Chapter 22

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

The two of them dropped to their knees in unison and bowed.

"Mm."

Yan stroked his chin and nodded. "First, change your identities and stay by my side. We'll decide how to arrange things later."

"Yes!"

"However, Danzo has probably memorized 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."

Yan directly passed the ** 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 rising another level.

He could create this kind of ** so casually. Just who was this new master...

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

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

Danzo never saw them as people at all. They were nothing but expendable tools.

Around dinnertime.

Uchiha Senichi noticed that there were two extra hidden ninjas in the house and stared at Yan. "Where did those two come from?"

Uchiha Mikoto and the others also looked over.

Yan smiled. "They're two of the four Root ninjas I captured last week."

"Using the Cursed Tongue Eradication Jutsu, I developed a new Mind Control Technique. I've already taken control of all four of them, so there's no need to worry about betrayal."

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

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

There was no guarantee that Danzo's spies would miss what they had done to sway public opinion.

It was the perfect chance 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 provoking Danzo despite knowing it would offend him?

Naturally, it was to keep him occupied, 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, suspicion in his eyes. "Is this Mental Enslavement Technique of yours really reliable? Sending them to infiltrate Danzo's side isn't simple. That old fox won't be easy to fool."

He had never dared underestimate Danzo.

"True, he definitely won't trust them easily." Uchiha Yan nodded firmly, his tone steady. "But Root ninjas are skilled at disguising themselves. We don't need to worry about that."

"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, he had no shortage of people to use.

"Sister Mikoto, did the mission go smoothly this time?"

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

Mikoto had been away for nearly half a month this time.

"Mm." Mikoto smiled gently. "The process was a little difficult, but I've already broken through to Jōnin. It was a close call, but everything turned out fine. I have to thank you for that, Yan."

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

"Oh, right." Mikoto remembered something else and said to Yan, "Grandfather asked 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, he and Mikoto had a relationship that both sides tacitly acknowledged.

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

Inside the main hall of Root's headquarters.

The flames in the braziers on both sides crackled and flickered, illuminating the dim space.

Danzo sat in the seat of honor with a grim expression, staring at Owl and Crow kneeling below. After secretly sensing them and confirming that the Cursed Tongue Eradication seals on them showed no abnormalities, he finally spoke in a low voice. "Why are you only returning now?"

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

He had originally thought Owl and the others were dead, killed by the Uchiha.

He had not expected two of them to return alive.

Though they were badly injured.

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

In short, they had gone to invite Uchiha Yan but were refused. Just as they were about to act, they encountered four Uchiha Jōnin secretly protecting Uchiha Yan, who suddenly ambushed them.

Turtledove and Xie had failed to react in time and were instantly killed. The two of them had only escaped with their lives because they ran fast enough.

However, they had only shaken off the Uchiha pursuit after fleeing a considerable distance. Their injuries had been too severe to move, and they had hurried back to report only after recovering somewhat.

After hearing this, Danzo's brows twisted together. "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 willingly serve as bodyguards for a three-year-old child?

Since when had Jōnin become so cheap and insignificant?

"It's absolutely true."

Owl answered immediately.

Crow nodded as well, confirming it.

Danzo's frown deepened.

After a long silence, he finally waved a hand. "This time, I underestimated them. I never expected the Uchiha to value that boy so highly."

"So the mission's failure isn't your fault. Go tend to your injuries first."

He could not understand what the Uchiha Clan was thinking.

Was that brat named Uchiha Yan truly that important to the clan?

"Yes."

Owl and Crow accepted the order, but Owl asked one more question. "Should we still find a way to bring Uchiha Yan back after this?"

"Stop for now."

Though unwilling, Danzo still shook his head rationally. "We'll talk after things quiet down."

"The Uchiha are protecting him too closely. Besides, the Third Hokage is watching him, and that crazy woman Tsunade is protecting him too. We can't act recklessly right now."

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

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

"Yes."

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

They had managed to fool him this time.

Things would be 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, combined with his other methods, Root's ninjas could never betray him.

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

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

"Yan is here. Have a seat."

When the Great Elder saw Yan arrive, he greeted him warmly, had someone prepare tea and snacks, then said with a smile, "Mikoto has been in your care lately. Thank you."

"Not at all. It's only natural."

Uchiha Yan smiled and shook his head.

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

"Mm."

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

"No."

Uchiha Yan shook his head. "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, right?"

He roughly understood the elder's concerns.

All he could say was that they were completely unnecessary.

He knew what mattered most.

"Haha, that's good."

After hearing that, the Great Elder could not help but laugh. "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 one's own strength is the most important thing."