《My name is Miyuki Uchiha – A New World Order》 Chapter 1: Shisui, May I Borrow Your Eyes for a Moment? Konoha, Year 56. The Nine-Tails Incident six years ago not only cost the Land of Fire''s Konoha Hidden Village their young, capable Fourth Hokage, but it also made the situation of the Uchiha clan, one of the founding clans, even more difficult. After all, the Sharingan etched in the pupils of the Nine-Tails was no lie. Facing the increasingly radical members of the clan, Uchiha Shisui, who held the Will of Fire in his heart, was anxious. The Uchiha clan at this point was like a powder keg that could explode at any moment. Fortunately, the clan meetings of the Uchiha clan had always failed to come to any concrete resolutions. But now, Uchiha Shisui was beginning to think about using his final measures. ¡°Looks like this is the only way.¡± Uchiha Shisui said, stepping out of the clan meeting, looking up at the moon, then touching his left eye. Time was running out, and Shisui decided to head to the Hokage Tower that night to report his plans to the Third Hokage. To avoid attention, he planned to take a detour through the Death Forest. However, just as he entered the Death Forest, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him. At first, Shisui thought it might be an ambush, but when he saw the person''s face clearly in the moonlight, he relaxed and his expression softened. ¡°Miyuki, what are you doing here?¡± The person was none other than Uchiha Miyuki, a genius of the current Uchiha generation, who was the same age as Shisui. Unlike other Uchiha who specialized in Fire Style and Genjutsu, Uchiha Miyuki was an anomaly. He focused all his skill points on Lightning Style. During the Third Great Ninja War, on a battlefield, he wiped out 15 Mist ninja squads using his Lightning Style: Kirin, a jutsu that summoned a natural disaster. This earned him the title of Blue Thunder Miyuki. In Shisui¡¯s eyes, this clan member, who was a year younger than him, was one of the rare Uchiha who truly embodied the Will of Fire. He worked harmoniously with the villagers in his role in the Police Force, and rarely participated in the clan meetings, which drew criticism from the more radical members of the clan. ¡°I just finished my daily training. But Shisui, why are you in the Death Forest at this hour?¡± Uchiha Miyuki asked with a gentle smile. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep, just needed to take a walk.¡± Shisui explained, not wanting to say that he was going to the Hokage Tower to report clan matters. ¡°Is it about the clan and the village?¡± Uchiha Miyuki asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Uchiha Shisui sighed deeply. ¡°Miyuki, you should understand. If the clan rebels, they¡¯re no match for the village. The village will suffer greatly, and the fragile peace we have now will vanish into thin air.¡± Shisui didn¡¯t have many defenses against Uchiha Miyuki. His kindness to the villagers in the Police Force made Shisui think of bringing him to his side.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°Those who live in peace often don¡¯t realize how precious it is.¡± Uchiha Miyuki said. ¡°The people of the clan, their vision is limited to their own clan, which is why they are in this predicament.¡± Upon hearing Miyuki¡¯s words, Shisui felt reassured. He hadn¡¯t expected that, aside from Itachi, who was praised by the Third Hokage for thinking like a Hokage, there was another young person in the clan with a broad vision. ¡°However, I have an idea about the current predicament of the clan and the village, but it requires your help, Shisui.¡± The moonlight filtered through the gaps in the forest, casting a soft glow on Uchiha Miyuki''s white haori, reflecting the gentle light. ¡°What¡¯s your idea?¡± Shisui asked seriously. ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± ¡°Please, Shisui, lend me your eye for a moment.¡± Uchiha Miyuki''s request sent a chill down Shisui''s spine. In the next instant, a flash of blue lightning flashed in Shisui''s eye. The sound of metal clashing echoed through the Death Forest¡¯s skies. Uchiha Shisui, in a critical moment, unsheathed his ninja sword and narrowly blocked the fatal blow. ¡°Miyuki? Why?¡± Shisui asked, struggling to maintain his stance. ¡°You¡¯re planning to side with the village, aren¡¯t you? To avoid suspicion from the clan, you deliberately took such a long detour to report to the Hokage,¡± Uchiha Miyuki¡¯s voice was as cold as frost. The two parted in an instant, facing each other with blades drawn, their three-tomoe Sharingan locked in a tense stare. ¡°So, your vision is limited to the clan after all? Here I was thinking you were one of those who shared the Will of Fire,¡± Shisui¡¯s eyes grew colder. Miyuki¡¯s strike earlier had clearly been aimed at his life. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Uchiha Miyuki laughed wildly, throwing his head back. ¡°How laughable. You and Itachi think you have the vision of an entire village, but your eyes fail to see the future of the clan and the village. You¡¯re nothing more than a frog in a well, staring at the moon.¡± The air around Miyuki crackled with energy, lightning dancing around him. ¡°My vision has long surpassed this small corner of the world. What my eyes see stretches far beyond yours. This sick world needs a complete revolution!¡± ¡°You plan to start a war? You¡¯re insane!¡± Shisui gritted his teeth. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t participate in the clan meetings because you loved peace, but I didn¡¯t expect you to be even more insane than those old radicals. I¡¯ve been completely deceived by your fa?ade.¡± ¡°No, no, no. The reason I don¡¯t participate in the clan meetings isn¡¯t that complicated. It¡¯s just because I don¡¯t want to associate with insects,¡± Miyuki said coldly. ¡°They¡¯ve been shouting about rebellion but have never come up with a single viable plan. How can you do politics with such insects?¡± ¡°I see. Now I understand.¡± Shisui took a deep breath, as if resolving something within himself. ¡°Miyuki, your ideas are too dangerous. For the sake of the village, I must stop you!¡± The three tomoe in Shisui¡¯s eyes spun rapidly, transforming into a pattern like a windmill. ¡°Is this your trump card?¡± Miyuki looked on with a cold gaze. ¡°A Genjutsu that can alter a person¡¯s will, the Kotoamatsukami.¡± Shisui¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Ever since awakening his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, he had never revealed its abilities¡ªso how did Miyuki know of his ocular power? ¡°Surprised?¡± Miyuki laughed loudly, then pointed to his own eyes. ¡°I told you, my eyes see farther than you can imagine.¡± As he spoke, the three tomoe in Miyuki¡¯s eyes began to shift, turning into patterns of lightning that circled around the central pupil. ¡°Mangeky¨­ Sharingan?¡± Shisui stared in disbelief at the sight. He hadn¡¯t expected Miyuki to have such a trump card hidden away. Chapter 2: Uchiha Miyuki
¡°Even with your insignificant capacity, you were able to awaken those eyes. So tell me, is it really so strange that I possess them as well?¡± Uchiha Miyuki said. ¡°Miyuki, your way of thinking is too dangerous. For the sake of the village¡­ I¡¯m sorry!¡± Upon seeing the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan in Miyuki¡¯s eyes, Shisui dared not hesitate any longer. He activated the ultimate Genjutsu within his left eye¡ªthe Kotoamatsukami, an ocular technique originally meant for Uchiha Fugaku, capable of permanently altering one''s thoughts. However, in the very next second, searing pain exploded in both of Shisui¡¯s eyes. Darkness swallowed his vision entirely. ¡°Since I already knew about your ocular power, do you really think I wouldn¡¯t have prepared for it?¡± Miyuki¡¯s voice echoed beside the now-blind Shisui. ¡°How¡­ did you do it?¡± Shisui clutched at the empty sockets where his eyes once were, his voice strained. ¡°My ocular power¡ªYasogami Kotoamatsukami.¡± Seizing the moment before Shisui could fully adapt to the darkness, Miyuki swiftly disarmed him, sealing his chakra at the same time. With a casual tone, he explained, ¡°My ability allows me to see countless possible outcomes in an instant and choose the most optimal one. You used your Kotoamatsukami on me, but I evaded it and countered¡ªthis was simply one of those possibilities.¡± ¡°How do you know about my Mangeky¨­¡¯s ability?¡± Even in defeat, Shisui struggled to gather information. ¡°I told you already¡ªmy eyes see a future beyond your reach.¡± Miyuki toyed with the pair of freshly taken Mangeky¨­ Sharingan in hia hand. ¡°A prophecy-type ocular power, huh?¡± Shisui let out a bitter laugh. ¡°So everything I did¡­ was within your grasp all along?¡± Miyuki did not answer his question. Instead, he mused to himself, ¡°The clan records call the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan the ''eyes that reflect the soul.'' But I prefer to call them the ¡®Eyes of Truth.¡¯ Every clan member who has awakened these eyes has faced a deep reckoning within their heart. And the powers they manifest¡­ are their answers.¡± He then turned his gaze toward Shisui, his voice laced with curiosity. ¡°You¡¯ve spoken so much about vision and capacity, so tell me¡ªwhen faced with the conflict between the clan and the village, why was your answer to manipulate the will of others? Does this mean you, too, believe that the rift between them is irreconcilable?¡± Faced with Miyuki¡¯s piercing question, Shisui fell into silence. Because he was right. It was precisely because he saw no future between the village and the clan¡ªbecause of his despair, and the buried, violent instincts of a shinobi¡ªthat he awakened such an unreasonable ability.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. "What an arrogant answer." Miyuki Uchiha said indifferently. "The clan''s bloodline granted you power, yet you chose to wield it against your own kin." "What do you intend to do with my eyes?" Shisui gritted his teeth. "Are you planning to control the Third Hokage? Your schemes won¡¯t succeed. Even if you manage to manipulate Lord Third, the village won¡¯t stand by and let the Uchiha coup happen. The village¡¯s power isn¡¯t something a single clan can stand against¡ªyou¡¯ll be pushing the Uchiha into the abyss!" Miyuki chuckled lightly as he undid the restraints binding Shisui. "Still so arrogant, Shisui. Even now, you refuse to acknowledge that my vision surpasses yours? Directly controlling Hiruzen Sarutobi? That¡¯s the most primitive way to use these eyes." With that, Miyuki took out a small vial from his robe and tossed it toward Shisui. Though blind, Shisui¡¯s sharp ninja instincts allowed him to catch it with ease. "What is this?" "A pair of three-tomoe Sharingan I took from the clan shrine." Miyuki replied. "Leave." "You¡¯re¡­ letting me go?" Shisui was stunned. Miyuki smiled faintly. "Kill you? Why would I kill you?" He patted Shisui¡¯s shoulder. "Go. Tell Hiruzen Sarutobi about your ocular power. Then, use these eyes¡ªpassed down from our ancestors¡ªto witness the new future I will create." Without another word, Miyuki turned and left the Forest of Death, never once looking back.
Back at the edge of the Uchiha compound, Miyuki summoned his ninja hawk, implanted Shisui¡¯s Mangeky¨­ Sharingan into it, and then released the summon. "Now that I have Kotoamatsukami, my plan can finally begin." Standing by the window, he gazed out at the night. The lights of Konohagakure flickered in the distance, contrasting starkly with the eerie silence of the Uchiha district. Ever since he was thrown into this world fourteen years ago, Miyuki had felt utterly out of place. This twisted world¡ªso backward that even the so-called ''evil'' capitalism of his past life seemed advanced by comparison. In his previous life, he had been just an ordinary corporate worker. His only hobby was dabbling in mathematical theories during his free time. Yet upon arriving in this world, he deceased parents had given him a name steeped in loyalty. This wretched world had forced Miyuki to learn the art of killing from a young age. At only nine years old, he was thrown onto the battlefield under the guise of the Will of Fire. Fortunately, the bloodline running through this body granted him the talent to survive. In the midst of life-and-death struggles, he awakened the ultimate power of his clan¡ªthe Mangeky¨­ Sharingan¡ªand managed to live until the war''s end. But survival was just the beginning. He knew that escaping the battlefield didn¡¯t mean escaping death. The Uchiha Clan Massacre, only a few years away, was a looming shadow he couldn¡¯t ignore. Yet, at every clan meeting¡ªnow nothing more than a tradition¡ªthere was nothing but endless, meaningless arguments. Miyuki understood that if he wanted to change the future, he could only rely on himself. And obtaining Shisui¡¯s Kotoamatsukami was merely the first step.
Though he had his own agenda, his assessment of Shisui today had been entirely honest. Arrogant. Foolish. Na?ve. He wielded Kotoamatsukami¡ªa power so formidable it could dictate the will of others¡ªyet, in the original timeline, he ended up meeting a pathetic demise. If only he had openly revealed his ability, he could have become a sword of Damocles hanging over both the Uchiha and Konoha¡¯s higher-ups. Instead, he had chosen the most idiotic course of action. [Well, it belongs to me now.] Miyuki¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the Hokage Monument, his expression unreadable. In the darkness, the four stone faces loomed over the village. His eyes locked onto the third one. [So then, the so-called strongest Hokage¡­ what will you do?] Chapter 3: Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Reaction Shisui Uchiha, after Miyuki Uchiha¡¯s departure, didn¡¯t even bother to replace his lost eyes with the pair given to him. Instead, he rushed toward the Hokage Tower at full speed. Although Miyuki had claimed he had no intention of using his eyes to control the Hokage, Shisui couldn¡¯t afford to take that risk. At the very least, I must make sure Lord Hokage is prepared. With this conviction, Shisui endured the searing pain in his empty eye sockets, stumbling as he arrived at the entrance of the Hokage Tower. ¡°Shisui Uchiha?!¡± The two Ch¨±nin guarding the entrance were stunned when they recognized the approaching figure and his wretched state. This was the renowned Shisui of the Body Flicker¡ªhow had he ended up like this? ¡°I need to see Lord Hokage! Now!¡± Shisui urged. ¡°What happened?¡± At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen emerged from his office, drawn by the commotion. His eyes widened in shock when he saw Shisui¡¯s hollow eye sockets. He had sent Shisui to observe the Uchiha clan meeting tonight¡ªhad the Uchiha truly begun their rebellion? ¡°Shisui! Quickly! Get a medical ninja here!¡± The Third Hokage ordered urgently. ¡°Lord Hokage, I have an emergency report. The medical ninja can wait,¡± Shisui said as soon as he heard Hiruzen¡¯s voice. ¡°¡­Very well.¡± Seeing Shisui¡¯s agitation, Hiruzen decided to hear him out first. He led Shisui into his office and dismissed everyone else. ¡°Speak, Shisui. What exactly happened?¡± The Third Hokage¡¯s voice was heavy, his mind bracing for the worst. Taking a deep breath, Shisui recounted everything that had transpired that night¡ªhow Miyuki Uchiha had taken his eyes and, more importantly, their ability. He withheld nothing. The more Hiruzen listened, the graver his expression became. Truthfully, he had already prepared himself for the Uchiha clan¡¯s full-scale rebellion, but the information Shisui brought was far more alarming. ¡°Miyuki, huh¡­¡± At some point, Hiruzen had lit his pipe. He exhaled a long stream of smoke, his mind recalling the young Uchiha¡¯s figure. From what he remembered, Miyuki Uchiha, a shinobi who had earned great merit during the Third Shinobi World War, had never been as arrogant as most of his clan. Unlike Shisui, he was more reserved, a lone wolf by nature. However, the ¡°gentle enforcement¡± policies he implemented in the Konoha Military Police Force had been well received by the villagers, significantly easing tensions between the Uchiha and the rest of the village. Sarutobi Hiruzen had once believed that Miyuki Uchiha was like his former comrade, Kagami Uchiha¡ªan Uchiha who truly embodied the Will of Fire. He never expected that Miyuki harbored such a hidden scheme. And now, that very man possessed not just one, but two pairs of Mangeky¨­ Sharingan.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°Hokage-sama, you must be careful! Don¡¯t give Miyuki any opportunity to strike!¡± Shisui Uchiha warned urgently. ¡°I understand, Shisui. Don¡¯t worry¡ªthe situation hasn¡¯t reached the worst possible outcome yet,¡± Hiruzen said, exhaling a puff of smoke as he tried to reassure him. ¡°For now, go get your eyes replaced.¡± ¡°Hokage-sama!¡± Shisui protested anxiously. ¡°Even if he uses your eyes to control me, his plan won¡¯t succeed.¡± Hiruzen placed a firm hand on Shisui¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Shisui, you must understand¡ªwhat makes a Hokage isn¡¯t just power. It¡¯s the trust and recognition of the entire village. If Miyuki thinks controlling me means controlling Konoha, then he is gravely mistaken.¡± ¡°¡­Hokage-sama¡­¡± Hiruzen¡¯s words made Shisui choke up. Clenching his fists, he nodded firmly. ¡°I understand! I will stop him!¡± ¡ª After Shisui was taken away for his eye transplant, a shadowed figure limped out from the corner of the Hokage¡¯s office, supported by a cane. ¡°Hiruzen, what are you hesitating for?!¡± The figure¡¯s voice was sharp with urgency. Seeing Hiruzen sitting silently in his chair, Danzo Shimura could no longer hold back. ¡°Are you really willing to become that naturally evil Uchiha brat¡¯s puppet?¡± ¡°Calm yourself, Danzo.¡± Hiruzen lifted his gaze to his old comrade. ¡°The situation hasn¡¯t reached that point yet.¡± ¡°Miyuki Uchiha has clearly been planning his rebellion for a long time! If we hesitate any longer, it will be too late!¡± Danzo snapped, his patience thinning. ¡°The Uchiha have harbored treasonous thoughts for ages. Now that they know Miyuki has awakened the Mangeky¨­, they could rise up at any moment! We must act first¡ªcapture Miyuki immediately!¡± ¡°Enough, Danzo! I am the Hokage!¡± Hiruzen¡¯s voice boomed with authority, cutting through Danzo¡¯s rant. ¡°¡­Hiruzen! You¡¯ll regret this!¡± BANG! Danzo slammed the door behind him as he stormed out. Hiruzen took a deep breath, letting the smoke swirl in the dimly lit office as he gazed out the window into the night. He knew Danzo all too well¡ªthere was no doubt he would take matters into his own hands, sending his men to eliminate Miyuki in secret. That was fine. If Danzo succeeded, then all would be well. If he failed, it would merely be his own reckless action¡ªsomething that had nothing to do with the Hokage. Such was the unspoken understanding between them, one that had endured for years. ¡°¡­These truly are turbulent times.¡± Hiruzen sighed, watching the smoke dissipate into the cold night air. ¡ª The next morning, the sun rose as usual. Miyuki Uchiha awoke, went through his morning routine, and headed to work at the Konoha Military Police Force. The moment he entered his office and had yet to even take his seat, the captain of the police force, Uchiha Fugaku¡ªwho was also the clan head¡ªstepped inside. "Miyuki, get ready. There''s an urgent mission from the village. You, Inaho, and Saito will handle it¡ªyou''re in charge." Uchiha Fugaku''s expression was grim as he spoke. "I understand." Miyuki Uchiha nodded. He wasn¡¯t particularly surprised, though he did find it a bit early for this kind of mission. "The Hokage''s side¡­ are they really this impatient?" After Fugaku left, Miyuki slowly unsheathed the long blade at his waist. The cold steel reflected his face, his eyes dark and unreadable. With a smooth motion, the blade slid back into its sheath. Gathering his gear, he took the mission scroll and made his way to the front of the Military Police headquarters, where his assigned teammates were already waiting. Uchiha Inaho. Uchiha Saito. Both were among the most promising of the younger Uchiha generation. While their strength was nowhere near that of Shisui or Miyuki, they had both reached the rank of Ch¨±nin before the age of twenty and had awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan. However, like most Uchiha, their minds were filled with an overwhelming sense of clan pride¡ªleaving little room for anything else. Because of that, they had always been critical of Miyuki''s smiling law enforcement approach. Still, with a mission ahead, the two showed proper discipline and gave Miyuki a standard bow in greeting. Miyuki gave a slight nod in return. "Let''s go," he said, turning on his heel. Chapter 4 Danzo Ambush
Miyuki Uchiha received the mission to go to the northwest border and eliminate spies from the Land of Earth. The three of them sped up after leaving the village, heading toward the mission area. However, before they could reach their destination, figures wearing various masks surrounded them from all directions. In the blink of an eye, they were trapped. "ANBU?" Uchiha Inaho''s expression tightened as he observed the attire of the newcomers. "No, not ANBU. It¡¯s ROOT," Miyuki Uchiha said calmly, drawing his long blade from behind. "Prepare for battle." "Damn it! What does the village mean by this? Are they really attacking their own ninja?" Uchiha Saito said in anger, drawing his kunai to defend. "A traitor of the Uchiha clan, Miyuki Uchiha. Today, I, Danzo, will rid the village of you, the unstable element." The sinister voice of Danzo echoed, but Miyuki Uchiha looked around, not seeing Danzo''s figure. "A cowardly rat hiding in the shadows, daring to speak so arrogantly," Miyuki Uchiha sneered. "Miyuki Uchiha, stop with your little tricks. You want me to show myself, don¡¯t you? You intend to use the Sharingan you took from Uchiha Shisui on me, but too bad, Uchiha Shisui has already revealed everything. Your plot to steal his eyes and rebel is known to the village. Surrender now!" Danzo''s voice threatened. "What does he mean, Miyuki?" Uchiha Inaho asked in confusion. "Now¡¯s not the time to explain," Miyuki Uchiha said, his surroundings crackling with lightning, explosions echoing from all directions. "Let¡¯s deal with these rats first." "Understood!" Uchiha Inaho and Uchiha Zaidou nodded, backing up against Miyuki. They formed hand signs: "Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Technique." Two massive fire dragons surged toward the ROOT forces, their explosive heat immediately incinerating the frontline ROOT ninjas. Danzo had sent only the elite for this ambush, but Inaho and Zaidou were both exceptional Uchiha, geniuses with the Two Tomoe Sharingan. Miyuki Uchiha was even more direct, as nine blue lightning orbs, each filled with immense chakra, gathered in an instant and shot toward various directions, crushing everything in their path. Lightning Style: Lightning Ball, a basic technique in the Lightning Style ninjutsu that even low-ranking ninjas from Konoha could master, was wielded by Miyuki Uchiha with devastating power. In the blink of an eye, more than ten ROOT ninjas were consumed by the lightning balls, leaving no trace behind. But under Danzo''s brainwashing, the ROOT members had no individual will. The death of their comrades didn¡¯t stop them; instead, they continued charging at the three ninjas without fear.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. As the ROOT ninjas advanced, those among them skilled in Water and Wind Style began releasing their techniques, hoping to overpower the three with elemental counters. "By killing ANBU ninjas, Miyuki Uchiha, do you wish to betray the village?" Danzo''s voice echoed again. In response, a series of thunderstrikes the size of tree trunks rained down from the sky, landing precisely on the area where the ROOT ninjas had gathered. The explosive thunder instantly claimed the lives of more ROOT ninjas. Meanwhile, the Wind and Water Style techniques released by the ROOT ninjas were effortlessly neutralized by Miyuki Uchiha, who had condensed six ghostly blue lightning orbs, which spun rapidly around the three. "Still not planning to show yourself, Danzo?" Miyuki Uchiha asked, his voice filled with disdain. "Or do you think your lackeys can stop me?" "Miyuki Uchiha, stop wasting your effort. You can never control me," Danzo sneered. "You truly overestimate yourself, Danzo," Miyuki Uchiha said with a mocking smile, easily cutting down ROOT ninjas with his jutsu. "You''re nothing more than a rat that hides in the shadows, always in danger of being abandoned by Sarutobi. You don¡¯t deserve to wield a god¡¯s power." Just then, several massive wooden pillars shot up into the air, forming a giant hand that began descending toward the three of them. The previous attacks had merely been a strategy to deplete their chakra, but the real killing move was Danzo¡¯s hidden ace. "Wood Style?" Uchiha Inaho gasped. The Uchiha clan, with their sharp eyes, recognized the technique immediately. Both Inaho and Saito instinctively used jutsu to block the falling hand, but their techniques left no mark on it. At that moment, Miyuki Uchiha calmly spoke, "Stand behind me." In an instant, the three Tomoe in Miyuki Uchiha¡¯s eyes spun rapidly, transforming into the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. The dark power from his eyes enveloped the three of them, manifesting as a colossal black warrior covered in azure-blue runes. Miyuki Uchiha¡¯s Sharingan power, combined with his explosive Lightning Style chakra, gathered in the warrior''s hands and formed a glowing blue longsword. With a single slash, the massive wooden hand from the sky was cleaved in two. "Danzo, is the show over yet?" Miyuki Uchiha¡¯s voice was cold. "Do you know why I didn¡¯t use the Uchiha clan¡¯s ultimate power from the start? Because I wanted you all to die here." As he spoke, the sky above darkened. The water vapor from the previous Water and Fire Style clashes formed thick clouds, and vast amounts of energy compressed within. Everyone present, upon looking up, was filled with terror. Though the ROOT ninjas had already lost their humanity, the overwhelming sense of helplessness before such divine power was instinctual for any living being. "Lightning Style: Kirin!" Miyuki Uchiha softly whispered the name of the jutsu. The next moment, a faint flash of electricity passed under the feet of everyone on the battlefield, so small that even ordinary people would only feel a brief sting. But in that moment, it became the death signal for all the ROOT ninjas. The thunder transformed into a colossal blue beast, crashing down from the sky. The entire area was immediately consumed by the overwhelming lightning, and the ROOT ninjas had no escape. The only resistance came from a corner where wooden barriers rose, desperately attempting to block the falling storm. Minutes passed, and the thunder eventually ceased. A torrential rain began to fall, washing away the bloodstained air. In the corner where the wooden barriers had risen, the final layer of the wooden wall collapsed, revealing two figures. One was a masked man, who collapsed to the ground, still holding his hand in a seal. The other was a man with a cane, one arm wrapped in bandages, hanging limply in front of him. "I found you, Danzo," Miyuki Uchiha, standing within the Susanoo, smiled brightly. Chapter 5 Danzo’s Death "It seems I have no choice but to make my move," Danzo said, though his subordinates had been annihilated. He still appeared calm. He tossed aside his cane and slowly unwound the bandages on his arm, revealing a terrifying sight¡ªa right arm full of Sharingan eyes. "Sharingan?" Uchiha Inaho and Saito, protected by the Susanoo, immediately grew furious. "How dare you desecrate the remains of our ancestors!" "You Uchiha are a demonic clan. The power of the Sharingan can only be used by me to protect Konoha," Danzo declared, looking up at the black armored god of war standing in the torrential rain. "Miyuki Uchiha, today I will personally end your sins." With that, Danzo surged forward, hands forming seals. "Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!" Wind chakra gathered in Danzo¡¯s mouth and shot forward like bullets toward the Susanoo. Danzo¡¯s figure weaved through the high-speed spheres, kunai in hand, aiming for Miyuki¡¯s heart. But the towering Susanoo only needed one strike to destroy the vacuum spheres, and Danzo was directly bisected by the sword. The Susanoo slowly began to dissipate, revealing Miyuki, Inaho, and Saito. "Is it over?" Inaho muttered, just processing the event. "Yes, it''s over," Miyuki nodded. He then walked to Danzo¡¯s now lifeless body, which had died in one of the most recent methods known in the modern world. However, the next second, Danzo¡¯s body disappeared before their eyes, and a gust of wind suddenly roared behind Miyuki. "Miyuki Uchiha, your eyes¡ªthis old man will take them now," Danzo¡¯s voice echoed with excitement. "Once I kill you, with both Shisui¡¯s and your Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, I will become Hokage." But just as the kunai came within a hair''s breadth of Miyuki¡¯s back, Danzo froze, his body slowly dissipating. "What... What is this?" Danzo couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. His right arm and the kunai had completely vanished into the wind. "Your reliance is on Izanagi, isn¡¯t it?" Miyuki slowly turned, the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan in his left eye spinning rapidly. "You can manipulate falsehoods and reality, but unfortunately, my eye completely counters it." "My ocular jutsu, ''K¨­z¨­ Meiry¨­,'' when under my gaze, all falsehoods will cease to exist." Miyuki¡¯s words rang out, and Danzo¡¯s figure completely vanished from the air. The corpse that had disappeared earlier now reappeared. The remaining half of Danzo''s body, which contained cells from Hashirama, lost the chakra suppression, and immediately began to rampage. Miyuki Uchiha extended his hand and performed several sealing techniques, subduing the Hashirama cells'' rebellion before he bent down to pick up the half of Danzo¡¯s body.