Uchiha Yuan parted ways with Orochimaru at a crossroads. Only after Yuan left did Mitarashi Anko finally relax her stiff posture, the tension slowly draining from her shoulders.
After following Orochimaru for a while, Anko asked softly,
"Orochimaru-sensei… you seem very familiar with that Uchiha Yuan."
"Heh… Yuan-kun was one of my subordinates on the Sand front."
While they spoke, a passing ninja spotted Orochimaru and immediately bowed respectfully. His eyes burned with awe and a fanatical devotion.
"Orochimaru-sama."
Orochimaru spared him a faint glance and continued walking without pause.
Anko slowed for half a step, glancing at the man.
Yes. That is how shinobi should act in front of Orochimaru-sensei.
She jogged forward again, puffing her cheeks unhappily.
"Orochimaru-sensei, I think that Uchiha Yuan is very rude to you!"
"Hehehe."
Orochimaru chuckled lightly, not displaying the slightest concern.
Anko bit her lip, then asked timidly yet expectantly,
"Sensei… do you value Uchiha Yuan very much?"
The girl adored Orochimaru deeply. As his sole disciple, she believed she should naturally be the one he valued most.
Orochimaru smiled.
"Yuan-kun is a true genius."
Ever since Yuan returned to the village, he had visited Orochimaru's hidden base in the Forest of Death nearly every night.
Orochimaru possessed the most profound knowledge in the shinobi world, mastering countless forbidden techniques and secrets.
Yuan, on the other hand, carried scientific understanding from his previous life.
Their exchanges benefited both sides.
Orochimaru's meticulous dissections of ninjutsu enlightened Yuan, while many of Yuan's scientific perspectives sparked breakthroughs in Orochimaru's research.
Ideas that Yuan casually mentioned often opened new paths for experimentation that even Orochimaru had never considered.
At the Uchiha Clan Grounds
A flash appeared near the entrance — Uchiha Yuan returned.
He glanced toward the direction of the clan training grounds and frowned slightly.
That's Gen… He still hasn't gone home?
"Gen?"
A crisp, pleasant voice came from the side. A girl stepped toward him.
Her eyes assessed him carefully.
"So you're Uchiha Yuan?"
Yuan looked back at her — and his first impression was simple:
Stunning.
Her skin was porcelain-fair, her hair long and black like a waterfall, her features delicate like a quiet orchid blooming in the shade.
Then he noticed the emblem on her robes — the crest of the Senju Clan.
"I am Uchiha Yuan. And you are…?"
He met her gaze directly, sharp as a blade.
The girl did not back down; she returned his stare with equal intensity.
"Senju Yuki. Gen is my younger brother."
Yuan blinked, genuinely surprised.
Gen has an older sister? He never mentioned that.
"And what brings you here, Miss Yuki?"
For a split second, panic flashed across the girl's eyes — but she quickly masked it.
Her brows knit lightly.
"I'm looking for Gen. He always comes home by this time. When I heard he went into the Uchiha compound, I became… concerned."
Yuan paused.
He wasn't sure how to respond to that.
In his senses, Gen's chakra was surging. He was clearly in the middle of battle.
Fearing Gen might actually be surrounded by clan members, Yuan expanded his sensory field — the entire Uchiha district unfolded in his mind.
His brows twitched.
The chakra fighting Gen belonged to Uchiha Kaede.
Around them were the signatures of Uchiha Kawagawa and the others.
"Miss Yuki, don't worry. Gen is my friend — no Uchiha will bully him."
"Hmph. Forgive me if I don't trust the Uchiha."
She stepped into the clan grounds without hesitation.
Yuan followed at a relaxed pace — when suddenly, a faint alarm flickered in his senses.
High above, a concealed surveillance jutsu brushed against his awareness.
The Third Hokage?
So this is the Telescope Technique…
Yuan's expression didn't change, but he thought quietly:
In the original timeline, Hiruzen used this technique to peep on the women's bathhouse like a lecher — but in reality, this was undoubtedly a high-authority surveillance ninjutsu, connected directly to the village's barrier network.
Hiruzen watching this place… is it because of her?
Yuan's gaze swept over Senju Yuki's back.
He chuckled inwardly.
So the moment a Senju girl enters the Uchiha compound, the Hokage receives the alert.
Looks like more eyes are spying on this clan than I imagined.
Yuki's steps gradually slowed as they entered the Uchiha commercial district. She asked for a milk tea at a shop, then bought a slice of strawberry cake from a nearby dessert store before continuing.
Finally, they arrived at the training field.
Gen's chakra had fully settled — his sparring was over.
"Big Sister? Why are you here!?"
Gen's eyes widened in surprise. Then he noticed Yuan behind her — and instantly tensed.
"Yuan! Did you come here with my sister?"
Yuan crossed his arms and smirked.
"Gen, I never knew you had an older sister. We met at the clan gate. Since you hadn't gone home, she came looking."
Gen stared at the two bags his sister was holding — one containing two cups of milk tea, the other packed with desserts.
I knew it… She didn't come because she was worried about me. She came for the Uchiha snacks…
Gen sighed internally.
He turned to Yuan apologetically.
"Yuan, sorry… I forgot to introduce my family.
This is my sister — Senju Yuki."
Yuan clapped Gen on the shoulder.
"Apology accepted. You're forgiven."
Then he lifted his gaze toward Uchiha Kaede and the others — who immediately stiffened under his sharp stare.
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