Hum…
The crimson tomoe spun abruptly within Makoto's eyes. The two curved hooks traced fleeting arcs in the snowlight, vanishing faster than a blink.
The Kumogakure's envoys, who had been stealing glances at Makoto, instantly froze their intense eye communication.
Their pupils contracted sharply, a soft, hissing intake of breath catching in their throats.
Then, a beast-like green light ignited in their eyes, like hungry wolves spotting plump prey. But they quickly masked it, pretending they had seen nothing.
The few Kumogakure's envoys who had initially opposed kidnapping Makoto instantly changed their stance upon seeing the crimson Two Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes.
Their eyes were filled with intent, all inwardly shouting that this job had to be done!
The attitude reversal, taking less than three seconds, was faster than flipping a book.
Kidnapping an Uchiha? It was indeed likely to make those red-eyed maniacs go berserk. But then again...
This was the Two Tomoe Sharingan! How old was this kid?
Even though the Uchiha Clan were famous throughout the Shinobi World for producing geniuses, no one had ever heard of someone this young awakening the Two Tomoe Sharingan!
Calling this talent a national treasure would be an understatement… it was like striking a gold mine!
"Cough!"
Mabui's throat-clearing sounded slightly stiff. She was about to signal with her eyes not to get excited, but the other Kumogakure's envoys beside her started wiggling their eyebrows at her and Samui, communicating silently.
"The way that kid is looking at you two, it's practically dripping with intent."
Another joined in the teasing: "To be honest, this brat isn't just insanely talented, his looks are top-notch too."
"Once we bring him back to Kumogakure... who knows, maybe any kids you two have in the future could inherit the Uchiha bloodline?"
Samui's face instantly froze over. When her blue-green pupils swept towards them, the air seemed to fill with tiny ice shards. The two teasers shrunk their necks and immediately fell silent.
Mabui's brows furrowed slightly, but she didn't object further.
She glanced towards Makoto. He was looking down, idly kicking at the snow, his profile glowing coldly under the moonlight. The Two Tomoe Sharingan he had revealed moments earlier was already concealed.
But the brief flash of crimson from the Sharingan was like a red-hot branding iron, seared into her mind.
Her expression was as complex as a tangled mess of threads… greed, hesitation, and a bit of the embarrassment of having her thoughts guessed.
If they really did kidnap this brat back to Kumogakure...
There wasn't a single Kunoichi in Kumogakure who could refuse a relationship with him. Be it talent, bloodline, or looks, he was perfect.
Makoto took it all in, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.
He mused inwardly, 'Alright, this is in the bag…'
He didn't continue tailing them, instead turning into another alley.
The Kumogakure's envoys watched Makoto's retreating back, their brows furrowing slightly before slowly relaxing.
Their eyes communicated: "We must formulate a thorough plan before we act. We cannot fail this time. We must succeed!"
The wind and snow swept through the alley, twisting the shadows of the Kumogakure's envoys into a ball, then stretching them into long, thin strips swaying on the snow, like a play scripted long ago.
After leaving, Makoto hummed a tuneless little ditty, his steps light as if walking on cotton.
Everything in moderation. Following them for too long might arouse suspicion from the Anbu and Root.
The bait had been taken, and he just needed to wait patiently to be 'kidnapped'.
Makoto returned home. He pulled out a slip of paper and, using the moonlight filtering through the window, wrote a few lines. The handwriting was crooked but full of boldness, something most people couldn't imitate.
"The Shinobi World is vast. I want to go see it."
"Goodbye family, I'm going on a long voyage~ Don't worry, I'll be back. Don't forget me."
"…Sincerely, the Future Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Makoto"
After writing, he stuffed it into a crack under his bed board. No one usually entered his room. It would surely be found a few days after his disappearance.
After doing this, Makoto strolled out of the clan's compound again.
If he was staying within the compound, even if these Kumogakure's envoys were given ten extra guts, they wouldn't dare kidnap him from there.
After all, the failure rate would be 100%.
The Military Police Force are composed of Uchiha Clan's members, so they patrolled their own clan grounds the most. Makoto needed to create some opportunities for his 'hunters'.
At the most remote hot spring inn in Konoha, 'Yukemuri no Ya', Makoto soaked himself in the steaming pool, eating delicacies and humming songs.
He was mentally prepared to be kidnapped by bandits.
He soaked for a full nine days straight, occasionally returning home to wander around, but his skin was starting to prune.
These Kumogakure's kidnappers still hadn't made their move, making Makoto wonder if they had turned over a new leaf.
During these nine days, the Kumogakure's envoys continued to argue strenuously with the Sandaime Hokage over compensation for the 'Hyuga Incident', while also having the Kumogakure's spies stationed in Konoha gather intelligence on the kid from that night.
In a hidden room, Mabui placed the intelligence gathered by the Kumogakure's spies on the table, the paper slightly crumpled from her grip.
"Uchiha Makoto. Second son of the current Uchiha Clan's Clan Head, 'Wicked Eye' Uchiha Fugaku. Over half a year ago, he vandalized the Hokage Rock and publicly confronted the Hokage Advisor, Shimura Danzo, in front of the Hokage Tower."
"Extremely precocious. Seems to hold no particular fondness for the Konoha's leadership."
Reading this, Mabui's eyes lit up. She murmured inwardly, "It seems he would be easier to nurture after bringing him back to Kumogakure."
"What about his talent?" Another Kumogakure's envoy inquired.
"No specific intelligence," Mabui shook her head, then said firmly, "But isn't the Two Tomoe Sharingan we saw that night proof enough?"
A spy added, "According to intelligence, the level of respect the Uchiha Clan's members show him far exceeds that shown to Fugaku's other two sons."
"Geniuses within a clan are always pampered," Samui interjected coolly, a sharp light flashing in her blue-green eyes, "The less specific intelligence we can gather about his talent..."
"...the more it proves his talent is top-tier!"
Hearing this, Mabui clenched her fist, knuckles white. "We act tonight!"
"But the Anbu's surveillance... and the subsequent compensation from Konoha..."
"That compensation is insignificant compared to Uchiha Makoto!" Mabui cut him off, her gaze sharp as tempered ice.
"Even if we all die here, we must bring him back to Kumogakure."
This was no longer a question of 'should we do it', but 'we must succeed'.
Leaving a genius like this in Konoha was a waste. He had to be seized for Kumogakure.
Over these nine days, the Kumogakure's envoys' attitude shifted from initial hesitation, to intent upon confirming his talent, finally transforming into their current state of desperate resolve.
The Kumogakure's envoys, including the Kumogakure's spies lurking in Konoha, looked at each other and said solemnly, "Forging Kumogakure's glory is our duty…"