The reason

Besides the consequence of losing his chance to become Hokage, Danzo had another reason for not wanting to kill Uchiha Yan: Uchiha Yan was still useful to him, extremely useful.

From what had just happened, Danzo could already tell that as long as Uchiha Yan lived, the Uchiha could never be wiped out.

Ordinary methods certainly would not work if he wanted to kill Uchiha Yan. He had to kill him in one strike without making everyone despise him.

After everyone left, a cold smile curled Danzo's lips:

"Black Rat, start preparing the plan. We can give that Kirigakure spy in the village an opportunity."

"Yes!"

"Tell Orochimaru I have a pair of Sharingan here. If he wants them, he should come to me with a sincere offer."

"Yes, Lord Danzo."

Danzo was no fool, nor was he unable to see the situation clearly. His eyes were simply blinded by the Hokage position.

Those involved were blinded, while onlookers saw clearly, and Danzo was living proof. Uchiha Yan could see clearly because he had no personal gains or losses at stake. With nothing to gain or lose, he stood outside the game.

From Hizashi Hyuga, Uchiha Yan learned that his achievements this time had not gone entirely unrewarded. Captain Hizashi himself was the Third Hokage's reward to him.

"Senior, who is our other teammate?"

"Haruka Mitokado, a medical ninja!"

"Mitokado? What's her relationship to Lord Homura?"

"His youngest daughter!"

Hizashi hid nothing. "Now you understand how highly the Third Hokage values you!

"With the two of us here, Danzo at least won't lay a hand on you. There really was no need to say those things earlier."

"Heh!"

Uchiha Yan chuckled. "Senior Hizashi, you're too naive. You don't understand the evil in people's hearts."

"Aren't you overthinking things?"

"Perhaps! Shall we go meet our teammate?"

"Wait!"

Hizashi caught Uchiha Yan as he was about to leave, then glanced around. Seeing no one nearby, he lowered his voice:

"I discussed it with my elder brother. As long as you have a way to protect the main family member, you can ask for anything that doesn't involve the Hyuga's heritage."

"That arrogant fellow who's just as full of himself as I am?"

"It's different. You have the ability to back it up."

"Thank you for the compliment!"

The corners of Uchiha Yan's mouth lifted slightly. "Are you sure you want to give up such a good opportunity for him? If you protect him, you'll have nothing left to trade me for Neji's path to freedom.

"If Neji turns out mediocre, giving this opportunity to the main family would be perfectly reasonable. But what if Neji turns out to be a genius someday?

"The Uchiha Clan's records contain some extraordinary secrets. Are you really sure you won't give Neji a chance to try?"

"No need! As long as the main family member comes through this unharmed, the Hyuga will be fine in the future too."

"Hahahaha..."

Uchiha Yan laughed and laughed. He was not laughing at Hizashi Hyuga, but at himself for finally understanding why Hizashi would die in Hiashi's place, and why Hyuga Hiashi had been able to withstand the pressure and keep Hanabi from being branded with the cursed seal.

If, as the plot suggested, it really was because Hanabi was more talented than Hinata, that would truly be laughable.

The Hyuga Clan had existed for hundreds of years, through so many generations. He did not believe that, apart from Hinata and Hanabi, every clan head's eldest child had been more talented than the second.

Uchiha Yan felt that these brothers had made their plans long ago. In the plot, it was probably the death of this main family member that forced Neji to receive the cursed seal, leaving them no choice but to shelve their plans for the time being.

The Kumogakure ninja's entry into the Hyuga Clan compound probably had something to do with Hizashi.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing!"

Uchiha Yan shook his head. "I want all the Senju Clan's historical records. That shouldn't be difficult for the Hyuga Clan, should it?"

"It certainly wouldn't be! But because of the wars, not many historical records like those have survived.

"I can authorize giving you what the Hyuga Clan has preserved first. Give us time to collect the rest."

"Deal!"

The corners of Uchiha Yan's mouth lifted. "Do you know where Shisui Uchiha is? Let's go find him. We still need Shisui's help to protect this main family member.

