Someone else was just as unlucky

Uchiha Yashiro and the others ran flat out for ten hours before Uchiha Ling signaled for them to stop and rest, panting for breath.

Even Tian Da and his teammates tacitly refrained from asking why.

Come on—if they ran too slowly and Sarutobi Zang sent someone to ask for reinforcements, would they go back or not? That was a life-or-death dilemma.

The way to solve a dilemma was to avoid running into it.

Uchiha Tekka sat some distance away, watching his senior Yashiro sit alone with Uchiha Ling. He had no idea what they were discussing in hushed voices.

Uchiha Yashiro said, "Ling, being a five-nature shinobi is a good selling point. It could make it easier for you to approach Konoha High Command.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru are both five-nature shinobi.

"Clan leader Fugaku wants to extend our reach beyond the Military Police Force and into the village.

"I wonder if you can earn Hiruzen Sarutobi's and Orochimaru's trust."

Uchiha Ling said, "Earning Hiruzen Sarutobi's trust is almost impossible.

"Or rather, I'd have to show sincerity bordering on betraying the clan before Hiruzen Sarutobi would acknowledge me."

Hearing that assessment, Uchiha Yashiro marveled at Uchiha Ling's maturity.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted control—absolute control. If Hiruzen Sarutobi trusted the Uchiha Clan, would the Uchiha Clan still be the Uchiha Clan?

Uchiha Ling continued, "Earning Orochimaru's trust in the short term, though, should be possible.

"Konoha is barely managing to sustain two wars right now, fighting the Stone Ninja on the Land of Waterfalls Battlefield and the Cloud Ninja on the Land of Hot Water battlefield.

"Even with things this difficult, Orochimaru hasn't come to the front. I think his mind is no longer on carrying out missions for the village.

"I heard from my teammate Mitaraishi Anko that Orochimaru became increasingly