly disappeared.
Ebisu and Genma subconsciously moved a little closer to Guy.
Guy quietly took a deep breath and straightened his back.
With a calm expression, he met those gazes head-on.
Following the directions given by the guards, the three walked toward the largest tent in the center of the camp.
As they stepped inside, they saw a middle-aged man dressed in the Uchiha Clan's black combat attire quietly reading through their personnel files.
The three stepped forward simultaneously, stood upright, and spoke loudly.
"Konoha shinobi Might Guy, Ebisu, and Shiranui Genma."
"Reporting to Outpost No. 8 as ordered!"
Hearing the report, the man slowly raised his head and looked at them.
That single glance instantly sent chills through all three of them.
Those were a pair of crimson eyes.
Within them, three black tomoe revolved slowly.
The mysterious pressure radiating from those eyes caused the trio's expressions to change immediately.
A wave of dizziness surged over them.
For an instant, the surrounding scenery blurred and distorted.
The sobering stone hidden beside Guy's molars released a sharp bitterness that instantly stimulated his nerves.
"Genjutsu!"
Guy immediately recognized it.
He bit the tip of his tongue hard.
The sharp pain, combined with the sobering stone's effect, instantly restored his clarity.
"Oh?"
The man seated at the head of the tent let out a quiet sound of surprise.
A trace of unexpected interest flashed through his Three Tomoe Sharingan.
"So you broke free from my Genjutsu that quickly?"
Uchiha Feiquan looked at Guy with obvious curiosity.
Although it had only been an extremely simple probing Genjutsu, it should have been more than enough to momentarily affect ordinary Genin and Chunin.
Yet this child had almost completely ignored it.
Just as Feiquan was feeling surprised, Ebisu and Genma's bodies suddenly trembled.
Their eyes gradually regained focus.
Both immediately became alert and instinctively assumed combat stances.
Their hands moved toward the twin swords Hiramekarei replicas strapped behind their backs.
Guy immediately reached out and stopped them.
He calmly looked straight at Uchiha Feiquan.
He understood that this had merely been a display of authority.
Or more accurately...
A test.
Uchiha Feiquan carefully examined Guy.
His gaze lingered for a few extra moments on Guy's clear, unaffected eyes before he finally asked,
"So you're Might Guy?"
"The one who became a Chunin at nine years old?"
His tone carried no emotion whatsoever.
Guy did not directly answer the obvious question.
He simply continued looking calmly at Uchiha Feiquan.
Seeing this, Feiquan didn't seem particularly concerned about receiving an answer.
He casually waved his hand.
"Don't mind it."
"It was merely a simple test."
"After all, who knows how much water is mixed into the title of a nine-year-old Chunin?"
The moment those words were spoken, Ebisu and Genma's expressions changed instantly.
Guy's promotion had been earned through genuine battlefield achievements.
One battle after another.
One enemy after another.
Especially during the battle where they killed the Iwagakure Jonin Iwami Jūzō.
Officially, the records described it as an assisted kill.
But as those who had witnessed everything firsthand, they knew the truth better than anyone.
What "water" was there?
Guy had personally dealt the decisive blow.
His promotion to Chunin was fully deserved.
Ebisu's lips twitched with anger.
Genma unconsciously bit down harder on the senbon between his teeth.
Both were just about to speak.
However, Guy quietly raised an arm.
He subtly blocked the two of them and lightly shook his head.
Signaling them not to say another word.
This was an outpost commanded entirely by the Uchiha Clan.
Standing before them was a captain who possessed the Three Tomoe Sharingan.
As newcomers, provoking an argument over a single sentence would be an extremely foolish decision.
Uchiha Feiquan silently observed every reaction from the trio.
He saw Guy restrain his companions.
He also saw that although Ebisu and Genma were clearly dissatisfied, they still chose to endure it.
A faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
Whether it represented satisfaction or something else was impossible to tell.
"At least you understand the rules."
Feiquan casually placed the personnel files onto the table.
Leaning back in his chair, he slowly swept his gaze across the three newcomers.
"I'm sure you've already noticed."
"This is an outpost of the Uchiha Clan."
"I don't know why Lord Orochimaru chose to assign the three of you here."
He paused briefly.
His tone remained calm.
Yet every word was blunt enough to grate on the ears.
"But as long as you honestly follow orders..."
"...and don't cause trouble..."
"...I won't make things difficult for you."
"Understood?"
Such an unmistakable declaration.
Such obvious drawing of boundaries.
Such direct warning.
It made the three feel rather uncomfortable.
None of them had expected this Uchiha captain to be so straightforward.
He made no effort whatsoever to hide either his indifference or his distrust toward outsiders.
This was the first time they had encountered someone like this.
He was nothing like Akimichi Choza's warmth.
Nor was he like Hyuga Yukian, whose cold exterior concealed genuine concern.
He was simply...
Cold.
Oddly enough, however, Guy secretly breathed a small sigh of relief.
Someone whose coldness was openly displayed was actually easier to deal with than someone who smiled warmly while harboring hidden malice.
Feiquan's attitude made one thing very clear.
As long as they obeyed orders and didn't cause trouble, they probably wouldn't be deliberately targeted.
Even so...
It still wasn't a pleasant feeling.
The three exchanged glances.
Suppressing the dissatisfaction in their hearts, they finally nodded.
"Understood."
"Good."
Uchiha Feiquan clearly had no intention of continuing the conversation.
He slightly raised his voice toward the entrance of the tent.
"Someone."
"Take them to their assigned quarters."
As soon as he finished speaking, the tent flap was lifted.
A young figure walked inside.
The newcomer also wore the standard high-collared black combat attire of the Uchiha Clan.
He appeared only a few years older than Guy and the others.
His features were refined, and his expression was calm and composed.
The moment Uchiha Feiquan saw the newcomer...
The coldness in his eyes noticeably softened.
The young man stepped forward.
Facing Feiquan, he bowed respectfully.
His steady voice echoed throughout the tent.
"Father."
"Allow me to escort them."
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