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯re heading back to the village,¡± Miyuki Uchiha said. ¡°Back to the village?¡± Saito Uchiha was stunned upon hearing this. ¡°Yes, we¡¯re going back for an explanation,¡± Miyuki Uchiha replied, then glanced at the few remaining Wood Release ninja not far away, still barely alive. ¡°Take him with us.¡± ¡­ In the Hokage building¡¯s office, Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe for the 27th time that day. For some unknown reason, since this morning, he had been engulfed by an overwhelming sense of unease. ¡°Hokage-sama, Uchiha Miyuki, who left the village this morning, has returned and had a confrontation with the guards at the village gate,¡± a member of the Anbu rushed in, reporting. Sarutobi¡¯s heart sank. Uchiha Miyuki had returned, which meant Danzo had failed? ¡°Why would there be a confrontation after completing the mission?¡± Sarutobi asked quickly. ¡°He is holding¡­ Danzo¡¯s body,¡± the Anbu member swallowed hard, ¡°and there are several Sharingan eyes on Danzo¡¯s body.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Sarutobi¡¯s face paled. Honestly, he had greatly underestimated Uchiha Miyuki¡¯s strength and had prepared for Danzo¡¯s failure or even for Danzo to be caught in Tsukuyomi, but he never expected Danzo to die directly at Miyuki¡¯s hands. ¡°Hokage-sama, the two advisors have already received the news and are on their way to the village gate,¡± the Anbu continued, ¡°and the Uchiha clan has also heard about this and is gathering.¡± Upon hearing this, Sarutobi couldn¡¯t sit still any longer. He quickly stood up and headed out. At the village gate that evening, tensions were high. Dozens of elite shinobi in jonin vests surrounded Uchiha Miyuki and Uchiha Inaho, who was carrying Danzo¡¯s body. However, no one made a move. Miyuki stood calmly at the center of the encirclement, the half of Danzo¡¯s body discarded like trash before him. ¡°Bold! How dare you kill an elder of Konoha! Is the Uchiha clan planning to betray the village?¡± A loud voice echoed as the surrounding ninja parted to let two figures through. Mitokado Homura and Koharu Utatan, two of the village¡¯s advisors, walked forward. Upon seeing their former teammate¡¯s tragic state, they immediately demanded, ¡°Someone, capture these two traitors!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see who dares!¡± At that moment, one by one, Uchiha ninjas appeared from behind Miyuki. Under the setting sun, their crimson Sharingan eyes glowed with dangerous intent. Leading them were several elder warriors from the Uchiha faction, as well as the clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku, whom they had brought along. After delivering the message back to the clan, Saito had gathered the Uchiha clan''s ninja at the fastest pace. The sight of Danzo¡¯s Sharingan eyes on his severed arm had caused even the more conservative members of the clan to erupt in fury. Shisui, who had just undergone eye replacement surgery and was recuperating in the clan, received the news and couldn¡¯t stay calm either. He had intended to stop this escalation, but the Uchiha were now beyond reason. Their pleas had been futile, and a conflict had broken out in the clan. So, he had no choice but to join the others at the village gate. ¡°Is the Uchiha clan planning a rebellion?¡± Mitokado Homura asked angrily upon seeing the situation. ¡°Dare to desecrate our clan¡¯s remains, and today, we shall rebel!¡± one of the Uchiha warriors from the military faction stood his ground. ¡°Everyone, stop!¡± Just as the two sides were about to clash, a voice filled with authority rang out. A slightly shorter figure appeared in the center of the two groups, wearing the Hokage robe, with the words "Third Hokage" boldly emblazoned on it. Upon seeing him, both sides immediately halted their actions. Chapter 6: Enemies Around the Hokage "Lord Third, you''re finally here." It was only now that Uchiha Miyuki, who had been silent from the beginning, spoke slowly. "Miyuki, what exactly happened?" Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Danzo''s half-dismantled body on the ground before asking. "This morning, we received a mission from the village, but we were ambushed along the way." Uchiha Miyuki spoke calmly. "After we killed all the incoming ninjas, we discovered Danzo''s body among the attackers." "You¡¯re lying! How could Danzo possibly be trying to kill you?" Koharu Utatane, one of the elder advisors, immediately shouted angrily. "No matter how you look at it, that''s the truth." Uchiha Miyuki''s tone remained calm. "During the battle, he revealed the Sharingan on his arm. After we took him down, believing him to be a thief who had stolen our clan''s bloodline, we realized it was Elder Danzo." "Hiruzen, don¡¯t listen to his nonsense! This is clearly the Uchiha clan framing Danzo after killing him!" Another elder, Mitokado Homura , spoke up. "The Uchiha clan would never desecrate the body of one of their own!" An elder from the Uchiha clan, standing behind Miyuki, shouted in anger. "What we found was not just the Sharingan." Uchiha Miyuki, unbothered by the accusations, calmly removed the Sharingan from Danzo¡¯s arm, then lifted the seal that had been placed on it. The unrestrained cells from Hashirama Senju''s DNA immediately began consuming Danzo¡¯s remains, turning them into a twisted wooden stake. "This is¡­ Wood Style?" Some of the older ninjas recognized the phenomenon. At the same time, Uchiha Miyuki signaled to Inaho, who was standing beside him, to throw down the body of the injured Yamato. "During the battle, we also discovered this ¨C a ninja capable of using Wood Style. I¡¯m sure you understand what that means without me explaining further." Uchiha Miyuki¡¯s gaze burned as he looked directly at Sarutobi Hiruzen. "You dare desecrate the body of the First Hokage?" The voice came from one of the more conservative Uchiha elders, a man who had always held deep respect for the First Hokage. Seeing such a sight, he could not accept it. At this moment, the ninjas on Sarutobi¡¯s side also showed signs of agitation. After all, Danzo¡¯s actions had completely trampled on their beliefs. Sarutobi Hiruzen understood that he could no longer remain silent: "Everyone, I will have this matter investigated thoroughly. I will provide answers to all of you, but please, give me some time!" "We can¡¯t trust them! Miyuki, lead us in rebellion! You¡¯ve awakened Madara¡¯s eyes! You can surely lead the Uchiha clan to glory!" Sarutobi''s words failed to quell the anger of the Uchiha clan, and immediately two members of the radical faction stepped forward, shouting loudly.
Among the crowd, Shisui and Itachi were in a hurry, but the Uchiha clansmen around them had already fallen into a state of frenzy. The two exchanged a glance and, without a second thought, decided that they would stop this, even if it meant risking their lives.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. But just then, Uchiha Miyuki suddenly turned around and shouted, "Everyone, quiet down!" Upon hearing Miyuki¡¯s words, the Uchiha clan, who had been shouting about rebellion just moments ago, were instantly taken aback. Several of the more militant clan elders looked at Uchiha Miyuki in disbelief. At that moment, Uchiha Miyuki''s eyes, which had previously been the regular Sharingan, had transformed into the Mangekyo Sharingan. Then, without mercy, he reprimanded them, "What are you shouting for? Konoha was founded jointly by the First Hokage and Lord Madara! We were born here, grew up here; this is our homeland! We''ve lived on the water of the Nami river, and eaten the rice grown in the same fields as the rest of the village. We are a part of this village!" Hearing this, both Shisui and Itachi froze for a moment. Could it be that Uchiha Miyuki didn¡¯t want to rebel? "Clan Leader, you agree with this, don¡¯t you?" Uchiha Miyuki then turned to Uchiha Fugaku, who had been silent the entire time. Uchiha Fugaku looked deeply at Uchiha Miyuki before stepping out of the crowd and bowing towards Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Miyuki is right. My clansmen were too agitated earlier, and I apologize for the disturbance, Hokage-sama." The radical faction behind them wanted to say something, but upon seeing the Mangekyo Sharingan in Uchiha Miyuki''s eyes, they wisely kept silent. "I understand," Sarutobi Hiruzen responded, using this opportunity to smooth things over. "Even I, if I saw my clan¡¯s remains treated this way, would struggle to remain calm. Fugaku, please have your people return for now. Once everything is investigated and cleared up, I will give everyone a satisfactory answer." "However, Hokage-sama, we do need an explanation." Uchiha Miyuki suddenly spoke again, holding up the mission scroll they had received earlier that morning, which bore the Hokage''s seal. "This scroll, was it issued by you?" Uchiha Miyuki looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, smiling as he asked. "Miyuki, I haven¡¯t issued any missions to you. There¡¯s no record of it in the mission hall." Sarutobi Hiruzen, now focused on distancing himself from Danzo, briefly glanced at Danzo¡¯s body, now a twisted wooden stake, and continued. "So, this was all Danzo''s personal action, correct?" Uchiha Miyuki asked. "Forgive me, Danzo," Sarutobi Hiruzen thought to himself, but he knew he had to sever ties. "That¡¯s right." Sarutobi confirmed. "How despicable!" Uchiha Miyuki immediately became indignant. "The Hokage spends every day worrying for the village, yet some people act out of selfishness and harm the village! There are bad people by the Hokage¡¯s side!" As he spoke, Uchiha Miyuki deliberately cast a glance at the two Counsil member, who were standing nearby. "Miyuki, I understand your feelings. Don¡¯t worry, I will get to the bottom of this," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, trying to quell the situation. He didn¡¯t know what else to say, so he kept repeating his assurances. "Hokage-sama, the Uchiha clan is willing to help you with this matter." Uchiha Miyuki bowed. "I understand your intentions¡­" Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to continue speaking, but when he looked up, he saw the Mangekyo Sharingan spinning slowly in Uchiha Miyuki¡¯s eyes. "Hokage-sama, the Uchiha clan is willing to help you with this matter." Cold sweat dripped from Sarutobi Hiruzen¡¯s forehead as he finally realized what Uchiha Miyuki¡¯s true intentions were. Looking at the spinning Mangekyo Sharingan, he remembered what Shisui had told him the previous day about the dangerous genjutsu that Miyuki had gained control of. Though, as he had mentioned to Shisui, using that genjutsu wouldn¡¯t directly impact Konoha¡¯s situation, it didn¡¯t mean he was willing to be controlled by it. Sarutobi had let Danzo act freely, partly hoping Danzo would help him bear the brunt of the consequences. It was at that moment that Sarutobi Hiruzen truly understood that Uchiha Miyuki was more difficult to deal with than any Uchiha he had encountered before. With a sigh, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally spoke, "If that is your intention, then I will leave this matter to you." Once the words were out, the Mangekyo Sharingan in Uchiha Miyuki¡¯s eyes disappeared. He bowed again to Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Understood." After speaking, Uchiha Miyuki turned to look at the rest of the Uchiha clansmen. Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was about to leave, Uchiha Miyuki¡¯s voice rang out once again: "The Uchiha clan salutes the Hokage-sama!" Uchiha Miyuki, standing at the front of the Uchiha clan, raised his right hand and placed it at his forehead: "Loyalty! Faith! Power!" The rest of the Uchiha clan, including Fugaku, followed suit: "Loyalty! Faith! Power!" Chapter 7: The Clan Leader
After the events at the village entrance, Uchiha Miyuki, having obtained what he wanted, returned to the clan grounds with his fellow Uchiha clan members. On the way back, some radical clan members seemed like they wanted to speak up, but upon seeing Uchiha Miyuki''s back, they wisely chose to remain silent. Once they arrived at the clan grounds, Uchiha Miyuki turned around and spoke: "I know everyone has many questions, so while we''re all here, let''s hold a clan meeting." Naturally, no one objected. The clan''s shrine was lit up, and when Uchiha Miyuki took his seat, he boldly sat in the first position below Uchiha Fugaku. The clan elders exchanged glances, silently accepting this fact. In the Uchiha clan, strength was paramount, and with Miyuki awakening his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, even if he wished to become the clan leader, they would support him. As for Uchiha Fugaku, who had remained silent the whole time, he glanced at Uchiha Miyuki but chose to keep quiet. "Are all the ninja at the Ch¨±nin level and above present?" Uchiha Miyuki asked once everyone had taken their seats. "Everyone is here," replied Uchiha Inaho, who spoke first. "Good. Then, the first order of business: I want to become the Uchiha clan leader. Who is in favor? Who is against?" Uchiha Miyuki dropped the bombshell right from the start. In contrast to his complex maneuvers with the Hokage, when it came to the clan''s internal matters, Uchiha Miyuki opted for the simplest and most straightforward approach. Upon hearing this, the clan members were thrown into confusion. Shisui and Itachi, in the crowd, exchanged incredulous looks toward Uchiha Miyuki. At this moment, a member of the pigeon faction, a clan elder, composed his words before speaking up: "Miyuki, now that you''ve awakened the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, it is technically not a problem for you to take the clan leader position. However, you¡¯ve hardly participated in the clan meetings over the years, and you are not very familiar with the clan''s issues. It might be too hasty for you to take the position of clan leader right now." "That''s right. Miyuki, you should first familiarize yourself with the situation in the clan. Perhaps take a year or two before considering the clan leader position," a radical faction elder also spoke in support, noting that Miyuki¡¯s stance on the matter in the village earlier seemed not to align with their side. "Heh," Uchiha Miyuki sneered dismissively. "I am very familiar with the situation in the clan, and that¡¯s exactly why I¡¯ve avoided participating in the clan meetings." "Tell me, after all these years of clan meetings, what conclusions have you all reached?" Uchiha Miyuki leaned his hands on the table, scrutinizing each of the clan elders seated at the front. "Did you decide on a rebellion by force, or did you simply surrender to the village? If you could have come to any conclusion, I wouldn¡¯t be sitting here today."Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "Disordered quarrels will only drag the clan deeper into the abyss," Uchiha Miyuki¡¯s words echoed, his voice sharp and commanding. "The Uchiha clan doesn¡¯t need these endless clan meetings. What we need is a leader who can guide the clan out of this predicament. The clan only needs one voice!" His declaration reverberated through the room, and for a moment, the clan members were silent, exchanging glances, unsure how to respond. "I support Miyuki as clan leader!" Uchiha Inaho was the first to speak up, breaking the silence. The massacre of nearly a hundred of the root lower-ranking ninjas by Uchiha Miyuki earlier had left a deep impression on him, and now, he was a fervent supporter of Miyuki. "Miyuki has awakened the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan! I also support him as clan leader!" Uchiha Saito followed suit. Soon, the younger members of the clan, led by Inaho and Saito, began voicing their support for Uchiha Miyuki to take the position of clan leader. "Enough!" Uchiha Fugaku suddenly spoke, silencing the room. He then turned to Uchiha Miyuki. "Miyuki, it seems like you already have a plan in mind." "If I stand here, I naturally already have a solid plan. I believe, with your insight, Fugaku, you should be able to see the future of our clan," Uchiha Miyuki responded, locking eyes with Uchiha Fugaku. Although Uchiha Miyuki was being vague, Fugaku understood the underlying message¡ªMiyuki likely knew that he too had awakened his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. Though Fugaku could reveal his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan to retain the position of clan leader, could he afford to expose it? If his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan was revealed, the last bit of calm in the clan would dissipate, and then there would be no avoiding conflict. Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Miyuki, his expression thoughtful. After a long pause, he spoke. "Very well. The clan¡¯s current predicament is largely my fault. Miyuki, the clan is now in your hands." "Clan Leader!" "Father!" Itachi and Shisui immediately grew anxious. Unlike other clan members, they knew just how dangerous Uchiha Miyuki¡¯s ambitions were. Although Miyuki¡¯s remarks earlier at the village entrance seemed to align with the village¡¯s interests, Shisui could not forget the reckless words he had heard from Miyuki the night before. "Don¡¯t disappoint the clan, Miyuki," Uchiha Fugaku ignored Shisui and his son, placing a gentle hand on Miyuki¡¯s shoulder as he relinquished his position. Before they left for the village entrance, Uchiha Fugaku had already used his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, which allowed him to glimpse fragments of the future. Miyuki¡¯s appearance had caused an unexpected shift in the future. Though Fugaku couldn''t see the entire picture yet, it was at least much better than the hopeless future he had seen before. This was why Fugaku had no lingering attachment to the position of clan leader. "It is as I wish." Uchiha Miyuki stood where Fugaku had just vacated. He did not immediately sit down but instead looked at the clan''s elite members, speaking slowly: "The Uchiha clan has always been a clan of honor. We have only encountered a temporary crisis, but I will lead us to rebuild the glory of the Uchiha. And this glory will not be mine alone." "To follow the orders of the clan leader! Loyalty! Faith! Power!" Uchiha Inaho, now a devoted follower of Miyuki, mimicked Miyuki¡¯s salute from earlier at the village entrance. At this, the younger members of the clan, save for Shisui and Itachi, rose to their feet, saluting. "Loyalty! Faith! Power! Seeing this, even the elder members who had doubts about Miyuki taking over the position of clan leader had no choice but to remain silent. Uchiha Miyuki surveyed the room with satisfaction. Though most of the Uchiha clan lacked foresight, as long as there was a strong leader, their loyalty could be counted on. "I will now announce two matters," Uchiha Miyuki said, signaling for everyone to quiet down. Chapter 8 Miyuki Uchiha’s Plan "I am Miyuki Uchiha, and the villagers calls me the Blue Thunder," Miyuki Uchiha declared, his tone as severe as the gravity of the situation. "First, I do not want to hear any more talk of rebellion within the clan," he announced firmly. "Ah?" The young Uchiha, who had been fervently supportive just moments before, were stunned. Shisui and Itachi let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Miyuki Uchiha still had the sense to understand that the clan could not afford rebellion. However, the next moment, their hearts sank again. "This village, from its very foundation, was created by Madara-sama and the First Hokage together. The Uchiha clan, in a certain sense, should be considered one of the true rulers of this village. What we need to do is simply reclaim the power that is rightfully ours." "Exactly! This village should have a portion belonging to the Uchiha clan!" Uchiha Inaho passionately agreed. "Secondly, the manpower in the security department is insufficient. Starting to morrow, we will recruit civilian ninjas. Within a week, I expect the security department''s personnel to double. The pay for these civilian ninjas will at least match the standard of a D-rank mission in the village. Furthermore, we will bring out all the ninja techniques unrelated to the Sharingan, including the spoils of war accumulated by the clan over the years, and use them as rewards for ninjas who demonstrate exceptional contributions," Miyuki Uchiha continued, throwing out his second bombshell. This caused an even louder uproar. Even Shisui and Itachi were momentarily confused about Miyuki Uchiha¡¯s intentions. If the previous matter had been a symbolic one, this command was a direct and tangible cut into the clan¡¯s very resources. "Silence!" Miyuki Uchiha raised his hand, quieting the room. "Most of you present hold positions in the security department, so I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve encountered situations where, despite upholding the law, villagers still harbor resentment. The security team may seem powerful, but it has built a thick wall between our Uchiha clan and the villagers. This was a trap set by those Senju old ghost for our clan!" "In order to reclaim our power, the first thing we must do is bridge the gap with the villagers. The First Hokage once said something important: ''It¡¯s not by becoming Hokage that you gain the village''s approval, it¡¯s by gaining the village¡¯s approval that you can become Hokage!''" "The Uchiha clan has been distant from the villagers for too long. Now, what we must do is take the initiative to embrace them!" Miyuki Uchiha¡¯s voice was compelling, and after his speech, Shisui began to doubt whether he had misjudged Miyuki. Wasn¡¯t this exactly what Shisui had wanted to do himself? "Recruiting civilian ninjas makes sense, but aren¡¯t these ninja techniques a bit too valuable to be used like this?" one of the elders questioned.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "The foundation of our clan lies in our bloodline. These techniques, instead of gathering dust in the clan¡¯s warehouse, should become a bridge between us and the village," Miyuki Uchiha explained. "But, Miyuki, have you considered that recruiting so many civilian ninjas and offering them salaries at least equivalent to D-rank missions will quickly drain the clan''s finances? After all, the events six years ago forced the clan to move out of the village center," Uchiha Fugaku interjected, offering a cautionary reminder. "Elder Fugaku, you don''t need to worry about this. I will ensure the clan gets the funds," Miyuki Uchiha said with a calm smile. "As long as you have a plan... then, according to the clan''s tradition, the clan leader always serves as the head of the security department..." Uchiha Fugaku began. "No, no, no," Miyuki Uchiha interrupted before Fugaku could finish, "Elder Fugaku, please continue to serve as the head of the security department. I have more important matters to attend to." "More important matters?" Uchiha Fugaku asked, slightly confused. "Of course, I must fulfill the task assigned to me by the Third Hokage," Miyuki Uchiha responded with a smile. "Speaking of which, since you''ve taken on the mission to investigate Danzo and the ROOT, shouldn''t we start the investigation right away?" one of the elders asked. "How could we start the investigation now?" Miyuki Uchiha smiled meaningfully. "We need to give them some time." Some time to destroy the evidence. "Inaho, Saito, starting tomorrow, you two will join me in investigating ROOT," Miyuki Uchiha said, nodding towards the two Uchiha clan members who had been accompanying him the entire time. "Understood!" "Understood!" While the Uchiha clan meeting was taking place, in the ROOT base within the village, Yamanaka Kaze and Aburame Ryoma were directing their subordinates to destroy ROOT''s documents without pause. Since the Uchiha clan ninjas were naturally a counter to them, Yamanaka Kaze had been left behind in the base by Danzo. Aburame Ryoma, for similar reasons, had been involved in an earlier mission during the Third Ninja World War, where Danzo had sent him to ambush the then-rising Miyuki Uchiha. After a close encounter, Ryoma barely survived after his insects were disrupted by Miyuki¡¯s lightning techniques. So this time, Danzo had kept them both at the base, but they never expected to receive the news of Danzo''s direct death. Under Danzo¡¯s years of brainwashing, the remaining ROOT ninjas moved like machines, collecting the top-secret documents and then incinerating them with Fire Style jutsu. As the night passed, and most of the destruction was nearly complete, they received word that Miyuki Uchiha and his group were heading toward the ROOT base. The two exchanged glances, noticing there were still some documents left that hadn''t been destroyed. They nodded to each other and walked toward the base''s exit. ... Miyuki Uchiha, along with Inaho and Saito, walked slowly toward the ROOT base''s location. "This old bastard''s hideout is quite remote," Inaho Uchiha couldn''t help but grumble after walking for a while. Miyuki Uchiha smiled at the comment, raising an eyebrow. "The bastard''s here." As soon as the words left his mouth, blue lightning surged from Miyuki Uchiha, and various insects appeared around the three of them, crackling as they descended. The plants under their feet withered the moment they made contact with these insects. Inaho and Saito immediately took out kunai from their ninja tool pouches, assuming a combat stance. "Aburame clan ninjas, haven¡¯t you learned your lesson last time? These bugs are useless against me," Miyuki Uchiha declared loudly. In response, a series of shuriken flew toward Miyuki Uchiha. However, as the shuriken reached within a foot of Miyuki Uchiha, they mysteriously froze midair. With a loud bang, one of the shuriken exploded into a cloud of smoke, revealing Aburame Ryoma¡¯s figure as he lunged forward with a kunai aimed directly at Miyuki Uchiha''s throat. Chapter 9: Hatake Kakashi Miyuki Uchiha blocked the attack with his blade, glancing at the kunai in Aburame Ryoma¡¯s hand before chuckling. ¡°Custom-made glass kunai? Too bad¡ªit¡¯s useless.¡± In the next instant, the shuriken hovering around Miyuki shot toward the now-exposed Aburame Ryoma. Ryoma hurriedly used an insect substitution technique to escape, but the moment he landed, Miyuki¡¯s next slash was already upon him¡ªhis entire body crackling with lightning, moving at an unbelievable speed. Each consecutive strike was lethal, leaving Ryoma overwhelmed. As an insect user, close combat was never his strength. He had no choice but to repeatedly use his insect substitution to evade Miyuki¡¯s blade, but every substitution meant sacrificing another carefully cultivated swarm to the devastating lightning. Within minutes, Ryoma had narrowly escaped death multiple times. Just as Miyuki prepared to end him for good, his vision suddenly went black. ¡°You think using this trick against a Mangeky¨­ Sharingan-wielding Uchiha is a good idea? You¡¯re courting death.¡± Inside the spiritual realm, Miyuki¡¯s Mangeky¨­ Sharingan flared. Hidden in the shadows, Yamanaka Kaze, who had attempted to ambush him with the Mind-Body Switch Technique, let out a muffled groan and coughed up blood before collapsing. ¡°Capture him alive,¡± Miyuki ordered smoothly, forcing Ryoma into another insect substitution while giving instructions to Uchiha Inaho and Uchiha Saito. ¡°Since we¡¯ve got a better prisoner now, it¡¯s over for you, little bug-handler.¡± Miyuki smiled as his blade pierced Ryoma¡¯s back. Lightning erupted in an instant, and within moments, all that remained on the ground was a charred corpse. Meanwhile, Uchiha Inaho and Uchiha Saito easily captured Yamanaka Kaze, who had completely lost the ability to resist due to the backlash of his clan¡¯s secret technique. ¡°Saito, take this guy back to the clan¡¯s interrogation room¡ªmake sure he stays alive. Inaho, report to the Hokage building. Tell them that during our investigation, we encountered violent resistance from the remnants of Root, and we had no choice but to take emergency measures. The culprits have been eliminated.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The two nodded before splitting up to carry out Miyuki¡¯s orders. As for Miyuki himself, he walked alone toward Root¡¯s underground base. The moment he stepped inside, the remaining Root operatives launched relentless, suicidal attacks against him. But Miyuki only needed a single strike each time to deal with them.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Like that, he cut his way through¡ªfrom the base¡¯s entrance to its core. The journey, which should have taken ten minutes, was now littered with dozens of lifeless bodies. The moment Miyuki Uchiha stepped into Danzo¡¯s office, the first thing he noticed was a floor covered in ashes. It seemed that all of Danzo¡¯s secrets had been burned to nothing. Seeing this, Miyuki chuckled softly before pulling out a sealing scroll. With a casual motion, he retrieved a stack of documents from within. ¡°Root''s efficiency isn¡¯t bad. I thought I¡¯d have to clean up after them myself.¡± He tossed the retrieved documents into the air and, without hesitation, unleashed a Great Fireball Jutsu, engulfing them in flames. Once the papers had burned halfway, Miyuki leisurely formed hand seals. Water Release: Wild Water Wave. A thick mist spread from his body, gathering into droplets that rained down on the smoldering papers. Wisps of steam curled into the air as he carefully picked up the half-burned documents.
