Konoha: You're letting me build up my bonds, but you're offending the entire ninja world.

Misa Uzumaki also knew that Karin's parents had been called in today. After the two returned, they asked about what had happened, and Misa helplessly tapped Karin's little head with her hand, and then said nothing more.

Anyway, she's not the most powerful person in the family, and if she says anything, someone will protect her, so she might as well stop wasting her breath.

"I think Karin did a pretty good job."

Uchiha Izumi gently rubbed Karin's little head. "Red hair is so beautiful. Those brats have no taste."

"Izumi-neechan's hair is the prettiest."

Karin looked at Izumi's waist-length black hair, which still had a soft, shiny luster, and said enviously, "Lord Gengetsu likes it the most."

Twelve-year-old Izumi has grown increasingly beautiful, and her gentle temperament has become more and more apparent. Karin always clings to her leg, and the two get along very well.

"They're both pretty. I hope Karin grows her hair long in the future." Gengetsu immediately embraced one of them, looking every bit the Loli Queen.

"Okay!"

In the evening, Izumi wanted to go home, but Shimura Gengetsu kept her there.

The two had gotten engaged a year ago. As he expected, Danzo was furious. He had hated the Uchiha clan his whole life, and now his grandson was going to marry someone from the Uchiha clan. It was a slap in the face to him.

However, Gengetsu Shimura successfully persuaded him with a set of fallacies and heresies.

“Izumi has already left the Uchiha clan, and what you hate are those disobedient Uchiha. Izumi is completely obedient to me. There is no comparison between the two.”

Rather than saying Danzo was persuaded, it's more accurate to say he couldn't change Shimura Gengetsu's mind; his entire family is known for their stubbornness.

Lying in bed, holding the soft, squishy Izumi in his arms, Shimura Gengetsu took a deep breath, inhaling the delicate fragrance emanating from the girl's hair.

"Xuan Yue..."

The girl's shy face flushed. She had been a body pillow for so long, but every time she was hugged, her heart would race uncontrollably.

"Quan, we haven't gone out to play in a long time. Let's find a mission tomorrow and go out of the village for a stroll."

The girl softly replied, "Okay, whatever you say."

Here, someone is embraced by a soft, fragrant body; on the other side, someone is feeling the cold wind blowing on a mountaintop.

Itachi Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha arrived at the familiar cliff.

Unlike his bright smile during the day, Uchiha Shisui's face now showed signs of exhaustion, as if he were completely worn out.

"Itachi, the situation within the clan is becoming increasingly dire."

Itachi Uchiha remained silent. He had not attended the recent gatherings, but Fugaku Uchiha was questioning the Anbu and higher-ups more and more frequently, and he sensed something was amiss.

Shisui didn't get a reply from Itachi Uchiha, and sighed softly, "Sometimes I wonder if we made a mistake by showing too much strength and talent. Although we gained a voice, it also fueled the ambition of our clansmen."

"No, Shisui, it's not your fault."

Itachi Uchiha finally spoke, “My ambition is not something that just started now; it has always been buried deep in my heart. Even without you, there would have been my father, and perhaps other Uchiha geniuses would have stepped forward.”

"You and I are too insignificant to stop the tide."

"No, we still have a chance."

Uchiha Shisui took a deep breath and regained some composure. "I called you here today because I want you to do me a favor."

"Go ahead," Itachi Uchiha agreed without asking any questions.

"I need to meet with Lord Xuan Yue."

Standing atop the cliff, the cold wind billowed Uchiha Shisui's robes. He looked down at Konoha Village and stared at the location of the Shimura family. "His attitude is very important in some matters. Whether it's Lord Danzo or the Third Hokage, they will seriously consider Gengetsu-kun's words. I must have a talk with him."

Uchiha Itachi said in a deep voice, "Understood, I'll go find him tomorrow."

"Thank you, Itachi."

The next day, Itachi Uchiha arrived at the Anbu early in the morning.

She knocked and entered the office, but only Kurenai Yuhi was inside.

"Uchiha Itachi? What's wrong?" Kurenai Yuhi asked, looking up.

As one of the body pillows, Kurenai Yuhi was well aware that Gengetsu Shimura had an inexplicable teasing attitude towards Itachi Uchiha.

It wasn't exactly hostility; it was more like watching a monkey, observing what strange things it might do, and teasing it from time to time.

However, she did not treat them differently. In her eyes, Itachi Uchiha was no different from other members of the Anbu; they were all subordinates.

"Senior Hong, has Captain Xuan Yue arrived yet?"

"Ichiha Itachi asked softly, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart."

He had heard Kakashi say that Shimura Gengetsu was a hands-off manager who was often elusive and rarely seen. It was more accurate to say that Kurenai Yuhi was the captain than the commander.

