Konoha: This Uchiha is going a bit too far.

Chapter 123 Engagement

"Lord Orochimaru, here are the materials you requested."

"Thank you for your hard work, Itachi-kun."

Orochimaru looked at Uchiha Itachi in front of him, a smile appearing on his face.

He appears to be very approachable, a charisma that even Danzo could not match!

However, Itachi Uchiha kept his head down, maintaining the posture of tossing the scroll in his hand to Orochimaru, seemingly not even glancing at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru shook his head inwardly at this gesture, but he remained very interested in the boy.

The Uchiha clan has lowered its stance too much, and Orochimaru is currently engrossed in his research, causing him to lose a lot of information about the Uchiha clan.

Fortunately, he wasn't particularly concerned, because he had already set his sights on Itachi Uchiha.

Even the mysterious Uchiha!

"You don't need to be so reserved with me."

Orochimaru casually took the scroll, licked his lips, and then asked with a smile.

"How are you feeling right now?"

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Orochimaru. Everything is fine."

Itachi Uchiha remained professional, even though he did have many thoughts and ideas in his mind, he was used to bearing these thoughts alone rather than speaking them out.

Take good care of your body, after all, it's the only thing that truly belongs to you.

Orochimaru didn't ask any further questions, but simply offered some appropriate concern.

"Everything is meaningless, even your will, your beliefs, or your pursuit of the meaning of life."

If you don't have a healthy body, then no matter how many ideas you have, you won't be able to see them, let alone do them.

"I see."

Itachi Uchiha simply nodded slightly as before, but this time he also raised his head.

After hesitating for a moment, he asked with some curiosity.

"Lord Orochimaru, you seem to care about me quite a bit?"

"Of course, because you are one of the rare people I've ever seen who understands the importance of pursuing the meaning of life at such a young age."

Although Orochimaru was somewhat taken aback by Itachi's question, he was thick-skinned and quick-witted, and he spoke very naturally in an instant.

"And if you really think about it, if your health collapses, it will be related to me as well."

Besides, we are really similar in some ways, so naturally I will pay more attention to you.

Uchiha Itachi fell silent. He knew that what Orochimaru was referring to was the similarity he had once said: they were all just pawns on a chessboard.

Itachi Uchiha still couldn't understand these words, so he could only remain silent for now.

However, Orochimaru didn't care, because this matter would soon be confirmed!

"Alright, you can go back now."

Orochimaru looked at Itachi Uchiha and gently shook his head.

"Don't worry Danzo, or your family."

Uchiha Itachi nodded in agreement. In fact, he also longed to go back as soon as possible, because his vacation would begin tomorrow.

After completing this task, he can finally get a good rest for a day or two.

For him now, holidays are precious, as he has a heavy training schedule and mission plan.

He was naturally filled with longing to go back and see his younger brother during his vacation.

"Then I shall take my leave, Lord Orochimaru."

Uchiha Itachi bowed slightly, then turned and quickly left the underground experiment.

As Orochimaru watched Itachi Uchiha's departing figure, his smile grew even brighter.

"You seem calm, but do you already have something on your mind, kid?"

Orochimaru saw Itachi's little schemes as nothing at all.

Orochimaru didn't really understand why Itachi Uchiha, who was only six or seven years old, always looked so profound.

Moreover, judging from his behavior and language, he doesn't seem to care about the so-called Uchiha clan at all.

He clearly came from that clan, and before the great upheaval in the Uchiha clan, he was deeply blessed by that clan.

However, he had no regard for this family at all, as if he took everything for granted.

"Furthermore, I've heard that Yuzhi is quite considerate of them and doesn't seem to have any prejudice against them."

Orochimaru licked his lips, but then, as if remembering something, he shook his head again.

"Is it Danzo? It seems he gave this brat quite a few hints, or said something directly."

Orochimaru never believed the so-called "Uchiha Incident" at all.

In fact, the major clans of Konoha are now largely out of touch, especially after witnessing the power of Hagoromo and Hikaru on the night of the Nine-Tails.

They all realized one by one that the "Uchiha Incident" was probably a meticulously planned operation.

But so what?

Now, it's not surprising that everyone would applaud Fugaku Uchiha, or even say "Good riddance to you."

The police department underwent a dramatic change under Yuori's leadership, and everyone, whether clan ninja or commoner ninja, got a share of the pie.

