Assassination in the Capital

Sakura Town, capital of the Land of Tea.

Lin Ye arrived at dusk. Rather than enter through the gates, he used the Body Flicker Technique to vault over the city wall, avoided the patrolling guards, and slipped toward the Daimyo's Residence.

His Three-Tomoe Sharingan glimmered in the darkness like a cat's eyes. Streets, houses, pedestrians, guards... every detail lay clear before him. Lin Ye avoided the main streets and moved through the alleys like a ghost.

He drew closer to the Daimyo's Residence, but his heart grew tense.

Too quiet.

The streets around the Daimyo's Residence should have been the busiest part of the capital, yet they were utterly silent. Shops were closed, pedestrians had vanished, and only the faint whisper of wind beneath the eaves remained.

Something was wrong.

Lin Ye leaped onto a rooftop and activated his Sharingan to examine the area carefully. Faint chakra fluctuations surrounded the Daimyo's Residence. At least twenty people were scattered throughout the area, forming an encirclement.

An ambush.

And these were no ordinary soldiers. They were ninja. Their chakra strength and concealment skills were at least Chunin level.

The Grand General had finally made his move. He intended to storm the Daimyo's Residence, kill the Daimyo, and seize power before Konoha's reinforcements arrived.

Lin Ye's mind raced. Force my way through? Twenty Chunin, possibly with Jonin among them. I can't break through alone. Call for help? Kakashi and the others are still at least two hours away. There's no time.

I'll have to outsmart them.

He studied the layout of the Daimyo's Residence. It was a standard Japanese castle, with a moat and high walls surrounding the Honmaru, Ninomaru, and Sannomaru inside. The Daimyo should have been in the Tenshukaku within the Honmaru.

The defenses consisted of twenty ninja outside and the Daimyo's personal guards inside, though there might have been traitors among those guards.

Where's the opening?

Lin Ye's gaze settled on a small gate on the castle's western side. It was a side entrance used to transport supplies, with relatively light security: only two ninja stood guard. There was also a relatively concealed route from there to the Tenshukaku.

But how could he get past those two ninja? Killing them outright would alert the others, while sneaking past might get him spotted...

Wait.

Lin Ye suddenly remembered a special ability fragment he had received for fulfilling an Uchiha Chunin's final wish: [Transparent Release: Fragment] (D-rank, briefly distorted light to produce partial invisibility, lasting 3 seconds).

A single fragment was useless, but what if...

"System, show me all my ability fragments."

[Current ability fragments: Transparent Release ×1, Camouflage Concealment ×1, Presence Concealment ×2, Transformation Technique mastery ×3, Clone Technique mastery ×2...]

Transparent Release was a kekkei genkai from Kirigakure that could grant complete invisibility, but Lin Ye only possessed a fragment. Camouflage Concealment was a Kusagakure technique that worked like a chameleon's camouflage. Presence Concealment was a basic stealth skill.

What if I combined them?

Lin Ye had a plan.

He took a Smoke Bomb, a Flash Bomb, and several small bells from his ninja tool pouch. He had obtained the bells by fulfilling an Uchiha Genin's final wish; they could emit sound waves at specific frequencies to disrupt hearing.

Everything was ready.

Lin Ye drew a deep breath and leaped from the rooftop, landing as silently as a feather. First, he activated Presence Concealment, reducing his chakra fluctuations to a minimum. Then he used Camouflage Concealment, and his body's colors gradually blended into the wall.

He slowly approached the small western gate.

Thirty meters, twenty meters, ten meters...

The two ninja guarding the gate leaned against the wall. They looked relaxed, but Lin Ye's Sharingan showed him that their chakra was active. They could spring into action at any moment.

Five meters.

Lin Ye stopped, took a small bell from his ninja tool pouch, and gently shook it.

Jingle...

The faint chime sounded especially clear in the silent night.

"What was that?" one ninja asked, instantly alert.

"Sounded like a bell?" The other tilted his head to listen.

At that moment, Lin Ye threw the Smoke Bomb and Flash Bomb together-not at the ninja, but at an open patch of ground twenty meters away.

Bang! Boom!

Smoke billowed, and a blinding flash erupted.

"Enemy attack!" Both ninja immediately went on guard, but no attack followed.

Three seconds later, the smoke dispersed. There was no one there.

"A decoy?" One ninja frowned.

"Careful. Someone might be sneaking in..."

