Half a Move Ahead of Heaven

"I would choose to accept the mission and leak information to enemy ninjas."

A powerful voice suddenly echoed in the cell, and Uchiha Yoru's imposing figure slowly stepped in. Upon seeing him, everyone exclaimed in surprise, "Lord Yoru!"

"Brother Yoru."

"Teacher Yoru."

Facing the complex gazes of the crowd, Uchiha Yoru walked directly into the cell, stood before the dazed-looking Ueki in front of the haystack, and solemnly nodded, saying, "I will be like you."

"I must complete the task assigned to me while also protecting my family, rather than refusing the task. Otherwise, not only will my own situation be precarious, but my family's future will also be uncertain."

Uchiha Yoru's resolute voice echoed in the cell. When Ueki looked at the determined expression on the young face, his gaze suddenly went blank, and finally, tears of regret streamed down his face.

"Waaah~ I don't regret doing this, what I regret is why I didn't die on the battlefield, then they wouldn't have found me, and my family wouldn't have been threatened, waaah!"

It was too painful for him, a pain that no one could understand. However, when Uchiha Yoru came in, he immediately solidified his choice and said that his choice was right. It was as if someone could understand his pain, and he immediately burst into tears.

The cell echoed with heart-wrenching cries of pain. No one disturbed them, and everyone was asking themselves: if they were in that situation, how would they react?

Yūhi Kurenai muttered to herself, wondering what she would do if the village threatened her with the night.

Uzuki Yugao, who emerged from the Anbu as Spy, felt her worldview shattered. She had considered the Lord Orochimaru incident a coincidence, a mistake by the Third Hokage, but what about this time? Was it another oversight?

It was less a matter of oversight and more a matter of indulgence. Meanwhile, Uzuki Yugao and alone, gave a self-deprecating laugh. What could she possibly use to threaten her? Lord Yoru?

Everyone's expressions varied, even the most passionate Might Guy fell silent. One was the mission, the other was betraying his village. At this moment, he thought of his father and a bitter smile appeared on his face. He murmured to himself, "Father, perhaps you are right. A pure ninja can live a simpler life and be very happy."

But at this point, Might Guy no longer felt so happy, or rather, he had begun to hide something beneath his previously enthusiastic and cheerful smile.

The youngest, Uchiha Itachi, clenched his fists tightly, his eyes bloodshot. One was the village's mission, the other was the safety of his parents and younger brother. Choosing to complete the mission meant betraying the village, but choosing his family meant he couldn't protect them. It was an unsolvable question.

'What should I do if Yoru is threatened?' This question echoed in Mitarashi Anko's innocent mind. At that moment, she suddenly thought of Teacher Orochimaru had coldly left the village. Anko shivered and lowered her head. A hint of madness appeared in her eyes.

No one can harm the night! Leaving this place of trouble, perhaps Teacher Orochimaru's choice was right. The village may not be the final destination; home is where the night is.

No matter how they thought about it, in the end everyone showed a self-deprecating bitter smile, as if they would eventually end up like each other.

This is an unsolvable dilemma. Choosing the mission protects his family, but it means betraying the village. Choosing to refuse the mission means risking his family's safety. Can he really protect them? Should he return to the village and tell everyone what happened, then go to the Third Hokage?

Thinking of this, everyone recalled the incident involving Lord Orochimaru. Such a major incident had even caused Border Instability, yet all that was done was to remove him from his position as Anbu Captain.

Can going to the Third Hokage really protect my family?

Everyone fell silent upon realizing this. They could protect them for a time, but not forever. Even a mission with flawed intelligence could cause them to lose everything.

"Waaah, Lord Yoru, please kill me. I'm sorry, but I had no choice. Please don't pursue my family."

Ueki knelt on the ground in a sorry state, pleading with the boy in front of him. He couldn't afford to offend either side, as either could bring disaster to his family, and he had no one to rely on.

Seeing the Ueki in such a desperate plea, everyone fell silent. How would they have reacted if they were in the same situation? At that moment, they clearly realized the importance of rights.

Looking at the scene before him, Uchiha Yoru glanced at everyone and said quietly, "Heroes?"

With a self-deprecating laugh, Uchiha Yoru shook his head and said, "We don't have a good father, so we can't do whatever we want. Individuality is a luxury for us."

Stepping forward, he gently patted the other's shoulder. In the dimly lit cell, Uchiha Yoru calmly said, "You were mortally wounded in the last battle. Now, Ueki is a hero in the village."

