Guidance

"Feng Yao, I want to get stronger. Could you train me?"

Sasuke's gaze was resolute. He was young, but he was no fool. His clan and the village had already begun to make him suspicious.

Especially his clansmen, whose eyes were filled with disgust. That deeply wounded Sasuke's young heart.

Anger burned inside him, and he swore to prove to his clansmen that he, Sasuke, had talent too.

Deep down, though, Sasuke wanted even more to prove to Fugaku that he was also a good son to his father.

He wanted even more to know why Itachi had betrayed the clan.

Feng Yao thought for a moment, then smiled faintly.

"Of course."

"Thank you, Feng Yao! Then let's start right now!"

Sasuke wanted to improve so badly. He could hardly wait to receive guidance from the man who was now the strongest Uchiha.

Feng Yao shook his head. "Sasuke, don't rush. One day won't make a difference. I still have something to do. Tomorrow, same time, same place. I'll see you here."

"All right."

Sasuke also realized he was being impatient.

"Don't worry. It's not as though I'm going to run away."

Feng Yao found it amusing.

Activating Kamui, Feng Yao left Konoha.

Amegakure.

Orochimaru's secret base.

Feng Yao stepped out of Kamui.

"These contain Indra's chakra genes."

Feng Yao took out a few strands of Sasuke's hair and handed them to Orochimaru.

"Oh, how wonderful..."

Orochimaru's eyes burned with enthusiasm. Being able to explore the truth was simply wonderful.

Orochimaru stored Sasuke's hair in a glass container.

After handing Orochimaru Sasuke's hair, which contained Indra's chakra, Feng Yao prepared to activate Kamui and return to Konoha.

But Orochimaru stopped him.

"Wait, Feng Yao."

"What is it?"

Feng Yao gave Orochimaru a strange look.

"Hehe..."

"Feng Yao, Pain called a meeting not long ago."

Feng Yao motioned for Orochimaru to continue.

"A mysterious person offered the Akatsuki a bounty, specifically naming you and offering a billion for your head..."

Orochimaru washed his face with his tongue again.

"Oh..."

Feng Yao smiled mockingly. Someone who could put up a billion and specifically demand his head-the Konoha F4 were definitely behind this mysterious person.

From what he knew of the Third Hokage, he would not make such a decision.

Then it was you, Danzo!

How could Danzo's feigning death that day possibly have fooled him? Feng Yao simply did not want to let Danzo die so easily.

Did he really think I couldn't see through it?

Ridiculous. If the power of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan could not even see through that, it would hardly live up to its illustrious reputation.

As for Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura? Please, did those two have the guts?

Still, they had probably been involved behind the scenes.

"Well? What arrangements did Pain and the others make?"

Feng Yao thought for a moment before speaking.

Although every member of the Akatsuki was Kage Level, there was one exception to his ease in dealing with them.

The only one he found a little troublesome was Nagato.

He had originally intended to fight Nagato only after gaining enough strength to overpower the Six Paths of Pain.

If Nagato was taking part this time too, he would have to give it some thought.

The Six Paths of Pain's Shinra Tensei had an enormous range. He really was worried about it affecting the Uchiha.

As for Konoha's villagers, what did they have to do with him?

"Hehe, Pain won't act next time, but the entire Akatsuki will mobilize."

Orochimaru knew full well how terrifying Feng Yao was. Without Pain taking action, Feng Yao could practically crush the entire Akatsuki.

"Still, we can't rule out the possibility of Pain following in secret."

"Mm, understood. Just go along with them when the time comes."

"But don't neglect the extraction of White Zetsu Cells and Indra's cells."

After giving those instructions, Feng Yao activated Kamui and left Orochimaru's experimental base.

After returning to Konoha, Feng Yao went to Fugaku's house again.

Fugaku was away, Mikoto was making dinner, and Sasuke was practicing with shuriken in the courtyard.

Feng Yao went straight to Itachi's room.

"Who's there?"

Hearing the noise, Itachi activated his scarlet Sharingan. At some point, a kunai had appeared in his hand.

"It's me."

Feng Yao stepped out of the darkness.

"Clan Head..."

Seeing that it was Feng Yao, Itachi immediately relaxed his guard.

"What is it, Clan Head?"

Itachi was puzzled. He had been preparing to leave tonight.

"Put your plan to leave the village and join the Akatsuki on hold for a few days."

"Why?"

Itachi was confused.

"Something unexpected came up..."

Feng Yao then told Itachi about Orochimaru and the bounty the Akatsuki had received for his head.

Itachi knitted his brows. "The Third Hokage doesn't seem like someone who would do this..."

"It definitely wasn't the Third Hokage. It was Danzo."

"Danzo?"

Itachi exclaimed, "Isn't Danzo dead?"

Feng Yao sneered. "He was merely feigning death. I just didn't expose him. After all the atrocities he's committed, how could I let Danzo die so easily?"

Itachi nodded as well. He had heard about the things Danzo had done while serving in the Anbu, and Shisui had also vaguely revealed some of them to him.

"From what I know of you, the Akatsuki members shouldn't be a match for you."

Itachi was somewhat puzzled. Feng Yao was strong enough to crush him, and Feng Yao had also shared a few pieces of intelligence with him.

"They certainly aren't a match for me, but Pain's abilities have an enormous range. Once he acts, our clansmen could suffer losses."

"I naturally have a way to deal with Pain. What worries me is Danzo and the others..."

Feng Yao knew it was unlikely, but what if it happened? People were complicated. Rather than gamble on whether others would show mercy, he would rather prepare a backup plan himself.

"I understand..."

Itachi understood Feng Yao's concerns. Given Danzo's character, he really might do something like that.

Although Danzo had already been executed as far as the public knew, he did not necessarily have to show himself in person.

Over the next few days, both the Uchiha Clan and Konoha remained peaceful.

Splash!

Naruto and Sasuke fell into the water at the same time.

A wave of water splashed up.

"Hah... hah... I can't do this anymore..."

Naruto crawled ashore like a half-dead dog, spat out a bellyful of water, then lay on the grass, unwilling to move at all.

Sasuke was much the same. Proud as he was, he did not want to look as pathetic as Naruto, but he was hardly in better shape.

Neither of them knew how much river water they had swallowed that day. Their bellies were bloated.

Feng Yao, meanwhile, lay in a rocking chair, basking in the sun and sipping juice.

"Feng Yao, when is this ever going to end? Is this water walking really useful?"

Although Sasuke said nothing, his expression was just as skeptical as Naruto's.

Hearing this, Feng Yao pushed aside his sunglasses and glanced at Naruto and Sasuke.

"Water walking trains your chakra control. It's something every strong shinobi must master. Otherwise, how will you learn those powerful ninjutsu in the future?"

Indeed, four days had passed since Sasuke had asked Feng Yao to teach him how to become strong.

During that time, Naruto had discovered that Feng Yao was training Sasuke and had asked Feng Yao to teach him too.

At the Ninja Academy, Naruto had not even mastered the Three Basic Ninja Techniques.

Although Iruka was a teacher, he would not devote much extra attention to teaching Naruto. His inner conflict left him unsure how to face Naruto.

Apart from the Third Hokage, Feng Yao was currently the only person who treated Naruto well, so naturally Naruto wanted Feng Yao to teach him.