This Road Was Built by Me

Uchiha Shisui.

Kotoamatsukami!

Aside from Obito’s intangibility, this was Xu Yue’s second-priority Mangekyō Sharingan option.

Even with its absurdly long cooldown, this bug-level power could still serve a great purpose.

The reason Xu Yue had revealed his Three Tomoe Sharingan before those three cannon fodders was to create the impression that his talent was no inferior to Shisui’s.

With that comparison in place, there was a good chance they would send Shisui, whom he was somewhat acquainted with, to meet him. That would also make it easier for him to build a relationship with Shisui and approach him in the most natural way possible, without any side effects.

However, he still could not confirm whether Shisui had awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan yet.

Based on the descriptions of Shisui in the original story, although Uchiha Shisui did not outwardly seem incompatible with the Uchiha Clan at present, Xu Yue had made full use of their time walking toward the Uchiha compound.

With his sunny, businesslike smile and explanations that completely catered to Shisui’s views, he directly won Uchiha Shisui’s favor.

Favorability: 10/10

With this basic safeguard in place, ensuring that even if the other party had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, he would not immediately use it on him, Xu Yue’s probing became much bolder.

The instant he stepped into the Uchiha compound, he made a slightly regretful judgment: Uchiha Shisui had not yet awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan.

If Sage Mode had used up the only remaining S-Rank Plot Point on him, Xu Yue could very likely have relied on his current favorability with Uchiha Shisui to raise it to the maximum first. Even if he did not upgrade his other Mangekyō Sharingan for the time being, he could wait until next time to come ask Shisui for it.

After all, once he reached the rank of major, he would be able to use permission cards for designated Mission Spaces. Even if there were some side effects, they would be completely harmless.

But now that the S-Rank Plot Point had not been used by Sage Mode, Xu Yue naturally had to maximize its value!

He would open another high-difficulty route.

That being the case, he had to resolve the matter of his other Mangekyō Sharingan as soon as possible!

Unfortunately, time was too tight. Otherwise, his plan to provoke Shisui into awakening his eyes would have been a viable option as well…

Xu Yue’s main purpose in putting on that act had been Shisui. Since Shisui had escaped disaster by not awakening his eyes yet, Xu Yue naturally changed targets!

Therefore, when he came to the Uchiha compound this time and met the Second Elder who guarded it, Xu Yue fully brought his mask-wearing abilities to their limit.

He presented himself as a wronged orphan who still acknowledged the clan despite everything, a normal teenager throwing little tantrums and getting angry through his words.

That wise Second Elder began using his experience as an elder to patiently counsel him and dissolve the resentment of this clan genius.

In the end, the Second Elder’s wisdom successfully dispelled the barrier in Uchiha Yue’s heart, creating a third-rate idol drama scene of returning to one’s roots.

Of course, it was only because of the talent Xu Yue had displayed and because he had awakened the Uchiha Clan’s most iconic Sharingan that the busy Second Elder had personally stepped in to resolve the matter.

The Second Elder was also exceptionally pleased to be able to retain such a genius for the clan.

"Second Elder, Yue has never contributed anything to the clan. Before this, I even acted out of spite and bullied several seniors. I ask that the Second Elder approve Yue’s request to head to the front lines and support the Clan Head."

Xu Yue stood respectfully below the main hall and spoke to the elderly man seated above.

With Xu Yue’s current status, going to the front lines without relying on the Uchiha Clan would be simple. Whether through Root or by applying directly under the name of a Special Jonin, there would be no problem at all.

But if he went that way, there was no doubt that his mission assignment would not deliberately place him with Uchiha Fugaku and the others.

If he wanted to approach Uchiha Fugaku in the way with the fewest side effects, the most suitable option was naturally to go as Uchiha Clan reinforcements.

Hearing Xu Yue’s righteous words and seeing how much he was considering the clan, the Second Elder was deeply moved.

What a good child. Why had those clansmen looked down on him back then? Thankfully, the child is sensible. Otherwise, it would truly have been a loss for our clan.

Naturally, he would not refuse such a request.

