Chapter 48

This time, he had also taken thirteen Root ninja along the way. It counted as an unexpected gain.

It also made him see clearly that Danzo had never abandoned his desire to capture him.

If it weren't too soon to kill you, you'd already be dead.

But this works too. I'll start with Root and gradually take every last one of those guys into my hands.

I still need Danzo to pressure the Uchiha clan so I can use the opportunity to rally the entire clan's support and tighten my grip on power.

Uchiha Yan calculated silently.

Even trash had its uses.

Especially trash like Danzo.

Killing him outright would be the stupidest move.

He intended to squeeze every last bit of value out of Danzo, then leave him disgraced and infamous for all eternity, allowing him to die in pain and unwillingness.

Only then would he be able to vent this anger in his heart.

Over on Uchiha Yan's Shadow Clone's side.

"Back?"

The clone nodded at his original self when he appeared, then handed him a Sealing Scroll. "Here. The bodies of those seven members of the Hidden Cloud rescue team are all inside."

"Three Jōnin and four Elite Chunin. Not a single one missing."

He sensed that Kushina and the others were now less than five kilometers away.

"What are you planning to do next?"

Uchiha Yan took the scroll and put it away before speaking directly. "I'll turn into Dad. The two of us can use Flying Thunder God to flash over and wipe them all out in one go."

"Root has already been dealt with. Minato and the Third Hokage will be arriving soon. We don't have time to drag this out."

"That'll save us from causing any unnecessary trouble."

Uchiha Yan had never intended to give the Third Hokage and Minato a chance to put on this show.

Of course, he still had to maintain appearances.

It would be too conspicuous and inappropriate for him to personally kill so many Hidden Cloud ninja.

Pinning the blame on his father was perfect.

It would also let him leak the news that his father had broken through to Kage Level to the Third Hokage and the Uchiha clan.

It would make the Third Hokage's faction wary while also boosting Uchiha Senichi's prestige within the clan.

That would pave the way for him to become clan head.

That's right. Uchiha Yan had never intended to take that position himself.

He wanted to push his father into it.

He had no time to manage the mess of an entire great clan or handle trivial clan affairs every day.

"Oh?"

After hearing this, the clone raised an eyebrow. His Mind's Eye of the Kagura instantly spread out, immediately catching the auras of Minato and the Third Hokage's group. A mocking smile curled up at the corner of his mouth. "So this was all arranged by that old fox, the Third Hokage?"

"His heart is filthy!"

"I thought he had already abandoned this lousy plan and intended to support us in forming a new couple with Kushina!"

That old bastard really hadn't changed at all!

"Enough nonsense. It's time to get to work. Change into my dad's appearance and attack."

"Heh heh, no problem!"

With that, Uchiha Yan's Shadow Clone directly used the Divine Transformation Technique. His form blurred, and he became his father, Uchiha Senichi.

"Let's go!"

The next second, the two vanished from the spot with a whoosh.

When they reappeared, they were standing on either side of the head of the Hidden Cloud Jōnin who had kidnapped Kushina.

Kushina sensed Uchiha Yan's familiar chakra at once. She abruptly looked up, her face instantly lighting up with delight.

"Nintaijutsu: Eight Extremes Collapse!"

Uchiha Yan's Shadow Clone slammed down with a fist, striking the cheek of the leading Jōnin before he could react.

At the instant he appeared, Uchiha Yan's original self had already placed a hand on Kushina's shoulder.

He took her with him in another whoosh and vanished, landing steadily more than ten meters away.

"Ah!"

Seeing Uchiha Yan descend from the sky, Kushina excitedly grabbed his arm and hopped around. "Yan, you finally came! I knew you definitely would!"

"Thump!"

Uchiha Yan raised his hand and flicked her forehead. "You did this on purpose, didn't you? With your current strength, could you really have been kidnapped so easily by these losers?"

Kushina was stunned by the flick. She sheepishly stuck out her tongue. "Hehe, sorry! I just wanted to draw out all the rats behind the scenes and deal with them all at once."

