"Mm! From now on, I entrust them to you."
Uchiha Raimon finally smiled with relief!
"I'm entrusting both Yukino and Lingyue to you!"
"Mm, you can leave them to me without worry! No matter what, I'll do everything I can to keep Yukino safe! Hm? Wait, wait, there's Lingyue too? Hold on, is something wrong?" Uchiha Tenshu thumped his chest and made a solemn promise.
But halfway through his words,
Uchiha Tenshu suddenly heard something.
His eyes widened, and confusion crossed his face.
Hadn't he only mentioned Yukino?
Where had the other one come from?
Uchiha Raimon laughed and scolded him. "You brat, you should be pleased! The sisters don't want to be separated, so I'm entrusting you with both of them!"
In truth, Uchiha Raimon knew that he only had another two or three years at most.
If he couldn't find a way to cure Yukino's condition in the short time he had left,
then Yukino's fate would be sealed!
How could he trade half her life for Uchiha Tenshu's whole life?
Even though he was her father,
he couldn't bring himself to do something so selfish.
What's more...
Compared to the other members of the clan, only Uchiha Tenshu is someone I can truly trust, Uchiha Raimon thought to himself.
He knew full well that after he died, even if he left behind a vast fortune, no one would be able to look after his two daughters properly.
After all, the Uchiha Clan had always revered strength above all.
Though they valued the clan and their relatives, when it came to separating public and private interests, they still favored the strong.
By then, with him gone, his branch of the family would be like a soft persimmon, easy for anyone to squeeze. They would inevitably face pressure and infighting from all sides.
From what Uchiha Raimon knew of his daughters, setting aside his younger daughter, who was bedridden, his elder daughter Lingyue might have exceptional talent for cultivation, but she still lacked experience with schemes and intrigue. Forcing them to take over the family business would only put them in greater danger.
However,
giving up all their power didn't mean they would be safe.
On the contrary, it would leave them in even greater danger.
Even if Uchiha Raimon didn't understand that the farther one stood from power, the easier it was to be cast aside, he knew all too well how dangerous the situation was.
So,
please forgive my selfishness. I only want to keep them safe.
Only someone like Uchiha Tenshu could take charge of the situation and deal with every danger.
Unfortunately, Yukino was in poor health too, so if he wanted Tenshu to do his utmost, he had no choice but to entrust Lingyue to him as well!
That way,
he could entrust everything to Uchiha Tenshu.
"In any case, I'm leaving everything to you!" Uchiha Raimon said again, his voice low and resolute, as though he had repeated those words countless times in his heart.
His gaze rested on the distance, as if he could see the future he hoped for beyond the scene before him.
It was a beautiful future.
Yukino and Lingyue would both live happy lives.
After saying this,
before Uchiha Tenshu could reply,
Uchiha Raimon slowly raised his hand and gave a gentle wave.
The seemingly casual gesture was like a signal, one that only he and his most loyal soldier could understand.
In an instant, the air seemed to ripple, and a black shadow raced toward them like lightning.
The figure moved as fast as the wind, reaching Uchiha Raimon's side in the blink of an eye.
With a soft swish, the black shadow landed steadily on the ground, revealing his true appearance.
His body was tightly wrapped in close-fitting black garments, as if he had merged with the darkness. A mask covered his head, leaving only a pair of keen eyes visible. They revealed nothing but coldness and ruthlessness. A dark short blade was strapped to his back, and even without drawing it, he emanated an extraordinary pressure.
Jonin level—and no ordinary Jonin, either! Uchiha Tenshu marveled silently, keeping his eyes fixed on the man before him, as though he could see through his appearance and glimpse the strength and potential beneath.
Uchiha Raimon pointed to the soldier called Ash and said to Uchiha Tenshu, "This is Ash, my loyal subordinate and a blade that answers only to me!"
Then,
Uchiha Raimon looked at Uchiha Tenshu, then pointed to Ash beside him. "From today on, you'll be my successor, and the one he'll serve from now on."
"You must be absolutely loyal to him, just as you've been to me." Uchiha Raimon turned to Ash.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir!"
Ash nodded and replied in a muffled voice. His tone carried absolute conviction as he turned to Uchiha Tenshu.
"Lord Tenshu!"
"Mm!"
Uchiha Tenshu gave a slight nod to show that he understood.
He knew this was Uchiha Raimon's trust in him and the hopes he had placed in him. It was also an acknowledgment of Ash's abilities.
"Go see Yukino and the others first," Uchiha Raimon said. Then, without hesitation, he turned and started toward the study with Ash.
Watching them walk away, Uchiha Tenshu understood that Uchiha Raimon was about to deal with what had happened.
He would tell the clan elders about it, so they would understand how serious the situation was and prepare to respond.
After all, no one knew what other schemes Tobirama Senju, that cunning and treacherous man, might come up with.
If they failed to take precautions, someone else in the clan might be secretly murdered by Uchiha Ming, just as he had been.
So even if they couldn't completely eliminate Uchiha Ming, the traitor, they still had to make the elders see the situation clearly, distinguish friend from foe, and recognize the danger lurking within the clan.
Only then could the clan remain stable and safe in the days ahead.
Meanwhile,
after Uchiha Raimon left,
"Wait! With something this serious happening to Elder Raimon, Yukino and the others will definitely ask about it. What should I tell them?"
"What am I supposed to do now?" Uchiha Tenshu felt as if a heavy hammer had struck him, leaving him at a loss.
How am I supposed to explain this to Yukino and the others? Do they know already? Thinking of Elder Uchiha Raimon, who had just left, Uchiha Tenshu wore a troubled expression.
After a long while,
"Forget it. I'll just act as I usually do."
Only then did Uchiha Tenshu slowly let out a breath.
Yet beneath his seemingly relaxed expression, his heart remained heavy, heavier than before.
His gaze drifted to the stairs around the corner that led to the castle, as if the way ahead were full of obstacles.
But just as he hesitated,
a thought suddenly crossed his mind. He remembered the days he'd spent in this castle: the familiar corridors, rooms, and corners. They all seemed to be calling him. A darling little girl, born with soft, fine white hair and a gentle voice, was calling to him again and again: "Big Brother Tenshu! Big Brother Tenshu!"
So Uchiha Tenshu took another deep breath, steadied himself, and resolutely headed for the stairs.
Uchiha Tenshu's steps were light and steady, as though he knew every corner of the castle by heart.
After rounding a few corners, he found the most familiar room in the castle, with its grand and intricate layout.
The door stood quietly in place, giving off a warm, welcoming feeling.
"Ah..." Uchiha Tenshu sighed to himself and gently pushed the door open. Its hinges creaked softly, as if the castle were welcoming him back.
The room was filled with a warm, comforting air.
Sunlight spilled through the window onto a luxurious solid-wood bed, where the white bedding lay spread out, soft as clouds.
A small figure lay on the comfortable bed.
Her back rested against the soft headboard, as if its softness enveloped her whole body. Her pillow was covered by a head of silky, smooth white hair. Her soft, pale hands slowly turned the pages of a book.
The little girl's face was very pale, as fragile as porcelain, yet her large, dark eyes resembled deep lakes and held a certain sickly beauty.
Her thick, curled lashes fluttered like butterfly wings, lending her face a touch of liveliness.
Her lips were pale, with a hint of red.
This was Uchiha Yukino.
Before you continue