The Akatsuki's Trademark

Gospel Hospital.

Toji looked at the report in his hand, which showed a significant increase in the number of wounded patients recently admitted to Gospel Hospital.

Looking past the surface to see the essence.

Toji understood that this meant the friction between Konoha and the surrounding ninja villages was intensifying.

As for the reason, it was likely that news of Senju Hashirama's "disappearance" had leaked out.

Senju Hashirama leaving the village was a top-secret matter, and only the village's high-ranking officials had attended the meeting; logically, there was no possibility of a leak. However, the problem lay in the fact that Hashirama was usually too approachable and often appeared on the streets of Konoha. Having not been seen for nearly a month, rumors naturally began to swirl in the outside world.

The Four Great Nations sensed that Hashirama was not in the village and immediately grew restless. Along the borders, small-scale conflicts and friction were occurring one after another.

Having finally ended the Warring States period and ushered in seven years of peace, the ambitious saw Hashirama's disappearance and could no longer restrain themselves...

Worse still, when Hashirama returned to the village, not only would he fail to be vigilant, but he would also cling to the fantasy of peaceful negotiations.

Upon seeing Hashirama return, the four great ninja villages would temporarily restrain themselves, creating the illusion of peace; but once they confirmed Hashirama had passed away, they would immediately launch the First Ninja World War.

The seeds of disaster had already been sown.

He, too, needed to make preparations early.

Toji suddenly sensed a subtle anomaly in his heart and immediately knew that Uchiha Yan was trying to contact him by utilizing Type Zero and Type One.

He sat in the director's chair at Gospel Hospital and slowly closed his eyes.

Connecting to the five senses of a parasitic body was a peculiar experience for Toji.

Through the link between the Parasitic Seed and the Earth Grudge Fear, he could ignore spatial distance and directly take over control of the parasitic body's shell. The most exaggerated part was that there was no control lag.

Perhaps this was what the Sage of Six Paths had hoped for: [Chakra will become a bridge connecting people to people.]

Although it was somewhat hellish, it was indeed a connection.

He, Toji, could also be considered a successor of the Ninshu.

Type Zero slowly opened her eyes, her gaze falling upon the person in front of her—Uchiha Yan.

Having not seen her for over a year, she looked more mature.

The pitch-black will revealed in those eyes had also become increasingly pure.

Toji controlled Type Zero's body and spoke stiffly, "Long time no see, Uchiha Yan."

Uchiha Yan clicked her tongue lightly, eyeing Type Zero's shell with surprise. "This body... if I remember correctly, this was the thirteenth experimental subject sent over, right? What is going on now?"

"I have controlled her, as well as Type One."

"They are no longer experimental subjects, nor are they members of the rogue ninja group from before. You can command and use them as you please."

Hearing this, a flicker of wariness crossed Uchiha Yan's eyes.

Controlling a chunin with genjutsu was not difficult; she could easily do it herself.

But to control two chunin simultaneously, even manipulating their speech and behavior, was something no ordinary genjutsu could achieve.

That faceless freak wearing the Plague Doctor Mask was truly a top-tier genjutsu master.

Toji didn't mind her small reservations and said, "Report your situation here first."

"Hmm." Uchiha Yan nodded. "Actually, before Type Zero and Type One brought the intelligence, I had already established the Akatsuki Ninja Group."

"Wait." Toji interrupted her. "You established what?"

"The Akatsuki Ninja Group, what's wrong with that?" Uchiha Yan pointed to the sky outside the cave, which was about to break into dawn. "I subdued a few Sound Release ninjas. It happened to be almost dawn that day, so I just took that name."

"Akatsuki..."

Toji hadn't expected Uchiha Yan to snatch the Akatsuki trademark first. After digesting this information, he said, "Continue."

"I didn't find the Scales Clan you asked me to look for. However, I did find a few ninjas who can use 'Sound Release Secret Techniques.' They are ordinary villagers from the Land of Rice Fields who learned the secret techniques to protect their village. I saw that they were a bit special, so I recruited them into the ninja group."

"Right now, I am operating in these villages and nearby towns. The funds you gave me have also been used for the Akatsuki Ninja Group."

"Sometimes I directly take out rogue ninja groups that harass the villages, and when I encounter suitable materials, I send them over to you."

Toji had spent ten years walking from the deep mountains of Takigakure Village to the great backing that was Konoha; Uchiha Yan had spent over twenty years walking from the great backing of Konoha into the deep mountains of the Land of Rice Fields.

Yet, looking at her expression and tone now, she had no dissatisfaction with this life; on the contrary, she was joyful because of this hard-won "freedom."

The life of an Uchiha is not to be defined.

"Well done." Toji commented, "Establishing a ninja group is a wise move. You haven't exposed your Uchiha identity, have you?"

"No, I have been wearing a mask."

"These ninjas who know Sound Release Secret Techniques can be well-cultivated. It is not impossible to use this as a foundation to expand the group into a ninja village in the future. The Land of Rice Fields is still an undeveloped pure land; to this day, no ninja village has taken root there."

Toji paused and continued, "Continue the search for the Scales Clan. Have the members of the Akatsuki Ninja Group act together to expand the search range."

"I understand all of this." Uchiha Yan stared straight at him, her tone dissatisfied. "However, I have been laying low for so long. You promised me greater power back then; when exactly will you fulfill it?"

"It is not yet time."

"Are you playing me?"

Toji's tone was flat: "If I wanted to, I would have taken your eyes the moment you awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. I wouldn't have given you the chance to gain the freedom you have now."

"..."

Uchiha Yan was momentarily speechless. She pursed her lips and sulked in silence.

Seeing her temper subside, Toji continued:

"You will get what you want sooner or later, but you must have patience. For now, your location has been exposed. The Uchiha clan tracked you to the Land of Rice Fields and has dispatched a squad led by the jonin Uchiha Bin to hunt you down."

"Uchiha Bin..."

Upon hearing that name, Uchiha Yan's expression shifted uncertainly, her voice filled with hatred:

"That coward, he actually dares to come and capture me!"

"If it hadn't been for his suggestion back then, Yusuke, Masayuki, and Taku wouldn't have died. Yet in the end, he was the first one to bow his head and kneel before Uchiha Chirori!"

"He should have committed seppuku!"

"I have no interest in your family feuds," Toji interrupted coldly. "The power of the Uchiha is not to be underestimated. I've given you the intel; make sure you stay hidden. If necessary, suspend the transport of materials for the time being."

Uchiha Yan clenched her fists, feeling deeply unwilling.

After more than a year of refinement, her strength had stabilized at the jonin level.

But no one knows a brother better than his sister; she knew exactly what kind of strength Uchiha Bin possessed.

Facing him now, she still had little chance of winning.

What's more, the pursuit squad sent by the Uchiha didn't consist of just one Three-Tomoe Sharingan user.

And she was all alone, without any help.

She hesitated before speaking: "Tell me... does our Passione Organization not have any other powerful figures?"

That was a good question.

"Of course we do."

"Then have them come and help me."

Toji stood with his hands behind his back, saying indifferently: "Every member has their own mission."