Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, scattering specks of light across the stone-paved road.
The shops along both sides of the street gradually opened their wooden doors and began their day's business.
Inside Ichiraku Ramen, the noodle master was skillfully pulling the dough, while the fragrance of hot broth drifted out halfway down the street.
Occasionally, a ninja leapt across the rooftops, their figure flashing once under the blue sky, causing the wind chimes beneath the eaves to sway lightly, letting out a clear lingering sound.
Everything was so peaceful, as if nothing had happened at all—only the alleys and street corners had gained some new gossip.
"Hey, have you heard? The Uchiha clan was wiped out last night!"
"How could I not have heard? When I first got the news, I thought it was fake! That was the village's largest clan—no one even knows how many jōnin were among them."
"What's the use of numbers? I heard it was an assassination—killed in their sleep, without even knowing how they died. I also heard it was done by the clan head Fugaku's son, that genius boy, Itachi. Who could guard against their own family?"
"Ah, I really didn't see that coming. Isn't that going too far? After all, they were his own kin—couldn't they have just talked things out? How could he just…"
"You don't get it. The Uchiha clan was born evil. When they go mad, they even kill their own parents without hesitation. So what if they were clan members? Hey, have you ever seen those blood-red eyes of theirs? Just looking at them makes your scalp crawl!"
The crowd all shook their heads and sighed, cursing Itachi for being heartless and cold-blooded. But truly, there weren't many who felt sorrow or pity for the Uchiha clan.
After years of Danzō's persistent manipulation, relations between the Uchiha clan and the other village clans had grown distant. Even among ordinary villagers, few had any fondness for the arrogant and proud Uchiha.
Now that the Uchiha had been annihilated, the villagers at most sighed a few words of sympathy. They didn't think their own lives would be affected in any way.
After gossiping for a while, the crowd dispersed, returning to their own business.
No one noticed that not far away, a figure silently slipped into a nearby alley.
Uchiha Yasuo had returned!
His deep familiarity with Konohagakure allowed him to easily assume a different identity and blend back into the village without arousing suspicion.
The face he wore now truly existed—it belonged to one of those ordinary people who looked vaguely familiar but with whom no one had much personal contact.
Moreover, by walking openly in broad daylight, no one would come up to check if he was using a Transformation Technique.
Besides… there was no longer any Konoha Police Force. Even if someone did notice something strange about him, who would be foolish enough to meddle?
They say revenge should not wait overnight—and for the Uchiha, whose emotions often ran to extremes, that was all the more true.
Since he hadn't found Uchiha Itachi last night, Uchiha Yasuo knew Itachi must have gone with Obito. If he wanted to settle this, he would have to go to the Land of Rain.
However, before leaving, he also had to give Konohagakure something to deal with—he absolutely could not allow the village to simply brush everything aside so lightly, as if nothing had happened at all.
Uchiha Itachi was indeed the main culprit, but those who had instigated him from behind—Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō—were no better. In fact, they should be considered the true masterminds, the ones who must never be forgiven.
And those detestable clans in Konohagakure, those ignorant villagers—each and every one of them—were the dogs and accomplices of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō!
Without their fanning the flames and tacit indulgence, how would those two have dared to oppress the Uchiha in every way?
They all deserved to die!
The Uchiha were one of the founders of Konohagakure. Now that the Uchiha were gone, how could Konoha still be allowed to exist alone?
A Konoha without the Uchiha clan had no reason to exist at all!
A surge of hatred raged violently within his heart, and waves of negative emotion struck his mind, making his ocular power grow even stronger.
Under the influence of the extreme Yin Release chakra of his Mangekyō, his once not-so-extreme personality had now become doubly obsessed.
Just like Uchiha Obito—how much he once loved was now how much he hated!
How kind he once was now how cruel he had become!
Uchiha Yasuo concealed his presence, lurking in the dark alley, carefully observing the passersby in search of a suitable target.
Before long, his eyes lit up as he saw a group of children running noisily toward him.