A long while later, Uchiha Inaho finally returned, accompanied by the ANBU operatives sent by the Third Hokage. The leader of the group wore an ANBU mask, but his silver hair gave him away instantly¡ªnone other than the famous "Copy Ninja," Hatake Kakashi. As Kakashi stepped into the Root base and took in the sight of corpses strewn across the ground, his brows furrowed slightly. It wasn¡¯t out of pity, but rather because, despite their actions, these Root operatives were still Konoha shinobi. With Danzo dead, there was a chance¡ªhowever slim¡ªthat they could have been reformed. But now, Miyuki had wiped them out completely. ¡°Kakashi-senpai, so it¡¯s you.¡± Miyuki greeted him with a smile, unsurprised that the Third Hokage hadn¡¯t come in person. Given the looming threat of Kotoamatsukami, it was understandable that the so-called ¡°Ninja Hero¡± wouldn¡¯t want to meet him face-to-face. Kakashi, behind his mask, remained silent. Miyuki wasn¡¯t offended by the lack of response and instead spoke as if nothing was amiss. ¡°When I arrived, the remaining Root members were already destroying Danzo¡¯s evidence. Fortunately, I made it in time and managed to salvage some of it.¡± He walked up to Kakashi and lowered his voice. ¡°I found something¡­ interesting. I think you¡¯ll want to see this.¡± With that, he pulled out a partially burned document and held it up for Kakashi to read. At the top of the page were several names. Kakashi¡¯s pupils shrank instantly. Hatake Sakumo, Kishida Keisuke, Arima Kiya¡­ and one last name¡ªHigashiyama. Though only the surname remained, Kakashi immediately filled in the missing part. Higashiyama Ryota. These were the shinobi involved in the mission that had destroyed his father¡¯s life. And next to each name was a chilling notation: Eliminated. A cold wave surged through Kakashi¡¯s chest. Miyuki casually put the document away and patted Kakashi on the shoulder. ¡°Well, since you¡¯re here, help clean up the bodies, will you?¡± he sighed. ¡°Such a shame. They were all Konoha shinobi once, but Danzo brainwashed them beyond saving. I didn¡¯t want to kill them either.¡± With that, Miyuki turned and gestured for Uchiha Inaho to follow. ¡°Wait.¡± Kakashi¡¯s voice suddenly stopped Miyuki just as he reached the door. ¡°Oh? Something wrong, Kakashi-senpai?¡± Miyuki turned back with his usual warm smile. ¡°I still have to go sort through the remaining evidence and interrogate the captured Root members.¡± ¡°¡­No, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Behind his mask, Kakashi hesitated for a moment before suppressing the urge to demand answers. Miyuki chuckled. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll be off. Send my regards to the Hokage.¡± As he stepped out, he suddenly paused, as if remembering something. He glanced back and added with a grin, ¡°Oh, right¡ªKakashi-senpai, if you have time, drop by the clan sometime. Grandma Miori hasn¡¯t beenfeeling well lately, and she¡¯s been asking about you.¡± Chapter 10: The World Is Still Like This Miyuki walked away from the Root without turning back. Meanwhile, Kakashi, upon hearing the name spoken by Miyuki, was jolted internally. "Is that the grandmother of Obito? Now that I think about it, after all these years of guilt, I¡¯ve never visited her..." "I truly am a failure." ¡°Captain...¡± Seeing Kakashi frozen in place, an ANBU ninja stepped forward and reminded him. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Kakashi snapped back to reality, waving his hand. ¡°Handle things here, then go back and report to Hokage-sama.¡± ... After returning to the Uchiha clan¡¯s security division, Miyuki immediately headed for the interrogation room. The Wood Release ninja brought back the day before had already been interrogated for a day. Furthermore, the Yamanaka ninja brought in today had just woken up in the interrogation room shortly after being brought in. Both were now tightly bound, their chakra sealed. However, the interrogation wasn¡¯t progressing well. Both were ninjas, and especially coming from the Root, so the interrogation room, designed for small-time village criminals, was clearly inadequate. ¡°Clan Leader,¡± the Uchiha clan members, who were responsible for the interrogation, paused their work and bowed as Miyuki entered the room. ¡°How¡¯s the interrogation going?¡± Miyuki asked. ¡°Their mouths are hard to crack, especially the one from yesterday. We tortured him all night, but he still hasn¡¯t said a word. We were planning to call for help from one of the clan¡¯s masters of genjutsu, an elite jonin with a three-tomoe Sharingan.¡± The interrogator, a middle-ranking Uchiha with a one-tomoe Sharingan, explained. "For usual petty criminals, it''s more than enough, but against these two capable ninjas, it¡¯s not sufficient." ¡°No need for all that trouble. I¡¯ll handle this myself.¡± Miyuki said, stepping into the room and walking toward Yamanaka Kaze. Bound to a chair, Yamanaka Kaze had clearly suffered several rounds of beatings in this short time. Upon seeing Miyuki enter, hatred instantly filled his face. His eyes seemed to want to swallow Miyuki whole. Miyuki smiled slightly, observing the misfortune of the man who had been completely brainwashed by Danzo, then waved his hand. The interrogators moved in, delivering another round of punches and kicks. Even Miyuki couldn¡¯t help but shake his head at the scene. There was clearly some personal grudges here, as Root had often clashed with the Uchiha clan. Now that they finally had someone from Root in their hands, they weren¡¯t going to let it slide easily. After seeing that the beating had nearly finished, Miyuki slowly stood up and walked toward Yamanaka Kaze.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°I... I won¡¯t say anything¡­¡± Yamanaka Kaze gasped, his face bruised from the beating. But even then, he glared at Miyuki with defiance. The noon sunlight streamed through the window of the interrogation room, blinding Yamanaka Kaze and making it difficult for him to open his eyes. Miyuki¡¯s face, standing right before him, became blurry. ¡°I had a look around your Root base. It''s quite intimidating,¡± Miyuki spoke softly. ¡°Is it that you in Root want to help Danzo become Hokage? Want to eliminate the Uchiha?¡± Miyuki said, reaching out to wipe the blood from the corner of Yamanaka Kaze mouth. ¡°Look outside. Nothing has changed. The village is still the same as it ever was.¡± As Miyuki spoke, his face grew clearer in Yamanaka Kaze''s eyes, but the words made him shiver. ¡°Actually, whether you confess or not doesn¡¯t really matter. I never intended to get any information from you in the first place.¡± Miyuki turned away and addressed the Uchiha clan members in charge of the interrogation. ¡°Keep an eye on him. Just make sure he doesn¡¯t die.¡± ¡°Daika.¡± ¡°Here!¡± Uchiha Daika stepped forward and saluted. ¡°Gather the second squad. We¡¯re going on a trip.¡± Miyuki ordered. ¡°Understood.¡± Uchiha Daika nodded. ¡°Clan leader, where are we headed?¡± ¡°Of course, we¡¯re going to the Shimura clan to arrest Danzo¡¯s accomplices.¡± Miyuki said. ¡°Just like that? We¡¯re going to arrest them outright?¡± Uchiha Daika asked incredulously, though there was a hint of excitement in his eyes. The Uchiha clan didn¡¯t have the best relationship with the Shimura clan. ¡°Can¡¯t call it arresting,¡± Miyuki smiled. ¡°Danzo has already been proven to have taken action against fellow villagers and desecrated the First Hokage¡¯s remains. I happened to find evidence of the Shimura clan¡¯s financial dealings with him while I was in the Root base.¡± With that, Miyuki pulled out a scorched ledger from a sealing scroll. ¡°So, we¡¯re just inviting them to come back for an investigation.¡± Miyuki¡¯s words caused Yamanaka Kaze , still bound to the interrogation chair, to widen his eyes. He clearly remembered that all the records of Root¡¯s transactions had been destroyed. Miyuki turned back to glance at Yamanaka Kaze , and when he saw the faint smile on Miyuki¡¯s lips, Yamanaka Kaze finally understood why Miyuki had said that whether he confessed or not didn¡¯t matter. Yamanaka Kaze began struggling violently. He tried to scream, but one of the Uchiha clan members nearby punched him, effectively silencing him. He could only watch helplessly as Miyuki led the group away. Soon, the second squad of the security team, which had no ongoing missions at the time, gathered. The members, who had initially grumbled about being called in during their rest period, suddenly became energized when they heard they were going after the Shimura clan. "Report, Clan Leader, the second squad of the security team has assembled!" The captain of the second squad, Uchiha Enyu, reported in front of the security team. Miyuki nodded. Suddenly, Uchiha Enyu shouted, "Salute to the Clan Leader!" The members of the second squad immediately snapped into a military salute: "Loyal! Faithful!" Miyuki couldn''t help but laugh at the scene. Ever since yesterday, when he spontaneously saluted Sarutobi Hiruzen, this gesture had become popular within the clan. "Loyal! Faithful!" Miyuki returned the salute and led the team toward the Shimura clan''s direction. Such a commotion, of course, didn''t escape the village''s notice. Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was sitting in his office, was now nursing a headache. Originally, he had planned to take over the remaining part of Root under Danzo''s control, but this morning, he received the news that the entire Root had been wiped out by Miyuki. At the same time, Uchiha Itachi, who had come to work in the Anbu, had informed him of everything that had happened at the clan meeting yesterday. Upon learning that Miyuki had become the Clan Leader of the Uchiha, Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a long sigh. "The only good news is that Miyuki has suppressed the Uchiha clan''s violent rebellion plan, and he is recruiting civilian ninjas to join the security team. Regardless of his true intentions, overall, it can be considered a good thing," Sarutobi Hiruzen reassured himself. Chapter 11: Perform Your Duties at Work "Lord Hokage, Uchiha Miyuki, along with a team of the Police Force, is heading toward the Uchiha clan''s compound." "What?" Sarutobi Hiruzen''s eyelids twitched, but he couldn''t quite figure out what Uchiha Miyuki was planning. "Lord Hokage, let me go, I will try to stop him," said Uchiha Itachi, who suddenly emerged from the shadows, kneeling with one knee, and asking for permission. Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at Uchiha Itachi for a long time before sighing and saying, "I am counting on you, Itachi. The village can no longer afford internal conflict." Uchiha Itachi accepted the command and left, quickly weaving through the houses of Konoha. Before long, he arrived at the outskirts of the Shimura clan''s compound, just as Uchiha Miyuki''s group arrived as well. At that moment, the Shimura clan''s compound was filled with mourning attire, and distant sounds of mournful music drifted in the air. As they reached their destination, Uchiha Miyuki and his group were stopped by a figure. Although wearing a mask, the villagers easily recognized this figure as the only minor in the village''s Anbu. "Itachi, we''re here to summon the relevant suspects from the Shimura clan for investigation at the Police Force. Did the Hokage send you to assist us?" Uchiha Miyuki asked. Upon being recognized, Uchiha Itachi no longer hid his identity and took off his mask. "Miyuki, please go back. The village can''t bear any more internal conflict," said Uchiha Itachi. "So, you''re here to stop me?" Uchiha Miyuki''s eyes turned cold. "Is this your decision, or the Hokage''s?" At this point, Uchiha Miyuki''s deliberate slow pace through the village had already attracted a lot of curious onlookers. The Shimura clan''s compound was located in a busy part of the village. There were now many villagers gathering around, eager to watch the scene unfold. "Evidence of Danzo Shimura desecrating the First Hokage''s remains and attacking fellow villagers is irrefutable, and the Uchiha clan has clear ties to him. We''re only here to bring them in for questioning. Now you''re standing here blocking us. What is your true intention?" Uchiha Miyuki continued, once the onlookers had gathered enough. "Miyuki, please..." Uchiha Itachi felt uncomfortable under the intense gaze of the onlookers. "Perform your duties at work!" Uchiha Miyuki sharply interrupted, "If this is the Hokage''s order, I''ll turn around and leave right now." Uchiha Itachi turned to look at the crowd, their necks stretched long to see the scene unfold. Could he claim this was the Hokage''s order? What happened at the village entrance yesterday, after a night of rumors, had already spread to every corner of the village.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. "Clan Leader..." Uchiha Itachi could only lower his head under the unusual gazes of everyone. Uchiha Miyuki, however, led his team and walked right past him. Soon, the Shimura clan became aware of what had occurred at the entrance, and the current Shimura clan leader, Shimura Hiroshi, stood with his people at the Shimura clan''s compound, blocking Uchiha Miyuki''s path. "Apologies, the Shimura clan is not accepting visitors at the moment," said Shimura Hiroshi coldly, dressed in a black kimono. "Then it seems we came at an inopportune time," Uchiha Miyuki nodded. "Looks like the Shimura clan is holding a funeral?" "You Uchiha have the nerve to come here!" At that moment, an agitated young ninja suddenly jumped out, charging toward Uchiha Miyuki. The members of the Police Force behind him were about to take action, but Uchiha Miyuki raised his hand, signaling them to stop. The young Shimura ninja was quickly pulled back by other Uchiha clan members. "One of our younger clan members lacks manners. I apologize for the inconvenience," Shimura Hiroshi said. "No problem, no problem," Uchiha Miyuki smiled, "But today, I¡¯m not here as a guest." Uchiha Miyuki¡¯s smile faded as he continued, "I request that Shimura Hiroshi call for Shiruma Retsudo, Shimura Yusuke , and Shimura Arashi to come with us for questioning." Behind Uchiha Miyuki, the members of the Police Force, who were already brimming with frustration, began to move, and the Shimura clan''s ninjas naturally couldn''t stay idle either. "That may not be in accordance with the rules," Shimura Hiroshi murmured. "We''re only here to assist in an investigation," Uchiha Miyuki explained. "After all, the ledger found at the Root base clearly indicates that the Shimura clan has deep ties with Root. Personally, I believe in your innocence, Shimura Hiroshi." As he spoke, Uchiha Miyuki took out the nearly burned ledger from a sealing scroll. "Clan Leader, what is there to say? The Uchiha clan has wolfish ambitions. Elder Danzo was killed by his hands. Take revenge for Elder Danzo!" The previously restrained Shimura ninja shouted. "It seems that the Shimura clan really has colluded with Danzo Shimura and is planning to betray the village," Uchiha Miyuki''s expression turned cold, and the three-tomoe Sharingan in his eyes transformed into the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. Shimura Hiroshi was about to lash out, but seeing the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan flashing in Uchiha Miyuki''s eyes, he could only suppress his emotions, fighting the anger in his chest, and said, "Stop! I''ll let them come with you." As Danzo Shimura¡¯s cousin, Shimura Hiroshi had witnessed the battle between Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara firsthand. He knew all too well the incredible power of the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. If Uchiha Miyuki unleashed his full power here, the result would be disastrous, and none of their Shimura clan would escape. At the same time, Uchiha Miyuki came with righteous intentions. If a conflict erupted, there would be no way to clear their names, not even by jumping into the Nanka River. "Isn¡¯t it better to cooperate like this from the start?" Uchiha Miyuki chuckled lightly and gestured for Uchiha Enyu to take the suspects. "Clan Leader!" The younger Shimura ninjas were immediately upset. Used to bullying others in the village, they could hardly tolerate this. "Shimura Clan Leader, please don''t make this difficult for me," Uchiha Miyuki approached Shimura Hiroshi, whispering in his ear. Shimura Hiroshi twitched his lips but said nothing more. He gestured for his people to calm down. The process of capturing the suspects didn¡¯t last long. After all, the individuals Miyuki had singled out were all present. Uchiha Enyu quickly handcuffed them and reported back to Uchiha Miyuki. "Thank you for your cooperation, Clan Leader," Uchiha Miyuki said, relaxing now that the suspects were in hand. "But I still advise you, at this crucial moment, hosting a funeral for a defector is probably not the most appropriate thing, don¡¯t you think?" Chapter 11: Perform Your Duties at Work "Lord Hokage, Uchiha Miyuki, along with a team of the Police Force, is heading toward the Uchiha clan''s compound." "What?" Sarutobi Hiruzen''s eyelids twitched, but he couldn''t quite figure out what Uchiha Miyuki was planning. "Lord Hokage, let me go, I will try to stop him," said Uchiha Itachi, who suddenly emerged from the shadows, kneeling with one knee, and asking for permission. Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at Uchiha Itachi for a long time before sighing and saying, "I am counting on you, Itachi. The village can no longer afford internal conflict." Uchiha Itachi accepted the command and left, quickly weaving through the houses of Konoha. Before long, he arrived at the outskirts of the Shimura clan''s compound, just as Uchiha Miyuki''s group arrived as well. At that moment, the Shimura clan''s compound was filled with mourning attire, and distant sounds of mournful music drifted in the air. As they reached their destination, Uchiha Miyuki and his group were stopped by a figure. Although wearing a mask, the villagers easily recognized this figure as the only minor in the village''s Anbu. "Itachi, we''re here to summon the relevant suspects from the Shimura clan for investigation at the Police Force. Did the Hokage send you to assist us?" Uchiha Miyuki asked. Upon being recognized, Uchiha Itachi no longer hid his identity and took off his mask. "Miyuki, please go back. The village can''t bear any more internal conflict," said Uchiha Itachi. "So, you''re here to stop me?" Uchiha Miyuki''s eyes turned cold. "Is this your decision, or the Hokage''s?" At this point, Uchiha Miyuki''s deliberate slow pace through the village had already attracted a lot of curious onlookers. The Shimura clan''s compound was located in a busy part of the village. There were now many villagers gathering around, eager to watch the scene unfold. "Evidence of Danzo Shimura desecrating the First Hokage''s remains and attacking fellow villagers is irrefutable, and the Uchiha clan has clear ties to him. We''re only here to bring them in for questioning. Now you''re standing here blocking us. What is your true intention?" Uchiha Miyuki continued, once the onlookers had gathered enough. "Miyuki, please..." Uchiha Itachi felt uncomfortable under the intense gaze of the onlookers. "Perform your duties at work!" Uchiha Miyuki sharply interrupted, "If this is the Hokage''s order, I''ll turn around and leave right now." Uchiha Itachi turned to look at the crowd, their necks stretched long to see the scene unfold. Could he claim this was the Hokage''s order? What happened at the village entrance yesterday, after a night of rumors, had already spread to every corner of the village.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "Clan Leader..." Uchiha Itachi could only lower his head under the unusual gazes of everyone. Uchiha Miyuki, however, led his team and walked right past him. Soon, the Shimura clan became aware of what had occurred at the entrance, and the current Shimura clan leader, Shimura Hiroshi, stood with his people at the Shimura clan''s compound, blocking Uchiha Miyuki''s path. "Apologies, the Shimura clan is not accepting visitors at the moment," said Shimura Hiroshi coldly, dressed in a black kimono. "Then it seems we came at an inopportune time," Uchiha Miyuki nodded. "Looks like the Shimura clan is holding a funeral?" "You Uchiha have the nerve to come here!" At that moment, an agitated young ninja suddenly jumped out, charging toward Uchiha Miyuki. The members of the Police Force behind him were about to take action, but Uchiha Miyuki raised his hand, signaling them to stop. The young Shimura ninja was quickly pulled back by other Uchiha clan members. "One of our younger clan members lacks manners. I apologize for the inconvenience," Shimura Hiroshi said. "No problem, no problem," Uchiha Miyuki smiled, "But today, I¡¯m not here as a guest." Uchiha Miyuki¡¯s smile faded as he continued, "I request that Shimura Hiroshi call for Shiruma Retsudo, Shimura Yusuke , and Shimura Arashi to come with us for questioning." Behind Uchiha Miyuki, the members of the Police Force, who were already brimming with frustration, began to move, and the Shimura clan''s ninjas naturally couldn''t stay idle either. "That may not be in accordance with the rules," Shimura Hiroshi murmured. "We''re only here to assist in an investigation," Uchiha Miyuki explained. "After all, the ledger found at the Root base clearly indicates that the Shimura clan has deep ties with Root. Personally, I believe in your innocence, Shimura Hiroshi." As he spoke, Uchiha Miyuki took out the nearly burned ledger from a sealing scroll. "Clan Leader, what is there to say? The Uchiha clan has wolfish ambitions. Elder Danzo was killed by his hands. Take revenge for Elder Danzo!" The previously restrained Shimura ninja shouted. "It seems that the Shimura clan really has colluded with Danzo Shimura and is planning to betray the village," Uchiha Miyuki''s expression turned cold, and the three-tomoe Sharingan in his eyes transformed into the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. Shimura Hiroshi was about to lash out, but seeing the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan flashing in Uchiha Miyuki''s eyes, he could only suppress his emotions, fighting the anger in his chest, and said, "Stop! I''ll let them come with you." As Danzo Shimura¡¯s cousin, Shimura Hiroshi had witnessed the battle between Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara firsthand. He knew all too well the incredible power of the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. If Uchiha Miyuki unleashed his full power here, the result would be disastrous, and none of their Shimura clan would escape. At the same time, Uchiha Miyuki came with righteous intentions. If a conflict erupted, there would be no way to clear their names, not even by jumping into the Nanka River. "Isn¡¯t it better to cooperate like this from the start?" Uchiha Miyuki chuckled lightly and gestured for Uchiha Enyu to take the suspects. "Clan Leader!" The younger Shimura ninjas were immediately upset. Used to bullying others in the village, they could hardly tolerate this. "Shimura Clan Leader, please don''t make this difficult for me," Uchiha Miyuki approached Shimura Hiroshi, whispering in his ear. Shimura Hiroshi twitched his lips but said nothing more. He gestured for his people to calm down. The process of capturing the suspects didn¡¯t last long. After all, the individuals Miyuki had singled out were all present. Uchiha Enyu quickly handcuffed them and reported back to Uchiha Miyuki. "Thank you for your cooperation, Clan Leader," Uchiha Miyuki said, relaxing now that the suspects were in hand. "But I still advise you, at this crucial moment, hosting a funeral for a defector is probably not the most appropriate thing, don¡¯t you think?" Chapter 12 The Yamanaka Clan "The Uchiha Clan Head need not concern himself with this," Shimura Hiroshi gritted his teeth and replied. With that, Uchiha Miyuki turned and escorted the three captured Shimura elders back the way he had come. These high-ranking Shimura members, tasked with liaising with Danz¨­''s faction, were paraded through Konoha''s bustling shopping district under Miyuki''s deliberate arrangement. News of the arrest spread rapidly across the village. Upon returning to the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters, Miyuki ordered the three captives to be interrogated. The mere mention of interrogating Shimura clansmen invigorated several skilled Uchiha interrogators. It would be a long night for the prisoners. Miyuki, however, held no illusions about extracting confessions. The Shimura, especially those tied to Danz¨­, were die-hard loyalists. Even death wouldn''t sway their allegiance. But Miyuki''s goal was simpler: *make an example of them*. The "chicken" had been slaughtered. Now, it was time to collect something tangible from the "monkey." Miyuki waited in his office until nightfall before changing clothes and venturing alone into the village. By midnight, Konoha''s streets had quieted. Shops closed one by one. Outside the Yamanaka Flower Shop, a young blonde girl hummed softly as she carried potted plants indoors. Though still round-cheeked with youth, her beauty was unmistakable. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Approaching the shop, Miyuki caught the girl''s attention. She turned, smiling sweetly. "Sorry, mister! We''re closed!" "Seems I''m late," Miyuki chuckled. "But might the young proprietress make an exception? I need flowers to honor my clansmen." The girl¡ªa certified connoisseur of handsome faces¡ªlit up upon seeing him. "Of course! For memorials, cornflowers work! I''ll grab fresh ones from the fridge!" She darted inside. "Yamanaka Ino" read the name on her apron. "My thanks," Miyuki nodded. A tall man emerged from the back. "Ino, head upstairs. I''ll assist our guest." Yamanaka Inoichi waited until his daughter left before addressing Miyuki. "The Uchiha Clan Head visits a flower shop this late¡­ just for blooms?" "Naturally. Those Sharingan recovered from Danz¨­¡­ though we can''t identify their original owners, they deserve proper rites," Miyuki replied. "My condolences." Inoichi wrapped the cornflowers meticulously. "These are the Yamanaka''s tribute to Uchiha heroes." "Generous of you," Miyuki accepted the bouquet. "Your daughter''s charming. I hear she''s classmates with Fugaku''s second son. Quite fond of him, they say." Inoichi''s gaze sharpened. "Childhood antics. Nothing more." "How poetic¡ª''childhood friends.'' Perhaps our clans could formalize this bond?" "They''re too young for such discussions," Inoichi deflected coolly. Unfazed, Miyuki continued, "You''ve led your clan well, Inoichi-san. Any advice for a new Clan Head?" "My clansmen''s trust is honor enough." "Yet every clan has¡­ *troublesome elements*." Miyuki''s smile turned edged. "Today, we arrested a Root loyalist from your ranks. A ''Yamanaka Kaze.''" Inoichi''s eyes narrowed. "That traitor forfeited our name in Root. Deal with him as you will." "Ah, but he *claims* he funneled 140 million ry¨­ to your clan through Root." Miyuki leaned closer. "While I doubt Yamanaka integrity, Root''s accounts *are* missing that sum. Perhaps you''ll visit the Police HQ to clarify? For the Hokage''s sake." Inoichi''s jaw tightened. "I''ll come." "Then I''ll take my leave." Miyuki raised the flowers. "And convey my clansmen''s gratitude¡­ *again*." Chapter 13 A Late Night Visitor
