[This Chapter Is Sponsored by terrance smith! Everyone, please thank him in the comment!]
Back Mountain.
"You guys have completed the first phase. Now, what you're practicing is the second phase called 'Power'."
Yuhi Kurenai, Uzuki Yugao, and Mitarashi Anko, the three women, were all secretly competing against each other. Uchiha Yoru pretended not to see the tactics they used against each other. After all, competition arises when people are together, and competition is the source of motivation.
"This is a rubber ball, a hundred times tougher than a regular balloon. What you need to do is to maintain the release of chakra and materialize it until you can break the ball."
Another basket of balls was brought out. This time, they were more durable rubber balls. After explaining the various techniques and experiences of this ninjutsu to the three women, Uchiha Yoru left to practice on his own.
Every day, he would split into shadow clones for training. He also used his authority to arrange training tasks for the three women at the front line. Not every ninja had ample time for training, especially on the front lines.
Inside the tent, Uchiha Yoru's main body was checking the daily reports. There were scrolls from the patrol squads, supplies from the villages behind, and various pieces of intelligence.
Processing the daily intelligence took Uchiha Yoru several hours. Seeing the overwhelming information, he sneered.
"Such meticulous planning. So many useless reports, all coming one after another. This doesn't seem like the style of the Third Hokage and Danzō."
Uchiha Yoru sarcastically thought, by overwhelming him with tedious intelligence, it either took a significant portion of his day, or he would delegate the tasks. Clearly, among those he trusted, some were their spies.
"Is it you, Sarutobi Shinzō? Or perhaps Sarutobi Meiko?"
All this was to give their spies an opportunity. But there was no real loss to him.
"Genma." With Uchiha Yoru's soft call, the guards outside, the Genma team, came in respectfully. "Lord Yoru."
Looking at Shiranui Genma, Namiashi Raido, and Tatami Iwashi, Uchiha Yoru smiled and said, "Even though you're my guards, we don't know how long the battle on the front lines will last. When there's no battle, you three can take turns resting. Remember to practice in your spare time. Ninjas speak with their strength."
Upon hearing these caring words, the three of them showed gratitude. Although the front line was tough and dangerous, it made them feel more fulfilled.
"Lord Yoru, rest assured, we will definitely practice well."
Their loyalty was unquestionable. After all, they had no way out, especially after joining Orochimaru's forces. They could only follow that path.
"By the way, regarding the front-line intelligence, Genma, you'll work with Hizashi. Intelligence from the village will be handled by Namiashi Raido and Tatami Iwashi, assisted by Kakashi and Shisui. You only need to report daily."
If they wanted to meddle with the tedious intelligence tasks, he would just delegate. As for their spies getting certain information?
Thinking about this, Uchiha Yoru sneered. It was a test of skills, both from the same village. If they relied on spies, he believed he could win over a few loyal spies with his unwavering loyalty.
"Lord Yoru, what about your safety?"
Upon hearing this, the Genma team showed their excitement. Uchiha Yoru's trust in them was unquestionable. This was top-secret intelligence only trusted people could access. This trust made them feel worth dying for.
"Hehe, if there's danger within the Konoha camp, then no amount of guards can protect against it."
Uchiha Yoru waved to the three people. After all, they were the guard team chosen by the Fourth Hokage, and it would be false to say they lacked talent. He couldn't let this group waste their potential. After all, their strength belonged to him.
"You all should choose a lower-level ninja team to nurture and develop. This way, your usual guard duties can become a bit more relaxed."
Clearly, Uchiha Yoru was giving them a small break. Even though they were guards, they were now expected to be involved in assisting with administrative duties, take time out for training, and the chosen lower-level ninja team would take over their usual guarding tasks.
"Captain Yoru, is this really okay?"
The Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze had a good eye for talent. The members of the Genma team looked embarrassed, clearly feeling a bit awkward.
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Yoru jokingly replied, "You really want to slack off, huh? I want you to select talented individuals, not just to share your guarding duties but also to nurture new talent for the village. Initially, it may be a bit hard for you, but it will get easier later on."
Uchiha Yoru's words were clearly meant to appease the three. Yet, under his relaxed tone, all three were visibly excited and firmly nodded, "Captain Yoru, rest assured, we will not let you down."
It's undeniable that Uchiha Yoru's communication skills have improved significantly. In just a few sentences, he managed to inspire the Genma team. They felt deeply grateful to him.
Such is the advantage of being in a position of power. To your subordinates, sometimes you don't need to show genuine concern. A few words can stir them into a frenzy of loyalty, making them willing to die for you without hesitation.
