Chapter 269: Senju Chu Zi

"Hokage, the Uchiha Clan Leader has arrived."

In the Hokage Office, an ANBU knelt on one knee and reported.

"Let him in."

Qianshou Feijian stood by the window, his back to the doorway, his fingers lightly tapping the window frame with a steady, slow rhythm, as if pondering something.

Uchiha Tanaka pushed the door open and entered, his expression calm.

"Hokage," he said, nodding slightly, his tone neither servile nor arrogant.

Qianshou Feijian did not turn around, but said lightly, "Clan Leader Tanaka, please come at lunch time; thank you for your effort."

"Being summoned by the Hokage, I could not possibly be negligent," Uchiha Tanaka's gaze narrowed slightly, his voice steady, "May I ask what the matter is?"

The air briefly solidified for a moment.

Finally, Qianshou Feijian turned, his sharp red eyes fixed on the Uchiha Clan Leader, getting straight to the point—

"I heard your Uchiha Clan... is discussing a coup?"

Uchiha Tanaka felt a chill in his heart, yet his exterior remained unruffled.

He had long guessed the Hokage's purpose in summoning him, and now could only feign ignorance to conceal the past.

"Hokage, why say that?"

Qianshou Feijian sneered, picked up a scroll from the table, and tossed it over.

"Read it yourself."

Uchiha Tanaka took the scroll, unfolded it, and his pupils suddenly contracted—

It plainly recorded the detailed agenda of today's Uchiha clan meeting, even including some radical members' statements.

His complexion instantly turned very sour; he hadn't expected Qianshou Feijian to know even this.

It seemed there was more than one traitor; the clan appeared already infiltrated.

He closed the scroll, his expression returning to its prior calm, "Hokage, indeed some members made improper remarks at the clan meeting, but those were the delusions of a few, not the collective will of the Uchiha."

"Oh?" Qianshou Feijian narrowed his eyes slightly, "So you mean, you, the clan leader... cannot control your own people?"

Uchiha Tanaka's gaze hardened, "Hokage, matters within the Uchiha Clan are for me to handle."

"Handle?" Qianshou Feijian sneered, "When you finish handling it, will Konoha already be awash in blood?"

Their gazes clashed, the air seeming to solidify.

A moment later, Uchiha Tanaka spoke slowly, "Hokage, the Uchiha Clan's loyalty to Konoha is beyond doubt; those radicals I will deal with personally."

Qianshou Feijian stared at him for a long while, then coldly said, "That would be best."

He turned and walked to the window, his voice low and dangerous, "Remember, Clan Leader Tanaka, my tolerance has limits..."

Uchiha Tanaka's fist clenched hard, a fleeting flash of humiliation crossing his eyes, then the clenched fist silently relaxed.

After a moment of silence, he finally bowed his head slightly, "... I understand."

Having said that, he turned and left the Hokage Office without hesitation.

"Uchiha... truly a troublesome clan."

Not monitoring the Uchiha for fear they might harm the Village, yet monitoring them would provoke their displeasure.

However, over these years Uchiha Tanaka has improved considerably; now he is shrewd and knows when to advance or retreat, unlike his reckless early days, and has become a competent clan leader.

It is uncertain whether his change is good or bad for the Village.

Hope Uchiha Tanaka can properly handle the clan's Eagle Faction.

Unless absolutely necessary, he does not wish to shed blood on fellow villagers.

Even though the Uchiha Clan is a hidden threat to the Village, he never considered killing them; monitoring them is only to prevent extreme actions.

Just like the remarks at this clan meeting; if he does not give them a slight rebuke, who knows what they might do in the future?

According to his understanding of the Uchiha, rebellion is not impossible; by then both Uchiha and the Village would only face a blood‑soaked scenario.

Qianshou Feijian naturally did not want to see such a thing happen; calling Uchiha Tanaka over was meant to give him a reprimand, to let him know what should and should not be done...

Since becoming Hokage, he has to consider many matters, leaving him frazzled daily, with no time even to research Forbidden Technique.

It seems he truly has to start contemplating retirement.

In front of the Hokage Building.

"Yo, isn't that the Uchiha Clan Leader?" Lian Ye, carrying a Food Box, jeered at the newly emerged Tanaka, "Looks like the Hokage discovered the Uchiha's coup attempt."

Back then, Uchiha Tanaka had harbored murderous intent toward him, and he certainly would not forget that.

Had Qianshou Feijian not intervened later, he would have killed the guy long ago.

He had thought Uchiha Tanaka was striking at him from the shadows, but the guy never actually made a move.

That left him without a suitable excuse to act.

Uchiha Tanaka, just stepping out, ran into Lian Ye and was even jeered at.

If it were back then, he would have already found a way to kill Lian Ye.

Unfortunately, times have changed; Lian Ye is no longer the reckless little brat of the past, but Konoha's Deadly Poison Master!

He is no match for Lian Ye, so he naturally wouldn't provoke him, unless he thought his own life too long.

Moreover, Uchiha Tanaka is no longer the reckless clan leader he once was; he knows crossing Lian Ye would end badly.

If the two were to clash, that guy Qianshou Feijian would unquestionably side with Lian Ye without hesitation.

"Hmph, Senju Chu Zi."

Uchiha Tanaka snorted coldly, his steps unceasing, walking straight past him.

He didn't want to tangle with the kid; if caught with an excuse to beat him, he wouldn't know where to appeal.

Now he truly isn't the kid's opponent; can't provoke him nor evade him?

In the blink of an eye, Uchiha Tanaka's figure vanished around the corner.

Lian Ye: "???"

He was instantly thrown off by Uchiha Tanaka's line "Senju Chu Zi", and only as Tanaka's silhouette vanished from view did he gradually come to his senses.

"Damn, is that guy mocking me?!"

Lian Ye wanted to retort, but after glancing at the Food Box he was holding, the words he was about to say were swallowed back.

— Lies don't hurt; truth is the sharp blade.

So his identity as the Senju Chu Zi has already become known to everyone?

Hokage Office.

"Kid, what's wrong with you?"

Qianshou Feijian noticed Lian Ye's pale complexion and asked curiously.

Lian Ye placed the Food Box on the table, recalled Uchiha Tanaka's words before leaving, and couldn't help asking:

"Uncle, do you think I look like a chef?"

A huge question mark appeared on Qianshou Feijian's forehead, not knowing what this kid was up to.

Isn't this a willful question?

But for a moment he couldn't figure out Lian Ye's thoughts, and ultimately chose silence.

He had a premonition that if he answered poorly, there would be no chef preparing his three meals a day thereafter.

After a while, Qianshou Feijian tentatively asked:

"What do you think?"

Lian Ye: "……"

……

……

ps: I can't slack off any longer; I must write properly! I will make up all the overdue chapters, Ying ying ying…