However, just as she habitually continued to follow Uchiha Kage's figure with her eyes, an enemy suddenly rushed in and caught her completely off guard.
'Am I... going to die now?'
Facing the kunai blade enlarging in her vision, Uzuki Yugao thought blankly in her heart.
Scenes flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern.
From the moment she received the order to monitor Naruto, Uzuki Yugao had noticed the "harmless" Uchiha Kage that night and had revealed herself to protect him.
Then she followed him through the Forest of Death, witnessing the then-weak Uchiha Kage counter-kill Aburame Ryoma.
From that moment on, secretly observing Uchiha Kage from the shadows had gradually become a habit for Uzuki Yugao.
Or rather, a way to pass the boredom.
So, she noticed that Uchiha Kage wanted to eat Ichiraku Ramen, knew that he wanted to buy ninja tools and ninja blades, and even overheard him being "seduced" by a female ninja in his room at night to do that…
'Now that he's become so strong… I guess he doesn't need me to protect him anymore.'
'Ninjas always have a day they will die, but...'
She hoped this boy who always called her "sister" like a younger brother would come to meet her in the Pure Land a little later.
That was Uzuki Yugao's final thought before dying.
Thud!
Her blood-soaked body collapsed heavily onto the ground.
"Yugao-sis, the knife you gave me works great," A flash of lightning passed, and upon hearing that familiar voice, Uzuki Yugao realized that the corpse lying on the ground wasn't her, but rather the Sunagakure jonin who had nearly killed her earlier.
The red-lipped, white-toothed Uchiha boy stood smiling in front of her.
"Kage...", Uzuki Yugao felt her body suddenly relax.
On the other side, still locked in fierce battle with the enemy and unable to spare a hand, Gekkou Hayate saw that Uzuki Yugao had been rescued and let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Only...
The fact that the one who saved Uzuki Yugao wasn't him made him feel a little sour.
Especially when he saw Uchiha Kage say something to Uzuki Yugao before the two of them left together.
———
"Yugao-sis, Karin is still in the village and doesn't know where to take shelter. I'll have to trouble you with her."
Sensing the locations of Samui and Karin, Uchiha Kage quickly realized the two weren't together.
"Alright."
Uzuki Yugao glanced at the battle around her. Konoha's ninja had already gained the upper hand, and soon they should be able to wipe out all the Sunagakure ninjas ambushing the exam grounds.
Only...
If something went wrong in the fight between the top Kage, Konoha might still fall into chaos.
"Also, this is my special kunai. If you encounter danger you can't handle, inject chakra into the seal on it."
Uchiha Kage handed her a special Flying Thunder God kunai.
This specially-made Flying Thunder God kunai was somewhat similar to the mark he'd engraved on Samui.
As long as chakra was injected into the seal, it could transmit a signal back to him.
So, as long as the wielder was within sensing range, he could arrive at their side at any time.
"This is..."
Uzuki Yugao was a bit curious about what exactly this kunai could do.
But seeing Uchiha Kage disappear after saying those words, she could only accept the kunai and disappear from where she was as well, heading into Konoha.
Even though she knew that Uchiha Kage probably just wanted to protect her and get her away from the conflict, when she thought about that little girl of the Uzumaki clan possibly being alone in the village, she still chose to follow Kage's orders.
———
"Why aren't you taking the chance to escape?"
Not long after leaving Uzuki Yugao, Uchiha Kage spotted Samui, who was sneakily watching the battle between Konoha and Sunagakure ninjas from atop a large tree, as if enjoying a show.
"Didn't think you'd actually learn Flying Thunder God..."
Samui didn't answer the question about escaping, instead looking complicatedly at the boy who suddenly appeared next to her.
She had clearly seen him defeat a group of Sunagakure ninjas just now.
'Only three days to recreate an effect just like the Yellow Flash's? This damned Uchiha...'
'This utterly evil Uchiha… is actually talented to such a degree.'
'Truly unfair of the heavens!'
However, once she realized that Uchiha Kage had indeed mastered the powerful Flying Thunder God technique, Samui had to accept that the mark on her chest wasn't some illusory trick.
