[Hokage Building]
Receiving the news, the Third Hokage furrowed his brow. Someone actually survived an ambush from Anbu, and even counter-killed Root members.
'It's likely the Uchiha clan's alertness will spike. Who knows if tonight will go smoothly or not.'
Of course, the Third Hokage was aware that Danzo had issued the order to annihilate the Uchiha.
But he had to pretend not to know.
Otherwise, why in that timeline did the Uchiha get wiped out, and Hiruzen showed up before the bodies were even cold?
Hiruzen handed over many inconvenient matters to Danzo, so the tacit understanding between them needed no words.
Anyway, the ones lost were Root people. Weakening Danzo's power slightly was also necessary.
The Third Hokage took up his pipe and took a puff, "Where is Sasuke now?"
"Reporting to Lord Hokage, Sasuke is currently still at the academy. Kakashi is watching over him."
At the moment, Kakashi was still in the Anbu, and even a squad captain.
Watching over someone like Sasuke, such an important task, naturally had to be entrusted to someone trustworthy.
The Third Hokage nodded slightly, "Keep an eye on Danzo's side. Notify me immediately if there's any news."
"Yes!"
———
[Root]
"TRASH! How could such a huge mistake happen!"
"Three squads couldn't even take down a SINGLE Uchiha Rengoku?"
Danzo raged at the subordinates below. After issuing the extermination order to Itachi, the Uchiha clan members who were out on missions naturally were also on the kill list.
In Uchiha Rengoku's team, only Uchiha Rengoku was a three-tomoe Sharingan expert.
The other two were only genin-level, total rookies who hadn't even awakened their eyes.
Danzo had dispatched three whole squads, nine Root operatives, in an ambush, yet they were counter-killed.
And three of them had their heads chopped off.
Others might not recognize these Root members, but how could Danzo not recognize his own men?
Uchiha Rengoku was clearly issuing a warning.
What angered Danzo wasn't just the loss of those men.
Itachi had already been coordinated with, and the operation was scheduled for tonight.
The Uchiha clan had so many people, if Root didn't cooperate, even if Itachi killed from night till dawn, he wouldn't finish.
And just before the operation to wipe out the Uchiha, such a situation had occurred. It would raise the Uchiha's alertness.
'It might ruin my plan!'
"Any word from Itachi?"
"Reporting, sir, none at the moment."
Danzo tapped his cane lightly, "Recall all our operatives. I will not permit any accidents tonight."
"Yes! Lord Danzo!"
The subordinate's silhouette flashed and disappeared.
———
[Uchiha Clan Grounds]
"Ryuri, I'm home!", Rengoku opened the door and quickly called into the house.
"Big brother, you're back?", a girl's voice came from inside, but no one came out.
Rengoku was already striding in with quick steps.
A bright-eyed, cute, obedient little girl was struggling to push a wheelchair, trying to move outside.
But with only one hand, her movements were slow.
A trace of pain flashed in Rengoku's eyes, and he quickly embraced his younger sister.
"Great, brother, you're back safely," Held in Rengoku's arms, Ryuri's anxious heart finally calmed.
The Uchiha had lost many clan members recently. Many never returned.
If not for making a living, Rengoku wouldn't have accepted the mission knowing how difficult it was.
"Brother, don't leave anymore, okay? Lately I've heard a lot of bad rumors," Ryuri spoke softly, already on the verge of tears.
She only had Rengoku as family, she was very scared.
Rengoku gently picked up Ryuri. Though she wore a skirt, the bottom of the skirt was completely empty.
Because everything below her thighs was gone, and even her left arm was severed at the wrist. Only her right hand was intact.
Rengoku cradled his nearly weightless little sister, patting her back gently, "Don't worry, I won't be going out anytime soon."
"Really? That's great!", Ryuri rubbed hard against Rengoku's chest, she missed her brother so much.
"Really, I'll avoid going out from now on."
After comforting Ryuri for a while, Rengoku glanced around with his left hand.
"Where did Kaori go?"
Uchiha Kaori was their neighbor and Rengoku's childhood friend.
Ever since Ryuri became disabled seven years ago, she had been helping take care of her, since Ryuri had many inconveniences.
More importantly, they were afraid Ryuri would develop suicidal thoughts.
It was only in the past two years that Ryuri gradually emerged from the shadows, Kaori would occasionally leave briefly.
Mentioning Kaori, Ryuri's expression flickered, "Sis Kaori went out to buy something. She'll be back soon."
Then Ryuri leaned her head on Rengoku's shoulder and whispered, "Brother, what exactly is going on in the clan?"
Rengoku gently stroked Ryuri's cheek, "It's nothing. Just some elders might be shuffled around. Doesn't really concern us."
"Okay…", Ryuri obediently didn't ask more, just leaned against Rengoku.
"Brother, go take a bath first," Ryuri gently sniffed, Rengoku's scent reached her nose.
Rengoku smiled and flicked her nose, "I'll go freshen up. I'm on duty tonight, let Kaori stay with you, okay?"
"Eh? You just got back and already have to go on duty?"
Rengoku carefully placed Ryuri back in her wheelchair and patted her head, "I'm not going out on missions, I still have to do something."
"Okay, I understand, brother."
———
Rengoku soaked in the wooden tub, exhaling slowly.
He checked in the panel. His bond level with Great Elder Kairen had already reached three stars.
He tapped the first star, and a flood of memories surged into his mind.
[Ding, Uchiha Kairen Level 1 Bond unlocked.]
[Ding, congratulations: Memory Fragment obtained.]
This time the memories weren't about training, they were combat memories.
Although the Great Elder was now quite old, he had experienced many wars and had extremely rich combat experience.
A flood of battlefield combat memories poured into Rengoku's mind.
Rengoku slowly exhaled.
'It really is nice having a family backing you.'
He then tapped the second star, what he had obtained in the Kusagakure earlier was a portion of chakra.
[Ding, Uchiha Kairen Level 2 Bond unlocked.]
[Ding, congratulations: Pupil Power Fragment obtained.]
This time, Rengoku's eyes throbbed slightly. It was a sudden increase in Pupil power.
'Huh?'
'Why Pupil power?'
Rengoku opened his eyes, his face full of joy.
After getting Mangekyou Sharingan, the first issue was going blind.
Although the Great Elder didn't provide much Pupil power, at least Rengoku now had a way to replenish it.
He eagerly tapped the third star.
[Ding, Uchiha Kairen Level 3 Bond unlocked.]
[Ding, congratulations: Forbidden Jutsu - Izanagi, Forbidden Jutsu - Izanami obtained.]
In an instant, these two Uchiha forbidden techniques appeared in his mind.
'Oh, didn't expect the Great Elder to know both of these secret arts,' Rengoku was first surprised, then found it natural. After all, the elder had been through several wars, knowing these two forbidden jutsu made sense.
Looks like his confidence for tonight just increased again.
Rengoku saw that Ryuri's name was also on the list, but aside from the first star being lit, the other stars were all locked, 'Is it because Ryuri isn't a ninja or doesn't know secret arts?'
He curiously tapped Ryuri's first star.
[Ding, Uchiha Ryuri Level 1 Bond unlocked.]
[Ding, congratulations: Memory Fragment obtained.]
In an instant, memories of Ryuri studying various pharmacological knowledge fused into Rengoku's mind.
Rengoku smiled knowingly, 'Looks like Ryuri has been working hard even when I am not around.'
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y