More than half an hour later, Yorin and Tsunade went to pick up the two idiots who'd literally knocked each other out—Orochimaru and Jiraiya—collapsed together on the ground, their bodies somehow forming a heart shape.
Both wore blissed-out expressions—clearly they'd "spoken with their fists" and had a grand old time.
Tsunade, who was treating them, looked sour as she smacked a stack of ryō into Uchiha Yorin's hand.
Just as Yorin had predicted, they'd fought to mutual destruction. Tsunade, having lost the bet, paid him 1,000,000 ryō—truly living up to the "legendary whale" reputation.
Winning didn't make Yorin happy—if anything, it worried him. This spendthrift woman was even more of a money pit than he'd imagined. How the hell was he supposed to afford the future?
He'd thought that once they did Edo Tensei on Tobirama, he could sling an arm over Tsunade's shoulder and make the old man blow a gasket.
But thinking it through, it would probably be the other way around: old man Tobirama pointing and cackling,
"So you want to marry Tsunade? Hahaha—wonderful! Marry her and the Uchiha clan's luck runs dry, hahaha…"
As the saying goes: raise a son badly, and your own house suffers; raise a daughter badly, she marries out, and it's someone else's problem.
Tsunade is the second case.
The legendary true money-burner—admire her from a distance.
Problem is: that No. 1 pair in the Hokage world, that figure, that waist, that face, those legs, those toes… Yorin was weak. He almost stood up to—
No, point is: as a key piece in the Senju Revival System, she's basically the devs' designated heroine.
If Uchiha Yorin "romances" her, he'll pull in huge rewards. Flip side: if he doesn't, trouble.
So, it's all the system's fault. The system did this to me. If not for the system, I'd outdo Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo.
Uchiha Yorin: "Forget it—one step at a time."
Not seeing a fix on the spot, he decided to deal with it later.
…
Decision made, it was time to say goodbye.
When he arrived, Yorin had been just another Uchiha. Leaving, he was the de facto king of Amegakure, the second leader of Akatsuki, a great hero of Konoha, and—possibly—Tsunade's younger "wolf-dog."
As a side note, he put the +1 free attribute point from killing Danzō into Speed, bumping it to 11. At this rate, even if Shisui leveled up again, he might not keep up with Yorin's speed.
…
"Then see you, Nagato—Konan-nee. Take care of Orochimaru-sama and Jiraiya-sensei for me."
At Ame's gate, Yorin waved goodbye to Nagato and Konan, and to the fully bandaged Orochimaru and Jiraiya, both prematurely retired.
Thanks to Tsunade, their injuries had mostly stabilized; two days and they'd be bouncing around again. Until then—bedridden, plant cosplay.
Konan: "Goodbye."
Orochimaru: "Safe travels, Yorin-kun."
Jiraiya: "Ah, um… Never mind—do your best, Yorin-kun."
Everyone was polite. Jiraiya looked like he wanted to say more, but the words never came. Only Nagato puffed up tsundere-style:
"Goodbye. I hope next time we meet… we won't be enemies."
Uchiha Yorin: "Hahaha—let's hope not."
With that, Yorin took Tsunade by the hand, the two sharing a single umbrella, and vanished into the rain.
Shoulders pressed close, whispering in each other's ears—if they claim there's nothing going on, even the Inuzuka won't believe it.
Jiraiya: "…"
Orochimaru: "What—jealous?"
Jiraiya: "…"
Orochimaru: "It's fine. You still have me."
Tears pooled in Jiraiya's eyes—his deep love for the earth.
…
They left as four; they returned as two point one.
The 0.1 was Shimura Danzō's head.
Because of that 0.1, Uchiha Yorin received a rousing welcome in Konoha.
At the village gate, people cheered on their own—throwing garlands, eggs, fruit, and instant noodles—to express their gratitude.
Partly, this was thanks to the New Konoha Times' blitz, painting Danzō as an old ogre who ate eighty children per meal.
Partly, it was because Anbu's reputation was… not great.
Unlike the Police Force, who dealt with civilian squabbles and stall violations, Anbu was the famous "hard case." Slip on the silly mask and it was no-kin-recognized: "Kill your whole family"? Done.
And not just against enemy nations or rival villages—allies, even "our own," weren't spared.
So, Anbu's name was mud.
Most days, folks didn't dare say so, for fear of a midnight knock from the Cheka—that was then.
Now Danzō had defected—what was there to fear?
They took the chance to vent years of pent-up resentment at Anbu. The cheering for Yorin? A helpful aside.
"The relationship between civilians and shinobi in a 'ninja village' really is something…"
"Awe, fear, envy, jealousy, even… hatred.
"Heh—just like regular people in anime looking at magical girls, espers, and Batman. A bunch of literal 'troublesome folk.'"
That's what Yorin thought; on the surface, he played dumb—bright smile, warm waves.
Come to think of it—when was the last time an Uchiha was this popular?
Oh, right. Never.
Yorin was the first.
Uchiha Yorin: "Hahahaha!!"
He couldn't help grinning wide.
There were lots of people around, so he dialed the "ahahaha" back a notch—reined in the edge of madness; left only warmth, cheer, and sunshine.
The happy laugh triggered more cheers and adoration.
What is "the people's choice"?
This is the people's choice.
Yes, it's shallow, fickle, and subject to change—but for this moment, Uchiha Yorin was Konoha's hero.
…
"How nice—youth… how nice…"
At the same time, the grieving Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, watched Yorin approach with a complicated gaze.
"He's the first Uchiha welcomed by the villagers, Minato."
"Yes."
As if he didn't hear the subtext, Minato smiled like the sun. Like Naruto seeing Sasuke return, he opened his arms and strode toward Yorin.
"Yorin!"
"Minato!"
Yorin casually tossed the small box containing Danzō's head—and hugged Minato tight.
By "coincidence"—or more likely Yorin's dark humor—the box landed neatly in the Third's arms.
Hiruzen opened it and carefully wiped the grime from Danzō's face.
"How pitiful," he said to him, and cradling the box, turned to stare at Yorin and Minato.
"Danzō—were we once like this?"
"And further back—were the First and Madara like this?"
"They're back. All back."
"Shame that we can't go back."
"Never again."
His eyes brimmed, unbidden.
…
Current MC Stats: Nin 8 · Body 9 · Gen 9 · Wis 8 · Str 11 · Spd 11 · Sta 13 · Seals 6
Already a fully-fledged super taijutsu specialist.
Ninjutsu: Lightning Chakra Mode; Lightning Release: Chidori Blade + Chakra Sabers (Thunder–Fire Sword); Manipulating Kunai (trending toward "merit wheel"); Monstrous Strength.
Dōjutsu: Three-tomoe Sharingan (mutating).
Sealing: Four Symbols Seal.
Fire Release: Great Fireball, Phoenix Sage Fire, Dragon Flame Song.
Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear, Chidori Senbon, Chidori.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 70 Chapters Ahead of Others!