Uchiha Yu sat lazily atop the carriage like some arrogant young master, his body swaying slightly alongside the rhythm of the moving vehicle.
Just as he was preparing to comfortably rest his head on Mikoto’s thigh for another nap, Nawaki suddenly leaned over with absolutely no sense of timing.
“Hey, Yu, how long do you think we’ll be able to rest after getting back this time?”
Yu glanced sideways at him with obvious disdain.
“What’s wrong?
Weren’t you the one shouting every day about going to the battlefield and slaughtering enemies?
What happened now?
Are you scared already?”
Normally, Nawaki would immediately start yelling in protest, but this time he unexpectedly fell silent for a while before quietly asking, “Yu…
why do people even start wars in the first place?”
Hearing such a question, Yu instantly rolled his eyes so hard it almost looked painful.
Asking that was about as pointless as asking why people needed to eat.
Seeing that Yu was ignoring him, Nawaki unwillingly continued pestering him.
“Come on, say something already.
Aren’t you usually the one with all the answers?”
Already annoyed by the nonstop noise, Yu directly kicked him off the carriage without hesitation.
“All you need to understand is that wars are started because people want land and resources.
To explain it in a way your idiot brain can understand…”
Yu pointed casually toward Konoha behind them.
“Your home is like an incredibly beautiful woman.
Other people get greedy after seeing her, so they naturally want to take her away by force.”
Nawaki instinctively wanted to refute him, but after thinking carefully, he realized the logic actually made sense.
In the end, he could only walk away with a depressed expression.
After finally getting rid of the nuisance, Yu comfortably leaned his head against Mikoto’s soft thigh with a satisfied expression and prepared to continue sleeping.
Regarding his shameless behavior, Mikoto could only helplessly roll her eyes before ultimately allowing him to do as he pleased.
After hesitating for a moment, she softly asked, “Um…
after we return this time, could you arrange for me to work at the Military Police Force instead?
Maybe a clerical position or something safer?”
“Hmm?”
Yu opened his eyes and looked upward at her beautiful face in confusion.
“Why suddenly ask that?”
Mikoto lowered her gaze slightly as she looked into his eyes.
“Because you seem worried lately.”
Yu stared quietly at her for a moment before finally sighing softly.
“The war is going to escalate further very soon.
Once that happens, the battlefield will become far more dangerous than before.”
Mikoto remained silent briefly before sighing helplessly herself.
“I know you’re saying this for my sake, but you also know what my dream has always been.”
Yu suddenly grinned mischievously and grabbed her small hand.
“Isn’t your dream just to become a ninja?
Once your man becomes strong enough in the future, I’ll personally take you traveling throughout the ninja world.
At that time, you can do whatever you want.”
Mikoto’s face immediately turned red.
“Go to hell!”
This bastard had always been like this.
Back when they were still little children, he had already shamelessly asked whether she would marry him when they grew up.
At the time, she had simply nodded while treating it as childish nonsense.
Who could have guessed this guy would actually remember it seriously for years?
Just as Yu was preparing to continue teasing her, his expression suddenly changed slightly after sensing someone approaching nearby.
He immediately sat up straight.
A Konoha Chunin wearing a forehead protector walked toward them.
“Shimura Yosho, what do you want?”
The newcomer was naturally a member of the Shimura Clan.
After seeing the cold expression on Yu’s face, Yosho subconsciously felt somewhat nervous.
After all, everyone in Konoha knew that Hokage Advisor Shimura Danzo constantly targeted the Uchiha Clan through various underhanded methods.
Taking a deep breath, Shimura Yosho cautiously spoke.
“Captain, shouldn’t we send a few people ahead to scout the surroundings again?”
Hearing this, Yu almost wanted to slap the man on the spot.
Did he think the Hyuga Clan members accompanying the convoy were merely decorations?
Not to mention Yu’s own sensory abilities were already enough to detect nearby threats.
Most importantly, why was this idiot trying so hard to stand out?
Wouldn’t it be better to quietly protect the convoy and return safely?
Yu casually waved his hand dismissively.
“Just focus on your own responsibilities.
You don’t need to concern yourself with other matters.”
“But…”
Seeing that the man still wanted to continue speaking, Yu directly glared at him coldly.
“Shut up.
I am the captain of this mission.
If you are dissatisfied, then go complain to the Third Hokage after we return to the village.”
Shimura Yosho’s expression immediately became extremely ugly.
