Chapter 23 – Yakushi Nonō: Yujiro, Have You Forgotten Your Vow to Kill Danzō?
And so, after securing leverage over the bespectacled beauty, Uchiha Yujiro slipped into what could only be described as a blissful life.
Every time he returned from a mission, exhausted, he'd stop by the orphanage to make a donation. In return, Nonō would "reward" him with her full suite of services—whether he asked for a school uniform, a nurse's outfit, or a business suit, she delivered without fail. Life was good.
Of course, there was one persistent nuisance.
Every time they went out together, Nonō would inevitably ask the same question:
"Uchiha Yujiro, have you forgotten your great vow to kill Shimura Danzō?"
It always made the date feel less like a romantic outing and more like attending court at dawn.
Up until now, Yujiro could only dodge with vague assurances like, "Soon, soon."
But this time, at least, he could finally say with confidence:
"Really—soon."
He didn't bother explaining the details. He didn't need to. Yakushi Nonō was far too intelligent for that.
Just by watching his expression, she could tell whether he was bluffing to get some free affection, or whether he truly had the confidence to back up his words.
This time, she knew. He meant it.
Her lips curled into a dangerously sweet smile, her tone melting into a playful whine as she threw herself against his chest.
"I knew it. You really are the best, Yujiro-kun. You're my hero."
But the way she smiled—sharp, predatory, like a huntress closing in on her prey—made Yujiro feel for a moment that he wasn't the one "taming" her at all.
It was the other way around.
The realization left him slightly uneasy. In fact, for a moment he thought she might even be scarier than Uchiha Obito.
Still—if he was to be her so-called hero, then retreat was not an option.
I'm the man who's going to become Hokage! How could I back down now?
Whether it was a school uniform, black stockings, or a cheongsam, let the storm rage on!
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The next morning, Yujiro failed to witness Konoha at 4 a.m.
…But 5 a.m. wasn't so bad either.
When he finally arrived at the training grounds, only a handful of particularly diligent Uchiha youths were already there. Among them was Shisui.
Yujiro almost wanted to grumble: Come on, Shisui, you're already a genius—why grind so hard? You're making everyone else look bad.
…Oh, right. I grind even harder than him. Never mind.
When Shisui spotted him, he immediately came over with a bright smile. A few of the other clan youths from the Uchiha Youth Training Center also gathered, greeting Yujiro with respect.
Yujiro responded warmly, employing one of the classic tricks of leadership—remembering names.
He greeted each one personally, casually asked about their recent progress, and left them with the impression that "Yujiro cares about me." Their admiration shot through the roof.
Sure, most of these boys were doomed to die by Itachi's hand in a few years. But for now, Yujiro figured it didn't hurt to build rapport. After all, when winter came, it'd be nice to have a few more people willing to bring him an extra coat.
Once the greetings were over, everyone began training. Yujiro and Shisui paired off for sparring, using the duel as cover to discuss more serious matters.
"I spoke to the clan head yesterday," Shisui said while locking Yujiro's gaze with his Sharingan. Pulling Yujiro into a genjutsu allowed them to talk in secret under the guise of combat.
"He promised to begin searching for Obito. And Yujiro, he acknowledged what you did—bringing the clan and the Fourth closer together. He approves."
"Mm. Sounds fine, but remember—Obito's dangerous. Don't let the clan throw lives away needlessly."
Shisui nodded. "I told the clan head the same thing, but…"
Yujiro didn't need him to finish. The Uchiha pride was a blade sharper than any kunai. Even if Fugaku himself warned them, most wouldn't take it seriously.
After all, how many of the old guard could accept that a former dropout had risen to Kage-level strength? They might think they were testing him. But "testing" Obito would end with them bloodied, broken, or worse—dead.
And the true danger wasn't death. It was the risk that Obito's warped rhetoric about the "Eye of the Moon Plan" might take root. If the clan got swept up in his madness and returned to Konoha as pawns of his illusion, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Yujiro rubbed his chin, thinking. "No… probably not yet. Right now, Obito should be focused on Kirigakure. The Land of Water's isolated across the sea. Hardly anyone goes there unless they have to. That should keep him busy for a while."
Shisui added, "One more thing—the clan head asked me to tell you, if you have time, you should pay him a visit."
"Got it."
Of course Fugaku was cautious. Even after hearing Shisui's report, he'd want to hear it again from Yujiro's own mouth before resting easy.
And as it happened, Yujiro had plans of his own. After all, if he wanted to earn the title Phantom God of Civil War, then sparring against Fugaku—and testing the clan head's Mangekyō Sharingan—was a step he couldn't skip.
---
"Alright, that's all. Let's keep going."
"Right."
Shisui released the genjutsu.
Though they'd spent several minutes speaking in the illusion, only moments had passed in reality. To the others training nearby, it looked as if Yujiro had instantly broken Shisui's genjutsu.
"Yujiro's genjutsu… has it gotten that strong?" they whispered in awe.
Of course, the truth was far less glamorous. Yujiro's genjutsu had always been a weak point. Even with three tomoe, he lagged behind most of his kin. But that was fine—his strange "Senju Revival System" could cover for shortcomings. As long as the system stayed as brain-dead as ever, Yujiro had no doubt he could pump his [Illusion] stat past 10 with ease.
But until then, taijutsu would remain his focus.
His [Ninjutsu] potential had grown thanks to his extraordinary [Spirit], which had skyrocketed to an absurd 11 points. That alone allowed him to wield techniques he'd never touched before.
Still, with his [Seal] and [Ninjutsu Skill] stats stuck at a measly 5, there was no point dreaming of Hashirama-style devastation—casting forests with a single seal and reshaping the earth itself.
No, Yujiro had long since chosen a different path: the path of relentless taijutsu.
But now… now things were different.
His [Spirit] had become monstrous.
Sure, he had only dragged himself out of bed at five. But Nonō? She didn't crawl out from under the covers until noon. Compared to that, Yujiro felt practically disciplined.
If my [Spirit] is this strong, it's only natural I start training seals harder, he thought. And it's about time I dug into the clan's vault for higher-level ninjutsu. I can't rely solely on free points from the system. If I want to stand at the peak, I'll have to grind on my own too.
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