Clues to the Tailed Beasts

The next day.

Early that morning, Uchiha Sake and Uchiha Ya received their orders and arrived outside the courtyard.

"Isn't it a bit of overkill for the clan head to send us to protect Uchiha Yang?"

Uchiha Sake leaned against the gate with his arms folded and said boredly.

Uchiha Ya glanced at him and replied coolly.

"If the clan head heard you say that, there's no doubt he'd replace us on this mission."

"You should know how much the clan head values Uchiha Yang. Besides, Uchiha Yang is the clan head's only cousin."

"Just considering the plan Uchiha Yang provided and what he said at the banquet, I think it's worth having the two of us protect him."

"I was just saying it offhand."

Uchiha Sake quickly shut his mouth, afraid someone might have overheard what he'd just said.

The two didn't know Uchiha Yang well, but even if they were setting off the next day, he probably wouldn't get up until the afternoon.

After waiting all morning without the door opening, the two had begun to wonder whether Uchiha Yang had already left ahead of them.

Just as they were debating whether one of them should go ask the clan head, the gate stirred.

With a creak, the gate opened.

Uchiha Yang came out yawning, while his maid, Xia Lian, carried a bundle beside him.

"Morning."

Seeing that the two had arrived so early, Uchiha Yang greeted them.

The two glanced at the sky. If they weren't mistaken, it was already afternoon.

Even so, they didn't dare show any dissatisfaction and promptly returned his greeting.

Uchiha Sake and Uchiha Ya would accompany him openly, while Uchiha Kage and the Shadow Guard members would protect him in secret.

Uchiha Yang brought his maid, Xia Lian, and climbed into the prepared carriage.

The carriage looked ordinary on the outside, but its interior was exquisitely and extravagantly furnished, perfectly suited to Uchiha Yang's understated nature.

It had been built a long time ago, but he'd never used it before.

Uchiha Sake and Uchiha Ya took their places on either side of the carriage's entrance and drove.

"Hyah!"

Uchiha Ya flicked the reins and deftly set the carriage in motion.

At the gate of the Uchiha Compound, Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Madara silently saw Uchiha Yang off, watching until the carriage disappeared from view.

The carriage moved quickly, but there wasn't the slightest jolt inside. Its suspension was excellent; even when the carriage bumped along, it was hardly noticeable.

Uchiha Yang lay on his side with his head on Xia Lian's lap. The carriage window was open a crack, letting in a faintly cool breeze. Sleepiness washed over him at once.

Xia Lian's slender, fair hands gently massaged Uchiha Yang's temples, making him even sleepier. He was out in less than a minute.

After three days on the road, Uchiha Yang's carriage was already close to the capital of the Land of Fire.

The brightest, most splendid places were often where the darkest, most lawless corners thrived.

Outside the capital of the Land of Fire, a great river flowed toward the sea.

"Lord Sake, Lord Ya, the master says he wants to stop here for some grilled fish before we continue."

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

Uchiha Sake and Uchiha Ya were already used to stopping and starting along the way, so they brought the carriage to a halt at once.

Xia Lian jumped down first and took a wooden step stool from the back of the carriage, setting it beside the door.

Uchiha Yang stepped out of the carriage. He wore a white robe with red trim, his long hair hanging naturally. His brows were striking and his eyes deep, as if they held a vast, starry sky. He looked every inch a young nobleman out on an excursion with his maid and guards.

At a glance, no outsider would have guessed he was a member of the Uchiha Clan.

Uchiha Sake and the others wore no Uchiha insignia either.

With Xia Lian supporting him, Uchiha Yang stepped down from the carriage using the wooden stool.

"The air here is really nice."

Uchiha Yang took a deep breath.

[Sharingan: There's something strange about this river. Be careful, Master.]

The Sharingan's warning surprised Uchiha Yang. This trip had been kept strictly confidential, so there shouldn't have been any assassination attempts.

"Hm?"

Uchiha Sake seemed to have noticed something unusual on the river's surface too. He hurriedly drew his sword and stepped in front of Uchiha Yang.

Seeing this, Uchiha Ya immediately hurled several Kunai toward the river.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three drenched figures leaped straight out of the water.

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

Three rather ugly-looking wandering samurai stared greedily at Uchiha Yang and the others.

"So they're wandering samurai."

Uchiha Ya could tell the three weren't ninja but samurai. A trace of contempt entered his gaze.

Even the samurai themselves looked down on their own fallen state, let alone the ninja, who possessed such powerful abilities.

"Don't kill them yet. Let me see the samurai's strength."

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

"Understood."

Uchiha Sake walked up to the three, his expression arrogant. "I'll give the three of you a chance to use your full strength."

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

"Get him! We'll take one of them out first!"

"Draw-Sword Slash!"

Three fierce sword waves appeared as the men drew their swords. Riding the force of their unsheathing blades, the surging attacks shot straight toward Uchiha Sake.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Dragon Dance."

Uchiha Sake rapidly formed Hand Seals. Flames transformed into a roaring dragon, while the sparks resembled vivid, beautiful flowers. The lovelier they looked, the more dangerous they were.

Boom!!!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Uchiha Ya reacted swiftly, stepping in front of Uchiha Yang and blocking the wave of scorching heat and wind.

The three men lay motionless on the ground, seemingly dead. Their bodies were charred and gave off a fragrant smell, while the flames still burned.

Uchiha Sake hurried to check their breathing. When he found they were dead, he searched their clothes out of habit.

He found a Jade Pendant that showed no sign of being scorched by the flames. It was translucent and shimmering, and its quality was clearly extraordinary.

"My lord, they're dead. Please punish me."

Uchiha Sake approached Uchiha Yang with a face full of remorse, his head bowed as he held out a Jade Pendant in both hands.

"However, I found this on them."

"If they're dead, they're dead. They were just a few samurai who'd lost their minds."

Uchiha Yang took the Jade Pendant with curiosity. "How did people like them get something like this? They must have stolen it."

The moment it touched his hand, he felt a violent force emanating from the Jade Pendant.

[Brain: Master, this Jade Pendant seems to contain a special kind of chakra. It's filled with darkness, savagery, and destructive power.]

[Hand: I feel it too. This chakra feels like a wild beast roaring in a frenzy.]

[Sharingan: Could it be the Tailed Beast's aura?]

[Brain: The Sharingan's got it right. That's certainly possible.]

Without a word, Uchiha Yang put the Jade Pendant away. If it really carried the Tailed Beast Chakra's aura, then the pendant's value was on another level.

He could use this chakra to pinpoint the Tailed Beast's location.

Before the Mangekyō Sharingan, even a Tailed Beast was nothing more than a docile pet that obeyed its master.