Tit for Tat

Yamanaka Fu cursed inwardly, You acted on your own initiative to monitor the Uchiha, and now that my subordinates have been killed, you come to me to investigate the cause.

What else could the reason be? They were simply killed by some Uchiha hardliners while they were at it.

However, on the surface, Yamanaka Fu dared not show even a hint of disrespect. He lowered his head and said, "My apologies, Lord Danzo. I will certainly continue to investigate diligently."

Danzo's expression softened slightly. He nodded and said in a more relaxed tone, "Hmm, you've worked hard during this time. You may go."

Hearing Danzo's dismissal, Yamanaka Fu responded tactfully and then took his leave.

Once Yamanaka Fu had departed, Danzo's face turned ferocious once again.

He cursed in a low, angry voice, "Evil Uchiha!"

Could Danzo not know the reason for the disappearances from Root?

Those Uchiha hardliners were not to be trifled with.

But as things stood, Danzo's investigation and surveillance of the Uchiha were all done privately and could not be brought to light.

He had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill.

This was also why Uchiha Yan had killed the Root members without hesitation earlier, yet chose to hold back when facing the Anbu.

After all, judging by the current situation, the Uchiha clan did not yet have the strength to flip the table.

Inside Ichiraku Ramen.

Uchiha Yan and Izumi were waiting for their ramen.

Just then, a familiar voice drifted in from outside.

"Yan, are you out on patrol?"

Hearing the voice, Uchiha Yan turned his head and smiled when he saw who it was. "Yes, just the usual patrol today."

A beautiful woman with long hair and a graceful figure walked in and sat down naturally beside Uchiha Yan.

A smile played on her face as she gazed at Uchiha Yan with her ruby-like eyes.

"Yan, long time no see."

Izumi, sitting to the side, pursed her lips and said sarcastically, "Senior Kurenai, did you not see me?"

She deliberately emphasized the word "Senior," as if to remind Kurenai of her place.

Kurenai acted as if she hadn't caught the subtext in Izumi's words. She rested her chin on one hand, looked at Uchiha Yan, and replied, "Oh, it's Izumi. My apologies, I only saw my old classmate just now and didn't notice you."

Uchiha Yan looked at Kurenai and said flatly, "Kurenai, if I recall correctly, we should have seen each other just yesterday."

Having said that, he cast his gaze toward the bandages wrapped around Kurenai's arms and legs.

Uchiha Yan had always been curious about why Kurenai wore those bandages.

Could it really be to cover up tattoos? After all, one couldn't get a teaching license if they had tattoos.

Kurenai leaned into Uchiha Yan's ear and whispered, "Yan, want to come over to my place? My cat can do backflips, you know."

Uchiha Yan rolled his eyes at Kurenai's words.

As her old classmate, he knew all too well that while Kurenai appeared to be a dignified and generous woman, she actually possessed a very mischievous personality.

Uchiha Yan looked into Kurenai's eyes and said, "Stop joking around. Let's talk about serious matters."

Kurenai finally reined in the smile at the corners of her mouth, lowered her head, and muttered softly, "Boring man."

Then, her tone became serious. "Nothing much, just that everyone is planning to get together tomorrow. Are you coming?"

Uchiha Yan's expression remained unchanged as he asked, "Time and place."

"12:00 PM, at the Akimichi BBQ restaurant."

Upon hearing the location of the gathering, the corner of Uchiha Yan's mouth twitched.

It seemed that besides barbecue and dango, there was no other food in Konoha.

Kurenai stood up, placed her hand on Uchiha Yan's shoulder, and whispered, "Also, my cat really can do backflips!"

Uchiha Yan pushed her pretty face away with a look of disgust. "Fine, I'll be there on time tomorrow."

Kurenai walked away, looking quite pleased with herself.

At this moment, Teuchi finally brought out the ramen.

Izumi looked at Uchiha Yan with a resentful expression and took a fierce bite of her chashu pork.

Uchiha Yan flicked her forehead lightly, and Izumi covered it, looking at him with a wronged expression.

After finishing their Ichiraku Ramen, the two continued their patrol through the streets of Konoha.

Uchiha Yan also used his own unique method to generate revenue for the Uchiha.

Because the fines paid by those unruly villagers in Konoha went directly to the Uchiha.

As for Konoha? They didn't get a single cent.

On their way back along the same route, the two encountered an acquaintance.

Uchiha Weasel.

"Yan, I need to talk to you about something."

Uchiha Yan walked up to Uchiha Itachi, looked down at him, and said, "Itachi, what is it?"

Uchiha Itachi looked at him, his expression unchanging as he said, "Yan, you crossed the line today."

Hearing Itachi's words, Uchiha Yan sneered and replied, "If you want to preach, you should have Fugaku come here. You aren't qualified."

He didn't give this double agent any pleasantries; if the situation allowed, he would have liked to gouge out Itachi's eyes and use them himself.

In Uchiha Yan's view, loyalty that wasn't absolute was absolute disloyalty.

A two-faced traitor like Uchiha Itachi deserved to be sliced into a thousand pieces.

For the sake of some bullshit peace and stability, he had slaughtered the defenseless women and children of the Uchiha clan.

Uchiha Yan seriously doubted whether this guy Itachi had some kind of psychological problem.

At this moment, Itachi responded, "You shouldn't have approached the jinchuriki. It will only make the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village more strained."

Uchiha Yan stared at him, his black pupils instantly transforming into the scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan. "I advise you not to tell me how to do my job."

Itachi's expression shifted, and he simultaneously activated his own Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

However, in the face of Uchiha Yan's overwhelming ocular power, Itachi, who had yet to awaken his Mangekyo, was somewhat vulnerable.

Itachi was instantly plunged into a genjutsu; he hadn't expected that the gap between himself—hailed as a genius since childhood—and Uchiha Yan would be so vast.

At this moment, another member of the Uchiha clan arrived.

He was about the same age as Uchiha Yan.

He was slightly shorter than Uchiha Yan, with a gentle expression and a notably prominent bulbous nose.

Carrying a katana on his back, he looked at Uchiha Yan and said, "Yan, there's no need for this."

Uchiha Yan merely glanced at him, his tone indifferent: "I was just telling Itachi that if he wants to lecture others, he needs the strength to back it up. That is all."

With those words, he ignored Shisui, whose expression was far from pleasant, and left with Izumi trailing behind him.

Shisui watched Uchiha Yan's retreating back, a deep sense of wariness flashing in his eyes.

He patted Itachi on the shoulder, helping him break free from the genjutsu.

Shisui looked at Itachi and asked, "This guy Yan..."

Before he could finish, Itachi wiped the sweat from his forehead and replied, "He is the Uchiha clansman with the most terrifying ocular power I have ever seen."

Shisui was silent for a moment before asking, "Stronger than the Clan Head?"

Itachi nodded with a grave expression. "Stronger than the Clan Head. It is a pity that his character is too narrow; he refuses to stand on the side of the village."

Shisui remained silent for a long time after hearing this, while Itachi turned and walked away.

He had to report what happened today to the Hokage.

Shisui sighed softly to himself. Life in the Uchiha clan was not easy for him and Itachi, especially for him.

Because he was close to the high-ranking officials of Konoha, many people looked at him with strange eyes and even ostracized him.

However, Shisui did not regret it; after all, this was for the sake of Konoha's peace.