All Acquaintances (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

"Lord, I am Uzuki Yugao. I look forward to working with you from now on."

At this moment, Uzuki Yugao's seemingly innocent and naive appearance carried three parts excitement, four parts uncertainty, and the remaining three parts bewilderment—she was every bit a freshly graduated ninja.

Uchiha Yoru's face showed nothing, but inwardly, a storm was churning.

Uzuki Yugao! No wonder she looked so familiar. Under her purple hair, her still-young and shy cheeks made Uchiha Yoru sink into deep thought. Something's off!

"Brother Yoru, Uzuki Yugao comes from a civilian family. She graduated last year, acing the cultural exams with full marks. She's meticulous and can assist with the Konoha Military Police Force's work."

Clearly, behind Uchiha Shisui's relaxed smile was an effort to find him an assistant—a so-called clerical secretary, essentially an office errand-runner.

After all, every division and squad had assistants. For clerical work, most were women; for combat, elite ninjas.

Seeing Shisui's well-meaning intent, Uchiha Yoru also smiled. Looking at the still-green Uzuki Yugao, who had just graduated not long ago, he said, "Alright, go ahead and familiarize yourself with the work first."

"Thank you, Lord." Uzuki Yugao bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle, her face brimming with an excited smile full of hope for the future.

Yet the moment Uzuki Yugao stepped out and closed the door, Uchiha Yoru's smile gradually turned cold. Uzuki Yugao, who had also shut the door, had the innocence vanish from her eyes, while Shisui beside him noticed nothing.

The first page of the personnel files was Uzuki Yugao's. Uchiha Yoru narrowed his eyes as he scanned the data: graduated from the Ninja Academy at eleven, been out for over half a year, her squad leader an ordinary Chunin, her teammates all civilians. Evaluated as meticulous, with basic knowledge of Medical Ninjutsu, and her specialty was swordsmanship.

"Brother Yoru?" Seeing Yoru flipping through the files nonstop, Shisui looked puzzled.

But after going through every page, a cold glint flashed in Uchiha Yoru's eyes. He looked up at Shisui with a grim expression, startling the latter.

"Shisui, the Seventh Division of the Konoha Military Police Force has been infiltrated like a sieve."

"What?" Shisui was still bewildered, but Uchiha Yoru irritably slapped three files hard onto the desk.

Uchiha Shisui might lack political savvy, but he was an Elite Jonin. When he saw his older brother pull out those three files, his face darkened too—because one of them was Uzuki Yugao's. He had specifically chosen her, placing her file on top, believing her background was clean.

"Brother Yoru, should we—" By now, after all the dark deeds he'd done for Root, Shisui had lost his former naivety. A cold gleam flickered in his eyes, as if asking whether they should slit throats.

Seeing this, Uchiha Yoru rubbed his forehead in frustration. Staring intently at the three files, he finally shook his head. "I only learned about these three by chance from Teacher Orochimaru. Who knows how many more are hidden in the shadows? Keep a close watch on these three, Shisui, and secretly screen everyone else. Don't tip them off."

"Have someone tail Uzuki Yugao and Gekko Hayate quietly. As for this Kabuto Yakushi, he's from Root."

Kabuto Yakushi, Gekko Hayate, and Uzuki Yugao—these were the three files he'd pulled, the ones he knew about. Otherwise, who could have found them? But Shisui felt a surge of anger upon hearing this, his resentment toward Root growing stronger.

The Uchiha Clan had practically made the Seventh Division independent, a force under Lord Orochimaru's command and Root's covert black glove. Yet here they were, doing the dirty, thankless work, and still they weren't trusted—spies were sent in. That was what infuriated Shisui the most.

Uchiha Yoru shook his head too, but inwardly he sneered. What you know isn't scary; what you don't know is.

"Shisui, the calluses on Uzuki Yugao's tiger's mouth prove she's trained in swordsmanship since childhood. That matches the file—typical for a civilian ninja. As for which faction she belongs to, don't dig deeper. Just keep an eye on them."

"Brother Yoru, you—" Seeing Yoru forbid him from investigating further, Shisui hesitated. But Yoru's face turned stern as he said firmly, "Shisui! Follow orders!"

"Yes!" Uchiha Shisui responded reflexively, but a question gnawed at him. Why wouldn't Brother Yoru let him investigate further? And when he saw those three identities, Brother Yoru's eyes had held disbelief and pain. Could it be... could it be!

The more Shisui thought, the more alarmed he grew. He dared not pursue it further and lowered his head. Seeing this, Uchiha Yoru breathed a quiet sigh of relief. If he'd told Shisui outright, the effect would have been halved. Instead, forbidding the investigation would only make him itch to know. When he eventually uncovered the mastermind on his own, he'd understand everything.

From the start, Yoru had feigned pain and shock, making Shisui believe he already knew who these three worked for. But for the village, for the clan, he'd ordered no investigation. When Shisui learned the truth, he'd realize just how heavy a burden Yoru carried.

For the Uchiha, he was racking his brains. After all, he didn't want to experience the night of the clan's annihilation firsthand a few years from now.

Uzuki Yugao and Gekko Hayate—this pair were tragic figures. But from the original story, it was clear both were Anbu members. When had Anbu started training them?

He didn't know that. But one thing he was sure of: Konoha was short-handed right now. The Third Hokage had returned to power and would surely be cultivating his own faction.

"Anbu people, huh?" Uchiha Yoru sneered inwardly. Sending them out at this age to infiltrate was indeed the easiest way to be overlooked.

By the time of the Chunin Exam, both would be Special Jonin. Gekko Hayate was a Kekkei Genkai user, but wasn't the Transparent Escape technique perfect for a covert operative? And Uzuki Yugao was just an ordinary civilian.

Spotting promising talent early and training them in secret—that was Anbu's standard tactic. As for Kabuto Yakushi, everyone knew he was from Root.

"Brother Yoru, should we just brush them off with menial tasks? Or assign them to prison duty?"

Clearly, knowing they were spies from the village's factions, Shisui thought that if they couldn't be dealt with, they should at least be sidelined.

But Uchiha Yoru feigned exhaustion and irritation, waving a hand with a sigh. "You can guard against them for a while, but not forever. Pretend we don't know. Since you've already placed Uzuki Yugao by my side, don't alert her. As for these two—"

"Gekko Hayate's file is ordinary. Follow standard procedure and assign him to the Patrol and Security Force. Kabuto Yakushi's file shows he's skilled in Medical Ninjutsu, so put him in logistics. Remember, don't tip off these three."

"Understood."

Uchiha Yoru chose not to disturb them. Since he already knew their backgrounds, pretending ignorance was sometimes the best move. Otherwise, if they sent more spies, he'd be flying blind again.

"Shisui, secretly keep investigating. See how many more among this batch of recruits have issues."

Uchiha Yoru didn't believe it was just these few. There had to be more. Shisui's face turned grave upon hearing this, a hint of sorrow in his heart. They were all from the same village—why such vigilance against the Uchiha?

Thanks: 'Cautious Tiger and Leopard' 100-point tip, 'Book Friend 20230119112157703' 100-point tip.

Please keep reading!!!