"Hokage-sama, please tell the Takigakure Ninja to hand me over," Kaede said expressionlessly.
"That's impossible! If we hand over Kaede, the Uchiha Clan will immediately go to war with the Takigakure Ninja!" Uchiha Setsuna vehemently objected.
Danzo was about to speak, but Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped him with a glance. Hiruzen was also suffering from a massive headache now.
Clearly, the current Kaede was too important to the Uchiha Clan; even the usually compromising Uchiha Fugaku remained silent.
Fugaku knew that if he handed Kaede over now, the prestige of both the Hokage and himself as the Clan Head would plummet. He estimated his time as Clan Head would be over.
But he also didn't want to bear the blame for starting a war between two nations, so he simply kept quiet.
"Great Elder! This matter has nothing to do with the Uchiha Clan. Let me face it alone. Don't worry, I will return," Kaede pleaded.
"You! Sigh!" Uchiha Setsuna looked at his earnest expression and could only let out a sigh.
Uchiha Fugaku couldn't help but think, This shouldn't count as me handing him over, right?
"In that case, tomorrow..."
"No need. I'll go find them tonight and return to Takigakure with them to resolve the matter." Kaede directly interrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi.
On the way back, Uchiha Setsuna kept sighing. "Kaede, are you really confident?"
"Don't worry, Great Elder. This is my personal action; how could I let the clan get involved?"
Uchiha Kaede first went home to reassure his parents, then left Konoha Village under the cover of night. There was no anger in his heart, only a feeling of relief.
Heading toward the Takigakure Ninja's location, he knew this was the beginning of changing his destiny.
"Hey, Kaede!" Suddenly, someone called out on the road.
"Hmm? Kakashi-senpai? What are you doing here?" Kaede turned around and saw Kakashi leaning against a wall by the road; he clearly wasn't just passing by.
"You're going to find the Takigakure Ninja?" Kakashi asked.
"Yes, I'm going to resolve it myself."
"Hmm. Hey, are you planning on going all the way to Takigakure?" After receiving confirmation, Kakashi took out a map. "You don't even know where Takigakure is, do you?"
"Thank you, Kakashi-senpai." Kaede took the map. He had actually planned to just control a random Takigakure Ninja and make them lead the way.
But having a map himself would be more convenient.
On the path crossing through the forest, Kaede's steps were light and confident.
He didn't take the usual route but chose a hidden path, which allowed him to avoid being discovered by the Takigakure Ninja.
His mood wasn't heavy; rather, he felt a little excited. To him, this wasn't just a battle, but a game, and he already knew the rules of the game.
Night fell, and Kaede stopped beneath a large tree, deciding to rest there for a while.
He leaned against the trunk and looked up at the starry sky. The light pollution of the modern world had made him almost forget that the stars could be so brilliant. He took a deep breath, enjoying the tranquility.
However, this tranquility did not last long. Soon, he sensed a fluctuation of Chakra; someone was approaching.
Kaede immediately became alert. He knew these were likely Ninja from Takigakure.
Did someone inform them? Could it be Danzo?
He quickly hid himself in the bushes, preparing to observe the identity of the newcomers.
It was a squad from Takigakure that had traveled to Konoha, and they were currently searching everywhere.
Kaede used an Earth Release Ninjutsu to hide himself underground, then quietly passed beneath them, preparing to find their leader.
When he reappeared from underground, he found that the leader of the Takigakure Ninja was already standing in front of him.
This Ninja was clearly an experienced veteran; he had set a trap, waiting for Kaede to walk right into it.
"You must be that Uchiha Kaede? To dare trespass into our territory alone, your courage is commendable," the Takigakure Ninja leader sneered.
Kaede straightened his posture, his hand already gripping a Kunai tightly.
??? Only now did the leader clearly see his face, and confusion flashed in his eyes. "Why is it just a kid?"
"Konoha is absolutely outrageous! They actually tried to fob us off with a mere kid!" The rest of the returning Takigakure Ninja were also furious.
"Hmph!" Kaede's eyes instantly transformed into the Three-Tomoe, and the crimson gaze stunned the noisy crowd.
"You, it's you!" The leader recognized Uchiha Kaede upon seeing those terrifying eyes.
But he still found it unbelievable that the powerhouse who had made their entire Village miserable and injured him was just a kid!
Konoha actually handed over such a genius? Was this the true foundation of the leader of the Five Great Ninja Villages?
Kaede's gaze was calm, without a hint of panic. "I came here only to resolve the misunderstanding between us. I don't want unnecessary fighting."
"Misunderstanding? You stole the water of heroism! That's no misunderstanding!" the leader roared.
Kaede knew that any explanation would be futile. He took a deep breath, preparing to fight.
His Chakra flowed within him, and the Fire and Lightning nature Chakra gathered in his hand, forming a searing fireball.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!" Kaede shouted, and the fireball in his hand turned into a streak of fire, shooting straight toward the Takigakure Ninja squad.
The Takigakure Ninja hastily dodged, but the fireball split in mid-air, turning into countless smaller fireballs that covered the entire area.
The Takigakure Ninja were thrown into disarray by the sudden attack, and they began to scatter.
Kaede seized the opportunity to rush into the enemy formation, his Kunai dancing like a blur, each swing carrying the power of lightning.
The Takigakure Ninja were struck by this force, their bodies instantly paralyzed and unable to move.
The battle ended quickly. The Takigakure Ninja squad was defeated by Kaede's Fire and Lightning nature Ninjutsu. They lay on the ground, unable to believe what they were seeing.
The leader, in particular, was completely dumbfounded. He couldn't understand how such a short time had passed, yet Kaede's strength was already crushing him.
Kaede did not deliver the killing blow; he merely incapacitated them.
Kaede stood on the battlefield, without a single scratch on him. He looked down at the fallen Takigakure Ninja and said coldly, "Tell your Village that I will personally go to Takigakure and resolve everything."
Having spoken, Kaede turned and left, abandoning the chaotic battlefield.
The leader jolted, realizing what he had said. The Village? He was going to the Village? Could the people in the Village defeat him?
Although he was the strongest person in the Village, he hadn't reached Kage-level. Their Village still had many Jonin, but now he wasn't even sure if they could defeat that kid.
Should they just drop it? This thought inexplicably popped into the leader's mind. He immediately shook his head. No! If they let it go like this, the Takigakure Ninja would lose all prestige in the Ninja World.
Right, they still have the Seven-Tails! They can win! The leader struggled to his feet; he had to get back to the Village before that kid arrived.
Kaede's shadow stretched long under the moonlight, his steps firm and powerful. He knew he couldn't kill them here, or a war between the two nations might start before he even reached Takigakure.
Uchiha Kaede left Konoha Village under the cover of night. His destination was Takigakure, located between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth.
This Hidden Village was concealed by a massive waterfall, and its unique geographical location meant it had never been invaded by other countries.
Kaede knew the journey to Takigakure would not be easy; this was the first time he had traveled so far alone.
The last time he went on a mission with Kakashi, he had followed him the entire way.
Takigakure Ninja! I'm back again!
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