After leaving Yamanaka Haiichi''s flower shop, Uchiha Miyuki returned to the Uchiha clan compound. Rather than hurrying home, he made his way to Uchiha Fugaku''s residence. Uchiha Fugaku was somewhat surprised by Miyuki''s late-night visit but still invited him inside. After Uchiha Mikoto served tea to the two, she quietly left the living room. Uchiha Fugaku studied the young man¡ªnow the clan leader who had forcefully assumed the position. Regarding Miyuki''s coup, Fugaku harbored no resentment. In truth, he had long wished someone would take over the messy state of the Uchiha clan. Moreover, after Miyuki came to power, he swiftly consolidated the clan''s loyalty and silenced any stirrings of rebellion. Even Fugaku had to admit that Miyuki''s decisive actions were impressive. "Miyuki, the Security Force has already posted the recruitment notice for civilian ninjas as you ordered. However, it seems the village''s civilian ninjas remain rather cautious¡ªtoday, only a handful of newly graduated Genin have applied," Uchiha Fugaku explained. "A few Genin are enough to keep petty thieves at bay," Miyuki replied. "Besides, with our clan''s own ninjutsu on our side, we need not worry about a shortage of applicants." Fugaku continued, "Just so you know, based on the standards you set yesterday, the clan''s funds will last at most three months¡ªunless we start liquidating ancestral assets." "I''ve already secured the money," Miyuki said after taking a sip of tea. "I expect the funds will be delivered in a few days." Fugaku''s eyes narrowed. "Then why have you come here tonight? You can''t possibly be here just for tea." "I''ve come about Itachi," Miyuki replied. "Itachi, huh¡­" Fugaku sighed. "I''ve heard what happened at the Shimura clan''s gate today. In hindsight, sending him to the Anbu was far too hasty." Miyuki countered, "As a Father, sending him to the Anbu wasn''t inherently wrong. But letting him face battle so early was a grave error." "Is that your view?" Fugaku asked, pressing his lips together as he looked at Miyuki.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Miyuki continued, "Itachi was exceptionally gifted from a young age, yet you exposed him to the world''s darkness too soon. The child is reflective, but if his knowledge cannot support the depths of his thoughts, disaster is inevitable. I once heard a wise man say, ''Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.''" Fugaku sighed deeply. "I suppose it is my fault for not educating him properly." He then turned toward the closed courtyard door. "Since you''re here, come out." The courtyard gate swung open, and Uchiha Itachi entered wearing his Anbu mission attire. "Father, Clan Leader," Itachi greeted both men with a bow. "Off duty, you need not be so formal," Miyuki waved him off. "Big brother Miyuki," Itachi said with a nod. "You heard what I said earlier, didn''t you?" Fugaku inquired. Itachi lowered his head in silence. Seeing this, Fugaku could only sigh. As a father, he was not adept at reaching his child¡ªItachi''s worldview had already solidified, and mere words no longer sufficed. "Big brother Miyuki, there''s something I want to ask," Itachi finally broke the silence. "Go ahead," Miyuki replied. "If a day comes when our clan and the village are forced to clash in arms, what will you do?" Itachi looked up steadily into Miyuki''s eyes. "As long as I''m here, that day will never come," Miyuki answered. "And if it does come?" Itachi pressed. "Drop it, Itachi," Fugaku interjected in a low, angry tone. Miyuki gave a faint smile. "The village sent me into battle when I was nine¡ªit is our clan''s blood that gave me the strength to survive." "If that day arrives, I will stop you at all costs!" Itachi declared, his gaze unwavering. "Uchiha Itachi, you are too reckless," Miyuki chided. Although Fugaku had long suspected Itachi''s loyalties were shifting away from the clan, he had not expected such blunt defiance. Even Fugaku, known for his temper, struggled to contain his anger. "Never mind," Miyuki said, signaling Fugaku to calm down. Then, with a warm smile, he turned to Itachi. "Itachi, you are the clan''s prodigy. I believe one day you''ll possess eyes like mine. But you cannot stop the tide of fate¡ªeven if you don''t yet understand what that tide is, eventually you won''t worry about such matters." After a moment, Miyuki rose and said to Fugaku, "Elder Fugaku, I won''t keep you any longer. Please continue to manage the affairs of the Security Force." With that, Miyuki took his leave. When Miyuki returned to his modest quarters, it was already the early hours of the morning. The new residence prepared for the clan leader was still under construction, so for now, Miyuki had to remain in his small dwelling. He switched on a lamp and began carefully maintaining his Chakra Blade. Although as an elite Uchiha ninja assigned to the Security Force he rarely took on village missions, he certainly did not deserve to be living in a space of less than 30 square meters. And this very fact was due to the Chakra Blade known as "Swift Lightning." Forged entirely from Chakra-infused metal, Miyuki had poured all his savings into it over the years. "Since you''re here, show yourself," Miyuki declared loudly as he polished the blade. There was no answer. "I don''t know if one strike from this blade would kill you, but you''ll have to reimburse me for the cost of this place," Miyuki said with a slight smile as faint sparks of electrical energy danced along the surface of his Chakra Blade. Suddenly, a figure descended from the rafters¡ªa person with tousled white hair, a mask, and a headband partially pulled down over his left eye. It was none other than Kakashi, whom Miyuki had briefly encountered that morning. "Ah, Kakashi-senpai, I thought you''d wait a while before coming to see me," Miyuki said with a smile as he sheathed his blade. "Please, have a seat." Miyuki gestured for Kakashi to sit at the opposite end of the table, then arranged an array of tea utensils and began boiling water. Chapter 14: A Hero’s End Should Not Be So
Uchiha Miyuki brewed tea with deliberate calm. Since his first kill on the battlefield at age nine, Miyuki had danced on the edge of life and death for six years. The repeated losses of comrades and friends had awakened the Uchiha''s ultimate power¡ªthe Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. Yet Miyuki could feel his sanity fraying under the relentless torment. Then again, with the Mangeky¨­, going a little mad is practically tradition. To stabilize his mind after the war, Miyuki had taken up tea ceremony. No grand philosophy¡ªjust a ritual to keep the darkness at bay. His small residence fell into stillness, broken only by the clink of porcelain. Kakashi, lacking such patience, cut through the silence: "What did that record you showed me today mean?" Steam curled from the teapot as Miyuki slid a cup toward him. "Visited Grandma Miori already?" Kakashi''s visible eye narrowed before he nodded. "Yes." "Visit more often. Clan compensation helps, but loneliness isn''t cured by money." "Just tell me what the report said." Kakashi said. "And I''ll handle any clan members who criticize you. As Clan Head, I''ve that much authority." Miyuki said as he sipped his tea.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. "Uchiha Miyuki!" Kakashi''s frustration boiled over. "Impatient as ever." Miyuki chuckled, gesturing to the untouched tea. While Miyuki refilled the kettle, Kakashi yanked down his mask, gulped the scalding tea, and covered his face again. "You¡­" Miyuki sighed at Kakashi''s stifled grimace. "The report''s contents are exactly as you saw. We''ve yet to investigate further." Setting down his own drained cup, Miyuki continued solemnly: "Though I wasn''t born when it happened, the clan remembers. If our elders speak true, the White Fang was a hero. He deserved better than his fate." Kakashi stiffened. For years, his father''s name had been scrubbed from Konoha''s history¡ªwhen mentioned at all, it carried scorn. "Others may forget, but the Uchiha revere him." Miyuki leaned forward. "No one understands the weight of bonds more than we do." "¡­Thank you." Kakashi''s voice softened, memories of a loud-mouthed teammate flashing unbidden. "But new evidence suggests Danz¨­ schemed in the shadows." Miyuki''s cup clinked sharply against the table. "The White Fang''s death¡­ it wasn''t simple." "The clan debates pursuing this. The White Fang nearly became Fourth Hokage¡ªunearthing this risks awakening old enemies." Kakashi''s brow furrowed. Politics, to a weapon raised on battlefields, felt alien. Miyuki suppressed a sigh. Kakashi''s political capital¡ªthe last legacy of the Fourth''s inner circle¡ªwas precisely what the Uchiha needed. Why else would the Third keep him in ANBU? The Fourth''s orphaned student, the living tether to Konoha''s beloved Yellow Flash¡­ Even diminished, those loyal to Minato''s memory held power. Thus, this carefully staged "chance" meeting. "Regardless, I''ll see this through," Miyuki declared. "Thank you." Kakashi recognized resolve when he heard it. "Don''t. I do this because heroes deserve truth." Miyuki waved him off. "If gratitude moves you, visit Grandma Miori." As Kakashi moved to leave, Miyuki added: "Oh¡ªcollect that Wood Style user from headquarters. ANBU''s been pestering us." Kakashi paused mid-window. "The only Wood Style wielder since the First¡­ Why release him?" "Because he''s a political grenade. Let the Hokage''s office handle it." With a nod, Kakashi vanished into the night. Alone at the window, Miyuki smiled. Clearing the White Fang''s name would thrust Kakashi into the spotlight¡ªhero''s son and Fourth Hokage''s disciple. When that day came, the Uchiha, his staunchest allies, would step from shadows to center stage. Chapter 15: The Advisors Arrive
The next morning, Uchiha Miyuki went straight to the Konoha Police Force¡¯s interrogation room. ¡°Clan Leader.¡± The Uchiha clan members inside the interrogation room nodded and greeted him upon his arrival. ¡°How did things go with those three yesterday?¡± Miyuki asked. ¡°Huh?¡± Uchiha Saito, the one in charge of the interrogation, was momentarily stunned. ¡°Big Brother, I don¡¯t think you gave any specific instructions on what to interrogate them about.¡± Miyuki was speechless. He then turned his gaze to the three high-ranking members of the Shimura clan, who were tied to the interrogation racks, beaten beyond recognition. It was obvious¡ªthis was all personal grudges at play. ¡°Apologies, the clan members were a little too enthusiastic about helping out. I couldn¡¯t stop them,¡± Saito said awkwardly with a forced smile. Miyuki shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I should have been clearer in my instructions.¡± With that, Miyuki pulled a chair and sat down at a short distance in front of the three captives. ¡°Let¡¯s talk. How much do you know about Shimura Danzo¡¯s crimes?¡± Miyuki asked, meeting the trio¡¯s murderous glares¡ªif looks could kill, they would have skinned him alive on the spot. ¡°The Uchiha clan is born evil! The Hokage will never let you get away with this!¡± The eldest among the three, a key figure in Danzo¡¯s faction, spat out a mouthful of blood before glaring at Miyuki with hatred. Before Miyuki could say anything, an Uchiha standing nearby immediately swung his baton, striking the man¡¯s mouth. ¡°Uncle Toba?¡± Miyuki glanced at the attacker¡ªa middle-aged Uchiha elite j¨­nin in his forties. ¡°I thought Squad Four had the day off today.¡± ¡°Well, the interrogation unit looked a little short-handed, so I came to lend a hand,¡± Uchiha Toba replied with a grin. Back in the Third Shinobi War, his second son had died during a mission. Normally, a shinobi should be indifferent to life and death, but out of the nine-man squad his son had been part of, only two members returned¡ªboth from the Shimura clan. That alone was enough to raise suspicion. Now that some Shimura members had finally fallen into their hands, those who had suffered similar losses weren¡¯t going to hold back. In fact, Toba had waited in line all night just to get his turn. As Toba continued his violent "interrogation" of Shimura Retsudo, Miyuki turned his attention to another captive. ¡°Shimura Arashi, we have evidence that, during the war in the Land of Water, you secretly colluded with enemy shinobi, leading to the deaths of one Uchiha j¨­nin, two ch¨±nin, and three genin. Afterward, you took six pairs of Sharingan from our fallen clansmen and offered them to the rogue shinobi, Shimura Danzo. Do you have anything to say for yourself?¡± Miyuki asked calmly, resting his chin on his hand.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°Uchiha Miyuki! That¡¯s a blatant lie!¡± Shimura Arashi roared. ¡°Stay quiet!¡± A swift blow forced Arashi to shut up. Miyuki then turned to the last captive. ¡°Shimura Yusuke.¡± ¡°What do you want from me? I have never even been on a battlefield!¡± ¡°As a shinobi, is it something to be proud of that you¡¯ve never set foot on the battlefield?¡± Miyuki sneered. ¡°Your case has nothing to do with the Third Shinobi War. However, our investigation found that in Konoha Year 44, you spread slanderous rumors throughout the village, driving the former ANBU captain, Sakumo Hatake, to take his own life. You were also involved in silencing one of the key witnesses, Keisuke Kishida. Am I wrong?¡± ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re slandering me! I have never done anything like that!¡± Yusuke¡¯s eyes flickered with panic¡ªsomething that did not escape Miyuki¡¯s notice. Miyuki leaned back in his chair, amused. He had simply picked names from the Shimura clan¡¯s registry at random, yet he had actually found someone guilty. ¡°There¡¯s an old saying: ¡®A wise man adapts to the times.¡¯ I believe the tools in this room will be more than enough to open your mouth. I suggest you cooperate,¡± Miyuki said coldly. Just then, the door to the interrogation room opened, and a clan member rushed over to Miyuki¡¯s side, whispering in his ear. ¡°Clan Leader, the head of the Shimura clan, along with two of the Hokage¡¯s advisors, have arrived. They¡¯re demanding that we hand over these three.¡± ¡°Uchiha Miyuki, if you know what¡¯s good for you, you¡¯ll release us immediately! The village won¡¯t let you off otherwise!¡± Despite the low voice of the messenger, Shimura Retsudo had sharp ears and overheard everything. He immediately sneered. ¡°So noisy,¡± Miyuki sighed, rubbing his ear. ¡°Uncle Toba, you¡¯re not as young as you used to be¡ªtake it easy.¡± ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t underestimate me, brat. Even when I¡¯m eighty, I¡¯ll still be able to beat guys like this without breaking a sweat,¡± Toba snorted. As he spoke, he tightened his grip on the baton, striking Retsudo even harder. ¡°Uncle Toba, be careful not to kill him,¡± Miyuki reminded before turning to leave. Then, he leisurely walked toward the entrance of the Police Force headquarters. At this moment, Shimura Hiroshi, along with the village elders Mitokado Homura and Koharu Utatan, stood at the main entrance, flanked by a group of Shimura clan shinobi. ¡°Elders, you must help us!¡± Shimura Hiroshi wailed. ¡°Danzo dedicated his entire life to the village, yet after his death, his clan members are being treated like this. This is nothing but the Uchiha¡¯s revenge!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The village will ensure justice is served,¡± Koharu reassured him. Just then, Miyuki stepped out, accompanied by Uchiha Fugaku. ¡°Oh? What brings the two esteemed advisors here today?¡± Miyuki asked with a bright smile before glancing at Fugaku. ¡°Fugaku, that¡¯s not very courteous of you. How could you let our guests wait outside? At the very least, invite them in for some tea.¡± ¡°My apologies. We¡¯ve been busy with official duties, and hospitality was overlooked,¡± Fugaku replied indifferently. ¡°Miyuki, you arrived just in time. Release Shimura Retsudo and the others immediately! This is outrageous!¡± Koharu demanded the moment she saw him. ¡°Release them?¡± Miyuki chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s impossible. All three of them are deeply involved in crimes committed by the rogue ninja Shimura Danzo. They are suspected of selling classified village intelligence, murdering fellow Konoha shinobi, and various other acts of treason.¡± ¡°That¡¯s slander! A complete fabrication!¡± Shimura Hiroshi, emboldened by the presence of the advisors, pointed an accusatory finger at Miyuki. Yesterday, he had been too afraid to confront Miyuki at the Shimura estate. But here, in a different setting, with the Hokage¡¯s advisors backing him, he felt emboldened. Little did he know, Miyuki had no intention of playing by the village¡¯s rules. Chapter 16: The Four Asumas ¡°¡®Whether it¡¯s slander or not isn¡¯t decided by you or me¡ªit¡¯s the evidence that counts.¡¯¡± Uchiha Miyuki¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°By the way, you¡¯ve arrived at just the right moment. According to your comrade Shimura Retsudo¡¯s confession, you were also involved in Shimura Danzo¡¯s seizure of our fellow shinobi¡¯s Kekkei Genkai. Konoha Police, apprehend the suspect Shimura Hiroshi!¡± No sooner had his words fallen than several Uchiha ninja burst out from within the police headquarters, intent on taking Shimura Hiroshi into custody on the spot. ¡°Uchiha Miyuki!¡± Koharu Utatane, who was accustomed to holding a high position, couldn¡¯t tolerate Miyuki¡¯s blatant disregard¡ªeven arresting someone right in front of her. She immediately shouted sharply. ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± Uchiha Miyuki replied as he looked down from the steps of the police headquarters. ¡°How dare you? Who gave you the authority to arrest people?¡± Koharu Utatane demanded. ¡°Good question!¡± Miyuki roared, drawing a long sword from his waist. Two arcs of blade light¡ªcrackling with lightning nature chakra¡ªwhizzed past the two advisors and landed at Shimura Hiroshi¡¯s feet. The resulting explosion forced the advancing Shimura clan ninja to retreat while blasting Hiroshi to the ground. In the blink of an eye, Uchiha Police members swarmed in and secured him. ¡°You ask who gave me the authority? Let me tell you,¡± Miyuki said as he slowly descended the steps and approached the two advisors. ¡°That night, when faced with Shimura Danzo¡¯s criminal acts, it was the Third Hokage who entrusted the Uchiha clan with the full investigation. Is that reason not enough?¡± ¡°Back then, the Second Hokage established the police force and entrusted our Uchiha clan with the great responsibility of safeguarding the village and purging a cancer like Shimura Danzo¡ªsomeone who would sacrifice his own comrades for personal gain! Is that not sufficient?¡± Miyuki then approached Koharu Utatane, bowed toward the Hokage Rock, and fixed his gaze on her. ¡°If you, Advisor Utatane, feel that isn¡¯t enough, then what about the vow sworn by the First Hokage at the founding of the village¡ªto protect every comrade in the village? Is that not enough?¡± ¡°Today, it isn¡¯t merely about me arresting him¡ªthe 11,000 ninja and 85,000 civilians of the Hidden Leaf in the Land of Fire will not tolerate such a cancer!¡± ¡°Uchiha Miyuki, you!¡± Mitokado Homura, standing by, wanted to speak, but with Miyuki invoking the First Hokage, what more could he add? Meanwhile, a recruitment notice for civilian shinobi had been posted in the police headquarters for two days, and many hopeful candidates had come to apply. The commotion even attracted numerous civilian ninja who stopped to watch. ¡°So the Uchiha clan does harbor a sense of justice after all¡ªit seems the village rumors can¡¯t be trusted,¡± whispered the assembled civilian shinobi.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Those Shimura clan members got what they deserved. Relying on their clan¡¯s influence, they¡¯ve been arrogantly strutting around the village¡ªand now they¡¯ve finally hit rock bottom.¡± The reputation of the Shimura clan in the village wasn¡¯t much better than that of the Uchiha clan, so when the civilians saw them in trouble, they couldn¡¯t help but revel in the misfortune. ¡°But what about you two advisors? Rallying such a crowd¡ªare you trying to cover something up?¡± Miyuki said, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the two. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you two are closely linked with Danzo.¡± ¡°Shut it, Uchiha Miyuki! Don¡¯t spout nonsense!¡± Mitokado Homura roared. ¡°I will report today¡¯s events truthfully to the Hokage.¡± ¡°Do as you please!¡± Miyuki snorted coldly and turned, striding back into the police headquarters without looking back. ¡°What are you two advisors still doing here? Do you expect us to see you off?¡± Uchiha Fugaku remarked at that moment. ¡°Hmph.¡± The two advisors, having failed to get their way and now facing the curious stares of surrounding civilian shinobi, could only snort dismissively and depart. After Shimura Hiroshi was dragged into the interrogation room, the three Shimura clan members present wore expressions of terror. They had initially believed that their clan leader, accompanied by two advisors, had come to rescue them¡ªbut instead, they found themselves ensnared. ¡°Make sure you treat our Shimura clan leader properly,¡± Miyuki ordered as he flung Shimura Hiroshi into the interrogation room like a dead dog. ¡°Be careful not to get any blood on him, lest you offend the spirits of our fallen elders at tonight¡¯s funeral.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± came the unified reply from the clan members. After making all the arrangements, Uchiha Miyuki left the police force. To escort back the stolen Sharingan¡ªhumiliated by Shimura Danzo¡¯s hand¡ªto the family shrine, the Uchiha clan held a family funeral of considerable scale. ¡°Clan Leader, aside from the Shimura, Mitokado, and Utatane clans, representee from every other clan have arrived,¡± Uchiha Inaho reported as he hurried over to Miyuki upon his arrival at the clan shrine. ¡°Understood. Go fetch Elder Fugaku,¡± Miyuki replied. ¡°Understood,¡± Inaho nodded and departed on his mission. Shortly afterward, Miyuki proceeded to the area where the funerary offerings had been placed. He arrived at the section dedicated to the Yamanaka clan¡¯s offerings but did not hasten to act¡ªinstead, he waited until Uchiha Fugaku arrived before beginning to open them. The top layer of the funerary offerings consisted merely of ordinary items. Upon opening it, all that was revealed were dazzling piles of gold and two copies of the village¡¯s land deeds. Uchiha Fugaku¡¯s eyes lit up as he looked toward Miyuki. ¡°Is this the money you managed to gather?¡± Miyuki nodded and stepped forward to carefully count the items, his brows furrowing. ¡°This still isn¡¯t enough.¡± With that, a frowning Miyuki proceeded to open the funerary offerings from the Akimichi and Nara clans as well¡ªtheir contents matching those of the Yamanaka clan. ¡°This is a warning to us,¡± Miyuki sneered as he tallied the total value. The three clans had collectively presented items worth exactly 140 million taels¡ªfour Asumas. This was the protection fee handed over by the Yamanaka clan to the Uchiha regarding the Danzo affair. Moreover, the fact that these three clans delivered their offerings together left no doubt: it was a clear warning to the Uchiha that, united, they would not be cowed. ¡°Hmph, the Ino-Shika-Cho, huh?¡± Uchiha Fugaku snorted. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Those three clans never held much sway anyway¡ªif they can gather any money, it¡¯s already a pleasant surprise,¡± Miyuki remarked calmly. ¡°Ever since the Warring States period, the Ino-Shika-Cho have maintained an unbreakable bond with the Sarutobi clan, with every generation¡¯s oath being witnessed by the current Sarutobi clan leader. I¡¯ve never had high expectations when trying to sway them.¡± Chapter 17: Arrangements for Yamato That night, within the Uchiha clan¡¯s shrine, amid the lengthy incantations recited by the priest, the nine Sharingan¡ªtaken from Danzo¡¯s arm¡ªwere solemnly brought inside under the watchful eyes of all present clan members. After the ceremony, the clan gradually dispersed, and Uchiha Miyuki once again proceeded to the interrogation room. The three Shimura clan member, who had been tortured for an entire day, had nearly lost all strength; meanwhile, the newly apprehended Shimura Hiroshi continuously hurled curses upon seeing Miyuki¡¯s silhouette. Miyuki merely fiddled with his ear as if he hadn¡¯t heard a word. The Uchiha chunin in charge of interrogations, noticing this, tightened his grip on his baton. Miyuki strode directly to the cell holding the wood release ninja¡ªwho had not yet been named Yamato by the Third Hokage. Since it had already been decided that this guy would be handed over to Kakashi as credit for his achievements, Miyuki wouldn¡¯t trouble him any further; aside from the beating he endured on the first day, the rest of his time would be spent in solitary confinement. Of course, the ninja still bore the seal jutsu Miyuki had personally inscribed on him. After all, he was a wood release user¡ªalthough his abilities were far from those of the First Hokage, without proper measures even a standard chunin in the interrogation room wouldn¡¯t be able to hold him back. In the corner of the cell, the detainee¡ªcurrently known as ¡°A¡± (and not yet renamed Yamato)¡ªjerked awake at the sound of commotion. Miyuki entered the cell and switched on the light; the sudden burst of brightness made ¡°A¡± squint. Just as ¡°A¡± was about to make a move, the clatter of iron chains and the searing pain triggered by the seal jutsu reminded him of his present predicament. ¡°Let¡¯s talk,¡± Miyuki said as he pulled a chair and sat down in front of him. ¡°Hmph, I won¡¯t say a thing,¡± ¡°A¡± snapped. ¡°By the way, how much was Danzo paying you? You¡¯re so loyal,¡± Miyuki chuckled. ¡°We follow Lord Danzo for the sake of Konoha¡ªhow could our loyalty be measured in money?