Those words brought a relieved smile to Ueki, and he abandoned all dignity, bowing his head in a disheveled manner, saying, "Thank you, Lord Yoru Lord Yoru. I can never repay your great kindness. In my next life, I am willing to be your ox or horse to repay your great kindness."

Turning his head, Uchiha Yoru observed the complex expressions on everyone's faces. He said in a deep voice, his expressionless face, "Konoha is rotten. Heroes have become mere tools in the eyes of the corrupt higher-ups. First it was White Fang, then Orochimaru, and now with all these events, Konoha is too corrupt to tolerate heroes."

"Konoha was jointly founded by the Uchiha and Senju clans. Konoha is the common home of all of us. But now Konoha has become the private property of corrupt high-ranking officials who seek to enrich themselves and expand their clans. From the weak Sarutobi Clan at the beginning of Konoha's establishment, they have greedily absorbed nutrients and grown into the behemoth they are today. There are also the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans, who act as accomplices to the evil, and the Utatane clan, among others."

"Is Konoha still the home we consider it?" At this point, Uchiha Yoru turned his gaze to Might Guy, his expression grave. "Might Guy, your father was a hero, but did he receive the honor he deserved?"

The once passionate and impulsive Might Guy was now pale-faced. He stiffly opened his mouth, wanting to defend his father, but reality proved too daunting.

As the hero who opened the Eight Inner Gates Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, why is there no story about his deeds? Is it for secrecy? What secret is there?

Or is this achievement too great, Konoha needs to downplay it to make way for certain people?

"Might Guy, your father was a hero. He protected those he wanted to protect, but did he receive everything a hero deserves? I say that in Konoha today, heroes are just tools!"

Heroes are just tools!

These words echoed in the dimly lit cell, and no one could refute them. This was the stark reality, and even the most loyal Uzuki Yugao and Yūhi Kurenai were pale and filled with helplessness.

"Heroes are powerless before power; what are heroes in the face of power? Merely tools."

The sarcastic voice echoed in the cell. For a moment, everyone listened to this ironic assessment, which contained the truth and left no one able to refute it.

The three members of the Genma Squad showed a determined look in their eyes, "Lord Yoru, we are willing to follow you!"

Faced with such loyalty, Uchiha Yoru immediately raised his hand to stop him. Instead, his face radiated fervor and determination as he declared forcefully, "Konoha has lost its original purpose. I will risk my life to reclaim the dignity that Konoha has lost."

"However, what can change the fate of Konoha is power, not my own strength. The corrupt higher-ups have rotted to the core by trampling on heroes. The village needs a change! A world-shaking change. Even if it costs me my own life, I will Half a Move Ahead of Heaven."

With unwavering gaze and a resounding voice, Uchiha Yoru looked at everyone and slowly raised his fist, gesturing for their firm resolve as he said, "I alone cannot change everything, so I need you. I need you to join me in this transformation, to overthrow the Root Konoha, and to rebuild the Konoha we yearn for, so that the true Will of Fire may once again reappear in the hearts of all Konoha Ninja."

A tiny fist appeared and collided with Uchiha Yoru's fist. At that moment, everyone's attention was drawn to the small figure. No one expected that it would be Uchiha Itachi stepped forward first.

At this moment Uchiha Itachi, who was not even eight years old, had a fervent admiration and determination in his eyes. All the resentment he once felt towards his teacher for not teaching him had disappeared, and he regarded his teacher as a guiding light.

The charismatic Uchiha Yoru was a god-like figure in the eyes of the young Uchiha Itachi, and his childish voice echoed firmly within the prison cell.

"I, Uchiha Itachi, am willing to help my teacher overthrow the corrupt Konoha and let the true Will of Fire reappear in the skies above Konoha."

Immediately afterwards, Hatake Kakashi slowly extended his fist and collided with that firm fist.

"I believe in you. Your eyes can see further, and your power will surely change Konoha."

At this moment Hatake Kakashi was filled with confidence and determination in Uchiha Yoru. Through such a long period of observation, he had confirmed that Uchiha Yoru was the one who could truly change Konoha.

His dual background, the strongest among the younger generation, his highly regarded political skills, and most importantly, his love for Konoha —a love that surpasses everyone else's, even surpasses mine!

Kakashi pondered to himself, "With the background of the Uchiha Clan and the fact that he's Sannin 'Orochimaru's Disciple, he's more than qualified to lead them in reforming Konoha."

