He had finally scraped together ten million ryo and confirmed the submission.
Uchiha Gen chose to use it on the spot. His facial features immediately underwent subtle changes, and his hair turned a vivid red.
Uchiha Gen looked at his reflection in the mirror... Wasn't this just a healthy version of Nagato with long hair? Giving in to his wicked sense of humor, he pulled a straight face and muttered to himself, "How many floors can one bag of rice carry?"
However, with his longer hair, the Uchiha Clan's heavy Yin-nature chakra, and his softer facial features, he would probably pass for a girl with some makeup... The thought gave Uchiha Gen chills.
When he went back and checked the system panel, Uchiha Gen was startled. Adamantine Sealing Chains and the Four Symbols Seal had appeared in the skill panel. Combined with his own Sharingan, any Tailed Beast that saw him would be "overjoyed."
Uchiha Gen left the kitten at the pet shop and left behind some money. He did not give it a name, because naming it meant he would have to care for it forever.
And Uchiha Gen was not ready to keep a pet yet. Though the kitten was quite intelligent, it had no combat ability. If it followed him, it could easily become a casualty of the aftermath of battle.
Besides, Tsunade had probably already seen the kitten.
Thinking of what he was about to do next, Uchiha Gen could only sigh over his ill-fated bond with Konoha.
When he arrived at Konoha's gates, Izumo Kamizuki stopped this unfamiliar face. That head of red hair was simply too eye-catching. "Who are you? What are you doing in Konoha?"
Uchiha Gen acted as if he had been frightened and froze for a moment. "Hello, my name is Reikawa. Uzumaki Reikawa. I came to Konoha seeking protection."
"Uzumaki?!" Kotetsu Hagane had just finished checking someone and letting them through when he walked over. He glanced at Uchiha Gen's hair, which indeed matched the descriptions of that clan in his memory.
Kotetsu Hagane tugged at Izumo Kamizuki, and the two discussed it briefly. After nodding, Izumo Kamizuki went inside to report it.
Kotetsu Hagane looked at Uchiha Gen, seeming a little nervous. "Please wait here for a moment."
Uchiha Gen nodded and found a large rock to sit on.
"Are you a ninja?" Kotetsu Hagane asked.
"I think so."
"You think so?"
"Because I'm not really sure either. I only know one or two ninjutsu."
"Then where are you from? What are your parents' names?"
"If I had to say, I probably came from around the Land of Grass. My mother's name was Uzumaki Yomi. I don't know my father's name. My mother passed away when I was about six."
"I'm sorry."
Uchiha Gen shook his head. "It's fine. It's all in the past." He said it so naturally that he almost believed it himself. As for verifying his identity, they definitely would not find anything. At most, they might trace something back to Karin.
But Uchiha Gen was not worried. The Uzumaki Clan had been allied with Konoha in the early days. After the Uzumaki Clan was destroyed, its members scattered everywhere, suffered persecution, and were forced into hiding. It was difficult to find detailed records of their whereabouts, so it would not mean much even if no information could be found.
He only needed to prove his identity. The Uzumaki Clan's power to seal Tailed Beasts was practically a windfall for Konoha.
Uchiha Gen did not know the exact location of Root. Wandering around while constantly hiding would make him easy to discover and alert the enemy. His only goal was the Sharingan in Danzo's possession. He did not want to cause any unnecessary slaughter in Konoha.
After all, Danzo valued his own life even more than Konoha. He believed that as long as he did not die, Konoha would become better under his leadership once he became Hokage. Of course, by his standards, Konoha might not even still exist by then.
"May we verify your identity?" Kotetsu Hagane used a questioning tone, but his attitude was firm.
Uchiha Gen nodded. "What do I need to do?"
"Hold out your hand." After saying that, Kotetsu Hagane used a kunai to cut a small wound on Uchiha Gen's hand. Blood slowly seeped out. So it was not the Transformation Technique.
Izumo Kamizuki finally returned and nodded at Kotetsu Hagane. Kotetsu Hagane indicated that he understood, then gestured for Uchiha Gen to follow Izumo Kamizuki.
"There are some matters that need to be handled lately, and Lord Hokage has not returned yet. You can stay here for now. If you need to buy anything, it's over there..." Izumo Kamizuki pointed in a direction and led Uchiha Gen to a small house on the outskirts of Konoha.
Uchiha Gen had no complaints about this. The Third Hokage had just died, and Tsunade had yet to return. It would have been strange if they let an unfamiliar person like him directly into the core district at a time like this.
Still, his information had probably already been reported to Danzo. He was a little too old for Danzo, who liked abducting children. He did not know whether Danzo would come looking for trouble, though Uchiha Gen would very much welcome that.
Itachi returned to the projection lantern and selectively explained the situation to Akatsuki. In short: there was a mysterious expert who was immune to genjutsu, and whose allegiance was unknown. The people present began whispering among themselves.
Deidara, however, was very displeased. He hated the Uchiha, and now there might be another one? It had better not be an Uchiha, or he would let him experience the power of his C4: Garuda!
Kakuzu gave a mocking chuckle. "Did you fail to clean up properly when you wiped out the clan back then?"
Itachi ignored Kakuzu's mockery and merely waited in silence for Pain's instructions.
Nagato considered it. If that person was from the same clan as Itachi, then given the grudge between them, he definitely could not be recruited.
But if he was not—any ninja of uncertain allegiance whom Itachi acknowledged as strong could not be weak. Although Akatsuki already had a full roster, recruiting him would be ideal if possible.
After thinking for a while, he finally said, "Zetsu, investigate him."
"Itachi, Kisame, go carry out other missions first. Before long, it will be time for us to begin collecting the Tailed Beasts. Get yourselves into condition."
Hidan muttered a complaint at that. "Can we do anything besides making money?"
Kakuzu said, "I think it's great."
Pain ignored their complaints. As long as they completed their missions, that was enough. "Does anyone else have anything to report?"
Everyone fell silent for a while...
"Dismissed!"
Things had not exactly been idle for Uchiha Gen these past few days. Since he lived close to the gates, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki often came over to bother him.
He did not know how it happened. They had originally come to probe into his background, but as they talked, he ended up telling them classic stories from his previous life. Naturally, the characters had different names, but once he started, things got out of hand.
Good grief, perhaps because guarding the gates was too boring, the two took turns coming over to hear stories, then retold them to the other afterward.
So why had he not learned the Shadow Clone Technique? After seeing them off, Uchiha Gen's face darkened. They usually brought food with them, but was that not just rubbing salt in the wound? He could not taste anything, yet all that food looked delicious... What a headache!
Those "pleasant" and peaceful days ended when an Anbu knocked on his door. Before opening it, Uchiha Gen had thought it was those two guys again.
"Are you Uzumaki Reikawa?"
"That's me."
"Lord Hokage has returned. He wants you to come to the Hokage's office. Follow me."
"Okay!" Uchiha Gen took a deep breath. He had finally made it through.
Before you continue