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The three remaining Anbu ninjas were gradually struggling to hold their ground.

Kakashi was starting to get anxious; their goal was not to kill these Mist Village ninjas, but to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Yet, seeing that Uchiha Chuanyu had already struck with such lethal intent, Itachi, standing to the side, did not make a move.

After a few short seconds, Chuanyu withdrew the long blade from his hand.

The blades in the hands of the three Anbu ninjas shattered instantly, and deep gashes suddenly appeared across their bodies.

Puchi!

Blood sprayed everywhere, and they stared at Chuanyu with wide, shocked eyes before collapsing in unwillingness.

"It's over..."

"Is this guy really only six years old?!"

Kakashi looked at Chuanyu in disbelief; even for him, dealing with three Mist Village Anbu would require a significant amount of time.

"Itachi, who exactly is this guy?"

Kakashi had finally become interested in Chuanyu. He possessed a Sharingan and was quite similar to himself, yet his appearance was identical to Shisui.

"Shisui's younger brother, Uchiha Chuanyu..."

"However, Kakashi-senpai, I hope you can keep this a secret."

Itachi replied to Kakashi with a smile, then leaped to Chuanyu's side.

"Well done. Your growth has exceeded my expectations."

Chuanyu paused for a moment and nodded.

He knew Itachi was referring to his Sharingan.

It had just evolved into the Three Tomoe.

He was only one step away from the Mangekyo.

But obtaining the Mangekyo was no simple matter.

Compared to ordinary suffering, awakening the Mangekyo required enduring heart-wrenching pain.

"Brother Itachi, I still have some things to do..."

Ao, on the ground, was dumbfounded. He could never have imagined that Uchiha Shisui had a younger brother.

And that his strength was so monstrous.

Itachi patted Chuanyu on the head: "Go ahead..."

Chuanyu jumped down in front of Ao and rubbed his nose.

Ao was so startled that he took a step back.

But soon, he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth: "Kill me or torture me, do as you please! I won't reveal any Mist Village intelligence!"

Chuanyu smiled faintly: "No, I just want to make a deal with you..."

"A deal...?"

Ao looked at Chuanyu in confusion, his expression suddenly shifting drastically.

The surrounding world was draped in red, blood-colored light crept over the sun, and the world began to turn dull and lifeless.

A sudden urge to end his own life flooded Ao's mind...

Guided by the ocular power of Chuanyu's left eye, Ao's consciousness snapped back.

"Is this the power of the Sharingan's genjutsu? Just now, without even realizing it, I had the urge to commit suicide... What a terrifying eye..."

A dense flock of crows gathered in the sky.

Gradually, Chuanyu's figure emerged.

"Your goal is the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, right? I can satisfy that, but not now."

Chuanyu's figure appeared flickering before Ao's eyes.

"Why?"

Ao looked at Chuanyu, puzzled.

"You don't need to know that. Agree to one thing for me, and when the time comes, I will deliver a pair of Byakugan to you..."

Hearing what Chuanyu said, Ao wavered.

"You have no choice now. At the very least, I am more reliable than Danzō. Since I could kill your Anbu subordinates, I can naturally kill you as well."

"Right now, not only can you survive, but you can also obtain a pair of Byakugan. If even that doesn't satisfy you..."

Chuanyu's gaze suddenly turned sharp.

Ao hurriedly extended his right hand in a panic: "Then... then at least let me know what the task is!"

The crows flapped their wings and scattered into the sky, and Chuanyu's figure vanished.

Suddenly, Chuanyu walked up silently behind Ao.

"One year from now, I want you to bring men and return to Konoha."

Chuan Yu said indifferently.

"What do you mean?"

The more Ao listened, the more confused he became.

"Bring enough men to launch an attack on Konoha. The bigger the commotion, the better. You only need to hold out for one hour before you can lead your men away."

Chuan Yu turned around to look at Ao, speaking with a serious expression.

"Can you tell me what you are planning to do?"

Ao asked tentatively.

"I will not go back on my word to you. Rest assured, after this matter is settled, I will find an opportunity to deliver a pair of Byakugan into your hands."

"During this time, I hope you can keep your mouth shut. Do not mention my identity to anyone."

Seeing that Chuan Yu did not want to elaborate, Ao dared not ask any further.

"Then it is agreed. One year from now, crush this talisman, and I will lead my men to begin the operation."

After saying this, Ao took a white paper talisman from his robe and handed it over.

The moment Chuan Yu received the talisman, the red world shattered like a mirror, and fresh air rushed violently into Ao's nose and mouth.

Haa... haa...

"I almost suffocated in that world..."

Ao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and turned to leave.

"Let's head back, Brother Itachi."

Kakashi and Itachi jumped down to Chuan Yu's side, and Chuan Yu smiled slightly, taking hold of Itachi's arm.

"Mm..."

This mission had been successfully completed, and Chuan Yu's identity had not been discovered by anyone.

However, Kakashi was suddenly hesitant at this moment.

He did not know whether he should inform the Third Hokage about Chuan Yu's identity.