Beneath Uchiha Yoru's smile lay his disdain for those who operated behind the scenes. Such trivial tactics gave him the chance to win over people's hearts. Why wouldn't he exchange useless administrative tasks to gain the trust and gratitude of his subordinates?
The highest realm for those in power is not to exhaust oneself but to delegate duties to subordinates who then become even more grateful, seeing it as a sign of trust.
Uchiha Yoru felt somewhat cynical about this distorted world. But it's not their fault; there were gaps in their history, even ones created intentionally. Many great historical figures never left behind their techniques, only the strongest leave their mark.
Look at the Third Hokage and the Third Tsuchikage, who worked tirelessly in their offices. One ended up frail, and the other suffered from a herniated disc.
It seems the leaders in this world all have their own domineering will. They believe only they can do things right, and others are just a tad inferior. Even when grooming successors, they insist on inheriting their own ideologies.
The Shinobi World.
Time flies, and before he knew it, Uchiha Yoru has been on the front lines for five months. Although there hasn't been a major conflict with the Mist shinobi, small skirmishes are a daily occurrence. At a glance, the casualties may seem minimal, but accumulating day by day, the injury report is indeed heart-wrenching.
At the border zone where the Hidden Leaf defends against the Land of Lightning, in the Leaf's camp.
"Shinzo's aid, Orochimaru's disciple, that Uchiha brat, has actually managed to find his footing on the frontline and even won the trust of many. This might not be a good thing."
Seeing the persistent look on his wife's face, Sarutobi Shinzo sighed regretfully, "Can't you just let it go? With the Uchiha surname, not to mention the old man, the entire upper echelon would never let him rise to power. You were lucky to survive this time; isn't the matter with Orochimaru enough for you?"
"Shinzo, who am I doing this all for? It's for you, for our family, for our child, Konohamaru. If you had the strength to become a Kage, would I need to do this?"
Seeing his wife like this, even if he knew she was doing it out of a desire for higher status, men can't hope to win against women on this topic.
Sarutobi Shinzo said with a bitter smile, "Alright, alright, I'm not scolding you. I'm just telling you a fact. The Uchiha surname has already given up all aspirations. So, don't stir up trouble. If the old man finds out, think not only of others but also of our unborn child."
As expected, when Sarutobi Shinzo mentioned their child, Sarutobi Meiko discreetly touched her slightly protruding belly, coldly snorting, "The old man is really ruthless."
However, when she touched her belly, even the most malicious woman would show a gentle smile. She murmured, "Child, your presence saved your mother's life. Your grandfather is truly heartless."
If it weren't for the timely discovery of her pregnancy, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, would not have shown mercy. Still, considering his own grandson, the great shinobi finally decided to exile her to the border.
……
The Country of Whirlpools, behind the hills of Konohagakure's roots.
At this moment, Uzuki Yugao's face was pale. As she tried to leave, leaning against the wall, her legs were still uncontrollably trembling, as if her legs no longer belonged to her.
A pair of rounded and elastic long legs were trembling like they were shaking. The now adolescent Uzuki Yugao had grown to nearly 1.7 meters tall. Under her tall stature, sweat from her pale face uncontrollably wetted her temples.
"Yugao, stop trying to be brave and lie down."
A pair of strong hands directly helped her sit on the bed. Green medical ninja chakra began to glow from his hands. Under the relief of the medical ninjutsu, her legs seemed to be rejuvenated, and even her pale face showed a hint of blush.
Uchiha Yoru looked at Uzuki Yugao, who had been behaving abnormally in recent days, and said with a frown, "Yugao, I understand the allure of new experiences, but you need to cherish your body. As a ninja, you must learn to control your desires. A ninja's strength is everything."
Uchiha Yoru's serious tone made Uzuki Yugao's pale face blush with shyness. Although it wasn't their first time together, such explicit words still made her feel shy.
"Lord Yoru, I just want to satisfy you. I'm just not strong enough."
Thinking of his beast-like body and his insatiable stamina, Uzuki Yugao couldn't help but bitterly smile inwardly. Why did Meiko say that there's only overworked oxen, not over-tilled fields? She felt as if her field had been over-tilled to the point of breaking.
Seeing Uzuki Yugao's recent abnormal behavior, Uchiha Yoru seemed to guess something, but still pretended to be concerned, softly comforting, "Yugao, take a few days off."
Hearing this, Uzuki Yugao felt a mix of reluctance and relief. Feeling as if her body was falling apart, she nodded sadly, "I'm just not strong enough, Lord Yoru."
It was tough for Uzuki Yugao. The former head of the Anbu had contacted her. Although she was relieved of her duties, that person was the daughter-in-law of the Hokage and mentioned the frontline commander Sarutobi Shinzo.
