I Choose Orochimaru as Hokage, Ten Years to Ascend the Moon

Uchiha Gin could finally begin to complete his own tasks.

He decided to finish the familiar task first, as it was the simplest; the materials for his Mystic Code were still being collected, and the Uchiha Clan's procurement channels relied on Ninja Cat.

The other party was a black-market merchant, and the costs were quite steep. Having run low on funds recently, this was the primary reason hindering Uchiha Gin from completing his tasks.

Therefore, he prioritized the familiar, which required less spending.

The stock of gemstones is running low; my wallet is shrinking rapidly.

Uchiha Gin opened his storage vault for gemstones, which was protected by a specialized barrier and seals; he would be alerted the moment it was touched.

Even a violent dismantling would hold up for a long time.

Found it. The blue that symbolizes wisdom—a sapphire.

An oval sapphire with a maximum diameter of two centimeters, its regular facets looked quite beautiful.

Uchiha Gin began to inject magic power into this sapphire, carving a spell formula within it.

Although it was a cost-saving method, Uchiha Gin left room for future evolution.

After all, an ordinary familiar would not be of much help to Uchiha Gin, but the ultimate realm of a familiar might be a Servant.

Uchiha Gin intended to craft the inanimate sapphire into a familiar and then fix it onto a living creature, using the sapphire to control the host. As the sapphire was reinforced with other materials by Uchiha Gin later on, the living creature it controlled could gradually grow stronger. Although this consumed a great deal of energy, Uchiha Gin believed that he would certainly not be short of money in the future, so he chose this approach.

The spell formulas include mental vertigo, suggestion, brainwashing, and control—four in total. It's quite rudimentary, but it has already reached the limit of this gemstone.

After spending about three hours, Uchiha Gin picked up the sapphire and examined it carefully against the setting sun.

Normal inanimate familiars were usually inscribed with spells like magic bullets, flight, or concealment.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Uchiha Gin directly summoned a crow. He had been feeding it for two years, and he chose the smartest one of the lot to summon.

As soon as the crow appeared, Uchiha Gin used his Sharingan to immobilize it. Then, Uchiha Gin fashioned a silver base for the sapphire and set the stone into it.

Afterward, he fixed the gemstone onto the crow's forehead.

"Release!"

He dispelled the Sharingan's control.

The crow immediately let out two "caws," feeling the pain from its forehead.

It spread its wings, intending to take flight.

But its head spun instantly, and Uchiha Gin followed up with a combo of familiar control techniques.

Mental vertigo, suggestion, and brainwashing—it was controlled immediately.

The crow, previously driven by animal instinct, was directly reduced to a single-threaded, familiar-controlled organism.

Inanimate object plus living creature—is this not the perfect familiar!

Uchiha Gin stroked the crow's head, feeling the aura of his own magic power emanating from it.

He could control this familiar to release the magic spells he had just inscribed.

It only required periodic injections of magic power to maintain, as it was not a true living familiar; if it were a living familiar, the creature could recover on its own, though it would become stronger with its master's support.

Beyond the inscribed spells, it could also transmit messages, deliver letters, and, through the magic power link, allow him to see through the familiar's perspective, similar to Gaara's Third Eye.

I'll get you a stronger body in the future; make do with this for now. Let's see if I can get a Tailed Beast and inscribe a magic power conversion spell on it so I won't have to recharge my mana.

"I'll name you Blue Star, to remember my old home."

Uchiha Gin said to Blue Star.

However, Blue Star had no consciousness and could not communicate; it could only be considered an object for him to vent to.

[Find a familiar that can be exploited] - Completed

Reward: One Magic Circuit

After Uchiha Gin finished naming it, the notification from the Magician Teaching System arrived.

His magic circuits increased from twenty-five to twenty-six.

Chapter 21: Itachi and Sasuke, of course Sasuke, Kana!

Danzo summoned all of his marginalized subordinates. He was still the Hokage Assistant, though he no longer held any official duties; however, the Hokage Assistant still had the authority to command the Anbu.

His subordinates became members dedicated to protecting him. Although their numbers were far fewer than when he led the Root, there were only eight of them, yet Danzo still had many people hidden in the shadows.

The researcher Orochimaru had not left a single person for him; after all, Orochimaru knew that such talent was rarer than ninjas, and Orochimaru did not place all his hopes on the Uchiha Clan.

Orochimaru had injected a lot of fresh blood into the Root. After all, Orochimaru was also quite famous, having experienced war, and many were willing to follow him.

Although some people were unsuitable back then, and Orochimaru had no interest in them, things were different now. The Root still had to perform some dirty work, and Orochimaru had recruited some people to act as his confidants.

As for the squad that had just joined the Military Police Force, their days were very difficult.

The tasks of a city administrator were, without a doubt, hard to perform.

Once they were pushed out, Uchiha Gin felt a sense of relief. He only needed to guard the gates of Konoha and patrol the village to complete his daily tasks.

"Is Hyuga Himon using his Byakugan to peek into the women's bathhouse?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen set down the intelligence report in his hand.