It was obvious he was already thinking about how to report Yu to Danzo later.
Mikoto looked toward the departing man somewhat worriedly.
“Yu, wasn’t that a little too harsh?
After all, we’re all comrades from the same village.”
Yu simply lay back down lazily while chuckling coldly.
“Comrades from the same village?
When those people help Danzo target the Uchiha behind the scenes, do they ever consider us comrades from the same village?”
Mikoto eventually sighed helplessly.
Over the years, Yu had already explained many things to her in detail.
She clearly understood the current situation facing the Uchiha Clan as well as the hidden hostility from Konoha’s upper leadership.
Unfortunately, understanding something did not necessarily mean she could change it.
Yu looked quietly toward the cloudy sky above.
“The current Clan Head is getting old.
Once Fugaku officially takes over, the Uchiha’s future situation will become even worse.”
Mikoto immediately looked down at him nervously.
“Yu…
do you have any way to change things?
Didn’t you once say that if this continues, the Uchiha Clan will eventually be destroyed?”
Hearing this question, Yu silently fell into thought.
At this point in time, Uchiha Obito had not even been born yet.
Before the Nine-Tails incident occurred in the future, Konoha’s higher-ups still would not openly suppress the Uchiha too aggressively.
Currently, they could only rely on petty tricks and political pressure.
However, once Fugaku officially became Clan Head, everything would gradually worsen.
Fugaku’s personality was simply too soft.
After Hiruzen and the other elders fully realized this weakness, they began suppressing the Uchiha step by step while constantly using the excuse that everyone belonged to the same village.
On the surface, they preached unity and mutual understanding.
Behind the scenes, they continuously sliced away at the Uchiha’s authority little by little like carving flesh from a body.
If Yu truly wanted to change the future, now was undoubtedly the best opportunity.
The future “Great Filial Son” Itachi had not appeared yet, and the Uchiha Clan still possessed immense strength and influence within Konoha.
At this stage, many things were still salvageable.
Mikoto looked at him expectantly after noticing his thoughtful expression.
“You really have a plan, don’t you?
Hurry up and tell me.”
A wicked grin immediately appeared on Yu’s face as he pointed toward his lips.
“You want to know?
Then give me a kiss first.”
Mikoto’s face instantly turned bright red.
“I’ll do it after we get back.
Tell me first.”
Yu immediately shook his head firmly.
“No chance.
You said exactly the same thing last time too, and the time before that as well.
Count carefully yourself.
How many kisses do you already owe me now?”
This time, Mikoto’s expression darkened completely instead of blushing.
Her small fists immediately began raining down onto him.
“You bastard!
You still dare mention that?
Every time I fell asleep, you secretly took them by force anyway!”
Awkwardness briefly flashed across Yu’s face.
“Did I really do that?
Strange.
I don’t remember anything.”
“I’ll beat you to death, you shameless bastard!”
Nearby, Nawaki looked toward the two of them with complete disdain.
What was even so great about women?
How could romance possibly compare to becoming stronger?
Only becoming Hokage counted as true romance for a man.
Although…
If he also had a childhood friend as pretty as Mikoto, he might honestly act the same way.
On the other side of the convoy, Shimura Yosho coldly snorted inwardly.
“He’s only acting so arrogantly because Lord Orochimaru supports him.
Once we return to Konoha, I’ll report everything to Lord Danzo.
Then let’s see how arrogant you remain.”
Several days later, the convoy finally returned safely to Konoha amidst laughter and conversation.
The journey had unexpectedly gone smoothly without encountering any serious danger.
As the temporary captain for this escort mission, Yu naturally needed to report directly to the Hokage and receive final approval for the mission.
Even if he disliked dealing with Hiruzen Sarutobi, he still had no choice.
After all, he needed that old man’s signature.
Thus, Yu could only brace himself and head toward the Hokage Building.
Knock knock knock.
Under the silent gazes of several ANBU guards outside, Yu calmly raised his hand and knocked on the office door.
“Come in.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s aged voice sounded from inside the office.
The door slowly opened.
The moment Yu stepped inside, he immediately saw the familiar group gathered there.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Shimura Danzo.
Homura Mitokado.
Utatane Koharu.
The moment the four elders turned their gazes toward him, Yu showed no nervousness whatsoever.
He calmly walked forward before placing the mission scroll onto the Hokage’s desk.
“Hokage-sama.”