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In the forest.
In the shadows, Shisui slowly emerged. Uchiha Yoru, standing on a towering tree, calmly watched Anko Mitarashi, who was training tirelessly in the distance.
"Big Brother Yoru, this is the preliminary investigation result."
At this moment, Shisui's mood was clearly low, even forcing a smile.
Taking the intelligence scroll Shisui handed over, Uchiha Yoru almost couldn't hold back his shock, staring wide-eyed at Shisui's report.
"Shisui! Is this...?"
Uchiha Yoru couldn't believe it; the village's behavior was truly excessive.
Shisui, clearly feeling defeated, forced a weak smile. "Big Brother Yoru, the preliminary investigation shows that the Seventh Police Squad has twenty-three spies from ANBU, Root, the Intelligence Department, and other clans."
What Shisui said was still a euphemism; these were clearly spies watching over them.
What was this about? Did they not trust the Uchiha? Or did they not trust Orochimaru?
Seeing Shisui's forced smile, Uchiha Yoru felt this might be a good opportunity. He feigned a determined look, staring earnestly into Shisui's eyes.
"Shisui, this is just the village wanting to know what we're doing. Don't take it to heart. You have to trust the Hokage!"
At this moment, Uchiha Yoru seemed to be a person enduring great pain, comforting Shisui. Shisui felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.
Big Brother Yoru, you've done so much for the clan and the village, and yet the village doesn't trust us, doesn't trust Lord Orochimaru.
Shisui felt a deep sorrow for his Big Brother Yoru and Lord Orochimaru, being doubted by the village was the most heartbreaking.
However, Uchiha Yoru maintained a solemn expression. "Shisui, let's stop this investigation. Just remember, Teacher Orochimaru will change everything that is corrupt."
Corrupt!
Hearing these words, Shisui's heart trembled slightly, but he had to admit that perhaps the village was indeed corrupt, treating Lord Orochimaru this way.
"Big Brother Yoru, rest assured, we will stand by until Lord Orochimaru wears the Hokage hat."
At this moment, Shisui had placed all his hopes on Orochimaru, hoping the new Hokage would cleanse the corruption of the old era.
Uchiha Yoru smiled, a smile of hope for the village's future in Shisui's eyes, though Shisui was unaware of his Big Brother's true intentions.
It seemed Shisui had now placed all his hopes on Orochimaru, and his plan was already half successful.
With a flash of lightning in his hand, the intelligence scroll Shisui had worked hard to gather turned to ashes in his eyes. After doing this, Uchiha Yoru patted his shoulder, comforting him. "Shisui, focus on your duties in the police force. The rest is up to Teacher Orochimaru. Once he becomes the Fifth Hokage, everything will be fine."
At this moment, Uchiha Yoru seemed like a fearless warrior bearing countless pressures, making Shisui want to say something to comfort him but not knowing what to say.
Shisui, throughout his life in the original story, was a powerful fighter but one who preferred to place his hopes on others, a typical escapist personality.
At first, he placed his hopes on the Third Hokage's lineage, and when that hope was shattered, he placed it on Uchiha Itachi, ultimately choosing suicide, a form of escape.
At this moment, a commotion came from the distance. Shisui quickly composed himself and nodded respectfully. "Big Brother Yoru, I'll go down now."
"Go ahead."
Watching Shisui's retreating back, Uchiha Yoru narrowed his eyes. The village's behavior was truly despicable. Root, ANBU, and even the Intelligence Department dared to meddle, turning the Seventh Police Squad into a sieve.
It was almost a den of spies. Force alone couldn't solve this; at most, it could deal with the surface issues, while the hidden ones would only burrow deeper.
"Spies, huh?" Uchiha Yoru sneered. He would show them what it meant to use their own tactics against them.
Swoosh, swoosh~
The sound of people moving through the forest, accompanied by rustling leaves, brought Kurenai Yuhi to his side. They calmly looked at each other.
Her long black hair was slightly curled, and her red eyes calmly met his. At this moment, Kurenai Yuhi lacked the gentleness she showed at class reunions, instead exuding an intellectual beauty, especially her red, garnet-like eyes, which conveyed a sense of stability.
