"Take them out!" Uchiha Yi once again trapped a band of marauding Mist Ninja in Genjutsu, signaling Sarutobi Shinnosuke and the Sarutobi Clan to move in and claim the battle credit.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had assigned even Sarutobi Shinnosuke to Uchiha Yi's side to bring Yi and the Sarutobi Clan closer together. There was no better way to gain experience and rack up battle credit than by following Yi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was only human. Since he intended for Uchiha Yi to succeed him, he needed to do something for his son and his clan.
Yi might be an Uchiha, but his relationship with the Uchiha Clan was hardly close. Some members supported him, yet the Sarutobi Clan could offer him more support than anyone else.
If Uchiha Mikoto and Kushina Uzumaki had not already been at Yi's side, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have arranged for a beautiful woman from the Sarutobi Clan to join him.
A marriage alliance was the simplest, most dependable bond there was.
At least, Hiruzen Sarutobi chose to believe it was.
Yi had no reason to refuse. Hiruzen Sarutobi's concerns had never been an issue. Yi still needed plenty of subordinates. Konoha's resources might be limited, but he had his sights set on far more than Konoha. Did the Sarutobi Clan really think the entire Shinobi World could not provide enough for them?
Anyone willing to follow him could gain more resources, whether they belonged to the Sarutobi Clan, the Ino-Shika-Cho families, the Uchiha Clan, or even the Hyuga Clan.
The Shinobi World had enough resources for them all.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's worries were needless.
Of course, Yi had no reason to curry favor with anyone who opposed him.
This time, the Ninja who had come with him had it easy, each piling up an impressive record.
Yi needed