This was information gathered by the Anbu regarding the commoners; after all, there were some things the commoners would never say directly to the Hokage.

"Yes. However, according to our investigation, this appears to be a rumor spread by the Uchiha Clan."

Kakashi replied.

Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up his pipe and took a drag.

He was already aware through his spies that there was internal dissatisfaction within the Uchiha Clan, and he was not surprised that Hyuga Himon's squad had been assigned the task of 'city management.'

He even knew about the examinations being conducted within the Uchiha Clan.

"It's all a bit too peaceful."

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt that something was just not right.

He had also discovered that his student, Orochimaru, had colluded with the Uchiha.

Was this a sign of submission to curry favor with him?

Or did it hide a much greater intent!

He had met with Orochimaru the day before yesterday and questioned him briefly. Orochimaru's only response was that both parties were preparing to develop new ninja tools together—nothing more.

He did not believe his student was a fool, and the Uchiha Clan was a proud lot. Furthermore, with Shisui acting as a high-level spy within the Uchiha Clan, he would be able to detect even the slightest trace of suspicious activity.

"I hope you don't disappoint me, Orochimaru!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen prepared to strengthen the security detail around him.

If Orochimaru and the Uchiha were allied, the only way to change the situation would be to eliminate him. Yet, the Uchiha and Orochimaru were acting far too peacefully; there was absolutely no sign of such an attempt, but he had to be on guard!

Inside the Uchiha Police Force headquarters.

The top ten scorers of the exam were gathered there.

Itachi, Yashiro, Izumi, Shisui, Kaseki...

Out of the ten, with a maximum score of two hundred, the gap between the first and last place was over fifty points.

The first place was, of course, Itachi.

"Congratulations. You are the ten brightest minds within the Uchiha Clan."

Uchiha Gin began with praise.

What surprised him most was Uchiha Izumi, Itachi's childhood friend. She hadn't even graduated from the academy yet, though she already possessed the strength of a genin. He hadn't expected her knowledge base to be so extensive.

Written exams were usually not worth mentioning to the Uchiha Clan, as they could easily copy the answers using the Sharingan. However, this time, the questions were largely absent from textbooks, consisting mostly of Orochimaru's own theories.

For a child under ten like Izumi to rank ninth, it was clearly the result of her working hard to catch up to Itachi. After all, Itachi loved to read, and it was only natural for her to strive for the sake of the person she liked.

"I have selected you all for a very important matter, one that concerns the future of the Uchiha Clan."

"You, along with myself and Orochimaru—one of the Sannin—will work together to develop a new era of ninja tools. I call them Scientific Ninja Tools."

"..."

Uchiha Gin went straight into his pre-employment speech.

This was meant to capture their attention, but it was backed by real substance, laying the groundwork for the scientific ninjas of the future.

"Our office building for the Scientific Ninja Tools should be ready in about three days. These next few days are for you to wrap up your current duties. Shisui is the captain, so he will be semi-detached, but the rest of you will join this project directly."

Uchiha Gin gave his instructions.

No one had any objections. Within the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Gin was now viewed as the man who would bring about the clan's revival, and they felt honored to follow his lead.

Once he finished, he dismissed them, telling them to settle their respective tasks and gather again in three days.

As they left, Uchiha Gin, Itachi, and Izumi walked back together.

After parting ways with Izumi within the clan grounds, Itachi couldn't help but speak up.

"Captain Gin, is this related to Sasuke?"

Itachi had been studying incessantly these past few days, barely relaxing, and even neglecting his usual training.

"No, this is just a relatively simple task. The work I have for you is more important, and as it stands, you are the only one participating in it."

"For the sake of the Uchiha, and for the sake of Sasuke, can you keep a secret?"

Uchiha Gin asked Itachi in a deserted alleyway.

"Yes, I am willing to give my life for the clan and for Sasuke!"

Itachi said with great sincerity.

At the same time, he felt that the burden on his young shoulders had suddenly grown quite heavy!

Uchiha Gin patted Itachi on the head, then walked him the rest of the way home.

After arriving at Itachi's home and grabbing Sasuke to ruffle his hair, he was finally satisfied.

"At two o'clock tonight, tell your father, then conceal your presence and come find me. No problem, right?"

Uchiha Gin said.

Itachi nodded.

Afterward, the two parted ways.

Watching Uchiha Gin's retreating figure, Itachi wore a complex expression.

Does Captain Gin seem to be on guard against me, yet he shows such a good attitude toward Sasuke?

Itachi sensed something was off.

He felt as though Uchiha Gin treated Sasuke better, much like an NPC's favorability rating in a game; he could perceive the differential treatment between himself and his younger brother.

"Itachi, have you been working very hard lately?"

Uchiha Mikoto asked Itachi.

She had seen for herself that Itachi had barely rested these past few days.

"No, I've just been studying."

Itachi shook his head.

"Gin is a very capable person, though his personality is quite rigid. Your father occasionally complains about him, but he praises him even more."

"When following Gin, be diligent. Don't get angry if you are reprimanded," Uchiha Mikoto instructed Itachi.

"Yes!"

Itachi replied aloud.