Nothing to Do Today, Failed to Abstain

Uchiha Sake and Uchiha Ya had been by Uchiha Yang's side from beginning to end, listening to everything.

But by the time he finished, they were just as confused. It seemed the family didn't have any of the things Uchiha Yang had mentioned.

"To really get these businesses up and running, we'll have to stay here another month or two. Once things are stable, we can head back to the clan."

Uchiha Yang reached into his clothes and pulled out the Jade Pendant containing Tailed Beast Chakra.

The Senju Clan surely wouldn't let a clue to a Tailed Beast slip by. So why not let them do the work and swoop in afterward?

With that thought, he hung the Jade Pendant from his waist.

In the capital, crowds streamed through the streets and alleys. Street vendors hawked their wares, and even high-ranking officials and nobles could be seen out and about. The whole place had the feel of a peaceful, prosperous age.

Uchiha Yang stopped here and there as he strolled, buying all sorts of things. Uchiha Sake and Uchiha Ya carried the bags and bundles.

No one would believe it if they heard that elite jonin were working as errand boys.

At some point, the Jade Pendant at Uchiha Yang's waist had disappeared without a trace.

"Master, master, buy me a candied hawthorn skewer, please."

The maid's sweet, coquettish voice made Uchiha Yang shiver.

"You little rascal, you actually dare to make your master buy you one? Well, I'll allow it. Go on, then."

"Master, not here. You're tickling me."

Uchiha Yang chuckled wickedly beside Xia Lian's ear, making her squirm and beg for mercy.

"You little vixen. Behave yourself."

"Forget candied hawthorn skewers. I'll give you all you can eat tonight."

Uchiha Yang chuckled as he snapped open a fan with a pop and strolled ahead like some young nobleman.

Nearby, the Senju ninja who had been disguised and concealed among the crowd left smugly once they had secured the Jade Pendant.

If they couldn't take it by force, they'd steal it.

Just as Uchiha Yang had expected, the Senju Clan wasn't going to let the matter drop. As soon as Senju Tobirama found out, he ordered people to retrieve the Jade Pendant at any cost.

The Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu was naturally the most effective way to suppress a Tailed Beast. Of course, there was also the Uchiha Clan's Mangekyō Sharingan, but that was beside the point.

Senju Tobirama had paid a great deal of food to obtain the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu for sealing Tailed Beasts. He was quite pleased with the deal.

The Uzumaki Clan had once treated its Sealing Jutsu as more precious than anything else. But now, for the sake of the clan, Uzumaki Changfeng had no choice but to compromise.

The Uzumaki Clan's strength had now fallen from that of a first-rate shinobi clan to a second-rate one.

Fortunately, they had been intermarrying with the Senju Clan for years. Even as a second-rate clan, they still weren't someone others dared to provoke.

But Uzumaki Changfeng had grown quite dissatisfied with the Senju Clan. If he didn't need their support right now, who knew? He might have already broken with them.

Once a relationship developed a rift, even if it was mended, it could never return to what it had been.

Three days later, Uchiha Yang strolled out of a Hot Spring Inn.

"My lord, the service here wasn't as good as at the last place."

Uchiha Sake seemed reluctant to leave. This mission had been far too comfortable.

"You've fallen into depravity."

Uchiha Yang shook his head with a sigh.

Every time Uchiha Yang came out, he deeply reproached himself for his behavior.

Nothing to do today. I'll abstain from the hot springs.

Failed.

I'll try abstaining again next time.

After returning to where they were staying, he took another comfortable bath with the little maid's help.

"My lord, the Great Elder and the others are here."

Uchiha Ya called out as he knocked on the door from outside.

"Why are they only here now? It's already been three days."

"Whatever it is, we'll talk tomorrow. Make sure the Great Elder and the others are well looked after. I'll cover the expenses."

With a naked maid in his arms, Uchiha Yang had no interest in meeting the old man.

The engine was running. How could he just stop it?

After hearing what was going on inside, Uchiha Sake hurried away.

The Great Elder, Uchiha Sei, was drinking tea. When he saw Uchiha Sake return, he immediately asked, "Where's Yang?"

"He said he was tired and went to bed. He also said you and the others have worked hard, and that he'd cover all the food and drink."

Uchiha Sake didn't dare tell the truth. He had to polish the story in his head before letting it out.

"Yang has worked hard. It's fine; we can talk tomorrow."

Uchiha Sei wasn't annoyed. Before they left, the clan leader had repeatedly instructed them to defer to Uchiha Yang on everything.

Even if they couldn't capture the Tailed Beast, they couldn't let the Senju Clan get it.

"By the way, what happened to that Jade Pendant?"

Uchiha Sei suddenly asked.

"It was stolen." Uchiha Sake answered without hesitation when the Great Elder asked about the Jade Pendant.

"Stolen?" Uchiha Sei reacted strongly, his voice rising at once.

Several elite jonin had been guarding it, and the Jade Pendant had still been stolen.

"Please calm down, Great Elder." Seeing him fly into a rage, Uchiha Ya hurriedly explained, "It was Lord Yang's plan."

"That's right, that's right. Everything is going according to plan." Uchiha Sake quickly chimed in.

After hearing their explanation, the anger on Uchiha Sei's face slowly faded.

"What plan?" Uchiha Sei asked at once.

"Lord Yang called it the Yellow Oriole Plan. He didn't explain the details."

Uchiha Sake answered truthfully.

Uchiha Sei had great faith in Uchiha Yang's plans. The clan was already carrying out the Family Planning Plan.

Though they couldn't see any results in the short term, the logically sound explanation had convinced them that once the plan was complete, the Uchiha Clan's population would change beyond recognition.

Many people were up all night. Uchiha Yang only fell asleep after he'd worn the little maid out.

The next day, around noon.

Uchiha Sei and the others had prepared a table full of food and were waiting for the guest of honor, Uchiha Yang.

"Sorry, I woke up late. I'll punish myself with a drink."

Uchiha Yang had just walked in and seen everyone waiting for him before starting the meal. Feeling a little embarrassed, he poured himself a drink.

Uchiha Sei picked up his cup with a hearty laugh. "We're family. No need to stand on ceremony."

Uchiha Yang chuckled and picked up a bite of food. "Let's eat and talk."

Once everyone had started eating, Uchiha Yang took a sip of wine before slowly speaking.

"Great Elder, you came for the Tailed Beast, right? Uchiha Sake has probably already told you about the Jade Pendant."

Seeing the Great Elder nod, Uchiha Yang continued.

"The so-called Yellow Oriole Plan is simple: they're in the open, and we're in the shadows. Once they find the Tailed Beast and wear themselves out, we'll make our move."

"But I doubt they'll find it anytime soon. So for now, we should eat and drink as we please. We just need to have someone keep an eye on the Senju Clan Compound."

"For a Tailed Beast like this, Senju Tobirama or Senju Hashirama will have to go in person."

"Will there be enough of us?"

Uchiha Sei looked at the others and asked with some hesitation.

A terrifying monster like a Tailed Beast wasn't something they could handle.

"Don't worry. Someone will step in when the time comes."

Uchiha Yang leisurely sipped his wine, giving everyone the impression that everything was under control.