Both clever and kind

Uchiha Hikari was just something Uchiha Yan had made up. If Uchiha Hikari really existed in this Shinobi World, there would be no damn point in playing anymore. Anyone who touched Yachihoko would die.

They traveled at a relentless pace for several days before returning to Konoha. By then, fighting had already broken out on both fronts.

Iwagakure, which had previously stayed on the sidelines watching the others fight, suddenly massed troops along the border, preparing to attack Kumogakure at any moment. This allowed the Third Hokage to breathe a sigh of relief.

Thus, when Uchiha Yan met the Third Hokage, he found no trace of worry on his face.

"Third Hokage, I'm back!"

"It's good to have you back!"

The Third Hokage smiled. "Thanks to you, Kumogakure and Kirigakure will likely return empty-handed this time.

"You've redeemed yourself through service. This achievement is enough to offset your offense, so you don't have to go to Jinghai Town."

"No!"

Uchiha Yan refused without hesitation. "Whether for Konoha or the Uchiha, wherever Lord Danzo is, that's where I must go. Please grant my request, Third Hokage."

Koharu, standing nearby, could not help warning him, "You were lucky this time. What about next time? Don't gamble with your life."

"Thank you for the warning, Lady Koharu."

Uchiha Yan bowed deeply. "Some things have to be done by someone. If you want to change others, you can only influence them through yourself, rather than force them to change.

"I hope I can conduct myself well and thereby influence my clansmen, letting them change of their own accord, and ultimately bring change to all of Konoha.

"I know I might die. But it doesn't matter if I die. Someone will understand me and carry on my work."

"Won't you reconsider? The war is important, but you're important to Konoha too."

Uchiha Yan grinned. "Winning the war is still more important! There's something I must remind you of, Lady Koharu.

"If Konoha is to have a bright and glorious tomorrow, someone must face death to secure it.

"Given the present situation, only by going can I make Lord Danzo leave the Uchiha alone. So I have a duty to go.

"If the situation one day requires the Third Hokage to die, I believe he will not hesitate either.

"The Will of Fire cannot be reduced to a slogan. It must be put into practice."

With that, Uchiha Yan bowed deeply to them once more, then turned and left.

"Yan, this is a problem left over from history. It has nothing to do with you!"

"I'll shoulder it! Whether it's a problem with the Uchiha, the Senju, or anyone else, I'll shoulder it all!

"Either I'll awaken everyone with my life, or I'll spend twenty years making Konoha as close as one family.

"There's no need to say any more, Lady Koharu. Some things must be done, even if they cost me my life."

Watching Uchiha Yan leave, Utatane Koharu let out a long sigh.

"Hiruzen, he knows everything, yet he's still willing to die. He shouldn't have to die."

"Unless we kill Danzo, this is our only option! Let's hope he can stay alive!"

"Why? Can't we just replace the commander?"

"Orochimaru isn't here. Who would replace him? Can Jiraiya do it? Can Tsunade? Or should I go?

"If I leave, will Danzo take the opportunity to do something? Could we bear the consequences?"

Utatane Koharu's eyes dimmed. She knew perfectly well what Danzo was like. If they replaced him now, he would inevitably resent it, and no one could predict how far he might go.

But she could not simply watch Uchiha Yan throw his life away either.

Had he been an ordinary genius ninja, that would have been one thing. But he was precisely the talent Konoha lacked most: a genius who could see the situation throughout the Shinobi World clearly, and one whose every thought was of Konoha.

After a long silence, a glint of resolve flashed through Utatane Koharu's eyes.

"Hiruzen, let me go to Jinghai Town! I'll keep an eye on Danzo."

"It's no use! Unless our teacher comes back to life, no one can stop him from wanting to kill Uchiha Yan now."

"But..."

"Enough!"

The Third Hokage raised a hand to stop her. "I'll assign a medical ninja to Hizashi's squad. That's the only thing I can do.

"Rather than worrying about Uchiha Yan, you should pay more attention to Shisui. He's Kagami's grandson, and he loves peace just as Kagami did."

"He's too arrogant! More arrogant than any other Uchiha. Sooner or later, he'll end up like you, unable to look after either side.

"A nine-year-old child who understands nothing, yet dreams of peace. It's laughable."

"Uchiha Yan is only twelve himself!"

"But he's already produced results. He understands everything, knows peace requires sacrifice, and is willing to give his life for it."

The Third Hokage fell silent. He knew perfectly well how naive Shisui Uchiha was. But if Uchiha Yan really died, he would have no choice but to use Shisui. At least Shisui loved peace.

Every member of the Uchiha Clan had their own arrogance. Some knew they were arrogant, while others did not.

Uchiha Yan was no different. He too carried an air of superiority. In his subconscious, these people were all fictional characters. He simply did not realize it.

At that moment, he was at Fugaku's house, preparing to leave for Jinghai Town. He was certain that the alliance between Kirigakure and Kumogakure would succeed.

Since Konoha already knew about it, neither side would contact the other at the start of the war. Only at a critical moment would they join forces to deliver a fatal blow to Konoha.

He had to make good use of this opportunity to turn Danzo into Konoha's common enemy.

While he was packing, Uchiha Itachi walked in carrying Sasuke.

"Senior, are you heading out on assignment again tomorrow? Can't you stay a few more days?"

"Is something the matter?"

"There are some things I don't understand. I'd like to ask for your guidance!"

"Go ahead! I happen to have time!"

"Senior, isn't accumulated righteousness about changing others? Why would others insult me for it?"

"Who told you accumulated righteousness meant changing others?"

"Doesn't it?"

Uchiha Yan stopped what he was doing, his expression utterly serious.

"Itachi, accumulated righteousness starts with yourself. The first thing you must do is change yourself and let your actions influence others.

"Like the sun, which gives off its own light, you must welcome those who yearn for the light. Don't insist too much when someone is willing to embrace the darkness.

"I wrote a book and left it at home. Read it if you want. I've never forced you.

"If you don't ask, I won't speak! Because true change can only begin with oneself. No amount of persuasion from anyone else will help.

"Only by cultivating yourself can you bring order to your family. Without cultivating yourself, don't ever expect to influence your clansmen. They won't be influenced by you."

"I understand!"

Uchiha Itachi nodded. "There's one more question. Haoran qi can speed up chakra recovery, but lately I keep seeing hallucinations, as though I'm dreaming.

"That's normal. Those aren't hallucinations, but your thoughts. Pay attention to those visions. They'll tell you about your shortcomings.

"When you reach the end of your cultivation, your whole being will be like the sun. No evil person will have anywhere to hide before you, and they will all fear you.

"Keep at it! Cultivate diligently. Once you're grown, I'll teach you how to achieve peace."

"Thank you, Senior. I'll work hard."

"Good!"

Uchiha Yan took two scrolls from the desk and handed them to Itachi.

"Give the blue one to Senior Xiaren. Tell him to follow the plan on the scroll, and leave it alone once he's finished.

"Keep the red one. If you ever see my corpse, open it.

"Remember! Unless you see my corpse, never open it."

"Yes!"

Uchiha Itachi's expression was solemn. "Rest assured, Senior! I will complete the mission."

"I trust you."

Uchiha Yan did not believe for a moment that haoran qi could restore chakra. Meditation, sitting in stillness, and such things merely made it easier to concentrate. How could they have the powers of immortal cultivation?

Even if immortal cultivation really existed, it was useless to Uchiha Yan right now. His most urgent priority was to get Danzo killed first.

He was certain that, upon his return to Jinghai City this time, Danzo would send Root ninja to attack him during a mission.

He could bluff his way past others, but against Root ninja, there was no way forward except to fight.