On the way home, Itachi carried Chuan Yu on his back, strolling under the setting sun.

"Do you think he will go to the Third Hokage?"

Chuan Yu leaned against Itachi's back and spoke suddenly.

"Kakashi-senpai is a man of principle."

Itachi looked at the distant sunset and said calmly.

"Then why didn't you ask me what I just said to Ao?"

If Itachi wanted to know, Chuan Yu wouldn't mind telling him everything.

He was working hard for the arrival of that day, all so that Itachi could see it.

"Just because I don't ask about your affairs doesn't mean I don't know."

"You and your little schemes..."

Itachi turned his head and gave Chuan Yu a faint smile.

"You must be exhausted today. You should eat more when we get home..."

"Brother Itachi, you really understand me..."

"But, could you teach the sword techniques you used in combat today to Kakashi-senpai? He liked them very much..."

"Uh..."

"Make him beg me..."

"..."

The welcome ceremony at home was always so warm; the adorable and naive Sasuke leaped into Itachi's arms before coming over to bicker with Chuan Yu.

At dinner, Fugaku took an exquisite kunai from a drawer and placed it in front of Chuan Yu.

"I heard from Itachi that your performance today was excellent. Consider this kunai a reward for this mission."

Fugaku chuckled and raised his sake cup, downing it in one gulp.

After the brief sting of the alcohol, his face flushed slightly. He picked up some side dishes to go with his drink, his expression appearing quite satisfied.

Chuan Yu set down his bowl and chopsticks, staring closely at the kunai on the table.

While this kunai was indeed exquisite, it was not new.

The sharp edges were somewhat dull, and there were even a few cracks.

Seeing Chuan Yu's confusion, Fugaku let out a deep sigh.

"This is the kunai your father, Uchiha Kagami, used during his lifetime. It was also the first trophy he obtained when he became a genin."

Speaking of this, Fugaku couldn't help but lament how quickly time had passed.

"Father..."

Chuan Yu gently cradled the kunai in his palms; at this moment, it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

How could Chuan Yu not understand his intentions?

"Your father wrote a letter for you before, and I shall give it to you now."

Fugaku stood up, his body swaying as he walked over to the drawer.

When he placed the letter into Chuan Yu's hands, Chuan Yu's eyes were already wet.

"Chuan Yu..."

"I fear it is already too late to say I'm sorry..."

"The duties of a father were always beyond my reach..."

"Including being a qualified husband..."

"I missed the best years of your childhood, and even more so, I missed the sunset when I should have brought you home..."

"I do not know what the name Uchiha means to you, but it has carried far too much futility..."

"Entrusting you to Shisui was perhaps the most correct choice I ever made..."

"In the end, I only hoped that on the day I died, you would be able to return..."

"I once thought about, and feared, acknowledging our relationship as father and son..."

"Call it cowardice, but I chose to run away."

"But if I were given the choice again, I would rather bear all the infamy just to stay by your side in peace."

"But..."

"It is too late..."

"I am destined to remain frozen forever in the time when I lost you..."

"It is too late..."

Tears had already soaked the envelope in his hands, and Chuan Yu's body couldn't help but tremble.

The bond between father and son simply means that your fate with him in this life is to constantly watch his back as he drifts further and further away.

Yet, Chuan Yu hadn't even managed to see his face once.

The envelope, however, held the scent of his self-reproach and regret.

But for Chuan Yu, this was enough.

"The path for the Uchiha is becoming increasingly difficult to walk..."

Fugaku sighed repeatedly, the wine in his hand never stopping for a moment.

"The difficulty lies in the burden; as the clan head, I fear the clansmen will be destroyed by my own hands, yet I do not want them to live with such grievances!"

Fugaku slammed his wine cup onto the table with a crash, then collapsed onto the floor, dead drunk.

Itachi, who had come out of the room upon hearing the noise, shook his head helplessly and helped Fugaku inside.

"Chuan Yu, you must be tired after today. Go take a bath and get some rest."

Mikoto walked over and began to clear the food from the table.

Chuan Yu nodded, then stood up to go to his room and change his clothes.

Soaking in the bathtub, Chuan Yu closed his eyes in comfort.

A year from now, to target Danzō, one must work from the outside in.

It wasn't as simple as just killing Danzō to fix the Uchiha's situation.

External forces would provide the leverage, and when the Uchiha staged their coup within the village, the Anbu would certainly appear.

That would leave only Root.

But if problems arose with the border defenses, Root would be forced to act at that time.

Then, all that would remain would be the opportunity for a direct confrontation between himself and Danzō.

But relying solely on Ao's men from the Mist Village might not be enough...

However...

The Cloud Village seems to be planning moves against Konoha recently as well...

[Ding! The host's fighting spirit is soaring today! Your taijutsu, unwilling to be left behind, has been stimulated and automatically leveled up +1!]

[Ding! The newly evolved Three-Tomoe Sharingan has initiated automatic cultivation! Please be mindful of your words, host! It is related to the improvement of your eyes!]

[Goodnight, host! Tomorrow will be just as intense!]