The Wager (Please Bookmark)

"Be confident!" Yan grinned. "I mean Sarutobi Hiruzen!"

Feeling Yan's undisguised hostility toward the Third Hokage, Shisui sighed helplessly.

"Yan, I really don't know where all your hostility toward Lord Hokage comes from. He genuinely wants the Uchiha Clan and Konoha to get along better."

"Shisui!" Yan said solemnly. "Do you remember what I told you?"

"When judging someone, don't look at what they say. Look at what they do."

"Think carefully. Other than making empty promises to you, has Sarutobi Hiruzen ever taken any concrete action?"

"B-But... that's because!" Shisui tried to defend Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"You mean Shimura Danzō's obstruction, right?" Yan cut him off.

"Yes!" Shisui nodded. "It's precisely because of Shimura Danzō that the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha has become so tense."

It must be that!

Hearing Shisui's words, Yan let out a helpless sigh.

At that moment, even the air around them seemed to grow heavy.

"Shisui, don't be naïve. Sarutobi Hiruzen has been Hokage for decades. Among all the Hokage, none has held the position longer than him."

"Do you really think he didn't know about the things Shimura Danzō did?"

"Do you know what a black glove is? It's someone specially used to do dirty work. That's the role Shimura Danzō plays for Sarutobi Hiruzen."

"Otherwise, do you really think Root needs to exist?"

Yan's voice echoed through the room, striking Shisui's fragile heart.

If it's really as Yan says, then wouldn't I be a traitor to the Uchiha Clan?!

After standing there in a daze for a long while, Shisui shook his head repeatedly in disbelief.

"I don't believe it. Lord Hokage can't possibly be that kind of person. This is just your speculation!"

Seeing that Shisui still refused to accept reality, Yan shook his head helplessly and patted him on the shoulder.

"Shisui, it's fine if you don't believe me, but this is the truth."

"If you don't believe it, just watch. Next, they'll definitely use the Nine-Tails Rebellion as an excuse to suppress our Uchiha Clan."

"Shimura Danzō will definitely play the bad cop, while Sarutobi Hiruzen plays the good cop."

"Do you dare to bet?"

Shisui pressed his lips together. After hesitating for a moment, he replied.

"Bet... bet on what?"

"If you lose, then give up those unrealistic ideas of yours!" Yan's expression was serious and his gaze firm. "Place your wager on me and cooperate with all my plans."

"Even if I tell you to move against the Hokage faction, you can't hesitate!"

Shisui fell silent for a long time before finally nodding, as though he had made an enormous decision.

"Fine, I'll bet!"

After saying that, Shisui tilted his head back and closed his eyes, unable to believe that he had actually agreed to this wager.

Maybe it was because Yan had been badmouthing Sarutobi Hiruzen in front of him so often lately, while he himself could find no excuse to refute him.

This might be a test he had set for the Hokage faction.

If they passed, he would stand even more firmly by the Hokage's side from then on, never wavering.

But if they really did as Yan said...

Then there was no need to remain loyal to such a two-faced Hokage!

At Shisui's answer, an imperceptible smile appeared on Yan's face.

If nothing unexpected happened, then at the upcoming Jonin Meeting, the Hokage faction would use the losses caused by the Nine-Tails Rebellion as an excuse to force the entire Uchiha Clan to relocate.

They would move the Uchiha Clan away from the political center!

Shisui, you were doomed to lose!

After leaving Shisui's residence, Yan looked up at the azure sky.

Sunlight spilled across his face, warm and pleasant, just like his current mood.

Before long, Shisui would surely abandon his fantasies completely and join Yan's camp.

He was the Uchiha Clan's greatest genius at present, an absolutely powerful ally.

That meant the next phase of the plan could begin as well.

At that thought, Yan's lips curled upward unconsciously as he headed toward the casino in a relaxed mood.

The sun slowly sank beyond the horizon, stretching his shadow long and longer.

As he walked down the street, Yan smiled and greeted the clan members passing by.

"Uncle Mari, has business been good lately?"

"..."

"Auntie Hisae, be careful carrying those goods. Where's your boy? Why isn't he helping you?"

"..."

"Ryota, what are you wandering around outside for? You haven't even refined your chakra yet, and you still have the nerve to play around? Careful, or I'll kick you!"

"..."

Perhaps because Yan was a rising star within the clan, most of them responded warmly.

They even took out the things they were selling, wanting to stuff them into his hands.

Except for those Uchiha brats making faces at him!

Just as Yan was about to reach the casino entrance, a burst of commotion suddenly came from nearby.

Uchiha Teuchi came rushing over with a flushed face, tightly clutching something in his hand.

The moment he saw Yan, he hurriedly held out the item and said respectfully.

"Lord Yan, this is the deed to my family's property, including the pancake shop my parents run. How much can I exchange it for?"

Yan took the deed and casually flipped through it. Rather than immediately naming a price, he asked offhandedly.

"You're mortgaging your family's house. Where will your parents live afterward?"

And judging by Uchiha Teuchi's guilty look, it was obvious he had stolen it. His parents probably did not even know.

Still, that was normal. Other than gamblers, no one would stake all their assets.

Once they lost, there would truly be no turning back.

But Uchiha Teuchi clearly had not realized that.

His mind was filled with the clan member who had won a huge prize and awakened the Sharingan. He believed he could do the same.

Little did he know that all of this had been arranged in advance.

"Lord Yan!" Faced with Yan's question, Uchiha Teuchi looked extremely confident. "I'll give my parents a good life."

"Once I have money, once I awaken the Sharingan, why would they need to work themselves to the bone running a business?"

Then his expression changed. Pressing his palms together, he pleaded, "Please, just exchange it for me!"

Yan nodded and casually tossed the deed back to him.

"Go find Tekka. He'll give you a fair appraisal!"

"Thank you, Lord Yan! Thank you, Lord Yan!" Uchiha Teuchi clumsily caught the deed while bowing repeatedly in thanks.

Then he immediately ran into the casino, preparing to find Tekka and exchange it for money.

Perhaps in his fantasies, he was about to possess a fortune worth tens of millions, awaken his Kekkei Genkai, and reach the pinnacle of life.

What a naïve child!

Watching Uchiha Teuchi's retreating back, Yan's lips gradually curled upward, his smile carrying a faintly sinister edge.

Yan and Tekka had long since arranged his script.

At first, he would win round after round, cutting through every obstacle in his path. But at the final step, they would deliver a fatal blow.

They would also call his parents over and let them see what he had become.

But if he still could not awaken the Sharingan after suffering such multiple blows...

That could only mean he truly lacked the potential. In that case, living as an ordinary person would be just fine.