Chapter 31, Chapter 31, Yoriichi (Three chapters combined, including a bonus chapter)...
The investigation into the second pair of Mangekyou Sharingan has reached a stalemate.
All those registered in the clan who possessed the Sharingan had been examined under his gaze, and none were found to be abnormal. Continuing to investigate in a large-scale manner would not only be futile but could also trigger unnecessary suspicion and unrest within the clan.
Moreover, as the clan leader, Madara Uchiha had far more important and urgent matters to attend to than tracking down a vague and elusive figure: mediating border disputes, balancing resource allocation, cultivating the next generation within the clan, and even dealing with the immense pressure that the Senju clan always seemed to be hanging over his head... Each of these matters concerned the Uchiha clan's real interests and survival and development.
It was his duty as the clan chief.
In summary.
Tangible threats and the future of his family were more important than a cowardly fellow—his gaze returned to the pressing and complex matters that needed to be addressed.
***
The lights in the study often stayed on all night.
Madara Uchiha finished processing the last document regarding the deployment of the border patrol and rubbed his temples. On the corner of the table, another secret report from a spy was placed separately: it briefly mentioned the recent movements of the Senju clan.
Ban's gaze lingered on the secret report for a moment.
Hashirama's face, with its slightly silly yet incredibly stubborn features, floated into his mind, along with his incessant chatter about alliances and peace.
An alliance... That guy is still so naive.
Erasing the blood feud between the Senju and Uchiha clans across generations is no easy task. But if a truly ideal nation, jointly built by both clans and powerful enough to intimidate the entire ninja world, could be realized...
Ban closed his eyes and couldn't help but start to imagine the scenario in his mind.
Hashirama's ideal was also what his heart desired.
Madara, as the clan leader, is very busy, and Izuna, as the clan's second-in-command, is equally busy.
He had just finished inspecting the clan's protective barrier and pointed out three areas that needed reinforcement. He was now striding towards the training ground, where a group of newly awakened Sharingan-wielding teenagers were awaiting his guidance.
......
"Too slow! Are your eyes just decorations?" Izuna's icy voice echoed across the training ground as his figure moved like a ghost through the clumsy attacks of the boys and girls.
He was strict to the point of being harsh, because he understood better than anyone else that on the battlefield, even the slightest difference could mean the difference between life and death.
Yan Sheng, who was firmly protected by his two older brothers, had a much easier daily life.
He didn't participate in the clan's training or missions like other Uchiha disciples—his frail health disqualified him. But that didn't mean he was idle.
Yan Sheng stood in the courtyard, his eyes slightly closed, completely immersed in cultivation. He meticulously controlled the chakra within his body, perfectly aligning its circulation with the rhythm of his breathing technique.
Sweat soaked his bangs and slid down his pale cheeks. He was trying to fuse the powers of two different systems, searching for the path that could maximize the potential of his current body.
During breaks in his practice, he would concentrate and ponder.
Most people were thinking about that pitch black place.
How exactly can we counter that ability to burrow underground without regard to terrain?
Sealing techniques? Those require extremely strong prediction and range, making it difficult to capture the true form.
A ninjutsu that can drastically alter the terrain? Not only is it extremely energy-consuming, but it also doesn't seem to have much effect on it.
Perhaps... we need a method that can absolutely imprison space?
As his thoughts wandered, he would eventually return to the essence of the problem—power.
Ultimately, it all boils down to a lack of ability.
We must restore our strength as soon as possible.
Even if one cannot reach the level of the evil spirit body of their previous life, it is acceptable to restore the body to the level of the human body of their previous life.
Actually, many of his Moon Breathing techniques can counter the Darkness. However, those techniques are mostly the last six forms, which require a very high level of physical fitness.
How high is it? It's entirely based on Blood Demon Arts and the powerful, almost immortal body of a demon.
If one were to force this with a human body, one's meridians and bones would likely collapse before the sword move could even be completed.
"Brother Yan Sheng!"
The clear, childlike voice broke the silence of the courtyard and interrupted Yan Sheng's cultivation.
Poetry, like a happy little butterfly, hopped and skipped in, carefully holding a few candies wrapped in oil paper in her hands today.
"Look! I got some candy today! Here, have some!" She ran up to Yan Sheng, holding up the candy like a treasure, her big eyes sparkling. "If you eat this candy, your mouth won't taste bitter anymore, and you'll get better quickly!"
