Listening to the elder speak, Uchiha Fugaku maintained a serious expression and nodded lightly:
"Don't worry, Elder. I'll take care of everything."
Uchiha Yedotu glanced at Fugaku, feeling a familiar unease. As an elder, he knew this clan head far too well.
How to put it…?
Such a waste of that stern, responsible-looking face.
His personality was the exact opposite of his appearance, and honestly, didn't resemble the typical Uchiha temperament at all.
Generously phrased, he was "cautious and thoughtful."
Less generously? "Indecisive and skilled only at smoothing things over."
Unfortunately, wanting to choose a truly wise clan head in the Uchiha clan was practically impossible.
Any Uchiha with a normal brain usually had mediocre Sharingan talent.
And those with outstanding Sharingan talent were either idiots… or lunatics.
So in the end, Fugaku—among the talented ones—qualified as "the closest thing to normal."
Even Yedotu himself had only become calm and rational after growing old and losing an eye.
"Remember, bring the clan's Sharingan scrolls. Give them to Uchiha Feiyu as a gift. We barely interacted with him before, didn't teach him anything… so consider this compensation."
"And if possible, find a suitable girl—right age, decent appearance—and have her visit. For the sake of the next generation, marrying within the clan would be best."
"It's just a shame we don't have many girls his age. Who could've guessed that brat's strength would explode like this?"
At that thought, Yedotu's mouth twitched.
After Feiyu's reputation exploded, Yedotu had naturally reviewed his intel file—and the impression had been unforgettable.
A "cowardly, survival-first" Uchiha?
Normally, that personality belonged to 30–40-year-old veterans with middling strength, hardened by reality.
But a teenager? Already mentally "checked out"? Yet his strength skyrocketed into Kage level anyway?
Either:
his personality was just an act
he suffered from the Uchiha clan's infamous mental illness, with apathy as the symptom
or
his talent was so terrifying that even without ambition, he still reached the top
Hearing the elder even suggest using a beauty trap, Fugaku's lips twitched, and he muttered:
"Elder… Feiyu just turned fifteen."
"Fifteen? So what? Back in the Warring States era, fifteen-year-old Uchiha already had kids running around fetching condiments!"
"Uh…"
—
Leaving the clan's plotting aside, Uchiha Feiyu was currently meeting his new teacher.
At Yakiniku Q, one of Konoha's famous restaurants, Orochimaru and Feiyu were casually sharing a meal.
"Sensei, you're joining the Anbu?"
After swallowing a bite of grilled meat, Feiyu asked curiously.
"To be precise, a special division within Anbu—Root. Officially, it's the training branch of the Anbu."
"Officially?" Feiyu raised an eyebrow. "And unofficially?"
"Unofficially… Root is the Anbu within the Anbu—the darkest place in Konoha. However, that also means the least restrictions."
Feiyu nodded thoughtfully.
"So it's for your experiments, right? Only a place like that can provide you with plenty of test subjects."
When Orochimaru conducted experiments on the frontlines, he hadn't hidden it from Feiyu. He even occasionally asked Feiyu to bring back corpses of enemy jōnin.
And Feiyu never disappointed him.
As long as the target was an enemy ninja, he felt zero empathy—male, female, old, young—it didn't matter. If they were enemy shinobi, Feiyu would bring the body back.
Otherwise, Orochimaru never would have accepted him as a disciple. Even if he wanted Feiyu's achievements attached to his own name, he would never take in someone too upright and self-righteous.
"Yes. Without war, obtaining living ninja is extremely difficult. Only Root is suitable for me."
Orochimaru spoke calmly, then turned his gaze toward Feiyu:
"So? Feiyu, would you like to join Root with me?"
Feiyu frowned slightly.
"If I join, will there be restrictions? And will I be forced into dangerous missions?"
"Tsk… no matter how strong you get, your personality never changes."
Orochimaru sighed in amusement—not disdain. After all, he himself was famous for surviving at all costs. When it came to fear of death, he and Feiyu were practically spiritual brothers.
"Relax. Normal Root members obey the leader, but with your strength, you'll receive special treatment. Not to mention, you'll be there under my wing."
Orochimaru hadn't been sent to Root to serve Danzo—he was going to monitor him. Naturally, he wouldn't be subjected to silence seals like Tongue Curse Seals.
And as Orochimaru's disciple, Feiyu certainly wouldn't be bound either. With Orochimaru's status, protecting one subordinate was trivial—especially one as powerful as Feiyu.
"As for danger… you're under me. If Danzo assigns you a suicidal mission, you can simply ignore it. I'll handle him."
Orochimaru licked his lips, utterly unconcerned.
Truthfully, even without Orochimaru's protection, Danzo probably couldn't do anything to Feiyu.
Ordinary shinobi might be manipulated by him.
But Feiyu? With that personality and power?
If Danzo tried to sacrifice him, Feiyu would absolutely make sure Danzo died first.
"Also, joining Root has benefits. Many forbidden jutsu can be freely accessed, and most village regulations no longer apply."
"So? Come help me."
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