What kind of person was Uchiha Ran?
Fu Yamanaka fell into deep thought after hearing Aburame Torune's question. He had never interacted much with Uchiha Ran, but from their brief encounter earlier, one thing was undeniable—Ran was terrifyingly strong.
His strength far surpassed that of Danzō Shimura, and Fu even had a faint feeling that Ran might not be inferior to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"He's incredibly strong," Fu said slowly. "As for anything else… I don't know. I've had too little contact with him."
His expression was complicated. Objectively speaking, Danzō had been his superior—no, his former superior—and also the one who had discovered and cultivated him. Thinking about Ran now made Fu feel conflicted, yet his heart could not help but waver. In the shinobi world, strength was everything, and Ran's overwhelming power stirred a deep sense of yearning within him.
"Then what should we do now?" Aburame Torune asked in a low voice. "We were personally selected as Danzō's guards. Now that he's gone, where do we go? You know his reputation in the village as well as I do…"
Fu clenched his teeth.
After being taken into Root, he had been forced many times to act against the Yamanaka Clan. Even though it was all under Danzō's orders, his reputation within the clan had been utterly ruined.
Although his relationship with Inoichi Yamanaka was still passable, the ordinary clansmen did not understand him. They knew nothing about the compulsory nature of the Tongue Curse Seal of Sealing—they only saw Fu as a traitor who had betrayed his own bloodline.
Just as Fu hesitated, a familiar figure appeared before them.
The moment they sensed approaching chakra, both men straightened.
Inoichi Yamanaka raised his hands slightly and smiled. "Congratulations, Torune… and Fu."
His gaze lingered on Fu, filled with complicated emotions. Back then, Danzō's true target had actually been Inoichi himself. However, Inoichi's father—then the clan head—had firmly rejected the demand. To avoid completely offending Danzō, he had instead sent out Fu Yamanaka, the most outstanding genius of the clan at the time.
Inoichi still remembered that day vividly—watching Fu leave, resentment and helplessness intertwined in his heart. Over the years, he had gradually come to understand Fu's situation and had never officially expelled him from the clan.
Only the upper ranks of the Yamanaka Clan knew the truth. To everyone else, Fu Yamanaka was simply a disgraceful traitor.
"Clan Head-sama," Fu said calmly. "Fu Yamanaka greets you."
He only nodded, not kneeling. In his heart, he no longer considered himself a member of the Yamanaka Clan. There was no reason for him to kneel.
Inoichi sighed softly. "Fu, I know you resent my father. I won't ask for your forgiveness. I came today to show you a path forward."
Fu's expression darkened for a moment before returning to neutrality. "Then please tell me, Clan Head Yamanaka—where can we go from here?"
He did not want to leave Konoha. No matter what had happened, this village was still his home.
Hearing Fu say we, Inoichi glanced at Aburame Torune before nodding.
"Clan Head Shikaku believes that since Uchiha Ran-sama is about to take the position of Fifth Hokage, he won't rely solely on the Uchiha Clan."
"When that time comes, the role of liaison between the Yamanaka Clan and the Hokage will be entrusted to you, Fu Yamanaka."
"As for the Aburame Clan—"
"My thoughts are the same as Inoichi's."
A low, steady voice interrupted as a figure wrapped tightly from head to toe descended, clouds of kikaichū insects swirling around him.
Inoichi smiled faintly. "Shibi, you're here."
Shibi Aburame floated down and nodded. "If an old man like you came, how could I stay away? Torune has always been the pride of our clan. If not for Danzō Shimura, I would've taken him as my personal disciple long ago."
He reached out and patted Torune on the shoulder.
Torune stiffened, biting his fingers nervously. He had always feared Shibi. The man's calm presence made him even more intimidating, and every time the Aburame Clan faced danger, Shibi was the one who resolved everything with chilling precision.
"Don't be afraid," Shibi said evenly. "From now on, you will serve as the liaison between the Aburame Clan and the Hokage. That position will be yours."
Torune's body trembled.
His talent even surpassed Shibi's own. A great clan would never reject the return of a true genius—especially one who had been shackled by the Tongue Curse Seal all these years.
Shibi had already planned everything. Once Torune returned, he would personally select the finest kikaichū for him, publicly recount his suffering, and ensure the clan embraced him wholeheartedly.
The thought nearly made Shibi tremble with excitement, causing several insects to crawl out in confusion.
Torune's eyes turned red. He suddenly rushed forward and hugged Shibi's coat, sobbing uncontrollably.
Shibi gently patted his head—through gloves, of course.
Fu Yamanaka watched quietly.
Unlike Torune, he was not so easily moved. He stared directly at Inoichi and asked bluntly, "Clan Head, what do you want from me? To report information to the Yamanaka Clan? Or to act as a spy beside Uchiha Ran?"
He did not believe such an important position would be given without a price.
After all, there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
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