His precious apprentice, Kurama Yakumo

"Clan Head Fugaku, we found Itachi's killer." Fugaku's gaze sharpened, and he hurriedly picked up the investigation report and read through it.

A moment later, he casually tossed the report onto the low table. Rather than probing further into Itachi's death, he stared straight at Douyang.

"Douyang, are you here to persuade me on Hiruzen Sarutobi's behalf?"

Douyang poured Fugaku another cup of hot water, and steam rose between them.

"Yes."

"The Third plans to hold a jonin meeting tomorrow to deal with this matter seriously. He hopes you'll attend."

"I think you could consider it, Clan Head Fugaku."

"But whatever you ultimately decide, I'll stand with the clan."

That last sentence softened Fugaku's expression a little.

Douyang was more reliable than Shisui, after all.

He considered it for a moment, then shook his head.

"Douyang, you're too young. You actually believe Hiruzen Sarutobi's one-sided account."

"It was that old dog Danzo who killed Itachi. Danzo has committed every evil imaginable. If Hiruzen Sarutobi intended to punish him, he would have done it long ago. Why would he wait until now?"

Douyang tapped the table and said gravely,

"Clan Head Fugaku, this is no longer just a conflict between the village and the Uchiha."

"If Danzo isn't dealt with seriously, all the shinobi clans will fear for their own safety and stop trusting the Hokage's faction."

"Besides, the damage a coup by a powerful shinobi clan like the Uchiha would inflict on the village is impossible to estimate."

"At the very least, it would lose its standing as the foremost shinobi village. In the worst case, the Fourth Shinobi World War could break out."

"Hiruzen Sarutobi understands all these problems perfectly well. He can't bear to act against Danzo, but he certainly won't sit back and watch the village decline."

"I'll venture to predict that he'll show enough sincerity to resolve the conflict with the Uchiha."

There was another point Uchiha Douyang left unsaid: Hiruzen Sarutobi was different from the others. He was the only senior member of the Hokage's faction who pursued a conciliatory policy toward the Uchiha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was a very complicated man. In short, he was either a fool or a scoundrel, but he was certainly no schemer like Danzo.

In the original timeline, when Orochimaru attacked Konoha, if Hiruzen Sarutobi had been a schemer, he would certainly have retreated behind the scenes like Danzo and let others stop Orochimaru. He would not have charged to the front himself, much less sacrificed his life to seal Orochimaru.

At these words, hesitation appeared on Fugaku's face.

A coup meant staking everything on one desperate gamble, destroying both sides alike.

If there were another choice, who would abandon a perfectly good life to launch a coup?

Seeing Fugaku's expression, Uchiha Douyang knew this could work, and continued,

"Clan Head Fugaku, if Hiruzen Sarutobi fails to show enough sincerity at tomorrow's jonin meeting, it'll be a perfect opportunity for the other shinobi clans to see his ugly true colors. We might even use the chance to win a few allies for the Uchiha, which would improve our chances of winning if we launch a coup."

Fugaku drew a deep breath and said, "If Hiruzen Sarutobi wants to talk, that's not out of the question. But the meeting must be held at the Konoha Military Police Force, and he can't bring any Anbu."

At nightfall, Uchiha Douyang returned home.

Uchiha Douyang's home was not in the Uchiha Clan Compound, but in a medical clinic in the center of the village.

The clinic itself was a cover. Beneath it was actually a laboratory Orochimaru had left behind.

Squeak, squeak, squeak!!!

The moment he stepped through the door, he heard strange sounds coming from inside.

A swarm of mice, snakes, and frogs scurried around the room...

These little animals were pitch-black all over, as though they had fallen into ink and taken a bath.

Of course, these were not real mice, snakes, or frogs, but chakra constructs created with Super Beast Imitating Drawing.

"Is that you, Teacher?"

As a childish voice rang out, a girl of about six or seven ran out of Uchiha Douyang's room.

Kurama Yakumo, Uchiha Douyang's precious apprentice.

The Kurama Clan was an ancient clan in Konoha with a hereditary bloodline ability, specializing in genjutsu.

However, very few members inherited the kekkei genkai, and by now, only a handful of people remained in the clan.

Kurama Yakumo was the only daughter of the current clan head, Kurama Murakumo. She had awakened her kekkei genkai at three, and the Kurama Clan had placed great hopes in her.

But Kurama Yakumo had been frail since childhood, and no amount of care helped.

The Kurama Clan approached Uchiha Douyang and asked him to treat Kurama Yakumo.

"Yakumo, have you finished your homework?"

Uchiha Douyang patted Kurama Yakumo's little head, a smile at the corners of his mouth. As he spoke, he used his Sharingan to examine her body.

His scarlet eyes saw through her flesh and blood, clearly discerning the ocean-deep spiritual energy within Kurama Yakumo.

Ever since awakening her kekkei genkai, Kurama Yakumo had grown weaker by the day. Before receiving treatment from Uchiha Douyang, even walking had been difficult.

After three years of care, Kurama Yakumo could now live like a normal child.

Strictly speaking, Kurama Yakumo was not actually ill.

She was a genius favored by fate, but heaven had bestowed so much favor on her that her fragile body could not withstand it.

Kurama Yakumo had inherited the Kurama Clan's genjutsu known as Five Senses Domination, which skipped generations. However, her kekkei genkai had awakened too early, leaving her still-developing body unable to withstand that terrifying spiritual energy.

The key to treating Kurama Yakumo lay in balancing her severely imbalanced physical and spiritual energies.

There were two approaches in all.

The first was to weaken Yakumo's spiritual energy, whether by sealing it, devouring it, or other means.

The second was to find a way to increase Yakumo's physical energy, such as transplanting Hashirama cells or practicing secret Yang Release techniques.

The first approach could solve the problem, but it would stifle a genius.

Besides, Uchiha Douyang was not skilled in Sealing Jutsu, so the first approach was out of the question.

As for the second approach, the conditions for transplanting Hashirama cells were not currently in place.

He lacked the relevant equipment and transplantation techniques, and Kurama Yakumo was not eligible to receive Hashirama cells either.

Guy had opened the Gate of Death and crippled Six Paths Madara with his kicks, making him a hero of the Fourth Shinobi World War. Yet he could only spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, like many people with disabilities.

By comparison, practicing secret Yang Release techniques was a much simpler path.

Any jutsu primarily based on physical energy could fall under Yang Release. The most common was Medical Ninjutsu, while more advanced examples were secret techniques, such as the Akimichi Clan's Multi-Size Technique.

Uchiha Douyang taught Kurama Yakumo Medical Ninjutsu and spent a large sum to acquire a secret technique, Super Beast Imitating Drawing.

It was a rare secret Yang Release technique that used chakra to create fully formed creatures. With uses including travel, infiltration, and combat, it had a wide range of applications and great flexibility.

Kurama Murakumo loved his daughter dearly. To help his precious daughter recover as soon as possible, he asked Uchiha Douyang to take Kurama Yakumo as his apprentice.

Uchiha Douyang valued Kurama Yakumo's talent and also wanted to win the Kurama Clan over to the Uchiha Clan's side, so he agreed to take her as his apprentice.