Slipping Out of the Village

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Naoki rested for two full days before his mind completely recovered. That alone proved that engraving formulas through an entire night was not an easy task.

The artificial Tailed Beast's vessel had now been shaped. The next problem in front of him was how to slip out of the village without anyone noticing.

If all he had to do was leave the village secretly, that would not be difficult for Naoki as an ANBU.

The key problem was that this trip would not end in a day or two. Konoha and the ruins of Roran were separated by a great distance, and the journey alone would take considerable time. Because of that, Naoki had to leave a Shadow Clone at home to deal with any trouble that might appear.

But more than half of his chakra was currently tied up in maintaining the Third Kazekage Human Puppet. If he split the chakra he had left in half again to keep a Shadow Clone at home, his real body would not have enough chakra to break the seal the Fourth Hokage had placed on the Dragon Vein.

After thinking it over, Naoki invited Shisui to his house.

Shisui asked curiously, "Senior, did you need me for something?"

Naoki nodded. "There is something I need to ask of you. Before that, though, I have another question."

"What is it?"

"I mentioned before that during the Nine-Tails incident, the Nine-Tails was controlled by a Sharingan, correct?" Naoki paused and chose his words carefully before continuing. "Recently, have you noticed any strange people appearing near the Uchiha Clan compound?"

Shisui thought back seriously, then shook his head.

Naoki pressed, "No abnormalities at all?"

Shisui smiled helplessly. "Aside from the Root shinobi watching our clan, no suspicious people have appeared near the compound."

The Uchiha compound was already on the edge of the village. After the Nine-Tails incident, the divide between the Uchiha and the village had grown deeper, so ordinary villagers rarely approached the compound at all.

As Shisui spoke, he suddenly stopped. A thoughtful look appeared between his brows.

"Did something come to mind?"

Shisui said uncertainly, "Now that you mention it, something strange did happen in the clan."

Naoki asked, "What kind of strange thing?"

"You remember Shinichi, right?" Shisui said as he thought it over. "Recently, he has been acting odd. Every day, he goes outside the village to train."

Naoki rubbed his chin. "That does not sound especially strange."

He did not have much of an impression of Shinichi Uchiha. Back when they sparred, Naoki had tricked him and ended the match instantly. The process had been too quick to leave much behind.

Shisui looked worried. "The strange part is that the Root shinobi watching him disappeared for no reason. These past few days, Lord Danzo and the clan head have been arguing fiercely over it. If the Third had not stepped in, the consequences might have been..."

'No wonder Danzo has not sent anyone to bother me lately.'

Naoki had been wondering why Danzo had not sent more people to watch him. Now, after hearing Shisui's explanation, he realized another Root shinobi had run into trouble.

However, since Danzo had not done anything to Shinichi, that meant the Root shinobi's disappearance either had nothing to do with Shinichi, or there was no proof that Shinichi was responsible.

Naoki could not analyze much from Shisui's few words alone, but he quietly committed the matter to memory.

After learning about the Uchiha Clan's recent situation, Naoki turned the topic back to his own matter. "Shisui, I need to ask you for a favor."

Shisui hurriedly said, "Senior, you do not need to be so polite. Just tell me what you need."

Naoki's expression became serious. "I need to leave the village for a private matter, but I do not want anyone else to know. I want you to create a Shadow Clone and leave it in my house as cover for me."

The reason Naoki had sought out Shisui was that only Shisui, who possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, could transform his Shadow Clone perfectly into Naoki's appearance. Even in front of the Third, it might be enough to pass as the real thing.

Shisui looked shocked after hearing that. "Senior, what exactly are you planning to do?"

Naoki said, "Do not worry. What I am going to do has nothing to do with the village, and it will not harm the village's interests. It is only a personal matter."

Naoki knew what Shisui was worried about, so he had to explain clearly.

Shisui was the kind of Konoha shinobi who, even after being betrayed by the village leadership, would rather die miserably than defect. If Naoki did not explain things properly, Shisui might not help him no matter how good their private relationship was.

After hesitating for a while, Shisui finally nodded. "If that is the case, then all right."

Naoki smiled. "This may be hard on you. I will not be able to come back quickly."

Shisui asked carefully, "Senior, how many days will you need outside the village this time?"

Naoki thought for a while. "If everything goes smoothly, I can return within half a month. If something unexpected happens, then I cannot say for certain."

Shisui shot to his feet. "What?!"

Even for Shisui, maintaining a Shadow Clone for a full two weeks was no small burden.

On top of that, the Third might summon Team Eleven during those fifteen days. Shisui truly did not have the nerve to use a Shadow Clone to deceive the Third.

Naoki patted Shisui's shoulder, pressed him back down into his seat, and smiled. "You already agreed. You are not allowed to regret it now."

Shisui said, "But..."

Naoki interrupted his complaint. "Relax. Help me this once, and I will do everything I can to help you resolve the conflict between the Uchiha and the village."

Tempted, Shisui lowered his head and thought it over. Then he said, "Senior, I can hold out for twenty days at most. Any longer than that, and I cannot guarantee it."

Naoki thought, 'Twenty days should be enough.'

Although he had lost access to the Third Kazekage Human Puppet for travel, Naoki could still fly through Tenseigan Chakra Mode. And under Tenseigan Chakra Mode, his flight speed far surpassed that of the Third Kazekage Human Puppet.

After the two reached an agreement, Shisui left behind a Shadow Clone that was almost identical to Naoki before departing.

With a substitute covering for him, Naoki did not delay. He slipped out of the village immediately.

During his earlier travels, he had already investigated a remote, deserted route. After leaving the village, he entered Tenseigan Chakra Mode at once and flew toward the Land of Wind.

To avoid being discovered by accident, he even kept his flight height below the tree canopy. His body flashed through the dense forest like a spirit weaving through the leaves.

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