Shadow Curtain Organization

Uchiha Ying Yue named this newly established intelligence organization "Shadow Curtain," signifying its intent to control the overall situation from the shadows, shrouding every corner of the ninja world like a veil.

Elder Senju Mufeng recruited several clansmen from the Senju Clan who remained loyal and possessed intelligence-gathering capabilities; they were assigned to key positions throughout Konoha to collect information both inside and outside the village.

These individuals were highly experienced and skilled in concealment, capable of obtaining vital information without drawing any attention.

On the other hand, Elder Uchiha Setsuna utilized the Ninja Cat Clan, a group that had maintained friendly relations with the Uchiha Clan for generations.

The Ninja Cat Clan possessed unparalleled advantages in intelligence gathering and transmission; they were stealthy, agile, and capable of shuttling between various villages and towns to acquire the most classified intelligence without leaving a trace.

The initial construction of the Shadow Curtain organization was built upon these powerful allies.

Uchiha Ying Yue personally participated in the preparation and development of the Shadow Curtain, drawing inspiration from modern intelligence systems to establish a series of rigorous mechanisms for intelligence collection, analysis, and transmission.

Through these mechanisms, the Shadow Curtain began to gradually infiltrate every corner of Konoha and the Land of Fire, slowly expanding its influence.

With the Shadow Curtain taking initial shape, mastering intelligence was only the first step; knowing how to utilize that intelligence reasonably and convert it into a substantive strategic advantage was equally important.

He also invested a great deal of energy into the analysis and application of intelligence, constantly contemplating how to influence the landscape of the ninja world through such information.

The establishment of the Shadow Curtain provided Ying Yue with a wealth of valuable information sources. Through this data, Ying Yue not only grasped the internal movements of Konoha but also gradually understood the shifting situations in other ninja villages and nations.

This intelligence allowed Ying Yue to gain a deeper understanding and make more accurate judgments about the future, beyond his daily training.

Ying Yue knew that the Shadow Curtain was still in its infancy and had a long way to go before it could be considered truly powerful.

However, Ying Yue was full of confidence in the future and had already painted a grander blueprint in his mind.

The existence of the Shadow Curtain will allow me to seize the initiative in the ninja world, Ying Yue decided inwardly. Whether it is to become Hokage or to change the ninja world, I need this organization as my foundation.

While the Shadow Curtain was being established and gradually growing, Uchiha Ying Yue did not slacken in his own training.

Uchiha Ying Yue understood that although he possessed powerful talent and combat instincts, only through constant tempering and improvement could he remain invincible in the face of future challenges.

Over these past few months, Ying Yue had followed Hatake Sakumo to focus on learning blade techniques and swordsmanship.

As the "White Fang of the Leaf," Hatake Sakumo's swordsmanship enjoyed a high reputation in the ninja world, and his White Fang Short Blade, in particular, was feared by countless ninjas.

Sakumo's swordsmanship was fast and fierce; his blade would slice through the sky like lightning, making him nearly unstoppable in battle.

Although Ying Yue was proficient in taijutsu and ninjutsu, swordsmanship was a new domain for him.

Fortunately, Ying Yue was born with extraordinary combat intuition, and coupled with the [Ninja World Dance King] ability, his learning speed in swordsmanship was astonishing.

During the guidance process, Sakumo clearly felt that Ying Yue's comprehension of swordsmanship far exceeded that of ordinary people; Ying Yue could quickly grasp and skillfully apply the essence of every movement and every style of blade technique.

As his studies deepened, Ying Yue not only mastered Hatake Sakumo's technique of imbuing blades with wind and lightning nature chakra, but also utilized his own five-element chakra nature to create more diversified combat methods.

Uchiha Ying Yue could flexibly imbue his blade with fire, lightning, water, earth, or wind chakra during battle to create different attack effects.

Whether it was scorching flames, sharp wind blades, thunderous shocks, or icy water blades, Ying Yue could wield them all with ease.

However, Ying Yue was not satisfied with merely imitating Hatake Sakumo's swordsmanship.

Combining his unique combat style and experience, Ying Yue gradually explored a combat system that suited him, eventually creating his own blade technique—the "Uchiha Ying Yue Style Sword Technique."

