Yūto's plan

"The Eight-Tails!"

"Since Dodai used the Eight-Tails as bait, we can use the Eight-Tails to kill Dodai too!"

A cold gleam flashed through Yūto's eyes as he said gravely, "We can spread false intelligence claiming that Konoha is preparing to capture the Eight-Tails."

Fugaku frowned slightly. "The Eight-Tails is vital to Kumogakure. Dodai will definitely send people to move him or take him back."

"Exactly." Yūto nodded. "But Dodai is cautious by nature. He won't act rashly. He'll assign part of his main force to escort the Eight-Tails in case Konoha sets an ambush."

Fugaku considered it for a moment, but still had doubts. "Even so, Dodai will still have Kumogakure's elite guarding him. We might not succeed."

The corners of Yūto's mouth rose slightly. "That's why I need you to join the operation to capture the Eight-Tails midway through, Lord Fugaku."

Fugaku froze. "What do you mean?"

"Once Dodai discovers that the Uchiha Clan has turned out in full force, he'll think Konoha is determined to succeed and send his entire main force to intercept them."

Yūto's voice was calm and certain. "At that point, he'll only have a few guards left beside him."

Fugaku's gaze sharpened. "But if Konoha's entire main force moves out, who will kill Dodai?"

"I will." Yūto looked straight at Fugaku, his eyes full of killing intent.

Fugaku shook his head. "Dodai is an elite jonin with considerable strength, and he has mastered Lava Release. Can you kill him alone?"

Before he finished speaking, Yūto's Three-Tomoe Sharingan suddenly activated, its scarlet ocular power swirling in the dim room.

He said slowly, "I'm not weak anymore, either."

Fugaku's pupils contracted slightly. Amid his shock, he finally understood Yūto's fixation on the Elder through the three tomoe in his eyes.

If Yūto's feelings for the Elder had not been deep enough, he could not have awakened the three tomoe.

After a long silence, he took a deep breath and said solemnly, "All right. I agree to your plan."

Yūto stepped out of the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters and took a deep breath.

In truth, he had no confidence at all that he could kill Dodai. His opponent was a battle-hardened elite jonin, while he was merely a novice who had just awakened the three tomoe.

But the Elder's charred remains would not leave his mind. He gritted his teeth and headed toward the general store in the clan compound.

The shopkeeper looked at Yūto and greeted him warmly. Yūto forced a smile.

"Yūto, it's been a while. The usual?"

Yūto nodded.

Before long, Yūto was pushing a small cart loaded with supplies toward the orphanage.

This time, Yūto felt he probably really would die. He would treat this as one final visit to the children at the orphanage.

He would also check whether his royalties had been properly deposited into the orphanage's account.

Yūto pushed open the orphanage's weathered wooden gate. Nonō was hanging laundry in the courtyard.

Seeing him pushing a cart piled with rice and flour, Nonō immediately smiled. She quickly dried her hands and came over to greet him. "Yūto, when did you get back?"

Yūto said quietly, "Just got back today... By the way, did you receive the royalties?"

"The royalties arrived last week. The children could finally have fresh fruit..." She suddenly stopped, her eyes behind her glasses keenly catching the look in Yūto's eyes. "You look terrible."

"The Elder died in battle."

Yūto did not mention that he wanted revenge, because if he did, Nonō would definitely stop him.

But Nonō was shrewd and immediately saw that Yūto was hiding something.

She took hold of Yūto's wrist. "That's not all, is it?"

Yūto sighed. Left with no choice, he told her the truth. "The Elder died because of Dodai's scheme. I'm going to kill Dodai."

"You're just going to your death!"

"Dodai is a renowned jonin from Kumogakure! He's not someone you can deal with!"

When Yūto answered with silence, Nonō gritted her teeth.

She suddenly grabbed Yūto's sleeve and led him toward the backyard, where several children were crouching beside the vegetable patch, catching earthworms.

"Big Brother Yūto!" A little girl with pigtails rushed over, holding up half a carrot in her mud-covered hand. "I saved this for you to eat!"

Yūto crouched down and patted her little head.

Nonō said softly, "These children have all lost family, but those who are still alive need to..."

"I have to go." Yūto interrupted her and tucked the carrot back into the girl's pocket. "Some things matter more than life."

Nonō sighed and adjusted her glasses. "Since you're determined to go, at least let me find you someone to help."

Yūto frowned, thinking Nonō intended to go herself. "It's too dangerous for a medical ninja like you to go onto the battlefield."

"Not me." A sharp glint flashed across Nonō's glasses. "I have some ties with Lady Tsunade."

When the two arrived at the Senju Clan Compound, Tsunade was drinking in the courtyard with her legs crossed.

Seeing Nonō, she raised an eyebrow. "Oh, Nonō. What brings you here?"

Tsunade's gaze swept over Yūto again, and she frowned. She felt as though she had seen him somewhere before.

Nonō bowed respectfully. "Lady Tsunade, I'd like to ask you to protect this child on the battlefield, just this once."

"Not interested!" Tsunade took a swig of her drink. "I don't want to go onto the battlefield right now!"

Nonō suddenly lowered her voice and leaned close to Tsunade's ear. "Lady Tsunade, I have records of all those hundreds of times you skipped work to go gambling."

"You!"

Tsunade slammed the table and sprang to her feet, her face flushed red.

Nonō gave a sly smile. "I'll take care of your attendance records from now on."

Tsunade glared at the two through gritted teeth before finally snorting. "Just once! Don't blame me if this brat goes looking for death himself!"

Nonō hurriedly bowed. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade!"

Tsunade looked at Yūto again, wanting a closer look at just who this brat was to make Nonō come to her for help.

The more she looked, the more familiar he seemed. Only after a while did it dawn on her. Wasn't this the brat who had peeked into the women's bathhouse before?

He had even shamelessly claimed he was gathering material for the orphanage because it was short on funds or something.

Tsunade folded her arms and looked sharply at Nonō. "Does the orphanage still have enough funding?"

Nonō paused, a little puzzled.

Why was Lady Tsunade asking that?

Although puzzled, she still answered Tsunade's question. "The funding that was cut before has already been restored."

"Not only that, but Yūto's novel royalties arrive on time too. The children have enough to eat now, and we can even buy them new clothes."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow and turned her gaze toward Yūto beside her.

This brat was rather interesting.

She strode up to Yūto and looked him over from above, then suddenly grinned. "Kid, since you've still got a bit of a conscience..."

She reached out and vigorously ruffled his hair. "I'll have your back on the battlefield!"

Yūto's hair was rubbed into a mess, but for once, he did not dodge away. He merely muttered quietly, "Thank you."

Tsunade huffed and turned to leave, cutting a dashing figure as she walked away.

Nonō watched her go, then looked at Yūto, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. "It seems Lady Tsunade thinks highly of you."