¡± ¡°A¡± retorted with righteous fervor. ¡°Oh, so that means you¡¯re not getting any money at all? Then what are you fighting for?¡± Miyuki laughed. ¡°You, with your inherently evil Uchiha nature, could never understand Lord Danzo¡¯s dedication to the village!¡± ¡°A¡± exclaimed passionately, shaking his head at Miyuki. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the Yamanaka¡ªthey at least have a clan as a fallback. They ended up in this mess because of Danzo, but you¡ªan orphan¡ªwhat¡¯s your excuse?¡± Miyuki ordered someone to bring in some food before handing it over to ¡°A.¡± ¡°Hmph,¡± ¡°A¡± sneered coldly as he glared at Miyuki.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°Tell me, how did you acquire your Wood Release? Your crimes aren¡¯t that severe. Although we found evidence that you were ordered by Danzo to assassinate the Third Hokage, the Third Hokage is always on the lookout for talent and likely won¡¯t pursue it. As for the rest, Kakashi pleaded on your behalf¡ªin his favor, I won¡¯t press you too hard. As long as you come clean, you can be released.¡± ¡°I will never betray Lord Danzo!¡± ¡°A¡± growled through gritted teeth. ¡°Actually, it isn¡¯t hard to guess¡ªit was Orochimaru, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Miyuki remarked. ¡°Back then, the artificial Wood Release project wasn¡¯t exactly a secret among us shinobi. The Senju idiots were so taken in by it that the once-great warlords of the Sengoku era reduced themselves to a handful of strays. In the end, because the sacrifices were too great and there were no results, the Third Hokage had to call it off.¡± ¡°But Danzo¡ª that old dog¡ªwouldn¡¯t give up. He continued his research in secret, collaborating with Orochimaru. And you¡­ you are the sole product of that project, aren¡¯t you?¡± Seeing the look of disbelief in ¡°A¡¯s¡± eyes, Miyuki chuckled lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look¡ªI¡¯m no fool. The village orphanage has had kids go missing from time to time; it¡¯s all on record in the police. But previously, because of Danzo¡¯s shadow, we couldn¡¯t dig deeper. In fact, just before Orochimaru defected, there was a high incidence of missing orphans in the village; once he defected, those numbers sharply declined. Considering your age, it¡¯s not hard to deduce the outcome.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you an orphan taken in for reformation? Then why are you so loyal to Danzo? You should be devoted to the Hokage and the Will of Fire.¡± ¡°Now, before you lie two paths: one, come clean and receive leniency so you can live as a normal shinobi in the sunlight; or two, continue your stubborn resistance and end up as collateral for Danzo¡ªthe man who sees you merely as a tool. The Seal of Cursed Tongue on you has already worn off. Think it over carefully; don¡¯t waste the opportunity Kakashi secured for you.¡± With that, Miyuki said no more. After setting down the food and water, he rose and left the cell. In truth, Miyuki didn¡¯t harbor much hope of subduing Yamato. He was well aware that he lacked Naruto¡¯s silver tongue; his control over subordinates was based more on tangible incentives. Moreover, from the start Miyuki knew that Yamato wasn¡¯t someone the Uchiha could keep around indefinitely. After all, Yamato had inherited the Wood Release of the First Hokage¡ªonce Sarutobi Hiruzen regained his full strength, Yamato would undoubtedly come forward to demand his due. Thus, Miyuki treated him as credit for Kakashi¡¯s promotion. His lengthy speech was designed to convince the prisoner that he was being spared solely because of Kakashi¡¯s favor. Inside the Hokage¡¯s office, Sarutobi Hiruzen kept puffing on his cigarette, while the two advisors who had clashed with Miyuki stood silently aside, watching him. ¡°Hiruzen, we can¡¯t let Miyuki continue like this. He¡¯s clearly using the investigation as an opportunity to eliminate his rivals.¡± Mitokado Homura, noticing Hiruzen¡¯s prolonged silence, broke it: ¡°He even dared to arrest the head of the Shimura clan directly. If this continues, even we might end up sitting in the police headquarters.¡± ¡°Mitokado, Miyuki won¡¯t go that far,¡± Hiruzen finally replied after a moment¡¯s contemplation. He was still wary of the special technique¡ªin Miyuki¡¯s hands. Moreover, it had been less than three days since the incident at the village gate. With most of the village¡¯s core ninja having seen the horrifying corpse of Danzo with their own eyes, a forced order to halt the Uchiha¡¯s investigation now would only fuel further suspicion. ¡°Hiruzen! We can¡¯t hesitate any longer. Have you forgotten our teacher¡¯s lessons?¡± Advisor Utatane couldn¡¯t help but remind him. ¡°Alright, but we can¡¯t just arbitrarily order the Uchiha to cease their investigation,¡± Hiruzen mused, recalling the words of the Second Hokage. After a moment¡¯s thought, he conceded, ¡°Kakashi, go to the Uchiha clan and have Miyuki report on the investigation¡¯s progress by tomorrow.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Kakashi emerged from the shadows of the office, received his orders, and then melted back into darkness. Chapter 18: Fabricating Evidence
When Uchiha Miyuki received the message delivered by Kakashi, he was in the Police Department alongside Uchiha Fugaku, classifying the clan¡¯s ninjutsu so they could later be distributed to the civilian ninjas who had come to join the department. The two selected, from the clan¡¯s ancestral legacy and the spoils amassed by generations of Uchiha, three C?rank ninjutsu for each chakra nature. Naturally, the fire release techniques need no introduction¡ªthe legendary Great Fireball Jutsu and the Phoenix Fire Technique were among them. As for the techniques of the other four elemental attributes, while their quality might be slightly inferior to those of clans specializing in those arts, they were unquestionably far superior to the run©\of©\the©\mill techniques accessible to Genin. After all, not just any ninjutsu can be part of the Uchiha collection. ¡°Is it really acceptable to distribute C?rank ninjutsu to someone who¡¯s worked for only one month? Isn¡¯t that a bit excessive?¡± Uchiha Fugaku hesitated. One must remember that, out in the field, an ordinary Genin might have to complete an entire year¡¯s worth of missions¡ªespecially under an average team leader¡ªjust to earn the opportunity to learn a single C?rank ninjutsu. This disparity is a key reason for the vast gap between shinobi of esteemed clans and civilian ninjas. ¡°Then let them have it,¡± Miyuki replied nonchalantly. ¡°No matter how many people learn, the ninjutsu won¡¯t diminish. As for resource control that other clans must worry about¡ªwe Uchiha do not. Our clan¡¯s true foundation, after all, is the Sharingan.¡± ¡°Clan Leader, Kakashi has arrived,¡± a Uchiha chunin reported as the door to the Police Department Head¡¯s office was knocked. When Miyuki opened the door, the visitor was a Uchiha who was two years his junior¡ªhaving only graduated from the academy last year¡ªbut his expression clearly showed that he wasn¡¯t too pleased about Kakashi¡¯s arrival. ¡°Kentarou, the guest is here. Do not neglect him,¡± Miyuki called out his name with a gentle reminder. ¡°Muyuki, but¡­¡± he began, only to be hushed as Miyuki placed a hand on his shoulder. As they walked together, he continued, ¡°I know what you¡¯re about to say. Although Kakashi wields one of our clan¡¯s eyes, that eye was a final bequest from our hero, Uchiha Obito, on his deathbed¡ªa continuation of Obito¡¯s will. As Uchiha, we must respect the decisions of our heroes, and he has not disgraced the Sharingan¡¯s legacy.¡± The Police Department Head¡¯s office was not far from the reception room, and Miyuki made no effort to lower his voice; at that moment, Kakashi, stationed in the reception room, clearly heard every word. Kakashi was visibly moved. Ever since he had taken on that eye, the Uchiha had never exactly looked kindly upon him¡ªbut now, this new clan leader was unexpectedly cordial. Miyuki pushed open the reception room door and entered. ¡°Tell me, Kakashi, what brings you to the Police Department today?¡± He inquired.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°By the orders of the Hokage, please have Clan Leader Miyuki report to the Hokage¡¯s office tomorrow regarding the progress of the investigation into Shimura Danzo¡¯s case,¡± Kakashi replied. ¡°I understand. I shall go tomorrow,¡± Miyuki nodded. As Kakashi prepared to leave, Miyuki called him back. ¡°Kakashi, please wait a moment.¡± ¡°Is there something else?¡± Kakashi asked, turning back with a puzzled look. ¡°Since you are already here, please take that Wood Release ninja away. His issues have been fully investigated. Most of the misdeeds committed by Danzo were actions in which he did not participate due to his age¡ªthe only dubious case, as you well know, must have its guilt determined solely by the Hokage,¡± Miyuki said with a smile. Recalling the Wood Release ninja he had confronted while protecting the Third Hokage, Kakashi nodded in agreement. Miyuki then led Kakashi to the area where the interrogation room was located. The agonized screams of Shimura Hiroshi and others made Kakashi frown slightly. ¡°Our Police Department¡¯s interrogation methods are, admittedly, not as professional as those of the ANBU,¡± Miyuki remarked calmly. ¡°Thus, we must employ some special measures. Inside, there is someone inextricably linked to the incident involving Konoha''s White Fang. Would you like to inspect him?¡± Kakashi¡¯s expression shifted, but he declined, ¡°Forget it; my presence might not be appropriate.¡± Without further comment, Miyuki escorted Kakashi to the cell where Yamato was being held, then produced a scroll. ¡°This fellow is the product of the nefarious experiments conducted by Danzo in collusion with the rogue ninja Orochimaru. I will report the full details to the Third Hokage tomorrow. This scroll is the key to the seal jutsu inscribed upon him,¡± he explained as he handed the scroll to Kakashi. After Miyuki handed over the scroll and signaled for Kakashi to take Yamato away, he promptly departed to report back. Once Kakashi left, Miyuki turned and entered the cell containing Yamanaka Kaze. Compared to Yamato, Yamanaka Arashi treatment had been far worse. Since his capture, he had not been given even a drop of water; within just two days, every notable Uchiha chunin had apparently beaten him, and he had been subjected to three rounds of Sharingan genjutsu interrogation. At this point, Yamanaka Arashi was strapped to a cross, too weak even to lift his head. Inside the cell, Miyuki dragged over a table and immediately began writing down evidence of Danzo¡¯s crimes¡ªfrom colluding with Orochimaru to massacre the village orphans, to deliberately causing the deaths of fellow shinobi on the battlefield in order to harvest their Kekkei Genkai, and finally, to spreading false rumors about Sakumo Hatake that drove one of Konoha¡¯s heroes to a frustrated suicide, and subsequently silencing everyone involved. This is the greatest advantage of being a traveler; the misdeeds of Shimura Danzo were so well-known to Miyuki that he could recite them without even needing an interrogation¡ªand the means to fabricate evidence were already at hand. After finishing the record of Danzo¡¯s crimes, Miyuki stepped forward and slashed Yamanaka Arashi finger, stamping his handprint upon it. Yamanaka Kaze struggled to lift his head and glared bitterly at Miyuki for what he had done. At that moment, Miyuki¡¯s Mangeky¨­ Sharingan silently activated; its ocular power, fused with chakra, directly invaded Yamanaka Arashi mind. Although Miyuki¡¯s proficiency in genjutsu was relatively rudimentary compared to that of other clan members¡ªa skill level roughly at a beginner¡¯s standard¡ªhe was not aiming to extract a confession. His intent was simply to break his spirit. ¡°Aba¡­ Aba¡­¡± Yamanaka Kaze muttered incoherently. In no time at all, under the combined assault of Miyuki¡¯s Mangeky¨­ ocular power and chakra, his consciousness shattered into fragments. Yamanaka Arashi became nothing more than a drooling, incoherent husk, incapable of coherent thought or speech. Chapter 19: The Report Inside the Hokage''s office, Kakashi gave a detailed account of what he had witnessed within the Konoha Police Force. However, when it came to matters concerning the White Fang, he hesitated for a moment and ultimately chose to withhold that information. After listening to Kakashi¡¯s report, Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the silent Yamato beside him and let out a deep sigh. "Child, what is your name?" Sarutobi asked. The boy remained silent, but Sarutobi was not offended. He stepped forward and personally untied the bindings on him. "You have no name? Then from now on, you will be called Tenzo," Sarutobi declared. "The past is behind you. Danzo is dead. From now on, live as a shinobi of Konoha." Tenzo was stunned upon hearing these words, staring at the man who had once been his assassination target under Danzo¡¯s orders years ago. "Since you have inherited the First Hokage¡¯s Wood Release, you should also inherit his will to protect the village." Tenzo''s lips trembled slightly as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent. He took one last look at the Third Hokage before turning his gaze to Kakashi. "Kakashi, take care of this child from now on," Sarutobi instructed. "Understood," Kakashi nodded, leading Tenzo out of the Hokage¡¯s office. After they left, Sarutobi sat back in his chair and lit his pipe. Uchiha Miyuki¡¯s unexpected decision to return a Wood Release user puzzled him. This was Wood Release¡ªif the Uchiha truly intended to rebel, why would they willingly give up such power? Could it be that Uchiha Miyuki was truly loyal to the village? Sarutobi found himself questioning everything. That night, he was doomed to wrestle with his doubts. The Next Morning Uchiha Miyuki arrived at the Hokage¡¯s office, dragging a mind-broken Yamanaka Arashi with him. By the time he entered, the office was already packed. In addition to the two advisors, the newly appointed Hokage¡¯s assistant, Shikaku Nara¡ªwho had formally taken up the position after Danzo¡¯s death¡ªstood beside Sarutobi. Seeing the setup, Miyuki smiled faintly. Under the intimidation of Kotoamatsukami, Sarutobi no longer dared to meet him alone. But this large-scale gathering was actually to Miyuki¡¯s liking.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Lord Hokage, Uchiha Miyuki, Vice-Captain of the Konoha Police Force, reporting in," he said, bowing respectfully. "Miyuki, you¡¯re here," Sarutobi nodded with a seemingly kind smile. "You used the pretense of an investigation to eliminate dissidents and falsely accuse innocent villagers. How do you explain this?" Mitokado Homura suddenly snapped before Sarutobi could speak. Miyuki cast an indifferent glance at him. These two old relics held power merely due to their seniority¡ªhe had never taken them seriously. "Is that what the Hokage himself believes?" Miyuki asked, his gaze locking onto Sarutobi. "Miyuki, the Uchiha''s methods have been¡­ excessive," Sarutobi replied, not outright agreeing with the accusation but subtly hinting at a warning. "When dealing with someone like Shimura Danzo and his faction, a cancer in the village, would a gentler approach have sufficed? A heavy hand was necessary!" Miyuki¡¯s voice rang with conviction. "In just these past few days, the crimes we¡¯ve uncovered are staggering!" With that, he produced a document he had compiled overnight and placed it on Sarutobi¡¯s desk. "Shimura Danzo, in his pursuit of my clan¡¯s Kekkei Genkai, deliberately orchestrated the deaths of at least fourteen Uchiha during the Third Shinobi War¡ªthat¡¯s just the confirmed cases! Worse still, after you explicitly banned human experimentation, he conspired with the rogue ninja Orochimaru, kidnapping village orphans for experiments. Some of the children were as young as two years old!" "For such a monstrous individual and his accomplices, do the two advisors still wish to protect him?" Miyuki¡¯s eyes turned to Homura and Utatan. "Would that not be a betrayal of the Will of Fire? A disgrace to the First Hokage, who founded this village to protect its children from war?" "You¡ª!" Utatan was furious, but the accusations were too damning. The burden was too heavy for even them to bear. "Miyuki, calm down. They didn¡¯t know about Danzo¡¯s actions," Sarutobi sighed, attempting to excuse his old comrades. He then picked up the report. As he read through the list of Danzo¡¯s crimes, even Sarutobi, who was aware of some of the details, found himself in disbelief. Danzo¡¯s audacity had far exceeded his expectations. "These confessions come directly from one of Danzo¡¯s key subordinates, Yamanaka Arashi," Miyuki stated, pushing the dazed and drooling Arashi forward. At the mention of the name, Shikaku Nara¡¯s sharp gaze flickered as he examined Miyuki. Their eyes met, and Miyuki gave a faint, knowing smile. "During interrogation, there was¡­ an incident," Miyuki continued. "He attempted to resist with Yamanaka Clan techniques, but against the Sharingan¡¯s genjutsu, his mind suffered irreparable damage. However, before that, he confessed to everything." "Ah¡­ abuh¡­ abuh¡­" Arashi now muttered nonsensically, drool leaking from his lips. Shikaku let out a long sigh. With his intelligence, he immediately grasped the situation. This was the Uchiha¡¯s direct retaliation against the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance. A warning. He bowed his head decisively. This was no longer a battle he could interfere in. The political struggle between the Uchiha and Konoha¡¯s higher-ups was beyond his ability to manage. One misstep, and his clan would be dragged into catastrophe. "Lord Hokage, to prevent such incidents from happening again, I request that you assign a team of ANBU interrogators to assist in questioning further suspects," Miyuki said. "The Police Force lacks the proper expertise to handle shinobi interrogations." Sarutobi considered it for a moment before nodding. "I will send personnel to assist." "Much appreciated, Lord Hokage," Miyuki¡¯s eyes gleamed. Sarutobi likely intended to use the ANBU to keep the Uchiha under surveillance, but Miyuki didn¡¯t mind. After all, whether they stayed or not would ultimately depend on his own actions. At that moment, Sarutobi turned to the final page of the report, where he found a section detailing the White Fang incident. "Miyuki, this¡­" Chapter 20: Redressing the Past "The Security Department, during its investigation into Shimura Danzo''s allies, discovered this matter. The rumors within the village regarding the late White Fang were spread under Danzo¡¯s instruction. Moreover, even the current head of the Shimura clan, Shimura Hiroshi, along with several others, were involved in this, and it was they who carried out the silencing of White Fang''s teammates at that time." Miyuki said slowly, observing the reactions of Sarutobi Hiruzen and the two advisors. Upon hearing this, the two advisors appeared noticeably flustered, while Sarutobi Hiruzen, though less visibly shaken, seemed a bit uncomfortable. Seeing this, Miyuki understood that these three were likely far from clean regarding the White Fang incident. "This matter should end here. The village has long since reached a consensus about White Fang," Koharu Utatan immediately intervened. "Is that so? Should we just let the villainous slander of a hero who bled for the village continue? Should the hero, even after death, remain wrongfully accused?" Miyuki said, his gaze fixed on her, speaking in a low tone. "That failure of the mission was indeed White Fang''s responsibility," Mitokado Homura said. "But he did it to protect his comrades, didn¡¯t he?" Miyuki said calmly. "A ninja¡¯s duty is to complete the mission!" Koharu Utatan asserted. "Is this also the stance of the Third Hokage?" Miyuki turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen. "This doesn¡¯t seem to align with the Will of Fire." Miyuki¡¯s words fell, and a strange silence fell over the Hokage¡¯s office. Nara Shikaku almost wished he could disappear into the shadows, a technique from his clan. Miyuki couldn¡¯t help but laugh inwardly as he observed this scene. The profession of a ninja, to put it simply, was a killing machine hired to avert disaster. No matter how beautifully one spoke about the Will of Fire, could it really conceal the dirtiness of the ninja profession? But at this moment, the Will of Fire was truly useful. Could Sarutobi Hiruzen deny these words? Of course, he could not. The Will of Fire, as the political foundation for Sarutobi Hiruzen and the political correctness of Konoha, had long been intertwined with him. One could say that in Sarutobi Hiruzen¡¯s case, even if you questioned whether Asuma was truly his son, you could not question the correctness of the Will of Fire. "Miyuki, I understand your point," Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed deeply, then said, "We will restore White Fang¡¯s reputation, but the investigation into this matter will stop here. After all, it happened so long ago, and it would be a waste of time to investigate further."This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. "Since this is the Hokage¡¯s decision, the Security Department will comply," Miyuki¡¯s expression darkened as he spoke. At this moment, Miyuki was nearly overjoyed. Once he confirmed that these three old folks were not innocent in the White Fang case, his goal for today was simply to restore White Fang¡¯s reputation. If the investigation had continued and something were uncovered, it could have created a bigger mess. Miyuki, for now, was not ready to tear everything apart with them. Therefore, he was already thinking about how to delay things. To his surprise, Sarutobi Hiruzen himself had stopped the investigation, taking the responsibility. "Additionally, according to the current information gathered by the Security Department, Shimura Danzo has deep ties with the rogue ninja Orochimaru," Miyuki kept his expression neutral. "But Orochimaru¡¯s matters involve external forces, so I would like to request the Hokage¡¯s approval for the Security Department to work with the ANBU to capture Orochimaru, a rogue ninja endangering Konoha¡¯s safety. This will also provide some closure for the innocent souls who perished in his cruel experiments." "Orochimaru?" Sarutobi Hiruzen¡¯s expression darkened at the mention of the name. The matter from back then truly needed closure. Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed inwardly, made up his mind, and looked at Miyuki. "I understand, Miyuki. This mission will be led by Kakashi, with the Security Department assisting. How does that sound?" "Understood," Miyuki nodded in acknowledgment. "This time, we must capture Orochimaru, please see to it." "Understood! Loyal! Faithful!" Miyuki¡¯s expression turned solemn, and he saluted with his right hand. Miyuki left without taking the drooling Shikaku, and after his departure, the two advisors looked at Nara Shikaku, who had been invisible until now. Nara Shikaku nodded and spoke: "Hokage, I heard from Choza that this child, Arashi, was forcefully taken by Danzo when he was young. Although he has committed unforgivable crimes under Danzo''s guidance, and he is now reaping what he sowed, I beg you to show mercy and spare his life for the sake of the contributions of the Nara clan in the past." "Shikaku, don¡¯t say that. This is Danzo¡¯s fault," Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. "Take this child back to the Nara clan and take care of him properly." "Understood," Nara Shikaku nodded, then took Arashi and left the Hokage¡¯s office. Once Nara Shikaku was gone, Mitokado Homuraimmediately voiced his impatience, "Hiruzen, are we just letting this go? Are we going to watch the Uchiha clan continue to act recklessly?" Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe, took a deep drag, and looked at his two old partners, saying, "Miyuki won¡¯t do that. He is a good child who understands the Will of Fire." "Hiruzen!" Koharu Utatan said urgently, "He is from the Uchiha clan, don¡¯t forget the teachings of the Second Hokage!" "Hiruzen, Danzo was right. You¡¯re being too indecisive," Mitokado Homura added. "If you continue to let the Uchiha clan go unchecked, one day you¡¯ll regret it!" "Silence!" Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed his hand on the table angrily. "I am the Hokage!" "You think I want to do this? Because of Danzo¡¯s Sharingan, we have to give the Uchiha clan an explanation! If not, we¡¯ll be forcing them to rebel, do you understand? The Uchiha clan already has a pair of Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, but there is no second First Hokage in this village!" Sarutobi Hiruzen chastised them both. "It¡¯s Miyuki who has suppressed the rebellious voices in the clan. That¡¯s the best outcome we could hope for!" "Hiruzen¡­" Listening to Sarutobi Hiruzen¡¯s furious rant, the two advisors fell silent. After a long while, once the tobacco in Sarutobi Hiruzen¡¯s pipe had burned out, he spoke again, "I¡¯ll send a letter and have Jiraiya return." Chapter 21: Bows and Shuriken After reporting his work to the Hokage, Miyuki''s days became surprisingly peaceful. The Security Department''s recruitment of civilian ninjas proceeded smoothly. After the incident where Miyuki had scolded the two advisors in front of the department''s entrance, the perception of the Uchiha clan among the civilian ninjas improved. Upon hearing that the Uchiha clan was now led by the same Miyuki, who had implemented the "smile law enforcement" policy, many civilians dropped their doubts and came forward to apply. There were even several young ninjas who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy and hadn¡¯t been assigned to lead teams, who directly came to the department seeking positions. Within less than a week, the Security Department successfully completed Miyuki¡¯s directive to double the recruitment. Meanwhile, after implementing the "smile law enforcement" policy across the entire department, Miyuki himself moved into a luxurious residence in the heart of the Uchiha clan¡¯s territory. Upon settling in, he immediately set up an archery range in the backyard of his new home. With his temporary downtime, Miyuki¡¯s daily routine involved sipping tea, checking in on the Security Department, writing up evidence against Danzo for the interrogation rooms, and then returning to his tea and practicing archery. One afternoon, after returning from the Security Department, Miyuki changed out of his ninja vest and into a haori. He began practicing archery in the courtyard. Miyuki focused deeply, releasing two arrows in quick succession, both hitting the bullseye. At that moment, the housekeeper assigned by the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Keiko, walked into the yard. "Clan Leader, Hatake Kakashi has arrived." "Let him in," Miyuki replied without turning his head. "Understood." After Keiko left, a short time passed before Kakashi arrived in the courtyard. After bringing him in, Keiko discreetly withdrew and closed the door to the backyard. "The Hokage¡¯s order: the mission to capture the rogue ninja Orochimaru will commence the day after tomorrow," Kakashi stated. Miyuki did not respond immediately. He remained focused on the target, holding his breath as he nocked another arrow and shot it, hitting the bullseye once more. Seeing this, Kakashi said nothing, instead finding a nearby post to lean against. He pulled out his beloved "Icha Icha Paradise." The courtyard was filled only with the sound of arrows slicing through the air. After emptying a quiver of arrows, Miyuki paused and spoke, "I¡¯m sorry about the matter of White Fang. For now, this is all I can do."Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Regarding this, Kakashi lowered his book, his face serious. "Thank you. This is more than enough." Recently, the village had launched an activity promoting the Will of Fire. During this event, his father, Hatake Sakumo, was frequently mentioned as a hero who embodied the Will of Fire, and some of the village children were learning for the first time about the heroism of the village''s past. "Would you like to give it a try?" Miyuki asked with a smile, offering Kakashi the longbow in his hand. "Bows? I''m not particularly skilled with them," Kakashi declined, "And as a ninja, I think throwing shuriken suits the profession better." "Shuriken, huh?" Miyuki replied, brushing his hand over his ninja tool pouch at his waist. Four black silhouettes immediately shot out, colliding in midair before hitting the bullseye of the target fifty paces away at impossible angles. "The Uchiha clan''s shuriken-throwing technique is truly exquisite," Kakashi praised. "Nothing special¡ªjust familiarity," Miyuki said as he wiped his hands and picked up the longbow again. "Kakashi, in the end, both bows and shuriken were made for one purpose: to kill." He released another arrow, hitting the target dead center. "But I still prefer the bow." Kakashi¡¯s face showed confusion. A weapon like a bow should have been something of the past, something associated with the old samurai, not a ninja¡¯s tool. If convenience and speed were the main concerns, shuriken were clearly the better choice. "Shuriken are convenient, but after being used, you¡¯ll rarely recover more than one, even if it¡¯s made from the finest steel. It¡¯s just easier to handle when thrown. But a bow is different. As long as the bow isn¡¯t damaged, you can always replenish your arrows." "And where the arrow goes, the bow decides." With a whoosh, another arrow hit the bullseye. This time, Miyuki used his chakra to destroy the shuriken that had been stuck in the target. Hearing Miyuki¡¯s words, Kakashi fell into deep thought. "How about it, Kakashi? Want to give it a shot?" Miyuki turned to Kakashi with a smile. "Well¡­ I¡¯ll give it a try," Kakashi hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Keiko, please bring a new bow for Captain Kakashi," Miyuki called out to the door of the yard. Before long, Keiko entered the yard holding a longbow, presenting it to Kakashi with both hands. Kakashi took the bow, inspecting it carefully, but still feeling unfamiliar with it. Although the Hatake family had descended from a samurai lineage, by the time of his father, they had primarily focused on swordsmanship, with ninja techniques being their main approach. Archery had never been part of his training. Kakashi placed an arrow on the bowstring and awkwardly pulled the bow back, aiming at the target fifty paces away. "Stand properly. Connect your spirit to the arrow and the target. Before the arrow is released, let your intent go first," Miyuki¡¯s voice rang in Kakashi¡¯s ear. Kakashi clumsily adjusted his posture, trying to align the shot. Kakashi held the position for a long time but did not release the arrow. "Kakashi, calm your mind," Miyuki said calmly, noticing Kakashi¡¯s hesitation. Taking a deep breath, Kakashi steadied his racing thoughts, and then released the arrow. The arrow shot through the air, and Kakashi tracked its flight, quickly realizing it had missed the target. A slight look of disappointment appeared on his face. Just then, the sound of a bowstring snapping through the air caught his attention. Turning his head, Kakashi saw Miyuki with his bow still vibrating slightly in his hands. And in the air, another arrow, having been shot after Kakashi''s, collided with his arrow in midair. The two arrows, after crossing paths, continued toward the target. Thud, thud¡ªtwo muffled sounds. The two arrows landed one after the other, both hitting the bullseye. Kakashi looked at Miyuki in astonishment, only to see a knowing smile on Miyuki''s face. Chapter 22: Loyalty to the Security Department After Kakashi left, Miyuki picked up the mission scroll regarding the pursuit of Orochimaru. In the Security Department, it was clear that the Third Hokage intended for Miyuki to personally decide who would participate in this mission. As the other team involved, the ANBU had sent not only Kakashi as the leader but also three J¨­nin. One of the J¨­nin was from the T¨­r¨­ clan, another from the Inuzuka clan, and the final one was a civilian ninja with no clan background. In addition, there were four Special J¨­nin, including the newly famous duo, Moonlight Gale and Uzuki Yugao, known for their proficiency in Konoha''s swordsmanship. The other one came from the Mito family and one was another civilian ninja. For reconnaissance, two capable branch members from the Hy¨±ga clan were also recruited. After considering for a while, Miyuki called out, "Keiko, go tell Inaho and Saito to join me on the mission the day after tomorrow." Uchiha Inaho and Uchiha Saito were among the first to openly support Miyuki, so Miyuki didn''t mind bringing them along for the mission. Though the mission was dangerous, given that it involved facing Orochimaru, a notorious and powerful figure, Miyuki had no intention of engaging in a direct battle with him. Miyuki formed a series of hand seals, and with a puff of smoke, a ninja hawk appeared and perched on his shoulder, nuzzling against his cheek. The hawk''s eyes gleamed with a special red glow. Miyuki continued forming hand seals and inscribed a unique seal on the hawk before gently patting its head. With a loud cry, the hawk spread its wings and soared into the sky, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye. The next day, after Uchiha Fugaku worked late into the night, he finally assigned tasks to the newly recruited civilian ninjas. Starting tomorrow, they could begin their duties. For this occasion, Fugaku organized a modest induction ceremony and invited Miyuki to attend. The large conference room in the Security Department was filled to capacity, with 227 existing Uchiha clan ninjas and 254 newly recruited civilian ninjas present. As Miyuki and Fugaku entered the room, they noticed the layout. It was clear that, although these civilian ninjas had mustered the courage to join the Security Department, they still chose to sit separately from the Uchiha ninjas. The middle row of seats remained empty, marking the division between the two groups. Seeing this, Miyuki couldn''t help but shake his head; improving the Uchiha clan''s image was still a long way off. The ceremony began, and although Fugaku was still the captain of the Security Department, he was well aware of how much Miyuki valued this occasion. He didn''t want to steal Miyuki''s spotlight and thus spoke briefly before stepping aside, allowing Miyuki to take the stage.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Miyuki scanned the crowd before speaking slowly: "First, on behalf of the original 227 ninjas of the Security Department, I welcome all of you to join. I believe that with your addition, under the leadership of the Will of Fire, our village''s Security Department will have a whole new atmosphere." Uchiha Inaho led the applause, and the rest of the room joined in, growing warmer as they clapped. Once the applause died down, Miyuki continued: "Since you¡¯ve all chosen to join the Security Department, it must mean that you have confidence in the department and in the Uchiha clan. Since we will all be colleagues in the future, I believe there¡¯s no need to be so formal." Miyuki smiled warmly as he glanced at Uchiha Inaho and Uchiha Saito. At that moment, however, the two seemed not to understand his intentions, simply gazing back at Miyuki with their innocent eyes. Miyuki sighed inwardly; the emotional intelligence of his clan members was somewhat lacking. Fortunately, Uchiha Shisui, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, stood up first and walked over to invite the new ninjas to join them. Inaho and Saito quickly realized Miyuki¡¯s intent and followed suit. With their lead, some of the younger Uchiha ninjas joined in as well. After a brief moment of chaos, the division between the Uchiha ninjas and the civilian ninjas disappeared, and everyone sat together. Seeing this, Miyuki clapped his hands lightly, and the room erupted in applause once again. "Now, let us all work together to make our village a better place!" Miyuki said, and the applause grew even louder. "Next, let''s discuss the issue of compensation that everyone is concerned about," Miyuki continued after the applause settled. "After consulting with Captain Fugaku and taking into account the average income of ninjas in the village as well as the cost of living, we have temporarily set your monthly salary at 80,000 ryo. The former members of the Security Department will also see a 20% increase in their salary from what they were originally receiving." The civilian ninjas below reacted with astonishment. They knew that most of them had previously earned a living by completing missions as low-ranking ninjas. A D-rank mission typically paid a little over 1,000 ryo, and with the village''s cut and the leader''s share, they would only receive around 1,000 ryo from each D-rank mission. They could complete about 20 missions a month, bringing in two or three thousand ryo at most. After daily expenses, there was little left for savings or to spend on improving their skills. They had expected the Security Department¡¯s salary to be somewhat in line with the usual D-rank mission earnings, but they were surprised to hear that this figure didn¡¯t account for the village''s cut! As for the Uchiha clan members, they were just as pleased. The Security Department¡¯s wages had already been on par with this, but now they had received an extra 20%. Seeing the excitement in the room, Miyuki added fuel to the fire. "Additionally, considering that the Security Department is somewhat far from the village and commuting might be inconvenient, there will be a monthly transportation subsidy of 6,000 ryo." The civilian ninjas below were stunned. More? "Furthermore, as a personal gesture, I¡¯m using my authority to offer everyone an early release of the ninjutsu training that was originally set to be distributed after one month of work," Miyuki added. As soon as Miyuki finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room became uncontrollable. At that moment, Uchiha Inaho jumped to his feet, shouting, "Salute to Vice-Captain Miyuki! Loyalty! Faithful!" "Loyal! Faithful!" Everyone stood up and raised their right hands. "For Konoha, loyalty!" Miyuki raised his hand in return. Chapter 23: Departure
After the induction ceremony, the newly joined members of the Security Department returned home, cheerfully holding the ninjutsu scrolls handed to them by the Vice-Captain. Back in his office, Miyuki sat down, only to find Fugaku sitting in his chair, his face dark with concern. "Miyuki..." Fugaku began. "Miyuki-sama, we need more money," Miyuki immediately anticipated that Fugaku would mention money. After all, the 6,000 ryo transportation subsidy he had promised earlier wasn¡¯t a small sum, and combined with the salaries, the money he had secured from the Yamanaka clan wouldn''t last much longer. He decided to address the issue head-on. "Which clan this time? T¨­r¨­? Or Mito?" Fugaku asked, his curiosity piqued. "Ninja clans? How little do you think they have?" Miyuki chuckled. "Let me be bold, Fugaku-sama. Who are the richest in this ninja world?" Fugaku''s pupils constricted. He hadn''t expected Miyuki to be so daring. His actions seemed to challenge the existing rules of the ninja world. Compared to what Miyuki was about to do, the Uchiha clan¡¯s armed rebellion in the village felt almost childlike. Miyuki''s confident smile made Fugaku want to intervene. But as he thought about the future his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan had shown him¡ªone where the Uchiha clan surpassed even their ancestors¡¯ glory¡ªFugaku swallowed his concerns and merely cautioned, "Be cautious." "I will. And while I''m away, please take good care of the Security Department, Fugaku-sama," Miyuki said. "I understand," Fugaku nodded, rising to leave Miyuki''s office. "By the way, Fugaku-sama, have someone deliver one million ryo to me later. In cash, as I¡¯ll need it for the mission," Miyuki added. "One million? That''s a lot. What mission requires that much?" Fugaku was taken aback. "It¡¯s not for the mission itself. The mission doesn''t matter much," Miyuki explained. "What matters is that the ninja accompanying me will feel the Uchiha clan''s generosity." "Alright, I''ll have it delivered to you," Fugaku nodded before leaving. After sitting in his office for a while, Miyuki received the million ryo, which was carefully sealed in a scroll. Once secured, he packed up to head home.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. However, at the entrance of the Security Department, Miyuki encountered an unexpected person¡ªUchiha Shisui was waiting for him. "Shall we talk?" Miyuki raised an eyebrow, offering an invitation to the once-peerless genius within the clan. Uchiha Shisui nodded and followed Miyuki as they walked towards the clan''s land. Under the setting sun, the two walked side by side, neither speaking, taking leisurely steps. As children rushed by, laughing and playing, returning home after school, Shisui felt a pang of emotion. He broke the silence. "Miyuki, what exactly are you trying to achieve?" Shisui asked, his voice heavy. "Didn''t I already tell you my goal?" Miyuki replied, buying a couple of rice dumplings from a vendor along the road. He handed one to Shisui and ate the other himself. "You only said that to disturb my thoughts, didn''t you?" Shisui said. "Everything you''re doing is to bridge the gap between the clan and the village, ensuring that the clan and the village coexist peacefully." "Is that so? Maybe everything I said back then was true?" Miyuki replied ambiguously. "Enough with the lies, Miyuki," Shisui said, his voice firm. "What you said back then was correct. I was too arrogant, thinking that divine power in my hands was too dangerous. One wrong move could destroy both the clan and the village." Miyuki couldn''t help but smile inwardly, admiring his clan brother''s sincerity and innocence. "By the way, why are you at the Security Department today? I remember that since you joined the ANBU, you rarely visit the Security Department," Miyuki remarked. "Lord Hokage asked me to return, to keep an eye on any unstable elements within the clan," Shisui answered. Upon hearing this, Miyuki chuckled. "So, you finally remembered your spy mission for the clan? And unstable elements¡ªdoes that mean me?" "No," Shisui shook his head. "Lord Hokage believes you are a ninja with the Will of Fire in your heart." Miyuki struggled to suppress his laughter. "Is that so? Well, in any case, thank you for stepping up. Without your intervention, I might not have had such an easy time." "It¡¯s the least I could do, since you''re working for the harmony of the clan and the village," Shisui said sincerely. "Well then, since you''re back, do your best at the Security Department," Miyuki said, patting Shisui on the shoulder. The two parted ways at an intersection, and Miyuki returned home. In his study, he took out a scroll containing the addresses of high-ranking nobles and large merchants who were closely tied to the Shimura clan, obtained from recent interrogations. After marking a few key locations that the mission would pass through, Miyuki began to check his ninja tools, preparing for the journey. The next morning, Miyuki arrived at the clan''s entrance and found Uchiha Inaho and Uchiha Saito waiting for him. The three of them set off toward the village entrance. By the time they arrived, the other mission participants had already gathered. Though there weren''t many of them, they were split into several smaller groups. Two civilians without ninja clan backgrounds stuck together, while members of the T¨­r¨­ and Mito clans mingled. Moonlight Shikaze, a member of a smaller ninja clan, was conversing with his lover, Uzuki Yugao, while petting a large black dog. The two Hy¨±ga clan members who had been conscripted stood off to the side, holding themselves aloof. As for the mission leader, Kakashi, he was squatting under the eaves of a small, unopened shop at the village entrance, flipping through his small notebook. Chapter 24: The Uchiha Clan Has Always Been Generous to Friends "The Uchiha clan sure is slow, is this how their ninjas behave?" Before Miyuki and his team could speak, an upper-level ninja from the T¨­rin clan took the lead with a hostile remark. Upon hearing this, the two civilian ninjas who were about to greet Miyuki froze in place, unsure of what to do. After all, whether it''s the Uchiha or T¨­rin clan, they couldn''t afford to offend either, even if their status was just special j¨­nin. Miyuki glanced at the speaker, smirking in disdain, and ignored him. He then approached the two civilian ninjas, offering them a warm smile and extending his hand. "I am Miyuki. It''s an honor to carry out this mission with you both." The two civilian ninjas were taken aback but gladly shook his hand, surprised that this new Uchiha clan leader, already a renowned figure since the third war, was so approachable. "Ichii Nagai. Please take care of us, Miyuki-sama, during this mission." "Kuroki Ryutai. With you here, this mission will definitely go smoothly." "Not at all, it''s the teamwork that will make this mission successful," Miyuki replied with a smile. Seeing that, the T¨­rin clan ninja, T¨­rin Kin, felt a surge of anger. "Did you not hear me? Showing up this late and not even apologizing?" he barked. "I believe the meeting time hasn''t arrived yet," Miyuki calmly responded, his gaze growing colder. Behind him, his team members, Uchiha Inaho and Uchiha Saito, immediately activated their Sharingan, locking eyes with the T¨­rin ninja. "Also, hasn''t your elder taught you the basic respect for the strong?" Miyuki''s Sharingan eyes began to rotate. Inuzuka Kaze, Moonlight Shikaze, and Uzuki Setsuna had originally planned to greet Miyuki but chose to remain silent, observing the situation. The two Hy¨±ga clan members crossed their arms, watching coldly. "Enough, since everyone is here, let''s get going," said Kakashi, putting away his small figurine and stepping forward. "Since Captain Kakashi has spoken, let''s go," Miyuki said, turning off his Sharingan and smiling again. Although the initial meeting wasn''t pleasant, under Kakashi''s leadership, the group filed through the village¡¯s exit procedures. The mission wasn¡¯t time-sensitive, so the group took their time traveling.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. According to intel, Orochimaru had recently been spotted near the borders of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rice, so their direction was toward the northern side of the village. During the journey, Inuzuka Kaze''s ninja dog, Mokumaru, kept getting close to Miyuki. "You have quite a sharp nose," Miyuki chuckled, pulling out some raw meat from his sealing scroll and offering it to Mokumaru. After eating, Mokumaru barked twice in satisfaction and licked Miyuki¡¯s palm. "Wow, Mokumaru is so friendly to you, an Uchiha. That''s unusual," Inuzuka Kaze remarked. Though there was no significant conflict between the Uchiha and Inuzuka clans in the village, the Uchiha usually had contracts with summoning ninjas, while the Inuzuka had a strong bond with their dogs. "Probably because I¡¯m one of the rare Uchiha without a summoning contract with ninja cats. Plus, my summoning beast is a ninja hawk, so I often have raw meat ready, which Mokumaru must¡¯ve caught wind of," Miyuki explained with a smile. "I see now," Inuzuka Kaze grinned. Thanks to this little moment, the bond between him and Miyuki grew stronger. The Inuzuka clan was like that: if you got along with their dogs, they would be incredibly friendly. Moonlight Shikaze and Uzuki Setsuna, seeing this, also came up to greet Miyuki. As time passed, everyone became more familiar with each other. Even the two Hy¨±ga ninjas, who were initially distant, relaxed and chatted with the group, while T¨­rin Kin and the other who had been at odds with Miyuki, gradually found themselves isolated. By evening, the group arrived at Shunsa Street in the northern part of the Land of Fire. "It''s getting late, let''s rest here for the night," Kakashi said. No one objected, and Kakashi led them to a small inn. At that moment, Miyuki suddenly spoke up, "How can we rest properly in a place like this?" "Hmph, we¡¯re on a mission right now. Who are you to be so picky?" T¨­rin Kin scoffed, "If you¡¯re not happy, just head back." Miyuki ignored their mockery and said, "Since we¡¯re all part of the same team, let me cover the expenses tonight. Kakashi, you, the captain, have no objections, right?" "Of course not," Kakashi nodded. "Great," Miyuki smiled, and then walked toward the town center. The others hesitated for a moment, especially the two civilian ninjas, but seeing Kakashi follow without a second thought, they decided to follow as well, leaving T¨­rin Kin and Mito Hayabusa behind. Miyuki led the group to the most luxurious hot spring inn in the town. After booking suites for everyone, he suggested they find a place to have a few drinks. Everyone had expected him to treat them to a meal at a local barbecue shop, but to their surprise, Miyuki took them to the finest restaurant in town. Such establishments typically catered to the nobility and wealthy merchants of the Land of Fire. Even Inuzuka Kaze, who held a decent position in his clan, had never dined at a place like this, and the two civilian ninjas, though j¨­nin, had tight finances due to saving money for ninjutsu exchanges. A place like this was beyond their reach. After everyone sat down, they felt a bit awkward. Miyuki, seated at the head of the table, raised his glass first. "I¡¯m grateful to everyone for indulging me tonight. Since we''re here, let¡¯s relax. The Uchiha clan is always generous to friends," he said with a smile. "True enough!" Inuzuka Kaze laughed and drank his glass in one go. "I consider you a friend now!" After a toast, Kakashi spoke up, "By the way, Miyuki, aren¡¯t you underage? Isn¡¯t it a bit early to be violating the ninja''s three prohibitions?" "Seems like someone who can''t let go of their little ''yellow book'' has no right to say that," Miyuki shot back. Laughter erupted around the table, and the atmosphere grew lively. Chapter 25: Do You Think the Daimyo Will Believe It? After a hearty meal, the group left the restaurant, surrounded by a crowd. "Mmm, the long night is ahead, how about we head over to Kabukicho for a few more drinks?" Uchiha Miyuki, surrounded by everyone, suggested. "Since the Clan Leader Miyuki has spoken, I guess I''ll just have to risk my life and join you!" Inuzuka Kaze, slightly tipsy, chimed in. The group, having let their guard down from the alcohol, burst into laughter. Even Hyuga Keiji and Hyuga Ken, who had been serious up until now, couldn''t help but show slightly mischievous smiles. "Clan Leader Miyuki! There are still women in our group!" It was Uzuki Yukino, who voiced her concern with a playful tone. "Oh, I didn''t think of that!" Uchiha Miyuki laughed, then pulled out a stack of bills from a sealing scroll and roughly shoved them into the arms of Moonlight Shikaze. "Shikaze, you take your little girlfriend and enjoy the town for a bit!" "That''s right, just remember to come back early," Kuroki Ryutai teased. The group''s laughter made the young couple blush, but Moonlight Shikaze accepted the money from Uchiha Miyuki, bid everyone farewell, and went off with Uzuki Yugao to stroll through the streets. As for the rest, they headed toward Kabukicho. After they had gone a distance, in the shadows of the street, the real Uchiha Miyuki slowly emerged and began walking in the opposite direction. At the Lord''s residence in Shonka Town, where the largest gambling house in the Land of Fire was located, the local lord, Yamamoto Taro, was no ordinary man. In addition to his noble title granted by the Land of Fire, Yamamoto Taro''s estate also employed hundreds of samurai, a dozen or so ninjas, and had connections with various ninja clans from Konohagakure, making his position as lord solid as a mountain. After finishing the evening''s banquet, Yamamoto Taro, with one arm around a voluptuous young woman, drunkenly stumbled into his bedroom, a lecherous grin on his face. "Tonight is going to be a fun night," Yamamoto Taro chuckled, but as he looked up and was about to turn on the lights, he noticed someone sitting on the sofa by the window. The moonlight shone through the window, reflecting off a kunai that the person was rubbing, casting a terrifying cold gleam. The woman in Yamamoto Taro''s arms instinctively tried to scream, but as she looked at the person by the window, a red light flickered in their eyes, and she immediately collapsed, powerless. Yamamoto Taro''s drunkenness quickly wore off, and he realized that anyone showing up in his bedroom at this moment, holding a weapon, certainly wasn''t here with good intentions.