Li Tong's spitting incident finally caught the attention of some of the ninjas who had entered the restaurant later. The place erupted in another wave of chatter, and words like "Dual-Colored Eyes," "pervert," "One Hundred and Three Cuts," and "beast" reached Li Tong one after another.
"Check, please!" Li Tong called to the waiter.
Damn it, I'm done eating!
After leaving Jiangchuan Flavor, Li Tong started wandering the streets. Although he hadn't finished his meal, he'd actually eaten until he was about halfway full, so he wasn't that hungry anymore.
All morning, Li Tong had walked through streets and alleys, getting more familiar with Konoha's layout. By noon, he'd figured out two things. First, Konoha's terrain was complicated, but there were always ninjas leaping across the rooftops. In other words, the terrain could only hinder ordinary people and ninjas of average ability. To a ninja with even a little skill, it might as well not exist!
If Li Tong tried to use the terrain to escape his pursuers after an assassination attempt, his chances would be slim!
Second...
The whole thing had really spread everywhere! It wasn't about the One Hundred and Three Cuts! It was about Kushina Uzumaki. For now, the hot topics on the streets of Konohagakure were Li Tong's harassment of Kushina Uzumaki and his killing of Hyuga Anan!
Li Tong felt like he'd been dealt the worst hand imaginable!
This was just... as if an invisible hand were secretly fanning the flames!
At noon, on a busy street in Konoha.
Li Tong was looking for a restaurant again. He wanted somewhere clean and uncrowded, and was moving slowly with the flow of people when he glanced around and suddenly saw the crowd ahead of him split apart. A group of unusually dressed ninjas approaching from the other direction blocked his way.
A buzz of conversation immediately rose from the street.
"Look! It's them!"
"Are they really going to arrest him?"
Li Tong frowned slightly and looked at the group in front of him, sweeping his gaze over them one by one. The True Sight Eye displayed their information in turn. They were all Uchiha Clan ninjas. The one standing directly in front of Li Tong was only seventeen or eighteen, still a young man, yet he carried himself with an air of authority. From the way the others stood, he was clearly their leader!
A "familiar face"!
A well-known figure from the original story, whose two sons would both become fan favorites—and one of whom would even be the protagonist!
--
Name: Fugaku Uchiha!
Identity: Deputy captain of the Konoha Military Police Force, and young clan head of the Uchiha Clan of Konohagakure in the Land of Fire!
Reputation: 4665!
Relationship: Neutral!
--
He was the last clan head of the Uchiha Clan, and the father of Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke!
It was the thirty-second year of Konoha. Fugaku Uchiha, born in Konoha's fifteenth year, was only seventeen, yet his reputation suggested that he was already at the level of an elite jonin!
Fugaku was undeniably a genius!
Every Uchiha Clan ninja who could awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan was a genius! Fugaku Uchiha was one of them!
Including Fugaku Uchiha, there were nine Uchiha Clan ninjas in all. They were all members of the Konoha Military Police Force, and they blocked Li Tong's path. The people on the street sensed something was wrong and scattered, keeping their distance.
"What's this about?" Li Tong raised an eyebrow.
The young Fugaku Uchiha gestured, and the other eight Uchiha ninjas immediately closed in, forming a circle around Li Tong. The commotion on the street grew louder.
Don't tell me they're actually here to arrest me because of Kushina Uzumaki? What lunatics!
Li Tong kept his expression neutral. He wasn't too worried; Anbu were watching from the shadows. Even if the Uchiha Clan really intended to arrest him, Anbu should step in and settle things!
"I've received some information and want to take you back for questioning. Please cooperate," Fugaku Uchiha said formally. Then he took two steps forward and leaned in close to Li Tong. Since he was taller, he had to bend down slightly to speak into Li Tong's ear.
"Li Tong, you killed Hyuga Anan!" Fugaku said in a low voice.
"Hm?" Li Tong frowned. What did Hyuga Anan's death have to do with the Uchiha Clan?
"Well done!" Fugaku Uchiha added.
"Huh?" Li Tong was stunned.
Fugaku Uchiha's stern expression gave way to a smile. With the other Uchiha ninjas surrounding them, no one else could see—or hear—what he was saying to Li Tong.
"I mean you no harm. That was just an excuse. Come with us, and the Uchiha Clan will do everything we can to keep you safe. Don't worry. No matter how brazen the Hyuga Clan gets, they wouldn't dare openly attack one of our own!"
