"Training is one thing, but why do they have to live together too? They only come home once a week! I'm going to talk to senpai. That guy Ankoku is completely unreliable. He's been obsessed with blades ever since he was little — even sleeps holding one!
I heard from Aoko-nee that he even held a knife on his wedding night! Can you believe that? What kind of man does that? He's crazy! Why don't we switch teachers? His uncle seems decent. Don't worry — my brother-in-law would never let the kids suffer. Kairen, we're not going tomorrow. I'll talk to your uncle myself!"
Uchiha Kairen's mother affectionately stroked his hair, glaring fiercely at the talkative, handsome uncle beside her.
"Come on, don't joke about this. The whole clan knows about this team. You really don't? Ankoku is one of the top fighters in the clan. Even the First and Third Elders have no complaints. Don't make a fuss. If it's that bad, I'll swallow my pride and get him to give the kids one extra rest day." The handsome uncle sighed helplessly.
"Top fighter, my foot. He's been beaten by his wife since childhood! Aoko-nee's been staying home raising kids these years, and he's the one acting like a grown-up? No way — I'm reporting him to the elders!" She stood up as if ready to storm off.
"Mom, please don't. Ankoku-sensei said we'll be done in half a month at most, and then we'll return to normal training. His methods are actually really effective. Don't worry — once it's over, I'll come home to spend time with you."
With Uchiha Kairen and the uncle's persuasion, the gentle mother reluctantly suppressed her anger. The family sat down and shared a warm dinner together.
---
"Alright, everyone's here. Let's begin!" Ankoku's calm voice carried through the morning air. "Your next phase of training will take place in the forest behind us. Half a month of survival training. Each of you may bring only three shuriken, two soldier pills, and one explosive tag.
Once this training is over, we'll resume normal drills. I'll design personalized follow-up training based on your performance. Now—run, my young warriors."
Uchiha Ankoku smiled kindly at the three boys before him — but his words were pure cruelty.
The three glanced at each other, shared a silent sigh, and entered the forest. They found a cave beside a stream and killed the bear living inside.
Honō handled the cooking, Retsu set up traps nearby, and Kairen fetched water from the river — it almost looked like a peaceful summer camp.
"Heh… little brats really think they're camping. Let's see how long that lasts," Ankoku muttered with a dangerous grin curling his lips.
Night fell. The three extinguished their torches and took turns keeping watch. In the dead of night, one of Retsu's traps suddenly snapped. Kairen immediately woke the other two. The trio pressed their backs to the cave wall, eyes scanning the darkness.
A long howl split the silence — a wolf's cry. They instantly understood what they were facing. A pack was closing in.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"
The three unleashed their jutsu in unison. Retsu blasted a fireball into the traps set above the cave entrance, Honō raised an earthen wall on the left side, and Kairen hurled fiery bursts toward the right and forward flanks.
Then came the clash of blades — close combat, teeth and steel under moonlight. The fierce battle raged until dawn. By morning, all three were covered in wounds.
"Never thought we'd look this pathetic after just the first night," Honō panted.
"Yeah… and this is just the beginning…" Kairen replied weakly.
---
The first night brought wolves. The second, ninja bees and a rampaging boar family. The third, a chain of deadly traps.
By the fourth day, Ankoku himself joined the fray — ambushing them relentlessly. After every surprise attack, he'd strip them of all their supplies, leaving only three shuriken each, say nothing, and disappear again.
This hellish regimen lasted fifteen days.
When the three finally emerged from the forest, they felt like they had lived another lifetime. Never before had they faced days where death loomed so near — traps everywhere, ambushes at any moment, no food, no help. The only things they could rely on were their brothers beside them and the shuriken in their hands.
That training taught them one thing — ninja life wasn't child's play. A shinobi is someone who dances on the edge of death.
"Three days' rest. Go home. We'll meet at the usual place after that," Ankoku said calmly, then vanished with a flicker.
"Let's go, brothers. Time to head home."
"Home… can we really go home now? Feels unreal."
"Better hurry — my mom's probably gone insane by now. Just look at me! The gate guard might not even let me in."
The three laughed and teased each other as they made their way back toward the clan compound.
That single training session — more than bell tests, more than speeches about the Will of Fire, more than any feast — had truly bonded them as one.
After they left, Ankoku appeared again from the forest, flanked by seven Uchiha shinobi.
"Three waves in total. Nine men. Three jōnin, six chūnin. Six belonged to Root. The rest were Anbu. All Root operatives eliminated. After the Anbu realized we were there, they withdrew. We engaged only the Root members and then pulled back to a safe distance to observe," one Uchiha reported.
"The village sure takes this seriously. Elder Danzō's concern for Uchiha remains as touching as ever," another said mockingly.
"Seems even the Third Hokage hasn't forgotten us — he's sent people twice already. That's generous," another laughed darkly.
Their banter was laced with sarcasm, eyes glinting coldly beneath the teasing smiles, faint traces of killing intent leaking from their bodies.
"Ahh, I'm exhausted. I'm heading home — that kid'll be heartbroken if he comes back and doesn't see me," said the handsome uncle with a sigh, striding off.
"Yasuyuki still holds out hope for the higher-ups," one Uchiha remarked, twin blades strapped to his back. "Don't let that goofy smile fool you — he sees everything clearly."
"Nobunaga-sama wanted Yasuyuki to take this mission himself," Ankoku said quietly, watching the man's retreating back. "He wanted him to understand exactly how the village views Uchiha prodigies — so he'd finally give up that hope."
"Alright, let's head back too. Drinks?"
"You buying? Let's go, let's go — rare to see you so generous!"
"Hey, when did I say that? …Actually, forget it. I kinda miss home too. Let's go."
The group dispersed into the forest, vanishing one by one.
---
"You're back? You look like you've been through hell. Did you collect the Hokage's coming-of-age gift for our son?" Uchiha Ran asked calmly, eyes fixed on her husband.
"It's not what you think. Probably Danzō's doing — seems the Anbu were just there to watch," Yasuyuki explained.
"Hmph. How thoughtful. Sending bodyguards now, huh? What's next, a picnic at the Uchiha training grounds?" Ran shot back, rising to her feet and heading toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Yasuyuki asked, puzzled. Their son was about to return — why was she leaving now?
Without turning back, Ran activated her three-tomoe Sharingan. "Just meeting a few sisters to buy some side dishes for the celebration. Our son's grown up now — he deserves a drink tonight." With that, she strode off briskly.
"…Wait, she just remembered that now? Always home and still can't plan ahead," Yasuyuki muttered, exasperated.
Ran shut the door behind her and cursed under her breath — "Idiot!"
"Sis, what took you so long?" a battle-clad woman complained as Ran arrived.
"Where are my clothes? Are the targets confirmed?"
"Here. Tsubaki and Sora already marked them," replied a dark-skinned woman with a firm tone.
"Good. Then let's move. In ten minutes, drop the groceries off at Keiko's place — I'll grab them on my way home." Dressed now in full combat uniform, Ran radiated confidence and steel.
Ten minutes later—
"Son, you're home! Mom missed you so much! Let me see — you've gotten so thin! I bought all your favorite food. Give me a minute, dinner'll be ready soon!" she chirped, bustling into the house, muttering along the way about stingy market vendors who wouldn't give her a discount.
Watching her back disappear into the kitchen, Uchiha Kairen fell silent. There was a smell — faint, metallic.
Not from the market.
Human blood.