Chapter 2: Plan B Fails
Uchiha Ming respectfully handed over two books. One had a photo of a big-breasted woman on the cover, with the title "Defiled in Front of Her Husband." The other featured a mature woman's curvy hips, titled "Pink Courtesan."
Whether it was the titles or the covers, they were nothing short of blatant temptation—no, blinding temptation.
Ming had just bought them at a mysterious shop along the main street. Inside a hidden backroom, there were countless such "study materials." Even Ming, who was a reincarnator from the modern world, had to admit: Damn, these people really know how to play!
After all, ninjas were ninjas—Transformation Jutsu, Invisibility, Bloodline Limits, Shadow Clones, Expansion Jutsu, Water Clones… the variety of tricks they could pull off was endless.
While flipping through the contents, Ming nearly got lost in them himself. As for Kakashi the White-Haired, he had never seen such a scene—being handed this kind of study material right at the doors of the Hokage's office.
"Has this Uchiha lost his mind?!" Embarrassed but pretending to stay calm, Kakashi's eyes darted to the massive "assets" on the cover of "Defiled in Front of Her Husband." In the blink of an eye, he stuffed both books into his vest.
"You wait here. I'll go announce you." With a Body Flicker, he vanished.
"As expected of the White-Haired Fifty-Fifty King. His Body Flicker is decent, though still not quite on my level. I knew it—his mind's full of pervy thoughts. There's no way he could resist such intense study materials."
Ming had actually bought four books in total. His original plan was to present them to the "Old Monkey" Hiruzen (that lecher). But since he ran into White-Hair Kakashi at the door—well, what a coincidence. Even his students and disciples were all perverts. Minato Namikaze might not have been one, but hey—at least his hair was yellow.
"You may enter. The Hokage is waiting for you." Kakashi reappeared, his tone cool and detached.
Sure, just now when you took my books, your voice was trembling. And now you pretend not to know me?
Still, Ming didn't care about Kakashi's attitude anymore—his goal was already achieved. Beneath that ANBU mask was just a worn-out young man anyway.
Walking into the Hokage's office, he saw an old, seemingly kind face nearly buried behind two towering stacks of paperwork. Each pile was so high it nearly covered Hiruzen Sarutobi completely. And given that Hiruzen was already a short, stubby old man, Ming couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
"Hokage-sama, I am Uchiha Ming. I'd like to request permission to leave the village to settle some debts with the Ninneko Clan. Could you please approve?" Ming used a lofty excuse. As long as he could get outside the village, there was hope of survival. This body had no family anyway—nothing to tie him down.
"Wasn't Uchiha Ino used to handle accounts with the Ninneko Clan? What happened to him that you're the one coming?"
"Oh, Ino has been busy lately. He asked me to help him out." Ming lied without batting an eye. He hadn't the faintest clue that Uchiha Ino managed those accounts—he was just bluffing. If he could get out, great. If not… he was as good as dead.
Resist? Only if he had the strength. Otherwise, Itachi could trap him in Tsukuyomi in an instant. The difference between a three-tomoe Sharingan and a Mangekyō was greater than the difference between pigs and humans. It wasn't that Ming didn't want to fight back—his power simply wasn't enough.
"Very well. I'll assign you the task. Go quickly and return quickly."
Return? Ha! Not a chance! Ming grinned, pulling out two of the "study materials" and handing them over. "Hokage-sama, I just bought these at the bookstore. I think they're excellent. Please, take a look."
The moment Hiruzen saw the title "Defiled in Front of Her Husband" and the two huge "headlights" on the cover, his nose burst into a fountain of blood.
Quickly realizing his loss of composure, he wiped it clean at lightning speed. Truly worthy of being called the "Professor of Shinobi"—his chakra might have declined, but his hand seals and hand speed were as fast as ever. At this rate, even wiping nosebleeds could spark flames.
"Don't misunderstand. I only think this material is useful for studying fashion coordination. You know, back when my wife Biwako was alive, she was one of the most beautiful women in the village. I'm only… studying out of academic interest."
Pah! Ming cursed inwardly. Biwako Sarutobi's photo was right there on his desk—did he think Ming was blind? To call her a beauty… as expected, the Old Monkey was a shameless pervert.
The plan was going smoothly, everything going in the right direction. Hiruzen was just about to stamp his approval when the sound of the door bursting open interrupted.
"Hiruzen, spies have been discovered in the village. How can we allow people to leave so easily? We must conduct a thorough investigation first."
The speaker was none other than Danzo Shimura—the shadow in Konoha, the King of Scapegoats.
The moment Ming saw this old bastard, his heart sank. Sure enough, Danzo's words shattered his hopes of leaving.
If there are spies, then investigate! What does that have to do with me leaving the village?!
Danzo looked just as Ming remembered—half his body wrapped in bandages, though he probably didn't yet have all those stolen Sharingan on his arm. But the Uchiha Clan's destruction was already ticking down.
"Elder Danzo's words are strange. If spies are running rampant, what does that have to do with the Uchiha? Or does Elder suspect that even our Sharingan could be impersonated?"
Ming knew it was hopeless. With Danzo here, no Uchiha would ever get away. He was so close to escaping, but fate had thrown this meddling bastard in his way.
Danzo, you're worse than filth.
"Oh? You recognize me, boy? Hmph. I am a Konoha elder. Who are you to speak to me like this? Even Uchiha Shisui wouldn't dare. You're quite arrogant, aren't you?" Danzo glared with venomous eyes.
This wicked old ghost can't stand even being talked back to, Ming thought bitterly.
"My apologies, you're an elder? I only know Konoha has a Hokage. As for what elders even do, I really couldn't say. All I've heard is that your nephew runs more than a dozen gambling dens, that your Shimura clan strong-arms businesses like the Nara Clan's industries… And some even say Uchiha Shisui's death was your doing. Who knows if it's true?"
Some of it Ming was making up on the spot. But the mention of Shisui's death struck a nerve in Danzo. After all, it really had been his doing. Paranoia gnawed at him—had Ming discovered some clue?
"Absurd!" Danzo exploded like a powder keg.
"Your Uchiha matters have nothing to do with me! Shisui clearly died by Uchiha Itachi's hand. What business has that with me? You dare slander me with such filth!"
Danzo even cast a nervous glance at Hiruzen, but seeing the Hokage remain silent, he regained some calm.
After all, Shisui's eye hadn't yet been implanted. Danzo wasn't about to let Hiruzen take away the hard-won Kotoamatsukami Mangekyō Sharingan.