I, Uchiha: Split Konoha

Chapter 123 is a lover

The Hokage's office building.

The last rays of the setting sun spilled into the office. At that moment, the Third Hokage, with a pipe in his mouth, exhaled a smoke ring and let out a soft sigh.

"Xi Yan, you've worked hard. I've dismissed you from your position as head of the Dark Division. No one will pressure you anymore. You can step down now, and I promise to give you a new identity to start over."

The removal of the head of the Anbu (Anbu branch) naturally shocked the Third Hokage with the methods employed by his eldest daughter-in-law. At the same time, he secretly nodded in approval of some arrangements, especially the thorn planted by the Uchiha clan, which was truly impossible to guard against.

The newcomer was none other than Uzuki Yugao. At this moment, she was wearing a mask, kneeling on one knee, and listening to the Hokage's kind voice with her head bowed. However, she was filled with fear.

She was no longer the simple ANBU ninja she once was. Having experienced so much, especially the Orochimaru incident, she had seen too much darkness. Therefore, she swallowed nervously, lowered her head, and said in a deep voice, "For the sake of the village, Yugao is willing to continue carrying out missions."

At the same time, Uzuki Yugao, with her head bowed, reported in a deep voice: "Recently, Uchiha Yoru has been staying in the office building every day. It seems that the blow this time was too great, and he has started to indulge in some pleasures..."

Uzuki Yugao lowered her head and reported all the intelligence she had gathered in a low voice. Of course, there were some things she did not report, after all, she was no longer a simple spy.

For example, some things she discovered, the truth about Orochimaru! She didn't mention this at all, after all, based on the information she knew, the higher-ups knew more than she did.

As for escaping now? Reappearing in the sunlight of Konoha under a different identity? Thinking of this, Uzuki Yugao couldn't help but smile self-deprecatingly.

After hearing the information, the Third Hokage nodded kindly. It was clear that Uzuki Yugao had chosen to continue the mission, and the Third Hokage was very satisfied with this choice.

After all, spies who have already been planted are extremely valuable, especially the one in front of us who is almost going to become our bedmate; it would be a waste to let him go.

"The Third Shinobi World War, the Night of the Nine-Tails, and what happened recently—Konoha has gone through too much, and now it faces new challenges."

At this moment, the Third Hokage resembled a melancholy old man, as if the entire burden of Konoha rested on his shoulders. In this atmosphere, if Uzuki Yugao hadn't known some secrets, she herself would probably have believed it without a doubt.

With her head down, Uzuki Yugao has gradually grown into an excellent spy, and has learned to disguise her emotions when facing various people.

……

Office of the Seventh Division of the Police Department.

"Captain Hizashi, you should know that the branch family is a hot potato that no one dares to take on. At least at this time, anyone who dares to contact your branch family will face the hatred of the main family, and at the same time, they will have to endure the hostility from all the powerful clans of Konoha."

Uchiha Yoru, sitting calmly in his chair, spoke, while Hyuga Hizashi's expression turned even more grim. Who could have imagined that Orochimaru would be in trouble? Even if he were to be in trouble, the branch family would only have one option—to break free from their fate—to betray the clan.

The Hyuga main family is recognized, and at this point even the Hokage doesn't dare to provoke the branch family. If the branch family is recruited, what about the main family? And what will the other major clans think?

Is the Hokage going to break his promise after only a few days? If you think about the pros and cons, you'll find that splitting up the family is a hot potato.

"Orochimaru-sensei may have left Konoha, but the Seventh Division hasn't fallen yet, and I, Uchiha Yoru, am still here!"

This time, Uchiha Yoru made no attempt to conceal his intentions, openly revealing his purpose and ambition, his dark eyes flashing with unwavering determination.

This scene made Hyuga Hizashi's expression turn solemn. "The Seventh Division has taken in the Hyuga branch family, and the Hyuga branch family is willing to give their loyalty."

The branch family is a hot potato, and so is the 7th Division, so maintaining the status quo is the best option. Even without Uchiha Yoru, the best way out for the Hyuga branch family right now is to continue surviving under Orochimaru's name.

Orochimaru was driven away, but the reputation of the Legendary Sannin remains, and that's enough.

Uchiha Yoru did not choose to back down, but instead stayed in the Seventh Division. It can be said that he chose to continue to move forward under the identity of Orochimaru's disciple, without getting rid of the trouble he was in.

The downside is that this matter has caused a lot of trouble, but the upside is that after Orochimaru left, this force had a leader again. Although it was no longer as unstoppable as before, with its goal of becoming Hokage, it was still able to barely protect the rest of the force.

