The next morning, sunlight once again filled Loran Town, driving away the lingering smell of alcohol and the gloomy emotions left behind from the previous night.
The streets gradually returned to their usual bustle. Merchants called out to customers, travelers came and went, and children chased each other while playing. It was a peaceful and harmonious scene.
Chiya pushed open the door and stepped outside.
He walked alone along the town's stone paved streets. His eyes casually swept over the shops and pedestrians on both sides, but in reality he was carefully observing every corner and sensing every subtle fluctuation in the air.
The town's prosperity and stability were obvious to the naked eye. Sara had governed it very well, and Konoha's protection had provided a strong sense of security.
The faces of the ordinary residents and traveling merchants were mostly filled with satisfaction and peace.
However, Chiya's mind was not relaxed because of it.
This surface level peace might be enough for ordinary people and even most ninja, but in the face of the enormous threat he knew about, it was as fragile as paper.
He stopped briefly at a quiet street corner.
"System, my reward?"
A thought crossed Chiya's mind.
The mechanical voice of the system sounded.
[Congratulations, Host, for completing the mission to intercept Nii Yugito.]
[Reward: Secret Technique, Hydrification Technique.]
Hydrification Technique?
Chiya still had some impression of this technique.
He remembered that Hōzuki Suigetsu often used it in the original story.
It was an ability that turned the body into liquid, allowing it to flow freely, making it very suitable for infiltration.
It also granted complete immunity against ordinary physical attacks.
However, it did have one weakness.
If the user was trapped inside a sealed container, the technique became useless.
Also, in nature, water conducted electricity.
After using the Hydrification Technique, the user could easily be countered by Lightning Style.
Immediately afterward, all the knowledge of the Hydrification Technique was absorbed by Chiya.
"System, display my status panel."
[Name: Uchiha Chiya]
[Age: 26]
[Chakra: 97 Kakashi]
[Special Abilities: Indra Chakra, Uzumaki Clan Bloodline, Senju Clan Physique, Sharingan (Eternal Mangekyō), Storm Style, Ice Style, Lava Style, Boil Style]
[Techniques: Divine Art: Kagatsuchi
Mangekyō Techniques: The Far Shore of the Yellow Springs, Cycle of Cause and Effect, Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu
Forbidden Techniques: Izanagi, Izanami
Secret Technique: Hydrification Technique
Sealing Technique Mastery, Swordsmanship Mastery, Susano'o, Medical Ninjutsu Mastery, Fire Style Mastery, Genjutsu Mastery, Ninja Tool Mastery, High Speed Body Flicker Technique (Body Flicker Technique), Shadow Clone Technique, Three Bodies Technique, and others.]
Ninety seven Kakashi!
The Hydrification Technique also added the equivalent of five Kakashi!
It looked like just one more mission might push him past one hundred!
Chiya took a deep breath and shifted his attention from the system back to reality.
His eyes swept across the surroundings.
He casually raised his right hand and made an extremely subtle gesture.
Almost the instant his hand lowered, a blurry figure silently slipped down from the shadows beneath a nearby roof. Kneeling on one knee, the person instantly appeared before him with swift and respectful movements that did not stir even a speck of dust.
The newcomer wore the standard dark armor of the Uchiha Clan, with the prominent fan crest displayed on his back.
The chakra radiating from him clearly revealed his identity.
An elite Uchiha stationed in Loran.
"Clan Leader."
The Uchiha ninja lowered his head respectfully and spoke in an extremely low voice that only Chiya could hear.
Chiya did not immediately look at him. Instead, he continued surveying the surroundings as though simply admiring the streets.
"How long have you been stationed here?"
His voice remained calm.
"Reporting to the Clan Leader, I have been stationed here for two months."
The ninja answered respectfully.
"Have you discovered anything unusual during that time? Anything abnormal, no matter how small, or... any chakra fluctuations that cannot be explained?"
Only then did Chiya turn his gaze toward him. His deep black eyes seemed capable of piercing straight through the man's heart.
The Uchiha ninja paused slightly and carefully searched his memory before firmly shaking his head.
"I have found nothing. Public security in Loran Town is excellent. Occasionally, foreign ninja or wandering swordsmen cause trouble, but everything remains under control. Either the patrol teams or we deal with them in secret.
"We have not detected any unusual chakra signatures or suspicious individuals beyond normal expectations.
"Our joint patrols with the Anbu also cover all major areas, and no abnormal reports have been received."
The answer was exactly what Chiya had expected.
White Zetsu's infiltration abilities were incredibly strange. Even Uchiha Madara had managed to remain hidden within the ninja world for decades without being discovered. If ordinary Uchiha and Konoha's Anbu could detect them so easily, that would have been the truly surprising thing.
"I understand. Stay alert. If you discover anything, report to me immediately. This takes top priority."
His tone remained calm, but the weight behind those words caused the kneeling ninja to tense slightly.
"Yes, Clan Leader!"
The ninja answered firmly.
"You may go."
Chiya gently waved his hand.
"Understood!"
The Uchiha ninja saluted once more before his figure blurred. Like a drop of ink dissolving into water, he silently disappeared back into the shadows as though he had never been there.
Chiya remained where he stood, looking once more toward the busy streets.
The sun shone brightly.
Everything appeared peaceful.
But his gaze gradually became sharp and cold, replacing his usual calm expression with deep seriousness.
What he saw was not only the prosperity before him, but also the hidden undercurrents that might exist beneath it without anyone noticing.
The joint patrols of the Uchiha and the Anbu were more than enough to deal with ordinary criminals and even spies from other countries, ensuring complete security on the surface throughout Loran Town.
To anyone else, this security system would seem absolutely impenetrable.
But Chiya knew very well that against someone on Uchiha Madara's level, or against White Zetsu, who could perfectly disguise themselves, travel underground, and even avoid the Sharingan's perception, this entire system was practically meaningless.
They could wander through this seemingly airtight defense network as casually as walking through their own backyard, observing everything while the guards remained completely unaware.
Madara's target might be Obito.
Or perhaps the Uchiha Clan, or even the Tailed Beasts...
He also did not know whether Madara would still continue pursuing his so called Eye of the Moon Plan now that he had appeared.
If that old man ever decided to target him...
Because of Sara, because of Pakura, and because of his frequent visits, Loran Town had very likely already entered Madara's field of vision.
It seemed to be a safe oasis within his sphere of influence.
But from another perspective, it could just as easily become a key point for infiltration and surveillance.
An invisible sense of urgency slowly spread through Chiya's heart.
However, if the goal was simply to distinguish White Zetsu...
He could ask Kushina to activate Nine Tails Chakra Mode for identification.
Winning the war had only eliminated the enemies standing in the open.
The true mastermind hidden within history's shadows posed a threat far greater than the combined strength of the Four Great Nations.
"It seems ordinary security measures are no longer enough..."
Chiya murmured quietly as he narrowed his eyes and rapidly considered his options.
He needed a more effective and more concealed method, one specifically designed to deal with those strange beings.
Perhaps he should begin with Sealing Techniques and Barrier Techniques, combining them with the Sharingan's insight or the clan's secret techniques to create specialized warning traps that would be difficult to detect...
However, this kind of research and development was not Chiya's specialty.
As countless thoughts surged through his mind, the seriousness on his face slowly transformed into icy determination.
He might not be capable of it himself.
But there was someone who was.
Orochimaru!
Orochimaru, the man who changed fate with technology!
After taking one final look at the peaceful town, he turned around.
His figure disappeared into the flow of people as he headed toward Konoha.
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