"Red, it's been a while."
Uchiha Yoru smiled, gesturing, and Kurenai Yuhi calmly nodded.
"Yoru, you should know you're being watched."
Faced with Kurenai Yuhi's warning, Uchiha Yoru smiled and shook his head. "By the Third Hokage? Or ANBU?"
Faced with his counter-question, Kurenai Yuhi revealed a rarely seen side of herself, her expression cold and her red eyes calm as she stared at Uchiha Yoru. They stood side by side, calmly looking at the distant training ground.
"Yoru, in the Ninja Academy, your eyes always showed greed. I once thought you were after wealth, but now I realize I underestimated you. The Uchiha clan has pushed you to the forefront, but you have also been placed in the crosshairs."
As Kurenai Yuhi spoke calmly, Uchiha Yoru smiled. How many ninjas were truly foolish? Women, in particular, matured faster psychologically than men.
"Don't worry, Red. Your concerns won't come to pass. Once Teacher Orochimaru becomes the Fifth Hokage, I will be his direct disciple, and I will resolve the Uchiha clan's crisis."
Uchiha Yoru smiled confidently, and Kurenai Yuhi sighed softly. Though she didn't understand politics, she knew it was never simple.
"I hope so."
At this moment, Kurenai Yuhi silently prayed for everything to go smoothly. Turning to look at her delicate face, he smiled, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes.
Sorry, I'm not trying to deceive you; I just don't want you to worry so much.
"But Red, since you're here on a mission," Uchiha Yoru tried to change the subject, making a characteristic gesture that made Kurenai Yuhi, who thought he was going to hold her hand, stiffen.
Kurenai Yuhi glared at him. "You're still joking. The Hokage is secretly investigating the Nine-Tails incident."
"Hmph, don't mention the Hokage. Our Uchiha clan is also investigating with all our might." At this moment, Uchiha Yoru feigned determination. He knew the culprit behind the Nine-Tails incident, but it was a messy situation.
Perhaps because of Orochimaru, no one could have predicted the future. Considering the current state of the village and Orochimaru's position, Kurenai Yuhi gradually relaxed, sighing wistfully. "Yoru, I hope the village can remain peaceful forever."
"That day will come."
Uchiha Yoru smiled, but inside, he sneered. What a Third Hokage, his tactics were one after another, leaving no room for breath.
First, he secretly arranged for spies like Gekkou Hayate and Yūhi Kurenai, then Kakashi and Maito Gai, and now Kurenai Yuhi. He had used countless methods, both overt and covert.
Or perhaps, Kurenai Yuhi was a pawn, a cover for Kakashi, and even Maito Gai was a cover for Kakashi. All of this was part of the Third Hokage's grand plan.
If not for knowing that Kakashi left ANBU just before the story began, anyone else would have been driven to doubt their own existence by these tactics.
In the original story, Kakashi spent so long in ANBU. The Third Hokage didn't know about the mental trauma? How could he not, yet he still used him for so long.
Now, because of Asuma, Maito Gai, and other classmates pleading on his behalf, the Third Hokage agreed, achieving two goals at once.
One, his son was pleading for you, and two, he was showing his concern.
Then, when Kakashi and Maito Gai joined the police force, it raised suspicions. Now, with Kurenai Yuhi openly joining, it was a classic case of misdirection. Her appearance disrupted thoughts, covering the real spy, Kakashi.
This way, people would have a moment of realization, thinking they had misunderstood Kakashi, that he was really dragged by Maito Gai to find an easy job for rest and recuperation.
With each layer of the plan, Kurenai Yuhi, Maito Gai, Kakashi, and the ANBU spies were all unaware of each other. The exposure of any one of them would create a false sense of security.
The Third Hokage's tactics were truly ruthless, living up to his reputation as the longest-serving Hokage.
I hope everyone can discuss the approximate number of Jounin in the five major ninja villages with Jinli. Since this will definitely come up later, feel free to share your opinions.
A separate chapter has been opened in the work-related section for this discussion. Feel free to leave your thoughts.
(End of Chapter)