Uchiha Yunyan

Uchiha Yunyan was a transmigrator. Whether by coincidence or fate, the person whose body he had transmigrated into was also named Yunyan, only with the addition of a surname: Uchiha Yunyan.

Upon hearing the name Uchiha, he knew exactly how much trouble this clan, this bloodline, and these eyes would bring in the future.

Yet, Yunyan was a man who detested trouble.

Years ago, when he had first arrived, he discovered that the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha was deepening by the day.

To make matters worse, there were many lunatics and paranoids within the Uchiha Clan, filling the family compound with a stifling, murderous aura.

At that time, he was neither strong nor particularly old, and his status within the clan was unremarkable and quite ordinary.

To avoid trouble, and because he could no longer stand the constant agitation, Yunyan seized a timely opportunity to apply for the Twelve Guardian Ninja, using it as a pretext to leave Konoha and distance himself from the vortex.

That was right; the Twelve Guardian Ninja were the twelve shinobi dispatched by Konoha to protect the Feudal Lord of the Fire Country. Asuma Sarutobi was one of them, and now, so was Yunyan.

Being able to develop his strength in secret for many years in such a place—far from trouble and the vortex, yet rich in resources and relatively stable—showed just how wise Yunyan's choice had been back then.

Even today, Yunyan had sighed more than once in his heart, feeling both decisive and fortunate for the choice he had made all those years ago.

So, after all these years, how was Yunyan's strength?

Well, when Yunyan left Konoha, he had already basically reached the level of a Jonin.

Now, several years later, after Yunyan had been developing in secret for so long, his true strength was no longer what it once was.

Just how strong was he?

Yunyan felt that he no longer feared any of the troubles back in Konoha.

In other words, the situation in Konoha could no longer pose any threat to him.

With the strength to guarantee his own survival, Yunyan's mindset had shifted. His original goal of self-preservation and avoiding trouble had transformed into a sense of indifference, and even a hint of eagerness to test his mettle.

No sooner had this shift in mindset and thought occurred than an opportunity presented itself.

The so-called opportunity came from Konoha, in the form of a transfer order personally issued by the Third Naruto, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The content of the order explicitly stated that Uchiha Yunyan was to be transferred out of the Twelve Guardian Ninja and back to Konoha for a new, important assignment.

Truth be told, when Yunyan saw the words "new, important assignment" on the order, he felt a subtle sensation in his heart.

In the capital of the Fire Country, within the station of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, Yunyan held the order, reading its contents with a calm expression while his heart remained subtle.

Standing beside him was the best-connected member of the current Twelve Guardian Ninja, and ostensibly the strongest shinobi among them, Asuma Sarutobi.

The man was smoking, and with a mere glance, he saw the contents of the order in Yunyan's hand—not that Yunyan had made any effort to hide it from them.

Putting down the order, Yunyan inevitably looked at Asuma Sarutobi beside him, and he spoke without much courtesy:

"Asuma, your old man wants to transfer me back to Konoha, and he even says there's a new, important assignment waiting."

Asuma Sarutobi exhaled a cloud of smoke, his eyes dim and his tone unreadable:

"Is that so? Well, congratulations then. Congratulations on your promotion."

Yunyan did not believe a single word of Asuma Sarutobi's congratulations.

On one hand, the current situation of the Uchiha Clan in Konoha was common knowledge; from shinobi to villagers, few were willing to deal with them, which meant that anyone with the surname Uchiha was generally unpopular—and Yunyan, despite being with the Twelve Guardian Ninja, was no exception.

On the other hand, even if there was friction between the father-son duo of Asuma Sarutobi and Hiruzen Sarutobi, they were still Sarutobis at the end of the day; they were father and son by blood.

The Naruto faction made it clear they held no love for the Uchiha Clan, so how good could the relationship between Asuma Sarutobi and Yunyan really be?

Therefore, both professionally and personally, the relationship between Yunyan and Asuma Sarutobi was quite average, limited to maintaining a superficial facade.

Could one really expect such a barely-there, superficial friend to offer sincere congratulations on a promotion?

Moreover, whether this so-called promotion was actually a promotion remained to be seen.

Folding the Konoha order and tucking it safely into his pocket, Yunyan let out a cold, meaningful laugh before walking forward without a hint of reluctance:

"As a Konoha shinobi, I must, of course, strictly follow the Naruto's order. I'll go pack my things and return to Konoha now."

By this point, Yunyan had reached the door. He turned around, glanced at Asuma Sarutobi and the other Twelve Guardian Ninja, and offered a casual farewell:

"Everyone, although there were some bumps in the road while working with you all these years, it was overall a smooth experience.

