Engraving (Seeking Follow-ups and Recommendations)

"Senior Chen!"

"Lord Chen!"

As Uchiha Chen made his way through the rear base of the front lines, he was greeted warmly by everyone he passed. He had well and truly become a "big shot" in the eyes of others.

Ninja, no matter how nicely you put it, were still defined by their ability to kill; those who killed quickly and efficiently were the good ones.

Since Uchiha Chen's individual battle record was equivalent to that of three or four Jonin, he was naturally held in high regard by everyone on the Eastern Front.

Of course, Uchiha Chen would never go around saying, "Konoha's entire war effort is being carried by me."

"Kagami's eye must be retrieved! Hizashi, do not forget your place! You had better watch yourself!"

Uchiha Chen walked straight toward the command center. Just as he reached the entrance, he heard an old, gravelly roar from within. A moment later, a furious old man with cataracts stormed out, cast a look of disgust at the clan emblem on Uchiha Chen's clothing, and marched away.

Inside the command center, Hizashi Hyuga was pressing his palms against his temples, his face etched with exhaustion.

"Chen, I apologize. I've let you see something embarrassing."

About a year ago, a member of the Hyuga Main Family named Hyuga Kagami had been killed on the battlefield, and one of his Byakugan had been taken by Ao of Kirigakure. It was arguably the greatest scandal since the founding of the Hyuga clan.

Since Ao had long since returned to Kirigakure, it was impossible for Hizashi to send men to kill him, yet members of the Main Family came to pester Hizashi every few days.

Because of this, the prestige Hizashi had earned by risking his life on the battlefield had been completely trampled.

Uchiha Chen looked at the man sitting at the head of the table with a touch of sympathy.

To Konoha, he was the Hyuga clan's top expert, an elite Jonin capable of commanding a battlefield.

But to the Hyuga Main Family, he was merely a dog. Even the strongest, most prized dog was still just a dog.

And dogs, eventually, would be slaughtered for their meat.

Uchiha Chen took the initiative to change the subject.

"Senior Hizashi, you haven't returned to the village in a long time, have you? I saw your son, Neji, back in the village. He's a very energetic child."

"Is that so?"

Hizashi did not want to complain about internal clan conflicts in front of an outsider—especially an Uchiha—so he tacitly shifted the conversation, sharing his own parenting experiences.

They were deep in pleasant conversation, and Uchiha Chen even praised Neji a few more times, which made his old father, Hizashi, beam with joy, until—

"In my opinion, Neji's talent is far superior to yours, Senior Hizashi!"

Uchiha Chen meant that sincerely.

Hyuga Neji would become a Jonin at fifteen; with normal development, he had every potential to become a top-tier powerhouse at the "Kage" level.

But the compliment had the opposite effect, and Hizashi's smile turned bitter.

The Caged Bird seal was all the more torturous for those with greater talent.

Hizashi, whose inner suffering could not be shared with others, pulled out a mission scroll and began discussing the real reason he had summoned Uchiha Chen back:

"Chen, there seems to be unusual activity between the Sunagakure and Kirigakure forces stationed in the Land of Whirlpools.

Sunagakure is our ally, so we cannot make accusations without evidence. I need you to investigate the connection between the two. This will be an S-rank solo mission."

"Understood!"

Execution of missions was a ninja's duty; Uchiha Chen would naturally not refuse. He took the scroll and read it on the spot.

Sunagakure was pulling back its forces; Mist squads had entered Sunagakure-controlled territory several times and returned unscathed; Pakura, the Scorch Release user and commander of the Suna forces, had recently received secret orders from her village.

Uchiha Chen found this progression quite familiar.

This was likely the prelude to Sunagakure betraying their war hero, Pakura, in exchange for a peace treaty with Kirigakure.

Betraying one's own top-tier powerhouse was exactly the kind of brainless move Sunagakure was capable of.

After finishing the scroll, Uchiha Chen ignited a small flame to burn it, then took his leave of the visibly emo Hizashi Hyuga.

"It seems Hizashi harbors quite a bit of resentment toward the Main Family, especially when it concerns his son," Uchiha Chen muttered to himself.