The Third Hokage had ordered all undercover Anbu and spies on the front line to unconditionally obey Sarutobi Shinzo's orders. So, she had to reluctantly follow the orders.
Luckily, this time, the order wasn't to harm Uchiha Yoru, whom she already felt guilty about. It was merely to use her body to distract him and drain his energy, even making him indulge.
But she had already tried her best! He's a physical-type ninja. At first, she was shy but also a bit excited. However, after several days, she really couldn't handle it anymore, feeling as if her body was falling apart.
Uchiha Yoru, looking at the exhausted Uzuki Yugao, couldn't help but shake his head. If he knew what she was thinking, he might have smiled confidently.
Our body's innate abilities are no less than the Third Raikage, who is known to match the Eight-Tails in physical strength. Among those known, perhaps only he could exhaust a Tailed Beast to the point of fainting. Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara are strong, but they might not necessarily surpass him in physical prowess.
To have the stamina to match a Tailed Beast until exhaustion, and you're just a mere ordinary ninja?
"Lord Yoru, I feel much better, and I want to continue training."
Although she doesn't have the energy, thinking about Lord Yoru personally teaching her the A-rank technique Rasengan, and considering both Kurenai and Anko, she felt a surge of determination. They are stronger than her, but one relies on their teacher, and the other is under the same master as Lord Yoru. Even though she's a commoner, their starting points are the same now, and she absolutely refuses to lose.
Looking at the stubborn Maugetsu Yuge, Uchiha Yoru said, "If you hadn't been overexerting yourself these past few nights, you wouldn't have missed training."
"Lord Yoru, don't worry. I will not miss any training." Uzuki Yugao showed a defiant look. She may lose in physical combat, but she can't lose to Kurenai and Anko in ninjutsu training.
Seeing Uzuki Yugao's determined eyes, Uchiha Yoru finally said with resignation, "Alright then, I'll use my medical ninjutsu to relieve your muscle soreness. Rest for half an hour now, so no one will notice anything later."
Bright sunlight shines on the bed. Uzuki Yugao looks dreamily at the gentle-smiling man in front of her. His warm hands touch her, and the healing chakra makes her even more comfortable. Slowly, with a sense of guilt, she drifts into sleep.
[This Chapter Is Sponsored by terrance smith! Everyone, please thank him in the comment!]
Back Mountain.
"You guys have completed the first phase. Now, what you're practicing is the second phase called 'Power'."
Yuhi Kurenai, Uzuki Yugao, and Mitarashi Anko, the three women, were all secretly competing against each other. Uchiha Yoru pretended not to see the tactics they used against each other. After all, competition arises when people are together, and competition is the source of motivation.
"This is a rubber ball, a hundred times tougher than a regular balloon. What you need to do is to maintain the release of chakra and materialize it until you can break the ball."
Another basket of balls was brought out. This time, they were more durable rubber balls. After explaining the various techniques and experiences of this ninjutsu to the three women, Uchiha Yoru left to practice on his own.
Every day, he would split into shadow clones for training. He also used his authority to arrange training tasks for the three women at the front line. Not every ninja had ample time for training, especially on the front lines.
Inside the tent, Uchiha Yoru's main body was checking the daily reports. There were scrolls from the patrol squads, supplies from the villages behind, and various pieces of intelligence.
Processing the daily intelligence took Uchiha Yoru several hours. Seeing the overwhelming information, he sneered.
"Such meticulous planning. So many useless reports, all coming one after another. This doesn't seem like the style of the Third Hokage and Danzō."
Uchiha Yoru sarcastically thought, by overwhelming him with tedious intelligence, it either took a significant portion of his day, or he would delegate the tasks. Clearly, among those he trusted, some were their spies.
"Is it you, Sarutobi Shinzō? Or perhaps Sarutobi Meiko?"
All this was to give their spies an opportunity. But there was no real loss to him.
"Genma." With Uchiha Yoru's soft call, the guards outside, the Genma team, came in respectfully. "Lord Yoru."
Looking at Shiranui Genma, Namiashi Raido, and Tatami Iwashi, Uchiha Yoru smiled and said, "Even though you're my guards, we don't know how long the battle on the front lines will last. When there's no battle, you three can take turns resting. Remember to practice in your spare time. Ninjas speak with their strength."
Upon hearing these caring words, the three of them showed gratitude. Although the front line was tough and dangerous, it made them feel more fulfilled.
"Lord Yoru, rest assured, we will definitely practice well."
Their loyalty was unquestionable. After all, they had no way out, especially after joining Orochimaru's forces. They could only follow that path.
