Protecting Sasuke

Senyo led Sasuke and the other little kids slowly out of the clan compound.

While he wanted to see how Konoha would respond, he had other motives as well.

Though going to Konoha was not without risks, Senyo was confident in himself.

With so many members of the Uchiha Clan, Sasuke was naturally not the only one attending classes at the Ninja Academy.

Some were older than Sasuke, while others were younger.

But the little kids who usually walked with Sasuke had now all gathered together, keeping several paces away from him.

They had the aptitude to become ninja, and their families most likely had combatants as well.

All the combatants knew that Itachi had betrayed the clan, only to be won back over.

Although Itachi had not caused the clan any losses.

Most Uchiha had rather bad tempers. If Itachi had not possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan—

They would probably have started fighting on the spot.

Naturally, there had been no kind words once they returned home.

The current situation was that Sasuke had been isolated.

Sasuke had also heard quite a few rumors. Thinking of Itachi's departure yesterday—

And his parents' concealment from him, Sasuke felt utterly miserable.

After all, he was only a seven-year-old child.

Sadness and confusion were written all over his face.

Senyo naturally noticed Sasuke's expression, but he had no time to concern himself with Sasuke right now.

As he gradually approached the academy, Anbu had already noticed him. One of them left the group, clearly going to report his presence.

Once he entered the academy, even more eyes watched him.

With the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki inside the academy, no one dared let their guard down.

After entering the academy, Sasuke and the other little kids all headed toward their respective classrooms.

Senyo, meanwhile, walked with his hands tucked away, leisurely following behind Sasuke.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Part of the Ninja Academy's corridor was made of wood, and the sound of wooden clogs striking the floor was particularly loud.

Senyo's thoughts stirred as he spotted Jiraiya appearing ahead.

Sure enough, Jiraiya had returned.

The Third Hokage still had a few playable cards in hand, and the most useful of them was undoubtedly Jiraiya.

Jiraiya was a fanatical protector of Konoha; there was no doubt about that.

Senyo remembered a scene from the original timeline: Jiraiya had feared that Tsunade would heal Orochimaru's crippled hands and had even wanted to kill Tsunade.

That showed that, to Jiraiya, no one mattered more than Konoha.

He would not permit anyone to set their sights on Konoha either.

Moreover, Jiraiya's current strength put him in the T1 echelon. It was only natural to use him to keep their Mangekyō Sharingan in check.

Senyo followed Sasuke, while Jiraiya followed Senyo.

Only after seeing that Senyo had no intention of entering the classroom or approaching Naruto did Jiraiya relax slightly.

After seeing Sasuke into the classroom, Senyo leaned against the corridor outside.

Jiraiya walked over at that moment.

"You're Uchiha Senyo?"

Senyo merely raised his eyelids and ignored Jiraiya.

His utterly disdainful manner displayed the Uchiha's arrogance to the fullest.

And he had every reason to be arrogant. At merely seventeen years old, he already possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan.

That alone was enough for him to look down on ninety-nine percent of the ninja world.

Jiraiya looked somewhat displeased. The Uchiha really were difficult to deal with. "What are you here for?"

Senyo looked at Jiraiya as though he were an idiot.

"Wasn't it Konoha that put Sasuke under surveillance? Of course I'm here to protect Sasuke. What else, sightseeing?"

"Uh..." Jiraiya was instantly left speechless. The Uchiha's reason was indeed perfectly aboveboard.

After all, Konoha had a prior record.

But the Uchiha Clan clearly did not need to attend classes, yet they had all come anyway.

Jiraiya did not believe Senyo had no other motive.

Still, those words were difficult to say aloud. Senyo had blocked off Jiraiya's opening, leaving him unable to find anything to say in reply.

Fortunately, Kakashi, who had received the news as well, appeared at that moment, easing Jiraiya's awkwardness.

"Uchiha Senyo!"

Senyo shot Kakashi a sidelong glance. "Well, if it isn't Kakashi, Konoha's number one technician."

By this point, Kakashi had already become proficient in using the Sharingan to copy and replicate his opponents' ninjutsu.

He could be considered one of Konoha's rising stars.

But with the Sharingan having been dug out, Senyo's words carried more than a hint of mockery.

Senyo was three years younger than Kakashi. Though they were not familiar with each other, it was not as if they failed to recognize one another.

Senyo's original self had been a hawkish member of the Uchiha Clan.

When Obito had given his Sharingan to Kakashi, Senyo's original self had opposed it.

However, his voice had carried little weight, so his opposition had changed nothing.

Yet times had changed, and now their positions and strength had been completely reversed.

"You dug out my Sharingan!?"

Kakashi stared at Senyo, suppressed anger burning in his eyes.

"Heh..."

Senyo let out a soft laugh.

"You need to understand something. Your surname is Hatake, not Uchiha."

"The entire shinobi world knows that the Sharingan belongs to the Uchiha Clan."

"Don't think that just because Obito gave you that eye, it became yours."

"Obito had no right to dispose of his own Sharingan."

Senyo's words were perfectly reasonable, leaving no room for anyone to find fault.

That eye of Obito's was far too important to Kakashi. No matter what, he had to get it back.

Kakashi steadied his emotions, then spoke in a low voice.

"Senyo, you know how important that Sharingan is to me."

Senyo spread his hands in a helpless gesture.

"Given the relationship between Senior White Fang and our Uchiha Clan, it would have been fine for you to use Obito's eye."

"But Konoha wanted to exterminate our Uchiha Clan. If I still let Konoha's people use the Sharingan, wouldn't that be aiding the enemy?"

Kakashi's face alternated between pale and flushed. He was only an Anbu captain now; he lacked the position and authority to condemn Danzo.

Even though Kakashi also hated Danzo, this was a public setting. Not only was Jiraiya present, but Anbu were nearby as well. He could not speak freely.

Seeing Kakashi in such an awkward position, Jiraiya spoke up for him.

"Senyo, Danzo acted on his own in this matter. Konoha never wanted something like this to happen."

Given Jiraiya's status and personality, he had no fear of Danzo and could naturally speak as he pleased.

Senyo sneered. "What a joke. You think you can dump all the blame with one sentence—'Danzo acted on his own'?"

"You need to understand that, including my two teammates, another nine clansmen died in Root's ambush."

"We nearly lost our entire clan."

"You think a couple of words are enough to make us let it go?"

Jiraiya stared at Senyo. "What does the Uchiha Clan want?"

Senyo snorted coldly. "We want Danzo dead!"

"When Danzo is dead, then we can discuss everything else."