That was true!
The Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan were both top clans in Konoha, and neither was any less arrogant than the other. The Hyuga Clan followed strict rules, with clan law above all else; even the Hokage didn't interfere in its internal affairs. The Uchiha Clan, on the other hand, was an extremely combative clan—one might even call it a militant clan! Arrogance seemed to be a trait shared by every Uchiha ninja.
But Li Tong still didn't understand. Why had Fugaku Uchiha come to him on the Uchiha Clan's behalf, offering to protect him?
Was it just because he'd killed Hyuga Anan?
At the thought, Lu Han's heart stirred. That might really be the reason!
The Uchiha and Hyuga were Konoha's two most powerful clans, so their relationship was bound to be strained. The Hokage wouldn't want them to get along, either; that way, they could keep each other in check. Their relationship was probably like two opposing points of a needle!
In that case, following the principle that an enemy's enemy was a friend, Li Tong had become the Hyuga Clan's sworn enemy, so it made sense that the Uchiha Clan would try to recruit him.
It had nothing to do with Li Tong's status or strength. The Uchiha Clan might do this purely to spite the Hyuga Clan.
"You should have faith in the Uchiha Clan's strength. If you come over to our side and agree to testify about the Hyuga Clan's assassination attempt against you, we'll do everything we can to protect you!" Seeing that Li Tong didn't answer, Fugaku Uchiha urged him again.
So that was it!
They were really after the Hyuga Clan!
"Sorry, I'm used to being on my own. I appreciate it, but I have to decline," Li Tong said politely. After all, they'd approached him with good intentions.
Fugaku's expression shifted. He hadn't expected Li Tong to refuse, especially with such a terrible excuse. What did "used to being on my own" even mean?
"Won't you reconsider? You need to understand that you killed Hyuga Anan, an elite chunin. The Hyuga Clan will send a jonin to assassinate you next time! At least a jonin! Are you sure you can handle one?"
"I know I'm in serious trouble, but I really don't need your help. Thank you!" Li Tong refused again.
He didn't want to become a pawn! The Uchiha Clan had approached him for its own benefit, hoping to use him against the Hyuga Clan and strike a blow against them. Li Tong didn't want to get caught between the two clans; it would put him in even more danger than he was already in!
Besides, the protection the Uchiha Clan offered might not be better than Anbu's. He'd have to stay inside the Uchiha Clan compound to be safe, and what would that be if not a prison?
Li Tong's gaze was serious, his tone firm!
"Seems you've made up your mind!" Fugaku Uchiha straightened, his smile fading. "Then I can only wish you luck! I'll be there to collect your body!"
With that, Fugaku Uchiha waved his hand and led the other Uchiha ninjas away.
The chatter on the street grew louder. They hadn't arrested him after all?
Li Tong watched Fugaku Uchiha and the others leave, his brow deeply furrowed. What concerned him most was what Fugaku had just said: the Hyuga Clan would send a jonin to assassinate him! At least a jonin!
The pressure was on!
Li Tong really didn't have the strength to face a jonin head-on.
"Damn it!" Li Tong muttered, turning to look at the street as it returned to normal. People came and went, throwing all kinds of strange looks his way. He ignored them, observing everyone around him!
He checked their information!
Li Tong had already decided to find a way to grow stronger quickly. Killing people and getting cards was the best method, but he couldn't just kill anyone he liked. Anbu were watching him in secret. Unless... he killed an enemy of Konoha!
Were there enemies of Konoha in the village?
There were!
The Shinobi World was in a state of constant conflict, with localized wars raging and bloodshed everywhere. Another great ninja war was not far off. Under these circumstances, spies from various nations and factions were constantly moving around.
Konoha wasn't just dealing with Rain Assassins who wanted to settle old scores. There were also spies and scouts from Kirigakure, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure. They'd infiltrated Konoha in disguise to gather intelligence. They weren't targeting Li Tong, but he could go after them!
Li Tong scanned the street. After walking a little farther, he stopped.
He'd spotted one!
Someone he could kill, even in broad daylight, without a second thought!
--
Name: Qifeng
Identity: Ninja of the assassination tactics squad in Amegakure, Land of Rain
Reputation: 1
Relationship: Hostile
--
He was a young man in his early twenties, disguised as a wandering samurai. He carried a pack on his back and had just come out of a noodle shop.
After a moment's thought, Li Tong followed the man named "Qifeng," a Rain Assassin!
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