I just returned to Konoha and found that my entire clan was gone.

"Besides, who do you think can stop Uchiha Yelan's speed?"

Upon hearing this, Obito looked at the spot where Ye Lan had been before, and there he was still there.

Chapter 68 Mangekyou Sharingan

What secrets does Shuang hold? Ye Lan stopped as he passed Shuang's corpse. He sensed that Tian Dao and the others had already left the area and had not chosen to pursue him. At this moment, the eyeshadow on Ye Lan's eyes also disappeared.

Looking at Shuang's battered body, he frowned, stroked the still-standing greatsword, sighed, and put the sword back into the scroll.

He harbored a strange hostility towards the Uchiha clan, especially towards the man with the vortex mask. Even Akatsuki sent three people to kill him. If he wanted to ask him why, the man probably wouldn't answer. But...

Ye Lan took out a test tube, filled it with some of Shuang's blood, and murmured, "I couldn't understand it when she was alive, but it can give me a lot of information after she's dead."

Just as he finished tidying up, some noise came from afar, and Ye Lan quickly put away the test tubes.

A group of Mist Shadow members appeared around him, and each of them exclaimed in disbelief upon seeing Frost's corpse. After a moment, the members surrounding Nightfall parted to make way, and a tall woman wearing a bamboo hat with the character "water" printed on it walked over.

She walked up to Shuang's body, knelt down, sighed, and said, "I'm sorry I'm late."

"Lady Frost!" Chojuro rushed to Frost's body, tears streaming down his face.

"Chojuro!" A Kirigakure ninja wearing an eyepatch shouted. Although there was sadness on his face, he did not lose his manners, after all, there were still ninjas from other villages present.

"Ye Lan, are you alright?" Asuma quickly squeezed in as well. He had been worried about Ye Lan, who was covering the rear. The power of the Rinnegan had left a deep impression on him. Even with such strength, Ye Lan was being suppressed the whole time.

"Phew, it's alright, just a few fractures, I'll be fine after some rest." Ye Lan finally relaxed a little. He looked fine on the outside, but he had been toughing it out. After being bombarded by Chibaku Tensei and Shinra Tensei, several of his ribs were broken.

"Sasuke, where are they?" Not seeing Sasuke and the others, Ye Lan asked.

"The Mizukage has already arranged for them to rest at the hospital. I also stopped Sasuke from coming, even though he insisted on coming." Asuma took out a cigarette after seeing that Ye Lan was alright, wanting to catch his breath.

Just as he was about to take out his cigarette, a cold gaze fell upon him. It was none other than the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi. Asuma shuddered and quickly put the cigarette back.

"You must be Uchiha Yoru, it's an honor to meet you." Mei Terumi ignored Asuma and walked up to Yoru, saying this.

"You flatter me." At this moment, Ye Lan finally saw the other person's appearance clearly. She was wearing a dark blue off-shoulder strapless dress, which was somewhat inconsistent with Shui Ying's solemn identity and added a touch of allure. Her long brown curly hair reached her ankles, and a strand of hair covered her right eye, while her left eye, which was exposed, exuded charm.

Ye Lan's first impression of her was not that of a high-ranking water shadow, but rather that of a mature older sister next door.

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go back to the village and get your injuries checked first." Mei Terumi looked at the handsome man in front of her with some curiosity. He was young but had an unusual maturity. Most importantly, she knew Shuang's strength all too well. Even she herself might lose to this former confidant of the Fourth Hokage. And Yoru didn't seem to have suffered any serious injuries.

"Wait a minute, here you go." Ye Lan took out two scrolls, which he had originally intended to give to Shui Ying when he met her.

Mei Terumi stopped and looked at Yoru thoughtfully.

"You can keep these ninja swords safe." Ye Lan took out the old Lightning Blade and the Frost Greatsword that he had just put away from the scroll.

As she took the ninja swords, a hint of pain and helplessness flashed in Mei Terumi's green eyes. She simply couldn't find a suitable ninja in Kirigakure to inherit these two swords. After that chaos, Kirigakure had lost too many skilled ninjas.

"Thank you for keeping it safe, Jonin Yelan. Please convey my gratitude to the Hokage." Mei Terumi bowed slightly to Yelan, who did not flinch, knowing that the bow was for Tsunade.