"The Genma Squad is willing to follow Lord Yoru!" Shiranui Genma, Tatami Iwashi, Namiashi Raidō Deivashi of the Genma Squad all showed determined expressions and clashed their fists together.

"Yoru, I will always follow you!" Under Mitarashi Anko's unwavering gaze, they bumped fists.

Finally, Yūhi Kurenai Uzuki Yugao were both pale, with forced smiles on their faces. One was Spy sent by the Third Hokage, and the other was from the Anbu, and they were now under the Third Hokage.

They had infiltrated the organization smoothly and even become the target's most trusted confidants, yet now they were experiencing immense torment.

Under Uchiha Yoru's unwavering and fearless gaze, the two of them strangely clashed fists.

Seeing Uchiha Yoruro the two of them, everyone else assumed that Yūhi Kurenai and Uzuki Yugao were afraid of the darkness and ugliness of Konoha.

"Brother Yoru, I believe in you!" When he saw Uchiha Yoru reveal his ambition to change Konoha, Uchiha Shisui's eyes lit up with fervor. How could he not agree?

When it was Might Guy's turn, everyone's eyes were on him. Even Hatake Kakashi showed a rare look of anxiety, but this was everyone's freedom, and he had no right to interfere.

Might Guy, who is usually hot-blooded, looked at his classmate with complicated feelings at this moment. He remembered that Uchiha Yoru, who was always arrogant at school, had never ridiculed him and had even encouraged him, saying that he would definitely become a strong person in the future. Countless images flashed through his mind.

Finally Might Guy lowered his voice and said hoarsely, "Night, if I choose to back out, what are you going to do to me?"

Swish~

As soon as Might Guy's voice fell, the first to react were Uchiha Shisui, the three Genma Squad, and Mitarashi Anko. They solemnly formed a perimeter around Might Guy, on high alert, determined not to allow anyone who could threaten Uchiha Yoru to leave.

However, Uchiha Yoru raised his hand to stop everyone's guard, but even so, a ruthless look appeared deep in Shisui's eyes. He had decided that he absolutely could not leave any trouble behind.

However, Uchiha Yoru, who had stopped everyone, stared straight at Might Guy, revealing a hearty and sincere smile. "Guy, you may not agree with my thoughts, but you cannot stop my love for Konoha, so please don't stop me. I believe in you too."

Please don't stop my love for Konoha! I believe in you too!

With just that one sentence, everything was elevated. At that moment, even Hatake Kakashi, who had breathed a sigh of relief, revealed a determined look in everyone's eyes. I hadn't misjudged him. I am no match for Uchiha Yoru!

Upon hearing this, Might Guy's eyes immediately welled up with tears. How could he not love Konoha? But it was precisely because he loved it so much that he was powerless to change any injustice or darkness, so he chose to turn a blind eye.

Previously, we lacked the ability to change everything; now, the person capable of changing everything has appeared.

"I believe you!" Just as Might Guy slowly extended his fist, a figure suddenly appeared and delivered a firm and loud voice. It was Hizashi Hyuga, who had been hiding in the shadows on guard.

"Yoru! I believe in you!" Might Guy and Hizashi Hyuga simultaneously bumped fists with Uchiha Yoru.

Hyuga Hizashi, who is always rigid and has a stern face, also grew up in Hizashi Hyuga. His love for Konoha village is no less than anyone else's. Moreover, from a selfish point of view, the Hyuga Branch Family is currently in the most awkward position. If he really follows Uchiha Yoru and changes Konoha, then the Hyuga Branch Family can appear in front of everyone with dignity in the future.

Seeing that everyone had chosen to believe him, Uchiha Yoruro smiled.

"Everyone! Please wait and see. I, Uchiha Yoru, will definitely sweep away the darkness over Konoha and let the sunlight shine on the land of Konoha again. Perhaps this will be difficult, and there may even be sacrifices, but I believe that as long as we unite as one, we can definitely change all of this. So I ask you all for my help!"

"Please train hard to become powerful ninjas. The stronger you are, the sooner you can change Konoha!"

The resolute voice echoed within the cell, and the disheveled Ueki, lying on the haystack, seemed to see a glimmer of hope, and he smiled as well.

"Please do it. And after you've swept away the darkness of Konoha, remember to tell me at my grave that I'll come back to Konoha in my next life."

Screams echoed through the cell.

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