Before he finished speaking, Lin Ye activated Transparent Release: Fragment. It only granted three seconds of partial invisibility, but that was enough. Like a phantom, he passed between the two ninja and slipped through the small gate an instant before it closed.

He was inside the castle.

Lin Ye released his techniques and leaned against the wall, panting. Combining multiple techniques placed an enormous strain on both his chakra and his mind. But he had succeeded.

He looked ahead. A long corridor led deeper into the castle. According to the map, reaching the Tenshukaku from here required passing through three gates, two courtyards, and at least three patrols.

And there might have been ambushes inside the castle as well.

Lin Ye took out the Pass Kakashi had given him. It was a special entry pass for the Daimyo's Residence, but it could only be used through official channels. In the current situation, showing it would be suicide.

He would have to remain hidden all the way.

He suppressed his presence and advanced through the shadows. His Sharingan provided vision in the darkness, and the perception granted by its three tomoe allowed him to spot traps and mechanisms in advance.

The first courtyard was empty.

Two guards patrolled the second courtyard. Lin Ye waited until they passed each other, then crossed over the rooftops.

Ninja guarded the first gate. Lin Ye used the Clone Technique to create a disturbance and distract them, then slipped through with his real body.

The second gate was mechanical. Lin Ye saw through its mechanism with his Sharingan and used Chakra Threads to trigger the switch remotely. The gate opened without a sound.

The third and final gate stood at the entrance to the Tenshukaku. Four ninja guarded it, all with Jonin-level strength and powerful chakra fluctuations.

Forcing his way through was impossible, and sneaking past would get him spotted.

Lin Ye surveyed his surroundings. The Tenshukaku was three stories tall, and the Daimyo should have been on the top floor. If I climbed up the outside...

He looked up at the Tenshukaku's outer wall. Its wooden structure had protruding eaves and railings he could climb. The problem was avoiding the four Jonin's senses.

I've got it.

Lin Ye took his last small bell from his ninja tool pouch and infused it with chakra. This bell was a special ninja tool. Once charged with chakra, it could emit high-frequency sound waves that disrupted chakra perception.

He gently shook the bell.

Silent, high-frequency waves spread outward. All four Jonin frowned at once, apparently sensing something without being able to identify it.

"Something's strange," one Jonin said.

"I'll take a look." Another Jonin left his post and headed toward the source.

Now!

Lin Ye pushed the Body Flicker Technique to its limit and shot straight up the outer wall like a black shadow. Channeling chakra into his hands and feet to cling to the surface, he raced up the vertical wall.

First floor, second floor, third floor-

"Someone's there!" A Jonin below spotted him.

Kunai and Shuriken flew at him like rain. Lin Ye did not look back. With his Sharingan fully active, he darted from side to side along the wall, evading every attack while forming hand seals.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

Dozens of small fireballs rained down from above. Instead of targeting the enemies, they struck the ground and blasted up clouds of dust. Lin Ye seized the opportunity to flip onto the third-floor balcony and crash through a window.

Inside the room, a middle-aged man sat behind a desk, dressed in lavish Daimyo robes, his face pale. Two guards stood beside him and drew their swords, pointing them at Lin Ye.

"Protect the Daimyo!"

"Wait!" Lin Ye raised the Pass and Scroll. "Konoha Ninja, delivering a confidential letter on the Hokage's orders!"

Seeing the Pass, the Daimyo sighed in relief. "Lower your swords. He's Konoha's messenger."

The guards sheathed their swords but remained wary.

Lin Ye presented the Scroll. The Daimyo quickly read it, his expression growing increasingly grim.

"So... my younger brother finally made his move." The Daimyo smiled bitterly. "Three days ago, he took control of the capital's guards and purged half my people. Now everyone outside the Daimyo's Residence belongs to him."

"Konoha's reinforcements are already on their way. They'll arrive within two hours," Lin Ye said. "Your Lordship only needs to hold out until then."

"Two hours..." The Daimyo looked out the window. "I'm afraid we won't last that long."

As if to confirm his words, battle cries rose from downstairs. The Grand General's men had begun their assault.

"They dare launch a direct assault?" Lin Ye frowned. "Aren't they afraid of starting a civil war?"

"If he dares to act, it means he's confident he can control the situation after my death." The Daimyo sighed. "The Land of Tea is a small country without a ninja village of its own. It relies on the Daimyo's prestige to maintain order. If I die, he'll be the only lawful heir, and Konoha will have no choice but to recognize him."

"So he has to kill you here." Lin Ye understood.

"Yes." The Daimyo looked at Lin Ye. "Little ninja, how old are you?"

