Gray, You Are Truly Kind

Did Uchiha Gray suddenly develop a heart of gold?

Of course not.

Gray couldn't be bothered to pay attention to some random, completely unfamiliar person.

The only reason he did it was because it was on his way. Furthermore, he was very interested in Gato's wealth. Even the most powerful ninja couldn't live without money; robbing the rich to fund oneself for a rainy day was a fine virtue.

"Gray, you really are a kind and powerful ninja!" Uchiha Shisui couldn't help but exclaim.

"My assessment of you was correct. If it were an ordinary ninja, they would have definitely chosen to abandon this mission. But not only did you not give up, you even want to help this client completely resolve the issues in the Land of Waves!"

Uchiha Shisui was extremely excited, his eyes burning with fervor.

This was the close friend he had been searching for all along—someone who shared his goals!

Although Uchiha Itachi was also very intelligent and disagreed with the current actions of the Uchiha clan, he lacked independent thought; many of his ideas were actually learned from Shisui himself.

But Uchiha Gray was different.

He not only possessed the same resistance toward the unfair practices of the Uchiha clan as Shisui, but he also had his own observations regarding Sarutobi Hiruzen!

Often, Gray could even wake Shisui up, offering perspectives that felt refreshing and new. If Gray were to lead the Uchiha or the Leaf, it would surely make them both more prosperous!

This absurd thought suddenly surfaced in Uchiha Shisui's mind, but upon closer reflection, it seemed more and more plausible!

Uchiha Gray: "..."

Very good. He had been wondering how to win Uchiha Shisui over, and now the man had practically delivered himself.

And he was acting like a total fanboy, to boot.

Leaf.

In a dim, secret room.

Danzo Shimura watched the bespectacled ninja standing before him with a casual expression, his own face growing increasingly cold.

He despised people who had no sense of decorum!

"Lord Danzo, is this how you treat your guests? Not even a cup of water." Yakushi Kabuto shrugged. His expression was respectful, but his words were filled with mockery. He held no affection for the man named Danzo.

It was precisely because of Danzo Shimura that he had accidentally killed his foster mother, Yakushi Nonō.

His eyes were cold as ice.

"Heh, a spy ninja raised back then, now just a very obedient dog for Orochimaru." A sinister glint flashed in Danzo Shimura's eyes; he wanted nothing more than to kill Yakushi Kabuto on the spot.

But he couldn't. There was still a very important task that required Kabuto.

"Lord Danzo, there is no need to use such words to taunt me. If you have nothing else, I shall take my leave," Yakushi Kabuto said dismissively.

"Wait!" Danzo's expression turned angry. A mere intelligence spy dared to ignore him like this!

Yakushi Kabuto stopped, a faint smile on his face, though his eyes remained icy.

"Tell Orochimaru that Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Gray of the Uchiha clan have left the village for a mission in the Land of Waves. Isn't he interested in researching the Sharingan? If he wants to study them, he should go himself!"

Danzo Shimura's voice was bone-chilling, laced with hatred.

If it weren't for the fact that the two of you refused to submit to me, why would I have chosen to take this step?

Whether it was Uchiha Shisui or Uchiha Gray, these two detestable fellows deserved to die!

Since they could not be used by me, then they should die!

His eyes shifted. He had another motive: he had long suspected that Uchiha Shisui had become a Kage-level powerhouse, and that Uchiha Gray had already awakened the Sharingan!

Otherwise, how could they possess such formidable strength? This wasn't a guess; it was a certainty!

He would let Orochimaru test them. If the two of them managed to return safely, then they absolutely could not be allowed to live!

Yakushi Kabuto was stunned for a moment before turning serious. "I will relay this to Lord Orochimaru."

With that, his figure retreated and vanished into the darkness. Not daring to delay, he immediately used a Little White Snake to transmit the information!

The thing Lord Orochimaru was most interested in right now was the bodies and eyes of the Uchiha clan; this matter could not be delayed!

After Yakushi Kabuto left, Danzo Shimura snorted coldly: "Someone, come! Dispatch the Root Third Squad to the Land of Waves to assassinate Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Gray. They must not be allowed to return to the Leaf."

"Keep a close eye on Orochimaru during this assassination. As soon as the battle between Orochimaru and the two Uchiha ends, strike immediately!"

His gaze was sinister, like a hyena, and the greed and cruelty in his eyes were enough to make one shudder.

Sound Village.

Inside an experimental base, a man with a pale complexion and snake-like pupils looked at the Little White Snake before him, his expression one of excitement.

It was as if he knew the Little White Snake had already brought him some incredible news.

"So that's how it is." Orochimaru's lips curled upward.

Body Flicker Shisui of the Uchiha clan and the new-generation genius Uchiha Gray had left the village on a mission to the Land of Waves.

"But Danzo Shimura, do you take me for a fool?"

"Body Flicker Shisui already displayed the strength of an elite jonin during the Third Shinobi World War. By now, he might even possess the strength of a Kage-level powerhouse!"

"As for the new-generation genius named Uchiha Gray, he can be ignored for the time being. No matter how talented he is, he is still just an eight-year-old child."

Orochimaru's eyes shifted, as if he were contemplating the feasibility of this matter.

Soon, his snake-like pupils fixed, and he walked toward the cave exit step by step, his voice echoing through the cavern!

"I have a great interest in the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, and it seems the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan can achieve a very delicate balance with the genetic cells of Senju Hashirama."

His expression was spirited, filled with keen interest.

In his view, Uchiha Shisui might indeed be very powerful.

But regardless, he was only a fifteen-year-old youth.

Compared to himself, an established veteran Kage-level powerhouse, the gap in both experience and strength was vast!

Therefore, even if this battle had its twists and turns, it would ultimately end in his victory.

Greed flickered in the depths of Orochimaru's eyes; he had discovered that the eyes of the Uchiha clan seemed to possess a magical power, a mysterious strength sufficient to make anyone obsessed!

On the other side.

Uchiha Gray glanced indifferently at the small puddles not far away.

They were now only a few hours' journey from the Land of Waves.

The enemy would naturally set their trap here.

Those two puddles clearly had chakra fluctuations, and there were no signs of rain in the surrounding area, meaning these two puddles were abrupt and illogical.

They were clearly the disguises of two Water Release ninjas!

Watching the way Uchiha Gray's gaze inadvertently swept over the puddles, the appreciation in Uchiha Shisui's eyes grew increasingly intense.

Did he discover them?

He is truly worthy of being Gray.

Shisui even had a feeling now that Uchiha Gray was like an outstanding adult.

In front of him, he even felt a sense of inferiority!

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Uchiha Gray couldn't be bothered to probe; under Dolif's shocked gaze, he unhesitatingly unleashed a restraining Fire Release ninjutsu!

In an instant, a massive fireball over ten meters high completely engulfed the two puddles.

Within seconds, those two puddles transformed into two ninjas, from whom agonizing roars erupted.

And following two shuriken thrown by Uchiha Gray, these two minor ninjas didn't even have the chance to speak!

They had already become corpses!