"By the way, regarding the front-line intelligence, Genma, you'll work with Hizashi. Intelligence from the village will be handled by Namiashi Raido and Tatami Iwashi, assisted by Kakashi and Shisui. You only need to report daily."
If they wanted to meddle with the tedious intelligence tasks, he would just delegate. As for their spies getting certain information?
Thinking about this, Uchiha Yoru sneered. It was a test of skills, both from the same village. If they relied on spies, he believed he could win over a few loyal spies with his unwavering loyalty.
"Lord Yoru, what about your safety?"
Upon hearing this, the Genma team showed their excitement. Uchiha Yoru's trust in them was unquestionable. This was top-secret intelligence only trusted people could access. This trust made them feel worth dying for.
"Hehe, if there's danger within the Konoha camp, then no amount of guards can protect against it."
Uchiha Yoru waved to the three people. After all, they were the guard team chosen by the Fourth Hokage, and it would be false to say they lacked talent. He couldn't let this group waste their potential. After all, their strength belonged to him.
"You all should choose a lower-level ninja team to nurture and develop. This way, your usual guard duties can become a bit more relaxed."
Clearly, Uchiha Yoru was giving them a small break. Even though they were guards, they were now expected to be involved in assisting with administrative duties, take time out for training, and the chosen lower-level ninja team would take over their usual guarding tasks.
"Captain Yoru, is this really okay?"
The Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze had a good eye for talent. The members of the Genma team looked embarrassed, clearly feeling a bit awkward.
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Yoru jokingly replied, "You really want to slack off, huh? I want you to select talented individuals, not just to share your guarding duties but also to nurture new talent for the village. Initially, it may be a bit hard for you, but it will get easier later on."
Uchiha Yoru's words were clearly meant to appease the three. Yet, under his relaxed tone, all three were visibly excited and firmly nodded, "Captain Yoru, rest assured, we will not let you down."
It's undeniable that Uchiha Yoru's communication skills have improved significantly. In just a few sentences, he managed to inspire the Genma team. They felt deeply grateful to him.
Such is the advantage of being in a position of power. To your subordinates, sometimes you don't need to show genuine concern. A few words can stir them into a frenzy of loyalty, making them willing to die for you without hesitation.
Beneath Uchiha Yoru's smile lay his disdain for those who operated behind the scenes. Such trivial tactics gave him the chance to win over people's hearts. Why wouldn't he exchange useless administrative tasks to gain the trust and gratitude of his subordinates?
The highest realm for those in power is not to exhaust oneself but to delegate duties to subordinates who then become even more grateful, seeing it as a sign of trust.
Uchiha Yoru felt somewhat cynical about this distorted world. But it's not their fault; there were gaps in their history, even ones created intentionally. Many great historical figures never left behind their techniques, only the strongest leave their mark.
Look at the Third Hokage and the Third Tsuchikage, who worked tirelessly in their offices. One ended up frail, and the other suffered from a herniated disc.
It seems the leaders in this world all have their own domineering will. They believe only they can do things right, and others are just a tad inferior. Even when grooming successors, they insist on inheriting their own ideologies.
The Shinobi World.
Time flies, and before he knew it, Uchiha Yoru has been on the front lines for five months. Although there hasn't been a major conflict with the Mist shinobi, small skirmishes are a daily occurrence. At a glance, the casualties may seem minimal, but accumulating day by day, the injury report is indeed heart-wrenching.
At the border zone where the Hidden Leaf defends against the Land of Lightning, in the Leaf's camp.
"Shinzo's aid, Orochimaru's disciple, that Uchiha brat, has actually managed to find his footing on the frontline and even won the trust of many. This might not be a good thing."
Seeing the persistent look on his wife's face, Sarutobi Shinzo sighed regretfully, "Can't you just let it go? With the Uchiha surname, not to mention the old man, the entire upper echelon would never let him rise to power. You were lucky to survive this time; isn't the matter with Orochimaru enough for you?"
"Shinzo, who am I doing this all for? It's for you, for our family, for our child, Konohamaru. If you had the strength to become a Kage, would I need to do this?"
Seeing his wife like this, even if he knew she was doing it out of a desire for higher status, men can't hope to win against women on this topic.
Sarutobi Shinzo said with a bitter smile, "Alright, alright, I'm not scolding you. I'm just telling you a fact. The Uchiha surname has already given up all aspirations. So, don't stir up trouble. If the old man finds out, think not only of others but also of our unborn child."
As expected, when Sarutobi Shinzo mentioned their child, Sarutobi Meiko discreetly touched her slightly protruding belly, coldly snorting, "The old man is really ruthless."
