Raising Crows

In the end, Hyuga Reiko felt bad and added some money for Nawaki.

Otherwise, Nawaki definitely would not be able to treat them to a meal next time.

"Miss Reiko."

Just as they finished paying and were about to head home, two ninjas dressed in white suddenly appeared outside.

One look at their Byakugan was enough to tell that they were members of the Hyuga Clan.

"Your clansmen came to pick you up."

Nawaki was surprised that they had come to escort Hyuga Reiko within the village. Only Uchiha Yū knew the reason behind it.

"Hurry home, Reiko. Other ninjas have recently arrived in the village, and there's a certain degree of risk."

The eyes of the Hyuga Clan's main family were an extremely precious bloodline limit. Many ninjas wanted to obtain the Hyuga Clan's abilities, but unfortunately, they had never had the chance.

"Alright, then. You two should get home quickly."

After saying goodbye to the two of them, she returned to the Hyuga compound under the protection of the branch family.

"The treatment the Hyuga main family receives is really enviable. I'm also a young master of Konoha, yet I don't have any ninjas protecting me."

Nawaki spoke from the heart. Thinking of everything that had happened recently, he had endured it all on his own without asking Tsunade for help.

That meant Nawaki had already grown into a qualified ninja!

"When you awaken Wood Release, someone will protect you."

"Cough, cough. Forget Wood Release."

Those words shattered Nawaki's hopes. If he awakened Wood Release, forget about receiving the Senju Clan's protection—even the ninjas of the entire village would probably protect him.

After all, the First Hokage's Wood Release had crushed an entire era.

Unfortunately, Nawaki had been born too late to witness his grandfather's glorious days.

After dinner, the two parted ways.

The Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan did not have a good relationship, and their compounds lay in opposite directions.

"What happened?"

The moment Uchiha Yū arrived at the clan compound, he saw Fugaku appear behind him. However, the solemn look in Fugaku's eyes, along with the wound on his chest, showed that he had just been through a battle.

"You were being followed."

The Three-Tomoe Sharingan gave off an ominous air as it looked toward a distant corner. He had exchanged two moves with the enemy just now, and one careless mistake had left his chest cut open.

"They were from the Sand Village. They didn't know this was Uchiha territory. I happened to be nearby and saw them."

This was not Uchiha Yū's fault. The Sand ninjas had followed Uchiha Yū for some unknown reason. Now that You's talent had revealed itself, as long as he remained loyal to the clan, he would definitely become one of its pillars in the future.

It was only right for Fugaku to protect You from their surveillance.

"Hm?"

You followed Fugaku's gaze into the distance and indeed spotted blood at the corner.

"I'll treat you first."

When the Healing Technique was used on Uchiha Fugaku, the bleeding wound quickly stopped.

You had become increasingly proficient in using the Healing Technique, and it could even effectively strengthen a patient's body.

"I never expected someone from our Uchiha Clan to learn the Healing Technique."

In Fugaku's eyes, Uchiha Yū had become a little monster. His taijutsu and ninjutsu were already beyond reproach, and now he had even mastered the most difficult medical ninjutsu.

"Don't take any missions for the time being. Once the Sand Village's people have left, you can return to following Orochimaru."

The clan was divided into two camps regarding You staying by Orochimaru's side. The Uchiha clansmen led by the clan head hoped that You could ease the tensions between the two sides.

The hawks, meanwhile, saw in Uchiha Yū the talent of that great man from years ago. In the future, he might even lead the Uchiha Clan to rise again. They preferred for their own people to guide Uchiha Yū's studies.

Only the Uchiha Clan truly understood Uchiha abilities.

"Perfect. I need some time to digest what I've learned recently."

You did not object to Fugaku's proposal. Lately, he had felt that things had grown increasingly chaotic. At most, there was only a year left before a great ninja war would break out.

Wars did not begin on a whim. The preparations beforehand were tied to victory in the battles that followed.

Every side was preparing. Even the Uchiha Clan had sent many ninjas out on missions.

"Lord Fugaku, do you have any ninjutsu that would suit me?"

Fugaku looked surprised when asked. Right, Uchiha Yū had not learned the Uchiha Clan's strongest genjutsu. Realizing this, Fugaku added a few words.

"The Uchiha Clan's greatest power lies in its eyes. Genjutsu abilities all work through the eyes. Also, you're lacking a summoning beast, aren't you?"

Cat-petting expert!

The Uchiha Clan's standard choice was ninja cats. Even some weapons and ninjutsu required the cooperation of ninja cats.

Their relationship had lasted for centuries. Seeing that You did not even have a single cat by his side, Fugaku felt that this absolutely would not do.

"Ninja cats?"

You shook his head and rejected Fugaku's suggestion. Ninja cats would not noticeably improve his strength, and his radiation-altered body held many secrets that were not suitable for ninja cats to see.

"You don't want ninja cats? Did Orochimaru prepare a summoning contract for you?"

The secret of Ryūchi Cave was no novelty to the major clans. Especially among the current generation of three, each had contracted with one of the sacred lands. Had You planned to contract a giant snake by following Orochimaru?

"No. I'm planning to raise some crows."

Crows were fairly intelligent, and they would not expose his secrets.

"That's rather uncommon."

Some people in the Uchiha Clan did raise crows, but the results were not very good. Seeing that You had made up his mind, Fugaku did not stop him.

"Training in genjutsu requires developing your eyes. At your age, you'll probably awaken them very soon."

He believed in Uchiha Yū's talent. The more talented a clansman was, the less time it took to awaken their eyes. Of course, most clansmen still required a certain degree of stimulation.

"Try pushing yourself to the limit. Reaching the limits of your mind and body will help with awakening your eyes."

He told You a few tips for awakening the Sharingan, techniques passed down through generations of the Uchiha Clan. After all, Uchiha Yū's parents had died in the war, and no one had told him how to awaken his eyes.

"Thank you, Lord Fugaku. I plan to intensify my training lately and organize everything I've learned."

His diligence and hard work surpassed that of most Uchiha clansmen by comparison.

Geniuses worked this hard too. It was such an insane grind that it left others no way to live.

"Alright. I'll have someone send you the genjutsu scrolls. Study well for now. I still need to report this matter to the Hokage."

Fugaku's discovery of Sand Village ninjas was no small matter, so he immediately reported it to the Hokage.

At the same time, the Hokage received reports from several ninja clans, all describing roughly the same situation.

Inside the Hokage's office, the Hokage and the gathered high-ranking officials listened to their reports and exchanged glances.

"Just as I thought. Sarutobi, you'll regret this decision, won't you?"

Danzō still did not support forming an alliance with them. What had happened now was exactly what he wanted, drawing Danzō out from the shadows.