Chapter 60: Unexpected Encounter
The Hokage and his advisors, known colloquially as the "Hokage's Inner Circle," were less concerned with the Akatsuki organization and more focused on the Uchiha clan. The sudden defection of Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Itachi being ostracized by his clan, and the secretive nature of the Uchiha clan meetings all raised suspicion. They couldn't afford to act prematurely without concrete evidence of the Uchiha's intentions, as doing so would be too risky.
Fortunately, Itachi, now an ANBU squad leader, had been assigned under Danzo due to "special reasons." His two teammates were from Root, which meant he had to report some matters directly to Danzo. Danzo could issue orders that bypassed the Hokage, making certain operations more discreet.
Itachi's dual allegiance to both the Uchiha and the Hokage's cause made him an invaluable asset, especially in executing delicate tasks that required discretion. Despite the Uchiha's heightened vigilance after excluding Itachi from clan meetings, the Hokage's Inner Circle decided to bide their time, waiting for the right moment when the Uchiha might let their guard down.
Yuan, unaware of the intricate plans of the Hokage's Inner Circle or the details of Itachi's actions, continued his routine. Although Shisui was tasked with monitoring Itachi, the information he gathered was limited due to Itachi's exceptional counter-surveillance abilities.
Yuan mused, "Itachi meeting with Sarutobi Hiruzen probably isn't good news. We need to keep an eye on him, especially since he wields the Mangekyo Sharingan. As long as we monitor him, Hiruzen won't dare to act openly against the Uchiha. Itachi is the real problem."
Walking through the streets towards the training grounds, Yuan reflected on his training regimen. His clan had provided elite ninja to train with him, but his best sparring partner would have been Shisui, who was currently occupied with monitoring Itachi. Despite the limited information, having Shisui shadow Itachi served a purpose: demonstrating that Itachi was under constant surveillance.
Yuan also considered the implications of Itachi's actions with Tobi, another Uchiha with formidable abilities. Yuan remained vigilant, aware of Tobi's spatial manipulation techniques. He pondered various strategies to counter Tobi, considering using Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, a powerful genjutsu that could alter another's will.
"Using genjutsu against Tobi seems like the best approach. Kotoamatsukami is almost impossible to resist," Yuan thought. Although techniques like the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan or possessing Hashirama's cells might offer resistance, Yuan factored these possibilities into his planning.
Regardless of Itachi and Tobi's current lack of interaction, Yuan prepared for future conflicts. Recognizing Tobi as a potential enemy, he prioritized enhancing his own strength.
"If only I could obtain time-manipulation abilities, even a minor one, I could control Tobi's movements," Yuan fantasized. Time manipulation was a fearsome power, but gaining it through normal means seemed impossible. His Mangekyo Sharingan had awakened through a system, and he regretted not focusing on acquiring the most powerful abilities at the time.
Shaking off these thoughts, Yuan redirected his focus to more realistic goals. He had access to extensive resources, including forbidden techniques. He had already mastered powerful fire techniques like Great Fire Annihilation and Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame. His training also included earth and wind release techniques, enhancing his overall combat abilities.
"Although I haven't perfected the transformation and nature manipulation of Earth and Wind Release, I've made significant progress in other areas. My wind techniques, especially, have improved thanks to the Water Bird Dance."
Rather than dedicating time to mastering elemental transformations, Yuan concentrated on refining his Susanoo, a manifestation of his Mangekyo Sharingan. His Susanoo shared the same blue hue as Madara's, and he aspired to achieve similar strength.
As Yuan strolled, deep in thought, he suddenly noticed two familiar figures approaching him: Nara Shikamaru and another member of the Nara clan, Nara Kotoba.
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