Konoha Village buzzed with its usual activity, but in a remote corner of the Ninja Office's entrance, an unusual scene unfolded. A crow, seemingly out of place, fluttered down and landed near a trash can. With a brief flash of black light, Fang Yuan materialized beside the crow, which disintegrated into a pile of feathers.
"Shisui's technique is impressive. This crow substitution involves a sophisticated body movement technique, allowing him to traverse hundreds of meters instantly," Fang Yuan mused, inspecting the feathers. The crow's subtle ability to serve as a mark for rapid movement was a testament to Shisui's skill.
Fang Yuan sighed as he examined his depleted chakra. "Two great fireballs, three instant body movements, and one substitution movement have drained my chakra completely. This is troublesome."
Determined to replenish his resources, Fang Yuan began the process of backtracking. He focused on reversing his chakra flow to the time when he had just finished his morning training. As darkness encroached on his vision, he struggled to maintain his balance, feeling his chakra slowly returning. After a painstaking wait, Fang Yuan felt ready to move.
Approaching the signboard outside the Ninja Office, Fang Yuan scanned the mission notices. Despite the usually mundane tasks listed, he was seeking something more substantial. His eyes landed on a mission: "Hunting down the Rain Ninja spy - Putian Yilang. C-level mission. The target is suspected to be a Chunin."
The mission details were perfect for Fang Yuan's needs. Memorizing the details, he refrained from removing the paper and headed back to the Uchiha residence.
At his uncle's house, Uchiha Dongtu, with a half-hearted concern for Fang Yuan's curiosity, provided him with information on local gold exchanges. Dongtu, anticipating Fang Yuan's demise, saw it as an opportunity to further his own ambitions.
"Good luck with your reading," Dongtu said, hiding his true intentions behind a façade of care.
Once Fang Yuan had left, he maintained a calm demeanor. His plan was to avoid attention, especially from those who might view his activities with suspicion. Passing by Uchiha Izumi's dumpling shop, Fang Yuan engaged in brief, pleasant conversation. When offered a lunchbox by Izumi, he accepted graciously, masking his real intentions.
Fang Yuan's ultimate goal was to leave Konoha Village unnoticed. With the Uchiha clan's territory shifted to the village's edge due to the Nine-Tails incident, Fang Yuan saw an opportunity. The clan's defense was less stringent at the periphery, providing a viable escape route.
As the sun dipped, Fang Yuan maneuvered to the edge of the wall. He observed the sentries stationed at intervals along the beacon tower, each marked with the Uchiha clan's distinctive fan emblem. Using his crow substitution technique, he created a distraction with a crow's appearance, drawing the sentries' attention.
With the guards momentarily preoccupied, Fang Yuan swiftly scaled the wall using the beacon tower for cover. Once the distraction was in place, he leaped down and completed the seal for instantaneous body movement. His figure vanished into the surrounding woods.
"Two days to complete the mission and return. Hopefully, no one will notice my absence," Fang Yuan murmured, his mind already racing with strategies. His meticulous nature and careful planning were his greatest assets, ensuring that even the slightest deviation from his plan was accounted for.
As he disappeared into the forest, Fang Yuan's thoughts were consumed by the task ahead. The mission was only the beginning. His journey was far from over, and every step he took was a calculated move in the grand scheme of his ultimate goals.