Clues to the Tailed Beast

The next day.

Early in the morning, Uchiha Sake and Uchiha Ya received their orders and appeared outside the courtyard.

"Isn't it a bit of an overkill for the Clan Head to send us to protect Uchiha Yang?"

Uchiha Sake crossed his arms, leaning against the gate as he spoke with boredom.

Uchiha Ya glanced at him and said indifferently.

"If the Clan Head hears you say that, you can be sure this mission will be reassigned."

"You should know how much the Clan Head values Uchiha Yang, not to mention that Uchiha Yang is his only first cousin."

"Just based on the plans Uchiha Yang provided and what he said at the banquet, I think our protection is well-deserved."

"I was just saying it casually."

Uchiha Sake quickly shut his mouth, terrified that his words might have been overheard.

The two men did not know Uchiha Yang well, assuming that even if he were to leave today, he would certainly not wake up until the afternoon.

After waiting for an entire morning without the door opening, they began to wonder if Uchiha Yang had already left in advance.

Just as they were debating whether to ask the Clan Head for clarification, the gate stirred.

With a creak, the gate opened.

Uchiha Yang yawned, while his maid, Xia Lian, carried a bundle behind him.

"Morning."

Seeing the two of them there so early, Uchiha Yang offered a greeting.

The two men glanced at the sky; if their calculations were correct, it was already afternoon.

Even so, neither dared to show any dissatisfaction, and they quickly echoed a "morning" in return.

On the surface, Uchiha Sake and Uchiha Ya were following him, while in the shadows, Uchiha Kage led members of the Shadow Guard to provide protection.

Uchiha Yang took his maid, Xia Lian, and boarded the prepared carriage.

The carriage looked ordinary on the outside but was exquisitely and luxuriously furnished on the inside, perfectly matching Uchiha Yang's low-key personality.

This carriage had been crafted long ago, though it had never been put to use until now.

Uchiha Sake and Uchiha Ya sat on either side of the carriage curtain, taking up the reins.

"Hyah!"

Uchiha Ya flicked the whip, skillfully driving the carriage as they set off.

At the entrance of the Uchiha Compound, Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Madara silently saw Uchiha Yang off, watching the carriage disappear from their field of vision.

The carriage moved quite fast, yet there was not the slightest bump inside; the shock absorption was excellent, and even if there were jolts, they were imperceptible.

Uchiha Yang lay on his side on Xia Lian's lap. As a corner of the carriage window was pulled back, a cool breeze drifted in, and drowsiness immediately swept over his eyes.

Xia Lian's fair, slender fingers gently massaged Uchiha Yang's temples. His sleepiness deepened, and within a minute, he was fast asleep.

Three days later, Uchiha Yang's carriage was not far from the capital of the Land of Fire.

Where there is the most splendor, there is the most fertile ground for darkness and villainy to breed.

Outside the capital of the Land of Fire, there was a large river that flowed into the sea.

"Lord Sake, Lord Ya, the Master says he wants to eat some grilled fish here before moving on."

Xia Lian lifted the curtain and spoke to the two men outside.

Uchiha Sake and Uchiha Ya were already accustomed to the stop-and-go pace, so they immediately brought the carriage to a halt.

Xia Lian jumped down first, retrieved a wooden step from the back of the carriage, and placed it by the side.

Uchiha Yang stepped out from the carriage. He wore a long robe with a white base and red trim, his long hair falling naturally. With his star-like brows and eyes, and a profound gaze that seemed to hold a vast starry sky, he looked every bit the noble young master out for an excursion with his maid and guards.

To an outsider, there was no sign that he belonged to the Uchiha clan.

The clothing of Uchiha Sake and the others also lacked any Uchiha insignia.

Supported by Xia Lian, Uchiha Yang stepped onto the wooden stool and descended from the carriage.

"The air here is quite nice."

Uchiha Yang took a deep breath.

Sharingan: The river water is slightly abnormal. Master, be careful.

The Sharingan's words caught Uchiha Yang by surprise. This trip was supposed to be strictly confidential; logically speaking, there shouldn't be any assassins.

"Hm?"

Uchiha Sake seemed to have noticed the abnormality on the river surface as well, quickly drawing his blade to stand in front of Uchiha Yang.

Seeing this, Uchiha Ya threw several kunai directly toward the river.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three drenched figures leaped directly out of the water.

"Hand over all your money, and we'll spare your lives."

Three ugly-looking wandering samurai cast greedy gazes toward Uchiha Yang and his group.

"So, they're just wandering samurai."

After Uchiha Ya realized the three were samurai rather than ninja, a hint of disdain appeared in his eyes as he looked at them.

The decline of the samurai was acknowledged even by the samurai themselves, let alone by ninja who possessed such formidable power.

"Don't kill them yet; let me see what the power of a samurai is really like."

Uchiha Yang sat on a large rock that Xia Lian had wiped clean.

"As you command."

Uchiha Sake walked up to the three men and said with an arrogant expression, "I'll give you three the chance to use your full strength."

"Damn it, how dare they look down on us!"

"Attack! Let's take one of them out first."

"Draw-Sword Slash!"

Three sharp sword auras emerged the moment they drew their blades. Accompanied by the force of the unsheathing, these poised strikes surged directly toward Uchiha Sake.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Dragon Dance!"

Uchiha Sake quickly formed hand seals, and the flames transformed into a roaring dragon. The sparks resembled vivid, beautiful flowers—the more beautiful they appeared, the more dangerous they were.

BOOM!!!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!

Uchiha Ya reacted with lightning speed, stepping in front of Uchiha Yang to block the incoming wave of heat and wind.

The three men lay on the ground, silent and motionless, seemingly having breathed their last. Their bodies were charred and emitting a burnt scent, with flames still flickering over them.

Uchiha Sake hurried over to check their breathing, discovered they were dead, and habitually searched their clothing.

He found a jade pendant that hadn't been scorched by the flames at all. It was crystal clear, shimmering with light, and the quality of the jade was clearly not ordinary.

"My Lord, they are dead. Please punish me."

Uchiha Sake approached Uchiha Yang with a face full of shame, bowing his head as he offered the jade pendant with both hands.

"However, I did find this on them."

"Dead is dead. They were just a few brainless samurai, anyway."

Uchiha Yang took the jade pendant with curiosity. "How could people like this have something like this? It was probably stolen."

The moment it touched his hand, he felt a sense of brutality radiating from the pendant.

Brain: Master, this pendant seems to contain a special type of chakra—a chakra filled with darkness, madness, and destruction.

Hand: I feel it too. This chakra feels like a rampaging beast roaring.

Sharingan: Could it be the aura of a Tailed Beast?

Brain: The Sharingan is not wrong; that is indeed a possibility.

Uchiha Yang silently tucked the jade pendant away. If it truly contained the aura of Tailed Beast chakra, then the value of this pendant was entirely different.

He could use this chakra to track the location of a Tailed Beast.

In the presence of the Mangekyou Sharingan, even a Tailed Beast would be nothing more than an obedient, docile pet.