Yan Sheng stopped what he was doing, looked down at the little girl's sincere and concerned eyes, and then at the few candies. After a moment of silence, he reached out and picked up one of them.
"Thank you," he said. He unwrapped the candy and put the overly sweet candy into his mouth.
Shi immediately smiled with satisfaction, as if she had completed some important mission. Then she obediently went to sit under the eaves, rested her chin on her hands, and watched Yan Sheng continue his cultivation. She didn't make a fuss, but just quietly accompanied him.
The sweetness of the sugar spread in my mouth, temporarily suppressing the fatigue from cultivation and the medicinal taste deep in my throat.
Yan Sheng focused his attention again. But this time, the overly sweet taste seemed to make the tedious and difficult process less monotonous.
But it was still too sweet.
It makes my throat ache.
***
Let's go back a week.
Inside the cold, damp underground tunnel.
Black Zetsu, like a startled loach, frantically crawled forward and fled until it was sure there was no one chasing it from behind, before it dared to slowly condense into a blurry humanoid outline.
He leaned against the cold earthen wall, the fear that came from the depths of his soul making him as frightened as a startled bird, and at the same time, he was furious.
What's shocking is that he boasted of having infiltrated the ninja world for a thousand years, seeing through everything, and even having the chakra reincarnations of Indra and Ashura under his control and calculation, yet he completely overlooked Madara Uchiha's sickly younger brother!
This was an unforgivable oversight in his grand plan spanning millennia. The thought of those cold, terrifying eyes, seemingly able to see right through him, sent a chill down Black Zetsu's spine.
He was angry at himself! He hated his own arrogance and negligence: Why hadn't he noticed this variable sooner? Why hadn't he been quietly eliminated when Yan Sheng was weak and helpless and no one was paying attention to him?
If we had taken action back then, we wouldn't be in this mess now!
Thinking of this, a huge question swirled in Black Zetsu's mind.
Is this reasonable?
Yan Sheng was someone he had watched grow up. His frail health, which he was born with, was genuine and he simply couldn't bear too much power.
In fact, the power that Yan Sheng unleashed at the last moment, which forcibly controlled him, was definitely not the Uchiha's legacy! That power fluctuated strangely—it wasn't just chakra, but also mixed with other things.
Where did he learn that from?
Black Zetsu dared not return to the vicinity of the Uchiha clan's territory to spy on them anymore. That kid was frighteningly perceptive; what if he went back and walked right into a trap and got caught...?
More importantly, he was worried that Yan Sheng would tell Madara Uchiha about his existence! If this alerted Madara, his millennia-long plan could be ruined.
Oh no, this is really bad.
Endless regret and panic nearly consumed Black Zetsu.
However, after the initial shock, anger, and panic, the accumulated malice and prejudice over the millennia gradually regained their dominance.
This variable must not be allowed to continue! We must eliminate him at all costs before he fully matures and interferes with Mother's unsealing plan.
At this moment, Black Zetsu and Tobirama Senju shared the same thoughts.
—But how do we kill him? A direct confrontation is impossible; that kid is too wicked.
Black Zetsu frantically racked his brains.
Since a head-on approach won't work, let's try a "soft" one.
Suddenly, something he had forgotten in the corner of his memory resurfaced.
The Land of Demons... Yes! Let's go to the Land of Demons!
***
The Land of Demons is a small country with an extremely low profile. It is closed off, backward, and has an extremely strong religious atmosphere, making it quite feudal. It implements a strict "closed-door" policy, forbidding its citizens from leaving the country and making it extremely difficult for outsiders to enter. Various ancient and eerie witchcraft and legends are prevalent within its borders.
Black Zetsu remembered that the royal family of the Land of Demons had guarded a "treasure" for generations. It was said to have been passed down from the founding ancestor of the country and was kept under strict protection and enshrined deep in the shrine, where ordinary people could not see it.
There are many different opinions about the specific abilities of that treasure, but they all point to its effect on the spiritual and soul level.
Without further hesitation, Black Zetsu sped off towards the Land of Demons.
Infiltrating the Land of Demons was a piece of cake for him. The so-called tight defenses were useless against him, who could ignore the terrain and move freely underground.
