Uchiha Mikoto's tense body immediately relaxed when she heard that voice. She let him hold her tightly in his arms, a scent she found wonderfully pleasant seeming to envelop her.
Her clear eyes drifted shut, and Uchiha Mikoto leaned limply against Qiu Shan Uchiha's chest, murmuring, "You're here."
Hearing her words, Qiu Shan Uchiha whispered in her ear, "I sensed you coming in, Mikoto. There's nobody here. How could I bear to leave you waiting here all alone?"
Uchiha Mikoto had barely had the strength to stand in the first place. Now even that deserted her, and she melted completely into Qiu Shan Uchiha's arms.
Sensing Mikoto's attachment to him, Qiu Shan Uchiha wasted no more words. He loosened one arm around her waist, swept her into a bridal carry, and headed toward the house nearby.
"Since you're here, Mikoto, let's take a look at my new house together. We'll see how well it's built and put it to the test."
Hearing Qiushan's words, Uchiha Mikoto suddenly remembered why she had come. Feeling that she would lose her chance if she did not speak now, she hurriedly said:
"Qiushan, I came here for a reason. Fugaku asked me to tell you that Danzo has his eye on Shisui Uchiha. He'll probably make his move in the next few days, so Fugaku wanted me to ask when you can come back."
Qiu Shan Uchiha paused mid-step with Mikoto in his arms and asked, "Where's Shisui now? Is he in danger?"
Nestled against Qiu Shan Uchiha's chest, Mikoto shook her head. "Shisui isn't in danger right now. To prevent anything unexpected from happening, Uchiha Fugaku told him not to leave the Uchiha District for the time being. He wants to wait until you're back."
Qiu Shan Uchiha narrowed his eyes slightly. "So Shisui Uchiha's life isn't in danger yet?"
Uchiha Mikoto nodded hesitantly. "That's right. Shisui is in the Uchiha District. His life isn't in danger for now."
Satisfied with Mikoto's answer, Qiu Shan Uchiha nodded and continued carrying her toward the house.
"Understood. I still have something to take care of. Once I'm done, I'll take you back with me. Don't worry, it won't delay anything."
"Huh? You still have something to do? Will it take long? Should I go back first and let Fugaku know?" Uchiha Mikoto asked hesitantly.
By then, Qiu Shan Uchiha had carried Mikoto inside the house and closed the door behind him.
"How long it takes will depend on your performance," Qiu Shan Uchiha said, then pounced on her.
Lightning Release Armor certainly lived up to its reputation as the fundamental secret technique of the Raikage Lineage. Not only could it be used in combat to enhance speed and reflexes and slaughter enemies, but it could also serve as a body-tempering technique in everyday life, strengthening the flesh. The Raikage had relied on this secret technique to make his body strong enough to contend with tailed beasts and, eventually, even overpower them.
Ever since obtaining this secret technique a few days earlier, Qiu Shan Uchiha had practiced it whenever he had time to spare. Perhaps because he was still growing, the results were unexpectedly good.
In just a few days, Qiu Shan Uchiha had already felt clear changes in his body. Not only had his strength increased, but his physique had also become tougher, and his reflexes had improved considerably. His appetite had multiplied as well, growing to at least four times what it had been.
Moreover, these obvious changes had come when he was only just getting started. He was still nowhere near the technique's limits. The Raikage Lineage had relied on this very technique to reach Kage Level through physical strength alone.
Once the two of them had tidied themselves up, Qiu Shan Uchiha put an arm around Uchiha Mikoto and left the space with her.
They appeared in the secluded bedroom in the Clan Leader's House. Once they were out, Uchiha Mikoto moved away from Qiushan. After all, this was Uchiha Fugaku's home, it was broad daylight, and visitors often came by. If their relationship were discovered, it would do neither of them any good. Even if Uchiha Mikoto did not consider Uchiha Fugaku, she still had to think of her two sons.
After leaving the bedroom and saying goodbye to Mikoto, Qiu Shan Uchiha went straight to the Reception Room in the Clan Leader's House. Just as he had expected, Uchiha Fugaku and the Elder were both waiting for him there.
Seeing Qiu Shan Uchiha return, Uchiha Fugaku and the Elder dispensed with pleasantries. Once Qiushan had taken a seat, they quickly explained the current situation and waited for him to decide what to do.
Qiu Shan Uchiha listened attentively to everything they said. Finding that events had not strayed from their plan, he calmly took a sip of tea. "We'll proceed according to the original plan. Just have Shisui accept missions as usual. Given Danzo's hostility toward us Uchiha, I doubt he'll be able to hold back much longer. As soon as Danzo acts, we'll notify the heads of every clan in the village, along with the Third Hokage. Then we'll have legitimate grounds for some of our clan members to leave Konoha."
Neither man wasted any words. They notified Shisui while secretly arranging personnel, making sure nothing could go wrong.
The day after Qiu Shan Uchiha secretly returned, while he was still holed up in the Clan Leader's House waiting for news, word reached him that Shisui had been intercepted on his way back from a mission and taken away by Root under a forged order from the Third Hokage.
As soon as Qiu Shan Uchiha received the news, he rushed to Danzo's Root Base with Uchiha Fugaku and a group of clan members.
They had no choice but to hurry. Given Shimura Danzō's temperament, he would strike decisively before complications could arise, and he would never leave any loose ends.
By the time Qiu Shan Uchiha received the news and set out for the Root Base, Shisui Uchiha had already been brought to its entrance by Root personnel.
In fact, when Shisui Uchiha first encountered the men who had come for him, he had realized they were Root operatives in disguise. But to ensure the plan went smoothly, Shisui had not exposed them.
Before you continue