Undercover Plan

The once desolate northeastern corner of Konoha is now brightly lit and deafeningly noisy, thanks to the migration of the Iburi Clan.

Furthermore, the Iburi Clan's mining operations in the Forest of Death have drawn wandering merchants in droves.

The gathering of these merchants has brought a wealth of exotic flair to the area, making this once-remote street a hundred times livelier at night than the village's main commercial district.

"Ah, hahahaha!"

"Boss! Bring over a few more young girls!"

On the second floor of a tavern, a drunkard with an exotic dancing girl in each arm laughed with hazy, intoxicated eyes.

Because he was wealthy and generous with his coin, he was constantly surrounded by the giggling of the hostesses.

Down on the street, an acrobat troupe traveling with the merchants performed fire-breathing and sword-swallowing acts, drawing bursts of cheers from the surrounding crowd.

"It's truly lively!"

Gamakatsu perched on Yatsuhashi's shoulder, his eyes wide as he gazed at this vibrant world in excitement.

"The outside world is definitely much more interesting than Mount Myoboku!"

Yatsuhashi wove through the bustling crowd, his gaze locked onto Tenzō, who sat in a dark corner.

Amidst this prosperity, Tenzō seemed completely out of place.

"Clan Leader."

Yatsuhashi walked over and sat down beside him.

Tenzō only gave a mechanical grunt in response, too lazy to even straighten his back.

He could hardly be blamed for this.

After all, since he was young, he had believed he carried the mission of saving his entire clan from their curse.

To that end, Tenzō had trained diligently every day, even risking his life to cooperate with Orochimaru's horrific experiments in exchange for the Wood Release power of the First Hokage.

Yet now, Yatsuhashi had resolved the Iburi Clan's predicament with such ease that Tenzō had instantly lost his anchor in life.

The goal had been achieved so quickly that he had instead fallen into a state of profound emptiness.

Watching his decadent state, Yatsuhashi suddenly spoke, "Tenzō, do you want to save this world?"

Upon hearing this, Tenzō's eyes, which had been as dead as ash, immediately lit up.

That sense of adolescent fervor instantly replaced his former demeanor.

Save the world?

That was far more exhilarating than saving his clansmen!

"I do! I dream of it!"

Tenzō grabbed Yatsuhashi's shoulders in excitement, his eyes even erupting with a scorching light.

Yatsuhashi then asked with great seriousness: "But you might die, you know?"

"Uh..."

Tenzō froze for a moment.

But he immediately gritted his teeth, putting on a look of someone ready to face death without regret.

"To save the world, I would die a hundred times over without complaint, Clan Leader!"

"Please, Clan Leader, give me this opportunity!"

Yatsuhashi remained silent for a moment, giving Tenzō plenty of room to change his mind.

Yet, the Tenzō before him maintained that characteristic hot-bloodedness of his.

Yatsuhashi nodded and looked at Gamakatsu on his shoulder.

"I'm ready!"

Gamakatsu understood the signal and jumped down from Yatsuhashi's shoulder.

On the way here, Yatsuhashi had already asked for Gamakatsu's opinion.

He asked if it was willing to sign a summoning contract with Tenzō individually.

Unlike the "collective contract" Yatsuhashi had signed with Mount Myoboku, this was Gamakatsu's personal "exclusive contract."

This three-legged toad, which had been discriminated against in Mount Myoboku since it was small, was full of curiosity about the outside world, so Gamakatsu had agreed almost without hesitation.

Yatsuhashi didn't waste any words; he taught the Summoning Technique directly to Tenzō.

As for the Cursed Seal of Tongue Eradication on Yatsuhashi's body, he had long since erased it using his Mangekyo.

Tenzō's talent was not weak to begin with, and since he was eager to prove himself before Yatsuhashi, he mastered this C-rank ninjutsu in just about half an hour.

"Slap!"

Man and toad pressed their handprints onto the scroll, and the contract was sealed.

"Done!"

Tenzō held Gamakatsu in his hands with excitement. He looked up at Yatsuhashi and asked impatiently, "Clan Leader, how should I go about saving the world?"

"Listen."

Yatsuhashi lowered his voice, his expression more serious than ever before. "I need you to infiltrate the Land of Rain."

