In Konoha: Three Choices at the Start

Creak!

Two ninjas pushed open the gate!

"For the glory of the Senju Clan!" the man in front roared.

"For the glory of the Senju Clan!"

The Senju Clan's cries shattered the silence around them.

Liuyun's gaze swept across the faces of every clan member.

Sudden understanding dawned on him. He was beginning to see why the Senju Clan had committed all its fighting strength without fearing sacrifice.

The glory of the Senju Clan! They were the First Hokage's family. Protecting Konoha was, in a way, protecting their own clan.

"Move out!" came a ringing shout.

The Senju Clan marched away in step.

In the sunlight, their departing figures looked strangely desolate.

The wind howled and the river ran cold; once these warriors departed, they might never return!

Glory had made them, and glory might undo them.

Liuyun looked up at a building. Uchiha Fuchu and the other Uchiha leaders were inside.

Then what was the glory of the Uchiha Clan?

Protection? Family bonds? Obsession with younger brothers, or older ones? Or the law of the jungle passed down from the Warring States era?

Liuyun shook his head. He had no idea. Perhaps when he finally found out, he would shoulder it himself.

But he had to ask himself: would he really?

He left and went to see Kushina.

Whenever Liuyun had visited the Senju Clan Compound before, he had run into at least a few clan members.

Now it was desolate, forlorn, empty.

He walked through without seeing anyone.

He found Kushina in low spirits, her eyes red. She must have just been crying.

Beside her, Mito Uzumaki looked as gentle and kind as ever.

She patiently comforted Kushina, showing no grief over the departure of so many Senju Clan members.

Liuyun chatted with Kushina and cracked a few jokes before getting up to leave.

Before he went, he sensed Mito Uzumaki's Chakra. What he felt left him silent.

The flame of her life had dwindled to a tiny flicker.

At this rate, Mito Uzumaki would be dead within two years.

In two years, Kushina was due to become a Jinchūriki. That was enough time for him to gain the kind of power Hashirama Senju had used to sweep aside all opposition!

By then, if Kushina refused, no one would be able to force her.

After leaving the Senju Clan Compound, Liuyun did not return to the Uchiha Clan right away. Instead, he wandered the streets.

Only after completing all three of the day's choices did he go home.

Resisting the temptation of his young wife Mikoto in fishnets, Liuyun headed into the woods.

In his previous life, he had reached level eighteen on an abstinence forum. He had that much self-control!

Truthfully, his body was still too young. I just can't do it!

(That's all for today. I'm off to watch some Model Media and relax! Please send flowers! I changed the Eight Gates Released Formation chapter to a limited-time release, but it got blocked. Sob!)

A Plot Takes Shape, and the Master of Scapegoats Makes His Move!

Another month flew by!

Walking through the streets with Kushina and Mikoto, Liuyun could not help sighing.

He had underestimated the impact of the Second Shinobi World War. It had barely begun, yet Konoha's economy had already taken a heavy blow.

Before the war, the streets had bustled with people and traffic.

Now the economy was struggling. People were scarce, and there were far fewer vendors. The difference was stark!

Over the past month, Konoha had made a series of deployments.

The Hyuga Clan and several smaller clans had gone to defend the border near Kirigakure.

Ino-Shika-Cho, the Inuzuka Clan, the Aburame Clan, and scattered smaller clans had gone to defend the border near Kumogakure.

Only the Uchiha Clan remained in Konoha on security duty, stirring considerable resentment within the clan.

Uchiha Fuchu had even gone to Hiruzen Sarutobi about it.

A few easy words from Hiruzen Sarutobi had left him speechless.

"Fuchu, I know the Uchiha Clan wants to do its part for the village!"

"But you must understand, we've already sent out a great many people. Our defenses at home are thin!"

"If we send your clan out too, Konoha won't have any fighting strength left!"

"If the enemy launches a surprise attack, the damage to our village could be devastating!"

"With your clan here to deter them, we can rest easy. The Uchiha are Konoha's final line of defense!"

"You wouldn't want to leave Konoha's people in danger, would you?"

What a fine speech! The Uchiha Clan was Konoha's final line of defense?

Only a brainless clan leader like Uchiha Fuchu would fall for it.

Were Root and the Anbu just sitting around doing nothing?