"It would be abnormal for there to be no complaints about the Hyuga system. Can I make use of that?"

Uchiha Chen gave a mocking laugh, feeling that he was being overly idealistic.

As long as the Caged Bird seal existed, no matter how much the Branch Family resented them, they would never be able to topple the Main Family.

After quickly restocking his supplies of Military Ration Pills, Explosive Tags, and Antidotes at the logistics base, Uchiha Chen did not head straight for the Land of Whirlpools. Instead, he first visited Orochimaru's secret laboratory.

Blood extraction needles and cell culture fluid were essential if he wanted to properly preserve the cells of any bloodline-limit ninja he encountered.

Finally, Uchiha Chen activated the operation panel for his prosthetic eye.

[Prosthetic Eye--001]

Eye Power: 107/1000

[Seal 1: Uchiha Hikari]

Dojutsu: .

[Seal 2: Empty]

[Seal 3: Empty]

"Foreign eye power detected. Would you like to imprint it?"

Imprint!

Uchiha Chen chose without a moment's hesitation.

Previously, whether in Konoha or on the battlefield, Uchiha Shisui would come to discuss the plan to "force the Third to abdicate" every day or two. Uchiha Chen had never dared to imprint his eye power, fearing he might be found out.

Now that he had a long-term mission away from the village, even if the eye power sealed within Uchiha Chen vanished while he imprinted Shisui's, he would have a ready excuse.

"Zzzzt!"

Electric currents surged through the highly realistic prosthetic eye. Uchiha Chen could clearly feel the eye power hidden within him by the Transcription Seal being drawn out, flowing along his meridians and rooting itself into the prosthetic eye.

A moment later, the electricity in Uchiha Chen's prosthetic eye faded, and the Mangekyō within his gaze transformed into the shape of a four-pointed shuriken.

[Imprint successful!]

Shisui's eye power had dissipated completely.

But from this day forward, his Sharingan would be with me!

[Imprint 2 -- Uchiha Shisui]

Dōjutsu:

1. Kotoamatsukami: Light, temporarily alters a person's will, lasting 1 to 3 days. Eye power cost: 5 per use.

2. Kotoamatsukami: Shadow Erosion, permanently alters a person's will, requires an interval of over ten years between each use. Eye power cost: 50 per use.

3. Susanoo, symbol of destruction.

"Perfect!"

In Uchiha Chen's opinion, the power of Kotoamatsukami was even more terrifying than Obito's Kamui.

"It's fortunate this power is in the hands of the kind-hearted me and Shisui; otherwise, wouldn't Naruto become 'Hypnotize Konoha' or 'Sunlight Ninja'?"

I really am too great!

Moved by his own greatness, Uchiha Chen packed his bags and headed straight for Dayu Mountain in the Land of Whirlpools. He intended to dig up Uchiha Dianpo, who had been sealed away for a hundred years.

What? The mission?

Couldn't he just report that Pakura was betrayed and died at the hands of Kirigakure?

Half a month later.

"Moshi moshi."

On a rooftop at the Kirigakure base, a burly, stout man locked the door and furtively pulled out a communicator.

"Where is he? Where is he?"

Suikazan Fuguki clutched the communicator, lowering his voice in a fit of exasperation.

"Aburame Tatsuma, is the quality of your Konoha jōnin really this poor? You haven't tracked down where Pakura is supposed to meet us after all this time? I've unilaterally postponed the meeting twice already, and people in the village are getting restless! Does your Root have a mole who tipped him off?"

"There are no moles!"

Aburame Tatsuma was clearly just as puzzled.

"My bugs have already picked up his pheromones! He should be at Dayu Mountain; he has been the whole time. Just set the meeting with Pakura at Dayu Mountain, and I will go help you find him. Don't forget, one hundred million ryō—you've already taken thirty percent as a deposit!"

Aburame Tatsuma cut the connection. Suikazan Fuguki raised the communicator several times, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to smash it on the ground.

One hundred million ryō... enough to spend for a lifetime.

Damn, my eye for people is truly sharp!

Suikazan Fuguki still wanted to earn that money, so he summoned a trusted subordinate and said:

"Tell Pakura the meeting will be at Dayu Mountain!"