Naraku Leaves the Village and Granny Cat

Konoha Village.

Uchiha Clan Compound.

Nara's residence.

Because Nara had yet to marry, he still lived with his parents. After Uchiha Sanzang stepped down as captain of the Police Force, he took on the role of advisor at the Advisory Institute.

He oversaw the Ninjutsu Academy, responsible for teaching and imparting ninjutsu to the clansmen.

Naturally, this consisted of Uchiha Style Swordsmanship, shuriken techniques, Fire Style Ninjutsu, Uchiha Genjutsu, and the like.

It was rare in the ninja world for a clan like the Uchiha to possess ninjas proficient in so many diverse fields.

Uchiha Nara was meticulously studying the Chimera Technique.

Hiruko had provided three versions of the Chimera Technique.

When the research was complete, Hiruko had handed over the scroll. Nara had read it at the time and felt it was quite logical, with no apparent flaws.

However, suspecting that Hiruko might be holding something back, he led his ninjas to bluff Hiruko. Under the pressure of overwhelming force, Hiruko produced a second version.

After reading the second scroll, Nara realized that the first version had glossed over many dangers; the guy had essentially tried to set him up.

The second version was far more detailed.

The third version was written after Nara decided to let Hiruko go, written out of genuine submission, and it was the one Nara found most fascinating.

To use an analogy, the first was a rough draft, the second was the true Chimera Technique but an experimental version, and the third was the genuine article.

The further Nara read into the scroll, the more he admired Hiruko.

Brilliant, simply brilliant! This guy is a true genius.

Having thoroughly grasped the Chimera Technique, Nara felt a genuine sense of admiration for Hiruko.

With the copying ability of the Sharingan, the ninjutsu had been completely memorized by Nara.

He hid the third scroll in a secret compartment in his mansion and used his flames to incinerate the other two.

Nara checked the time on the wall: 8:45.

He donned his Konoha Jonin Vest, strapped on his forehead protector, slung his long sword across his back, and fastened his wrist guards. Fully armed and looking sharp, he had foregone his usual noble attire.

At nine o'clock, the Second Squadron of the Police Force's Special Police had already assembled at a weak point in the barrier on the west side of Konoha.

A figure appeared instantly at the weak point in the barrier, acting as a signal, followed immediately by four more figures.

It was Uchiha Nara and his personal guards: Uchiha Akabi, Uchiha Seki, Uchiha Hyaku, and Uchiha Ruofeng.

The four were Nara's confidants, drawing government pay within the Special Police. They wore the unit's specialized gear: black combat uniforms, black vests, long swords on their backs, and black hoods that left only their eyes visible, with the Konoha forehead protector worn over the hood.

"Ahem." Uchiha Nara coughed lightly.

With a flurry of movement, the other thirteen Special Police ninjas appeared.

"Open the barrier," Nara said calmly.

Uchiha Kosui, 38, had been a captain of the Third Division before the Police Force reforms and was considered a well-known figure.

He was currently a captain in the Second Squadron of the Special Police, a very leisurely position. Kosui had practiced the sealing techniques taught by Nara; he had a talent for them and was quite excellent, having mastered numerous sealing arts within two years.

Uchiha Kosui performed a few hand seals at the weak point in the barrier, pressed his palms against it, and pulled his hands apart, opening the barrier.

"Move!"

Nara led the way, and the others flashed out behind him.

A ruin somewhere in the Land of Fire.

The group made their way through a sewer within the ruins.

This was one of the Uchiha's bases outside the village, where Granny Cat—who raised ninja cats for the Uchiha and provided them with intelligence and weapons—resided in this secret location.

Granny Cat's age was unknown. She had maintained a good relationship with the Uchiha since before the founding of Konoha, and they treated each other as honored guests.

The few ninja cats that usually patrolled the sewers to intercept intruders retreated to the sides upon seeing the important figures, not daring to cause any trouble.

Inside the house, Granny Cat was smoking her pipe and petting a cat, looking quite content.

"Long time no see, Granny Cat."

A figure appeared instantly in the room. Nara was wearing his vest and carrying his ninja sword, looking sharp. His guards dispersed outside the house, concealing themselves.

"Nara is here. I heard you became the Uchiha clan head; it's been a long time since you came to see me." Granny Cat blew a smoke ring. Uchiha Nara had visited here when he was a child.

As a junior she had watched grow up, Uchiha Nara, despite his high status and power, never acted disrespectfully toward her.

"Work in Konoha has been busy, so I've been negligent. Heh heh."

Nara gave a sheepish smile and pulled a box full of tobacco from a scroll, handing it to Granny Cat.

"I know you love to smoke, so I brought you a box of tobacco specifically on this trip."

"You boy, you're getting more thoughtful." Granny Cat was pleased, her mouth widening into a grin.

"Speak up, what brings you here this time? Lord Zen just came by a while ago to stock up on a batch of goods; surely you aren't here for more weapons and medicine, are you?"

Granny Cat was somewhat puzzled by Uchiha Nara's intentions.

Uchiha Zen, one of the Uchiha clan elders, currently served as an assistant in the Advisory Institute of the Clan Affairs Hall. Three years ago, due to the matter of missing clansmen, he had been incapacitated for several days by a genjutsu cast by the Second Elder, Uchiha Kyo.

Uchiha Zen was in charge of the Uchiha clan's weapon shop, responsible for selling ninja tools and various special medicines. The ninja tools included shuriken, kunai, explosive tags, ninja swords, sealing scrolls, and the like. The medicines were mostly military ration pills, antidote pills, hemostatic powder, and similar items.

In short, Uchiha Zen was responsible for the arms trade, and the income from the weapon shop was one of the Uchiha's major revenue streams. However, this income never reached Nara's hands.

Hearing Granny Cat mention that Uchiha Zen had come to stock up recently, Nara's expression darkened. These elders—their influence had already been curtailed by him.

The Great Elder's financial authority had been reclaimed by Nara. Those responsible for the Uchiha's businesses never contributed to the clan; Nara was so poor from funding his research that he was practically ready to pawn his own pants. The massive profits they made from selling arms only amounted to a few million ryo contributed to the clan each year—it was practically charity for beggars.

Look at the heads of clans like the Uzumaki or the Kurama; they lived carefree, happy lives, singing and dancing. Yet Nara, the head of the greatest clan in the ninja world, was a miserable wretch laboring away.

The old fogies of the Uchiha still held onto many channels that Nara hadn't yet noticed.

Forget about the arms trade; they don't even share a portion of the profits with me personally. Once I return, I'll deal with the lot of you.

Nara thought bitterly. He had originally intended to pick up some arms while he was out, planning to have them sold back home. The clan's weapon shop always claimed business was poor and procurement costs were high.

"Granny Cat, I heard that the ninja cats have been under pressure recently. There is a Ninja Cat Castle in the Dark Ninja Cat Realm, and inside, there is a Two-Tailed Cat enslaving the other ninja cats. So, I've come this time to pay a visit to this master of the Dark Ninja Cat Realm."

"You should have come a long time ago. The other old Uchiha who come here often don't care about the ninja cats at all. I really don't know what you Uchiha old men think about all day."

Granny Cat raised ninja cats for the Uchiha. Recently, a Two-Tailed Cat had appeared—it was massive in size, lazy, and fond of a luxurious lifestyle. Most importantly, it was recruiting and enslaving ninja cats everywhere, causing significant losses to the ninja cats raised by the Uchiha.

Nara had set out on this trip, intending to deal with this ninja cat while he was at it.