Izuna, restore the glory of the Uchiha!

The layout of the entire Uchiha clan territory exhibits a blend of military and civilian characteristics.

The Nanga Shrine sits in the center, and not far outwards lies the residential area of ​​the Uchiha clan, nestled among greenery, quiet and peaceful.

Walking further out of the residential area, passing through a torii gate—which also seems to be a defensive line—you arrive at the bustling commercial street.

The outermost perimeter consists of training grounds and military defense lines where shouts of battle resound.

After placing the documents into a sealed scroll, Izuna strolled around the fairly bustling commercial district.

Although it was the Warring States period, the streets protected by the Uchiha clan had a rare sense of everyday life.

Along both sides of the road, various banners and lanterns printed with round fans and family crests are hung, swaying gently in the breeze.

The wooden houses are arranged in a staggered pattern, with wind chimes hanging under the eaves facing the street, making a crisp sound.

The merchants here are mostly cruel perpetrators or ordinary villagers from surrounding villages that are affiliated with the Uchiha clan.

The goods displayed on the stall, to Izuna who has seen the hustle and bustle of the city, seemed a bit drab and rustic, yet they truly reflected the lives of the clan members at present.

Household necessities like firewood, rice, oil, and salt; kunai and shuriken used by ninjas; and even some brightly colored windmills and clay sculptures to amuse children.

He stopped in front of a small stall. The stall owner was an elderly woman with a full head of white hair, who was slowly baking tricolor meatballs.

Isn't this the favorite sweet treat of a seven-year-old with the mindset of a Naruto?

The glutinous rice balls were baked until slightly golden brown, brushed with a layer of syrup, and emitted an enticing aroma.

"It's Izuna. It's been a long time."

The old woman looked up, wiped her hands on her apron, and smiled so broadly that all the wrinkles on her face smoothed out.

"Grandma, you still remember me."

Izuna responded with a smile, took out his wallet from his pocket, counted out a hundred-tael banknote, and handed it over.

"How could I not remember? When I was little..."

The old woman chattered on and on about the past while deftly wrapping up several skewers of freshly baked meatballs, preparing to bend down to get change from the cash box.

"No need to look anymore. I'm so sorry I haven't been able to patronize your business for so long."

Izuna reached out and pressed down on the money box, gently stopping him.

"Ah... our Izuna has grown up and become very caring."

After saying goodbye to the old woman, Izuna took the warm paper bag, picked up a skewer of dumplings, and took a bite.

The crust is crispy, the inside is soft and chewy, the red bean filling is delicate and smooth, and the sweetness is just right.

The cheerful atmosphere in the commercial street made Izuna somewhat distracted.

Although the Uchiha clan has lived by war for generations, they are regarded by outsiders as bloodthirsty demons.

However, the atmosphere within the clan is more harmonious and united than that of many farming clans that work from sunrise to sunset.

Was it the high pressure of war that forced them to increase internal cohesion? Or was it their so-called special bloodline that made them have an extraordinary dedication and tolerance towards their own people?

While casually browsing the stalls, a clear and strong greeting suddenly reached my ears.

"Lord Izuna!"

Izuna turned around and saw a woman dressed in a purple high-necked outfit standing not far away, bowing to him.

She had long purple hair, bright and lively black eyes, and a short katana at her waist, exuding a capable and efficient aura.

Izuna recognized her; she was the female ninja who had helped him use genjutsu to anesthetize Tobirama that day.

"What a coincidence, we meet again."

Izuna greeted her with a smile, his gaze lingering for a moment on her slightly youthful face as he quickly searched his mind for information about her.

"My name is Zhili, and I currently serve in the Third Army."

Uchiha... Chiri?

Izanami!

The girl before you is the creator of Izanami!

Izuna's pupils dilated in shock. He hadn't expected to encounter this illusion genius by chance.

"Izuna,"

He quickly suppressed his shock and did not appear impolite.

"You know my name, but let's still get to know each other formally."

Izuna didn't scrutinize the girl excessively because of his shock, and Chiri took the initial raised eyebrow as a pleasant surprise at their reunion.

The two then walked side by side.

Upon closer examination, it makes sense; the Uchiha's Third Division was a unit specializing in genjutsu (illusionary techniques).

At the time, the fact that this girl, who looked no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, dared to step forward and cooperate with the surgery, and that none of the veteran ninjas around her raised any objections, proved her absolute talent in the field of illusion.

After calming himself down, Izuna sincerely praised him:

"Thanks to you that day, you controlled the whole process very precisely, otherwise things would have been much more troublesome."

"You flatter me. The senior members of the Illusion Squad are all very talented. I only stood up that day because I was young and wanted to show off."

Zhili responded modestly, and very sensibly gave the credit to the entire unit in front of the second-in-command.

Izuna knew exactly what was going on. He chimed in with a couple of comments, not wanting Chiri's efforts to be in vain, and then continued the conversation along that line.

Of course, in order to get to the bottom of things, it was mostly Izuna who guided the discussion, while Chiri offered his insights.

It was obvious to the naked eye that this usually calm child was very excited to be able to chat with Izuna, a highly respected figure in the clan, about his ninjutsu experiences. He talked non-stop the whole way, his cheeks flushed with excitement.

After some casual conversation, seeing that the time was ripe, Izuna no longer hesitated and extended an olive branch at the opportune moment:

"I'm currently setting up a laboratory to study the integration of chakra and human functions, and I'm in dire need of someone like you who has such a keen eye for manipulating chakra."

"So, interested in taking a look?"

Upon hearing this, Zhili's eyes lit up instantly, and a look of curiosity befitting her age appeared on her face.

"It would be my honor to have the opportunity to learn from Lord Izuna!"

Without much hesitation, Chiri readily accepted the invitation.

The two strolled around for a while longer, discussing some initial ideas about the laboratory, before finally parting ways at the intersection.

After watching Chiri leave, Izuna circled the intersection twice before pausing and heading towards a slightly more secluded residential area.

The sun was setting, but it wasn't dusk yet. Golden sunlight slanted across the bluestone path, casting long shadows.

Smoke curled up from the rooftops, and women sat on low stools by the door, mending clothes in the last rays of sunlight, chatting idly, while the sounds of children playing filled the air.

As Izuna wandered through such a heartwarming scene, his steps gradually veered off the main path and turned into a quiet dead-end alley.

The walls were high, and the interior was somewhat cold and gloomy.

He stopped and turned to face the empty alleyway, the leisurely look on his face gradually fading.

He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes.

"Come out, aren't you tired of following me for so long?"

The air seemed to freeze for a moment, as if no one heard.

A few seconds later.

A few rustling footsteps sounded, and a slender figure slowly emerged from the shadows around the alley bend.