...

"How is your injury?" Ye Lan came to Sasuke's ward after receiving simple treatment. As for Asuma, he went to discuss some matters of alliance with Mei Terumi. He didn't need to meet her today. He would go over to make a formality when everything was almost confirmed and the alliance agreement was to be signed.

"How are the enemies?" Sasuke asked, relieved to see Ye Lan, though his expression was somewhat forlorn.

"Heh, I'm already lucky to be back alive..." Ye Lan chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"The enemy is that strong? Even the Mangekyou Sharingan can't handle it?" Sasuke, having already learned some information about the Mangekyou Sharingan from Ye Lan, couldn't help but ask.

"Do you think the other party is an ordinary ninja? Those eyes are the same as those of the legendary Sage of Six Paths, the Rinnegan."

Sasuke had certainly heard of the legend of the Sage of Six Paths, the creator of the ninja world and the progenitor of chakra. It was unbelievable that such a legendary eye could actually exist.

Seeing Sasuke looking somewhat dejected, Ye Lan thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I feel that the Mangekyou Sharingan is not the upper limit of the Uchiha clan."

Sasuke suddenly looked at Ye Lan, his Sharingan already activated, the three tomoe slowly rotating.

"He's awakened the three-tomoe jade..." Ye Lan looked into Sasuke's eyes, never expecting that Sasuke would awaken the three-tomoe jade after this incident, but the way he awakened it was strangely ironic.

Sasuke was stunned upon hearing this. Ye Lan took out a mirror and said to Sasuke, "It seems that your dead teammates have spurred you to activate the Three-Tomoe."

Sasuke was not happy about the three-tomoe power at this moment; he would rather not have the power gained from the death of his teammates.

"Didn't you always want to know how to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan?" Ye Lan sighed, hoping that Sasuke wouldn't go to extremes in the future. The current Sasuke was beyond his control with just a few words.

Seeing that Sasuke, who had been silent all along, finally reacted, Ye Lan continued, "The conditions for awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan are the same as those for awakening the Sharingan. It requires strong emotional stimulation. The difference is that if the stimulation level for your three-tomoe Sharingan is one, then the stimulation required for the Mangekyou Sharingan is ten."

Ten times the pain they were in now? Sasuke thought it was impossible.

"Do you know why there's so little information about kaleidoscopes within the clan?" Ye Lan walked to the window, gazing into the distance. "Because there's a rumor about kaleidoscopes..."

Sasuke pricked up his ears, determined to remember every detail of this information.

"That is to kill the person you cherish most. Only under such stimulation will the kaleidoscope be activated."

Sasuke's eyes returned to black, and for a moment his pupils became as small as needles. He said excitedly, "So this is what Itachi's purpose was in killing the entire clan?"

"No!" Ye Lan denied without hesitation. "If Itachi hadn't awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, it would have been impossible for him to deal with so many members of the Uchiha clan. Even if it was a sneak attack, it wouldn't have been possible. Besides, I've always suspected that your father had already awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan."

"Dad?" Sasuke didn't expect that his father would be mentioned again.

“That’s right. Shisui told me about this. Shisui is also someone who has awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan. He kept telling me that the clan leader’s strength was a bit hard to see, and he felt that the other party might have already awakened these eyes.”

"The Uchiha clan probably concealed the truth about the Mangekyou Sharingan because they were afraid that some fanatical clansmen would keep killing their own relatives for the power of the Mangekyou Sharingan." Ye Lan continued to express his opinion. "However, in my opinion, no matter how many people are killed, they will not be able to activate the Mangekyou Sharingan simply for its power."

“Sasuke.” Ye Lan turned around, his Sharingan eyes now transformed into a cross-shaped Mangekyou Sharingan. “If one day I find out that you hurt innocent people around you in order to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan, I will kill you with my own hands.”

Chapter 69 Visit

"How could I do such a thing?" Sasuke said, emphasizing each word. Even if it was revenge, he would rely on his own strength, not become a slave to power.

Seeing Sasuke's serious expression, Ye Lan closed his eyes, revealing a barely perceptible smile, and then said, "Although I can't awaken your Mangekyou Sharingan immediately, I have a training method that, if successful, won't be weaker than the power of the Mangekyou Sharingan..."