……

Time flies, and no one expected the Orochimaru incident to have such a terrible impact. Unrest began to break out in various border areas, and some small countries began to provoke Konoha. It wasn't that they were stupid, but that they had powerful backers. Some small countries even sent their elite troops to impersonate major powers, just to start a war.

The ninja world was in a state of chaos, as if a great war was about to break out.

Konoha is under immense pressure as it faces all the malice from the ninja world.

The office building of the 7th Police Division.

On the rooftop open-air balcony, Uzuki Yugao wielded a ninja sword with both hands, practicing her sparring with it, producing crisp clanging sounds. Her sparring partner was none other than Uchiha Yoru, Orochimaru's disciple, who was currently in the eye of the storm in Konoha.

He single-handedly stopped Jiraiya, a rising star who was also one of the Legendary Sannin, and his last unknown S-rank Lightning Release ninjutsu made him famous.

A ninja who has mastered A-rank ninjutsu is already considered powerful, let alone S-rank. Ninjas who can master S-rank ninjutsu are extremely rare in the five great nations. It's not just that S-rank ninjutsu is scarce, but also that it's difficult to learn. Countless Jonin who are qualified to learn S-rank ninjutsu never manage to learn it in their entire lives.

"You've mastered the Leaf-style swordsmanship technique, Crescent Moon Dance, quite well. I knew I hadn't misjudged you, Yugao; you're a swordsmanship genius."

During their sparring session, upon hearing Uchiha Yoru's praise, Uzuki Yugao blushed, adding a touch of allure to her cool and aloof face.

"Captain Night, you flatter me." Uzuki Yugao's face, tinged with shyness, hesitated again before she finally whispered, "Captain Night, this already falls into the category of A-rank ninjutsu. Will there be any problems?"

To be honest, Uzuki Yugao felt more guilty towards the young Uchiha Yoru who was devoted to Konoha. She had been a fake from the beginning, using everything she could to get close to him. However, when she uncovered the truth, she felt even more guilty and even felt a pang of pity.

The young man in front of her, who was only a year older than her, had already taken on too many responsibilities at the age of sixteen. In fact, because of what had happened some time ago, there was a hint of maturity and composure in his eyes.

Moreover! This is an A-rank ninjutsu! She knew that the Uchiha clan was wealthy and powerful, but she never thought that the young man in front of her would be so sincere as to teach her an A-rank ninjutsu. The transmission of A-rank ninjutsu between people is already extraordinary. It is usually passed down between families, fathers and sons, masters and students, or husbands and wives, or the village will only teach it after someone has made a great contribution.

Seemingly sensing Uzuki Yugao's worry, Uchiha Yoru revealed a casual smile, slowly stepped forward, and gently brushed a few strands of purple hair behind her ear under her trembling, evasive gaze, revealing her delicate, flushed ears.

Looking at the young girl in front of him, Uchiha Yoru couldn't help but smile. "Yugao, there's no need for such formalities between us. But don't slack off lately. Practice your ninjutsu diligently, because it won't be long before you have more missions to perform."

He made no mention of the rarity of A-rank ninjutsu, but instead showed great concern for the girl in front of him.

Faced with Uchiha Yoru's genuine affection, perhaps because she wanted to make amends as his lover, or perhaps because of her beauty, the extravagance of the A-rank ninjutsu truly moved Uzuki Yugao.

Upon hearing the second half of the sentence, Uzuki Yugao's brows furrowed in tension. However, Uchiha Yoru chuckled and sheathed his ninja sword, gently smoothing the furrow between her brows with both hands, as if a pair of lovers were comforting a girl's sorrow.

"Captain Night, what do you mean?"

Faced with such an intimate gesture, Uzuki Yugao felt shy but did not lose her vigilance as a ninja, and couldn't help but ask her question.

And so, Uchiha Yoru put his arm around the girl and sat her on a bench to the side. Years of chakra cultivation had made his fingers slender and strong, but they were not calloused at all. Instead, he gently stroked her brow.

"Orochimaru's situation was too sudden. Some people disregarded the safety of the village for their own interests. The Hokage candidate was expelled from the country. This is an unprecedented upheaval for any country, especially since the Third Shinobi World War had just ended. There are countless ninjas in the ninja world who are unwilling to accept defeat, and some small ninja villages are even more ambitious and want to take this opportunity to provoke a war between major powers."

The ninja world is in turmoil? Having been trained as ninjas since childhood, they are skilled at killing, but when it comes to analyzing the situation in the ninja world, they are completely clueless.