Those three Guard Force members who had returned in such a sorry state had used their honor to testify to Xu Yue’s strength.

Brothers were best for fighting tigers, fathers and sons for going into battle.

Only one’s own clansmen were truly reliable, the ones to whom one could entrust one’s back.

Uchiha Yue’s personality was also well suited for serving as the Clan Head’s guard.

He could help on the front lines while Fugaku could guide this genius and help him mature more quickly.

In the future, with two grown geniuses like Uchiha Yue and Uchiha Shisui, the Uchiha Clan’s status would be unshakable!

After reaching an agreement, Xu Yue set off for the front lines with the next group of reinforcements, accompanied by three Uchiha Chunin who had not yet awakened their eyes…

Uchiha Taro, Uchiha Jiro, and Uchiha Saburo.

Those were the three brothers heading to the front lines with Xu Yue.

In Xu Yue’s view, the main reason they had been assigned was to use the tempering of the battlefield to awaken their eyes.

If even one of the three survived and successfully awakened his Sharingan, he would likely become combat power on the level of a Special Jonin. There would still be a profit to be made.

Whether because of their personalities or because they had received instructions from the Second Elder, the three performed quite satisfactorily along the way. They took care of all the miscellaneous tasks…

"We’re nearing the border. Everyone must raise your guard again. The Land of Lightning is second only to the Land of Fire in national strength, and Hidden Cloud is full of warlike people with formidable combat power."

After traveling continuously, as they were about to reach the front lines, Xu Yue reminded the three of them.

In truth, when it came to experience on large battlefields, Xu Yue, who had been tempered by Sunagakure and Iwagakure, probably surpassed these three Chunin who had not yet awakened their eyes.

Yet it seemed as though his words were being proven.

Less than half an hour after they broke camp the next morning, a roaring sound rang out, and the road behind them was blocked by enormous boulders.

The terrifying fluctuations of ninjutsu and the powerful gusts they kicked up forced them all to raise their hands to shield their eyes.

It was as though a small mountain of stone had formed behind them!

Earth Style: Rock Lodging Collapse!

An enemy capable of Earth Style techniques at this level had to be at least a Jonin!!

A figure wearing a tattered trench coat and a conical hat stood in front of the only road Xu Yue and the others could take.

"Oh? I only meant to make a quick hundred thousand or so from forehead protector bounties, but I didn’t expect to catch a small fish among these shrimps. Your head is worth one and a half million, Konoha’s ‘Black Little Flash.’"

The figure in the conical hat slowly lifted it away, revealing a masked face beneath it—the most standard ninja attire.

"Young Master Yue, be careful. He’s a bounty hunter. Hidden Cloud must have put a bounty on Konoha forehead protectors."

Perhaps the three Chunin had less experience than Xu Yue on the battlefield, but when it came to life experience, they clearly knew more.

All three had assumed standard combat stances and warned Xu Yue at the same time.

However, Xu Yue’s attention was elsewhere. One and a half million as a bounty? He remembered Asuma’s bounty had been over thirty million. Did that mean he was worth one-twentieth of an Asuma?

Was the title Black Little Flash just for show?

And that familiar way of speaking—it was almost certainly that guy.

"Heh, is this all that remains of Konoha’s younger generation? Back then, this old man even fought your First Hokage."

The bounty hunter looked at the three fully alert Uchiha Chunin with a calm, detached expression, as if he were some reclusive master beyond worldly concerns. He seemed somewhat wistful, somewhat nostalgic.

"I know you too. Your name is Kakuzu, right?"

Seeing how detached from the world the man appeared, as though he cared about nothing but money, Xu Yue spoke with a faint smile.

That single sentence greatly surprised Kakuzu, who was still working as a bounty hunter. He then sighed sentimentally.

"I didn’t expect a young person in this era to still remember this old man. Did your elders tell you of this old man’s deeds? Since that is the case, this old man will let you die without pain."

"Of course I remember you. Aren’t you the guy who threw a shuriken at the First Hokage from eight hundred li away, then bragged about it for the rest of your life? You show off that glorious achievement to everyone you meet. It would be impossible not to know you…"

Kakuzu: …