"The Land of Rain?" Tenzō was stunned.

"There is an organization there called Akatsuki."

Yatsuhashi's eyes grew deep. "They are a group of lunatics who dream of destroying the world. Your mission is to blend in and become one of them."

"Destroy the world?!"

Tenzō gasped upon hearing this, and then his whole body began to tremble—not out of fear, but out of a certain excitement.

"Become a member of an organization that destroys the world, and then dismantle them from the inside?"

"Exactly."

Yatsuhashi's tone was filled with expectation. "Tenzō, this is a mission only you can complete."

"Leave it to me, Clan Leader!"

Tenzō wore a solemn expression, as if he were already the savior of this world.

"For the sake of world peace! I, Tenzō, will not refuse even if it means death!"

He had finally found a mission greater than saving his clan: saving the world.

At the thought of this, Tenzō's blood began to boil with excitement.

Watching Tenzō's impatient, almost manic expression, Yatsuhashi sighed softly.

If he hadn't encountered Madara Uchiha beforehand, he would never have sent Tenzō on such a dangerous mission.

This was the solution Yatsuhashi had arrived at after thinking it over that night.

He needed to lay the groundwork in advance and plant a spy within the Akatsuki.

He had to make contact with Nagato and the others early, seeking an opportunity to secure the Rinnegan for himself. Even if that proved impossible, Yatsuhashi would still find a way to destroy those eyes.

By doing so, he would completely shatter Madara Uchiha's Eye of the Moon Plan.

Just as Yatsuhashi was explaining the other details of the undercover mission to Tenzō, a sharp commotion erupted from the bustling street below.

Yatsuhashi was drawn to the noise outside the window.

It turned out to be the members of the village's Military Police Force.

Uchiha Tekka's eyes were filled with a sinister, vicious air as he relentlessly drove away a troupe of performers.

The Military Police Force of Konoha held the authority to patrol and enforce the law, so the people usually dared to be angry but dared not speak out.

"Quiet down, all of you!"

Uchiha Tekka kicked over a nearby performance stage.

He then snatched the fire-breathing jug from a performer's hand and threw it to the ground, crushing it under his boot.

"Hey, you bunch of outsiders without identification—did you pay the fees to perform in Konoha?"

Tenmei, the representative of the traveling merchants, wore a face full of smiles.

"Oh my, isn't this Lord Tekka?"

As he spoke, he quietly fished out five hundred ryō and skillfully tried to slip it into Uchiha Tekka's hand.

"They're new here and don't know the rules. Please, be the bigger person..."

"Get lost!"

With a flick of his wrist, Uchiha Tekka sent the five hundred ryō flying away like trash.

This left Tenmei quite stunned, though he quickly regained his composure.

He gave a subtle signal.

Several alluring dancers immediately swayed their waists, giggling as they pressed themselves against Tekka.

"My lord, don't be so angry~"

But Uchiha Tekka pushed the group of dancers to the ground with a look of pure disgust.

"And you lot, who told you to serve drinks here!"

"Huh?"

Tenmei was completely bewildered.

He had traveled north and south for decades, and the security forces in every region were either greedy for money or lustful; there was always a way to break through.

But this Uchiha Tekka before him was neither greedy nor lustful, which clearly left him in a bind.

What Tenmei didn't know was that Uchiha Tekka simply enjoyed the thrill of trampling others beneath his feet.

"This... what should I do now..."

Tenmei broke out in a cold sweat.

Just as the standoff reached an impasse, Yatsuhashi arrived behind Tenmei just in time.

"What's wrong?"

"My lord! Why are you here?"

Tenmei looked as if he had seen a lifeline, and he hurriedly said, "I'm afraid there's been some misunderstanding with this gentleman..."

Yatsuhashi nodded, then looked toward Uchiha Tekka, who was acting high and mighty.

"Hey, you."

Yatsuhashi beckoned to Uchiha Tekka, signaling him to come over.

At this, Uchiha Tekka's expression shifted, the fear of being beaten black and blue by Yatsuhashi suddenly washing over him.

Uchiha Tekka swallowed hard, glancing back at the Military Police Force vice-captain, Uchiha Yashiro, standing behind him.

