The Balance of Power Is About to Change

Konoha had only just settled down. Beneath the surface, undercurrents were still swirling.

But the Uchiha would find a way to handle that themselves. I didn't need to worry about it.

In terms of actual strength, talent, or even battle achievements, Uchiha Shisui was actually better suited to the position.

But at least for the next few years, it would be difficult for Uchiha Shisui to take over.

The Uchiha coup had only succeeded under the leadership of Uchiha Fugaku, the clan head. Although Uchiha Shisui was worthy of everyone's recognition, both for his strength and his character, Uchiha Fugaku was still the only one who could keep Konoha in check for the next few years.

Not to mention Uchiha Itachi, who was only in his teens. He might have developed a Hokage's mindset at a very young age, but if a teenager succeeded to the position of Hokage, clearly no one would accept it.

Uchiha Yu lay in bed late at night, one leg crossed over the other.

He recalled the list he'd seen in Sarutobi Asuma's room earlier—the names of those who had plotted to rebel and seize power within Konoha.

Quite a few of them seemed familiar. They were probably members of the Root Organization.

Danzo had been killed, and the Uchiha coup had succeeded. Although the Root Organization was being hunted down in force, quite a few members were still at large.

By that reckoning, the Root Organization was also an extremely destabilizing factor—an even greater threat than Sarutobi Asuma, who had fallen into Orochimaru's hands.

"There's only a week left until Uchiha Fugaku attends the succession ceremony. I wonder if the Root Organization's remnants will make a move."

Uchiha Yu kept recalling the details he knew about the Root Organization.

"The Root Organization is made up of shinobi who were taken in and brainwashed by Danzo as children. There's no doubt they're far more loyal to Danzo than to Konoha. Their abilities vary, but some of them are top-tier fighters on the level of Jonin. If they try to sabotage the succession ceremony, the consequences could be serious. I absolutely have to prepare for the worst."

Uchiha Yu sprang out of bed and stretched his limbs.

With the Sage Body, Uchiha Yu didn't tire easily at all. Even if he stayed awake for three days and nights, he could still fight just fine.

Still, he made a habit of sleeping two or three hours every day.

Only now, Uchiha Yu seemed to be having a little trouble falling asleep.

"Maybe I should write Orochimaru a letter. He should have a good way of dealing with these people. Then I won't have to worry about it."

Uchiha Yu chuckled. Although Orochimaru saw him as the perfect vessel, that also meant that, at least for the next few years, Orochimaru would do whatever Uchiha Yu asked.

It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. But whether Uchiha Yu would let Orochimaru take over his body when the time came was another matter entirely.

Uchiha Yu made a Wood Release clone and had it carry a letter to Otogakure.

Otogakure wasn't very far from Konoha. And unlike a Water Release clone, which automatically disappeared after getting too far away, sending his clone to deliver a letter to Otogakure was easy.

Only after he'd finished all that did Uchiha Yu lie back down and doze for a while.

He had to keep himself in good shape, after all. Tomorrow, he still had to keep ♂training Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto!

Those two were the main event.

The next day.

At the Ninja Academy, Iruka was still at the lectern, teaching the students all kinds of ninja knowledge.

Everyone was paying close attention, except for Uchiha Yu and Uzumaki Naruto, who were sleeping with their heads on their desks.

Uzumaki Naruto in particular was snoring so loudly that he was nearly drowning out Iruka.

There was nothing to be done. After a whole night of training, Uzumaki Naruto had already reached his limit. His entire body was exhausted.

Although Uchiha Yu's Wood Release power had restored Uzumaki Naruto's chakra and healed his injuries, no matter how you looked at it, Uzumaki Naruto had only slept for two or three hours.

He was utterly exhausted.

As for Uchiha Yu, he simply felt that the lesson was completely pointless—not nearly as fun as teasing Uzumaki Naruto and Sasuke.

Beside Uchiha Yu, Deidara was also sitting with one leg crossed over the other, kneading the clay in his hand and looking thoroughly distracted.

In that row, the only one who seemed to be paying attention was Hyuga Hinata, sitting beside Uchiha Yu.

Iruka looked at Uchiha Yu, Uzumaki Naruto, and Deidara, and felt a headache coming on.

He was just steeling himself to continue the lesson when he heard Uzumaki Naruto's snoring drown out his voice.

"Zzzzz..."

Instantly, the forty or fifty students burst into laughter, but they still didn't wake Uzumaki Naruto.

Iruka finally couldn't take it anymore. He cleared his throat and said to Hyuga Hinata, "Wake those three up. Sleeping and daydreaming here in broad daylight is completely unacceptable!"

Although Uchiha Yu was now the Hokage's son, he was still Iruka's student.

And as his teacher, Iruka wasn't the least bit intimidated by Uchiha Yu.

Hyuga Hinata's face reddened. She glanced at Uchiha Yu beside her, took a deep breath, and patted him on the shoulder.

Uchiha Yu yawned and rubbed his eyes. He saw Hyuga Hinata facing him with a bright red face, her head lowered as she struggled to speak.

"Huh? Hinata, what's up?" Uchiha Yu stretched and asked.

If it's nothing, don't interrupt my sleep, okay? I'm very busy!

Hyuga Hinata lowered her head and timidly said, "Iruka-sensei just said not to let you three sleep. He told you to pay attention in class."

Pay attention in class?

Uchiha Yu looked utterly helpless.

If Uchiha Fugaku hadn't forced him, he really wouldn't have wanted to go to school.

As the Hokage's son, he couldn't take advantage of his status. He had no choice but to graduate from the Ninja Academy the honest, hard-working way.

Uchiha Yu nodded helplessly and said, "All right, I know. You may leave, my dear subject. I'm tired."

My dear subject? I?

Hyuga Hinata looked completely baffled, repeating these two "foreign phrases" to herself over and over.

Iruka rapped on the blackboard and said to Uchiha Yu, "Uchiha Yu, don't think you can do whatever you want at school just because you have a good foundation. You still have to pay attention in class!"

"I know, Iruka-sensei."

"If you don't learn properly at the Ninja Academy, how will you become an independent ninja once you graduate?"

"I know, Iruka-sensei."

"Got it?"

"I know, Iruka-sensei."

Uchiha Yu replied perfunctorily.

Looking at Uchiha Yu, who clearly didn't care what anyone said, Iruka nearly choked on his own breath.

What the hell!

I'm going to lose my temper!

Uchiha Yu, however, didn't get worked up at all.

I have more important things to do. Iruka-sensei, why don't you teach those little cuties instead?

I'm really just here to kill time...

Please don't make things difficult for me...

I really don't want to learn how to make Military Ration Pills or the basic theory of chakra counters...

I want to fight! Fight!