Uchiha and the Hokage Building Fall into Complete Opposition

The night was as dark as ink.

Within the inner circle of the Uchiha Clan compound.

Uchiha Tekka stared intently at Shin-getsu, his expression grim.

"What did you say?"

"You want to meet the person from the External Liaison Office yourself?"

Shin-getsu nodded calmly.

"Yes."

Tekka's brow furrowed.

"Are you crazy?"

"Since that person could produce a copy of the Hokage's writ, it means they're backed by either Root or the higher-ups."

"If you go now, aren't you walking right into their trap?"

Shin-getsu smiled.

"Who says I'm walking into a trap?"

Tekka was taken aback.

Shin-getsu raised his head, a cold glint appearing in his eyes.

"I'm going to cast my net."

Just as Tekka was about to speak, footsteps approached from outside the door.

Uchiha Fugaku had arrived.

Behind him followed Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Inabi, and Uchiha Yashiro.

Clearly, the information Shinsuke had revealed was too significant, having alerted the clan's core members.

As soon as Fugaku entered, he asked directly:

"Shin-getsu, are you sure you want to go yourself?"

Shin-getsu didn't beat around the bush.

"I am."

Fugaku's expression darkened.

"Reason."

Shin-getsu stated:

"First, the target is me."

"If I don't show myself, they won't reveal their true objective."

"Second, Shinsuke has been exposed, and they will definitely cut off their communication line tonight."

"If we miss tonight, this line will be severed."

"Third, I need a live captive."

"Not speculation, not traces, not a secret tunnel."

"I need someone who can talk."

The room fell silent.

Tekka's eyes lit up.

Right.

They had been investigating for so long, and what they lacked most was a live captive who could truly expose Root.

They could infer the secret tunnel.

They could infer the jutsu.

They could infer the communication needle.

Shinsuke could even be dismissed as an individual act.

But if they captured the person from the External Liaison Office, if they caught them in the act of contacting Root, it would be a different story.

Fugaku looked at Shin-getsu and said in a deep voice:

"What do you intend to do?"

A slight smile curved Shin-getsu's lips.

"It's very simple."

"Have Shinsuke spread a message."

"Say that I was influenced by the clan meeting tonight and have begun to waver."

"I want to bypass the clan head and meet the messenger alone."

Tekka instantly understood.

"You're going to pretend to take the bait?"

Shin-getsu nodded.

"They want to push me onto the stage."

"Then I'll act like I really want to be on the stage."

"See what chips they offer me."

Inabi frowned.

"That's too dangerous."

"If they bring Root experts, you won't be able to stop them."

Shin-getsu looked at Shisui.

"That's why I need Senior Shisui to follow in secret."

Shisui was slightly taken aback.

He hadn't expected Shin-getsu to call him out directly.

Fugaku looked at Shisui.

"Shisui?"

Shisui nodded seriously.

"If it's just secret protection, I have no problem."

Shin-getsu, however, shook his head.

"Not just protection."

Shisui looked confused.

Shin-getsu said slowly.

"I need you to use the Body Flicker Technique to block the opponent's retreat at a crucial moment."

"Tonight, no one is allowed to run away alone."

Shisui's eyes sharpened.

Tekka grinned.

"Good!"

"Now that's more like it!"

"Investigating and searching is too stifling."

"We'll catch them directly tonight!"

Fugaku was silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

"Alright."

"But I want to add one condition."

Shin-getsu looked at him.

Fugaku said.

"Tekka, Inabi, Yashiro, each lead a team and seal off three escape routes in advance."

"Shisui will provide close, secret protection."

"I will personally be stationed outside the clan grounds."

Tekka's fighting spirit surged.

"The Clan Head is going too?"

Fugaku's eyes were sharp.

"Someone is reaching into the Uchiha, and they want to use our clan's children."

"Do they really think Uchiha Fugaku has no temper?"

As soon as he said this, excitement flashed in the eyes of all the Uchiha in the room.

Awesome!

So awesome!

This is the attitude the Uchiha should have!

Endure?

Endure what!

We need to find the evidence.

And we need to catch the people!

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Shingetsu's eyes.

Yes.

This is how it should be.

The Uchiha couldn't always be on the defensive.

If they always waited for the Hokage Building to give them results, they would forever be led by others.

Tonight, he would let Root know.

If you extend your hand, it will be chopped off.

Half an hour later.

Konoha's outer district.

An alley behind a closed pharmacy.

Shingetsu walked into the alley alone.

The night wind was cold.

There were no lights on either side of the alley.

Only a dimming paper lantern hung under the eaves in the distance.

He wore black clan attire, with a kunai pouch at his waist.

On the surface, he was alone.

But in reality, the Uchiha's net had already been cast around.

On the rooftops, Shisui hid in the shadows.

At the street entrance to the left, Tekka led his men in ambush.

Inabi guarded the drain on the right.

Yashiro blocked the road outside the high wall behind.

Further away, Fugaku did not show himself.

But Shingetsu knew he was there.

If the other party didn't come tonight, it would be their good fortune.

If they did...

Then they wouldn't be leaving.

Shingetsu stopped in the middle of the alley.

"I'm here."

A moment later, footsteps echoed from the end of the alley.

A middle-aged man in a gray outer robe emerged.

He looked very ordinary.

So ordinary that he wouldn't be noticed in a crowd.

But Shingetsu knew the man was not simple with just one glance.

His steps were steady.

His breathing was even.

His right hand remained inside his sleeve at all times.

He was a ninja.

And at least a Chunin or higher.

The middle-aged man looked at Shingetsu and smiled slightly.

"Uchiha Shingetsu."

"You are smarter than I imagined."

Shingetsu said calmly:

"Less nonsense."

"Didn't you want me to step forward?"

"Where are the chips?"

The middle-aged man's smile deepened.

"As expected, geniuses are unwilling to be suppressed."

"Fugaku is too conservative."

"The Uchiha needs a new voice."

"You are the one."

Shingetsu sneered inwardly.

He started with provocation.

Such dirty and practiced rhetoric.

He showed no cracks on the surface, only asking:

"So who is the person behind you?"

The middle-aged man shook his head.

"You don't need to know that yet."

"You only need to know that we can help you."

Shingetsu scoffed.

"Help me?"

"You don't even dare to say your names, how can you help me?"

The middle-aged man was not annoyed. He slowly took a scroll from his sleeve.

The scroll was clearly stamped with the Hokage Document Seal.

"This is an order."

"As long as you are willing to cooperate, we can get you into the Konoha Special Cultivation List."

"Ninjutsu, resources, missions, intelligence."

"You can have it all."

Shingetsu took the scroll and opened it to take a look.

The next moment, his eyes turned cold.

The content of the scroll was simple.

It recommended Uchiha Shingetsu for the "Konoha Key Ninja Talent Observation and Cultivation Plan."

There was no Hokage's official seal at the signature.

But there was the Hokage Document Seal.

This thing was subtle.

It wasn't a formal order.

But it was enough to bluff people.

Shingetsu looked up.

"The conditions."

The middle-aged man finally showed a genuine smile.

"Very simple."

"At the next clan meeting, you will stand up."

"Publicly demand that the Uchiha break away from Fugaku's conservative path."

"Force the Uchiha to be tougher."

"Ideally, make the Uchiha completely opposed to the Hokage Building."

A killing intent flashed in Shingetsu's eyes.