Gray, You're So Kind

Was Uchiha Gray feeling a sudden burst of kindness?

Of course not.

Gray couldn't be bothered with some strange guy he didn't even know.

He'd only done it because it was along the way. Besides, he was very interested in Gato's wealth. Even the strongest ninja needed money for emergencies, and robbing the rich to fund himself was a fine virtue.

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

"I knew I was right about you. An ordinary ninja would definitely have abandoned this mission, but not only did you refuse to give up, you're also going to help this employer solve the problems in the Land of Waves once and for all!"

Uchiha Shisui was thrilled, his eyes bright with excitement.

This was the kindred spirit he'd been searching for, someone who shared his goals!

Uchiha Itachi was just as clever, and he didn't agree with the Uchiha Clan's current actions, but he still lacked ideas of his own. Many of his thoughts had actually come from Shisui.

But Uchiha Gray was different.

Not only did he share Shisui's opposition to the Uchiha Clan's unjust actions, he also had his own observations about Sarutobi Hiruzen!

More than once, he'd even brought Shisui to his senses, offering fresh perspectives that opened his eyes. If Gray led the Uchiha or even the Leaf, he'd surely make both the Leaf and the Uchiha more prosperous!

This absurd idea suddenly appeared in Uchiha Shisui's mind. But the more he thought it over, the more sensible it seemed!

Uchiha Gray: "..."

Great. He'd been wondering how to win Uchiha Shisui over, but Shisui had come to him on his own.

And he was practically a die-hard fan.

Leaf.

A dimly lit chamber.

Shimura Danzō watched the bespectacled ninja standing before him, his casual expression growing increasingly cold.

He hated people who showed no respect for rules!

"Lord Danzō, is this how you treat your guests? You didn't even offer me a glass of water." Yakushi Kabuto shrugged. His manner was respectful, but his words were full of mockery. He had no fondness for the man called Danzō.

It was because of Shimura Danzō that he'd accidentally killed his adoptive mother, Yakushi Nonō.

His eyes were ice-cold.

"Heh. The spy ninja I trained back then has become a very obedient dog of Orochimaru." A vicious glint flashed in Shimura Danzō's eyes. He wanted to kill Yakushi Kabuto on the spot.

But he couldn't. He still had important work for Kabuto to do.

"Lord Danzō, there's no need to insult me. If you have nothing else to say, I'll take my leave," Yakushi Kabuto said casually.

"Wait!" Danzō snapped, furious. How dare a mere intelligence spy ignore him like that!

Yakushi Kabuto stopped, a faint smile on his face, though his eyes were utterly cold.

"Tell Orochimaru that Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Gray have left the village on a mission to the Land of Waves. Doesn't he want to study the Sharingan? If he does, he can go there himself!"

Shimura Danzō's voice was chillingly cold, steeped in hatred.

If you two hadn't refused to submit to me, why would I have taken this step?

Both Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Gray were despicable. They deserved to die!

If I couldn't make you serve me, then you could die!

His eyes shifted. He had another reason, too. He'd long suspected that Uchiha Shisui had reached Kage Level, and that Uchiha Gray had awakened the Sharingan!

How else could they be so powerful? This wasn't a guess—it was a certainty!

He'd let Orochimaru test them. If both returned safely, then he absolutely couldn't let them live!

Yakushi Kabuto's expression turned serious. "I'll tell Lord Orochimaru."

With that, he backed away and vanished into the darkness. He didn't dare delay; he immediately used Little White Snake to send the message!

What Lord Orochimaru was most interested in now was the Uchiha Clan's bodies and eyes. This couldn't wait!

After Yakushi Kabuto left, Shimura Danzō snorted. "Someone come here! Send Root Third Squad to the Land of Waves to assassinate Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Gray. Under no circumstances can they be allowed to return to the Leaf."

"Keep a close eye on Orochimaru during the assassination. The moment Orochimaru's battle with Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Gray ends, strike at once!"

His gaze was sinister. He was like a hyena, his greedy, savage stare enough to send a chill down anyone's spine.

Otogakure.

Inside an experimental facility, a pale man with snake-like pupils stared excitedly at Little White Snake.

It was as though he already knew the snake had brought him some astonishing news.

"I see." Orochimaru's lips curled.

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

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

"Body Flicker Shisui already demonstrated Elite Jonin strength during the Third Shinobi World War. By now, he might even have reached Kage Level!"

"As for the new-generation prodigy named Uchiha Gray, I can set him aside for now. No matter how talented he is, he's only an eight-year-old child."

Orochimaru's eyes shifted as he considered whether this plan was feasible.

Soon, his snake-like pupils narrowed with resolve. He walked step by step toward the cave entrance, his voice echoing through it!

"I'm very interested in the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan. What's more, the Sharingan seems to achieve a subtle balance with Senju Hashirama's genetic cells."

He looked eager, full of interest.

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

But no matter what, he was still only a fifteen-year-old boy.

Compared with Orochimaru, a seasoned Kage Level powerhouse, Shisui was far behind in both experience and strength!

So even if the battle had a few twists and turns, Orochimaru would ultimately win.

Greed flickered in Orochimaru's eyes. He'd discovered that the Uchiha Clan's eyes seemed to hold a mysterious power, a power capable of captivating anyone!

Meanwhile.

Uchiha Gray glanced casually at a small puddle in the distance.

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

Naturally, their opponents would have set their trap here.

Those two puddles clearly had chakra signatures, and there was no sign of rain in the surrounding area. In other words, they were out of place and made no sense.

They were obviously disguises by two Water Release ninja!

Seeing the casual glance Uchiha Gray cast at the puddles, admiration in Uchiha Shisui's eyes grew even stronger.

Had he noticed them?

No wonder he was Gray.

Shisui even felt that Uchiha Gray was like an exceptional adult.

Standing in front of him made Shisui feel inferior!

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Gray couldn't be bothered to test them. Under Dolif's astonished gaze, he immediately used the Fire Release Ninjutsu that countered them!

In an instant, a huge fireball more than ten meters high engulfed both puddles.

Just a few seconds later, the puddles turned into two ninja, who let out cries of pain.

And with two Shuriken from Uchiha Gray, the two nameless ninja didn't even get a chance to speak!

They were dead!