Undercurrents

A week later, on an island between the Land of Fire and the Land of Waves.

A Kirigakure Jonin casually pulled his kunai out of a Konoha ninja's chest and respectfully addressed Suikazan Fuguki beside him. "Sir, everything is going smoothly."

Crouching on a rock, Suikazan Fuguki took out a map and spread it open, murmuring, "Smoothly? This isn't the right island. We took the wrong route."

The Kirigakure Jonin stepped forward, glanced at the map, and gave a bitter smile. "The Intelligence Division gave me faulty information. Damn it, what are those people even being paid for?"

"We took the wrong route, but we aren't too far from the planned destination."

After a moment's silence, Suikazan Fuguki added, "Let's go. We'll try to reach the designated location and rendezvous with Hozuki Mangetsu within three days."

The next instant, Suikazan Fuguki swept his hand, and the eighteen Kirigakure ninja accompanying him raced across the sea toward the Land of Fire.

The next morning, after tutoring Kurama Yakumo, Douyang headed straight for a clearing in the Forest of Death to continue practicing the Four Symbols Seal.

Without the shrine maiden's guidance, he had to figure out the Four Symbols Seal entirely on his own, which slowed his progress considerably.

After entering the Forest of Death, Douyang recalled many scenes from the past.

Back at the Ninja Academy, teachers often organized mock battles for the students in the Forest of Death.

Although many years had passed and the Forest of Death differed slightly from his memories, the surroundings were largely the same.

Douyang found a clearing and sat cross-legged on the grass, gathering chakra in his palm as he tried to form a sealing formula.

Time slowly passed. Douyang suddenly opened his eyes, his brow furrowing slightly.

A masked Root ninja landed on the grass before him and said sternly, "Uchiha Douyang, Lord Danzo summons you. Drop everything and come with me to Root immediately."

A cold gleam flashed in Douyang's eyes.

He really won't leave me alone.

A centipede doesn't stop writhing even after death.

Danzo resorting to force to coerce Douyang was within his expectations.

Although Root had been disbanded, its members still obeyed Danzo's orders.

Some Root ninja had been brainwashed by Danzo and were absolutely loyal to him.

These people made up the vast majority.

The others were bound by the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, unable to act of their own free will, and had to obey Danzo's commands and work for him.

Yakushi Nonō was one of them.

"Get lost," Douyang said coldly.

The Root ninja's gaze sharpened slightly. "Then I'll have to tie you up and take you."

As soon as he finished speaking, two Root ninja darted out of the dense woods. With sweeps of their hands, chains shot from their sleeves and struck at Douyang's arms like venomous snakes, clearly intending to prevent him from forming hand seals right from the outset.

At the same time, another Root ninja pressed both hands to the ground and shouted, "Earth Release: Rock Pillar Prison Technique!"

More than ten thick stone pillars erupted around Uchiha Douyang, trapping him.

Poof!

With a burst of white smoke, Uchiha Douyang's body vanished. It had clearly been nothing more than a shadow clone.

"A shadow clone? When?"

The Root ninja was alarmed.

Boom!

Just then, the ground beneath the Root ninja abruptly split open, and a pair of hands reached out from below, gripping his ankles tightly.

"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"

Douyang dragged the Root ninja underground, drawing a series of agonized screams from him.

"Captain!"

The other two Root ninja cried out urgently at the sight.

Whoosh.

Douyang appeared behind a Root ninja without warning, his right eye bearing a golden, eight-spoked pattern.

There was a wet squelch.

The black chakra rod in his hand pierced straight through the Root ninja's chest.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

The other Root ninja formed hand seals at maximum speed and spat out an orange-red fireball, attacking both Douyang and his teammate.

Douyang's right eye contracted slightly.

In an instant, the fireball, three to four meters across, vanished.

"Your eye?"

Alarm and uncertainty filled the Root ninja as he stared at Douyang in disbelief.

Douyang slowly extended his right hand toward the Root ninja. More than ten black chakra rods shot out, riddling him with holes.

He had killed three men in one go.

I can't stay in the Forest of Death any longer.

Douyang placed the three bodies in the Daikokuten space, cleaned up the nearby traces of battle, and quietly left the Forest of Death.

Late that night, at a luxurious tavern in central Konoha.

Douyang looked at Fugaku and got straight to the point. "Clan leader Fugaku, is there something important you invited me here so late to discuss?"

"It concerns the clan," Fugaku said gravely.

"The clan?"

Douyang raised his brows slightly.

The Konoha Military Police Force had recruited a large number of Ino-Shika-Cho ninja, as well as civilian ninja.

Outsiders could no longer attack the Uchiha over the police force's overly harsh law enforcement.

Many of the clan's elite had successively joined the Medical Department, the Jonin Commander, the Education Department, and the Barrier Team. Fugaku had even secured a position as an elder advisor.

Most importantly, the Third Hokage had stepped down, and the Fifth Hokage would be chosen from between Tsunade and Jiraiya.

Unlike the Konoha F4, they held no particular prejudice against the Uchiha.

It could be said that the Uchiha's entry into Konoha's center of power was a done deal.

With such a bright future ahead, Douyang had no idea what problems the clan could still have.

"You know Uchiha Setsuna, don't you?" Fugaku asked with a sigh.

Douyang raised his brows slightly.

Uchiha Setsuna had been a ninja in the Konoha Military Police Force during the Second Hokage's era.

He had inherited Madara Uchiha's will and advocated seizing power by force. After failing, he had been imprisoned by the Second Hokage and was a leading figure among the clan's radicals.

Douyang's gaze sharpened. "Uchiha Setsuna is dissatisfied with the clan's current situation?"

"Yes."

Fugaku sighed. "Tsunade and Jiraiya are traveling the Shinobi World, and their whereabouts are unknown. Uchiha Setsuna intends to make a bid for the Hokage position."

"..."

The corner of Douyang's mouth twitched slightly.

To become Hokage, one first needed sufficient strength, and then the recognition of the majority.

Uchiha Setsuna only had the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and his strength was inferior even to Shisui's.

Moreover, given Uchiha Setsuna's radical conduct in his younger years, gaining the approval of most villagers would be difficult.

For Setsuna, becoming Hokage would be even harder than it would be for Danzo.

Douyang planned to give Tsunade his full support in becoming the Fifth Hokage.

Tsunade had no ninja clan backing her. If the Uchiha supported her, their power within the village could rise even further.

Then, once I, her wayward disciple, win Tsunade over too... everything will be perfect.

I absolutely can't let Uchiha Setsuna run wild.

"You and Shisui are the leading figures of the clan's younger generation," Fugaku said. "Setsuna plans to win you both over in preparation for a coup. Be careful in everything you do for the time being."

Douyang gave a faint smile. "I understand."

To launch a coup, Uchiha Setsuna would need the support of the majority of the clan.

If both Douyang and Shisui sided with him...

Even Fugaku, the clan leader, would likely be unable to do anything about Uchiha Setsuna.

But Uchiha Setsuna's efforts were destined to be in vain.