Moreover, Yuzhi is a hero of Konoha who ended the war and blocked the Nine-Tails. She has strength and intelligence, so who would object to her?

"I'm afraid even if he becomes Hokage, the resistance would be minimal."

Orochimaru shook his head and sighed softly.

"So how can someone who is so self-absorbed, forever trapped in their own world, unable to see right from wrong, possibly compete with him?"

"Just be a tool, a pawn, whether it's mine or Danzo's."

Orochimaru lowered his head, looked at the scroll in his hand, and then put it in his mouth.

Only after the scroll was completely concealed inside his body did he glance around his laboratory.

"Tsunade has finished her analysis, so they should inform the teacher now. It seems like it won't be long before I leave."

Orochimaru has never been one to act recklessly, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to hide in Konoha for so long without revealing any weaknesses!

Jiraiya was able to find those test tubes entirely because he had left them there; he knew this the moment Jiraiya took them into the lab.

Of course, he couldn't actually be sure which lab that idiot Jiraiya would end up in.

So he left traces in all the laboratories to make sure Jiraiya could be found!

"Everything is progressing smoothly now, and Danzo's money has arrived, so..."

It's time for me to prepare myself and leave Konoha!

-

The Hokage's office was still brightly lit.

The Third Hokage and Minato, who had gone home to rest, were now back in their office, both with furrowed brows.

In this environment, even Tsunade and Jiraiya, who had always been rather unconventional, became very well-behaved.

Jiraiya, in particular, now looks as if he has lost his parents.

He had heard that Orochimaru was involved in some prohibited experiments, but he never spoke out about it.

On one hand, Jiraiya knew that this likely involved the struggle for the Hokage position.

The position of Hokage is not something that only a few people, as advertised, are eyeing; rather, it is something that a large group of people desire.

Jiraiya was well aware that the Hokage of Konoha also followed the path of "taking turns in order," but there was a rule involved.

That means you have to be in line. You need to have enough ability, otherwise it might fall into the hands of someone else.

If everyone in the queue is capable and powerful, then they might not necessarily consider each other as "one of their own".

For example, Danzo Shimura

On the other hand, Jiraiya also knew that some of the experiments were initiated by Konoha.

But this time with Orochimaru, the situation seems to be quite different!

"Old man, can you explain yourself now?"

After an unknown amount of time, Tsunade suddenly raised her head and looked at the Third Hokage seriously. She asked in a deep voice.

"Why did my grandfather's cells reappear? I remember my great-uncle seemed to have stopped this experiment a long time ago?"

"It was I who agreed to reopen it back then."

Looking at Tsunade's eyes, the Third Hokage took a deep breath and forcibly controlled his emotions.

He was genuinely angry now, but he knew it wasn't the time to explode.

He's not hiding anything now, since there's no need to hide anything anymore.

Given the severity of the situation, it's better to clarify things, especially since he's unwilling to hide anything about Orochimaru.

"As we all know, the Second Hokage started the experiment partly to deal with the Uchiha clan, and partly to suppress the Nine-Tails."

But after him, no one inherited the power of Wood Release. Not to mention the Uchiha clan, the power of Wood Release is essential to subdue the tailed beasts.

As you know, there was a time when the entire village devoted all its resources to researching how to restore the First Hokage's Wood Release power.

"I know, it was my second grandfather who did it."

Tsunade frowned; she knew this very well.

"So, you've restarted this project?"

"Yes, but unfortunately, just like before, it failed again."

The third generation nodded, sighed, and continued.

"My decision remains the same as before: to conduct the first generation of adult cell transplantation experiments on adults who volunteered to become experimental subjects."

Konoha needs this kind of power, even if it's not to deal with the Tailed Beasts.

However, the final result was still that many more people were sacrificed, so I eventually sealed away the data from this experiment as a forbidden technique.

But now it seems that some people haven't truly stopped; in fact, things have become even more outrageous!

At this point, the third generation finally couldn't hold back any longer.

He had already stopped this, so why are people still continuing to do it?

And why is Orochimaru among those involved?

Most importantly, Orochimaru's research wasn't just about the First Hokage's cells; according to Tsunade's methods, he was involved with the bloodline limits of most of Konoha's clans!

The Third Hokage simply couldn't imagine the terrible consequences of such actions.

