Troublesome Clansmen

"Uchiha Shisui? I remember that child was only seven, just two years out of the Academy. I never expected him to have grown to this extent. Is he the only one we can send?"

The tobacco slowly burned, barely calming the vigilance rising from the depths of his heart. It was wartime now; this was not the time to be wary of the Uchiha Clan.

"Immediately order Uchiha Shisui to head to the Land of Bears as reinforcements. What is Uchiha Huayue doing right now?"

An elite Anbu appeared. After bowing, his expression beneath the mask seemed somewhat awkward as he spoke in a low voice.

"Reporting to Lord Hokage, Uchiha Huayue, he... he..."

"What is it?"

"Other than necessary training at the training ground each day, he basically never steps out of his room. Aside from occasionally going out with Lord Orochimaru, he has made no other notable moves."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded gently, his expression unchanged as the faint suspicion in his heart quietly faded.

With Orochimaru keeping watch, that child should not be a problem. Minato had already restrained Iwagakure's ninja, but why had this inexplicable sense of dread arisen?

After hesitating for a moment, the Third Hokage wrote swiftly, then handed a personally written letter to the Anbu squad captain before him.

"Deliver this letter to Nara Shikaku. He will understand once he reads it. Be cautious in all things. Do not let anyone discover it, understood?"

The Anbu captain accepted the order and withdrew. Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly closed his eyes and let out a faint sigh.

Only after Sarutobi Hiruzen left the study did the small snake lurking atop the building emerge from the shadows, its scales, which had blended into the surroundings, returning to their original color.

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

At Konoha's Third Training Ground, two figures faced each other. In the blink of an eye, their weapons clashed, and afterimages scattered in every direction.

The long-haired girl panted heavily, shock written across her face. The black-robed youth remained motionless, as though the phantoms from moments ago had nothing to do with him.

"Konoha Style: Willow? I never expected you to be equally skilled in Konoha-Style Sword Art. Do you have no weaknesses in ninjutsu?"

Uzuki Yugao was utterly astonished. The sensation of blade meeting blade had been beyond her expectations. In her understanding, the youth before her should have been an expert in the Body Flicker Technique.

"Konoha Style? I learned that move from Mr. Maruboshi Kosuke. Was it helpful to you?"

Uchiha Huayue smiled without answering. The Kusanagi Sword in his hand slid back into its sheath, satisfaction appearing in his eyes.

The hilt and sheath were both pure white, while the blade itself was exceptionally sturdy. Even colliding with a small Tailed Beast Bomb would not damage it. He had personally tested all of this.

Character Check-in: Uzuki Yugao

Abilities Possessed: Konoha Style: Dance of the Crescent Moon

Random Draw in progress... Check-in successful. Obtained Konoha Style: Dance of the Crescent Moon today!

It is merely a slashing attack using Shadow Clones to appear from multiple angles at once. It is decent against ordinary ninja, but its lack of killing power is this move's weakness. Ninja defenses are too flimsy.

With that thought, Huayue looked up and smiled.

"By the way, Yugao, you're a close-combat ninja, right? I recently developed a defensive ninjutsu called Blut Vene. Would you like to try it?"

"Huh? Can I really? Something this precious, given to someone like me..."

Huayue smiled and waved his hand, taking out a pale blue syringe from his Ninja Tool Pouch. Within the chakra-like solution, an enticing gleam shimmered.

"It's fine. I also want to hear other people's opinions. Don't worry about safety. The premise behind developing Blut Vene was to greatly increase defensive ability without harming the human body."

The cool liquid was injected precisely into her vein. After waiting for some time, Yugao tried piercing her skin with a weapon. Pale blue patterns flowed along fixed pathways.

"This is far too precious. I don't know how I can thank you, Huayue. Is there anything you need my help with?"

"Don't take it so seriously. When you return from the battlefield, just remember to tell me how it felt to use."

"No, how can I accept such a precious Secret Jutsu for nothing? Is there anything I can help with?"

Seeing Uzuki Yugao's earnest face, Huayue tilted his head and thought for a moment before suddenly recalling something.

"Come to think of it, there is something. I just feel like it might embarrass you."

"It's okay. I'd be happy to help you, Huayue!"

Despite her young age, Yugao naturally revealed a faintly alluring charm. Her face was full of smiles, but moments later, patches of red had already bloomed across it.

"Huayue... Huayue, is this what I can help you with?"

"What's wrong? Are your legs getting numb?"

Beneath the shade of a tree at the Third Training Ground, Huayue, lying on the ground, adjusted his angle slightly as purple hair softly brushed against him.

The sky was azure, clouds drifting and rolling. The soft lap pillow beneath his head made Huayue feel exceptionally relaxed, and his thoughts began to wander.

What action will Orochimaru take? Will he leave Konoha completely and give up competing with Minato for the position of Hokage, or will he become Hokage at any cost? What will he choose?

Come to think of it, Obito has probably fallen into Madara's hands as well. Kakashi has become the Sharingan Hero, and Uchiha Shisui has been transferred to the Kirigakure front.

As his thoughts drifted, the aura he unconsciously gave off sent Yugao's imagination running wild.

"No. I realized that we seem to have never had a chance to be alone together, so... so, how do you see me, Huayue?"

"How do I see you? Long legs, gentle with others. I feel like you'd be a good woman."

At those words, Yugao's eyes filled with delight as she asked hesitantly.

"Re... really? Then, then we..."

"Agh, those troublesome guys caught up to me. If they ask about me, tell them I'm not here."

His figure vanished. Yugao had just gathered her courage, but the words about to leave her mouth were forcibly swallowed back down.

A moment later, several members of the Konoha Military Police Force hurried over. After looking around, they turned toward Yugao, their tone unfriendly.

"Where is Uchiha Huayue?"

"What do you want with him?"

Seemingly noticing that they were members of the Uchiha Clan, Uzuki Yugao questioned them in return. One of them merely snorted.

"That is none of your concern. This is Uchiha Clan business. When you see him, tell him that members of the Police Force need to see him. It is important. Tell him to report to the force immediately."

Seeing no sign of Uchiha Huayue nearby, they finally gave up. Only after they had gone far away did Huayue return to the training ground.

"Huayue, just now..."

"I know. People from the Uchiha Clan came looking for me? What troublesome people. No matter how I hide, I can't avoid them."

The Uchiha Clan, a problem he had always chosen to ignore, now stood before him as the war neared its end.

The Konoha F4 had always excluded the Uchiha Clan. Getting dragged into such exhausting affairs offered Huayue no benefit whatsoever.

Still, he was quite interested in saying no to the inheritor of the Will of Fire inherited from the evil Senju White-Haired Old Man.

At the same time, beneath the Mountain Graveyard.

Obito, who had awakened from unconsciousness, looked around blankly. The frail, aged figure resting with his eyes closed slowly opened them.

"Awake?"