[124] Remnants

Yuhara had no idea what the Four Giants of Konoha were scheming—he just had a headache.

Uchiha Fugaku had suggested something that Shisui, Uchiha Sō, and Uchiha Takeshi all agreed on: Yuhara's old living quarters were way too shabby. He'd never made a fuss about it before, and everyone had been too busy to care, but now that he'd personally blown up his own house, a new residence befitting his status was clearly necessary.

Yuhara didn't know how to argue against it—it felt pointless. He didn't care much where he lived anyway; he was a single guy, it was all the same to him.

But as clan head, if he didn't live somewhere worthy of that title, it would reflect poorly—especially when people came to visit. It would be a joke if the head of Konoha's top clan was found living like a squatter.

"What's changing houses got to do with matchmaking though? You want me to start mass-producing kids or what?"

Yuhara wasn't bothered by the move itself—it was the way Fugaku and the other two old men brought up his need for descendants that gave him a real headache.

In this world, especially among ninja who might not live to see tomorrow, people married young. Even in the original series, it was subtly shown—Sakura, Ino, even Hinata were thinking about love at a young age.

Given Yuhara's talent, he should've been married long ago. But as a mission ninja who was rarely in the village and aligned with no particular faction, no one had tried to rope him in. He'd slipped through the cracks.

Now, even with everything changed, he still didn't feel like it—he didn't really like anyone in the clan. Back then, he had no voice in the family, no power to make people listen. He'd given up on them.

Had he known he'd awaken his system a year earlier, he would've definitely found a cute girl —look at Xiao Yan and his superstar dad! That guy started early!

But alas, there was no going back. Even if he drew Ezreal's ult, he doubted it'd rewind time for him.

"Whatever. If I do meet someone I like in the clan, I'll just issue a command. I'm the clan head—who'd dare refuse me?"

Yuhara smirked to himself, then glanced at Shisui—another fellow single dog. But he couldn't be bothered to meddle. He'd already handed Shisui a copy of Icha Icha Paradise. If that didn't spark something in him, then he was truly hopeless.

What Yuhara was more curious about was Shisui's physical condition. Though he'd been monitoring the situation, firsthand confirmation was better.

"I think I'm almost fully adapted. The lab staff say I still need monitoring, but I feel my body's adjusting well to the new power."

Shisui answered seriously—he wouldn't hide anything, since this was key to the experiment's success.

"I see. Good." Yuhara nodded, then smiled. "How's your eye?"

"Pretty good. I can feel the power repairing the damage, though it's slow," Shisui replied. "I believe the experiment can continue. You'll be able to use it with peace of mind."

From the first test, he'd felt subtle changes in his eye—but it was so faint he'd doubted himself. Now that his body had adjusted, the effects were becoming obvious. His eye was healing, and his physical strength improving. It was surreal.

Sure, the process involved some pain—but if it meant restoring his eye and using his Mangekyō without limits, the pain was worth it.

"We'll talk more later—focus on yourself for now," Yuhara said. While he wasn't overly invested, Shisui's constant concern for him made him happy.

"Take care of yourself, work closely with the lab. I'm expecting a deputy clan head who far surpasses the current one."

"I won't disappoint you, Yuhara."

Shisui nodded earnestly, then hesitated.

"By the way, there's a kid in the lab who wants to be my student. He's a bit special…"

"Shisui, handle it yourself."

Yuhara cut him off, clearly exasperated. It was flattering that Shisui asked about everything, but come on—did he really need to weigh in on every little thing?

The lab folks were solid. Even if not all were geniuses, their loyalty was unquestionable. If one of them wanted to be Shisui's student, and Shisui was fine with it, Yuhara had no complaints.

Shisui opened his mouth but then shut it. He understood Yuhara's "your call" attitude as a sign of trust—but still felt a bit helpless. The kid in question was a genius, and he wanted revenge.

His name was Uchiha Izumi.

"Captain, the shift's here. Let's go."

Inside the Hokage building, Kakashi stood silently like a statue in his post, eyes sharp as a hawk's. Only when his subordinate approached did he shift his gaze.

"I got it. Dismissed."

He replied coldly and left without looking back. His team was used to it—Kakashi's iciness was legendary. No one could stand it for long unless they had to.

But Kakashi didn't care. His mind was still reeling from what he overheard the previous night.

Originally, he'd just wanted to check Root's mission records. Instead, he stumbled across a plot from the Hokage and his advisors against the Uchiha.

As an ANBU, he shouldn't get involved in such things. He wasn't even supposed to react.

But as Hatake Kakashi—the man with an Uchiha eye gifted by Obito—he couldn't ignore it. That eye symbolized a debt. Obito had been his best friend, the one who lit up his dark world.

To think the Hokage was targeting Obito's clan all along… How could Kakashi accept that?

Was it really right for a Hokage to scheme against his own village's major clan?

As the Fourth's disciple—even though Minato only served a year—Kakashi had learned a lot from him. He knew firsthand how wrong this was.