"Orochimaru, could there be some hidden story?"

Jiraiya, who had been looking dejected, sighed and then asked in a low voice.

"I think I heard that he seems to be getting close to Danzo. Could there be something going on here?"

"No matter how many things or how many people are involved, Orochimaru has already embarked on a path of no return."

The Third Hokage understood Jiraiya's meaning, and he also knew that Orochimaru couldn't have accomplished all of this alone.

But no matter the specifics, once some things are involved, there's really no turning back!

"Third Hokage, how do you think this matter should be handled?"

Minato, who hadn't spoken until now, felt a pang of pity as he looked at his teacher's dejected state.

However, he eventually shook his head and asked.

"Fourth Hokage, if you trust me, then leave this matter to me."

The third generation pondered for a moment before speaking in a low voice.

"Some things need to be verified. It might be better if I go and see for myself."

If not, then I will apologize to him, and these matters will not involve you.

If so, then I will deal with him directly, ensuring he poses no threat to Konoha!

His tone carried a hint of determination, but also a hint of weariness.

This situation clearly still pained him greatly. Even though he knew that he and his most beloved disciple were drifting further and further apart, the reality was still hard for him to accept.

"I understand. I'll leave it to the Third Hokage then."

Minato, who had remained silent the whole time, finally spoke up. He really didn't have much to say about this matter.

Moreover, now that the Third Hokage has made a decision, all he has to do is fully cooperate.

"I will entrust the entire command of the Dark Division to the Third Hokage so that we can coordinate our operations."

"Thank you, Minato."

The third generation nodded, a forced smile appearing on his face.

"I will give you an explanation, and I will give everyone an explanation!"

After saying this, the third generation picked up his pipe, turned around, and left. He was in a very bad mood.

Because he knew very well that this time he was dealing with more than just Orochimaru.

Because not only did Jiraiya know this, but he also understood one thing!

That means this time it probably involves more than just Orochimaru; it's even very likely that Danzo is also involved.

The Third Hokage was utterly disappointed in Danzo.

First, he ruined Orochimaru's chances of becoming Hokage, and then the Nine-Tails incident also seems to be related to him.

Even though he was also a victim, those people were ultimately after him, and he indirectly caused the death of the mastermind behind Lake Biwa!

What followed made him even more determined to investigate Danzo.

Even so, he still hoped that Danzo could land safely, but this time things seemed to have really gone too far!

"Danzo, what role did you play in all of this?"

The third generation leader couldn't help but think to himself, but he made up his mind anyway.

If Danzo is deeply involved this time, then he will definitely not let this guy off easily!

"Orochimaru, you've really been harmed by Danzo."

The third generation leader looked up at the sky and sighed, then turned and left.

What he didn't notice was that on a high platform not far away, a pair of scarlet eyes were staring at him from within a dimensional space!

"Chess pieces?"

After handing over the mission, Itachi Uchiha changed his clothes and came out of the new Root base, but he couldn't help but think about what Orochimaru had once said.

Orochimaru gave him a strange feeling; unlike Danzo, he seemed to understand him better and care more about his feelings, which made him unforgettable.

Moreover, strictly speaking, it was Orochimaru who inspired his inner exploration and yearning for the 'meaning of life'.

Therefore, in his heart, he actually trusted Orochimaru more, especially since, according to Danzo, it was Orochimaru who reported him when he entered Root.

"Will they be abandoned at any time?"

After a long while, Itachi Uchiha sighed helplessly. The problem was far too complicated, and he himself didn't quite understand it.

After all, these things are far beyond his current comprehension. Perhaps only after he truly understands and sees all of this will he be able to make a new judgment.

As for Orochimaru's comments about his physical condition, he simply shook his head.

He didn't think there was anything wrong with his body. Besides, what he needed most was strength, and he could ignore other things for the time being.

Besides, he doesn't like to overthink what others say; he prefers to trust his own judgment!

"Sasuke, I'm back!"

As he drew ever closer to the Uchiha clan, Itachi Uchiha cast aside all his inner thoughts.

Let's talk about it later. Right now, all he can think about is his younger brother, Sasuke!

Ever since he saw Izumi and his mother attending that guy's banquet when Uchiha Haori moved, his heart felt like it had fallen into an ice cave.