"Don't worry! You don't have to tell me who the main family member is or what he looks like. We're only asking Shisui for a favor."

Hizashi nodded slightly. "Shisui is a genin at present. He should be with the logistics unit. We can find him there."

The two arrived at a saltworks northeast of town. Coastal civilians had originally made salt here, but since Kirigakure's invasion, Konoha had moved all the civilians to the rear.

Large quantities of snow-white salt had been dumped haphazardly in a corner, showing just how hurriedly those civilians had left.

"A hundred? You're dreaming! Five explosive tags per person, no more. Do you really think explosive tags grow on trees?"

"What good will five do? You're trying to get me killed."

"Explosive tags aren't as useful as ninjutsu. Use your own ninjutsu."

"Are you an idiot? Do you think I come from a bloodline clan? That I have enough chakra to throw ninjutsu around however I please? Give me another fifty."

"No! You need to understand Konoha's difficulties. The village is still being rebuilt. You wouldn't want your family to have nowhere to live, would you?"

"Sigh! Fine, then!"

"That's the spirit! Use them at a critical moment, and they can still save your life."

Watching the people lining up to receive explosive tags, Uchiha Yan sank into thought. Perhaps I've been influenced by the plot. Most ninja in this shinobi world are ordinary ninja. Being able to use ninjutsu twice is normal.

That's right! If they'd had enough chakra or ninja tools, those Kirigakure ninja back then wouldn't have waited for their other two teammates to arrive.

Suddenly, Uchiha Yan spotted Shisui among the people in line and shouted:

"Shisui! Shisui! Come here!"

Shisui looked toward the voice. Seeing a familiar figure, he immediately ran up to Uchiha Yan:

"Senior Yan, are you all right?"

"I'm fine! How have you been lately? Run into any difficulties?"

Shisui closed his eyes and opened them again, revealing two tomoe before the two men. Hiashi exclaimed:

"Two tomoe? Aren't you only nine?"

Uchiha Yan was inwardly thrilled as well. At this rate, his Mangekyō Sharingan was drawing ever closer.

But to maintain his persona, Uchiha Yan put on a grave expression:

"Shisui, what happened to you?"

"Nothing! My eyes advanced because I heard about the conflict between you and Lord Danzo."

"Sigh!"

Uchiha Yan let out a long sigh. "Shisui, the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha isn't as simple as you think. It won't simply disappear just because someone is gone.

"Without the Uchiha Clan, there would still be the Hyuga Clan and the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans. Without Konoha, there would still be Kirigakure and Kumogakure.

"Your main priority now should still be training. Read more of the books I wrote when you have time."

"But the clan..."

"No buts!"

Uchiha Yan cut him off sternly. "Have you already become so arrogant that you think you're the only one who can solve the Uchiha's problems?

"You have too much time on your hands! Once people have nothing to do, they start thinking all sorts of nonsense.

"Before you go on real missions, I'll give you an opportunity to hone yourself. As long as you can complete it, Senior Hizashi will give you a mission that will influence the course of the war?"

"A mission?"

Shisui's eyes lit up, and he immediately thumped his chest in agreement. "Please tell me, Senior. I'll definitely pass the test."

"There's a very arrogant ninja in the Hyuga Clan. Find him, then beat that arrogance out of him."

"Huh?"

Shisui stared blankly. "Senior, will he listen to what I say? I can't even change my own clansmen."

"What are your fists for? He won't submit? Beat him until he does!

"This is your test. If you can't even change a Hyuga, a clan long known for humility, what right do you have to talk about changing the Uchiha?

"If you can't complete this mission, stop thinking about the Uchiha and Konoha from now on. Go to the Military Police Force and do as you're told."

"Yes! Rest assured, Senior. I'll definitely make him change his proud, arrogant ways."

"Very good! As long as no one dies, I guarantee you'll be fine. Remember, target only this Hyuga clansman. Leave the other Hyuga alone."

"Yes!"