The one leading them was about six or seven years old, wearing a black short-sleeved T-shirt under an orange hooded vest with the collar askew, revealing the strap of a ninja tool pouch beneath. His three-quarter-length denim pants were paired with metal knee guards, and a detonation tag box was tied to his left leg. A pair of green goggles rested on his forehead.
His spiky black hair had two tufts sticking up like a puppy's ears, his face full of innocence untouched by the cruelties of the world.
Seeing such an innocent and adorable sight, Uchiha Yasuo couldn't help but think of his own equally adorable younger brother, Uchiha Yuki, but in an instant, the image of his brother's tragic death flashed through his mind, and fury blazed violently in his chest.
Why!
Why could you, Sarutobi Konohamaru, live so carefree and innocent, while my brother Yuki could only lie cold in a pool of blood!
Uchiha Yasuo roared inwardly, his eyes burning red, his body trembling slightly, even his Transformation Technique starting to waver.
He gasped heavily, lowering his head slightly, pressing a hand over his blood-red eyes, forcing himself to calm down.
'Uchiha Yasuo, you must stay calm!'
'Now is not the time to lose control!'
'You are not strong enough yet!'
'If you wish to destroy Konohagakure—if you wish to make everyone pay the price—you must become even stronger!'
'You must find more comrades!'
'Now then, go and carry out your plan!'
'Before resurrecting your parents and your brother, create for them a shinobi world that is safe and free of danger!'
Uchiha Yasuo took several deep breaths before he could barely force himself back to calm.
He formed a hand seal, and with a "puff" of white smoke an ANBU-styled ninja appeared in the alley, wearing a fox-shaped mask that hid his true face; the only recognizable feature was a head of fluffy, silver-white short hair.
"Ahhhh… I'm first! I finished the mission first!"
Sarutobi Konohamaru cheerfully jumped and shouted over there, while the kids beside him were not so pleased.
"What the—! You clearly snuck off!"
"I didn't sneak off!"
The group of children quarrelled loudly, faces flushed red from arguing.
"Arye, arye, Konohamaru-sama, don't always bully your friends—these are all your future comrades!"
At the sound of a voice, a white-haired ninja flashed out and stood in front of Konohamaru.
"I'm not bullying them!" Konohamaru shouted angrily. "We're playing ninja games!"
After he finished speaking, he looked up and saw the ANBU mask, and was instantly frightened.
"Huh? Are you ANBU? Did Grandpa send you here?"
"Yes!" Uchiha Yasuo nodded solemnly. "Konohamaru-sama is getting older and will soon enroll. So the Hokage wishes to issue you a trial mission to see whether you truly qualify for enrollment."
"Oh!" Konohamaru immediately threw all his anger to the wind, leapt high in place, struck his right fist against his chest, and shouted excitedly, "Please rest assured, Hokage! Konohamaru guarantees to complete the mission!"
"I want to! I want to! Count me in for the mission too!" The other children, hearing this, grew envious and began shouting as well.
To prevent the mission from being leaked, Uchiha Yasuo nodded and agreed, then changed his phrasing: "Then the mission will be turned into a group mission."
"But you must understand: once you begin the mission, you must keep strict confidentiality and not leak any information. The specific details of the mission must not be revealed even to your parents."
"Can you do that?"
A group of ignorant children, who had been indoctrinated with various ninja rules since childhood, were at that moment filled only with thoughts of missions; they gave no thought to the mission's irrationality and all raised their hands to swear to keep the secret.
"Good! Remember firmly: anyone who cannot keep a secret is not qualified to be a ninja!"
Uchiha Yasuo continued with a PUA-like line, then gave the mission: "Since you have not yet enrolled, this mission is not a combat mission."
"The mission is as follows: before the sun sets today, take Uzumaki Naruto to the big tree by the river north of the village."
"Remember, this is not a combat mission—use your wisdom."
"Also, do not let the target become suspicious."
After saying this, Uchiha Yasuo immediately disappeared, and Konohamaru and the others howled as they rushed out of the alley to begin searching for Uzumaki Naruto.