Regardless, it's time to say goodbye to you all."

Having dropped these words, Yunyan turned again and pulled open the door in front of him.

Unexpectedly, before he could even take a step out, Yunyan was called back by Asuma Sarutobi behind him:

"Yunyan, are you still planning to go and bid farewell to the Feudal Lord?"

Yunyan stopped, still holding the door open, but he did not turn around, keeping his back to them:

"That goes without saying. The Feudal Lord has taken good care of me over the years. Now that I am leaving the capital to return to Konoha, I must, of course, inform him."

Behind him, Asuma Sarutobi looked at Yunyan's back, his expression turning cold:

"The Feudal Lord is a busy man. I still think it would be better if you didn't disturb him.

As for your respects and gratitude to the Feudal Lord, I will convey them on your behalf later."

Yunyan remained with his back to them, not turning around, his tone growing two degrees colder:

"Heh, how could I let you convey something like that? Such matters must be handled by me personally, face-to-face."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yun Yan stood on ceremony no longer, walking straight out and closing the door behind him.

Inside the room, the Twelve Guardian Ninja exchanged glances. Asuma Sarutobi, who was vaguely their leader, took another drag of his cigarette. Amidst the swirling clouds of smoke, his expression remained obscured.

Why, at the very last moment, had Asuma Sarutobi insisted on stopping Yun Yan from meeting the Feudal Lord of the Fire Country to say goodbye?

Naturally, it was because over the past few years, the relationship between Yun Yan and the Feudal Lord of the Fire Country had become far too "close."

Yes, that "close" required quotation marks.

At least to outsiders, it was a mystery how this lone Uchiha among the Twelve Guardian Ninja had gradually gained the favor of the Feudal Lord of the Fire Country, eventually becoming his trusted confidant.

It was indeed trust; over these years, the Feudal Lord of the Fire Country had relied heavily on Yun Yan, assigning him almost every important task or favorable opportunity that arose.

As time passed, Yun Yan, as a "subject," had reached a level of intimacy and favor by the side of the Feudal Lord of the Fire Country.

Of course, in the eyes of Asuma Sarutobi and the other Twelve Guardian Ninja, Yun Yan was nothing more than a treacherous sycophant who had used some unknown means to bewitch their ruler.

Whether a treacherous sycophant or a favored subject, both labels required quotation marks.

Because the true relationship between Yun Yan and the Feudal Lord of the Fire Country was, in fact, like this:

And so, after leaving the quarters of the Twelve Guardian Ninja and packing his belongings, Yun Yan went directly to see the Feudal Lord of the Fire Country.

Unlike the outsiders who found meeting the Feudal Lord of the Fire Country as difficult as ascending to heaven, Yun Yan was led straight to the Feudal Lord's private chambers by an attendant. After a brief announcement, the Feudal Lord of the Fire Country gladly granted him an audience.

Just like that, Yun Yan met the Feudal Lord of the Fire Country with extreme ease and naturalness, and in a place as private as the Feudal Lord's bedchamber, no less.

That was not all; after Yun Yan and the Feudal Lord of the Fire Country exchanged a few words, the Feudal Lord waved his sleeve, dismissing the maids and attendants from the chamber so that he and Yun Yan could be alone.

The attending maids and officials were already accustomed to this; they obediently retreated, leaving the space to Yun Yan and the Feudal Lord so that the two could converse in complete privacy and comfort.

Even the maids and officials guarding outside the chamber could occasionally hear the hearty laughter of the Feudal Lord from within, proving that the two were enjoying a pleasant conversation and that this ninja remained, as always, highly favored by the Feudal Lord.

But in reality, the situation inside the chamber was vastly different from what those maids and officials imagined.

The Feudal Lord of the Fire Country, with his effeminate appearance, effeminate tone, and effeminate style of conduct and social interaction, was currently kneeling in the central seat at the head of the chamber.

He was not conversing with Yun Yan, nor was he enjoying a pleasant chat; instead, he sat in his place with a vacant gaze and a stiff body, looking for all the world like an emotionless marionette.

And Yun Yan?

He was sitting in the seat of honor closest to the Feudal Lord of the Fire Country, and he was doing so with a complete lack of decorum, acting quite casual—or perhaps, quite disrespectful—as he sat cross-legged and snacked nonchalantly on the fruits and pastries laid out on the table before him.

Furthermore, it was worth noting that the scarlet Three Tomoe in his eyes were rotating slowly and continuously.