Task!

Hokage Building.

The tallest building at the very center of the Hidden Leaf Village, looming at the end of the street.

Yet Uchiha You felt that the building before him was like a massive tomb.

What it buried was not people.

It was ideals.

It was order.

It was the dignity the Uchiha Clan had slowly allowed to rot away after yielding again and again over the years.

"You, we're here."

Uchiha Chuan reminded him in a low voice.

Uchiha You withdrew his gaze and stepped forward.

"Let's go."

The two made their way through the corridors.

There were quite a few ANBU ninja along the way. On the surface, they stood rigidly upright, but their gazes drifted over Uchiha You from time to time, as though confirming whether a dangerous figure had entered the cage.

The corner of Uchiha You's lips lifted slightly.

It seemed this "summons" truly was no good thing.

But he did not care.

Because he had been waiting for this summons too.

When they pushed open the office door, the smell of smoke drifted out first.

Inside, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his desk with a pipe in his mouth, looking outwardly calm.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado sat nearby, their expressions stern.

And in the corner stood an old man leaning on a cane, his right eye wrapped in bandages.

Danzo Shimura.

The moment Uchiha You saw him, he laughed inwardly.

As expected.

That old dog was here too.

"Lord Hokage, honored advisers."

Uchiha You stood at the doorway, his expression calm. Even his manners were beyond reproach.

Yet that composure was especially grating in Danzo's eyes.

The Third Hokage exhaled a cloud of smoke and slowly spoke.

"Uchiha You, I heard there was some conflict on the commercial street today."

Uchiha You nodded.

"There was indeed."

"The Police Force enforced the law and arrested illegal vendors and those who obstructed enforcement. There was nothing wrong with that."

The Third's gaze shifted slightly.

"But the people you arrested were from the Shimura Clan."

"So what?"

Uchiha You raised his eyes.

"Since when did Konoha's laws start being enforced according to one's surname?"

The instant those words left his mouth, the atmosphere in the room tightened slightly.

Koharu Utatane frowned.

"Uchiha You, mind your attitude."

Uchiha You did not even look at her.

"My attitude has always been excellent."

"I merely spoke the truth."

"If Adviser-sama finds it unpleasant to hear, that only proves that Konoha's rules have indeed had some problems these past years."

"You—"

Koharu Utatane's face darkened.

Homura Mitokado raised a hand, signaling for her not to speak yet.

The Third Hokage took a deep pull from his pipe. His gaze settled on Uchiha You as if he were assessing a young man more troublesome than expected.

"Someone has already reported today's matter."

"Though you had reason on your side, you acted too harshly."

Uchiha You said blandly, "Does Lord Hokage believe I should have kept enduring it while they pointed at my nose and cursed me?"

The Third Hokage fell silent for a moment.

Of course he knew the Uchiha Clan had suffered plenty of indignities over the years.

But he could not admit it.

The moment he admitted it, he would be admitting that the village owed the Uchiha Clan.

He could not say such things.

Danzo spoke coldly at that moment.

"If you endure it, it will pass."

Uchiha You turned his head and looked at him.

"Lord Danzo makes that sound easy."

"Because you are not the one being trampled underfoot."

Danzo narrowed his lone eye, his voice low.

"Uchiha You, are you questioning the village leadership?"

Hearing Danzo's words, Uchiha You smiled.

"I am merely questioning whether certain people are worthy of representing the village leadership."

Smack.

It was as if the air had been struck.

Koharu Utatane's expression immediately turned ugly.

Homura Mitokado also furrowed his brow.

The Third Hokage raised a hand, suppressing the growing gunpowder tension in the room.

"Enough."

He looked at Uchiha You, his tone softening somewhat.

"Though your actions today have stirred some controversy, they also show that you are not entirely unaware of Konoha's discipline."

"Therefore, I have a mission here that I intend to assign to you."

Here it comes.

Uchiha You's heart stirred, but his expression remained unchanged.

"What mission?"

The Third Hokage said slowly:

"Recent intelligence from the Land of Water indicates traces of rogue ninja activity there."

"Konoha needs someone reliable enough to investigate."

"You are an Uchiha, a member of the Police Force, and sufficiently capable. Therefore, you will be responsible for this mission."

