Undercurrents

Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage frowned deeply upon receiving the news. Someone had actually survived Danzo's Anbu ambush—and even killed members of Root in return.

The Uchiha Clan's vigilance would probably rise sharply. He wondered whether tonight's operation would go smoothly.

Of course, the Third Hokage knew that Danzo had issued the Clan Annihilation Order against the Uchiha.

But he had to pretend he didn't know.

Otherwise, why had Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived the moment the Uchiha Clan was wiped out in the original timeline, before the bodies had even gone cold?

Sarutobi Hiruzen handed many matters that were inconvenient for him to deal with over to Danzo, so the unspoken understanding between them went without saying.

In any case, it was Root personnel who had been lost. It was necessary to appropriately weaken Danzo's strength as well.

The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe. "Where is Sasuke right now?"

"Reporting to Hokage-sama, Sasuke is still at the academy. Kakashi is watching over him."

Kakashi was still in the Anbu at this time, and he was even an Anbu captain.

Naturally, such an important task as watching over Sasuke had to be entrusted to someone reliable.

The Third Hokage nodded slightly. "Keep an eye on Danzo's side. Inform me immediately if there is any news."

"Yes!"

Root.

"Useless! How could such a massive blunder happen?!"

"Three squads couldn't even take down a single Uchiha Senyo!"

Danzo flew into a rage at the people below him. After issuing the Clan Annihilation Order to Itachi—

The Uchiha clan members carrying out missions elsewhere were naturally on the kill list as well.

Of Uchiha Senyo's squad, only Uchiha Senyo was an expert with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

The other two were merely Genin-level rookies who had yet to awaken their eyes.

Danzo had sent out three full squads—nine Root personnel—and it had even been an ambush, yet they had been killed instead.

Moreover, three of them had had their heads cut off.

Others might not recognize those Root members, but how could Danzo's people fail to recognize them?

Uchiha Senyo was clearly making a show of force.

Danzo's anger was not simply because he had lost those few men.

Itachi had already coordinated with Danzo and the others. They would act tonight.

There were so many people in the Uchiha Clan. Without Root's cooperation, Itachi alone could slaughter from dusk until dawn and still not finish them all.

And with an incident like this occurring on the eve of the Uchiha purge, it would raise the Uchiha Clan's vigilance.

It could very well ruin his plan!

"Has Itachi sent any news?"

"Reporting to you, sir, not yet."

Danzo lightly tapped his cane against the floor.

"Recall all our men. I will not permit any accidents tonight!"

"Yes, Danzo-sama!"

His subordinate's figure flashed away.

Uchiha Clan Compound.

"Ruri, I'm back!" Senyo called urgently into the house as he opened the door.

"Brother, you're back!" A young girl's voice came from inside, but no one emerged.

Senyo had already rushed in with quick strides.

A delicate, sweet-looking little girl was struggling to push her wheelchair outside.

But with only one hand, she moved rather slowly.

Pain flashed through Senyo's eyes, and he hurried over to embrace his younger sister.

"Thank goodness, Brother. You came back safely."

Held in Senyo's arms, Ruri's anxious heart finally settled.

The Uchiha had lost many clan members recently. Many had left and never returned.

If not for making a living, Senyo would not have accepted missions despite knowing how difficult they were.

"Brother, don't leave anymore, okay? I've been hearing a lot of bad rumors lately."

Ruri spoke softly, her voice already tinged with tears.

Senyo was her only family, and she was terrified.

Senyo carefully picked Ruri up. Though she wore a dress, the lower half hung empty.

Below her thighs, Ruri's legs were gone. Even her left hand had been severed at the wrist. Only her right hand remained intact.

Holding his weightless little sister, Senyo gently patted her back.

"Don't worry. I won't be going out again anytime soon."

"Really? That's wonderful!"

Ruri pressed herself hard against Senyo's chest. She had missed her brother so much.

"Really. I'll try not to go out anymore."

After comforting Ruri for a while, Senyo looked around.

"Where did Zhiyu go?" Uchiha Zhiyu was their neighbor and Senyo's childhood friend.

Ever since Ruri had been crippled seven years ago, Zhiyu had helped take care of her, since there were many things Ruri could not manage on her own.

More importantly, they had feared that Ruri might have thoughts of ending her life.

Only in the past two years had Ruri gradually emerged from the shadows, and Zhiyu would occasionally leave for a while.

At the mention of Zhiyu, Ruri's eyes flickered.

"Sister Zhiyu went out to buy something. She'll be back soon."

Then Ruri rested her head against Senyo's shoulder and softly asked, "Brother, what exactly happened in the clan?"

Senyo gently stroked Ruri's cheek. "Nothing. Some elders' positions might change, but it doesn't have much to do with us."

"Mhm..." Ruri obediently did not ask any more questions, simply leaning against Senyo.

"Brother, you just got back. Go take a bath first."

With a light sniff, Ruri caught the scent on Senyo's body as it drifted straight into her nose.

Senyo smiled and lightly scratched Ruri's nose.

"I'll go freshen up first. I'm on duty tonight, so how about Zhiyu keeps you company?"

"Huh? You have to stand watch as soon as you get back?"

Senyo carefully placed Ruri in her wheelchair and patted her head. "If I'm not going out on missions, I still have to work."

"Okay, I understand, Brother."

Senyo soaked in the bath barrel and slowly let out a breath.

He checked the panel. His Bond Value with Great Elder Uchiha Shihu had already reached three stars.

He lightly tapped the first star, and a massive flood of memories poured into his mind.

"Ding, Uchiha Shihu's Level 1 Bond has been unlocked."

"Ding, congratulations, you have obtained: Memory Fragment."

These were no longer memories of training, but memories of battle.

Though the Great Elder was old now, he had lived through several wars and possessed immensely rich combat experience.

A vast number of battlefield memories, memories of facing enemies, flooded into Senyo's mind.

Senyo slowly exhaled.

Sure enough, it was good to have the clan at his back.

Senyo then tapped the second star. What he had obtained in the Land of Grass before had been a portion of chakra.

"Ding, Uchiha Shihu's Level 2 Bond has been unlocked."

"Ding, congratulations, you have obtained: Pupil Power Fragment."

This time...

Senyo's eyes swelled slightly as a portion of pupil power was added out of nowhere.

Huh?

Why was it pupil power?

Senyo opened his eyes, delight written all over his face.

After obtaining the Mangekyō Sharingan, the natural concern was going blind.

Although the amount of pupil power he gained from the Great Elder was not much, at least Senyo now had a way to replenish it!

Filled with anticipation, he tapped the third star.

"Ding, Uchiha Shihu's Level 3 Bond has been unlocked."

"Ding, congratulations, you have obtained: Forbidden Jutsu, Izanagi; Forbidden Jutsu, Izanami."

In an instant, the two Uchiha forbidden jutsu appeared in his mind.

"Oh, I didn't expect the Great Elder to know both of these secret techniques."

Senyo was initially surprised, but then felt it was only natural. After all, the Great Elder had been on the battlefield several times, so it was perfectly normal for him to know these two forbidden jutsu.

It seemed his chances today had increased a little more.

Senyo saw that Ruri's name was listed there as well, but only the first star was lit.

The stars behind it were all locked. Was it because Ruri was not a ninja and did not know any secret techniques?

Curious, he tapped Ruri's first star.

"Ding, Uchiha Ruri's Level 1 Bond has been unlocked."

"Ding, congratulations, you have obtained: Memory Fragment."

In an instant, Ruri's memories of studying all kinds of medicinal knowledge merged into Senyo's mind.

Senyo smiled knowingly. It seemed that while he had been away, his little sister had been working hard too.