Kawasaki's spirits lifted. This was a true godsend.
Besides the famous Four Symbols and Eight Trigrams Seal, there was another crucial technique.
The Defensive Detection Barrier Jutsu, which also utilized sealing tags from Fuinjutsu.
This was exactly what the Uchiha, who desperately lacked a detection barrier, needed. They just needed to place barrier tags in key locations and activate them with chakra. The Defensive Detection Barrier Jutsu would allow them to detect any outsiders entering their territory.
Without this jutsu, Konoha was so large that enemies could easily infiltrate. Given the current size of the Uchiha's territory, a three-person rotation would be enough to cover the entire area.
With this in place, they would no longer have to fear Konoha's prying eyes.
Previously, the Third Hokage had built tall buildings near the Uchiha district to openly monitor them. Now that they had moved and there were no tall buildings, he sent Anbu to spy on them in secret.
Kawasaki had long been fuming with frustration, but he couldn't spend all his time swatting away these "mosquitoes."
Now, it was time to pull out the nails Konoha had driven into the Uchiha, one by one.
Kawasaki quickly selected three candidates: Uchiha Keimei, Uchiha Iori, and Uchiha Daichi.
They all had a natural talent for Fuinjutsu.
Keimei was a former teammate of Kawasaki's. While his combat strength was average, his skills were considerable. His older brother was the loud and not-so-bright Yōgetsu, who had already left with Itachi.
The other two were new teammates with whom he had been coordinating well recently. Because Itachi had taken a large portion of their forces, many clansmen had been forced to form new teams.
Kawasaki took the opportunity to instruct all Uchiha to choose safer missions. He was afraid the Third Hokage would tamper with their assignments to deliberately harm the Uchiha. Fortunately, the Third Hokage hadn't resorted to such tricks, and there had been no recent incidents.
[Ding... Long-term mission: How can a faction rely solely on the strong members of its own clan?]
[Recruit non-Uchiha elites.]
[Upon success, you will acquire the target's specialty.]
Well, well, the System finally has a new function, Kawasaki thought. He had been waiting for ages.
But what does "acquire the target's specialty" mean?
Kawasaki had a vague idea, but he would have to test it to be sure. As for non-Uchiha, his best prospects were in Konoha. He had the advantage of proximity, after all. He would have to start planning.
Just as he was thinking, Keimei, Iori, and Daichi arrived.
Keimei had a baby face and a slender build. He was quick-witted, and his ninjutsu was precise.
Iori, like Izumi, was one of the few medical-nin within the Uchiha clan. She had smooth, long hair, a tall figure, and exceptionally strong sensory abilities. Kawasaki had also discovered that she possessed a rare talent for Space-Time Ninjutsu.
Daichi was a typical all-around warrior with no weaknesses; both his ninjutsu and taijutsu were strong.
"Captain! Lord Kawasaki! Vice-Patriarch!"
The three of them used different titles. After all, Kawasaki's promotion to Vice-Patriarch had been so fast that many hadn't yet adjusted.
Kawasaki nodded. "I called you here today because I have a mission for you."
"Your orders, Captain," said Uchiha Keimei, who was the most familiar with Kawasaki.
"Back when we were in Konoha, they built countless high towers around us just to watch our every move. The entire Uchiha clan had no privacy to speak of. Now that we've moved to a new location, there are still many Anbu eyes watching us."
"Next, we will establish a defensive detection barrier, and you are the ones I have chosen for this task."
The Uchiha looked at each other. A defensive detection barrier wasn't something just anyone could create. Using one was fine, but setting one up required Barrier Ninjutsu, a secret jutsu of Konoha that the Uchiha did not possess.
However, since the Vice-Patriarch had summoned them, he surely had a solution. The three remained silent, waiting for Kawasaki's next instructions.
Seeing their composure, Kawasaki was pleased.
He swiped a hand over his left arm, and lines of a sealing formula materialized on his skin.
"Is that the formula for a defensive detection barrier!?"
The three were astonished. They never expected Lord Kawasaki to know Fuinjutsu.
Kawasaki gave a slight smile, not mentioning the origin of the formula. He immediately began teaching them how to circulate their chakra and inscribe the formula.
They were both touched and anxious—touched by Lord Kawasaki's trust, yet afraid they wouldn't be able to learn it properly.
But they soon discovered they had a natural affinity and familiarity with Fuinjutsu. They understood everything Kawasaki explained instantly, and Daichi even offered his own insights. They absorbed the knowledge of Fuinjutsu like a sponge, as if they were born to master this art.
Kawasaki truly has a sharp eye for talent, they couldn't help but think.
Seeing their enthusiasm, Kawasaki patiently spent several hours thoroughly explaining the Defensive Detection Barrier Jutsu.
"Have you learned it?"
As soon as Kawasaki asked, Keimei instinctively tried it in his palm, and the light of the barrier jutsu quickly appeared. Iori and Daichi also gave it a try, and soon, the glow of a barrier lit up their hands as well.
Kawasaki nodded in satisfaction. It seemed the talent was innate; once they knew the method, they could master it quickly.
Their faces shone with excitement. Learning a new jutsu overnight was almost unbelievable. The barriers in their hands shifted through various forms, indicating they had already achieved a basic mastery of the skill.
"How long will it take to set up the barrier?"
After a brief discussion, Keimei replied, "Reporting, Captain. It will take about seven days to fully familiarize ourselves with the formula, and we also need to prepare some materials. But the actual deployment is estimated to take two weeks."
"Good. Iori, report this to Fugaku tomorrow. Daichi, coordinate with the patrol teams. Keimei, you're in charge of procuring the materials. Begin the deployment as soon as you're ready. I want to see the barrier in place in three weeks."
"Yes, sir!"
"Tonight," Kawasaki said, "I'll deal with the members of Root first."
Kawasaki cracked his knuckles. Finally, he could get rid of those annoying mosquitoes.
...
Around the new Uchiha compound, several Anbu members were lurking in the shadows. They held telescopic devices, monitoring all of the Uchiha's movements and reporting to the Third Hokage daily.
Just then, a sensory ninja's eyes widened in shock. A wave of detection chakra had just swept over his body. He immediately sent out an emergency signal, and the other Anbu members quickly gathered.
"Fall back! We've been discovered!"
Without waiting to ask how they were exposed, the group hastily fled.
"Trying to leave? Too late."
Kawasaki descended from the sky, sending one Anbu operative flying with a powerful roundhouse kick.
"How is that possible? He's so fast!"
A chill ran down the spines of the remaining Anbu. The relationship between the Uchiha and the village was already delicate. If they were captured, the situation would become much more complicated.
Uchiha Kawasaki, now the Vice-Patriarch of the Uchiha clan... did they even stand a chance?
The three looked at Kawasaki, and as if struck by lightning, they collapsed to the ground, their bodies going limp.