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Who are you? Why are you here?" Yamamoto Taro, having seen his fair share of danger, stayed calm despite the cold sweat dripping from his forehead, stepping backward cautiously. "I''d advise you not to back up any further. Otherwise, that thing behind you might explode, and that wouldn''t be good," the visitor said with a mocking tone. "I can''t say for sure if you''ll die, but you''ll definitely fly." Yamamoto Taro froze in his tracks, looking behind him, where a detonating tag was stuck to the wall, just a few centimeters from his right foot. He swallowed hard. As someone in a high position, he''d never come face to face with death so closely before. "Do you want money or...?" Yamamoto Taro stopped moving, but his hands were still in motion. He was trying to create a commotion in the room so that the guards in his estate would notice. The samurai and ninjas he had spent so much money on would quickly tear this intruder apart. The person by the window didn''t seem to notice. They smiled and watched as Yamamoto Taro moved, slowly making his way toward the door. Then, a large flowerpot near the door was knocked over, and the sound of porcelain breaking echoed throughout the room. However, the expected guards did not show up. Instead, the person by the window spoke again. "Are you waiting for the samurai and ninjas in this residence?" The person slowly stood up, walking towards Yamamoto Taro. Their footsteps were light, but to Yamamoto Taro, each one sounded like the steps of the Grim Reaper. "Two top Jonin from the Shimura clan, twelve wandering ninjas, and 271 samurai¡ªtaking care of them did waste a bit of time," the visitor said, reaching Yamamoto Taro and casually flipping the light switch. A handsome face slowly became visible, and the three tomoe in the red eyes made Yamamoto Taro freeze in shock. "The Uchiha clan?" "Not bad," Uchiha Miyuki said, lightly tapping Yamamoto Taro''s fat face with the side of his kunai. "You''re a ninja from Konohagakure, aren''t you? With such actions, isn''t this a breach of protocol?" Yamamoto Taro, now more composed after seeing the Sharingan, tried to remain calm. As a noble with a title from the Land of Fire, he knew that attacking someone from the Uchiha clan would be a death sentence. "Protocol?" Uchiha Miyuki laughed. "Let''s talk about protocol, then." "Mr. Yamamoto, over the past four years, you''ve provided over 1.8 billion ryo to the traitor Shimura Danzo and his criminal gang, attempting to help him seize control of the military forces of the Land of Fire. What do you think will happen if the Daimyo finds out about this?" Uchiha Miyuki smiled slyly, and Yamamoto Taro''s pupils widened in shock. "Your Excellency, please don''t speak carelessly. I only wanted some guards," Yamamoto Taro quickly clarified. This was the truth; he''d hired ninjas from the Shimura clan because of their strength and the ability to handle dirty work. He never intended to support Danzo''s attempts to control Konohagakure. "Just guards? Do you think the Daimyo will believe that?" Uchiha Miyuki laughed. "What exactly do you want?" Yamamoto Taro took a deep breath and asked. "I believe you''re loyal to the Daimyo, Mr. Yamamoto. But you should know that our Daimyo is a bit suspicious," Uchiha Miyuki said, twirling his kunai like a butterfly in his hand. "What do you think? Still want to talk about protocol?" "Please keep this secret for me. I''ll reward you handsomely afterward," Yamamoto Taro begged, his voice trembling as the kunai brushed dangerously close to his nose, breaking his resolve. He immediately knelt. "Do you think I''m someone you can beg?" Uchiha Miyuki frowned in displeasure. "Yes, yes, I deserve to die, but please, let me live," Yamamoto Taro cried out, his life in the hands of the man before him. He immediately bowed in respect. Uchiha Miyuki watched him for a while before speaking again: "I see that you''re running quite a profitable business in Shonka Town. How much do you make each month?" Chapter 26: Kakashi’s Request ¡°We¡¯re just running a legitimate business, not making huge profits¡ªabout seventy to eighty million a month.¡± After hearing Miyuki¡¯s words, Taro Yamamoto quickly forced a smile and responded. What greeted him in return was a kunai suddenly embedded in the gap between his legs. ¡°Considering income from lending and other sources, on good months it could be around four hundred million ryo.¡± Taro Yamamoto, now cautious, hurriedly added, hoping the next kunai wouldn''t aim for his head. ¡°You¡¯re running quite a big business, huh? Lord Yamamoto.¡± Miyuki took out a fresh kunai and gently prodded Yamamoto¡¯s triple-chinned face with its tip. ¡°The Uchiha clan has some surplus funds recently and is interested in investing in Lord Yamamoto¡¯s business. How do you feel about that?¡± ¡°It would be an honor for the Uchiha clan to invest in my business, my lord. How much are you considering to invest?¡± Taro Yamamoto quickly replied with a smile. ¡°Invest?¡± Miyuki chuckled lightly, thrusting his kunai down by Yamamoto¡¯s feet. ¡°This is the Uchiha clan''s investment. Is it enough?¡± ¡°Enough! Enough!¡± Taro Yamamoto nodded frantically. ¡°All profits will be split seventy percent to the Uchiha clan.¡± ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Yes! Yes! Yes!¡± Yamamoto nodded vigorously. ¡°Don¡¯t make that face. The Uchiha clan¡¯s power is far greater than the Shimura clan¡¯s. As bodyguards, we are absolutely worth the price.¡± Miyuki smiled, helping Yamamoto up. ¡°Yes... I understand¡­ But, my lord, what about the daimyo?¡± ¡°Lord Yamamoto, in the face of the threat posed by the traitorous ninja Danzo Shimura, you¡¯ve clearly recognized the greater good, remembered the daimyo¡¯s favor, and joined forces with the Uchiha clan to crush Danzo¡¯s conspiracy. How does that sound?¡± Miyuki smiled. ¡°Yes, yes, exactly! I knew the Shimura clan had rebelled long ago!¡± Taro Yamamoto quickly agreed. ¡°Then, sign here and press your seal.¡± Miyuki took a scroll from his seal and laid a paper before Yamamoto. Yamamoto picked it up and saw it covered with damning evidence against the Shimura clan, along with some involvement from the Mito and Torin clans. ¡°My lord... can I not sign this?¡± Yamamoto swallowed hard, knowing that if he signed this unknown piece of evidence, he would be making an enemy of these three clans forever.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°What do you think?¡± Miyuki raised an eyebrow, his face smiling benignly. ¡°Alright... I¡¯ll sign.¡± Yamamoto had no choice but to shakily sign his name and press his seal. Miyuki nodded with satisfaction and put away his kunai. Later, under Yamamoto¡¯s voluntary guidance, the two went to the storage room in the castle, where Miyuki took seventy percent of the wealth, as he had promised. Miyuki was a man of his word, so he only took the agreed amount. Still, even with that, the twenty billion ryo drained all fifteen of the sealing scrolls that Miyuki had brought. It seems heavy-handed methods are necessary for such tycoons. As he left, Miyuki couldn¡¯t help but think. When he returned to the inn, the gathering was over. Miyuki, returning to his room through the window, found someone sitting on his sofa. Kakashi was alone, flipping through his Icha Icha Paradise. Hearing Miyuki¡¯s entrance, he looked up and asked, ¡°Back already?¡± ¡°When did you realize that the one following you guys was a Shadow Clone?¡± Miyuki smiled and asked. ¡°Since we left the restaurant,¡± Kakashi lifted his Sharingan. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, this Sharingan of mine can¡¯t be turned off.¡± ¡°Alright then, Captain Kakashi, what are you planning to do about it?¡± Miyuki asked with a smile. ¡°Mark it in the mission report?¡± ¡°You know I wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± Kakashi said. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Miyuki laughed heartily. ¡°I believe you, Captain Kakashi. So, staying up this late means you have something else on your mind?¡± Kakashi took a deep breath and solemnly asked, ¡°After last time, I was thinking of trying archery, but I don¡¯t know where to start. Do you have any advice?¡± Hearing Kakashi¡¯s question, Miyuki felt relieved. Finally, Kakashi was starting to take things seriously. ¡°Archery is about having a straight body, focused mind, and calm heart. Without these, your arrows will miss their mark.¡± Miyuki said, ¡°For a beginner, it¡¯s a long journey of training.¡± After hearing Miyuki¡¯s words, Kakashi fell into silence. ¡°Before you start with archery, you should first look after your teacher¡¯s son. The kid¡¯s situation in the village isn¡¯t great.¡± Miyuki shook his head and reminded him. After the Fourth Hokage¡¯s death, why did the members of his people fade into obscurity? It was because there was no leader. Kakashi had been the most qualified to step up, but what had he done? He had wallowed in his own grief and hadn¡¯t even looked after the only remaining heir of the Fourth Hokage. How could anyone trust him enough to follow him? ¡°Naruto, huh?¡± Kakashi finally snapped back to reality. ¡°I understand. After this mission, I¡¯ll apply to withdraw from the Anbu.¡± Miyuki smiled and nodded. ¡°I won¡¯t disturb you any longer. Thank you.¡± Kakashi respectfully thanked him before standing up and leaving. After Kakashi left, Miyuki took a bath and went to sleep. The next morning, the group gathered at the city gate. After the disgruntled Torin Kin and Mito arrived, they set off again. With the bond formed last night, everyone was now relaxed and chatting happily, even the previously aloof two Hyuga ninjas dropped their facades, though Torin Kin and Mito Haku were still excluded. After enduring isolation for a while, the two couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. When Miyuki announced another dinner gathering, Torin Kin coldly said, ¡°Some people seem to have forgotten we¡¯re on a mission. Eating and drinking all the way, do you think this is a picnic?¡± His words caused the group to look at the two at the back with strange glances. ¡°Once the mission is over, I will report your behavior to the Hokage,¡± Mito Haku added. ¡°Normally, you don¡¯t have the right to write the mission report since I¡¯m the mission leader.¡± Kakashi coldly spoke before Miyuki could respond. ¡°Kakashi, you¡­¡± Torin Kin didn¡¯t expect Kakashi to so clearly stand on Miyuki¡¯s side. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to do the mission with us, you can leave now.¡± Inuzuka Kaze spoke, his dissatisfaction clear in his eyes. What was this? You guys don¡¯t want to eat, but you want to stop others from eating? Chapter 27: Respect for the Third Hokage "By the way, inviting everyone to a gathering is just the personal action of the Uchiha clan leader, it shouldn''t affect the mission, right?" Hyuga Keiji also stood by Uchiha Miyuki side at this moment. Moonlight Shikaze and Uzuki Yugao, along with the two civilian ninjas, did not speak out due to the ninja clans behind them, but their stance beside Uchiha Uchiha was a form of silent support. In just one night, they had become the protagonists of American-style bullying. And the mastermind behind all this had not said a word until now. After the turmoil, the group entered the town. Torin Kin and Mito Homura, as if in a fit of pique, went straight to the low-end inn where most mission-performing ninjas would choose without even saying hello. Uchiha Miyuka, on the other hand, took everyone to start a new round of dining. "By the way, are we really going to ignore them? What about the mission?" Kuroki Ryutai, one of the four Jonin on this mission, still had some concerns and couldn''t help but ask after finishing a cup of wine at the table. "Brother Kuroki, relax, it doesn''t matter whether they come or not for this mission." Nagai Seiichi, the oldest among the group, had a clear mind, "That''s Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin. An extra or one less of us ordinary Jonin won''t make a decisive difference. At critical moments, it''s up to the Uchiha clan leader and Captain Kakashi. We just need to do our auxiliary work well. Didn''t you see that the Inuzuka and Hyuga have no objections?" "Thanks to the generosity of Clan Leader Miyuka, we can enjoy the delicacies from all over the Land of Fire even during the mission. I propose a toast to Clan Leader Miyuka," Nagai Seiichi raised his cup and said heartily. "Brother Seiichi, you can''t say that, it''s what I should do," Uchiha Miyuka also raised his cup, "When I was just a child in the ninja school, I was bathed in the glory of the Will of Fire spread by the Third Hokage. Being able to solve problems for everyone is the best embodiment of the Will of Fire, isn''t it? If you want to thank someone, you should thank our Third Hokage, thank the Will of Fire!" "Clan Leader Miyuka is right, my thoughts were shallow," Nagai Seiichi said, "But as Clan Leader Miyuka said, a ninja like you who has such a deep understanding of the Will of Fire, in my eyes, is like the incarnation of the Third Hokage." "Eh?" Uchiha Miyuka laughed, "What you said makes some sense, actually, I am just an incarnation." "Everyone, for this mission, we have made achievements and earned merits, we must not forget the Third Hokage, not forget the Will of Fire." "Everyone, a toast to the Third Hokage! To the Will of Fire!" After Uchiha Miyuka finished speaking, he raised his cup high and drank the wine in one gulp.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. "To the Third Hokage! To the Will of Fire!" After Uchiha Miyuka words, Moonlight Shikaze and the youngest present besides him, were also somewhat excited and drank their cups dry. Others also responded one after another. After three rounds of drinks, compared to yesterday, the group, already familiar with each other, became more relaxed at the table. By this time, everyone''s faces showed a bit of drunkenness. At this moment, Nagai Seiichi suddenly sighed. "Brother Seiichi, why are you sighing?" Seeing this, Uchiha Miyuki asked. "Sorry, Clan Leader Miyuki, I was abrupt, I''ll punish myself with three cups later," Nagai Seiichi said, "I can''t help but think of my good-for-nothing son when I drink." "Brother Seiichi, where are these words coming from? You are a Jonin of the village, the backbone of the village. Your son must be exceptionally talented," Uchiha Miyuki said. "If only that were true," Nagai Seiichi sighed, "Although I became a Jonin of the village by luck, all my ninjutsu were exchanged in the village. Although the village won''t pursue if a Jonin teaches a few low-level ninjutsu to relatives or disciples, my son inherited the chakra attribute of my late wife. I want to teach him but I''m unable to. What if he graduates next year and isn''t assigned a good team leader, what should we do then?" "Let''s not talk about this anymore," Nagai Seiichi waved his hand, "I''ve disturbed everyone''s mood, I''ll punish myself with a drink." "Hey, you can''t say that, it''s only human to think about your son. Your son must be very happy to have a father like you," Uchiha Miyuki said, as information about this Nagai Seiichi surfaced in his mind. Nagai Seiichi, ninja number: 009841, number of missions performed, D-rank 472 times, C-rank 617 times, B-rank 391 times, A-rank 122 times, S-rank 4 times, was promoted to Jonin during the Third Ninja World War, specializes in water release, but due to limited talent, his strength is among the weakest in the Konoha Jonin class, and being from a civilian background, he has no room for further improvement. His end is most likely to die in a dangerous mission in the future, or to retire on his own. However, it seems that this guy is not so content. After realizing that the Uchiha clan might have a big move recently, he saw the opportunity in it and wanted to take a gamble. "Brother Seiichi, have you considered letting your son join the police force? Although the police force has recently recruited a batch of newcomers, I believe they will expand again after the new ninja school graduates next year. If your son is interested, I will ask Captain Fugaku to pay attention." Uchiha Miyuki naturally extended an olive branch. He was not afraid of his subordinates having ambitions. As long as they were loyal to him, Uchiha Miyuki, he could give far more than they imagined. "Really?" Nagai Seiichi said in surprise, "Then thank you, Clan Leader ! This cup of wine I toast to you!" After Nagai Seiichi drank a cup of wine, Inuzuka Kaze, who was beside him, laughed: "Seiichi, you have found a good path for your son. The treatment of the police force is much higher than that of ordinary ninjas. There are several kids in our clan who want to join the police force." "Is that so? But why haven''t I seen the children of the Inuzuka clan on the application list?" Uchiha Miyuki asked curiously. "The elders of the clan don''t allow it," Inuzuka Kaze said, "Our ancestors followed the Senju clan, and our relationship with your Uchiha is not good. Plus, most of your family''s summoning beasts are ninja cats, so matter was dropped." "However, our clan leader is considering promoting a batch of our newly bred police dogs to the police force. After all, in tracking down criminals, ninja dogs are always more useful than ninja cats, aren''t they?" Chapter 28: The Trail of Orochimaru
Hearing Inuzuka Kaze''s words, Miyuki also took it seriously. This was the first ninja clan to actively show goodwill towards the Uchiha. It seemed that with the former big brother, the Senju clan, being in such a state in the village, the Inuzuka clan, which served as full-time veterinarians in Konoha and found it difficult to enter the center of power in Konoha, also had some special thoughts. However, out of caution, they had not yet made a formal decision to take sides. However, the fact that Inuzuka Kaze, a Jonin, brought this up to Miyuki was a clear sign of goodwill. The Inuzuka clan was not like the Uchiha, with dozens of Jonin in the clan who could fill several rows at clan meetings. Inuzuka Kaze''s status in the Inuzuka clan was probably second only to their clan leader. "Brother Kaze, this news really solves the urgent need of our police force," Miyuki said. "The newly recruited ninjas haven''t grown strong enough yet. With the assistance of the Inuzuka clan''s ninja dogs, it would be perfect." Miyuki naturally accepted the Inuzuka clan''s goodwill. The Uchiha had not yet officially stepped into the spotlight, and the Inuzuka clan''s current attitude was already a pleasant surprise for Miyuki. The Inuzuka clan''s goodwill represented a good start. "Speaking of which, the treatment of the police force is really enviable," Uzuki Yugao suddenly said. "After learning about the police force''s treatment, I even thought about resigning from the Anbu and joining the police force." "Yugao, that''s not a good thought!" Miyuki said seriously. "Isn''t working anywhere about serving Konoha? If the Third Hokage hears this, he might think I''m forming cliques." "Oops, I was just saying," Uzuki Yugao stuck out her tongue. "I''ve worked hard to reach the rank of Special Jonin in the Anbu, and there''s no need to resign." "Alright, let''s not talk about this anymore. Come on, everyone, cheers!" Miyuki raised his cup, clinked glasses with everyone, and drank the wine in one gulp. Throughout the meal, Kakashi, who was sitting next to Miyuki, remained silent, but his eyes were always observing what was happening at the table, deep in thought. After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they returned to the inn. Early the next morning, they set off again. However, this time, there was no basic communication between the group and Torin Kin and Mito Homura. At noon that day, the group arrived at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rice Fields. Before reaching the specific area indicated by the clues, Kakashi began to fulfill his duties as the overall leader of this mission. "Inuzuka Kaze, you and Gama will search along the scent. Hyuga Keiji, Hyuga Ken, you two pay attention to the surroundings, make sure to always have one Byakugan activated. Everyone else, be prepared for battle."Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. "Understood," everyone, including Miyuki, nodded in acknowledgment. Even Torin Kin and Mito Homura, who had basically already broken ties with the group, had no objections. In Orochimaru''s experimental base within the Land of Rice Fields. Orochimaru, as if sensing something, put down the test tube in his hand. Orochimaru, who was still working for the Akatsuki, had not yet thought of establishing the Sound Village, but he had set up an experimental base here for research. This small country, located between major countries and without a ninja village, was a lawless land for powerful ninjas like them. Although Orochimaru had defected from the village, he still had some backup plans in Konoha. The recent changes in the village, especially the death of Danzo, who had once cooperated with him, and Miyuki''s recent major actions, were all clear to Orochimaru. Moreover, as soon as the team to capture Orochimaru set out from the village, the spies Orochimaru left in the village sent back the news. Not wanting to cause trouble, Orochimaru''s first thought upon learning of the pursuit team''s news was to flee. However, upon learning that the pursuit team included Miyuki, an Uchiha who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, Orochimaru also had a few thoughts of testing him. Although Orochimaru was not yet so pathologically obsessed with the Uchiha clan''s bloodline, the Mangekyo Sharingan was, after all, the eyes of the legendary strongman Uchiha Madara from the previous generation. Out of the instinct of a scientific researcher, Orochimaru naturally felt a bit of curiosity. During the pursuit team''s search of the surrounding area, the ninja dog suddenly tensed up and let out a low growl. Hyuga Keiji, who was on guard, also noticed something unusual and shouted a warning: "There''s a chakra reaction underground, and a large individual is approaching rapidly from the west. It''s a snake!" "Prepare for battle!" Kakashi shouted, assuming a combat stance. "Watch out underground!" Hyuga Keiji shouted, then pulled Hyuga Ken beside him to jump and dodge. At that moment, the ground around them shook violently, and several giant white snakes burst out of the ground, opening their crimson mouths from below. The targeted individuals leaped high at the critical moment, each using their own methods. Inuzuka Kaze immediately merged with Mokumaru, using the clan''s secret technique to transform into a giant two-headed dog, dodging the attack from the ground. Uchiha Inaho and Uchiha Saito shot kunai wrapped with wire to the surrounding trees, pulling themselves to change direction in mid-air, then formed hand seals and used the Great Fireball Technique to heavily strike the giant snakes attacking from below. Although Nagai Seiichi looked somewhat lost in the face of this attack, he also used a water clone to dodge the fatal blow at the critical moment. On the other hand, the Special Jonin in the field were slightly slower to react and fell into crisis. Fortunately, just as they were about to be swallowed by the snakes, a blue lightning flashed. Miyuki, who had entered the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, moved like a phantom and in the blink of an eye brought them to safety. However, Torin Kin and Mito Homura, who had taken the initiative to distance themselves from the group during the search due to internal conflicts, were not so lucky. The attacker had intended to first deal with the isolated individuals, the number of summoned giant snakes attacking them from underground was as many as four. In addition, because of the distance, the two needed some reaction time to respond to Hyuga Keiji warning. Under all these factors, this sudden attack directly caused heavy losses to the two. Torin Kin, who was relatively strong, managed to survive the sudden attack, but his entire right arm was bitten off. Mito Homura, who was only a Special Jonin, was directly swallowed by the snake. Before everyone could think too much, in the direction previously indicated by Hyuga Keiji, amidst the dust raised by the falling trees, the figure of a giant snake tens of meters high loomed. Chapter 29: Solo Battle Against Orochimaru The dust swirled like a malevolent fog, revealing the monstrous silhouette of Manda, his scales glinting like polihed obsidian. Atop the serpent¡¯s head stood Orochimaru, his pale face twisted into a smirk that dripped with venomous amusement. The crimson clouds of his Akatsuki cloak billowed faintly in the charged air, as if even the wind recoiled from his presence. ¡°Konoha¡¯s loyal hounds¡­ how nostalgic,¡± Orochimaru drawled, his voice a serpent¡¯s hiss. ¡°Tell me¡ªdoes the Third still cling to his throne, or has senility finally claimed him?¡± Manda¡¯s massive body coiled tighter, his forked tongue flicking out to taste the fear in the air. The Konoha squad stood frozen, their breaths shallow. Even hardened j¨­nin like Nagai Seiichi and Inuzuka Kaze felt their resolve waver under the primal dread radiating from the summon. The younger shinobi¡ªthe civilian-born recruits¡ªclutched their weapons white-knuckled, their courage fraying like old rope ¡°Orochimaru¡­ you promised worthy sacrifices,¡± Manda rumbled, his voice shaking the earth. ¡°These insects are barely fit to be my appetizer.¡± Uchiha Miyuki stepped forward, his Sharingan blazing. The three tomoe in his crimson eyes spun faster, mirroring the storm gathering in him veins. ¡°Inaho! Saito! Fall back with the others¡ªnow.¡± His voice crackled with authority, sharp as a lightning strike. ¡°Kakashi¡­ keep them alive.¡± Kakashi¡¯s lone Sharingan gleamed as he tugged his mask down. ¡°You¡¯re not planning to die here, are you?¡± His tone was dry, but his grip tightened on a kunai. Miyuki¡¯s lips curled into a feral grin. ¡°Die? Hardly.¡± His hands blurred through seals¡ªRat ¡ú Ox ¡ú Rabbit ¡ú Tiger¡ªas chakra surged around him like a gathiming typhoon. ¡°You know why I earned the name "Stormbringer"the in the Third War? Because I hate holding back.