The torrential rain gradually came to a stop.
Thick mist filled the forested mountains.
The Uchiha surrounded Tamao, sizing him up from head to toe with strange expressions. One after another, they couldn't help but remark—Tamao had finally become the very thing he hated.
Uchiha Yu fell into deep thought.
He hadn't used the green potion on anyone else, out of concern it might have negative side effects. As it turned out… it really did.
Tamayo's face was frozen in a terrified expression, arms hanging down, standing rigidly upright.
All over his body, only his eyes could slowly move. His skin had turned green, and a dry layer of brown bark now covered its surface.
Yu and Nonoyu noticed that the internal damage Tamayo had sustained from Gentle Fist strikes during battle seemed to have fully healed under the tree bark.
Yu cast a sidelong glance at Nonoyu.
Nonoyu instantly understood what Yu meant and brought the green potion vial to Tamayo's side, activating medical ninjutsu to examine him.
Nonoyu's expression turned astonished. In her perception, the energy that had healed Tamayo was almost identical to the life force that had surged through Yu earlier—just significantly weaker.
Even so, the energy had completely healed Tamayo's injuries—and even exceeded what was needed.
"So that's how it is."
Nonoyu's eyes lit with realization as she observed the green-faced Tamayo.
She explained to the others:
"He's fine. Once the energy that healed him dissipates from his body, he'll recover naturally. It might just take a few hours."
Hearing the professional diagnosis, Tamao's eyes bulged in protest. He wanted to speak—but could only stare wide-eyed, completely immobile.
Not being able to speak for hours…
To him, that was no different than death.
The rest of the Uchiha, now reassured that Tamao wasn't in danger, relaxed—and immediately began to enjoy themselves.
Tamayo not being able to talk was a blessing. The group could finally have some peace, and the atmosphere wouldn't be thrown off by his antics.
Having just narrowly escaped disaster, and with the noisiest member unable to speak, the Uchiha felt clear-headed and refreshed—as if reborn.
Nonoyu hesitated. She had wanted to keep the vial for her own research. But after thinking it through, she handed the empty tube toward Yu.
"Once we're settled, I'll give you a dose for your research."
Yu glanced at her and took the vial. With a flick of his right hand, he stowed it away in his storage space.
Of course, he could tell that Nonoyu was extremely interested in this mystical green potion.
Receiving her superior's promise, Nonoyu beamed with joy and nodded eagerly. To her, the green potion was impossibly tempting.
As the two conversed—
The Uchiha couldn't help but speculate wildly about the origin of the green potion. Most assumed it was a gift from Orochimaru—Konoha's former chief scientist—to their captain.
Just then, someone looked up and noticed a fresh green bud sprouting from the top of Tamao's head. It grew rapidly, the stalk thick and sturdy, two broad leaves unfolding—eventually blooming into a full sunflower.
Izumi couldn't help herself. She reached out and tapped the sunflower—surprised by how real it felt.
"…" The Uchiha fell silent.
"He currently has an unusual life force inside him. Because it's so intense, it caused his body to mimic plant traits. This seems to be a normal side effect."
Everyone relaxed again.
This unexpected incident had taught him something:
The green potion, when used on others, didn't grant them Wood Release, nor did it allow them to manipulate or absorb natural energy from plants within a 500-meter radius.
The potion could heal others, yes—but excessive use could cause effects like what happened to Tamao. If someone couldn't control natural energy, they risked turning into a "plant-person," with bizarre vegetation growing from their body.
The green potion's true abilities appeared to be usable only by Yu himself—likely tied to the nature of the mission it came from.
The Uchiha soon shifted their focus away from Tamao, turning instead to Uchiha Yu with expressions of admiration, waiting for their captain to speak.
After this battle, the Uchiha were more motivated than ever. Yu had shown them a real, tangible path forward.
Someday, the Uchiha would return to Konoha—and level it to the ground.
"Bring Tamao. Let's head into the Valley of Judgment first. We'll find a place near the Land of Grass to settle down."
Yu looked over everyone, and finally turned to Kimimaro, whose face was full of worry. Calmly, he said:
"Orochimaru is fine."
After speaking, he took the lead, walking toward the mist-shrouded entrance to the Valley of Judgment.
At those words, Kimimaro finally let out a sigh of relief. The rest of the Uchiha all scrambled to carry Tamao, and in the end, the task once again fell to Minami.
Although Minami didn't like Tamao much in daily life, when it came to the rest of the Uchiha, no matter who it was, he was always willing to help if anything happened to them.
Minami hoisted the tree-hardened Tamao onto his right shoulder and quickly followed the group.
At this point, Tamao was no different from a human-shaped tree. Carrying him wasn't tiring at all.
He was just a little annoyed—why was it always Tamao getting into trouble?
Up at the front of the group—
Yu paused in thought and turned back to look at the Valley of Judgment's entrance, now gradually being swallowed by thick fog.
Flipping his right hand, space trembled, and a scroll—used to seal Aburame Torune—appeared in his palm.
Yu tossed the scroll into the center of the valley's entrance area, intending to return alone.
There was still one more thing he needed to take care of.
But after taking just a few steps back, a system notification suddenly echoed in Yu's mind. He glanced at the mission log, and his expression gradually turned serious.
Leader – Reforge the Uchiha!
1. Choose a territory
Requirement: The chosen land must be sincerely accepted by you and your fellow Uchiha.
"The Ten-Tails' husk?"
Yu furrowed his brows—then slowly relaxed. He guessed that this Gedo Statue was probably not the one sealed on the moon by the Sage of Six Paths.
The rewards offered by this main quest were extravagant—whether it was his Mangekyo or the Gedo Statue, either one would drive the top ninja of the shinobi world mad with desire. Even if an entire village mobilized, they wouldn't be able to obtain such things.
Yu also noticed a pattern.
The side quests gave out small items with unique effects—but the main quests… handed out treasures of immense power.
Choose a territory, huh?
Yu thought carefully, stopped in his tracks, then turned back to look at Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Minami. In a serious tone, he said:
"I intend to rebuild the Uchiha Clan within the shinobi world."
Even without the mission, this was what he had planned to do next anyway.
The Uchiha were stunned at first—then their faces lit up with joy. They had long been waiting for Yu to say those words. They just hadn't expected happiness to come so suddenly.
They knew that just the few of them alone could never make the name "Uchiha" echo across the shinobi world again.
But today, they had witnessed Yu's godlike power. As long as he lived—the Uchiha would always have a place in this world!
"Good! Captain, no matter what you do, I'll support you!" Izumi said, her excitement sweeping away the emotional burden she'd carried since Itachi.
Carrying Tamao, Minami nodded vigorously, eyes reddening with emotion.
Tamao's eyes spun anxiously, desperate to speak—but unable to do anything. The frustration nearly drove him mad.
"So—I plan to make this place our home base. What do you all think?"
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