Thick snowflakes fell silently, covering the wilderness in a peaceful, white hush. Yet someone still braved the storm, pushing forward through the blizzard.
Tianyuancheng lay far from Konoha. By wagon, it would take two or three days to reach. But for Aozora traveling on foot, the journey could be completed in less than a day.
It was already December 30th. With the New Year approaching, Aozora hoisted Shisui onto his back and made his way toward Konoha.
Though moving fast, Aozora's steps were light, so Shisui barely felt a bump.
He even bundled Shisui up in a thick white cotton cloak to block out the biting wind and snow.
As he walked, Aozora mentally calculated the gains and losses of this mission.
He had left the village with two goals: one was to earn Golden Droplets, the other was to secretly protect Shisui.
The first objective had been barely achieved. Although the Heiya gambling house ended in chaos without producing even a single Golden Droplet, the rice distribution method worked well — three more Golden Droplets had appeared on the Tian Shu over the past two days.
If he continued gaining droplets over the next few days, the Tian Shu's total might reach around forty or fifty, which should be enough for now.
As for the second goal, Shisui had lost vitality and suffered eye damage, but surviving at all was considered fortunate given that both Danzo and Orochimaru had shown up personally.
But the biggest win was beating Lady Tsunade in their bet — it gave him the chance to learn any Ninjutsu from her.
As a Kage-level expert, Tsunade's knowledge of techniques and secret Jutsu was vast as stars in the sky. Many of them were high-level skills that Aozora deeply coveted. For example, Yin Seal — [Yin Sealing Technique] capable of storing chakra — and the ultimate Medical Ninjutsu, [Creation Rebirth], which could instantly restore her body during battle.
She might even have mastered Sage Art from Shikkotsu Forest, one of the Three Great Holy Lands.
These Ninjutsu techniques were already incredibly powerful — but if they could trigger a response from the Tian Shu, what kind of divine abilities would they transform into?
For Yin Seal, Aozora hadn't yet imagined an exact matching mystical ability, but something like Creation Rebirth seemed linked to supernatural healing arts such as instant regeneration or revival from death.
And Sage Art? Once refined by the Tian Shu, it might even become a genuine immortality cultivation method.
Thinking about it, Aozora couldn't help but feel excited, impatiently waiting for Tsunade's return to the village.
"Ugh..."
Aozora suddenly felt some slight movement from his back — Shisui seemed to be waking up.
Shisui opened his eyes and peeked out from over Aozora's shoulder. All he saw was endless white — bare trees weighed down with snow flashing past one after another.
Looking down again, he found himself carried on the back of a tall man wearing dark sunglasses.
Shisui asked cautiously, "Aozora? Is that you?"
Aozora nodded. "Didn't expect me, did you? Without me, you'd probably be dead by now — either skinned and gutted or dragged off by Orochimaru for experiments."
"Haha~"
Shisui chuckled weakly. "So it really is you. I didn't realize you'd grown this strong."
Though Aozora had bragged before, this was the first time Shisui actually saw him in action.
The blazing Yakton-Jutsu flames and those sharp, strange throwing knives surprised him greatly — so much that they felt almost too much to handle.
"I told you before," Aozora said, "I'm strong."
Shisui nodded and glanced around before asking, "How's the mission going? Where are the others?"
Aozora replied, "Danzo and Orochimaru escaped. Tsunade is leading a small group from the Shadow Guard Team to track them down."
Shisui frowned. "Then why am I here? I should be out there helping!"
"Do you really think you'd be useful in your current state instead of being a burden?" Aozora scoffed. "They'd have to assign someone just to protect you. Besides, Orochimaru seems to have his eyes on you."
Shisui checked his body with his senses. He felt extremely weak and his face turned pale.
After lying down for a while, he suddenly asked, "Did you track me through Karasu?"
Reflecting on recent events, he quickly deduced how Aozora had tracked him.
Aozora showed no sign of panic at all and answered proudly, "Yeah! So what?"
"That's an S-rank Mission! You can't leak any secrets!" Shisui exclaimed. "How could you follow me?"
"And what if I did?" Aozora pouted stubbornly. "It's all your fault anyway!"
"Me? How is it my fault?" Shisui asked, feeling even more upset.
"You're just too slow-witted," Aozora accused. "I guessed you were going after Danzo. Come on! Danzo is so powerful! And you didn't even tell me about awakening the Mangekyou! How was I supposed to know your limits? I was terrified something might happen to you!
"I left my warm home during the New Year holiday just to block Danzo's Wind Release technique for you and carried you back through the snowstorm.
"Now you're blaming me?"
"Aozora, I didn't mean—"
Before Shisui could explain, Aozora cut him off with a 'Hmph!' and continued, "Fine then! Obviously you don't trust me since you kept the Mangekyou secret. Well, I've grown up already! We'll go separate ways after the New Year celebration!"
Aozora wasn't ready to let Shisui explain first — he was launching his own complaints before he could be scolded.