That guy, who was extremely good at disguising himself, fooled everyone: Shisui, his mother, and his former friends.

And strictly speaking, his father was also deceived by this guy, which is why he suffered such a tragic fate!

For Itachi Uchiha now, he feels that he only has one younger brother left.

"Perhaps I need to find a way to wake my mother up. Only by seeing that guy's true colors can I do so."

With these thoughts in mind, Itachi Uchiha quickly returned to his home.

Ignoring the servants, whom he saw as there to spy on his family, he strode towards his home.

All he wants now is to see his younger brother as soon as possible; that's his only solace.

"Um?"

But just then, he suddenly noticed that there seemed to be an extra pair of shoes in the house.

"Someone's here? Who is it?"

He frowned; in his memory, very few people had returned to visit his home since his father passed away.

The sudden appearance of someone, especially at night, left him feeling somewhat bewildered.

He couldn't figure it out, and eventually gave up on thinking about it. He headed straight for Mikoto's room.

He knew Sasuke was there, and the most important thing now was to see Sasuke!

"Um?"

Suddenly, Itachi Uchiha heard some sounds coming from his mother's room, as if they were chatting.

"Talking in the room, isn't that disturbing Sasuke?"

He frowned and quickened his pace slightly, but as he walked, his expression suddenly changed.

Because he could clearly hear the voices inside, and the voices talking to his mother were actually Uchiha Haori's!

What he found even more unacceptable was that his mother seemed quite happy.

Were they having such a pleasant conversation in front of Sasuke?

Thinking of this, Itachi Uchiha's fists hardened, but what made his expression change drastically was...

He heard his mother suddenly say something—

"Lady Hagoromo, it's so late, why don't you stay here tonight?"

-

Sitting in Mikoto's room, Haori chatted with Mikoto while watching the little Sasuke.

To be honest, it feels pretty good.

Sasuke was still asleep. Although he opened his eyes at one point because of the arrival of Haori, he did not cry or make a fuss.

Instead, she reached out her arms for a hug from Haori, and then fell asleep in Haori's arms again.

This scene left Yuzhi somewhat amused and exasperated. She wanted to recognize the boy as her godson, but the boy seemed to be more inclined to see her as his godfather.

However, although the environment was nice and the atmosphere was just right, it was only when Yuri noticed that Mikoto had traditionally displayed a picture of Uchiha Fugaku that things changed.

He suddenly felt a strange, indescribable feeling. Could this be considered as sneaking into his wife's room in front of Fugaku Uchiha?

"To be honest, I never expected the situation within the family to be like this, let alone that he would make so many mistakes."

Mikoto seemed completely oblivious; once she started talking, she began to chatter on and on.

"The family is indeed different now than before. Everyone is very happy, especially those who have never been noticed before. They have undergone a remarkable transformation."

Perhaps, this is what a true family is, the entire Uchiha clan is truly one family.

"I don't mean to criticize too much; I just know I have to do what I'm supposed to do."

Seeing that Mikoto seemed to have opened up, Haori, though still feeling something was off, was willing to have a good talk with her.

Moreover, as his strength increased, his perception also improved significantly, and he had already sensed that someone seemed to have arrived here.

If nothing unexpected happens, it should be that guy Uchiha Itachi, right?

However, Yuzhi didn't seem to mind, and he casually smiled and said...

"After all, as I said, we all inherit the same bloodline, and the essential difference is nothing more than talent."

I firmly believe that talent is innate, but hard work is even more important.

Valuing every member of the clan is simply what clan leaders should do; nothing more.

"Perhaps, that's the difference between you and him."

Mikoto sighed. Although it was a simple statement, Fugaku Uchiha had never actually done it back then.

This is probably why, after his death, and after the deaths of those elders, most ordinary Uchiha clan members paid no attention to him or inquired about him.

She was well aware of how bad the perception of Fugaku Uchiha and his group was, and even of the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

But all of this changed. Everyone looked at the Uchiha with new respect, and the members of the clan underwent a tremendous change in spirit and energy.

Such a huge difference made Mikoto really not want to dwell on the past anymore.

It's hard to say whether it's right or wrong, especially since she already has the answer in her heart.

Looking at Mikoto, who had fallen silent, Haori wondered if she should take her leave.

He had been sitting here chatting with her for so long, and he had basically said everything that needed to be said. Moreover, he had already determined the mental state of this former clan chief's wife.

