Naruto: Blind Uchiha

After speaking with Uchiha Kiyoshi, Uchiha Akihiko decided to follow his advice. He applied to join the search team tasked with scouting the hidden Senju base. However, as the mission began, the atmosphere in the team was far from harmonious.

Scouting missions required experienced members, and the problem lay in Akihiko's rocky relationship with Uchiha Hiroshi, the team's sensory ninja.

"Hey, Akihiko," Hiroshi smirked. "Didn't you say you weren't interested in coming along? Changed your mind after sparring with Kiyoshi at the training ground?"

Akihiko's expression remained calm. He glanced at Hiroshi and replied evenly, "We can settle our personal grudges after the mission. But if you slow us down out here..."

"Tch, don't worry." Hiroshi crossed his arms with a mocking grin. "I'm not that short-sighted. But don't expect me to make your injuries painless if you get hurt."

"Perfect. Pain's a good teacher," Akihiko shot back, his tone unyielding. He turned to address the rest of the team. "If anyone has complaints, speak now. I'm not Kiyoshi—I don't have the patience to babysit anyone."

The other Uchiha remained silent, exchanging glances but saying nothing.

The tension between Akihiko and Hiroshi wasn't exactly a secret. Both were considered talented genjutsu specialists of their generation, which naturally led to comparisons. Unfortunately for Hiroshi, he was always second best—not just in genjutsu but in every other area as well. His ninjutsu fell short of Uchiha Masaki's, his taijutsu and sensory abilities paled compared to Kiyoshi's, and his medical ninjutsu stood out only because few others in their generation had the chakra affinity to learn it.

This constant overshadowing had fostered Hiroshi's resentment. Though he often challenged the others, he was consistently defeated, leaving him bitter but never outright disobedient.

Seeing the group settle down, Akihiko refocused the discussion. "Our mission is simple: locate the Senju's hidden base and eliminate any threats to our forces. Hiroshi is our sensory and medical ninja. Everyone must prioritize his safety during the operation."

Hiroshi clicked his tongue but nodded begrudgingly. "I'll cooperate. I'm not reckless enough to face the Senju alone."

"What do we do once we find the base? Wipe them out?" Uchiha Masaki asked, leaning back with his hands behind his head. His relaxed demeanor contrasted with the seriousness of the mission. "Whatever it is, let's finish quickly. I promised Maki I'd take her to the festival in town the day after tomorrow."

"You're such a flirt," Hiroshi muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Flirt? Hardly!" Masaki turned to glare at him. "I treat all my relationships seriously! I only date one person at a time. Unlike you, I leave things on good terms with everyone!"

Hiroshi smirked. "Heh."

"What was that? You wanna say something to my face?"

"Sure. Heh."

"One-on-one when we get back! I'm not letting this slide, Hiroshi!"

"Bring it on. I'll knock you senseless!"

Akihiko sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. These two were impossible.

"Enough," he snapped, clapping his hands to recapture their attention. "Save your fights for later. For now, focus. Injure the Senju if needed, but don't kill. Masaki, Hiroshi, be ready with sealing techniques at all times."

The mention of restraints made Hiroshi frown. "Why hold back against the Senju? When did we start treating them kindly?"

"Think it through," Masaki said with a smirk. "Akihiko's trying to weaken their main force. Injuring their scouts and forcing them to retreat means they'll regroup at the main battlefield—weak and disorganized."

Akihiko nodded, his tone sharp. "Exactly. Kiyoshi suggested this approach. If it were up to me, I wouldn't be stuck babysitting the two of you on this mission."

"Ah, Kiyoshi's idea," Hiroshi mused, his expression darkening. "Fine. Injure but not kill... Does that include breaking their limbs? No way they'll report back without crawling."

"Breaking limbs works," Masaki chimed in, his grin widening. "Just leave them enough strength to retreat and look pathetic."

"Masaki," Akihiko warned, "keep your distance. Don't go overboard."

"Got it," Masaki replied, cracking his knuckles. "Once Hiroshi finds the base, leave the rest to me. I'm great at cat-and-mouse games."

Akihiko pulled out a map, spreading it across a flat surface. "Kiyoshi marked some suspicious areas for us. Hiroshi, take a look and pick our starting point."

Hiroshi leaned over, pointing to a spot on the eastern side of the map. "The east looks promising. I've got a bad feeling about this area."

"Then we'll start there," Akihiko decided, drawing a route on the map. He passed it around to ensure everyone memorized it. "Check your rations and gear. Take turns using your Sharingan to watch for ambushes. We move in ten minutes."

The group dispersed, readying themselves for the mission ahead. Despite their differences, they understood the stakes. Their squabbles would have to wait—until the Senju threat was dealt with.