Chapter 83
Yūgao's pupils dilated and contracted by turns.
Her dazed gaze suggested she had not yet fully regained consciousness.
After releasing Water Release Ninjutsu dozens of times, much of the water in her body had been drained.
Almost completely exhausted, Yūgao no longer had the strength to move a finger.
"Big Sister Yūgao, come on, let's go get some water..."
Naruto said, thinking to himself that he would have to feed Big Sister Yūgao milk again.
Once Yūgao was carried to the living room and gently laid down, the Tailed Beast Partner quickly perked up.
It helped Naruto fetch the milk and was soon ready for the feeding.
"Big Sister Yūgao..."
Yūgao Uzuki lay in the bedding, being carefully cared for by Naruto, just like a patient.
Her unconsciously trembling limbs made her look as if she had a high fever.
In reality, Yūgao Uzuki's body temperature was indeed abnormally scorching at this moment.
This was a sign of severe dehydration.
Thinking that there was no time to lose, Narutoimmediately began the rescue.
"Please drink this 'Yin Release' milk~."
He aimed the milk bottle at her small mouth.
Slurp~!
Naruto: "Oh~."
Yūgao: "Mm~."
Chapter 23. Peaceful evolution of Konoha; we of the Uchiha Clan are the loyal ones!
Several days later, in the evening.
A wave of commotion erupted at the entrance of Konoha.
The squad led by Asuma had returned to Konoha.
There were several wounded members within the team.
After a long journey, everyone finally brought the Shrine Maiden from the Land of Demons to Konoha.
On the way, they encountered an attack from the Ninja of the Land of Demons.
Although they successfully repelled the opposition, several of their own Ninja were injured.
Different Ninja Villages have different combat styles.
The Land of Demons does not have a Ninja Village; their Ninja still maintain the traditions of the ancient era, directly swearing loyalty to the Daimyo.
Therefore, their ancient combat methods and bizarre techniques produced unexpected results.
"We are back in the Village, hold on!"
Asuma, carrying a wounded comrade on his back, entered the Village covered in sweat.
Not long after, the sky grew dark.
Asuma reported the mission process at the Hokage Building.
Having finally completed the mission and feeling relieved, he expected to receive recognition from his old father.
However, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi denied Asuma's achievements with a dismissive attitude.
"Why?!"
Facing his father's silent demeanor, Asuma was extremely confused.
The frustration in his heart was almost bursting out.
Having longed for his father's approval since childhood, he had reached this point, even becoming a Jonin of Konoha, yet he still hadn't gained his father's acknowledgment.
"Asuma... you do not understand the true meaning of the will of fire..."
After a long while, Hiruzen Sarutobi, with his back to his youngest son, pointed out where Asuma had made a mistake.
Merely completing a mission does not qualify one as a Konoha Ninja.
One must deeply comprehend what the will of fireis to truly inherit the will of the predecessors.
"Hmph!"
With an angry snort, Asuma's dissatisfaction finally erupted.
He made a harsh threat that he would leave Konoha, leave this place.
Once he achieved something out there, he would come back and show his old father!
Watching his youngest son drift further away from the will of fire, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but sigh.
"Asuma... if you had one-tenth of the comprehension of that child Naruto... sigh..."
Thinking of Naruto, who was born with the will of fire, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but feel moved.
The gap between people is indeed vast.
"Where is the Shrine Maiden?"
After Asuma left in anger, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his head toward the shadows.
The Anbu subordinate in the shadows immediately replied: "The Shrine Maiden has been temporarily placed in the annex..."
An annex is a general term.
An area specifically for foreign guests to stay is called an annex.
"Hmm, let the Shrine Maiden have a good night's rest first..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to meet with her tomorrow morning.
...
The dim sky descended.
The residential area of the Uchiha Clan seemed to have been triggered by some common will.
Almost from every household, people were coming out.
On the dark streets, people were gradually walking in one direction.
And that direction was the birthplace of the Uchiha Clan... the location of the "Nanga Shrine."
