Asuma is very unconvinced

Watching Gaara fall into the genjutsu, Uchiha Yu let out a long breath.

This genjutsu was not only suppressing Gaara but also keeping Shukaku, who resided within him, under control.

Even if the genjutsu were lifted, Shukaku would remain suppressed once Gaara's own consciousness returned.

From the very beginning, Uchiha Yu had never been worried about Shukaku going on a rampage; after all, Rasa was in the village.

Besides, it wasn't Konoha that was being destroyed.

Uchiha Yu simply had his own selfish motives; he wanted to see if Gaara could become one of his own.

For a jinchuriki like Gaara, who had grown up lonely and misunderstood, a single ray of light could change his entire being.

Gaara's eyes slowly opened, the icy killing intent from before completely dissipating, leaving behind only waves of panic.

"Second Brother, did I just..." Gaara looked at the vast expanse of destroyed buildings around him, his body trembling. "Am I really like a monster?"

Uchiha Yu: Could you even kill me if you tried? I can pinch you like a little chick with Wood Release!

However, he still patted Gaara on the head and said, "Don't worry, it's fine. Second Brother is here; you will never be a monster."

Uchiha Yu took a deep breath.

He cast the genjutsu once more, and Gaara's head lolled to the side as he drifted into unconsciousness.

Uchiha Yu placed his arm over Gaara's chest, feeling the restless, turbulent chakra within him.

"Little Raccoon, don't think you can run wild just because Gaara is asleep; my ocular power is still lingering inside."

Uchiha Yu sneered, warning Shukaku within Gaara.

By leveraging the power of Gaara's seal, Uchiha Yu could use his dojutsu to suppress Shukaku.

Although Uchiha Yu might not be a match for Shukaku if he were pulled out, as long as the beast remained inside Gaara, it was quite simple to keep it suppressed.

Due to the seal, Gaara had been unable to sleep for years, which was why his personality had become irritable and twisted—that was only natural.

If Uchiha Yu hadn't slept for several years, he reckoned he would have gone completely insane.

And that was even more true for Gaara!

Letting Gaara have a good rest would be a great comfort to him.

Uchiha Yu hoisted Gaara onto his shoulder and ran straight back to the inn.

He tossed Gaara onto the bed, covered him with a quilt, and after setting a perimeter of explosive tags as a trap, Uchiha Yu vaulted out the window.

It was time to settle the score for the sneak attack earlier.

Hyuga Tokuma stood by Uchiha Yu's side, his Byakugan active as he scanned the village.

He was searching for the traces of the Sarutobi and Shimura clans.

"Found them."

Hyuga Tokuma looked toward a cluster of buildings not far away.

These buildings looked a bit dilapidated and were divided into two large courtyards.

One courtyard belonged to the Sarutobi Clan, and the other to the Shimura Clan.

Altogether, there were six or seven hundred people.

Doing the math, that meant more than ten people were crammed into every single room.

Uchiha Yu couldn't help but sigh.

The conditions were truly harsh; Sarutobi Asuma was certainly having a difficult time enduring such hardships here.

But since Sarutobi Asuma refused to give up his wicked schemes, he had only himself to blame.

After all, they were the ones who struck first!

"Uncle Tokuma, you should head back first; leave them to me," Uchiha Yu said to Hyuga Tokuma at his side.

Hyuga Tokuma frowned deeply, clearly very worried about Uchiha Yu's safety.

One had to remember, there were six or seven hundred people in there!

If each of them just spat once, it would be enough to drown Uchiha Yu!

"It's too dangerous for you to go alone! We should report this to the Hokage first and let him decide," Hyuga Tokuma suggested.

Uchiha Yu shook his head. "They wouldn't dare tear their faces off with me, otherwise even Rasa couldn't protect them! Even if I can't wipe them all out, I have to teach them a lesson. Don't worry, Uncle Tokuma, I know what I'm doing."

They had launched a sneak attack while he was busy using his "talk-no-jutsu" on Gaara; Uchiha Yu detested such tactics to his very core.

Hyuga Tokuma let out a long breath and said, "Very well, take care of yourself. If it really comes to a fight, we will definitely come to support you!"

With that, Hyuga Tokuma's body flickered, and he vanished from the spot.

Uchiha Yu let out a cold snort, gazing at the courtyard in the distance.

At this moment, Sarutobi Asuma was still looking at the intelligence report in his hands, his expression grave.

Jiraiya would certainly not sit idly by now that Uchiha Yu's coup had succeeded.

However, his odds of winning were still too slim; every step had to be taken with the utmost caution.

"Sarutobi Shin, come in for a moment." Sarutobi Asuma called out to his trusted aide standing guard at the door, yet there was not a sound in response.

Sarutobi Asuma looked up, only to see a shadow collapsed on the floor.

"Who goes there!"

Sarutobi Asuma hurriedly stood up, only to see Uchiha Yu dragging the severely wounded Sarutobi Shin toward him.

"You're allowed to ambush me, but I'm not allowed to pay you a visit?"

Uchiha Yu sneered.

With the Mangekyo Sharingan, he could see through the guards' lines of sight.

As long as he moved lightly and utilized the visual blind spots, sneaking in was effortless.

He could only blame Sarutobi Asuma for being far too careless!

Sarutobi Asuma was completely bewildered. "I never sent anyone to ambush you! Uchiha Yu! You cannot spout nonsense!"

For a fleeting moment, Sarutobi Asuma was stunned; he had actually been intimidated like this by a seven-year-old child!

Uchiha Yu let out a cold snort. "Sarutobi Asuma, how do you explain this?"

Uchiha Yu tossed a blood-stained forehead protector from his pocket onto the floor in front of Sarutobi Asuma. "Your men ambushed me and nearly left me to die at the hands of a rampaging Gaara! We are going to settle this debt tonight!"

Although it is said that a petty person holds no grudges overnight, Uchiha Yu never considered himself a gentleman.

"It isn't just our Sarutobi Clan members here in Sunagakure, there is also the Shimura Clan! It's possible they were the ones who did it!" Sarutobi Asuma looked at the forehead protector on the floor and explained, "Even if I, Sarutobi Asuma, truly hated you, I would never resort to an ambush!"

Uchiha Yu pinched his chin and pondered for a moment.

What Sarutobi Asuma said did hold some truth; this kind of thing really didn't seem like Sarutobi Asuma's style.

He was, after all, a former member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

"Is that so?" Uchiha Yu walked to Sarutobi Asuma's side and reached out, intending to grab the intelligence on the table.

Seeing this, Sarutobi Asuma's heart skipped a beat.

This contained the list of people harboring reactionary intentions regarding Jiraiya and Konoha; if Uchiha Yu saw it, the consequences would be unimaginable!

"You cannot touch that!"

Sarutobi Asuma reached out and grabbed Uchiha Yu's wrist, a hint of anger in his eyes. "Don't think that I truly wouldn't dare to kill you!"

Uchiha Yu glared at Sarutobi Asuma with his Sharingan.

This was an elite jonin, with strength no less than Danzo without the Sharingan.

If it were a true one-on-one fight, Uchiha Yu might find himself in a bitter struggle.

However, Uchiha Yu remained silent for a moment before continuing, "If you do not rebel, my Uchiha Clan will not do anything to you. Whether the Sarutobi Clan lives or dies is in your hands!"

A strange light flickered in Sarutobi Asuma's eyes.

He looked at the seven-year-old boy before him and exclaimed in astonishment, "You are actually threatening me!"