Chapter 176 : The villagers of Konoha are suffering.
I am not a bloodthirsty person, so I will spare you this time.
However...
Hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's tone change, Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonou, who had just slightly relaxed, immediately became tense again.
Then they heard Uchiha Yuzuru say in a deep voice: "In the future, you probably won't be able to engage in anything related to espionage."
Although Kabuto Yakushi was quite good at gathering intelligence, Uchiha Yuzuru valued Kabuto Yakushi's scientific research abilities more than these skills.
After all, he was the man who transformed into a Dragon after Orochimaru's death.
Letting him continue to be Orochimaru's assistant should allow him to play a greater role.
As for Yakushi Nonou... Hidden Cloud Village also has welfare institutions similar to the Orphanage, so he decided to let her continue serving as the Director in the Orphanage.
As long as the bonds were established, he wouldn't have to worry about the two of them betraying him.
Kabuto Yakushi asked cautiously: "Lord Yuzuru, do you already have a plan?"
Uchiha Yuzuru nodded: "Orochimaru's research base happens to be short of an assistant. You will go and help Orochimaru with scientific research from now on."
"As for Yakushi Nonou... she will serve as the Director of the Hidden Cloud Village Orphanage."
After hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's decision, both Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonou opened their mouths in astonishment.
They had originally thought that even if Uchiha Yuzuru accepted them, he would try every means to squeeze every last bit of value out of them.
But they never expected him to make such arrangements.
One going to the laboratory as an assistant, and one going to the Orphanage as the Director... It could be said that these were two completely risk-free positions, simply handed to them?
Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonou, who had always belonged to the "Root" organization, felt that this was too surreal.
"What, are you dissatisfied?"
"No, absolutely not. We will certainly work hard and never fail your expectations."
Uchiha Yuzuru nodded in satisfaction, then bent down and lifted Yakushi Nonou into his arms.
Yakushi Nonou was startled and said in panic: "Lord Yuzuru, I, I can walk by myself. You don't need to condescend to do this."
Kabuto Yakushi immediately added: "Lord Yuzuru, I can carry Director Nonou."
Uchiha Yuzuru frowned: "One of you is severely injured and the other has a broken arm. Don't try to show off in front of me."
Hearing this, Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonou exchanged glances, and a feeling they had never experienced before arose in their hearts.
When they followed Shimura Danzo, they were always required to regard themselves as "tools," and even showing emotion would incur severe punishment.
Receiving special care like this today was something that had never happened before.
Neither of them suspected Uchiha Yuzuru was deliberately trying to win them over.
After all, they were not Transmigrators, nor did they know what would happen in the future.
From the perspective of Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonou, they were merely two abandoned Ninja with decent strength.
Given Uchiha Yuzuru's status and position, there was absolutely no need for him to pretend in front of them.
Uchiha Yuzuru held Yakushi Nonou, with Kabuto Yakushi following behind, and the three walked toward Hidden Cloud Village.
Passing a hill, Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonou saw three dried corpses wearing Konoha Ninja headbands.
"They had been secretly observing during your fight. They must have been sent by Shimura Danzo, and I just happened to pass by and dealt with them."
After hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's explanation, a trace of fear arose in the hearts of Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonou.
If it weren't for Uchiha Yuzuru, they probably would have died here today.
Sensing their emotions, Uchiha Yuzuru said lightly: "Don't worry, one day I will lead you back to Konoha."
"Shimura Danzo will pay the price for his actions."
Hearing Uchiha Yuzuru mention this again, Kabuto Yakushi asked curiously: "Lord Yuzuru, were you also persecuted by Shimura Danzo when you left Konoha?"
"To be precise, it was the four of them: Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Koharu Utatane."
"Under their rule, Konoha was consumed by darkness, which is why I led my clan away from Konoha."
Uchiha Yuzuru also intended to foster a bond between the three of them, so he continued speaking.
"Later, it wasn't just us Uchiha; Hatake Sakumo, Might Duy, Orochimaru, Tsunade..."
"Their joining only strengthened the idea in my heart, and reclaiming Konoha became a matter of course."
"After all, Konoha is the Village established by the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan. We certainly won't let it be destroyed by others."
Kabuto Yakushi nodded with admiration: "I believe Lord Yuzuru, you will definitely succeed!"
"Director Nonou, what is the situation in Konoha now?"
Although they had the Tongue Restriction Curse Mark placed on them, it didn't mean they couldn't discuss Konoha, as long as they didn't involve confidential information.
Hearing Kabuto Yakushi's question, Yakushi Nonou sighed: "After Orochimaru defected, Sarutobi Hiruzen retired behind the scenes, citing poor health. The person actually in power in Konoha now is Shimura Danzo."
Uchiha Yuzuru raised an eyebrow: "Shimura Danzo? Did he become the Hokage?"
Since the Third Great Ninja World War, he hadn't paid attention to news about Konoha for a long time.
Therefore, Uchiha Yuzuru was somewhat surprised after hearing Yakushi Nonou's words.
Could it be that due to his butterfly effect, Shimura Danzo really achieved his dream?
"Not the Hokage." Yakushi Nonou organized her thoughts and slowly said, "After the Shinobi Alliance was defeated by you, the Sandaime staged a show to appease public anger, publicly beheading Shimura Danzo."
"So even later, when Sarutobi Hiruzen claimed illness and retired, Shimura Danzo remained hidden behind the scenes after taking power."
"He has the authority of the Hokage, but not the title of the Hokage."
"That's interesting." Uchiha Yuzuru felt like laughing.
He hadn't expected that even after truly taking power from Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo was still a rat hiding in the gutter.
Perhaps this was his destiny, a parasite that could never be exposed to the sunlight.
Laughter aside, Uchiha Yuzuru was genuinely curious.
After glancing at Yakushi Nonou in his arms, Uchiha Yuzuru asked: "What changes occurred in Konoha after Shimura Danzo took power?"
"I have always lived in the Orphanage, so I am not clear about many things. I only know that after Shimura Danzo gained power, he vigorously expanded the influence of 'Root,' and at the same time, the examination for becoming a Ninja became much more lenient."
"Furthermore, the Village implemented a curfew at night; no one is allowed to leave their homes privately after nine o'clock."
"Prices have also increased significantly, and resources are regulated. Every cold winter season, you can see Konoha Villagers frozen or starved to death on the streets."
"I am not very clear about the rest."
After listening to Yakushi Nonou's description, Uchiha Yuzuru shook his head internally.
Shimura Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen truly know how to cause trouble. It's astonishing that in the fertile Land of Fire, where the Daimyo are no longer in control, they could allow Village residents living in a Ninja Village to freeze or starve to death.
Thinking of this, Uchiha Yuzuru asked: "Now that Konoha has become like this, didn't the Villagers cause trouble?"
"There were at first, but everyone who caused trouble was killed by Root. The streets of Konoha were stained red that day..."
Yakushi Nonou had witnessed the tragic scene firsthand.
Those emotionless Root Ninja wantonly slaughtered unarmed ordinary Villagers.
Even recalling it now made her feel sick.
"It seems the Konoha Villagers are suffering."
Uchiha Yuzuru shook his head, feeling inexplicably pleased.
Back then, they ostracized the Uchiha Clan so much, as if the entire Uchiha Clan were heinous criminals.
They spent every day isolating them after they had nothing else to do.
Now look, they encountered an authoritarian like Shimura Danzo taking power.
Without the Uchiha Clan to restrain him, they were directly reduced to livestock being reared. He wondered what they were thinking now...