Uchiha Itachi walked forward step by step, feeling as if he were entering an abyss.
"Itachi..."
Fortunately, Shisui, who was both a teacher and a friend, was by his side, which brought Uchiha Itachi some comfort.
They entered the secret place beneath the shrine.
The Ninja of the Uchiha Clan sat down cross-legged.
Uchiha Fugaku sat at the head, with his fellow clansmen who had become Ninja before him.
Only clansmen with the status of Ninja were qualified to participate in the secret gathering.
"Everyone, quiet..."
As Uchiha Fugaku spoke, the atmosphere at the scene immediately calmed down.
"Uchiha Itachi has successfully become a Chuninand has perfectly executed several missions..."
"Congratulations! Congratulations!"
Yashiro and the others immediately offered their congratulations, and Uchiha Itachi returned the courtesy one by one.
"If a Genius like Uchiha Itachi were to join the Police Force, he would definitely be able to play a greater role."
The clansmen laughed.
However, what Uchiha Fugaku said next stunned them: "I intend to have Uchiha Itachi join the Anbu."
A brief silence was followed by the boiling of hot blood in their hearts.
Amidst the expectant gaze of the clansmen, Uchiha Fugaku revealed his success: "The application to Danzo has been approved... after this, Uchiha Itachi can enter the Anbu."
Cheers erupted instantly underground, and the hall was in an uproar.
Every clansman understood what Uchiha Itachi joining the Anbu signified.
The Uchiha Clan had finally broken free from the shackles of the Police Force and began to extend the tentacles of power into other departments.
The Anbu, being the most confidential central department of Konoha, could obtain the most intelligence.
This signified that the Uchiha Clan could finally touch the center of power in Konoha!
The gains on the Kumogakure battlefield made the hearts of the Uchiha Ninja swell with pride.
With the Fourth Hokage dead and the Sannin having left the Village, the Uchiha Clan had the greatest advantage!
Facing the overwhelming cheers of his clansmen, Uchiha Itachi only felt dizzy.
He looked at his good friend and discovered that Shisui's face also wore a lonely expression.
After the clansmen quieted down, Uchiha Fugakucontinued: "Everyone knows that the people from the Anbu and Root have always been monitoring us..."
The Uchiha Clan are not fools.
Over time, they certainly knew that they were being monitored.
"Therefore, we must also send out our own eyes."
That person is Uchiha Itachi.
By joining the Anbu, he would carry out espionage operations for the Uchiha Clan.
"That wouldn't be good..."
However, Uchiha Itachi's remark caused the whole room to fall silent, and everyone looked at him in unison.
"We are all comrades of the same Village... yet creating inexplicable opposition and estrangement through confrontational behavior..."
Uchiha Itachi's muttering was clearly heard by everyone.
"What did you say, kid?!" Yashiro was the first to stand up, and due to his agitation, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan appeared.
"Uchiha Itachi means... some things cannot be spoken of openly; we need a justifiable reason..."
Shisui immediately stood up, pressed on UchihaItachi's shoulder, and forced him to sit back down.
With a smile on his face, Shisui laughed it off, easing the impending conflict.
The emotions of Yashiro and the others calmed down, and he nodded: "Hmm... indeed, we should rephrase it."
Thus, the clansmen began to discuss.
It was finally decided to take a series of actions under the guise of "expanding the Uchiha Clan's contribution to the Village."
This included having Uchiha Itachi join the Anbu, stealing... oh no, accessing Konoha's confidential documents, so that the Uchiha Clan could understand more about this aspect, in order to better serve the Village.
Looking at the excited faces of the clansmen, Uchiha Itachi's heart sank to the bottom.
Peaceful evolution is more terrifying than direct war.
The clansmen who had originally intended to "revolt" and rise up changed their minds at tonight's meeting.
They began to move towards "peaceful evolution."
Step by step, they would insert their own pawns, eventually eroding and devouring Konoha.
Then, what would the future of the Uchiha Clan... and even Konoha be?
And what made Uchiha Itachi even more desperate was.
The instigator who guided all of this... was his father.