"Eight."

"Eight... so young." The Daimyo smiled bitterly. "A pity you'll have to die here with me."

"We won't die," Lin Ye said. "I'll protect you until the reinforcements arrive."

The Daimyo froze, studying the black-haired, red-eyed boy before him. He was only eight, yet his gaze resembled that of a ninja weathered by years of hardship.

"What's your name?"

"Uchiha Ye."

"Uchiha... the clan that was wiped out?"

"Yes."

The Daimyo fell silent for a moment before saying, "I've heard of the Uchiha's great reputation. If you can protect me until the reinforcements arrive, the Land of Tea will forever remember the Uchiha's kindness."

"I'll do my best."

Downstairs, the sounds of combat drew closer. The Grand General's ninja had broken through the outer defenses and entered the castle.

Lin Ye told the two guards, "Hold the stairs. Don't let them come up. Buy me some time."

"What are you going to do?" a guard asked.

"Set up defenses."

Lin Ye pulled out all his ninja tools: Explosive Tags, wire, Smoke Bombs, Flash Bombs, Poisoned Kunai... along with several special ninja tools obtained by fulfilling final wishes: [Sealing Tag: Fragment] ×2 (could temporarily seal chakra), [Barrier Stone: Fragment] ×1 (could create a simple barrier).

Time was running out.

Lin Ye quickly set traps throughout the room. He placed a tripwire at the doorway, connecting it to Smoke Bombs and Flash Bombs. He wove a web of wire across the windows and coated it with paralytic poison. He planted Explosive Tags in the corners, using [Sealing Tags] to conceal their chakra fluctuations. Finally, he placed the [Barrier Stone] in the center of the room, forming a simple barrier five meters in diameter that could withstand one B-rank ninjutsu attack.

"Your Lordship, please stand in the center of the barrier. Whatever happens, don't come out," Lin Ye said.

The Daimyo nodded and walked to the center of the barrier.

Just as Lin Ye finished his preparations, screams rang out downstairs-the two guards were dead.

Footsteps approached.

Three ninja appeared in the doorway, all at Jonin level. They spotted the traps in the room and stopped.

"Oh? Interesting." Their leader was a one-eyed ninja with a scar across his face. "Not bad, brat. But do you really think these can stop us?"

Lin Ye said nothing and formed hand seals.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive fireball blasted toward the doorway. The three Jonin easily dodged it, but the fireball triggered the tripwire at the entrance.

Bang! Boom!

The Smoke Bombs and Flash Bombs detonated together, flooding the corridor with thick smoke and blinding light.

"Cheap tricks." The one-eyed ninja formed hand seals. "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

A gale dispersed the smoke. But they failed to notice the paralytic poison mixed into it. Though the dose was small, it was enough to slow their movements for an instant.

In that single instant, Lin Ye moved.

Activating the Body Flicker Technique, he appeared behind the one-eyed ninja and thrust a Kunai toward his heart from behind.

"Too slow." The one-eyed ninja sneered and reached back to block.

But Lin Ye's Kunai suddenly changed direction, slashing toward his wrist. At the same time, Lin Ye threw three Shuriken with his other hand, targeting not the one-eyed ninja but the two behind him.

"Sharingan?" The one-eyed ninja caught sight of the three tomoe in Lin Ye's eyes and startled.

But it was already too late. Lin Ye's Kunai sliced his wrist. The wound was shallow, but the blade was coated in paralytic poison. The one-eyed ninja felt his arm go numb.

"Poison!"

The two ninja behind him dodged the Shuriken and were about to counterattack when explosions erupted beneath their feet-the Explosive Tags Lin Ye had planted earlier had been triggered.

Boom!

Though the Jonin reacted quickly and leaped away in time, the blast still caught them, inflicting minor injuries.

"You're dead, brat!" Enraged, the one-eyed ninja formed hand seals, preparing a powerful ninjutsu.

But Lin Ye had already retreated into the room and pressed both hands against the Barrier Stone.

"Barrier: Open!"

Hum-

A pale blue barrier rose, enveloping the entire room.

The one-eyed ninja's technique slammed into the barrier, sending ripples across it without breaking through.

"Barrier Ninjutsu?" The one-eyed ninja's expression darkened. "How does this brat have so many tricks?"

"Boss, let's attack together and break the barrier!" the other two Jonin said.

All three formed hand seals, preparing a combined strike.