"What is it?" Sasuke asked upon hearing that it possessed power comparable to the Mangekyou Sharingan. He already understood the difficulty of awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan; this kind of power could not be forced and could only be obtained by patiently waiting for the right opportunity.

Ye Lan extended a finger and slowly approached a wall. Under Sasuke's astonished gaze, the entire finger was effortlessly inserted into the wall, and then pulled out, leaving a small round hole.

"This power isn't chakra, but something called natural energy. This is just a small application of natural energy." Ye Lan held up that finger, without a trace of chakra fluctuation. "Remember the big bird that brought you back?"

Sasuke recalled the majestic bird and couldn't help but feel envious. Not only was it powerful, but it also flew swiftly, making it one of the perfect summoning beasts.

"Natural energy was taught to me by those big birds. After practicing natural energy, my physical abilities will improve several times over. If natural energy is mixed into ninjutsu, both its power and range will be enhanced."

"However, before awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan, prolonged cultivation of this natural energy may affect the awakening of the Mangekyou." This is not just something Ye Lan is making up. To cultivate natural energy, one must empty oneself and remain calm. The Mangekyou Sharingan requires strong stimulation, and excessive cultivation will definitely affect the awakening of the Mangekyou.

"Similarly, conversely, if you can awaken the kaleidoscope after practicing natural energy, then it will definitely surpass the ordinary kaleidoscope. Also, to be honest, I'm not too optimistic about your current mindset in trying to practice natural energy."

Sasuke was somewhat unconvinced upon hearing this; those who are called geniuses all have their own arrogance.

“Cultivation does require some talent, but the most important thing is a peaceful mind. Your mind is too chaotic right now, so it's not suitable.”

Sasuke wanted to say something, but Ye Lan's knowing look immediately choked him up.

Ye Lan walked up to Sasuke and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Take good care of yourself and give me an answer before you return to the village..."

Ye Lan wouldn't actively influence Sasuke's choice. He truthfully told Sasuke about the pros and cons of cultivating natural energy, and also pointed out that Sasuke wasn't currently suited to cultivate this power. The decision was up to Sasuke himself.

...

Shikamaru stood at the door of the ward for a long time, then finally sighed and said, "What a hassle." He then pushed open the door.

A blonde woman was sitting on the hospital bed in a daze, showing no reaction to Shikamaru's arrival.

"Um... I brought you some food. I don't know if the food from Kirigakure will suit your taste." Shikamaru didn't mind and simply found a chair and sat down next to the hospital bed.

The antelope didn't react, and Shikamaru, ignoring it, continued, "What a hassle. Why did we have to undertake such a dangerous mission? We're lucky to have survived against someone with that kind of strength. Let's hurry back to Konoha..."

Shikamaru opened the lunchbox, which was filled with seafood. As a native of the Land of Fire, he was not used to eating only this kind of food. He tentatively handed it to the antelope and said, "Have something to eat."

The antelope's eyes showed some reaction, and she slowly took the lunchbox and began to eat. Shikamaru breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she could still eat. He was afraid that the antelope would not eat a single bite. It must be very painful for her companion of many years to die in front of her. Thinking of Choji and Ino who were still lying in bed, Shikamaru clenched his fists.

This was the first time he felt powerless. Before, with Asuma and Yelan by his side, he always had powerful Jonin to back him up during missions, so Shikamaru didn't care. But when Asuma and Yelan couldn't stop him, he was like a lamb to the slaughter. This feeling of powerlessness made him very unhappy.

"Thank you..." The antelope finished its food in no time, and its clear, cool voice was still so pleasant to hear. Shikamaru couldn't help but smile, but the next sentence made him extremely embarrassed.

“But I don’t need children to comfort me. As a member of the Dark Guard, the death of my comrades is just a daily occurrence for me.” Antelope’s eyes regained their clarity, as if he were talking about something insignificant. “Also, stop complaining. Death means we are weak and the enemy is strong. You can’t win against your opponent just by talking.”

Seeing that the antelope had returned to normal, Shikamaru realized he had been overthinking things. He took the lunchbox and said, "Then I won't bother you any longer. I still need to go check on Choji and the others."