"Besides, I firmly believed you could make it in time."

As she said this, she raised her head and gazed at Uchiha Yan with shining eyes, her gaze full of love and emotion. "See? You showed up right on time!"

While the two were talking,

"Damn it!"

"No! Captain!"

"Yes!"

The remaining Hidden Cloud ninja could only watch as the two suddenly appeared, instantly killed their captain, and snatched away their target.

In an instant, their eyes nearly bulged with rage.

The group of Hidden Cloud ninja charged over in a swarm, blades flashing as they rushed straight at Uchiha Yan and his Shadow Clone.

"Sharingan Genjutsu: Mental Chaos!"

Uchiha Yan's clone widened his eyes. His Sharingan spun rapidly, and a surge of mental power blasted directly toward the group.

"Ugh—"

It felt as though someone had stirred their brains viciously. Several Hidden Cloud ninja froze mid-motion, their bodies locking up from the pain.

"Body Flicker: Uchiha Flame Sword!"

Taking advantage of the opening, Uchiha Yan drew his sword and surged forward. Sword light flashed, and a head flew through the air, blood spraying three feet high.

At the same time, Uchiha Yan's original self and Kushina were not idle either.

"Flying Thunder God Slash!"

"Monster Strength Fist!"

"Boom!"

"Ah!!"

"Nintaijutsu: Eight Extremes Collapse!"

"Flying Thunder God Slash!"

Minato and the Third Hokage's group arrived just in time. Looking up, they saw Uchiha Yan, Kushina, and Uchiha Senichi slaughtering the remaining Hidden Cloud ninja as easily as chopping vegetables.

"This..."

Everyone froze.

Minato stood there in a daze for a long while, his eyes fixed on Kushina. She was currently clinging to Uchiha Yan's arm, chattering away about something with her eyes curved into a smile.

Sigh...

A thousand words ultimately became one muffled breath.

He turned around and was about to leave.

"Huh?"

As though he had only just noticed him, Uchiha Yan turned his head and saw that the Third Hokage and several old men were also standing dozens of meters away. He had no idea when they had appeared.

He raised a hand in greeting. "Hey, bro. Hokage-sama, you came to rescue people too?"

"The matter's settled, but thanks anyway."

Minato smiled bitterly. "I only saw the hair Kushina had been dropping along the way, so I..."

"Hair?"

Kushina tilted her head, her face blank with confusion.

When had she ever left hair behind to mark the way?

"Ah?"

Minato was stunned.

She hadn't?

Then whose red hair had he picked up along the way?

With that color and that aura, how could he possibly have mistaken it?

"Ahem!"

The Third Hokage could no longer sit back. He flashed over to Minato's side and patted him on the shoulder, praising him. "Minato, well done on your heroic rescue."

Then the Third Hokage looked toward Uchiha Yan and Kushina with concern. "Are you two all right?"

"We're fine."

The two shook their heads.

Kushina secretly glanced at Minato and the Third Hokage, muttering inwardly, Something's wrong. There has to be more to this. I'll ask Yan when we get back. This is too much of a headache to figure out, and I can't be bothered.

Minato noticed that Kushina's gaze toward him was strange, and his heart gave a thump.

He was not stupid. Otherwise, he would never become Hokage in the future.

After sorting through everything that had happened, Minato quickly figured out what was going on.

First, he was certain that the strand of red hair he had picked up on the road had absolutely not fallen from Kushina.

Someone had clearly thrown it onto the path he would pass through, luring him over to rescue the hostage.

That was strange.

Who exactly was this person?

What were they scheming?

Second, the fact that Kushina had been kidnapped in the village itself was highly suspicious.

How had the Hidden Cloud ninja managed it?

Why had Konoha's barrier been as useless as a decoration? Not a single person had noticed?

This was completely abnormal.

It was obvious that someone had deliberately turned a blind eye. It was even possible that someone in the village had colluded with the Hidden Cloud.

There was no other way to explain it.