[Note: Advance Chapters on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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"Captain, is there a mission you've called us for?" Shin and Souta had arrived at Kanzou's residence.
"I do have a task for you," nodded Kanzou.
"Captain, just give the order, we'll get it done," they replied without hesitation.
They were fiercely loyal to Kanzou. No matter how dangerous the mission, they would carry it out without question.
"We're going after the elders aside… Aside from Uchiha Tadayoshi, the remaining two need to be dealt with. Taking them out. Shouldn't be too difficult for the two of you, right?"
Earlier that day, when Kanzou was cucking Fugaku, the cuck himself had visited those two with Uchiha Tadayoshi. Kanzou had his own spies keeping track of Fugaku's movements, just as Fugaku had spies on him. From what Kanzou had gathered, Fugaku had brought them generous gifts.
It was clear that those two old leeches intended to back Fugaku for their own gain.
Since they stood in Kanzou's way as obstacles, it was only natural to remove them.
And unfortunately for them… they didn't have an Uchiha Mikoto as their daughter or granddaughter to win Kanzou's favor.
So, their end was going to be quite obvious.
Although the task of killing the two elders was difficult, Shin and Souta accepted it without hesitation.
"Don't worry, I'll assign a few others to assist you. Just remember: don't leave behind anything that would expose us," Kanzou warned.
He didn't want anyone to have definitive proof that he had orchestrated the assassination of the elders.
The people from Fugaku's faction are definitely going to suspect him… but as long as they don't have proof, they wouldn't be able to do shit.
And that's exactly what he wants…
"Understood. You can count on us, Kanzou-sama."
In truth, killing the two elders wasn't that hard. The Second and Third Elders of the Uchiha clan may have been powerful in their youth, likely Elite Jōnin at their peak, but they were now older than the late patriarch, Uchiha Douma, and their strength had severely declined. They might not even be as strong as an average Jōnin now.
Given that, Souta and Shin should be more than capable of handling them. The real challenge was doing it without leaving a trace.
"Let's hope they don't disappoint me," Kanzou murmured.
If Kanzou had chosen to do it himself, those two old fools wouldn't have stood a chance, and no one would've known it was him.
But if Kanzou were to take all the matters into his own hands, what would his subordinates do?
If they completed their tasks flawlessly, Kanzou had no intention of being stingy with rewards.
Just then, a soft but faintly displeased voice spoke from behind him.
"Kanzou-sama… this assassination should have been entrusted to me and my subordinates. After all, this is the purpose of our existence…"
"The cleanup will be left to you," Kanzou replied, not even bothering to look back.
"I understand," the voice answered. Yet she didn't leave.
Kanzou raised an eyebrow. "Anything else?"
There was a brief hesitation before she asked, "With Uchiha Mikoto-sama… did you enjoy yourself?"
"And why are you asking that?" Kanzou countered.
"I was just…" She paused, gathering herself. "I was just wondering if you intend to visit her again…" She quickly added, voice tightening, "You know… You don't need to seek her. There is always… um… m—"
The jealousy and desire in her tone were unmistakable.
"Hazuki," Kanzou cut in sharply, "that is not something you should be questioning."
"I… I see… I apologize, Kanzou-sama." There was a bit of sadness and disappointment in the voice before she disappeared.
…
[Ding! Ordered the assassination of two elders — reward: 50 Explosion Tags, + 2,000 Evil Points]
About two hours later, Kanzou heard the system notification and knew the mission was a success.
Still, he wasn't entirely satisfied with the reward; it wasn't much.
Looks like he'd have to visit Mikoto again when time allowed.
A few minutes later, Shin and Souta returned.
"Kanzou-sama, the mission is complete. We made sure not to leave any trace," Shin reported.
"Good. I expected nothing less. You both did well. Here, this is your reward: a B-rank Fire Style technique, Great Fire Annihilation. Master it well, and once you're done, burn the scroll."
Kanzou handed over the ninjutsu scroll to them.
"The Great Fire Annihilation?"
