"Whatever. On this return to Konoha, you might get to see someone you've been wanting to see."

Uchiha Yu sat atop the serpent's head.

Gazing at the starry sky.

The serpent's head was cool and smooth like jade, its scales cold to the touch. Occasionally, chakra had to be used for stability.

"Someone I want to see..."

Tsunade's expression subtly shifted.

She didn't quite understand the range of people Yu meant by that.

"What kind of person are you looking for?"

Tsunade asked curiously.

Uchiha Yu thought for a moment, then replied, "Someone who can provide us with territory."

He stared intently at the brilliant stars, the night wind brushing across his face.

"Territory…"

Tsunade murmured, withdrawing her gaze from Yu, deep in thought, before turning away.

But after what Yu had said earlier, once they reached Konoha, she decided to stay back with Shizune and Tonton, or perhaps not enter the village at all.

Tsunade feared something bad would happen in Konoha—and feared even more that she wouldn't be able to stop it.

After all, that was the village founded by her grandfather.

As for the person Uchiha Yu was looking for—

Tsunade had been curious all along.

Throughout their journey, Yu had a clear goal: first capturing the Three-Tails and Six-Tails to bolster their foundation, then seeking territory for the Uchiha clan.

The methods Yu used to seal the Three-Tails and Six-Tails remained a mystery to Tsunade.

But from what she could infer, this man held no small number of secrets.

Now, not long after escaping pursuit from Konoha, Yu dared to return openly.

That meant he was confident in his ability to stand against the village.

Tsunade's pretty face showed a serious expression. Worried, she returned to Shizune's side, falling into deep thought.

Atop the serpent's head—

Uchiha Yu also began to think, triggered by Tsunade's question, recalling the Shinobi World's Shinnō.

He was a character from one of the movie, appearing during the Shippuden timeline, after Naruto grew up and reunited with Sasuke.

In truth, Shinnō was the leader of the Sky Ninja Village. In order to rebuild the village, he wandered the shinobi world in disguise, searching for a way to awaken Zero-Tails.

In the end, just as Shinnō had planned, he successfully absorbed Zero-Tails.

But he was ultimately defeated by Naruto and Sasuke together.

Following the normal timeline, he would still be in his dormant stage at this point.

However, with the current turmoil in the shinobi world and the near-total absence of leadership within Konoha, Shinnō had a knack for showing up at just the right moment.

Yu's face remained calm.

Continuing to think—

Shinnō specialized in taijutsu and could use the Eight Gates technique. Without Zero-Tails, his strength was only at the level of an elite jōnin.

Yu figured that was likely one of the main reasons for Sky Ninja Village's downfall.

The village focused heavily on technology and neglected traditional ninjutsu. Without relying on external power, even the village leader was only equivalent to a jōnin from the Five Great Nations.

A village with underdeveloped ninjutsu and technology was bound to be eliminated in the shinobi world—it was surprising they even lasted as long as they did.

For a small ninja village to survive, the leader must at least be on the level of Hanzo of the Salamander.

Otherwise, they'd end up like the Grass Ninja Village—trampled and reduced to a playground for greater nations.

As for Shinnō's performance after absorbing Zero-Tails, it was rather disappointing.

He claimed he could use dark chakra to activate the Eight Gates without damage and stimulate his body.

Maybe it was because his base strength was too weak—despite the power boost, all he could manage was bullying a still-learning Naruto who had just come of age.

But against Sasuke, who had trained under Orochimaru, he was immediately suppressed by lightning-style attacks and exposed.

Yu paid little attention to Shinnō.

His focus was on Zero-Tails.

Its origins were unknown, but its core was linked to human emotions. On paper, its abilities seemed powerful, but in practice, it was underwhelming and needed further development.

The chakra blasts released by Zero-Tails were somewhat formidable.

But its greatest utility lay in its integration with the capital fortress—used as the energy source for a "super cannon."

That was the technological main cannon of the airborne fortress. It could fully harness the potential of Zero-Tails' dark chakra, producing destructive power on par with a Tailed Beast Bomb.

Yu considered that, in the future, the main power source for the capital fortress could be replaced by the Three-Tails, the Six-Tails, or other Tailed Beasts.

All in all, Shinnō plus Zero-Tails yielded a strength far greater than an ordinary jōnin—but his weakness remained lightning-style.

RUMBLE—

At the break of dawn, the massive Garaga surged forward. Now, Konoha was getting closer and closer.

Just one more mountain—

And they'd arrive.

Atop the Great Serpent's back—

As the sky above the Mianlian Mountains turned a faint gray, the Uchiha clan members awoke from their sleep, analyzing the terrain and checking their ninja tools.

They were returning to Konoha.

Bloodshed was inevitable.

Uchiha Yu still sat atop the serpent's head, gazing at the approaching Forest Training Ground.

Pop—

Before the cooldown of his last green potion ended, he took it out, removed the cap, and drank it all.

A chill flowed down his throat.

His mind sharpened.

The fatigue from staying up all night vanished completely, his strength slightly boosted, his body back at peak condition.

Uchiha Yu carefully checked his storage space. As the sky grew brighter, two more green potions refreshed.

With these in hand…

He could be at ease.

"Yu-kun…" A familiar and melodious voice, soft like flowing water, sounded behind him.

"Mm."

Uchiha Yu turned his head and saw Mikoto blushing as she stared at the now-vanished green potion bottle in his hand.

It was these green potions that always brought him back to peak state — something she both admired and feared.

Mikoto stepped up to his side. Last night, she, Izumi, and Nonoyu had changed into the Uchiha clan attire.

It was the Uchiha's traditional high-collared blue robe, with a white belt and clan crest — simple and dignified.

Back in the Warring States period, before the Five Great Shinobi Villages were founded, the Uchiha had fought in this very outfit.

"I want to talk to you… about Sasuke…" Mikoto looked down bashfully, her voice full of hesitation.

Uchiha Yu nodded slightly and replied: "Mm. If there's a chance when we return to Konoha, we'll find Sasuke and bring him with us."

"Thank you, Yu-kun!"

Hearing this, Mikoto beamed and nodded deeply, joy blooming across her face.

Uchiha Yu turned his gaze back to the distance.

While the Uchiha might not be able to raise a Kabuto…

Raising a Sasuke would be no problem.

Coincidentally, Sasuke was also tied to one of Uchiha Yu's side quests.

One kilometer ahead was the massive Forest Training Ground just outside Konoha.

Dense woods.

Vast area.

As Garaga advanced…

Uchiha Yu narrowed his eyes.

With his exceptional vision, he could faintly make out a familiar massive shape.

…

Inside the training ground, surrounded by trees, stood a massive brown monstrous snake in the central zone.

Atop the snake's head…

"Let's hope it works this time!"

Orochimaru finished the Edo Tensei ritual, watching as two kunoichi were engulfed by a flurry of white paper.

To satisfy Yu-kun, he had discarded the two male ANBU corpses he had initially prepared, and instead captured one kunoichi from Sunagakure and another from Kumogakure nearby.

On the snake's scaly back…

The glowing aura faded.

Paper scattered to the wind.

Rin Nohara and Kushina Uzumaki appeared simultaneously atop the giant serpent's head.

Both knelt on the ground, their faces full of confusion.

°°°

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