At this moment, although Uzuki Yugao was completely bewildered and didn't understand anything after hearing these words, she understood one thing: the impact of Lord Orochimaru's matter was not over, but only just beginning.

"Captain Night, you mean! War is possible?"

At this moment, Uzuki Yugao's face was somewhat pale. The shyness of leaning against her lover's arms had dissipated, replaced by shock. Ninjas are used to fighting, yet they still fear war. What they fear is not the flames of war, but the harm it brings.

Seemingly sensing the worry of the woman in his arms, Uchiha Yoru smiled gently, slowly pressing her against his chest, while holding her slender, long fingers in his hands.

With the flickering chakra of medical ninjutsu, it began to continuously repair the fatigue caused by long-term sword practice. At the same time, the calluses on his palms were almost undetectable compared to when they first met.

"Wars between major powers are not so easily triggered, especially in the current situation. The shadow of World War III has not yet lifted for the major ninja villages. However, some minor border skirmishes, or even local wars, are unavoidable. After all, the departure of Orochimaru-sensei this time has had a very negative impact."

With the unique scent of a man lingering around her nose, Uzuki Yugao nestled against the strong chest before her, captivated by the boy's gentle smile, and for a moment she felt incredibly at ease.

Uchiha Yoru was like a poison to her, making her addicted. Every time she began to be obsessed with this sense of security, she would then feel a deep sense of betrayal and self-blame. This complex emotion tormented her almost every night. Only when she leaned on this reassuring chest could she forget everything and let down her guard.

"So, Yugao, you must train hard. Once you master the 'Konoha Style Swordsmanship: Crescent Moon Dance', I will teach you a secret-level ninjutsu."

When Uchiha Yoru promised to teach her another ninjutsu, Uzuki Yugao hurriedly tried to refuse, but his index finger was already pressed against her lips.

With a gentle smile, Uchiha Yoru placed his index finger to her lips and slowly shook his head, saying, "I just want you to live. You don't need to feel too much pressure. When you want to leave, I won't stop you."

Upon hearing this, Uzuki Yugao's heart skipped a beat. Only then did she realize that the boy in front of her was only sixteen years old, but he already carried too much pressure on his shoulders. He even had only one thought for her: that she could live.

Women are emotional beings. If faced with a female ninja with a rich life experience, she would probably only feel a slight sense of emotion. However, it is clear that although Uzuki Yugao is a spy, she is a novice in this area, and her heart begins to flutter.

Just then, Uchiha Yoru gently patted her shapely buttocks, and Uzuki Yugao instantly jumped up and left the embrace that she had been somewhat infatuated with.

Sitting upright on the bench, Uchiha Yoru squinted at the empty balcony and said calmly, "Lord Jiraiya, spying is not a good habit."

Just then, a hearty laugh suddenly came from the balcony, and Jiraiya, wearing wooden clogs, appeared in front of the two of them, laughing loudly.

"Haha, you Uchiha brat, this trick you use to deceive little girls wasn't taught to you by Orochimaru, was it?"

Without the slightest embarrassment, Jiraiya walked onto the balcony and laughed as he watched the scene unfold. However, beneath his cheerful smile, his heart sank when he saw Uzuki Yugao's figure.

A spy?

He learned some things when he went to the Hokage's office last time, and even witnessed the spy's departure. Although he was wearing a mask, his senses were not wrong.

"Xiyan, you can go now. Leave the recent administrative affairs to others and practice your ninjutsu more."

Under Uchiha Yoru's concerned instructions, Uzuki Yugao lowered her head awkwardly and bowed respectfully to the two of them, saying, "I'll take my leave now."

Watching the departing girl, Jiraiya felt a suppressed rage. These old bastards had actually planted spies among the people of his own village.

Surveillance is acceptable, but planting spies is a tactic used against enemies!

Turning his head, seeing the obvious concern on Uchiha Yoru's face, Jiraiya immediately revealed a hearty smile and teased, "Hey, kid, you're pretty good, aren't you? You've got such a beautiful girlfriend."

"She is my lover."

Uchiha Yoru's calm voice echoed in his ears, instantly causing Jiraiya to cough violently. He stared wide-eyed at the boy who spoke so frankly.

Holy crap! How old are you? You're already looking for lovers instead of having a girlfriend? What about him at his age?

Thanks to: Brother Ji Wanxi for the 100-point reward, and Brother Shubei Xiaowei for the 100-point reward.

Thank you to all my brothers for your support.

(End of this chapter)