All that's left now is to choose a good time and hold a small ceremony to officially acknowledge Sasuke as his father.

"That way, she probably won't have too many extreme thoughts, and I can live peacefully without worrying about the reward being taken away."

Furthermore, Yuzhi sensed that Uchiha Itachi had already arrived outside the door, although he didn't mind having the kid wait outside.

But they didn't do anything, so he couldn't understand anything they wanted to hear, which was really boring.

"Lady Hagoromo, it's so late, why don't you stay here tonight?"

Just as Haori was pondering, Mikoto suddenly looked up and asked a question that made Haori's eyes widen in surprise!

Wait, what's wrong with this woman?

Yuri had to admit that she had absolutely no resistance to widows or anything like that.

But you're so proactive, with one of your two sons standing outside and the other lying here, and a photo of your deceased husband on the table. Are you serious about saying this?

"Am I about to undergo a transformation tonight?"

Haori stared blankly at Mikoto, and after a moment of thought, he forced himself to resist the temptation.

After all, there are still some things he hasn't sorted out yet.

"Um, is this not a good idea?"

"What's not good?"

Mikoto was a little confused about what Haori was thinking, since in her opinion Haori was still a year or two away from adulthood.

"Sasuke seems to like you a lot, and you've already decided to be his adoptive father, haven't you?"

Also, I have plenty of guest rooms here, you…”

Suddenly, Mikoto seemed to realize something, especially when she looked at Haori. She abruptly stood up and showed a look of astonishment.

After a long while, she bit her lip and whispered.

"Lady Hagoromo, please have some self-respect!"

Seeing her like this, Yuzhi was both amused and exasperated.

No, it was you who made me stay, and now it's you who's making me respect myself. What's going on?

Standing up, Yuzhi walked towards Mikoto, and immediately noticed that the former clan chief's wife was tense all over, and even wanted to take a step back.

This almost made Yuzhi roll her eyes. I haven't even done anything yet and you've already become like this?

"Mrs. Mikoto, you can stay the night; I'm heading back now."

He didn't continue to frighten the woman, who was now as alert as a cat, even though he was still wearing his haori. He smiled at Mikoto and said...

"We can hold the event for Sasuke at a suitable time later. I like this kid very much too."

As for staying overnight, maybe next time.

Mikoto breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the first part of Haori's words.

She was startled; she truly hadn't expected this young man to be so outrageous!

But the second half of her sentence made her face, which had just relaxed, tense up again.

No way, you're saying you'll do it next time?!

Please, please don't come!

"It's settled then. I'm leaving now. Take good care of my eldest son."

However, Yuzhi didn't give her a chance to speak. She stood up with a smile and walked straight out the door, leaving Mikoto standing there dumbfounded.

Watching Haori's departing figure, Mikoto finally couldn't hold back anymore.

Who made a date with you?!

As Yuri pushed open the door, she saw Uchiha Itachi standing outside.

Seeing the boy with his head down and fists clenched, he merely blinked and then left without looking back.

"His mother let him stay overnight? Sasuke wants to become her child?"

These words kept flashing through Itachi Uchiha's mind, and he clenched his teeth even tighter.

He didn't understand what staying in this house meant, but he understood the more obvious meaning.

This guy wants to control Sasuke, this guy wants to take Sasuke away!

Thinking of this, he clenched his fists even tighter.

A bloodshot tinge appeared in his eyes, and the two tomoe spun rapidly before splitting apart...

-

"What's going on? It's been so long, why aren't they back yet?"

He just sat at home, constantly looking up at the clock on the wall.

She had originally intended to take a good look at the notes in her hand, but for some reason, she felt uneasy after Yuzhi left.

Especially as time went on, this dissatisfaction became increasingly apparent.

To this day, she herself has no idea how many times she has checked the time.

Although she knew that Yuzhi was going to do something important, she had been following Yuzhi for so long and had learned a lot from her. She knew that there would be many benefits to taking Sasuke as her adopted son.

But you're now the child's father, and you're still with the child's mother...

The thought of this made Guang almost lose his composure.

Especially considering Yuzhi's infamous personality and outrageous behavior, she immediately put down her notebook.

She felt she couldn't concentrate on reading these books.

"Damn it, why do I keep thinking about this outrageous and evil bastard?"

