Fugaku Uchiha

Li Tong's spitting reaction finally drew the attention of some ninjas who had entered the restaurant later. Immediately, a wave of clamor followed, with words like "Dual-Colored Eyes," "pervert," "one hundred and three cuts," and "beast" reaching Li Tong's ears.

"Check, please!" Li Tong gestured to the waiter.

Damn it, I'm done eating!

After leaving Jiangchuan, Li Tong began to wander the streets. Although he hadn't finished his meal, he was already half-full and no longer felt that hungry.

Throughout the morning, Li Tong traversed the streets and alleys, beginning to further familiarize himself with the layout of Konoha. This morning, he realized two things. First, the terrain of Konoha was very complex, but one would always see ninjas leaping high and low. In other words, the terrain could only restrict ninjas of average strength and ordinary people; for ninjas with even a bit of skill, it was effectively non-existent!

If Li Tong really wanted to rely on the terrain to shake off pursuers after an assassination attempt, the chances of success were very low!

Second...

That matter had truly spread everywhere! Not the "one hundred and three cuts," but the business regarding Kushina Uzumaki. Currently, Li Tong's "hooliganism" toward Kushina Uzumaki and his killing of Hyuga Anan had become the hot topics on every street corner of Konohagakure!

Li Tong felt like he'd been bitten by a dog.

This... it was as if an invisible hand was pushing the narrative from behind!

At noon, on a busy street in Konoha.

Li Tong was looking for a restaurant again; he wanted one that was both clean and uncrowded. As he followed the flow of the crowd, looking left and right, suddenly! The large group of people walking in front of him scattered, and another group of ninjas with distinct attire approached, blocking his path.

A noisy buzz of discussion erupted on the street.

"Look! Look! It's them!"

"Are they really going to arrest him?"

Li Tong frowned slightly, looking at the people in front of him. His gaze swept over them one by one, and his True Sight Eye displayed their information in turn. They were all ninjas of the Uchiha Clan. The ninja standing directly in front of him was only seventeen or eighteen years old—still a youth—yet he possessed an extraordinary bearing. Judging by the posture of the other ninjas, it was clear that he was their leader!

He was an "acquaintance"!

A famous figure in the original story, and his two sons were even more popular characters! One of them was even the protagonist!

Name: Fugaku Uchiha!
Identity: Heir to the Uchiha Clan of Konohagakure in the Land of Fire, Deputy Captain of the Konoha Military Police Force!
Reputation: 4665!
Relationship: Neutral!

He was the last clan head of the Uchiha Clan in the original story, the father of Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha!

At this moment, it was the 32nd year of Konoha. Born in the 15th year of Konoha, Fugaku Uchiha was only seventeen this year, and his strength, inferred from his reputation, was already at the Jonin level!

Fugaku was definitely a genius!

Any ninja of the Uchiha Clan capable of awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan was a genius! Fugaku Uchiha was one of them!

Including Fugaku Uchiha, there were nine Uchiha ninjas in total, all members of the Konoha Military Police Force. They blocked Li Tong's path, and the people on the street, sensing something was wrong, all scattered and hid far away.

"What's the meaning of this?" Li Tong raised an eyebrow.

The young Fugaku Uchiha raised his hand to signal, and the other eight Uchiha ninjas immediately closed in, forming a circle and trapping Li Tong in the middle. The noise on the street grew even louder.

They aren't actually here to arrest me, are they? Because of Kushina Uzumaki? Are they insane?

Li Tong thought to himself, his face remaining calm. He wasn't too worried, though; Anbu ninjas were watching from the shadows. Even if the Uchiha Clan really wanted to make an arrest, the Anbu would surely step in to settle it!

"I have received some information and would like to take you back for questioning. Please cooperate with us," Fugaku Uchiha said very formally. He then took two steps forward, leaning in close to Li Tong. Because he was taller than Li Tong, he had to bow slightly to whisper into his ear.

"Li Tong, you killed Hyuga Anan!" Fugaku said in a low voice.

"Hmm?" Li Tong frowned. What did killing Hyuga Anan have to do with the Uchiha Clan?

"Well done!" Fugaku Uchiha added.

"Eh?" Li Tong was stunned.

The stern-faced Fugaku Uchiha revealed a smile. Because the other Uchiha ninjas were surrounding them, no one else could see or hear what Fugaku Uchiha was saying to Li Tong.

"I have no malice toward you. That was just an excuse. Come back with us, and our Uchiha Clan will do our utmost to protect your safety. Rest assured, no matter how arrogant the Hyuga Clan is, they wouldn't dare to openly lay a hand on our people!"

That was the truth!

The Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan were both top-tier major clans in Konoha. In terms of arrogance, they were two sides of the same coin. The Hyuga Clan had strict rules where clan law superseded everything, and even the Hokage wouldn't interfere in their internal affairs. As for the Uchiha Clan, they were an extremely warlike clan—one could even call them a militant faction! Arrogance seemed to be a trait of every Uchiha ninja.

But Li Tong still didn't understand. Why would Fugaku Uchiha take the initiative to find him and represent the Uchiha Clan in offering protection?

Could it be just because he killed Hyuga Anan?

Thinking of this, Li Tong's heart stirred. It really might be just because of that!

Since the Uchiha and Hyuga were the two top clans in Konoha, their relationship was certainly not harmonious. The Hokage wouldn't allow them to be on good terms either, as that was the only way to keep them in check. The current relationship between the two clans was likely as sharp as needles meeting on a whetstone!

In that case, following the principle that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," it made sense for the Uchiha Clan to recruit Li Tong after he had formed a blood feud with the Hyuga Clan.

It had nothing to do with Li Tong's status or strength; even if it were purely to disgust the Hyuga Clan, the Uchiha Clan would be capable of doing this.

"You should trust the strength of our Uchiha Clan. If you come to our side and are willing to testify publicly about the Hyuga Clan's assassination attempt on you, we will absolutely protect you with all our might!" Fugaku Uchiha urged, seeing that Li Tong remained silent.

It really was like that!

They were actually targeting the Hyuga Clan!

"Sorry, I'm used to being alone. My apologies!" Li Tong refused, very politely; after all, they had come with good intentions.

Fugaku's expression shifted slightly. He hadn't expected Li Tong to refuse, and with such a flimsy excuse—what did he mean by being used to being alone?

"Won't you reconsider? You must understand, you killed Hyuga Anan, an elite chunin. Therefore, the next assassination attempt by the Hyuga Clan will surely involve a jonin! At the very least, a jonin! Are you certain you can handle a jonin?"

"I know I'm in a lot of trouble right now, but I really don't need it. Thank you!" Li Tong refused once again!

He did not want to become a pawn! The Uchiha Clan jumping out to recruit him was also for utilitarian purposes; they wanted to use Li Tong to deal with the Hyuga Clan and strike at them. Li Tong truly did not want to be caught in the middle of the feud between the two great clans; that would make his situation even more dangerous than it already was!

Furthermore, the protection the Uchiha Clan could offer him was not necessarily stronger than the Anbu, unless Li Tong hid inside the Uchiha compound and never came out. But if he did that, how would it be any different from being in prison?

Li Tong's gaze was serious, his tone resolute!

"It seems your mind is made up!" Fugaku Uchiha straightened his posture, and the smile on his face faded away. "Then I can only wish you good luck! I will be sure to collect your corpse!"

Having said that, Fugaku Uchiha waved his hand and led the group of Uchiha ninja away.

The noise on the street grew louder; they actually hadn't taken him away?

Li Tong watched the backs of Fugaku and the others, his brows furrowed deeply. What he cared about most now was the remark Fugaku had just made—the Hyuga Clan would send a jonin to assassinate him! At the very least, a jonin!

Pressure!

Li Tong truly did not have the strength to go head-to-head with a jonin.

"Damn it!" Li Tong cursed under his breath, turning back to look at the street as it returned to normal. People were coming and going, casting all sorts of strange looks his way. Li Tong didn't care about that; he was observing every single person on the street!

Checking their information!

Li Tong already had the idea of actively accelerating his growth. Killing people to drop cards was the best method, but Li Tong couldn't just kill people at will; the Anbu were watching him from the shadows. Unless... he killed enemies of Konoha!

Were there enemies of Konoha inside Konoha Village?

The answer was yes!

The current situation in the ninja world was one of constant battlefield conflicts, with local wars being fought in bloody, visceral detail. The outbreak of a Great Ninja War was not far off. Under these circumstances, spies and agents from various countries and factions moved frequently.

Inside Konoha Village, there were not only Amegakure assassins looking to clean house, but also spies and scouts from Kirigakure, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure. These people had infiltrated Konoha in disguise, naturally to gather intelligence. Although they weren't targeting Li Tong, Li Tong could take the initiative to find them!

Scanning the street, Li Tong walked a short distance before coming to a halt.

He had found one!

Someone he could kill—someone he could kill in the middle of the street and it wouldn't matter!

-- Name: Qifeng Identity: Amegakure Assassination Tactics Squad Ninja Reputation: 1 Relationship: Hostile --

This was a young man in his early twenties, disguised as a passing samurai, carrying a pack and having just walked out of a noodle shop.

Li Tong thought for a moment, then followed the Amegakure assassin known as "Qifeng"!