Uchiha Yoichi was very particular about the bounty targets he chose. He never touched anyone from a major nation—those he killed were all nobles from small countries.
In fact, the underground exchange manager wasn't wrong. The rewards for assassinating Fire Country ministers were far higher. Even the cheapest bounty was worth forty to fifty million ryō—more than thirty-year-old Asuma would ever earn.
But all of those targets were nobles and ministers closely aligned with Konoha. If Yoichi laid a hand on them, what he would face next would likely be Konoha's pursuit.
Even if he disguised his appearance beforehand, there was still a chance he would be tracked down.
Konoha possessed far too many special secret techniques—dog handlers, insect users, mind probes…
When the abbot of the Fire Temple died, even though Akatsuki was involved, Konoha was still able to mobilize twenty Jonin squads in one go. That kind of lineup was something no ordinary person could handle.
"Chakra metal can be entrusted to the ninja cats for forging… but should I choose a ninja sword, or fist blades?"
While traveling back, Uchiha Yoichi found himself wrestling with this question.
If he forged a ninja sword, the Uchiha clan possessed hereditary sword techniques that were fairly well known throughout the ninja world.
He was also a clansman who had made sacrifices for the Uchiha. If he asked for the Uchiha-style sword techniques, the clan would definitely give them to him.
However, Uchiha-style kenjutsu didn't really match Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
After thinking it over carefully for some time, Uchiha Yoichi ultimately decided to forge a ninja sword—but he wouldn't learn Uchiha-style kenjutsu. Basic swordsmanship fundamentals would be enough.
Later, he could base everything on Lightning Release Chakra Mode and attempt to create a killing sword style of his own.
After returning to Konoha, Uchiha Yoichi went straight to the Hokage Building to clear his mission records.
He had been gone for nearly a month. A B-rank assassination mission obviously didn't take that long, and both the clan and the Mission Office likely knew he had used the mission as an excuse to do other things outside the village.
Uchiha Yoichi didn't care.
From the beginning, he never hid the fact that he wanted to leave the village.
"Uchiha Yoichi. The B-rank mission has been completed. I'm here to submit it."
"Uchiha Yoichi, don't you think your time outside was a bit excessive? The client submitted the mission completion report ten days before you did, and according to our information, you only took three days to complete the task."
Before the man could finish speaking, Uchiha Yoichi cut him off coldly.
"That has nothing to do with your Mission Office. Just do your job properly and submit the mission for me—now."
"You—!"
The Mission Office ninja was instantly choked by Yoichi's words, anger rising in his chest. However, his colleague beside him quickly pulled him back and took the mission document instead.
"Uchiha Yoichi, I'll handle the processing."
The ninja stamped the document twice, then took out the mission reward and handed it to Uchiha Yoichi.
"Yoichi-san, will you be taking another mission?"
"No. I'm planning to rest for a while."
After saying that, Uchiha Yoichi turned to leave.
He wasn't short on money, and over the past month he had traveled continuously through several locations. He couldn't let himself burn out completely—he planned to rest in the village for a while and wait for his new weapon.
Just as he was about to step out of the Mission Office, the ninja who had spoken unpleasantly earlier muttered in a low voice again:
"Looks like he's resting because he can't find teammates he can exploit anymore."
"Hey—don't say that!"
Although the voice was lowered, Uchiha Yoichi still heard it clearly.
He stopped in his tracks.
Then, expressionless, he turned and walked straight toward the one who had insulted him.
The other ninja panicked and hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
"Yoichi-san, he didn't mean it, it's just because Sakuma-kun's—"
Bang!
Before he could finish speaking, Uchiha Yoichi suddenly accelerated. He lifted his leg and kicked forward.
Not only did the table shatter, but the ninja who had mocked him was sent flying into the wall, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface.
The other Mission Office ninjas shouted in anger:
"Uchiha Yoichi! You dare attack a fellow villager?!"
"Don't make me laugh," Yoichi replied coldly."Why should trash like that qualify as my companion? Was what he just said slandering a Konoha Chunin—or slandering the Uchiha?"
Uchiha Yoichi's Sharingan swept across the room.
Though it was only one tomoe, paired with his expression and tone, it carried undeniable pressure.
Besides, none of these people were particularly strong—most were Chunin or Genin at best.
Seeing that no one dared speak, Uchiha Yoichi deactivated his Sharingan and turned to leave.
As for the consequences—he didn't care.
If anyone really looked into it, the village and the Uchiha clan were the ones who owed him. And now some idiot dared mock him to his face.
If he didn't teach that fool a lesson, would anyone be able to point at his nose and insult him in the future?
He didn't train this hard just to become a turtle that tucked its head in.
After Uchiha Yoichi left, one of the Mission Office ninjas hurriedly said,
"Quick, take Sakuma-kun to the hospital! I'll report what happened here to the Hokage immediately."
————————————
"Mabayashi-senpai, there's something I'd like to ask for your help with."
After returning to the clan compound, Uchiha Yoichi went straight to the Police Force headquarters. Since they were from the same clan, the Uchiha guards at the entrance didn't stop him.
"Yoichi? You were gone for a whole month—finally willing to come back? The clan head even asked about you. He was worried you might've defected!"
Uchiha Mabayashi said a few words before continuing,
"What is it? Didn't you finish the village mission?"
"That's not it. The mission's already done. There was a reason I stayed outside—I happened to obtain this."
As he spoke, Uchiha Yoichi took out the small box containing the chakra metal and opened it.
Uchiha Mabayashi's eyes widened instantly.
"Chakra metal? You kid really do have incredible luck. A piece this large must be worth several million ryō. So—you're planning to forge ninja tools with it?"
"A ninja sword. I want to learn some swordsmanship, but I don't know how to contact the ninja cat clan, so I was hoping you could help, Mabayashi-senpai. I'll pay the forging costs myself."
"No need for that," Mabayashi replied with a wave of his hand."We have cooperative ties with the ninja cats. We'll settle it together later. And the clan supports its juniors—you've never asked the clan for anything before, and you even found the materials yourself this time. There's no need to charge you for the forging."
Hearing this, Uchiha Yoichi didn't insist and continued,
"Then please pass along my request that the forging lean toward Lightning affinity—it suits me better."
Some chakra weapons incorporated special metals during forging. The Second Hokage's Thunder God Sword, and Kirigakure's Lightning Blade: Fang, were both examples of this category.
After making his request, Uchiha Yoichi left the chakra metal behind and departed. He had been away from home for nearly a month—there was cleaning to do once he got back.
On the other side—
Hiruzen Sarutobi was already irritated from being interrupted while using the crystal ball. After listening to the Mission Office ninja's report, his headache only worsened.
Rumors were one thing when whispered behind backs.
Saying it to someone's face was no different from pointing at their nose and insulting them.
However, the fact that Uchiha Yoichi had assaulted someone inside the Hokage Building couldn't be erased.
After thinking for a moment, Hiruzen finally spoke to an ANBU:
"Go inform Fugaku of the Uchiha clan. Tell him I need to speak with him."