Coming to the Door

"Yoichi-san, it's finished. Would you like to see if this meets your requirements?"

The owner of the Ninja Tool Shop wiped away non-existent cold sweat as he spoke. This Uchiha had been waiting in his shop for nearly a day, putting immense pressure on him, so he had hurriedly urged the craftsmen to finish what Uchiha Yoichi wanted and bring it over.

It was a metal mask designed to restrict the opening and closing of the jaw. It looked somewhat like the mask Kakashi used to cover his face, though Uchiha Yoichi had requested it be made of metal.

"Let me test the effect first."

Uchiha Yoichi spoke uncontrollably, then put the mask on his face. He took out paper and a pen and wrote to the shop owner: 'Ask me any question.'

"Ask any question? Well then, Yoichi-san, are you satisfied with this mask?"

Upon hearing the shop owner's question, Uchiha Yoichi immediately wanted to say he wasn't satisfied, but his mouth wouldn't move, so the words died on his lips.

It worked!

Uchiha Yoichi thought with satisfaction. He should have solved this drawback sooner; there was no need to deliberately control himself. His daily training already left him exhausted, and having to constantly watch his mouth was less efficient than just forcefully clamping it shut.

Now, no one could hide secrets from him, and he wouldn't have to blurt out his inner thoughts anymore.

If he had solved this sooner, he wouldn't have caused so much trouble.

After paying, Uchiha Yoichi headed home.

The fact that he was chased by Tsunade today would certainly reach the ears of the Konoha higher-ups and the Security Force, and there would undoubtedly be a round of questioning.

However, Uchiha Yoichi was puzzled by the whole affair. It was clearly Tsunade who had come looking for trouble; she had already been acting hostile before he even mentioned that they were big and white.

It was already afternoon by the time he returned to the clan compound.

"Yoichi-kun?"

On his way back, Uchiha Yoichi ran into Uchiha Mikoto, who was just returning from buying groceries. This Konoha Jonin had become a housewife after getting married.

Uchiha Yoichi nodded and held up a note he had prepared in advance to greet her.

"Is your throat uncomfortable? Please take care of your health, Yoichi-kun. Fugaku often mentions you at home; after all, we are of the same clan."

Uchiha Mikoto's expression was calm, but everything she was thinking was heard loud and clear by Uchiha Yoichi.

Can he not speak anymore? But what was going on a while ago? I could clearly see Yoichi-kun's naked body and that thing back then, so why can't I see it now?

Just what exactly are you trying to see, Madam?

'Madam, if there's nothing else, I'll be heading back. Goodbye.'

Uchiha Mikoto nodded. "Mm, get some rest, Yoichi-kun. If you need anything, feel free to come see Fugaku."

Could it be that I can only see it when he's at our house? Or was I really just seeing things back then?

Stop fantasizing, Madam. That ability has absolutely nothing to do with you!

After saying goodbye to Uchiha Mikoto, Uchiha Yoichi headed straight home. He decided to pause his Kenjutsu training for the day, opting for weighted physical conditioning instead.

The Lightning Release Chakra Mode also required a powerful body. The Third Raikage had fought the Eight-Tails in hand-to-hand combat, and the Fourth Raikage had severed one of the Eight-Tails' horns with his bare hand. If Uchiha Yoichi could cultivate the Lightning Release Chakra Mode to a level comparable to theirs, he would undoubtedly be even more formidable.

As long as he could evolve his Sharingan to the Three-Tomoe stage, he would possess a massive advantage in Taijutsu skirmishes.

As he neared his front door, Uchiha Yoichi suddenly noticed someone standing there—it was Tsunade, the one who had been chasing him earlier that day.

Uchiha Yoichi hadn't expected Tsunade to dare come to the Uchiha compound. This Senju was certainly bold.

However, just as Uchiha Yoichi turned to run, Tsunade suddenly spoke up: "Kid, stop running. I'm not going to attack you!"

These words made Uchiha Yoichi stop in his tracks. He turned around and gave her a suspicious look. After a moment of thought, he took out paper and a pen and wrote: "Lady Tsunade, my previous remark was out of line. I hope you can forgive me. But may I ask why you were looking for me back then?"

Seeing what was written on the paper, Tsunade feigned magnanimity and said, "Forget it. I'm not going to hold a grudge against a kid. But why are you wearing a mask and not speaking?"

Hmph, just you wait, you lecherous little Uchiha brat. One day, you'll fall into my hands! But before that, I need to figure out if you had anything to do with that incident.

Fine, fine, he thought. Forgive me with your mouth, but keep a little black book in your heart, right?

Uchiha Yoichi nearly rolled his eyes. Even the most powerful woman was still a woman. However, as long as Tsunade didn't resort to violence, he could tolerate it; besides, his ability was currently suppressed anyway.

It wasn't convenient to talk outside. After inviting Tsunade into his house, Uchiha Yoichi wrote his reply: "I had a bit of an accident, so I can only communicate this way. If you have something to ask, Lady Tsunade, please go ahead."

"You know the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, don't you!"

Tsunade said with a tone of certainty, "The lightning that was crackling around you earlier—only the Lightning Release Chakra Mode can do that. That is a secret Nintaijutsu created by the Second Raikage. How did you learn it?"

"It was an accident. I happened to come across it during a mission."

"Whatever. That matter has nothing to do with me anyway. The old man already knows about it, and it's unlikely for a Bloodline clan to produce a spy. I came to ask you about something else."

Does my turning into a wild boar have anything to do with this brat? I definitely heard him mention an 'ability' back then. What did that ability mean...

Hearing Tsunade's inner thoughts, Uchiha Yoichi felt a jolt of surprise.

He finally understood. So, that wild boar from the other day had been Tsunade. At the time, his ability had just happened to be [Sneeze Transformation].

Tsunade's expression suddenly shifted. She stared at Uchiha Yoichi with intense seriousness and asked, "Do you know of an ability that can turn people into animals?"

"I'm not sure. It sounds a bit like a Transformation Technique, but if there were a ninjutsu that could turn others into animals, wouldn't that be invincible? It would be better to ask the Third Hokage; he is the Professor of Ninjutsu in Konohagakure."

Uchiha Yoichi wrote this down without changing his expression, then handed it to Tsunade. When it came to acting or playing dumb, he was quite confident.

After reading Uchiha Yoichi's response, Tsunade felt a flicker of doubt, but she hadn't detected anything amiss in his expression just now.

If she wanted to know whether this Uchiha brat was lying, the best method would be to take him to the Interrogation Squad. However, based solely on her suspicions and her experience as a wild boar, there was no way she could force Uchiha Yoichi into the Interrogation Squad.

"Then, do you have any special abilities?"

"The Sharingan, a Kekkei Genkai possessed only by the Uchiha Clan!"

"Tsk!"

Tsunade saw that she couldn't get any useful information out of Uchiha Yoichi, and she began to suspect that the brat was too slippery. However, she had just been scolded by the Third Hokage, and they were currently in the Uchiha compound.

She couldn't resort to force, and Tsunade felt there was no point in continuing the questioning.

"Forget it, I'm heading back!"

This brat doesn't know anything either. How am I supposed to investigate this now? It's been so long without a single lead; who on earth did it? Or was it really just an illusion?

Whatever, I'll leave this to the old man and have him look into it. I'm going to go gamble a few rounds first.

Seeking votes!