As for the guards protecting the treasure, although they were physically strong, they were ultimately just ordinary people. In front of a ninja, especially a special being like him, they were no different from paper.
Black Zetsu easily bypassed all the visible and hidden sentry posts, penetrated layers of defense, and entered the deepest part of the shrine inside the sealed-off forest within the Land of Demons. On an altar covered with runes, he saw the object that the Land of Demons regarded as a priceless treasure:
A flute.
It's an ordinary-looking flute. Made of bamboo, its workmanship is even somewhat rough. There are no fancy patterns on its surface, no gemstones inlaid, and you can't sense any energy fluctuations or special aura.
It lay quietly in the center of the altar, so ordinary that it seemed out of place in the solemn and mysterious surroundings.
...That's it?
Black Zetsu almost doubted whether he had come to the wrong place, or whether the Kingdom of Demons had been guarding a mere legend for thousands of years. If it hadn't been so carefully guarded and placed in such a solemn location, he would have definitely thought it was just a toy casually carved by some country boy.
***
According to fragmented information gathered by Black Zetsu, this flute, carefully guarded by the royal family of the Demon Kingdom, possesses a strange "spiritual ability"—when it is played, those who hear the flute will see the person they most yearn to see, thus becoming immersed in that incredibly real and beautiful illusion, unable to extricate themselves, and even losing their consciousness forever within it.
Will this thing... work on that weird kid?
Black Zetsu was deeply suspicious. Yan Sheng seemed cold and indifferent, and was only a teenager. What could he possibly have that would be so unforgettable, enough to make him obsessed with "the person he most wanted to see"?
But then he thought about it again, Yan Sheng's terrifying strength that didn't match his age... The thought of "the reincarnation of an old ghost" popped into Hei Jue's mind.
Although he couldn't recall a single person who matched his memory, the ninja world is full of wonders, and this possibility wasn't zero.
If Yan Shengzhen is indeed the reincarnation of some ancient being, then deep within his soul must lie profound obsessions.
Give it a try.
Hei Jue thought. There was no harm in trying; even if it didn't work, he wouldn't lose anything. And if it did work... even if it only held Yan Sheng captive for a moment, it would be an excellent opportunity for him to make his move.
Thinking of this, Black Zetsu put away the bamboo flute and then sank into the ground, as if he had never existed, leaving only the panic and chaos that would inevitably unfold at the Land of Demons Shrine someday after the discovery of the stolen treasure.
***
Black Zetsu did not immediately head to the Uchiha clan's territory to find Yan Sheng. His millennia-long caution led him to decide to test the treasure's effectiveness first.
......
In the dead of winter, at midnight, heavy snow fell, blurring the boundary between the dilapidated post station and the distant wilderness into a chaotic white expanse. The snow was deep, and all was silent except for the rhythmic, heavy crunching sound of footsteps on the snow, which broke the deathly stillness as it approached from afar.
The sound stopped in front of the crooked, cracked wooden door, from which constant noise and the stench of cheap liquor emanated. Inside was the temporary hideout of wandering ninjas; outside was a frozen, bone-chilling world. Inside, cheap heat, the stench of alcohol, and unrestrained laughter filled the air; outside, the wind howled, and silence reigned.
Another burst of raucous laughter nearly lifted the roof off, accompanied by the dull thud of a wine bowl slamming onto the table.
At the peak of the noise, the broken door was pushed open from the outside with a creak.
A biting wind, carrying snowflakes, rushed in instantly, causing the flames in the fireplace to flicker. The scorching air in the tavern seemed to have been torn open.
All the noise stopped abruptly.
Inside the tavern, a dozen pairs of eyes, seven or eight parts drunk but still retaining a wild animalistic wariness, stared intently at the uninvited guest at the door.
The man was wrapped in a large, dark robe covered in snowflakes, his hat pulled low so that his face was completely obscured, with only a blurry shadow below his chin visible. His tall figure blocked the doorway, emanating a chilling aura.
The atmosphere instantly tensed, like a fully drawn bowstring.
The world of wandering ninjas is xenophobic and dangerous. Here, even familiar faces can suddenly turn on each other over a bag of money and food, let alone a complete stranger intruding. So, almost simultaneously, several hands instinctively reached for the kunai or short swords hidden under the table or beside the legs, their drunken eyes flashing with undisguised hostility and scrutiny.