"What the hell do I do now…"

Kakashi mulled it over as he walked home. Eventually, he made a decision.

He didn't even like Yuhara that much—Yuhara had attacked him once with genjutsu. He'd never forget that.

But that genjutsu had also lit a spark in him—a desire to uncover the truth.

Yuhara was the Uchiha clan head. Kakashi didn't want anything bad to happen to Obito's family.

Still, he couldn't hand over the intel directly. His position made it too risky.

Unlike Yuhara, who could act freely, Kakashi had too much to lose. If he was caught, he could be blackmailed forever.

So he'd find another way—one that didn't reveal his identity.

The next morning, Yuhara stared at a letter with a weird look. Shisui, Fugaku, and two elders stood by, faces tense.

No one knew who sent the letter. No camera caught anyone. But the content was alarming—it exposed Sarutobi Hiruzen's whole plan, targeting both the Uchiha and the Police Force's weak points.

If it were true, Uchiha and the Police Force would be in big trouble.

"Smart tactics," Yuhara said with a wry smile. He'd expected Hiruzen to retaliate—but not this fast. Danzo's corpse wasn't even cold yet!

Since he couldn't destroy the will of his enemies, he'd just destroy the people who carried it.

Was Hiruzen in such a rush to join Danzo in the afterlife?

He didn't know if the intel was legit—it was anonymous—but the accuracy made it feel real.

The strategy not only hit Uchiha and the Police Force hard, but it also terrified the allied Hyūga—classic scare tactics.

Clearly a move from someone in the Hokage faction.

Still, the mysterious sender and the vague reference to someone seeking revenge left him uneasy.

Most of his enemies were dead. Danzo was definitely dead. Maybe not roasted to ash, but still dead.

"Take this intel and make sure no one else sees it," Yuhara ordered Shisui and the others. "Whether it's true or not, we'll be ready. If it's legit, we'll play along. If not, it's still a wake-up call."

"The crisis isn't over. We've only gained temporary peace—don't get complacent."

"Yes, Clan Head!"

Shisui and the others answered loudly. Aside from Yuhara and Shisui, the others seemed to fully believe the intel—because Hiruzen was more than capable of doing it.

Still, one thing puzzled them: who was the mysterious attacker targeting Yuhara?

"Clan Head, who do you think it could be?" Uchiha Takeshi asked. "Who still holds that much hatred for you?"

"I'm wondering that too. I've got plenty of enemies, but not many are still alive."

He paused, thinking. It couldn't be someone from Sarutobi's clan—they'd never be dumb enough to do something so blatant.

He wasn't leaving Konoha anytime soon either.

Then it hit him.

It had to be those Root orphans—kids from the battlefield or orphanages that Danzo took in. After Danzo died, some were sent back to their clans. Others, like Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fū, were loyal—but still tethered to their families.

But those true orphans had no home. They were given to Hiruzen to handle. Last he heard, they were supposed to join ANBU—but no one knew their exact status.

Perfect pawns for shady jobs.

"You remember those Root orphans from the war?" Yuhara asked.

"Root?" Shisui caught on quickly. "Weren't they absorbed by the Hokage?"

"But would the Hokage tell us if they weren't?" Fugaku chimed in. "Even if they were, all the files are with him. He could deny it anytime."

"Then they're prime suspects," Shisui nodded. "Shall I investigate?"

"They're holed up in the eastern forest—used for ninja exams," he added. "No major events are scheduled, so it's the perfect hideout."

"No need. I'll go myself," Yuhara said, smiling coldly. His eyes locked on the Hokage Monument.

"If they want to play, I'll play. If they attack a department head, the consequences will be… interesting."

In Konoha's eastern forest, a group of black-clad shinobi camped in silence. The only sounds were wind and firewood crackling. Their silence spoke volumes.

They were experts in assassination.

Once, they were Danzo's Root. Now, they were rootless—because of Yuhara.

To them, Danzo was their god. His death left them hollow. Their only purpose now was revenge.

They'd even refused Hiruzen's offer to join ANBU. Until they avenged Danzo, they wouldn't serve anyone.

But they couldn't move yet—Hiruzen had forbidden it. He'd warned them: act now, and you'll never get revenge.

So they waited.

Then—crunch. The sound of someone stepping on snow and grass.

Everyone tensed. Weapons drawn. Patrols ready.

Then they saw who it was.

Their eyes went red with rage.

Uchiha Yuhara.

The man who killed Danzo.

"Boom!"

Chakra flared violently. Cold, suffocating killing intent spread. Their eyes locked on him, faces twisted in murderous rage.

"Oh? Quite the welcome."

Yuhara smiled.

"To think you Danzo stragglers didn't follow him to the grave. Still clinging to life? Hah."

He paused, scanning the furious crowd.

"Then again, your master was a sewer rat. What could I expect from his pets?"

The moment he finished, blades of ice-cold killing intent slashed through the air toward him.

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