Shisui, who didn't understand Aozora's childish tricks, quickly tried to find words to explain as he saw his younger brother angrily threatening separation.
"No please... Aozora, I was wrong. I shouldn't have hidden it from you!"
"Hmph!"
"Ah, I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!"
"Hmph!"
...
Seeing Shisui's wind-flushed red face covered in cold sweat, Aozora quickly tightened the cloak around him and said, "Lay your head down or you'll catch a cold!"
Shisui didn't obey but kept his head exposed.
Aozora said, "I was only joking about separating. Lay your head down!"
Shisui nodded slightly, tucked his head lower but still peeked around.
Their parents died long ago, and he raised Aozora by himself.
He remembered how, as a child, he used to carry Aozora on his back, swaying from side to side, secretly wishing one day someone would carry him like that too.
He never imagined that day would actually come.
...
Through heavy snowfall, Aozora carried Shisui back to Konoha on the last day of Konoha Year 49.
After carefully laying Shisui on the bed and covering him with blankets, Aozora went straight to Clan Head Fugaku's house to report.
Tomorrow was New Year's Day, and most members of the Police Force had already taken time off for the celebrations, including the chief who had worked hard throughout the year.
The Clan Leader's residence had been cleaned up and decorated for the New Year, with a red ribbon hanging at the entrance and festive decorations placed throughout.
Seeing this, Aozora thought he should report quickly and then head home to prepare for the festivities himself.
When Aozora arrived, Itachi happily greeted him as "Master" in the courtyard before leading him into the study.
Inside the study, Fugaku wore a loose kimono and was carefully writing New Year greeting cards at the table—holiday greeting cards.
Looking up when Aozora entered, Fugaku noticed he didn't seem particularly urgent and said, "Aozora, have a seat first!"
Soon after, Fugaku finished writing and bound the greeting cards together. He then walked over to the tea table and sat cross-legged opposite Aozora on the floor.
Itachi obediently brought the tea and served it before quietly stepping out.
Fugaku took a sip of tea and asked, "How did your investigation in Kyoto go?"
Aozora shook his head. "I ran into some trouble along the way—I never even made it to Kyoto."
"I told you to go after New Year," Fugaku gently reprimanded. "What could you possibly find with only those few days before the holiday? You should rest and prepare beforehand."
Then changing tone, he asked, "What kind of accident happened? Were you injured?"
A warm feeling welled up inside Aozora. "I wasn't hurt, but my older brother Shisui was gravely injured."
"What?" Fugaku exclaimed in surprise. "What does Shisui have to do with this?"
Aozora briefly explained what had occurred, though he omitted the part about collecting gongde. He simply said that he'd been investigating through the black market and coincidentally encountered the Shadow Guard Team capturing Danzo near Tianyuancheng.
When he heard Aozora went into the black market, Fugaku warned him to be careful not to expose his Sharingan, but otherwise didn't question further about him becoming a bounty hunter.
As Aozora began recounting the battle at Heiya gambling house, even the normally stoic Fugaku showed visible signs of shock.
"A warrior-monk from the Fire Temple?"
"Danzo, Tsunade (Lady Fifth), and Orochimaru?"
"[Susanoo]?"
"..."
After hearing the full story, Fugaku drank several cups of tea to calm himself down.
Once past the initial shock, a smile couldn't help but form on Fugaku's face.
According to Aozora's account, Shisui had obviously awakened the most powerful eye of the Uchiha—the Mangekyō—and had developed its abilities to an extremely advanced level.
Two sets of Mangekyō eyes, more than a dozen elite jonin, and over thirty jonin—the Uchiha clan now possessed such strength that they stood alone atop Konoha's hierarchy.
Aozora, however, cooled Fugaku's excitement. "Clan Leader, don't get too happy yet."
Fugaku frowned. "What exactly do you mean, Aozora?"
Aozora betrayed his own brother. "I know my brother well. Compared to you before, he's much closer to Konoha leadership."
Hearing this, Fugaku fell into deep thought.
Since leaving the Police Force, Shisui had indeed grown increasingly distant from the clan. Now joining the Shadow Guard, he'd become the Hokage's sharpest blade—the Shadow Guard's prized weapon.
In the past, Fugaku might have allowed such behavior, believing Shisui could serve as a bridge between the clan and higher-ups.
But now, Fugaku no longer trusted the leadership—and saw no need to make further concessions.
Fugaku shook his head. "Shisui doesn't seem too confident in the clan. He awakened his Mangekyou Sharingan and didn't even tell anyone!"
Aozora gave Fugaku an amused look. "But Chief, weren't you the same before? You've had your Mangekyou for quite some time now, right?"
Fugaku helplessly lifted his teacup, using it to hide his embarrassment. Accusing Shisui was basically a case of the pot calling the kettle.
Recalling the past, he sighed, "Aozora, sometimes we Uchiha are overly confident, even self-righteous, to the point of distrusting our own clansmen! You should also be cautious about this!"