Under a heavy, oppressive gaze, the stranger at the doorway slightly shifted his robe, and then a hand emerged from beneath it. In that hand lay—a bamboo flute?
Amidst the gazes of the crowd, some filled with doubt, others with wariness, and still others with impending outbursts, that hand brought the flute to its lips.
Then--
"Waaah..."
A dry, abrupt, and even somewhat shrill flute note rang out. It wasn't loud, but it penetrated the ears of everyone in the tavern with exceptional clarity, piercing through the silence after the noise and the numbness brought on by alcohol.
The next moment, a bizarre scene unfolded:
A burly ninja with a scarred face and a fierce look suddenly started laughing hysterically. He stretched out his hands towards the empty corner of the wall and murmured, "Mom... have you come to pick me up? I knew you weren't dead..." Tears and snot covered his face, but he was oblivious, immersed in immense happiness.
Another gloomy ninja, who always boasted about how many people he had killed, huddled in a corner, his body trembling slightly, before letting out a suppressed, animalistic sob: "I'm sorry... brother... I shouldn't have taken your food... please don't leave me..."
It works! It really works!
Black Zetsu was overjoyed. But he was still uneasy; he needed to confirm whether the flute music was equally effective on those with stronger wills, or rather, those with deeper obsessions.
After hesitating for a moment, he brought the flute hole close to his face and, very slightly, sent out a wisp of air.
"Waaah—"
The dry flute sound entered his ears, which he no longer bothered to protect.
In an instant, Black Zetsu froze.
Before his eyes, endless radiance bloomed, enveloping him in a warm, loving, and all-encompassing aura. A colossal, beautiful figure, radiating the majesty of a creator god and maternal glow, slowly emerged—the being he had plotted for a thousand years, longed for, and was willing to give everything for—Kaguya Otsutsuki!
"Mother...Master..." Black Zetsu was instantly overwhelmed by endless filial piety, longing, and fervor, making him want to weep bitterly, to prostrate himself on the ground, and to remain forever in this illusion.
Even though he knew it was fake, he was willing to accept it!
Fortunately, he was the one playing the instrument.
The flute music didn't last long. But even that brief illusion left Black Zetsu reeling from the shock for a long time.
Then—ecstasy! An unprecedented ecstasy overwhelmed him!
Why didn't he think of finding this treasure before?! This thing was even used on Madara Uchiha!
Perhaps it was because he was too confident in his plan, believing that by manipulating the karmic entanglement between Indra and Ashura (chakra) reincarnations, he could have a sure victory, and deep down he disdained to rely on these "unorthodox" external forces.
Hei Jue was filled with regret, and then carefully put the flute away.
Having confirmed the flute's unparalleled power, Black Zetsu began a long wait. He needed an opportunity, an opportunity for Yan Sheng to be alone.
First and foremost, he absolutely could not make a move within the Uchiha clan's territory. The risks were immeasurably high. He had no way of knowing whether Yan Sheng had already informed Uchiha Madara of his existence. If Madara was aware, he would undoubtedly have laid a trap for him within the clan's territory. Going there would be like walking into a trap.
As for investigating whether Yan Sheng had informed on them, Black Zetsu gave up after thinking about it.
If Yan Sheng were to tell someone about this, it would definitely be to tell Uchiha Madara privately, and Madara would never publicize such a thing. Unless he could possess Uchiha Madara's body... but would he dare?
He didn't even dare to get too close to the Uchiha clan's territory. Yan Sheng's terrifyingly sharp perception made him feel uneasy, fearing that he would be discovered if he got too close.
Speaking of which, Blackie couldn't help but feel a sense of lingering fear and relief.
Fortunately, after confirming that Madara's growth trajectory was in line with expectations, he never ventured too close to the Uchiha clan's territory again; otherwise, he might already be dead.
With a sigh, Black Zetsu began his incredibly patient lurking and waiting. He waited from the biting cold winds to the sweltering summer, then from the sweltering summer to the withered autumn leaves, and then from the withered autumn leaves to the biting cold winds...
A whole year has passed, and Yan Sheng still hasn't been able to leave the Uchiha clan territory alone.
That girl, is she some kind of sheltered young lady? She never leaves her house!
