Naruto:The System's Shadow

"The Fujiwara Mountain Mine is one of the three major mines of our clan. The iron ore produced is of superior quality and is essential for the creation of all of the clan's ninja tools. The surplus is also exported to various daimyos and generals, making it an extremely important source of revenue for the clan.

However, about half a month ago, five groups of bandits suddenly appeared, harassing the operation of the mine and robbing the ore being transported to the clan, causing serious losses. This has basically halted transportation, and if it continues for another month, the clan's financial losses will be over a million."

Uchiha Tadashi pointed to the map of the mine on the table, explaining earnestly to Uchiha Kaito. The paths he indicated were the necessary routes for transporting the ore out, and they had now been cut off by bandits.

Kaito stared at the map, pondering for a moment, and asked, "Have you engaged them? Logically speaking, you are clan ninja, and even ordinary genin should have no problem dealing with bandits. How could they cut off the trade routes? Do they also have ninja?"

Uchiha Tadashi smiled bitterly and said, "Yes, I fought one group of bandits, and the other party had two chunin. I was no match and retreated to ask the clan for help. Others have also discovered traces of ninja with the other bandits, but we can't confirm their rank."

Kaito quietly looked at the map, analyzing the information he had heard. He couldn't help but feel that something was strange about this matter.

*Slap!*

A rough hand slapped the map in front of him, and a large face reeking of alcohol appeared. Kaito frowned in displeasure. He recognized this face; it seemed to be one of the five genin here, named Uchiha Kurou.

"Kid, stop pretending. Although I don't know why the clan would send you, a brat, here, this isn't a place for you. Go back and drink your milk, and let the clan send real ninja!"

Kaito hated being disturbed when he was thinking, and this genin in front of him was so rude that it deepened his disgust. His gaze turned cold.

"Haha, come and see, this kid's eyes are scary, like a little tiger baring its teeth... Oh, no, it should be said that he looks like an angry kitten, a little calico cat... Haha!"

The other genin laughed in agreement, their ridicule clear.

Because the Fujiwara Mine was so close to the clan territory, it was basically under the clan's control. Therefore, the ninja guarding it were, to some extent, a forgotten group. All they had to do was supervise the miners, and they were not valued by the clan. They had been harboring some resentment for a long time. Today, seeing that the clan had sent a child, they were even more angry, leading to this scene.

Uchiha Tadashi looked awkward. Although he was also dissatisfied that the clan had only sent a child, he was still a junior from the clan. As long as he persuaded him to go back and asked the clan to send someone else, there was no need to be so harsh on a child.

"Little calico cat?!"

Kaito muttered, a sneer appearing on his face, and slowly stood up.

"Oh, so what if I said you're a little calico cat? What, do you want to fight? You really look like you mean it, but let me tell you, this world relies on strength... Hmph..."

*Bang!*

Before he could finish speaking, his entire body suddenly bore a tremendous force, flying backward and crashing into the wall with a bang. The intense impact caused countless small cracks to appear in the wall, and he himself fainted because he couldn't withstand the violent force.

All of this happened in a flash of lightning, and no one saw how Kaito made his move.

"Laugh, why don't you continue laughing!"

Uchiha Kaito turned his head, scanning the four genin who had just been laughing happily, his eyes already transformed into a bewitching red, with the three tomoe clearly visible.

"Gack... Gack... Gack..."

Everything had happened too suddenly, and they hadn't yet processed what had happened. Their smiles were frozen on their faces, their expressions very strange, making strange "gack, gack" sounds.

"Three... Three tomoe!" Uchiha Tadashi took a step back, his face filled with shock, muttering unconsciously, "How is that possible? Three tomoe, how could three tomoe appear on a child!"

The other four genin could only stare blankly at the three tomoe in his eyes, unable to even think straight. Wasn't it said that only the clan's jonin could reach the level of three tomoe? How could it appear on a child? What was going on in this world?

Kaito slowly sat down, the three tomoe in his eyes slowly reversed, returning to the normal color of his eyes, and said calmly, "Continue to tell me about the situation of these bandits!"

Uchiha Tadashi shuddered and quickly walked to Kaito's side, his attitude changing drastically. He became respectful, pointing to the map and beginning to describe the situation of each bandit in detail. No matter what the situation was with this child, the three-tomoe Sharingan was not fake, and that was enough. In the Uchiha clan, the level of the Sharingan was a symbol of status.

Kaito quietly listened, without interrupting. After Uchiha Tadashi finished speaking, he tapped the table rhythmically with his right hand, and after a long time, he said, "Something's not right!"

Uchiha Tadashi was stunned and subconsciously asked, "What?"

Kaito said faintly, "The situation is too strange. I can't see the purpose of these bandits. What do they want?"

Uchiha Tadashi smiled, shaking his head inwardly. Even a genius was still a child. He couldn't see the obvious purpose of the bandits. He couldn't help but say, "This is a mine, and the ore produced here is famous throughout the Warring States Period. Of course, their purpose is the ore."

Kaito turned his head and looked at him strangely, saying earnestly, "What do they want the ore for?"

Uchiha Tadashi was somewhat frustrated, thinking to himself that this child was indeed strong, but his mind seemed a little slow. Could this be the price of awakening the three-tomoe Sharingan at such a young age?

"They want the ore, of course, to forge weapons. Wait... Forge weapons?" Uchiha Tadashi suddenly startled, realizing something, and looked at Kaito in surprise.

Seeing that he understood his meaning, Kaito continued, "That's right, ore is an important resource, but ore is not equal to weapons, or even to iron. The iron ore produced in Fujiwara Mountain still needs to be professionally smelted to remove impurities before it can become iron, and even more professional methods are needed to turn it into weapons. These bandits have none of that. To them, ore is just waste rock. Tell me, would anyone specifically go to rob waste rock?"

Uchiha Tadashi shook his head blankly, staring at Kaito dumbfounded, his mind only filled with two words: "monster" and "prodigy."

Kaito ignored him and continued to say to himself, "Also, this is the Uchiha clan's property, and it's close to the clan's location. Jonin can arrive in less than a day. Yet they still dare to rob here and block the trade routes. This is no longer seeking wealth but is close to seeking death. How could there be such stupid bandits in the world? Wouldn't you agree?"

Kaito smiled at Uchiha Tadashi and asked softly.

Uchiha Tadashi could only nod blankly.