Aozora recalled the previous storyline. The Uchiha Clan claimed unity, but in reality, these so-called elites all had their own ideas and stubbornly clung to their beliefs until they became obsessive.
He took it to heart and said earnestly, "Please continue reminding me in the future, Chief!"
Although Aozora had been sailing smoothly, he still possessed a degree of self-awareness.
Besides the Heavenly Book and divine wisdom, he really only had an impeccable handsome face left.
Seeing Aozora's willingness to accept advice, Fugaku nodded in satisfaction, "I'm glad you're open to my suggestions. As for Shisui... with you around, I believe he will ultimately remain loyal to the clan."
Fugaku knew his clansmen well. Despite differences in personality, they all deeply valued blood ties—and Shisui and Aozora were no different.
Aozora really wanted to ask Fugaku whether Shisui was the "brother complex" type, but decided against it.
Pausing to collect himself over a sip of tea, Aozora replied slowly, "Chief, you're placing too much confidence in me. Shisui somehow accessed books left behind by the Third Hokage, inherited his legacy, and gained admiration for the Third and other higher-ups.
Now, the Third Hokage is actively grooming him, assigning him into the Shadow Guard Team, which has earned Shisui's trust and respect.
My influence on Shisui may not match that of the Third's."
Although Aozora had tried various minor manipulations, their effects were minimal.
Fugaku frowned. "From what I know about Shisui, he wouldn't do anything to harm the clan."
"I also believe my brother loves the clan."
Aozora was pleased that Fugaku trusted Shisui so much, yet he raised a concern, "However, lack of communication may lead others to guide him toward decisions he believes are 'better for the clan.'"
After considering, Fugaku realized this possibility did exist, so he asked, "Then what are you suggesting?"
Aozora answered, "I'll communicate with Shisui, but I also hope the Chief can assist, letting him participate more in clan affairs and deepen his bonds with the clansmen."
Fugaku nodded thoughtfully. "I will pay more attention to this moving forward."
After wrapping up the serious talk, Aozora was about to leave when Fugaku told him to wait. He had one more thing to recount—the details of a meeting held at the end of last year.
"So..." Aozora let out a sheepish grin. "Now I don't have to serve as the Flying Tigers' instructor anymore, right?"
Hearing this, Fugaku nearly spat out the tea he had just taken a sip of. He almost activated his Byakugan from sheer frustration.
Without enjoying the flavor, Fugaku swallowed the tea hastily and grumbled, "That's what you took away as the key point?!"
Aozora let out a sheepish grin. "Director Kintai is different from what I expected!"
His proposal during the meeting was flawless even when I was present — after all, "strength defines superiority, and power crowns kingship" has always been the truth we Uchiha uphold!
Fugaku said, "Kintai's strength and capacity are not inferior to mine. If it weren't for his radical behavior caused by his younger brother issue, I wouldn't have easily become clan head back then."
Since clan leader Madara Uchiha's rebellion, the Uchiha leadership system changed from hereditary succession to an election process modeled after the Hokage selection — previous leader and elders' recommendations plus clan members' voting.
Fugaku and Kintai were the most outstanding talents in the clan back then. During wartime when village and clan relied on each other, the majority chose moderate Fugaku.
Aozora smiled, "Clan head is too humble. Back then your reputation was at its peak — truly the number one fighter in the clan. Becoming leader was public expectation."
In Aozora's opinion, an important reason why Kintai lost was insufficient strength. If he had built his reputation like Fugaku did back then, he might not have lost.
Fugaku didn't indulge in past glory but said, "Since Kintai dared to propose this plan, he must be fully prepared. The Flying Tigers will become Uchiha's strongest force in the future — unpredictable consequences would arise if they were controlled by him."
Though an instructor isn't exactly the same as a teacher, calling them 'half-teachers' wouldn't be an exaggeration. They not only teach ninjutsu and experience, but also spread their philosophy.
After the election notice was released, Kintai's two guards, Shinki and Ryoichi, had already registered.
Seeing Fugaku's serious expression, Aozora shrugged helplessly, "Alright, I'll do my best!"
When Aozora nodded in agreement, Fugaku relaxed slightly, took a sip of tea, and said, "You must really try hard. This instructor election is even fiercer than the captain election. Besides Shinki and Ryoichi, five other clan members who've reached the jonin level have also registered."
Aozora asked surprisedly, "Why would so many clan members apply for just one instructor position?"
Fugaku replied helplessly, "Because it's easy work. That's why those idle jonins in the clan also applied!"
Aozora couldn't respond. Seems like slackers aren't exclusive to himself in this clan.
Sighing, Aozora looked bitter, "I'm still just a boy! Please give this young sprout a little time to grow!"
"A sapling becoming a sky-reaching tree requires not just time, but also enduring storms and strong winds."
Later Fugaku ended the conversation with tea service. When Aozora stood up to leave, Fugaku said, "Knowing you and your brother were out, I asked Mikoto to set aside some New Year supplies for you while she was shopping."
"Thank you, Clan Head!"
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>