Nothing to Report Today, Lust Failed

Uchiha Sake and Uchiha Ya had followed Uchiha Yang and listened to the entire conversation from start to finish.

However, they were left completely bewildered by the end; it seemed the clan had no record of the things Uchiha Yang had been talking about.

"To truly implement these businesses, we'll have to stay here for a month or two. We won't return to the clan until things have stabilized."

Uchiha Yang fished out the jade pendant containing the Tailed Beast chakra from his person.

He figured the Senju Clan wouldn't let a lead on a Tailed Beast slip through their fingers, so why not play the role of the oriole waiting behind the mantis?

With that thought, Uchiha Yang hung the jade pendant at his waist.

In the capital, the streets and alleys were teeming with people. Peddlers shouted their wares, and even high-ranking officials and nobles could be seen wandering about, creating an atmosphere of a peaceful and prosperous age.

Uchiha Yang stopped and started, buying quite a few things, leaving Uchiha Sake and Uchiha Ya to carry the large and small bags.

For elite jonin to be reduced to errand boys—no one would believe it if word got out.

Meanwhile, the jade pendant at Uchiha Yang's waist had vanished without anyone noticing.

"Master, Master, buy me a skewer of candied haws!"

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

"You little thing, you actually dare to ask your Master to buy it for you? Very well, I grant you permission. Go buy it."

"Master, not here, it tickles!"

Uchiha Yang whispered something wicked into Xia Lian's ear, making her giggle and beg for mercy.

"You little demon, behave yourself."

"Forget the candied haws; I'll let you have your fill tonight."

Uchiha Yang chuckled, snapped his fan open with a thwack, and strolled forward like a refined young nobleman.

Nearby, the Senju ninjas disguised within the crowd slipped away triumphantly, having successfully snatched the pendant.

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

Just as Uchiha Yang had anticipated, the Senju Clan would not let the matter rest. Once Senju Tobirama learned of it, he immediately ordered his men to retrieve the pendant at any cost.

The most effective way to suppress a Tailed Beast was, naturally, the sealing jutsu of the Uzumaki Clan—not to mention the Uchiha Clan's Mangekyou Sharingan, which was a separate matter.

Senju Tobirama had paid a heavy price in grain to happily obtain the Uzumaki Clan's sealing jutsu for Tailed Beasts.

The Uzumaki Clan had once guarded their sealing techniques as if they were more important than anything else, but now, for the sake of his clan, Uzumaki Changfeng had no choice but to compromise.

The Uzumaki Clan had currently fallen from a first-rate ninja clan to a second-rate one.

Fortunately, due to their long-standing history of intermarriage with the Senju Clan, even as a second-rate clan, they were not to be trifled with.

However, Uzumaki Changfeng already held deep grievances against the Senju Clan. If he didn't currently need their support, he might have already broken ties with them.

Once a relationship develops a crack, even if it is mended, it can never return to what it once was.

Three days later, Uchiha Yang strolled slowly out of a hot spring inn.

"My Lord, the service here isn't as good as the last one."

Uchiha Sake was still lingering on the experience; this mission had been far too comfortable.

"You've grown decadent."

Uchiha Yang shook his head and sighed.

Every time Uchiha Yang came out of such a place, he deeply condemned his own behavior.

No business today; time to abstain from the hot springs.

Failure.

He would try abstaining again next time.

Upon returning to their lodging, he enjoyed a refreshing bath served by his little maid.

"My Lord, the Great Elder and the others have arrived."

Uchiha Ya called out from outside the door.

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

"Tell them to wait until tomorrow. You go ahead and entertain the Great Elder and the others; I'll cover the expenses."

With a soft, bare maid in his arms, Uchiha Yang was in no mood to see some old man.

The carriage was already in motion; it couldn't just stop because someone said so.

Hearing the commotion inside, Uchiha Sake quickly retreated.

The Great Elder, Uchiha Sei, was sipping tea when he saw Uchiha Sake return. He immediately asked, "Where is Yang?"

"He said he was tired and has already gone to sleep. He also said that since you and the others have had a long and arduous journey, all food and drink are on him."

Uchiha Sake didn't dare tell the truth, so he had to polish the story in his head before speaking.

"Yang has worked hard. It's fine, it's not too late to talk tomorrow."

Uchiha Sei wasn't annoyed after hearing this. Before they left, the Clan Head had repeatedly emphasized that everything should be decided based on Uchiha Yang's wishes.

Even if we cannot capture the Tailed Beast, we must not let the Senju Clan obtain it.

"By the way, what about that jade pendant?" Uchiha Sei suddenly asked.

"It was stolen," Uchiha Sake replied immediately when he saw the Great Elder asking about the pendant.

"Stolen?" Uchiha Sei's reaction was intense, his voice instantly rising in pitch.

With several elite jonin guarding it, how could the jade pendant possibly have been stolen?

"Great Elder, please calm your anger." Seeing the Great Elder's fury, Uchiha Ya, who was standing to the side, hurriedly explained, "This is Lord Yang's plan."

"Yes, yes, everything is going according to plan," Uchiha Sake quickly chimed in.

Listening to their explanation, the anger on Uchiha Sei's face slowly began to dissipate.

"What plan?" Uchiha Sei asked hurriedly.

"Lord Yang called it the Yellow Oriole Plan. As for the specifics, he didn't say," Uchiha Sake said truthfully.

Uchiha Sei had great trust in Uchiha Yang's plans; after all, the clan was already executing the Family Planning Plan.

Although the results were not yet visible in the short term, according to the logical description provided, once this plan was completed, the population of the Uchiha Clan would undergo a heaven-shaking transformation.

Many people spent the night sleepless, but Uchiha Yang only fell asleep after holding his little maid close once she was completely exhausted.

The next day, at noon.

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

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

As soon as Uchiha Yang walked in and saw everyone waiting for him to start the meal, he felt a bit embarrassed and penalized himself with a drink.

Uchiha Sei smiled and raised his glass, "We're all family; no need for such formalities."

Uchiha Yang couldn't help but chuckle, picking up some food with his chopsticks, "Let's eat and talk."

After everyone began to eat, Uchiha Yang took a sip of wine and then spoke slowly.

"The Great Elder must have come for the Tailed Beast. I assume Uchiha Sake has already told you about the jade pendant."

Seeing the Great Elder nod, Uchiha Yang continued.

"The so-called Yellow Oriole Plan is actually quite simple: they stay in the light while we remain in the shadows. We wait until they have exhausted themselves finding the Tailed Beast, and then we make our move."

"However, I don't think they will find it anytime soon, so we should just eat and drink as usual during this time. We only need to send people to keep an eye on the Senju compound."

"For a creature like the Tailed Beast, it will inevitably require Senju Tobirama or Senju Hashirama to go out personally."

"Is it enough to rely on just us?" Uchiha Sei looked at everyone, asking with a hesitant expression.

Terrifying monsters like Tailed Beasts were not something they could easily handle.

"Rest assured, someone will make a move when the time comes."

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