Black Zetsu was getting impatient, his two bean-like yellow eyes gradually narrowing into slits, almost falling asleep during the long wait.
Just as he was about to give up and was wondering if he should think of another way, there was movement in the Uchiha clan area.
Several ornately decorated carriages adorned with noble insignia slowly drove out of the clan's gates, escorted by a group of elite Uchiha ninja. A rough count revealed that there were as many as seventeen or eighteen Uchiha guards, a truly impressive entourage.
Black Zetsu's almost squinted eyes widened instantly, his mind focused intently.
He cautiously lurked in the shadows further away, trying his best to conceal his presence and listen carefully.
The intermittent voices drifted on the wind, and he quickly pieced together the reason.
It turns out that the princess of the Fire Country was getting married to the son of the Water Country's daimyo, who was also the Crown Prince of the Water Country and the future daimyo of the Water Country.
This is undoubtedly a signal of an alliance between the Water and Fire nations. Once the Water and Fire nations join forces, their power structure will be completely changed, and the first to be threatened will be the Thunder Nation, which is separated from both nations by sea and has a long-standing grudge against them.
The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning would absolutely not stand idly by and watch such a thing happen; there is a very high possibility that he would send someone to intercept and kill the wedding procession midway.
Therefore, to ensure absolute safety, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire spared no expense in hiring the powerful Uchiha clan to guard certain key sections of the route.
***
After receiving the commission to escort the princess of the Land of Fire, Izuna stood there for a few seconds, his mind flashing back to his younger brother, Kokushiro's, always pale and silent profile deep in the courtyard.
He turned and walked through the courtyard covered with a thin layer of snow, finding Yan Sheng sitting quietly under the eaves.
"Yan Sheng," Izuna began, his tone gentle and deliberate, "There's a mission going out this time. Would you like to come along?"
Yan Sheng was taken aback by these words and looked up at Quan Nai. He didn't answer immediately; a hint of surprise flashed in his usually calm black eyes, as if silently asking: Why?
The doubt almost solidified, hanging on his tense little face.
Izuna was amused by his younger brother's adorable appearance and couldn't help but explain, "It's an escort mission, escorting the princess of the Land of Fire to the Land of Water. The employer is the daimyo of the Land of Fire, and he's very generous, hiring more than a dozen skilled fighters from his clan. They're all elites, and even the worst one has two-tomoe Sharingan eyes."
He paused, observing Yan Sheng's reaction, and continued, "With the eldest brother personally leading the team, there should be no problem with safety on the road. If you want to go, you can come along and see for yourself."
The doubt in Yan Sheng's eyes finally dissipated; so that's how it is. With Ban personally leading the team, plus all the elite members, they were more than capable of handling him, a mere burden.
Yan Sheng met Izuna's gaze and nodded: "Okay."
Thus, Uchiha Kokusatsu's name was added to the list of this impressive escort team.
Uchiha Izuna himself did not join the team.
As the second-in-command of the clan, he needed to stay behind to oversee the clan and coordinate the overall situation. In case of any unforeseen circumstances in the clan's territory during the mission, someone of sufficient authority was required to take command.
***
The large wedding procession moved slowly along the snow-covered road, the wheels of the magnificent carriages creaking as they rolled over the snow.
Inside the carriage at the heart of the caravan, Princess Himeko of the Land of Fire sat upright. She wore an elaborate and solemn twelve-layered kimono, and her makeup was exquisite and meticulous, like a doll carefully dressed and placed in a brocade box.
From a young age, she was keenly aware of her responsibilities as a princess; a marriage alliance was a mission she could not escape and had to fulfill. She felt a sense of unease about the prince of the Water Kingdom, whom she had never met and who was about to become her husband, about that distant and unfamiliar land, about the unknowable future… but she would never allow herself to show the slightest cowardice.
So when her personal maid whispered that "the Uchiha ninja has arrived," she merely nodded slightly, her slender fingers resting smoothly on the maid's arm, and gracefully boarded the ornate palanquin that resembled a mobile cage.
The sedan chair swayed gently, beginning its long journey. Just before the curtains were completely lowered, Himeko couldn't resist turning her head slightly to take one last look at the receding outline of the palace where she had grown up and the familiar skyline of the capital city.
Her gaze was complex, a mixture of longing and resolve. Then, she released her grip, the heavy carriage curtain completely separating the inside from the outside, locking all her emotions firmly beneath her dignified face.