It was a genuine Flying Thunder God mark.
Because just now, when he appeared next to her, the mark on her chest, the one that filled her with shame, reappeared clearly.
"Scared now? Lily?"
Uchiha Kage also glanced several more times at Samui's chest.
After seeing the slave mark he had engraved, he slightly nodded in admiration.
He really had been practicing moderation these past few days.
Only managing to satisfy Kaguya, Mikoto, and Kushina in one night, it really wasn't enough.
"You…"
'He is calling me that humiliating nickname again...'
"You just wait. I'll kill you eventually!"
She couldn't think about anything else anymore, he had to die. Only by killing him could she truly erase the mark he'd left on her.
Samui silently told herself this with a cold expression.
"Eventually? It's noon now, so no rush."
Uchiha Kage watched the letters on her chest appear, then disappear, before finally raising his head.
"I told you to spread the word about Paradise Cult, and you're handing out flyers to slack off?"
Before Samui could respond, Uchiha Kage pressed his palm to her chest and pinned her against the tree trunk.
"I already did my best. What more do you want?"
Samui realized she was somewhat getting used to having his hand manipulating her.
But even so, she still resisted with all her might, pushing his hand and body away, refusing to let this lewd intent draw near.
"Besides, you didn't even give me anything, how am I supposed to promote it?"
Just with a few vague lines?
Samui reasoned back forcefully, trying to resist Uchiha Kage's bullying.
"And that's my fault? Useless and mouthy."
"Hmph..."
Uchiha Kage pinched the female ninja's chin with his free hand.
He clearly saw the dissatisfaction on her face.
"You... you maniac… how can you do this here..."
But Samui soon stammered and softened her tone.
There were ninjas fighting all around nearby, someone might've already noticed them, yet this guy was doing this here...
Samui wanted nothing more than to bite this guy to death for shamelessly toying with her regardless of the place.
"Now, go catch that female Sunagakure genin. Consider it your redemption."
Once Samui had softened, Uchiha Kage finally got down to business.
Gaara could be left to Naruto and Sasuke, but Temari didn't need to be.
"This task is simple. If you still can't do it, I'll come to the supermarket tonight and spank you!"
"You…"
Samui expressionlessly accepted the ninja dossier Uchiha Kage handed her.
'Hmph...'
'Sure enough, another pretty girl.'
'This damn pervert!'
'He's obviously trying to lure another little girl.'
'Crude, lewd, shameless...'
Even though she was fuming inside, knowing she couldn't resist, Samui still accepted the task and set off toward the forest nearby.
"Alright, now it's time for me to watch the show."
Having assigned all the people he could, Uchiha Kage whispered to himself as he put on a special mask and then vanished from the spot.
———
"Stop him now!"
Too afraid to think about exactly who Orochimaru had summoned with those three coffins.
Just hearing the name Uchiha Shisui already gave the Third Hokage a headache.
He had brought Uchiha Itachi specifically to deal with Orochimaru using Mangekyō Sharingan, yet now Orochimaru had someone else with a Mangekyō Sharingan on his side? Who's fighting who now?
And who knows, maybe the reanimated Uchiha Shisui still has that special Kotoamatsukami genjutsu?
Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!
After a rapid set of hand seals, Hiruzen Sarutobi threw a large handful of shuriken at Orochimaru.
Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!
At the same time, Uchiha Itachi, looking pale, quickly followed up with his signature Fire Style technique.
Black shuriken rain and crimson flames instantly covered the three coffins Orochimaru had summoned.
"Did you forget, I still have Rasa as a puppet?"
Orochimaru remained completely unfazed, continuing to control the Edo Tensei Rasa nearby.
Clatter!
Golden sand surged ahead to cover the three coffins first, acting as a shield to block Sarutobi and Itachi's ninjutsu.
Thud!
As the sand scattered away, the lids of the three coffins swung open one after another.
Then, three zombie-like figures stepped out from within.
"We're doomed… it's really…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared blankly at the three who emerged from the coffins, and the light in his eyes faded completely.
Only now did he finally understand why Orochimaru had been able to kill him.
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