"Since that's the case, once we enter the village to rest, no one is allowed to act recklessly or disturb the civilians of the Rain Village!"
Uchiha Shin's eyes shone sharply.
"So I'm laying down these rules. Anyone who violates them will be executed without mercy!"
"1. Trespassing into civilian homes—death.
2. Looting supplies—death.
3. Assaulting civilians—death.
4. Bullying the weak—death.
5. Exploiting or coercive trading—death."
"These are the five kill orders. Remember them well."
"I don't want us to be comrades in the morning and enemies by night!"
"Secondly, our unit must have discipline—we do not take a single needle or thread from the people!"
"Understood?!"
His voice rang out firmly.
The Senju clan members exchanged glances.
Finally, Tsunade spoke first.
"Understood!"
Then the others followed loudly:
"Understood!"
Uchiha Shin didn't dwell on it.
He could tell—
Some of them didn't truly agree, only responding because of Tsunade's authority.
But what they didn't realize—
This was wisdom from another world.
"Now—all units, follow me into the village!"
"Move lightly. Act carefully!"
Uchiha Shin took the lead.
As the battlefield commander, he had to lead from the front.
Tsunade, worried for him, stayed close by his side.
Upon entering the village, Uchiha Shin looked around.
He noticed civilians peeking through windows and door cracks, too afraid to make a sound.
So he spoke loudly:
"People of the Land of Rain, we are ninja from Konoha."
"I know that in your eyes, ninja from great nations are ruthless killers—and I won't deny it."
"But I can guarantee this—our unit will maintain strict discipline and will not harm civilians."
"We only wish to rest here for one night."
"We will stay along the sides of the road and leave a path open for you to pass through."
"Please do not be afraid."
"If any ninja commits wrongdoing, report it to me—I will execute them on the spot!"
After speaking, Uchiha Shin ordered the unit to set up simple rain shelters along the roadside.
Some leaned against walls, others lay directly on the ground.
After marching all day—
And fighting intermittently—
They were utterly exhausted.
He then assigned twenty ninja to patrol.
Security still had to be maintained.
Seeing how disciplined the Konoha ninja were, the villagers couldn't help but feel stirred.
In the past, ninja had burned, looted, and committed countless atrocities.
Why was this unit so different?
They couldn't quite believe it.
That night—
The Senju forces slept soundly.
But the civilians felt uneasy—
Or rather, unreal.
They had experienced war before—
But this was the first time encountering such a unit.
Such a commander.
It felt like a dream.
—
Late at night—
Two wounded Konoha ninja arrived at the village.
They approached a house and were about to force the door open for shelter.
At that moment, a patrolling Senju Jonin shouted:
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
"Which unit are you from?!"
His voice immediately alerted over two hundred ninja nearby.
Weapons were drawn.
All eyes locked onto the two injured ninja.
"We're from Jiraiya's unit."
"We got separated after a battle and found this village—we just want some food."
One of them forced a smile.
"Yeah, brothers, we just want a bite to eat. No need to be so serious!"
"Seize them!"
The one giving the order—
Was Ryūichi.
He respected Uchiha Shin completely.
Without him, their unit would have suffered heavy losses.
Now these outsiders were trying to break Uchiha Shin's rules—
He didn't care whose unit they belonged to.
Arrest them first.
Let Uchiha Shin decide.
"What are you doing?!"
"We're comrades from the same village!"
One of them activated his Sharingan—
Two tomoe.
He gripped a kunai, glaring at the Senju ninja.
"Or is it that your Senju clan still harbors resentment toward the Uchiha?!"
The other Uchiha also activated his Sharingan—
One tomoe.
"Hmph! You dare trespass into civilian homes and still resist?"
Ryūichi moved instantly.
With a powerful Senju-style kick, he knocked out the two-tomoe Uchiha.
Then, with a crushing elbow strike, he slammed the one-tomoe Uchiha to the ground.
Other ninja rushed forward and bound them.
Inside the house—
A red-haired child watched the scene unfold, eyes wide in disbelief.
The Konoha ninja… protected them?
Nearby villagers also peeked through cracks and windows.
Seeing this—
An indescribable warmth rose in their hearts.
—
Meanwhile—
Uchiha Shin stood beneath an eave, deep in thought.
He was considering how to deal with Hanzō of the Salamander.
A Kage-level opponent.
Called a "demigod."
And the title was well deserved.
True, he couldn't compare to Senju Hashirama or Senju Tobirama—
But in this era, his overall strength justified the title.
The reasons for the Land of Rain declaring war on the Land of Wind, Fire, and Earth were threefold:
First—
Internal factions were rampant.
To consolidate power and become the true leader of the Hidden Rain, Hanzō declared war.
Win or lose—
He wanted to prove his authority.
Second—
The battlefields of great nations always fell upon smaller countries like his.
His people suffered endlessly.
Even if he couldn't win—
He had to show the world that the Land of Rain would not be bullied.
Third—
Resource scarcity.
War was the fastest way to redistribute and seize resources.
But what he didn't expect—
Was that within a week of declaring war—
Konoha, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure would push from their borders straight into his territory.
Only then did he realize—
A single person's strength could not determine a nation's strength.
Or rather—
He wasn't strong enough.
Not strong enough to become a "God of Shinobi" who could deter all five great nations alone.
—
"Commander!"
A Senju ninja hurried over and dropped to one knee.
Uchiha Shin, who had been deep in thought, lifted his head.
"Ryūji, what's wrong? What has you so flustered?"
He stood up with a slight smile and stepped forward.