After closing the door, Shikamaru leaned against the wall, muttering, "I guess I'm just not good at dealing with women..."

Afterwards, Ye Lan went to visit Shikamaru and the others. Ino was still unconscious, while Choji was already munching on a large bag of snacks, seemingly recovering quite well. Seeing Shikamaru, Ye Lan felt the kid seemed to be thinking about something, stammering and unable to utter a coherent sentence, which somewhat tarnished his image as a genius.

Ye Lan felt that this encounter might have had some impact on him, so he didn't ask any more questions and finally went to the antelope's room.

"Jonin Yelan." When Antelope saw Yelan enter, she tried to sit up, as she had some questions to ask.

"You should rest well. I've already arranged for Po Jun to transport the bodies of Ying and the others back to Konoha." Ye Lan knew what Antelope wanted to ask, and waved his hand to indicate that she should lie down on the bed.

"If Kakashi knew this would happen, I wonder how guilty he would feel..." The Antelopes and the others weren't just randomly assigned to be on Sasuke's team. After Tsunade agreed to let Sasuke join the Anbu, Kakashi went to great lengths to select several ninjas to be Sasuke's teammates. He even personally visited the Kage and others to discuss this matter.

"No, it's not Kakashi-senpai's fault. As Konoha ninjas, we were already prepared for this." Antelope shook her head. Back then, Kakashi had only asked them for a favor and given them the right to refuse.

Even if they hadn't agreed, the outcome today wouldn't have been much better if anyone else had been Sasuke's teammates.

"Do I need to explain to Lady Tsunade that you're being transferred out of the Anbu?" Ye Lan wasn't acting on impulse; according to his principles, he was willing to lend a helping hand to those he had good intentions towards.

"No, I've gotten used to life in the Anbu, and..." Not knowing what else she could do, Antelope didn't finish her sentence. As a commoner, she couldn't find any room for improvement. Currently, she was only a Chunin, and she estimated that in a few years she would at most reach the level of a Special Jonin.

Aside from combat, I have absolutely no other skills, and I really don't know what else I could do after leaving the Anbu.

Ye Lan had no intention of probing further. Seeing the other person's unspeakable difficulty, she didn't disturb them any longer, offered a few words of comfort, and then left the room.

Chapter 70 The Secret of the Hidden Mist

"In the spirit of friendly development and common progress between the two sides..." The Kirigakure Jonin who had been seen before wearing an eyepatch began his speech after the signing of the alliance agreement, holding a manuscript. Ye Lan also learned of this person's name: Ao, the only Byakugan ninja outside of Konoha.

He was giving a passionate speech, his tone rising and falling with fervor at every important point. Even Ye Lan, who was feeling a bit drowsy, couldn't help but watch. How could this guy turn a dry script into something like a pre-war declaration?

Even the most passionate performance would be a bit tiresome for the seasoned veterans in the audience. Fortunately, the speech was short, and only Qing was still somewhat unsatisfied, lamenting that the script was written so shortly that it ended before he could fully enjoy himself.

"Alright, the alliance has been signed, now let's talk about some serious matters." After Ao sat down, Mei Terumi, the Mizukage, spoke first.

"Konoha can help Kirigakure rebuild the Ninja Academy, but I don't know how much your village plans to invest." This point was mentioned in the alliance agreement, and Asuma had asked Mei Terumi about it when they met before. Mei Terumi wanted to ask the elders for their opinion, so she hadn't given him an answer yet.

"To be honest, Kirigakure doesn't have much money to spare right now. After discussing it, we plan to contribute 10 million ryo to rebuild the school." This 10 million ryo was something that Mei Terumi actively fought for; initially, the Kirigakure elders only planned to give 6 million ryo.

When Ye Lan heard that the other party only had this much money to build a ninja school, he felt that Terumi Mei was being a bit unrealistic. 1000 million yen was enough to build a school, but what about the teachers' salaries? What kind of teachers could they hire with this little money? Teaching tools, textbooks, and training grounds were all free.

And most of these are consumables, meaning money is being poured into this bottomless pit every year. It's impossible to see results in less than ten or eight years. What can ten million do? Sasuke's ninja sword alone cost more than ten million.