She wanted to get up and go back to her room to rest, but after a moment she realized that she didn't want to move at all.

After struggling with the decision for a long time, she finally sighed, then sat on the sofa with her arms wrapped around her knees and buried her head in her knees.

"Never mind, let's wait and see."

Actually, she did consider going to check it out, but doing so was really not in her nature.

"Besides, what was I to him in the past? He went to claim his son, so should I go and claim him too?"

Guang murmured something under his breath, but just then a voice suddenly came from behind him.

Why are you speaking so softly? Luckily I can hear you, but it's not like it's not good.

"!!!"

Hikari suddenly looked up and immediately saw Haori standing silently on the eaves of the living room, watching her.

She was overwhelmed with mixed feelings, especially as she watched Yuzhi walk towards her, she hugged herself even tighter.

No, you've come back at a really bad time!

"After all, Sasuke may have a biological mother, but he can also have a godmother, right?"

Yuri sat down next to Hikari, looking at the girl with a smile.

Looking at her like this, Yuzhi could already guess a lot.

"You bastard, if you can't speak properly, then don't speak at all!"

Hikari blushed and glared at Yuori, only to find that Yuori had wrapped her arms around her waist again.

This immediately silenced her; this guy was really too presumptuous.

"Sorry I'm late."

Yu Zhi gently put his arm around her, and when he saw that the girl was no longer hugging her knees, but instead resting her head on his shoulder, he felt a little strange.

I haven't even used any force yet.

However, he would not refuse such a thing, and said with a smile.

"We did talk about a lot of things, and it's clear that the former clan chief's wife's mindset has changed quite a bit."

"oh."

Guang replied in a muffled voice, but after thinking for a moment, she let out a soft hum.

"She couldn't withstand your pressure and started to accept reality?"

"What do you mean you couldn't withstand my pressure? I didn't do anything."

Yu Zhi felt a little guilty, but he calmly shook his head and then replied with a smile.

"She saw that the Uchiha clan was getting better and better, both within and outside the clan, and the changes in the police department."

So she realized one thing: I am the 'chosen one' of the Uchiha clan, and therefore she accepted reality.

At this point, Yuzhi paused, then winked at the light.

"You bastard."

Hikaru was somewhat amused and exasperated. What Yuzhi said was true, because it was indeed he who had accomplished all of this.

But this guy's arrogant attitude really made Guang a little uncomfortable.

Even though she had already confirmed that he was thick-skinned, the fact that he had actually said "chosen one" left her somewhat speechless.

"Your shamelessness is truly beyond my imagination."

After a long while, Guangcai shook his head helplessly.

"But aren't you planning to stay there overnight?"

"Um?"

Upon hearing this, Yuzhi's body stiffened slightly. No, how could she have guessed that?

"You really want to?"

"She did ask me, but don't get me wrong, that brat Sasuke seems to like me quite a bit, and she has quite a few guest rooms."

"Yeah?"

"Otherwise what?"

Yuri gently bumped Hikaru's head with his own, then thought for a moment and continued.

"Speaking of which, Sasuke is quite an interesting kid. I'll take you with me next time; you'll like him."

"What am I supposed to do there?"

She pouted and shook her head.

"Forget it, you can handle it as you see fit."

"Tsk tsk, don't you want another son?"

Haori looked at Hikari with a puzzled expression, then asked curiously.

"Weren't you still worried about this before? Why are you so upset now?"

"Shut up!"

Hikaru couldn't hold back any longer. Yuri was really frustrating her; she hadn't heard anything, but he had heard that sentence.

And why did this guy have to come back at that exact time? That's really bad!

"Okay, I won't say anything more, but come with me next time."

Yuzhi didn't make things too difficult for the girl. He tightened his embrace around the girl and spoke slowly.

"We'll see."

Guang closed her eyes, seemingly enjoying the warmth of the moment. After some time, she asked softly.

"By the way, you seem to have never said what kind of life you want to live in the future."

"after?"

Yuzhi looked a little puzzled and asked in confusion.

Why do you ask that?

"Just curious."

Guang shook his head, and his whole body seemed to relax.

"After all, someone like you probably won't have a peaceful future, so I need to be prepared."

"No matter what happens, I will make sure you are safe and sound."

Yuri reached out and gently poked Hikaru's forehead before he sat down on the sofa and pondered for a moment.