The two were thrilled. This was a Fire Style ninjutsu that had been lost to the Uchiha clan, an exceptionally powerful offensive technique.
Although classified as B-rank, in the hands of a skilled shinobi, it could rival even A-rank or potentially S-rank ninjutsu in destructive power.
In truth, the ranking of a jutsu typically refers to its difficulty of mastery. However, greater difficulty often correlates with greater effectiveness and potency, so it's generally true that the higher the rank, the stronger the jutsu.
"Rest for now, and act as if you both have no knowledge of this assassination, as for the rest, I have left that to Hazuki and her subordinates," Kanzou ordered.
"Understood," nodded Shin.
"I see. If Hazuki-chan is handling the cleanup… then there's no problem," Souta nodded as well.
With that, the two left worry-free.
After dismissing them, Kanzou returned to studying Jutsu.
He had never neglected his daily training. Even before awakening the system, reaching near-Kage-level strength had come from sheer dedication and relentless effort.
After reaching Kage-level, Kanzou's Chakra had increased more than tenfold, not just in quantity, but in quality as well.
Casting the same jutsu with the same amount of Chakra now produces far more destructive results than before.
"I'll need to find a proper place to test Ryūjin Jakka's Shikai soon," Kanzou muttered to himself.
After studying through scrolls of Ninjutsu, Kanzou picked up Ryūjin Jakka and began to train in Kenjutsu.
Now that he had attained Kage-level strength, he was qualified to wield its Shikai. Kanzou believed that, with it, he could even reduce a peak Kage-level opponent to ashes.
…
The following day, Kanzou headed to a secluded training ground to continue his regular practice.
Although the system's rewards allowed him to grow stronger rapidly, that didn't mean he intended to slow down or abandon his own training. Discipline was a habit he had cultivated over many years, one that wouldn't break so easily.
Moreover, he still needed to devote time to mastering the blade Ryūjin Jakka.
While he was in the midst of training, a masked kunoichi arrived with news. "Kanzou-sama… the bodies of the two elders have finally been discovered."
"Well then…" Kanzou chuckled, deciding to call it a day.
…
Elder Tadayoshi's Mansion, Uchiha Compound
"Sofu-sama… y-you mustn't go," Mikoto pleaded as Tadayoshi draped the haori over his shoulders and moved toward the gate.
"I know you're worried, Mikoto," Tadayoshi replied, not slowing his steps. "But two fellow elders have died. Their bodies are still in their homes. In a situation like this, I cannot remain absent."
"It's because two elders have died that I don't want you to go," Mikoto insisted, her eyes welling with tears. "A-after all… you're an elder too…"
Her worry ran deeper than the news itself. She feared that if her grandfather pursued this matter too closely, he would not be spared either.
Tadayoshi, unaware of her true fear, tried to reassure her. "There's no need to be so anxious. Many people will be present. Attacking me under such circumstances would be foolish. Only a madman would attempt something like that."
'B-but that fits him perfectly…' she thought, her heart tightening. Still, she couldn't voice it. She could only watch in silence as Tadayoshi patted her head gently and stepped outside.
"P-please be careful, Sofu-sama…" she called after him.
Tadayoshi nodded, and the door closed behind him.
Left alone, Mikoto sank to the floor, her breath coming faster and shallower.
'Y-you promised me… You said you wouldn't harm Sofu-sama… I-I hope you keep that promise…' she thought, clenching her fists.
There was no need to speculate. She already knew who the culprit likely was. Even without proof, she didn't need evidence to suspect Kanzou. The deaths of the elders pointed to him unmistakably.
He had probably eliminated the remaining elders, sparing only her grandfather, because of the price she had paid.
The realization sent a chill through her. Kanzou had meant every word he'd said. And if she hadn't given in to him… her Sofu-sama might have been killed as well.
That thought brought a bitter sense of relief; her sacrifice hadn't been in vain.
But it was drowned almost immediately by fear.
'H-he… he might come again…'
Her body trembled at the thought that she might have to endure that humiliation, that pain, that suffering again…
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Drop Power Stonessssssssss!
[Note: Advance Chapters on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]