At that, he paused.

"Three ANBU will accompany you to assist."

A trace of coldness flashed through Uchiha You's eyes.

ANBU accompaniment?

That sounded nice.

They were clearly there to monitor him.

Or rather, to dispose of him.

He raised his eyes toward the Third Hokage.

"Just an investigation into rogue ninja?"

The Third Hokage nodded.

"Just an investigation."

Uchiha You said nothing.

Danzo, standing in the corner, suddenly spoke.

"If you are worried about the danger, you may refuse."

His voice was quiet, yet it carried a sinister chill.

"However, if the Uchiha Clan is unwilling to undertake even an ordinary mission, it may inevitably cause the village to develop certain unnecessary misunderstandings."

It sounded like a reminder.

In truth, every word was forcing him into submission.

Uchiha You looked at Danzo and found it laughable.

Unnecessary misunderstandings?

You are practically done sharpening the butcher's knife, so what are you still pretending for?

Naturally, he would not expose them now.

Because he had already seen through it.

This mission was precisely the "leave-the-village death package" Danzo had prepared for him.

And it happened to be exactly what he needed.

Leave Konoha's surveillance.

Make contact with Akatsuki.

Take the initiative and jump into the Land of Water's scheme.

Three birds with one stone.

Uchiha You fell silent for a moment.

"Since it is Lord Hokage's order, I naturally accept."

The moment those words came out, both the Third Hokage and Danzo were slightly taken aback.

They had originally thought Uchiha You would seize the chance to make trouble, or at least raise doubts.

They had not expected him to agree so readily.

A barely perceptible flicker passed through the Third Hokage's eyes.

"Very good."

"Your understanding of the village's arrangements proves that you are still willing to serve Konoha."

Uchiha You nearly laughed aloud.

Willing to serve Konoha?

Yes.

Of course he was willing.

On the condition that the one he served had to be changed first.

Uchiha You lowered his head slightly.

"In that case, when do I depart?"

"The sooner, the better."

Danzo cut in first, his voice cold and hard.

"The mission will not wait."

Uchiha You lifted his eyes and met his gaze for a moment.

Danzo's eyes were like those of a cold, venomous snake, as if he wanted nothing more than to bite through his throat at once.

But Uchiha You merely smiled faintly.

"Fine."

"I understand."

Danzo's heart stirred.

He felt that this Uchiha brat's reaction was a little too calm.

Calm to an abnormal degree.

But he did not give it much thought.

He was merely a young Jonin. Even if he showed some edge today, what waves could he possibly make?

Once he left Konoha and reached the Land of Water, someone would naturally send him on his way.

Even if the Uchiha Clan became suspicious afterward, they would have no evidence.

The Third Hokage nodded.

"Then go back and prepare first."

"Gather at the village gate tomorrow morning."

Uchiha You acknowledged him and turned to leave.

Just as he was about to walk out, the Third Hokage suddenly spoke again.

"You."

Uchiha You paused and turned back to look at him.

The Third Hokage's expression was calm, his tone carrying the kind of lecturing air common among elders.

"Some matters need not always be handled so intensely."

"Young people need to learn patience."

"Only if everyone takes a step back can the village remain stable."

Uchiha You looked at him quietly.

"Lord Hokage."

"A three-year-old can fall down and endure it by getting back up."

"But if someone gets slashed and still only knows how to endure, he'll eventually die."

He took a step forward, his gaze calm yet sharp as a blade.

"The Uchiha Clan has already yielded many times."

"If we keep backing down, we'll be backing into our coffins."

With that, he left without looking back.

For a moment, the office was terrifyingly silent.

Koharu Utatane's expression darkened.

"That brat is far too arrogant."

Homura Mitokado frowned as well. "The Uchiha Clan is indeed becoming more and more dangerous."

Danzo gave a cold snort.

"What's dangerous isn't the Uchiha Clan."

"It's that brat called Uchiha You."

"He's very smart."

"And smart people usually die young."

The Third Hokage said nothing, merely exhaling a slow stream of smoke.

Through the curling haze, his expression could not be seen clearly.

But no one knew what he was truly thinking.