Sure enough, Hong shook her head the next second.

"Xuan Yue accepted a mission and left the village."

"When will he be back?" Itachi Uchiha knew that Shisui was waiting anxiously, and it was also a matter of life and death for the Uchiha clan, so he was unusually anxious.

"Seven to ten days."

Kurenai frowned, but still replied, "You can tell me what's wrong."

This morning, Shimura Gengetsu took Izumi and left Konoha. Similar things happen often. Sometimes he takes Uzuki Yugao with him, and sometimes he takes her with him. Ostensibly, they go on missions, but they are actually just traveling around.

"Thank you, Senior Hong. I'll wait for Captain Xuan Yue to return."

Itachi Uchiha shook his head, looking very disappointed, and wanted to leave.

"Wait a minute, now that you're here, I'll leave this task to you."

Kurenai took out a mission scroll and tossed it over, saying, "Collect evidence of these people's crimes, and report back to me after you've collected it all."

Uchiha opened the scroll, looked at the mission objectives on it, and his expression showed a hint of confusion.

"Is it necessary for the secret service to investigate such an ordinary person?"

Hong had her own explanation for this: "They have already threatened the safety of the village. Even if there is no evidence, you have to create one, understand?"

Kurenai caused Itachi Uchiha's downfall... The people investigating were the parents of the two brats who mocked Karin.

It's entirely fair to say that it harmed Konoha.

Harming Karin is harming Gengetsu Shimura. Given Gengetsu Shimura's status, what's wrong with saying he's from Konoha?

Seeing how serious Kurenai was, Itachi Uchiha had no more doubts and left with his mission.

After he left, Kurenai Yuhi pondered for a moment. She still felt that Uchiha's behavior was strange, so she took out a scroll, wrote down everything that had just happened, bit her finger, and began to form hand seals.

"Psychic art!"

As the white smoke dissipated, a pink and round Baku appeared on the desk.

"Lord Red".

A clear and melodious loli voice came from the Baku's mouth.

"Baku, were you with Xuan Yue just now?" Kurenai Yuhi stroked the chubby Baku, clearly quite fond of it.

"Yes, Izumi-sama was just helping me take a bath." Baku happily squinted his little eyes.

"Then I'm sorry to bother you." Hong teased with a smile, tying the scroll to its body. "Give this to Xuan Yue in a bit, and let him read it. He doesn't need to reply."

"I understand, Lord Red. I'll be going now." The tapir grunted twice and then disappeared into smoke.

The country of Sichuan.

The entire hot spring hotel had been booked by Shimura Gengetsu, and apart from the waiter, there were only two guests: him and Izumi.

When the Dream Eater was suddenly summoned away, Xuan Yue guessed what had happened. After waiting for about ten minutes, he used the summoning technique again.

As expected, the dream-eating beast did not resist and was successfully summoned by spirit.

"Lord Xuan Yue, this is from Lord Hong." The Baku stretched out its head and shook it around, drawing Gen Yue's attention to the scroll around its neck.

Shimura Gengetsu opened it, glanced at it, his expression unchanged, and then tossed it aside.

Quan leaned closer. "Sister Hong is looking for you? Should we go back?"

"No need." Shimura Gengetsu pulled the girl into his arms. "It's just that Uchiha Itachi is behaving a bit strangely and insisted on coming to me. Kurenai will report to me, but you don't need to worry about it."

"Mmm," Quan responded in a barely audible voice.

By the time the two emerged from the hot spring, it was already dark.

After changing into loose casual clothes, Shimura Gengetsu took Uchiha Izumi to the busiest night market to find some local delicacies for dinner.

Sometimes people's habits really do change because of the people around them. Originally, Izumi Lori loved to eat sweet wagashi like dango and red bean daifuku.

But later Izumi gradually discovered that Shimura Gengetsu didn't really like sweets; he was just accompanying her every time. Gradually, Izumi also changed her taste and started to prefer saltier foods.

The two were enjoying their oden at a stall, with two servings of takoyaki beside them.

As a resort destination for the entire ninja world, the Land of Hot Springs may not have strong ninjas, but it has a strong commercial atmosphere. This street not only has snacks and delicacies, but also many other places to enjoy.

Izakayas and hostess bars are located every few dozen meters, and casinos are also ubiquitous.

Shimura Gengetsu led Izumi on a aimless stroll along the bustling commercial street, but they were actually consciously heading towards a certain place.

Through Kagura's Mind's Eye, he sensed an extremely powerful chakra there.

He fully meets the standards of a Kage, and even surpasses them by a considerable margin. He is considered powerful even among Kage-level figures, and is comparable to the Fourth Raikage.

When he arrived near this powerful chakra, Shimura Gengetsu was taken aback.