Chapter 22

"Master, my name is Xie. I'm skilled in both genjutsu and Wind Release."

The two of them knelt in unison and bowed.

"Mm."

Xuan stroked his chin and nodded. "First, change your identities and stay by my side. As for how I'll arrange things later, we'll discuss it then."

"Yes!"

"However, Danzo probably recorded your chakra signatures. We need to find a way to alter them."

His mind raced.

A few minutes later—

[Your understanding of chakra has reached a new level. You have comprehended the "Chakra Concealment Technique."]

[Chakra Concealment Technique]: Once mastered, it can conceal and alter one's chakra signature.

"Done."

Xuan directly passed the technique he had developed to Turtledove and Xie, telling them to practice it immediately until they mastered it completely.

"Yes!"

The two accepted the order, their awe for him soaring even higher.

He could create something like this so casually. Just who was this new master...?

For a moment, they even felt that being Xuan's slaves might not be such a bad thing.

At the very least, Xuan treated them far better than Danzo did.

Danzo had never regarded them as human beings. They were merely expendable tools.

Around dinner time.

Uchiha Senichi noticed that there were two additional hidden ninja in the house. He stared at Xuan and asked, "Where did those two come from?"

Uchiha Mikoto and the others looked over as well.

Xuan smiled. "They're two of the four Root ninja I captured last week."

"Following the Cursed Tongue Eradication Jutsu, I developed a Mind Control Technique and have already taken control of all four of them. There's no need to worry about them betraying us."

"I sent two back to infiltrate Danzo's side. The other two are staying here to serve us."

"If you need anything, just give them orders."

This attempt to stir up public opinion might not necessarily escape Danzo's notice.

It was a good opportunity to use Owl and the others to monitor Danzo's movements. If he made a move, they could respond immediately.

As for why he was doing this despite knowing it would offend Danzo?

Naturally, it was to restrain him, divert his attention, and get some revenge while he was at it.

Danzo had already made a move against him, and he had always hated the Uchiha clan bitterly. What was there to fear?

Uchiha Senichi raised a brow, doubt in his eyes. "Is this Mental Enslavement Technique you mentioned really reliable? Sending them to infiltrate Danzo is no small matter. That old fox won't be easy to fool."

He had never dared to underestimate Danzo.

"Indeed, he definitely won't trust them easily." Uchiha Yan nodded firmly, his tone steady. "But Root ninja are naturally skilled at disguise, so that isn't something we need to worry about."

"Fine." Uchiha Senichi understood and nodded slightly. "As long as you know what you're doing."

He was not worried about manpower. With the position of deputy captain of the Konoha Military Police Force in place, he had no shortage of people to use.

"Sister Mikoto, did this mission go smoothly?"

During their casual conversation, Uchiha Yan suddenly turned to Mikoto and asked.

Mikoto had been away for nearly half a month.

"Mm." A smile appeared on Mikoto's face as she replied softly, "The process was a little complicated, but I've already broken through to Jōnin. It was a close call, but everything turned out fine. I have you to thank for that, Xuan."

If Xuan had not helped her, how could her strength have improved so quickly?

"Oh, right." Mikoto recalled something and said to Xuan, "Grandfather wants me to bring you home for dinner tomorrow. Are you free?"

"Sure, I'll definitely make time." Uchiha Yan nodded without hesitation.

He had to go.

At this point, his relationship with Mikoto was something both sides tacitly acknowledged.

Even clan leader Uchiha Tianrong had seen through it. Fugaku had not come to bother Mikoto lately, so he had probably given up completely.

Inside the main hall of Root headquarters.

The flames in the braziers on either side crackled and flickered, illuminating the gloomy space.

Danzo sat at the head of the room with a grim expression, staring at the kneeling Owl and Crow below. He secretly sensed them and confirmed that there was nothing wrong with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Jutsu seals on them before he spoke in a deep voice. "Why are you only returning now?"

"What have you experienced these past few days? Where are Turtledove and Xie?"

He had originally assumed that Owl and the others were dead, killed by the Uchiha clan.

He had not expected two of them to return alive.

Though they were severely injured.

"Reporting to Lord Danzo!" Owl immediately followed the story they had prepared and gave a detailed report of the experience he and Crow had fabricated.

In short, they had gone to invite Uchiha Yan, only to be rejected. Just as they were about to act, they ran into four Uchiha Jōnin secretly protecting Uchiha Yan, who suddenly launched a surprise attack.

Turtledove and Xie had failed to react in time and were killed on the spot. The two of them had only survived because they escaped quickly enough.

However, they had fled a considerable distance before shaking off the Uchiha pursuit. Their injuries had been too severe to move, and they had rushed back to report only after recovering somewhat.

After hearing this, Danzo's brows furrowed tightly. "You're saying the Uchiha Clan secretly assigned four Jōnin to protect that brat? How is that possible? Has Uchiha Senichi gone mad?"

Those were four Jōnin.

How could the Uchiha Clan's top figures possibly be willing to serve as bodyguards for a three-year-old child?

Since when had Jōnin become so cheap and insignificant?

"It is absolutely true."

Owl replied immediately.

Crow beside him nodded as well, confirming it.

Danzo's brow furrowed even deeper.

After a long silence, he finally waved a hand. "This time, I underestimated them. I didn't expect the Uchiha clan to value that boy so highly."

"So the mission's failure is not your fault. Go tend to your injuries first."

He truly could not understand what the Uchiha clan was thinking.

Was that brat named Uchiha Yan really so important to the clan?

"Yes."

Owl and Crow accepted the order, but Owl asked another question. "Then should we still find a way to bring Uchiha Yan back afterward?"

"Stop for now."

Although Danzo was unwilling, he still shook his head rationally. "Wait until the attention dies down."

"The Uchiha clan's protection around him is too tight. Besides, the Third Hokage is watching him, and that madwoman Tsunade is protecting him as well. We cannot act rashly right now."

Ever since Nawaki and Dan Katō died, that woman had practically gone insane.

Danzo did not want to provoke her at a time like this.

"Yes."

Owl and Crow finally breathed a sigh of relief before taking their leave.

They had managed to bluff their way through this time.

Things would be much easier from here on.

Their success was entirely due to Danzo's excessive confidence in his own Cursed Tongue Eradication Jutsu.

He believed that with that technique, along with his other methods, Root ninja could never betray him.

Those who could swim often drowned. That was the truth.

Early the next morning, Uchiha Yan was pulled by Mikoto to the Great Elder's home.

"Xiao Xuan, you're here. Have a seat."

When the Great Elder saw Xuan arrive, he greeted him warmly, had someone prepare tea and snacks, then said with a smile, "Mikoto has been fortunate to have you looking after her lately."

"Not at all. It's only what I should do."

Uchiha Yan smiled and shook his head.

Wasn't taking care of his future wife only natural?

"Mm."

The Great Elder was very satisfied with Xuan's attitude and continued, "Are you still studying at the hospital lately? Do you plan to become a medical ninja in the future?"

"No."

Uchiha Yan shook his head in denial. "I'm only studying there because researching medicine requires more medical knowledge."

"Besides, I'm still too young to attend the Ninja Academy. Taking advantage of this time to learn more things isn't a bad idea, is it?"

He roughly understood the elder's concern.

All he could say was that it was completely unnecessary.

He knew what mattered most.

"Haha, that's good."

The Great Elder could not help laughing after hearing that. "I nearly forgot that you're only a little over three years old. I was too anxious."

"As long as you know what you're doing."

"Remember, in this Ninja World, only your own strength matters most."