Liuyun chuckled without exposing the lie. He would sit back and watch. They could do whatever they liked.

In his previous life, Liuyun had read conspiracy theories about the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars.

They claimed that throughout both wars, every ninja from the four old schemers' families had stayed in Konoha on security duty.

Not one had been sent to fight.

So, a few nights earlier, he had secretly visited those families.

Sure enough, all four families' ninjas were stationed in Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi truly was Konoha's greatest schemer.

"Liuyun! I want that!" Kushina pointed at something fried nearly black.

"What is that?" Mikoto asked the vendor, distaste showing in her beautiful eyes.

"It's fried stinky tofu! I only just invented it. It may look ugly, but it tastes wonderful!"

The elderly vendor chuckled, skewered three freshly fried pieces, added seasonings, and handed one to each of them.

"Try it! It's delicious!"

Mikoto and Kushina took a bite, and their eyes immediately curved into crescents.

"So good!" they cried together.

"Five portions, please!"

"I'll have three!" the two girls ordered, one after the other.

Liuyun stared thoughtfully at the fried stinky tofu in his hand. Wasn't this a food from his previous world?

How did it exist here too? Food really did transcend worlds.

Soon, the two girls were happily eating the blackened treats while Liuyun paid.

Watching them eat with such relish, he thought to himself,

It looks filthy and black, but plenty of people still want a taste!

He stole a glance below their waists, then stuffed the fried stinky tofu into his mouth. He wanted a taste too!

The three wandered aimlessly through Konoha's streets, sampling every delicacy they could find, until Kushina clutched her little belly and declared she could not eat another bite.

Only then did they take her back to the Senju Clan Compound.

As soon as they entered, they saw Senju Nawaki standing by the gate.

Nawaki lacked the energy he had shown before.

Instead, he looked lonely and sad. Bandages covered his face and hands, probably from training.

"Big Brother Nawaki! You're back!"

Seeing a familiar face, Kushina ran over with a smile.

"Kushina! You're back!" Senju Nawaki smiled gently.

Then he turned his gaze to Liuyun.

"Liuyun, can we talk alone?"

"Sure!"

Liuyun nodded.

"Mikoto, you go on ahead."

"Okay." Mikoto nodded softly.

Once they reached a secluded spot, the solemn look on Senju Nawaki's face turned pitiful.

"Liuyun, you've got to help me this time!"

The sudden change left Liuyun baffled.

"Brother Nawaki, just tell me what's wrong. If I can help, I will."

"I heard you're heading to the front in three days. Can you take me with you?" Hope shone in Senju Nawaki's eyes.

Liuyun frowned. Something was off. "Who told you that?"

"When I was training just now, I happened to overhear two Sarutobi Family ninjas talking quietly."

Liuyun narrowed his eyes, his voice turning cold. "What else did they say?"

"They said your team would be taking provisions to the front tomorrow, along with some other newly graduated Genin. They said it was to give you experience!"

Senju Nawaki did not notice Liuyun's tone and kept talking.

"So will you take me? My clan won't let me go to the battlefield. Do you know how stifled I feel?"

Senju Nawaki clung to Liuyun's shoulder with a pitiful look that could rival Naruto's.

"No. Not unless Tsunade approves," Liuyun replied without hesitation.

Then he turned and left. He did not want Nawaki's foolishness rubbing off on him!

Nawaki really had no sense. Two Sarutobi Family ninjas discussing who was going to the front tomorrow?

And Nawaki just happened to overhear them? Liuyun would never believe there was no plot behind it.

(I have a sister named Angel Yan. Any fans? Send flowers!)

Heading to the Front, and Nawaki Came Along After All!

They had arranged for Senju Nawaki to "accidentally" hear, three days in advance, who would be transporting provisions to the front!

He had also happened to hear Liuyun's name. Given Nawaki's restless nature and the fact that Liuyun was Tsunade's student, of course Nawaki would come asking.

They must have expected Liuyun to find it hard to refuse. If he took Nawaki out of the village, Nawaki's fate was easy to imagine!

The Second Shinobi World War had only just begun, and Mito Uzumaki was still alive, yet Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other three old schemers already could not hold back.

As Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not act personally. That left Danzo to make the move.

He could sell their travel route to the Sand Ninja or the Rain Ninja!

Then an ambush would be waiting for them along the way!