However, when she touched her belly, even the most malicious woman would show a gentle smile. She murmured, "Child, your presence saved your mother's life. Your grandfather is truly heartless."
If it weren't for the timely discovery of her pregnancy, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, would not have shown mercy. Still, considering his own grandson, the great shinobi finally decided to exile her to the border.
……
The Country of Whirlpools, behind the hills of Konohagakure's roots.
At this moment, Uzuki Yugao's face was pale. As she tried to leave, leaning against the wall, her legs were still uncontrollably trembling, as if her legs no longer belonged to her.
A pair of rounded and elastic long legs were trembling like they were shaking. The now adolescent Uzuki Yugao had grown to nearly 1.7 meters tall. Under her tall stature, sweat from her pale face uncontrollably wetted her temples.
"Yugao, stop trying to be brave and lie down."
A pair of strong hands directly helped her sit on the bed. Green medical ninja chakra began to glow from his hands. Under the relief of the medical ninjutsu, her legs seemed to be rejuvenated, and even her pale face showed a hint of blush.
Uchiha Yoru looked at Uzuki Yugao, who had been behaving abnormally in recent days, and said with a frown, "Yugao, I understand the allure of new experiences, but you need to cherish your body. As a ninja, you must learn to control your desires. A ninja's strength is everything."
Uchiha Yoru's serious tone made Uzuki Yugao's pale face blush with shyness. Although it wasn't their first time together, such explicit words still made her feel shy.
"Lord Yoru, I just want to satisfy you. I'm just not strong enough."
Thinking of his beast-like body and his insatiable stamina, Uzuki Yugao couldn't help but bitterly smile inwardly. Why did Meiko say that there's only overworked oxen, not over-tilled fields? She felt as if her field had been over-tilled to the point of breaking.
Seeing Uzuki Yugao's recent abnormal behavior, Uchiha Yoru seemed to guess something, but still pretended to be concerned, softly comforting, "Yugao, take a few days off."
Hearing this, Uzuki Yugao felt a mix of reluctance and relief. Feeling as if her body was falling apart, she nodded sadly, "I'm just not strong enough, Lord Yoru."
It was tough for Uzuki Yugao. The former head of the Anbu had contacted her. Although she was relieved of her duties, that person was the daughter-in-law of the Hokage and mentioned the frontline commander Sarutobi Shinzo.
The Third Hokage had ordered all undercover Anbu and spies on the front line to unconditionally obey Sarutobi Shinzo's orders. So, she had to reluctantly follow the orders.
Luckily, this time, the order wasn't to harm Uchiha Yoru, whom she already felt guilty about. It was merely to use her body to distract him and drain his energy, even making him indulge.
But she had already tried her best! He's a physical-type ninja. At first, she was shy but also a bit excited. However, after several days, she really couldn't handle it anymore, feeling as if her body was falling apart.
Uchiha Yoru, looking at the exhausted Uzuki Yugao, couldn't help but shake his head. If he knew what she was thinking, he might have smiled confidently.
Our body's innate abilities are no less than the Third Raikage, who is known to match the Eight-Tails in physical strength. Among those known, perhaps only he could exhaust a Tailed Beast to the point of fainting. Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara are strong, but they might not necessarily surpass him in physical prowess.
To have the stamina to match a Tailed Beast until exhaustion, and you're just a mere ordinary ninja?
"Lord Yoru, I feel much better, and I want to continue training."
Although she doesn't have the energy, thinking about Lord Yoru personally teaching her the A-rank technique Rasengan, and considering both Kurenai and Anko, she felt a surge of determination. They are stronger than her, but one relies on their teacher, and the other is under the same master as Lord Yoru. Even though she's a commoner, their starting points are the same now, and she absolutely refuses to lose.
Looking at the stubborn Maugetsu Yuge, Uchiha Yoru said, "If you hadn't been overexerting yourself these past few nights, you wouldn't have missed training."
"Lord Yoru, don't worry. I will not miss any training." Uzuki Yugao showed a defiant look. She may lose in physical combat, but she can't lose to Kurenai and Anko in ninjutsu training.
Seeing Uzuki Yugao's determined eyes, Uchiha Yoru finally said with resignation, "Alright then, I'll use my medical ninjutsu to relieve your muscle soreness. Rest for half an hour now, so no one will notice anything later."
Bright sunlight shines on the bed. Uzuki Yugao looks dreamily at the gentle-smiling man in front of her. His warm hands touch her, and the healing chakra makes her even more comfortable. Slowly, with a sense of guilt, she drifts into sleep.
