Chapter 45: Hui in Action

Early the next morning, Shisui went ahead to the Hokage Building to request leave approval from the Third Hokage, who readily agreed and permitted him not to return for duty until the Uchiha annual gathering was over.

When he returned, Itachi was already waiting outside the courtyard.

The courtyard gate was wide open, with Jin Huo and Ying Shu standing to one side, looking somewhat troubled.

"Itachi, you're here so early? You've been waiting a long time, haven't you?"

"No, I just arrived."

The two spoke softly, then entered the courtyard together.

Jin Huo still stood at the gate, watching their receding figures, pouting and muttering under his breath: "Been waiting a long time, haven't you?

I just got here.

He's clearly been here a long time!"

"Copycat, what are you whispering about now? Careful, Lord Shisui might chase you off."

Ying Shu was standing close by and hurriedly tried to stop him upon hearing Jin Huo's odd tone.

"Lord Shisui wouldn't do that, but Grandpa Yi might."

"Alright, just a joke. Since Lord Shisui is back, let's go complete Grandpa Yi's mission! Hehe, come to think of it, this is the first time I've ever seen a mission where you get to spend money. What an easy one!"

"True enough, but it's just purchasing supplies for the annual gathering. Why go to such lengths?"

"Who cares, let's go, let's go, let's shop to our hearts' content today!"

As the two walked off chatting and laughing, Shisui and Itachi arrived at the study, where Sima Yi was reading as steadily as ever.

Itachi looked puzzled when Shisui stopped outside the study and was about to ask, but saw Shisui raise a hand to signal him to be quiet.

Knock knock knock—"Grandpa, I've brought Itachi."

Grandpa?

Itachi immediately showed a shocked expression and looked at Shisui with a strange face.

Shisui's grandfather was a disciple of the Second Hokage, Uchiha Kagami—who in the clan or beyond didn't know that?

But that man had long since died. How could he be here?

"Come in."

A low voice sounded. Shisui pushed the door open and entered, with Itachi close behind.

Entering the study and seeing the unfamiliar old man before him, Itachi's first thought was of Orochimaru, whom he had encountered at the Memorial Stone! But he maintained his composure throughout, revealing no emotion, merely observing quietly.

While Itachi was studying Sima Yi, Sima Yi was also studying him. He felt somewhat moved—it was, after all, a world that could send a ten-year-old child onto the battlefield. No wonder they were so precocious.

"Grandpa, this is Itachi, Clan Leader Fugaku's son.

Itachi, this is the grandfather I gained after returning from the front lines. You can call him Grandpa Yi. He's helped me a lot and is a great wise man!"

Shisui's high praise immediately changed Itachi's impression. He stepped forward obediently and bowed. "Grandpa Yi."

Sima Yi smiled and nodded, then turned to take a thick book from the shelf and placed it in Itachi's hands. "What a well-behaved child indeed. The future of the Uchiha rests on you. This is a gift from Grandpa. You can read it when you're bored at home."

Itachi felt his hands sink; the weight alone told him this book was extraordinary.

Shisui peeked sideways and caught a glimpse of the book cover, which read *Records of a Journey on the Way of Illumination*—it appeared to be merely a travelogue.

This puzzled him, and he didn't understand Sima Yi's intent, but with Itachi right beside him, it wasn't the right time to ask.

"I hear you two are going to train?"

"Yes, Grandpa. I'll be training together with Itachi for the next few days."

Itachi held the book to his chest and nodded along.

"Mm, then be careful. The Uchiha clan's medical ninja were all reassigned this morning. Be mindful during training and don't get hurt." With that, Sima Yi lowered his head and continued reading.

Shisui's mouth twitched slightly. He had thought Sima Yi would put Itachi through various tests and then teach him, but instead he was sending them off so quickly!

Not having taken up too much of his time, Itachi was quite happy, and his impression of Sima Yi improved further.

"Then, Grandpa, we'll be going first. We should be back around evening."

"Mm."

Receiving no invitation to stay, Shisui had no choice but to lead Itachi out of the study. Only after leaving did he realize he seemed to have overlooked something.

He looked at Itachi and asked uncertainly, "Did Grandpa just say that the clan's medical ninja have all been reassigned?"

"Yes. The Medical Division sent someone to find Father this morning, saying the Ninja Hospital was short-staffed and hoping Father could dispatch all the clan's medical ninja to help. Father agreed."

Shisui frowned. Nowadays, every move Konoha made toward the Uchiha could set his nerves on edge.

It kept him constantly guessing at the motives of Konoha's higher-ups.

After a moment's thought, he sighed and turned his gaze to Itachi, who was still holding the book.

Right now, the child before him was what mattered most.

He took out a scroll and said with a smile, "Put the book in here. Today we're training all day!"

"Mm!"

Their eyes filled with cheer, the two left the clan grounds together under the sunlight, crossed the streets, and headed toward an uninhabited forest.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Konoha.

"My lord ninja, I am the owner of this salt shop, Tomosuke Osaka. May I ask what business you gentlemen have with me?"

Outside a salt shop, Tomosuke Osaka looked at the young uniformed Police Force ninja before him, his face plastered with a smile.

Hui's expression was calm. He walked a circuit through the shop, his three-tomoe Copy Wheel Eye sweeping over every corner, before finally settling his gaze on Tomosuke Osaka.

"Yesterday an enemy spy escaped. For the safety of Konoha, we are now conducting a full search. Please cooperate."

"Hahaha, my lord ninja must be joking. I'm just a salt merchant—how could there be a spy here?"

Tomosuke Osaka was tall and stout, his face thick with flesh. When he laughed, his voice boomed with vigor. He wore a purple brocade robe and a marten fur wrap, dressed splendidly, and his bearing was quite composed.

"Hmph! Whether there is or not—do you think you're the one to tell me?"

Hui gave him no pleasantries. He sneered, his eyes sweeping over the man. With just a brief meeting of gazes, Tomosuke Osaka's eyes immediately went vacant, then his whole body trembled uncontrollably. In mere moments he was drenched in sweat and recoiled in terror.

With a boom, he fell backward to the ground. The servants beside him looked terrified, wanting to help him up but unable to move at all.

"You, you—"

Tomosuke Osaka's expression changed drastically, no longer composed. He scrambled to his feet and hurriedly said, "Uchiha, you can't do this. Do you know my uncle is—"

However, before he could finish speaking, Hui swept another glance at him, and he was immediately brought under control. "Whatever you have to say, say it inside. Take him away directly and seal up the shop!"

At these words, the two behind him stepped forward at once and shackled him in front of everyone in the shop, then sealed off the counter and took away the ledgers.

Hui's gaze swept across the room; no one dared to meet his eyes. "Everyone, none of you may leave this place before your shopkeeper returns. Otherwise, I will have you arrested and thrown into the Uchiha prison on the charge of colluding with foreign enemies!"

"…Yes."

Hearing the cold warning, everyone was filled with dread and answered in low voices, not daring to raise their heads. Only when Hui saw this did he depart.

"Let's go, the next one!"

(End of this chapter)