¡± ¡°Lightning Release: Azure Dragon!¡± The world erupted. A maelstrom of blue-white lightning exploded from Miyuki¡¯s body, scorching the air into ozone. Kakashi barely yanked Hyuga Keiji and Inuzuka Kaze back before the ground which they¡¯d stood vaporized. Trees within fifty meters ignited like matchsticks, their ashes whipped into spirals by the chakra storm. At its heart, Miyuki stood untouched, his raven hair lashing wildly as arcs of lightning danced across his skin. ¡°Impossible¡­¡± Nagai Seiichi choked out, shielding his face from the searing light. This man drank sake with us last night. Laughed. Told jokes. And now¡ªthis? The younger shinobi stared, equal parts awe and terror etching their faces. Hyuga keija muttered a prayer to long-forgotten gods, while his mind raced. His chakra¡­ it¡¯s like a dam breaking. How is this human? Miyuki raised a hand, and the storm obeyed. ¡°RAAAAAAGH!¡± The lightning coalesced into a serpentine dragon, its maw wide enough to swallow Manda whole. The ground split as it surged forward, annihilating everything in its path. Ancient pines exploded into splinters, rocks melted into glass, and the very air screamed as it burned. Manda recoiled, his pride crumbling under primal fear. ¡°Orochimaru! You fool¡ªwhat have you unleahed?!¡± The Sannin¡¯s golden eyes narrowed. So this is the power of Uchiha Miyuki¡­ Even in his prime, only Sarutobi-sensei had wielded such raw, elemental fury. And he hadn¡¯t even tapped into his Mangeky¨­.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°Release!¡± Orochimaru hissed, dispelling Manda in a puff of smoke. His hands flew through seals, blood dripping from his bitten thumb. ¡°Summoning Jutsu: Triple Rashomon!¡± BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Three colossal gates erupted from the earth, their demonic visages snarling at the heavens. The lightning dragon struck the first with a cataclysmic roar, shattering it instantly. The second gate groaned, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface, but the third held¡ªbarely. The backlash was apocalyptic. A shockwave tore across the battlefield, flattening forests and hurling boulders like pebbles. Kakashi¡¯s squad dove for cover, but Torin Kin¡ªmaimed and abandoned¡ªwas flung like a broken doll. He crahed into a rock face, bones snapping, before slumping into unconsciousness. ¡°Status report!¡± Kakashi barked, hauling a dazed Hyuga keiji upright. ¡°Alive¡­ barely,¡± Inuzuka Kaze coughed, his ninja hound whining beside him. Hyuga Keijis Byakugan pulsed as he scanned the devastation. ¡°Miyuki¡¯s moving¡ªhe¡¯s closing in on Orochimaru!¡± The dust hadn¡¯t settled before Miyuki struck. ¡°Too slow, snake,¡± he taunted, his blade Raikiri humming with lethal chakra. Orochimaru barely parried with Kusanagi, the swords clashing in a shower of sparks. Their duel was a blur¡ªMiyuki¡¯s lightning-enhanced speed against Orochimaru¡¯s grotesque flexibility. The Sannin¡¯s body contorted inhumanly, his spine bending like rubber to evade decapitation. ¡°Remarkable,¡± Orochimaru hissed, his tongue slithiming across cracked lips. ¡°Your Sharingan predicts my every move¡­ yet you still can¡¯t land a killing blow.¡± Miyuki¡¯s grin was all teeth. ¡°Where''s the fun in ending this quickly?¡± He feinted left, then spun into a vicious upward slash. Orochimaru blocked, but the force sent him skidding back, his toes carving trenches in the earth. ¡°Tell me, Miyuki Uchiha¡­¡± Orochimaru¡¯s voice dripped mock sweetness. ¡°Does your precious village know what you are?" Lightning crackled louder around him. ¡°Says the lab rat who licks Danzo¡¯s boots for scraps of power.¡± Orochimaru¡¯s smile froze. ¡°Enough games.¡± Miyuki¡¯s Sharingan flared. ¡°Show me why you were called a Sannin¡­ .¡± The Sannin¡¯s laughter was a dry rattle. ¡°You want my true power, little Uchiha? Then see it!¡± His jaw unhinged grotesquely, and a second Orochimaru slithimed out, dripping with mucus. The clone lunged, Kusanagi aimed for Miyuki¡¯s heart¡ªbut his blade intercepted it effortlessly. ¡°Pathetic,¡± he sneered, driving a knee into his gut. The clone crumpled, dissolving into mud. A substitution? The real Orochimaru erupted from the ground behind him, Kusanagi gleaming. Miyuki spun, Raikiri meeting the cursed blade in a deafening clang. ¡°You¡¯re slipping, snake,¡± he mocked, his Sharingan dissecting his every micro-twitch. ¡°That trick worked on Jiraiya¡­ but I¡¯m not a sentimental fool.¡± Orochimaru¡¯s eyes narrowed. He knows about Mt. Myoboku? How? Miyuki pressed his advantage, his strikes a lightning-fast barrage. Orochimaru parried, but his arms trembled under the force. His strength¡­ it¡¯s not just speed. The Lightning Release enhances him physical power exponentially. ¡°You¡¯re sweating, Orochimaru,¡± Miyuki jeered, him blade grazing his cheek. ¡°Afraid your immortality won¡¯t save you today?¡± Miyuki¡¯s taunted as he''s free hand flahed through seals. ¡°Lightning Release: Thunderclap Arrow!¡± A bolt of concentrated lightning shot from him fingertips, too close to dodge. Orochimaru¡¯s left shoulder vaporized, the stench of burnt flesh fouling the air. ¡°Gah!¡± He staggered, his regeneration already knitting muscle and bone. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for that, brat!¡± ¡°Promises, promises,¡± Miyuki mocked. On the sidelines, Kakashi¡¯s team watched the duel in stunned silence. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ toying with him,¡± Hyuga Keiji whispered, his Byakugan tracking every movement. ¡°Orochimaru¡¯s healing, but Miyuki¡¯s chakra shows no depletion. It¡¯s like he¡¯s a tail beast.¡± Inuzuka Kaze grimaced. ¡°And people call us beasts.¡± ¡°Focus!¡± Kakashi snapped, though his own mind reeled. Him reserves¡­ they rival a tailed beast. How? Orochimaru¡¯s breathing grew ragged, his regenerated shoulder still twitching. Miyuki circled him like a predator, Raikiri¡¯s edge singing a deadly lullaby. "Impressive," Orochimaru hissed, tongue slithering. "The Uchiha¡¯s power¡­ truly terrifying." Miyuki laughed, lightning crackling. "You¡¯re not so bad yourself, Sannin." "Rumor says you awakened the Mangeky¨­¡­ like Madara." Orochimaru¡¯s golden eyes gleamed. "Show me." "Earn it," Miyuki taunted, his aura exploding. Lightning cloaked him again as he lunged. Orochimaru grinned. Yes¡­ fight me. Let me see that cursed power. Chapter 30: Kotoamatsukami The air crackled with tension as Miyuki and Orochimaru faced each other, their hands flashing through a rapid series of seals. ¡°Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!¡± The ground beneath Miyuki liquefied into a churning bog, thick with venomous snakes that surged toward him like a living tide. Orochimaru¡¯s lips curled into a smirk as he hissed, ¡°Ten Thousand Snakes of the Abyss.¡± Miyuki¡¯s expression remained unshaken. Completing his final seal, he roared, ¡°Lightning Release: Wrathful Deity!¡± A tempest of lightning erupted around him, coalescing into a towering, 50-meter-tall lightning avatar resembling the wrathful Buddhist guardian Fud¨­ My¨­¨­. The deity¡¯s electrified vajra weapon hummed with condensed chakra, its sheer energy distorting the air. ¡°Fall back!¡± Kakashi barked, dragging his team farther away. This feels like the Nine-Tails¡¯ Bij¨±dama all over again¡­ Miyuki¡¯s hand clenched into a fist. The avatar hurled its vajra at Orochimaru, unleashing a cataclysmic explosion. The blast vaporized everything within hundreds of meters, leaving only smoldering craters and the charred remains of Orochimaru¡¯s summoned serpents. As the dust settled, Miyuki approached the scorched battlefield. A mangled snake corpse twitched, its jaws splitting open as Orochimaru slithered out, dripping with mucus. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Magnificent¡­ Uchiha Miyuki,¡± Orochimaru rasped, licking his lips. ¡°But even your chakra reserves must be drained after that display.¡± ¡°Try me,¡± Miyuki retorted, though his stomach churned at the Sannin¡¯s grotesque rebirth. This is why I hate fighting roaches. Orochimaru¡¯s neck elongated suddenly, his head snapping toward Miyuki like a striking cobra. ¡°Your body¡­ will be mine!¡± A piercing eagle cry split the sky. Instinctive dread froze Orochimaru mid-lunge. He looked up¡ªand met the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan of a golden eagle diving from the sun. ¡°Kotoamatsukami,¡± Miyuki whispered. The ultimate genjutsu etched itself into Orochimaru¡¯s soul, binding his loyalty to Miyuki for eternity. ¡°Master,¡± Orochimaru breathed, his eyes clearing. Miyuki¡¯s blade flashed. The Sannin¡¯s head tumbled to the ground. Kakashi¡¯s team arrived moments later. ¡°Is it¡­ over?¡± Hy¨±ga Keiji asked, staring at the decapitated body. ¡°Not quite,¡± Kakashi muttered as the corpse disintegrated into ash. ¡°He escaped.¡± Miyuki sheathed his sword, feigning frustration. ¡°Damn it. That snake always slips away.¡± ¡°To survive this long, he needs more than luck,¡± Kakashi said grimly. ¡°Inuzuka, track his scent.¡± Twenty miles away, in a hidden lab, a new Orochimaru emerged from a cultivation tank. ¡°How¡­ curious,¡± he murmured, examining his reborn hands. ¡°That genjutsu¡­ it rewrote my very will. Fascinating.¡± Two hours later, the Konoha team stormed the abandoned lab. The stench of formaldehyde and decay hit them like a physical blow. ¡°By the Hokage¡¯s beard¡­¡± Inuzuka Kaze gagged, covering his nose. Mutilated corpses floated in tanks¡ªchildren with stolen kekkei genkai. Saito retched into a corner, while Hyuga Keiji stumbled upon a scattered file. ¡°Root¡¯s experiments¡­¡± he whispered, trembling. ¡°They took my cousin¡ªa four-year-old!¡± Miyuki gripped his shoulder. ¡°Not here. Not now.¡± The documents implicated Danz¨­¡¯s Root, with traces of the Torin and Mito clans¡¯ involvement. Political dynamite, Miyuki realized. But exposing this recklessly could fracture the village. Chapter 31: Mission Accomplished On the other side, Kakashi also noticed similar evidence and immediately barked, ¡°Everyone, stop right now!¡± But his warning came a little too late. Most of the team had already seen these incriminating documents, and once they reconvened, their eyes flickered with uncertainty and dread. Even Kakashi fell silent, his normally sharp gaze clouded with concern. After a long pause, Uchiha Miyuki finally broke the silence. ¡°Let¡¯s all act as if we saw nothing,¡± he commanded in a low, steady tone. ¡°Clan Leader! But in here there are¡­¡± Uchiha Inaho stuttered urgently. He had just discovered a section of the records that detailed how Orochimaru and Danzo had colluded during the Third Shinobi World War to hunt down members of the Uchiha clan and harvest their Sharingan. ¡°Shut up!¡± Miyuki roared, his eyes flashing dangerously. ¡°Getting tangled up in this will bring nothing but trouble for you!¡± After that sharp rebuke, Miyuki looked around at the assembled team with steely determination. ¡°These documents were uncovered by Captain Kakashi and me. We will report them privately to the Third Hokage. You all must pretend you saw nothing¡ªunderstood?¡± ¡°Understood, understood,¡± replied the others simultaneously. If they were implicated in something of this magnitude, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if they met an untimely and mysterious end by the next day. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen anything,¡± added Hy¨±ga Keiji, his voice barely above a whisper. As a member of a branch family, he knew that being involved in matters like these could easily provoke the ire of the main family, who would dispose of him without hesitation. In a more direct manner, Inuzuka Kaze stepped forward and shoved the collected evidence into Miyuki¡¯s hands. In situations like these, even the Inuzuka clan could suffer significant losses if they were drawn into such dangerous affairs. Kakashi let out a heavy sigh. Judging by the situation, it was clear that the best course of action was to handle this matter exactly as Miyuki had instructed. ¡°Alright, Kakashi,¡± Miyuki continued, ¡°let¡¯s draft the mission report as follows: After tracking Orochimaru¡¯s trail, we engaged him in an ambush. Under the devastating area-of-effect ninjutsu he unleashed, every member except for the two of us sustained injuries¡­ Oh, and there were two others.¡± Inuzuka Kaze interjected, ¡°Mito was killed from the very start. And as for that guy from the Torin clan, he probably succumbed to the lingering effects of your and Orochimaru¡¯s ninjutsu.¡± ¡°That¡¯s truly unfortunate,¡± Miyuki remarked briefly about the fallen comrades, before resuming, ¡°Then, the two of us¡ªbeing the only ones with the combat prowess to stand toe-to-toe¡ªpursued Orochimaru all the way here. But he managed to escape using his escape technique. It was here that we discovered these records.¡± As the only woman she couldn¡¯t help but express her dismay. ¡°This isn¡¯t fair,¡± she said, her tone laced with frustration. ¡°Aren¡¯t we coming off looking like we didn¡¯t contribute at all? It seems we¡¯re just taking credit for everything that belongs to Clan Leader Miyuki!¡± Miyuki¡¯s gaze remained unyielding as he replied, ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. I don¡¯t need credit for every little achievement, but none of you can afford to shoulder such an enormous burden of trouble.¡± ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll write the report as you¡¯ve said,¡± Kakashi agreed, nodding in a measured tone. ¡°But you all must be extremely careful not to let anything slip.¡± Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. They wondered what sort of man they had encountered on this mission¡ªa man who not only shared the glory but was also willing to bear the heaviest burden himself. From that moment on, the unspoken pact was clear: if anyone dared speak ill of the Uchiha, they all would be ready to fight for his honor at any cost. At the same time, Inuzuka Kaze studied Miyuki intently, a peculiar gleam of admiration in his eyes. ¡°Alright, enough of the serious talk,¡± Miyuki said, softening his tone. ¡°You all head out and see to it that the human experimentation materials are properly disposed of. Captain Kakashi and I will handle this facility.¡± He paused, adding with a rare note of levity, ¡°Once we¡¯ve finished cleaning up here, we¡¯ll prepare to head back to the village. And to celebrate our successful mission, tonight the food and sake are on me!¡± Relief washed over the group as they finally set off together toward the outer perimeter of the laboratory. Meanwhile, Kakashi and Miyuki remained behind to secure and collect all the evidence from Orochimaru¡¯s base. After they had gathered nearly every piece of incriminating material, Kakashi couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°So, what do you plan to do with all of this?¡± Miyuki didn¡¯t even look up from his task as he replied, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m going to report everything to the Third Hokage. With the Will of Fire as our guiding light and under his wise leadership, we¡¯ll completely eradicate the corruption plaguing the village.¡± Kakashi¡¯s face darkened. ¡°So far, I haven¡¯t been allowed to hear a single honest word,¡± he muttered bitterly. ¡°Want to hear the truth?¡± Miyuki¡¯s lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile. ¡°Then you must choose.¡± Kakashi¡¯s tone turned somber as he confessed, ¡°I only want to know the truth about my father¡¯s matter.¡± Miyuki nodded slowly, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Then, in a low voice, Miyuki continued, ¡°The truth is, with these records, we will methodically destroy the Shimura, the Torin and the Mito clans¡ªplay them to death¡ªand then, we will take their place.¡± At these words, Kakashi¡¯s pupils constricted as the full weight of Miyuki¡¯s intentions became clear. He realized that Miyuki hadn¡¯t yet told him the complete truth. Besides these three families, there was still another clan that had flourished during the era of the Third Hokage¡ªone that had grown in tandem with the others. If Miyuki planned to eliminate these three, what would become of the last remaining Sarutobi clan? Noticing the troubled expression on Kakashi¡¯s face, Miyuki grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. ¡°Kakashi, if you want to master archery, you¡¯ve still got a long way to go,¡± he said lightheartedly. Without waiting for further discussion, Miyuki gathered up the evidence from Orochimaru¡¯s base and stepped outside to rejoin the others. Once everything was settled, and under the combined force of Uchiha Inaho and Uchiha Saito two powerful Fire Dragon techniques, Orochimaru¡¯s hideout was engulfed in raging flames that reduced the entire base to ash. When the fires finally subsided, the team began their journey home. Along the way, silence reigned as each member reflected on the events of the night. It wasn¡¯t until they arrived back in town in the deep hours that Miyuki led them to the same eatery where they had previously gathered for food and sake. There, he ordered an extravagant feast, and after several rounds of drinks, the group slowly began to relax and laugh together once again. Taking advantage of his slight drunken state, Kuroki Ryutai raised his cup and declared, ¡°Everyone, I say we must toast to Clan Leader Miyuki! It¡¯s thanks to him that our mission was a success and that we made it back in one piece.¡± ¡°Absolutely, absolutely!¡± Nagai Seiichi echoed, lifting his own cup. ¡°There have always been whispers in the village about the Uchiha being cold and ruthless, but tonight, we witnessed the true spirit and magnanimity of the Uchiha¡ªespecially Clan Leader Miyuki!¡± Nagai Seiichi then flashed a big thumbs-up in admiration. ¡°Enough said! Let¡¯s toast to Clan Leader Miyuki!¡± Hy¨±ga Keiji joined in, raising his cup high. Miyuki smiled as he waved his hand dismissively, ¡°I¡¯ve already said it¡ªthis mission was only successful thanks to our combined efforts.¡± With that, he lifted his cup and joined everyone in downing the sake in one unified gulp. After finishing his drink, Kakashi added, ¡°Miyuki¡¯s right. This mission was a true team effort. When we return to the village, I¡¯ll make sure to report our achievements to the Hokage.¡± At that moment, Miyuki¡¯s heart swelled with quiet satisfaction. Though Kakashi still appeared a bit awkward in his newfound role, it was clear that he was finally starting to understand what it meant to be a true shinobi. Advance chapter in Patreon. Also, no more mass release. Thank you for the support! Chapter 32: Future Arrangements After the meal, everyone returned to the inn to rest. The events of the day had left them both physically and mentally drained, and hardly had they laid down when they were fast asleep. Uchiha Miyuki, however, remained awake. Seated by the window at a small table in his room, he leisurely sipped a pot of freshly brewed green tea, his mind already racing ahead. Later that night, under the pale glow of moonlight, a white serpent silently slithered along the sill and crept into Miyuki¡¯s room. Moments later, with a sudden flash and a burst of smoke, the serpent transformed into human form¡ªit was none other than Orochimaru. ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting, Lord Miyuki,¡± Orochimaru said, his voice low and serpentine as he bowed slightly. ¡°Please, have a seat,¡± Miyuki replied, gesturing toward the chair opposite him. He poured a cup of tea for his unexpected visitor before settling back into his calm composure. ¡°You did well,¡± Miyuki complimented coolly. ¡°To produce so many convincing forged pieces of evidence in such a short time¡ªit¡¯s impressive work.¡± Orochimaru lowered his head respectfully. ¡°It is an honor to be of service to you.¡± As Miyuki regarded the obedient Orochimaru before him, he couldn¡¯t help but reflect on the terrifying power awakened within his own Mangeky¨­ Sharingan¡ªa power so fearsome that its true horror was not merely in bending one¡¯s will, but in stamping an indelible ideological seal deep within the target¡¯s subconscious. With that seal in place, everything would appear perfectly natural, as if it were meant to be. This, he mused, was the reason why his left eye¡¯s Kotoamatsukami comes with a cooldown of ten years, while the brief, brute-force control of the right eye seemed almost expendable in comparison. Of course, Miyuki wasn¡¯t taking anything for granted. In the original timeline, even more terrifying divine techniques were often detected in minute details by high-IQ shinobi like Shikamaru. It was only a matter of time before Orochimaru realized he¡¯d been caught in the snare. After all, one might question Orochimaru¡¯s morals¡ªor even his strength¡ªbut never his intellect. Miyuki had never intended to enslave Orochimaru for the long term using his dojutsu. His deployment of Kotoamatsukami was solely designed to secure a researcher¡ªsomeone who would be utterly loyal to him for a given period¡ªwithout the hassle of constantly monitoring his actions. In the coming days, Miyuki¡¯s own power growth would largely depend on Orochimaru¡¯s technical prowess and vast network of contacts. Miyuki had carefully evaluated his current level. Excluding the power of his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, his prowess with Susanoo, his innate Lightning Release, and kenjutsu placed him in the upper-middle tier among Kage-level fighters. The right eye¡¯s dojutsu provided exceptional counters against illusion-dependent adversaries, while the left eye¡¯s ability¡ªthe ¡°Eighty Calamities of the Sun God¡±¡ªallowed him to contend with foes even when heavily outnumbered by shinobi of similar rank. However, using these techniques came at a steep price; any protracted battle would likely leave him blind. To achieve his ambitions, Miyuki knew that Jiraiya was an unavoidable obstacle. Entering Sage Mode¡ªand having the support of the two Toad Sages¡ªmeant that Jiraiya¡¯s power far surpassed his own at this moment. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. More crucially, all of Miyuki¡¯s blood relatives had perished long ago. Without a second set of eyes to evolve his Mangeky¨­ into the Eternal Mangeky¨­, the natural path for power progression within the Uchiha clan had come to an end for him. The ninja world was an extraordinary realm, but his current strength would never be enough to both stage a coup and weather the ensuing fallout. Now, faced with the desire to grow stronger, Miyuki saw only two viable paths: one, to try transplanting cells from Hashirama Senju; or two, to train relentlessly in Sage Mode. In both cases, Orochimaru was the optimal choice to facilitate these plans. This was precisely why Miyuki had accepted the mission¡ªand why, in his battle against Orochimaru, he expended chakra without restraint, unleashing wide-ranging ninjutsu to clear the field. As for the inevitable depletion of his Kotoamatsukami? In Miyuki¡¯s coup plan, that technique was intended solely as a deterrent. As long as no one witnessed him employing it, it might as well have never been used. Miyuki glanced at Orochimaru and broke the silence. ¡°Have you brought the Summoning Contract from Ry¨±chi Cave?¡± Orochimaru nodded. After forming a quick hand seal, a small snake materialized on the table. The snake unhinged its jaw and spat out a bundle of scrolls. Orochimaru carefully picked up the slime-slicked scroll, wiping it clean before offering it with both hands. Miyuki unrolled the document, signed his name, and then instructed, ¡°Send my regards to Ry¨±chi Cave. I will be paying a visit in a few days.¡± ¡°Understood, Lord Miyuki. Is there anything else you require?¡± Orochimaru asked, his eyes glinting with cunning. ¡°Indeed. Cultivate a sample of Hashirama¡¯s cells for me, and keep a close watch on the Akatsuki¡¯s movements. Should they stir even slightly, report back to me immediately.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Orochimaru replied. With that, he dissipated into a cloud of white mist, vanishing before Miyuki¡¯s eyes. ¡­ The next day, pressed by the urgency to return and report to the village, the team no longer traveled leisurely. Channeling every bit of their chakra, they pushed themselves to cover what would normally be a two-day journey in just one. By dusk, they had returned to the village. Together, they proceeded to the Hokage¡¯s office and submitted their mission report. ¡°Did Orochimaru manage to escape?¡± queried Sarutobi Hiruzen, his expression a complicated mix of relief and regret as he scanned Kakashi¡¯s report. ¡°Never mind that,¡± Hiruzen murmured, shaking his head and looking at the assembled team. ¡°Regardless, thank you all for your hard work.¡± ¡°Lord Hokage,¡± Miyuki began, ¡°Captain Kakashi and I uncovered some highly classified information during the mission. May we have a moment to present our findings separately?¡± Hiruzen regarded the two with mild curiosity. Assuming they had traced further clues about Orochimaru¡¯s whereabouts, he turned his gaze to the others. Sensing the need for discretion, the rest of the team quietly exited the office. Once only the three of them remained, Miyuki and Kakashi exchanged a brief, knowing glance before handing over the collected documents to Hiruzen. Hiruzen¡¯s face darkened as he skimmed the papers; one by one, he devoured the incriminating evidence with startling speed. When he finished, he remained silent for a long moment. Finally, he produced his pipe, stuffed it with tobacco, and lit it. The Hokage¡¯s office was filled with curling blue smoke, punctuating the heavy silence. After finishing an entire pouch of tobacco, Hiruzen finally looked up at Miyuki and Kakashi. ¡°How do you propose we handle this matter? I¡¯d like to hear your opinions.¡± At the question, Kakashi bowed his head in deference while Miyuki stepped forward, his eyes burning with resolve. ¡°My opinion is simple,¡± Miyuki declared firmly. ¡°Lord Hokage, issue the order immediately: let the Security Division and the Anbu join forces to apprehend all 93 individuals implicated across the three clans as swiftly as possible. Under the radiance of the Will of Fire, there is no place in Konoha for those who recklessly take the lives of their comrades! We must eradicate this cancer with the utmost severity!¡± Hiruzen listened as Miyuki¡¯s words sank in, then replenished his pipe with another handful of tobacco. Just then, a commotion erupted outside the Hokage¡¯s office¡ªshouts and clamor suggesting that chaos was unfolding in the corridor.