The journey was monotonous. Through the occasional gap in the carriage curtain, which was fluttering in the wind, Himeko silently observed the Uchiha ninjas guarding the outer perimeter.
They were taciturn, their actions carrying a cold efficiency and precision, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings, vigilant for any potential danger.
Soon, her gaze was drawn to one particularly conspicuous figure.
It was a child.
Among the group of imposing, tall adult Uchiha ninjas, he was the only child. Dressed in a well-fitting Uchiha clan uniform with a small fan-shaped clan crest on his back, he walked in the middle of the group with a calm, even somewhat aloof, expression.
Himeko couldn't help but think of her younger brother, Kurahiro. The two should be around the same age.
It wasn't just because of his age, but more so because of the child's temperament—a reserved and calm temperament that was out of place with his surroundings and even with his menacing clansmen.
If she hadn't known beforehand that he was from the Uchiha clan, she would have almost suspected that he was some young master from a noble family who had temporarily infiltrated the group.
Moreover, she subtly sensed that this child was different from his clansmen: the adult Uchiha possessed the coldness of ninjas, like unsheathed blades, their sharpness fully revealed. But this child... was more like a carefully collected antique masterpiece, with profound depth and inner brilliance, possessing a refined and dignified air more akin to the nobles she was familiar with, an air that had been tempered by time.
—Speaking of which, Father seemed to have mentioned this point when he chose to hire the Uchiha instead of the Senju, besides considering their strength: "The Uchiha clan members are of superior appearance and demeanor, worthy of royal regalia. They are more appropriate than those... well, the heroes of the Senju clan."
Now it seems that what my father said was true.
......
The procession was impressive, consisting of a dozen or so elite Uchiha warriors at its core, and hundreds of ordinary soldiers from the Land of Fire who served as guards. Their armor was gleaming, and their banners were fluttering. The total number of people was as many as four or five hundred, making a grand and imposing sight as they marched.
They set off at dawn and marched until two or three in the afternoon, exhausted both men and horses. After a brief discussion with the commander of the ordinary soldiers, the leader, Uchiha Madara, ordered them to rest near a sheltered, open forest.
The camp quickly sprang into action. Ordinary soldiers set up cooking fires, and wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys. The Uchiha, meanwhile, were scattered across key positions in the camp, on guard. They didn't need to light fires; they simply took out their rations and silently consumed them, their efficiency and silence a stark contrast to the bustling soldiers' camp on the other side.
Himeko's maids dared not neglect her and immediately arranged a temporary resting place for her, presenting her with a carefully prepared food box. Although it was the highest standard that could be achieved in the wild, it was still much simpler than the imperial meals in the palace.
Himeko had just picked up her silver chopsticks when her gaze inadvertently fell upon the Uchiha boy sitting alone under a tree not far away. He was quietly taking his soldier's rations, his profile appearing somewhat pale in the shadows, adding to his inexplicable vulnerability.
Himeko's fingers, holding the silver chopsticks, paused slightly as she thought of her younger brother, Kurahin, in the palace, who was frail and needed careful care. After a moment's hesitation, she turned her head and whispered a few instructions to her most trusted personal maid.
The maid showed a hint of surprise and hesitation, but under the princess's unquestionable gaze, she finally nodded respectfully.
Carrying a plate of delicate pastries, she crossed the camp and headed towards the quiet area that had been invisibly isolated by the Uchiha ninjas. The closer she got, the more she could feel the cold and murderous atmosphere that was different from that of ordinary soldiers, causing her to subconsciously slow her breathing.
Under the tree, Yan Shenggang swallowed the last of his soldier's ration pills. The pills tasted dry and bland, providing only the most basic energy.
He closed his eyes and focused his mind, preparing to use breathing techniques to dispel the fatigue from the long journey, while simultaneously sensing his surroundings—a habit he had developed in his previous life, where vigilance was ingrained in his instincts, no matter when or where.
The sound of light footsteps stopped a short distance in front of him.
Yan Sheng opened his eyes, his dark pupils calmly looking at the newcomer. It was a young woman dressed as a court maid, holding a gilded food box in her hands, her expression slightly uneasy.