I once heard a saying: "Repression has its own way of achieving high positions, while indulgence has its own way of causing a sensation."

I can't say for sure which one is better, but if I had to choose for myself, I'd prefer the second one.

At this point, Yu Zhi paused slightly. In his previous life, he was a liberal arts student, and he was forced to memorize quite a lot of things.

Moreover, he actually had some useful poems and phrases in his mind, although he didn't know if they would be understandable in front of him.

But that doesn't stop him from using the haori. Thinking of this, he looked at Hikaru and said softly.

"Of course, whether it's shocking or not, I don't care."

I would much rather be with the person I love, amidst snow-covered mountains and the evergreen crabapple blossoms.

Undeterred by the passage of time, joyful and carefree, we watch the tides rise and fall, appreciating the simple pleasures of life.

Hearing these words and seeing Yuzhi's eyes, she blushed slightly.

Although the haori was very literary and the language she used seemed to be from a long time ago, Hikaru was also a person from a hundred years ago, so these things did not put any pressure on her.

She naturally understood the meaning behind those words, but even after understanding them, she felt somewhat dazed.

Is this guy really that serious? Is this what he's really thinking?

In a daze, she seemed to hear Yuzhi whisper something in her ear, but she didn't realize it at first.

She only came to her senses slightly after she realized that Yuzhi had picked her up.

When she realized that Yuzhi had carried her into this guy's room, she instantly snapped back to reality!

"Wait, what are you going to do?"

"Didn't I tell you? It's getting late, let's go and rest."

"Coco, isn't my room across the street?"

"It's okay, don't worry. I'm not a bad person, am I?"

Don't worry? He's not an unreasonable person?

Hikari couldn't hold back anymore; she simply couldn't believe that these words were actually spoken by Haori.

If we're talking about the most outrageous person, who else could it be but you?

"Okay, don't worry, we're not engaged yet."

Seemingly sensing that Hikari was a little nervous, Haori softly reassured her, which made Hikari glare at Haori.

However, Haori's words made Hikaru feel dazed again, because it seemed that Haori was hearing this question for the first time.

"Are you engaged?"

"Hmm, shouldn't we start preparing?"

Haori embraced Hikari and pulled her into her arms, smiling softly as she spoke.

Hikaru didn't say anything, seemingly completely surprised that Haori brought it up so quickly.

She was thinking about this issue during her dinner party today, and now she's received a response?

"What, you don't want to?"

"I have no idea."

"I don't know what that means?"

"I don't know, I just don't know!"

Hikari took a deep breath, and seemingly to avoid further questioning from Haori, she simply buried her head in Haori's arms.

At this moment, Hikaru didn't know how to answer. Although she was somewhat pleased with Haori's words, she was also extremely frustrated with her current situation.

After a long while, she finally let out a soft sigh.

You're such a jerk, you might as well not have come back at all.

Inside the Root's underground base, Danzo was deep in thought, looking at the documents in his hand.

Although he knew he didn't have much money left, he was completely stunned when he actually looked at his budget.

It was only at this moment that he realized he was almost penniless!

"Big! Snake! Maru!"

Danzo almost gritted his teeth and hissed angrily in a low voice, "I didn't know until I saw it, and what I saw shocked me."

After deducting the expenses of Root and payments to Akatsuki, almost all of his funds were spent on Orochimaru.

This means that he was almost completely drained by Orochimaru!

He's now genuinely starting to suspect that Orochimaru is ripping him off with the funding. So much money and so many resources invested, and this is all the results so far?

Although Danzo knew that Konoha had made almost no progress despite using the full strength of the village, Orochimaru had spent money from Root!

We have to find a way to get some back, otherwise...

Danzo clenched his fist, but at that moment he suddenly sensed a fluctuation of chakra.

Turning his head, he saw a ripple appear in the space in front of him, followed by a figure.

"You've arrived?"

Danzo frowned.

"Yes, I'm here."

Obito glanced at Danzo, then nodded.

"You're too late."

"Stop being crazy! Your affair with Orochimaru has been exposed!"

"?!?!"

Thank you all for your support, subscriptions, and monthly passes!

Today is quite a coincidence, it's both the day of welcoming the God of Wealth and Valentine's Day, so I wish everyone a happy day and a prosperous year!

(End of this chapter)