Compared to the Hatake style, Ying Yue's swordsmanship focused more on speed and variation, prioritizing elusive footwork and precise strikes; it was sharp yet flexible, suitable for use in various complex combat scenarios.

Seeing Ying Yue's progress in swordsmanship, Sakumo felt very gratified and proud. Ying Yue had already transcended simple learning and had instead established his own school, carving out his own path in swordsmanship.

In addition to his sword training, the Ying Yue Squad had accepted a large number of missions over these past few months. As an experienced jonin, Hatake Sakumo led the Ying Yue Squad in executing various missions ranging from C-rank to S-rank.

In the A-rank and B-rank missions, the Ying Yue Squad primarily faced the extermination of enemy ninjas and armed forces, as well as intelligence gathering.

Although these missions were dangerous, under Sakumo's leadership, the Ying Yue Squad displayed immense combat power. Ying Yue's combat intuition and swordsmanship were fully utilized in these missions, while Yamanaka Chinatsu's Mind Body Switch Technique and Hyuga Ayane's Gentle Fist and Byakugan also made significant progress in actual combat.

There was also an S-rank mission; once, the Ying Yue Squad accepted an extremely dangerous S-rank mission with the objective of infiltrating an enemy stronghold to destroy a secret weapons laboratory controlled by rogue ninjas.

During the mission, the Ying Yue Squad encountered multiple surprise attacks and ambushes, but under Sakumo's calm command and Ying Yue's flexible responses, they successfully broke through the heavy encirclement and completed the mission.

There were also many C-rank missions; although relatively simple, these provided the Ying Yue Squad with valuable practical opportunities.

Especially in missions involving the protection of merchant caravans and villages, the Ying Yue Squad not only had to face external enemies but also resolve various problems for the villagers. This allowed them to not only improve their combat skills but also learn how to interact with ordinary people and handle the complex interpersonal relationships encountered during missions.

Through these missions, Ying Yue's strength was significantly enhanced; his training in blade techniques and swordsmanship made him even more formidable in battle, while constant real-world missions made his combat experience richer and his tactical thinking sharper.

At the same time, Ying Yue's squad members, Yamanaka Chinatsu and Hyuga Ayane, also made great strides during these missions.

Chinatsu not only refined her Mind Body Switch Technique but also learned other secret techniques of her clan, improving her battlefield control and support capabilities; meanwhile, Ayane continuously broke through in her practice of the Gentle Fist and Byakugan, gradually attaining the combat power of an elite chunin.

During these months of mission training, the relationships between Uchiha Ying Yue, Hyuga Ayane, and Yamanaka Chinatsu gradually warmed.

The three were not only tacit partners in battle but also cared for and supported each other outside of their missions.

Hyuga Ayane and Yamanaka Chinatsu had already held feelings for Ying Yue, and through their long-term association, these feelings gradually developed into deep affection.

After every mission, whether they had gone through a fierce battle or exhausted their energy in stealth and reconnaissance, Ying Yue would always carefully look after Ayane and Chinatsu. Ying Yue's gentleness and resilience gave the two women a sense of security and reliance they had never felt before.

As a genius ninja of the Hyuga Clan, Ayane had an introverted and gentle personality, but in front of Ying Yue, she felt a special warmth.

Ying Yue's encouragement and trust in her made her more confident in battle and allowed her to gradually open her heart.

Whenever Ayane felt exhausted or confused, Ying Yue could always provide her with strength, helping her regain her confidence.

Chinatsu was a smart and sharp-witted ninja; with her delicate sensibilities, she had realized her feelings for Ying Yue long ago.

This affection deepened with every mission they completed, and Ying Yue's strength and decisiveness left Chinatsu deeply infatuated.

Uchiha Ying Yue's trust and reliance on Chinatsu allowed her to find a sense of belonging and accomplishment within the team.

Outside of combat, Ying Yue would always set aside time to relax and converse with the two women.

Whether it was a brief respite during a mission or a celebration after its completion, Ying Yue was always attentive to their feelings.

The relationship between the three grew increasingly intimate, gradually evolving from simple comrades-in-arms into a special bond that transcended friendship.

Ayane and Chinatsu both became aware of each other's feelings for Ying Yue, yet they knew that Uchiha Ying Yue was a man destined for greatness, one who could not be easily possessed.

Thus, the two women maintained a delicate tacit understanding regarding their feelings, balancing competition with mutual support.