“Uh… this, this young master,” the maid was clearly a little nervous. Facing the young Uchiha boy in front of her, who had a calm and powerful aura despite his young age, she didn’t know how to address him. In the end, she chose a vague honorific title, “These are snacks bestowed by Her Highness the Princess. Please enjoy them.”
After speaking, she bowed slightly and handed over the food box.
The food box was open, and inside were several delicate pastries shaped like flower petals.
This action immediately attracted the attention of several Uchiha ninjas nearby. Their gazes swept over him subtly, with a hint of inquiry, but they didn't say anything more.
Further away, Madara Uchiha, who was talking with his clansmen, also glanced over as if he had sensed something. His gaze lingered for a moment on the snacks in Yan Sheng and the maid's hands, his eyes revealing no emotion, before he turned back, seemingly not taking the matter to heart.
Yan Sheng stared at the pastries in front of him, remaining silent for a moment. They were sweet again.
I wanted to refuse, but I could feel the princess's kind gaze coming from the direction of the carriage not far away... Refusing the royal family's kindness, especially in front of everyone, would not be a wise move.
"Thank you, Your Highness." He said in a calm tone, took the food box, and placed it beside him, showing no intention of using it immediately.
Seeing this, the maid breathed a sigh of relief, bowed again, and hurriedly returned to the princess's carriage, whispering her report.
Yan Sheng turned his gaze back to the distance, showing no interest in the plate of snacks. However, beneath his seemingly relaxed demeanor, the chakra within his body flowed slowly with the rhythm unique to his breathing technique, and his senses spread outwards from him like an invisible spider web.
It was at this very moment.
In the distance, Black Zetsu, lurking in the shadows of the snow-covered bushes, suddenly lit up its two bean-like yellow eyes!
Chance!
That little monster from the Uchiha clan has finally been separated from his group! Moreover, having just experienced a brief period of external interference, he seems to be in a relatively relaxed state.
Black Zetsu was incredibly excited. He had waited far too long! From late summer to deep winter, he had been waiting for just this one opportunity!
Without further hesitation, he transformed his body into a fluid, crawling forward along the ground, trying to close the distance between himself and Yan Sheng as much as possible, until he reached a position that he considered both effective and relatively safe.
Then, he pulled out the seemingly ordinary bamboo flute. He put his lips to the flute hole.
"Waaah—"
Yan Sheng closed his eyes and concentrated, his breathing circulating naturally within his body. Just then, another series of "crunch, crunch" sounds of footsteps on snow approached from afar, heading straight for him.
This is never going to end.
A faint hint of impatience swept through his heart, but when he raised his eyes again, all his emotions had been perfectly contained beneath that deep pool, without the slightest ripple.
However, when his gaze clearly reflected the figure of the person, Yan Sheng's pupils suddenly contracted sharply.
Those eyes, which were always calm and indifferent to everything in the world, trembled violently at this moment, like a huge rock being thrown into a lake that had been frozen for thousands of years, causing it to crack open with countless frightened ripples.
Yan Sheng's breathing stopped completely at that moment, or rather, he completely forgot how to breathe.
His blood seemed to freeze, then surged back in a frenzy the next second, pounding through his limbs and causing a near-dizzying ringing in his ears.
—It is Yuan Yi.
That figure, as if emerging from the deepest nightmare or the most distant memory, stood clearly and undeniably before him. She was still wearing that familiar dark red haori, her black hair edged with fiery flame patterns, creating a stark contrast against the pale, cold snowscape beside her.
That face was exactly the same as the one Yan Sheng remembered most vividly. It still had that indifferent look that seemed to pity all living beings but actually treated everything the same; those deep red eyes, like solidified sunset clouds, were calmly and penetratingly gazing at him.
This gaze was the nightmare he had experienced countless days and nights in his past life, and also the mountain that crushed all his pride and obsession.
Noble, powerful, perfect...out of reach.
Like a god looking down on struggling ants.
"Click".
A very faint, yet seemingly resounding, crisp sound.
It was like ice suddenly bursting open under extreme pressure, or like a string stretched to its limit finally giving way.
Or perhaps... a nerve in his brain that had been relentlessly suppressing something snapped completely under the immense impact.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Brother → A Lady of a Distinguished Family
Brother → country man
I almost burst out laughing when I saw someone say that.
Today is a triple celebration! Thank you for the nutrient solution irrigation!
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