Then, emboldened, he blustered, "You calling me? Hmph, who do you think you are?"

Uchiha Yashiro swept a cold, icy gaze over Yatsuhashi.

"So you are that Uchiha Yatsuhashi? To disregard your dignity as a clansman and mingle with this rabble—what a disgrace!"

Seeing this, Uchiha Tekka acted as if he had found a backer, and immediately added fuel to the fire: "Lord Yashiro! You wouldn't believe it, but he didn't even show up for the clan meeting held at the Ancestral Grounds yesterday! This is clearly a lack of respect for his elders!"

"Hmph!"

Uchiha Yashiro glared fiercely at Yatsuhashi, releasing the powerful pressure of his Three-Tomoe Sharingan in an invisible wave, attempting to force Yatsuhashi into submission.

"You dare to skip the clan meeting?

Where were you running off to last night?

And as a member of the Military Police Force, you actually speak up for outsiders? I see you've even forgotten the clan rules!"

Facing this aggressive interrogation, and the pressure from the pupil power of Yashiro's Three-Tomoe Sharingan, Yatsuhashi remained unfazed.

He didn't take any of it to heart, after all, Yatsuhashi was no longer the lowly Special Jonin he once was.

He simply curled the corner of his lip, "What business is it of yours?"

Then, he rolled up his sleeves, and walked toward Uchiha Tekka step by step.

There were no flashy ninjutsu, only the purest, most domineering punch!

"Bang!"

The fist landed solidly on Uchiha Tekka's left cheek.

This punch was so fast that Tekka didn't even have time to react.

He flew away like a kite with a broken string.

One had to remember that it was Uchiha Tekka who had notified Yatsuhashi to go to the Ancestral Grounds, not only causing a clash of Mangekyo between him and Uchiha Fugaku, but also making his eyes bleed for nothing.

This had always rankled Yatsuhashi, so how could he not pay him back for it now?

The entire scene fell into dead silence.

No one expected that Yatsuhashi would dare to strike right in front of the Military Police Force vice-captain.

Uchiha Tekka lay on the ground, Half of his face instantly swelled up like a pig's head.

His previously arrogant aura was scattered by that single punch from Uchiha Yatsuhashi.

Uchiha Yatsuhashi asked coldly, "Tell me, what am I?"

Uchiha Tekka hurriedly scrambled to answer, "Lord Yatsuhashi, you are Lord Yatsuhashi!"

Sure enough, the best way to treat this kind of sickness is still relying on this.

Not only is it fast-acting, but it is also exceptionally effective.

"Tekka!"

Uchiha Yashiro was both shocked and furious, "Uchiha Yatsuhashi, how dare you strike a member of the Military Police Force?!"

"And what if I did?"

"Good! Good! Good!"

Uchiha Yashiro was trembling with rage.

He repeated the word "good" three times, "Yatsuhashi, you are openly defying our Military Police Force!"

Uchiha Yashiro formed hand seals, his eyes baring killing intent, "It seems if I don't teach you a lesson, you won't know the immensity of heaven and earth!"

Just as Uchiha Yashiro's ninjutsu was about to be unleashed, "Stop."

A drunken voice drifted down from the second floor of the tavern.

Everyone looked up to see Jiraiya holding a wine cup.

He leaned unsteadily against the railing, looking down at the floor below with a playful expression, "Yashiro, losing your temper like this at a junior isn't very honorable, you know."

"Jiraiya..."

Uchiha Yashiro's killing intent vanished in an instant.

After all, he was only a deputy captain.

Facing one of the legendary Sannin, he dared not act out of line in the slightest.

"Since it's settled, then disperse."

Jiraiya let out a drunken hiccup.

He waved his hand lazily, "It's late at night; don't ruin everyone's mood."

"Yes..."

Uchiha Yashiro glared fiercely at Uchiha Yatsuhashi.

He helped the swollen-faced Uchiha Tekka up from the ground, and led the Military Police Force away in a dejected retreat.

Jiraiya looked down at Uchiha Yatsuhashi from above.

With bleary, drunken eyes, he said, "Not bad, kid. I have high hopes for you."

Having said that, Jiraiya turned around and collapsed into the snowy-white embrace of a group of dancing girls.