Early the next morning, the snow-covered mountains, which had been clear and sunny just yesterday, had once again turned into a landscape shrouded in wind and snow.
Dark clouds filled the sky, so heavy they seemed ready to sink down at any moment.
The convoy set off again, retracing its route toward the Land of Fire.
"Mr. Oda, if I remember correctly, you said you were from the Fire Capital, right?"
Along the way, Shu remembered that he wanted to acquire some property and decided to ask Oda Toru about it.
"Well... strictly speaking, I'm actually from the Land of Lightning."
Oda Toru tugged at his beard as he recalled, "It's just that the Land of Fire sits at the center of the Shinobi World, with convenient transportation. After establishing my head office here, I settled down here as well. But I still have some businesses in the Land of Lightning, so I often go back to check on them."
"What is it? Is there something you want to know?"
Shu nodded. "Yes. I want to acquire some property in the capital and learn about which storefronts are in better locations."
"I see. Then I'll ask around after we get back. Whenever you have time to visit the capital, just come find me at the company."
As Oda Toru spoke, he took out a business card and handed it to Shu. His company address was printed on it.
He did not ask Shu about his budget. Having witnessed the earlier battle, he had realized that Shu had not been bragging. With Shu's strength, making money really would not be difficult.
The fact that Shu had asked this question proved that he had most likely already gotten the money, and it had probably come from the people who had blocked their way yesterday.
So there was no need to ask unnecessary questions. He only needed to do a small favor to earn the gratitude of a future powerhouse. Why not?
Besides, he was a sucker for good looks.
For someone like him, whose values followed facial features, even if Uchiha Shu were a rogue ninja, as long as he did not harm him, he would still be willing to help.
The convoy traveled much faster on the return journey than it had on the way there, quickly leaving the snowy region behind.
After escorting the convoy to the Fire Capital, the group returned to Konoha as well.
Throughout the journey, from registering at the gates to arriving at the Hokage Office to report on their mission, Kurenai Yuhi's brows remained tightly furrowed.
"Oh? You're back? Did the mission go smoothly?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked cheerfully when he saw them enter the office.
"The mission... went fairly smoothly." Kurenai Yuhi paused, looking as though she wanted to say something but held herself back.
"Hmm..."
Seeing Kurenai Yuhi's serious expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi put away his smile as well. "Did something happen?"
"Yes. We encountered bounty hunters from the Underground Gold Exchange in the Land of Iron. From them, we learned that someone had placed a bounty of ten million ryō on Shu at the Underground Gold Exchange."
Kurenai Yuhi stared directly into Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. "Did you know about this?"
"Ten million ryō?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened. In an instant, he guessed who had done it.
He looked at Uchiha Shu and saw that he appeared unconcerned. His first instinct was to shift the blame onto another ninja village.
However, when he noticed the undisguised suspicion in the eyes of the other three, he fell silent again.
Judging by their expressions, they had clearly already guessed something.
If he truly used such an excuse that treated them like fools to brush them off, he would likely lose their trust completely.
Especially since three of them were Uchiha. Such an action might completely push Shu to the opposing side.
"Hmm... in that case, the problem most likely came from within the village."
Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe as he chose his words. "I can roughly guess who did it, but... there is something I must explain clearly. As Hokage, a portion of my authority has actually been divided away. This has left me unable to maintain control over certain matters."
"I once hoped that this divided authority could protect Konoha in another form from the shadows. But now, it seems it may have become part of the darkness itself. It is simply buried too deeply for me to find a reason to reclaim it..."
Hearing this, Kurenai Yuhi frowned deeply. Although she had long known of this, hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage himself, admit it still shattered some of her illusions.
Uchiha Izumi lightly tugged at her mother's sleeve, a trace of unease in her eyes. Uchiha Hazuki, however, remained as calm as ever, without the slightest ripple of emotion.
It was not that she had no dissatisfaction. She simply believed Shu had the ability to handle all of this.
As his mother, all she needed to do was stand firmly behind him and give him her greatest support.
The atmosphere grew heavy for a moment. Kurenai Yuhi was about to ask for details when Shu suddenly interrupted from beside her.
"Can't reclaim it, or don't want to reclaim it?"
Uchiha Shu sneered. "This is the first time I've heard of a village's Kage being unable to take back authority. Use your Will of Fire to pressure him. Isn't that what you higher-ups are best at?"
"As long as you bring out that so-called Will of Fire and that nonsense about doing it for the village, there's nothing that can't be sacrificed. The Uchiha could move to a corner of the village for its safety, so why can't you do the same?"
"What? Does this so-called Will of Fire mean burning others to light yourselves? No wonder Hatake Sakumo died, the Fourth Hokage died, and the Legendary Sannin either left or fled. Only a few dried-up old fossils like you are left here waiting to die. So you were all dried out from being roasted?"
For the first time, cracks appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's usually unflappable face.
His expression was complicated, filled with anger and humiliation, as though Shu had struck some painful nerve.
Yet only a small part of that complicated emotion came from his displeasure at Shu's insults. Most of it was directed at himself.
He had never imagined that one day, he would become an old power-hungry thief in the eyes of the younger generation!
But the truth was just as Shu had said. All the outstanding young people were dead, while only old fossils like them remained here... It was hard to say whether they were supporting the village or obstructing the younger generation's path forward.
For a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind went blank.
It was not just Hiruzen Sarutobi. Even Kurenai Yuhi beside him was stunned speechless.
Then, after realizing what Shu had said, she suddenly came to her senses and hurried forward to stop him. "Calm down, Shu! Things may not be as you think..."
"I'm already very calm!"
Shu slapped away Kurenai Yuhi's hand as she tried to press it onto his shoulder. "And if I'm not mistaken, you were probably planning to... or perhaps have already told that part of the darkness you mentioned about Shisui's ocular technique, haven't you?"
As Shu's words fell, his eyes turned scarlet. The Three Tomoe spun rapidly before transforming into sharp eight-pointed stars.
"This is... the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils contracted. He had not expected Shu to possess the Mangekyō Sharingan as well. The threat these eyes gave him was even far stronger than Shisui's Kotoamatsukami!
No, it was not just the Mangekyō...
What was this chakra?
Feeling the mountain-like pressure emanating from Shu, Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart tightened.
Such an absurd amount of chakra was at least more than ten times his own!
Crash—
The office window suddenly shattered, and four Anbu members instantly appeared in the room, surrounding Uchiha Shu and the others.
Before you continue