Sweat beaded on Lin Ye's forehead. The Barrier Stone was only a fragment. It could not withstand a combined attack from three Jonin. Once the barrier shattered, the Daimyo would die.

Time. He needed time.

Kakashi, how much longer?

As though someone had heard his thoughts, a tremendous crash suddenly rang out beyond the window, followed by a familiar, languid voice:

"Sorry I'm late. Ran into a little trouble on the way."

Kakashi stood on the Tenshukaku's roof, forming hand seals with one hand.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Tiger Massacre!"

Lightning took the shape of a wolf and lunged at the three Jonin. They hurriedly dodged, but the Lightning Release still grazed them, leaving their bodies numb.

"Konoha's Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake!" The one-eyed ninja gritted his teeth.

"Correct. No prize, though." Kakashi landed on the balcony and looked at Lin Ye inside the room. "You all right?"

"I'm fine." Lin Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura arrived behind Kakashi. Naruto was covered in injuries, but his eyes shone with excitement. Sasuke's Sharingan spun, and he brimmed with fighting spirit. Sakura was treating a wound on her arm. Fighting their way in had clearly been no easy task.

"We've dealt with most of the Grand General's men," Kakashi said. "Your Lordship is safe now."

The Daimyo stepped out of the barrier and looked at Kakashi. "Thank you for Konoha's aid. The Land of Tea will never forget this kindness."

"It was our duty," Kakashi said.

The battle soon ended. Seeing that all was lost, the three Jonin tried to flee, but Kakashi and Sasuke joined forces to capture them. Naruto and Sakura mopped up the remaining troops.

An hour later, reinforcements from Konoha arrived and secured the Daimyo's Residence. The Grand General was arrested inside, and the unrest in the Land of Tea was quelled.

The mission was complete.

On the way back to Konoha, Kakashi patted Lin Ye on the shoulder. "Well done. Breaking through the blockade alone, protecting the Daimyo, setting up defenses... you're already at the level of a Chunin, or even a Special Jōnin."

"It's all thanks to your teaching, Kakashi-sensei," Lin Ye said modestly.

"No, that's your own ability." Kakashi looked at Lin Ye. "An orphan of the Uchiha... you remind me of two people."

"Who?"

"Shisui Uchiha and Uchiha Itachi." A complicated look entered Kakashi's eyes. "They were both geniuses, and both bore the weight of a heavy fate. Ye, your future won't be easy."

Lin Ye fell silent.

He knew what Kakashi meant. The Uchiha name was both an honor and a curse. And he was destined to keep walking this path.

They returned to Konoha, reported on the mission, and collected their payment. The Third Hokage praised Team Kakashi's performance highly, and Lin Ye in particular received a special commendation.

But Lin Ye's thoughts had already drifted to the Uchiha Family Cemetery.

The final key, Uchiha Yashiro's key, was there.

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

Lin Ye slipped into the Uchiha Family Cemetery. It had been sealed off after the Night of the Massacre, but no one guarded it-after all, who would rob the graves of the Uchiha?

According to Kagami Uchiha's map, Yashiro's key was hidden beneath his own gravestone.

Lin Ye found Yashiro's gravestone. It was plain, bearing only a single line: "Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha elder, died at the age of sixty-eight."

He went around behind the gravestone and felt around with his hands. Beneath its base was a concealed recess. Lin Ye pried the stone slab open with a kunai, revealing a small iron box inside.

He opened the iron box. Inside lay a black piece of metal shaped like a kunai blade, engraved with the Uchiha fan emblem.

[Detected "Black Iron Key" (1/3)]

[Ding! Wish chain 2 complete: Collect all three keys (3/3)]

[Reward obtained: Mangekyō Sharingan Fragment ×5]

[Current Mangekyō fragments: 8/???]

[Wish chain 3 unlocked: Open the Uchiha Forbidden Grounds (0/1)]

All three keys had been collected.

The Green Leaf Key, the Red Copper Key (obtained from Setsuna), and the Black Iron Key.

Lin Ye placed the three keys together. Beneath the moonlight, they suddenly glimmered, then fitted themselves together, forming a complete key-shaped like the Uchiha fan emblem, with three colors intertwined.

[Uchiha Forbidden Grounds key: Assembled]

[Forbidden grounds location: 300 Meters Beneath Naka Shrine. Can only be opened on the night of a full moon, using the Three-Tomoe Sharingan as a guide.]

The night of a full moon... that was three days away.

Lin Ye tightened his grip on the key.

The secrets of the Uchiha and the truth behind the forbidden grounds were finally about to be revealed.