Chapter 93: Pursuing Uchiha Han
After successfully completing the technique, Nan's true body used the Flying Thunder God to return to his own tent.
When Kabuto lifted the flap of his tent, a gust of wind slipped inside. Nonō, who had been sleeping lightly, stirred at the faint noise. She opened her eyes just in time to see Kabuto letting the flap fall shut.
"Did you just step outside, Kabuto?" Nonō asked softly, careful not to wake the other children.
Now under Nan's control, Kabuto replied in the same gentle tone:
"It's nothing, Mother. I just went to the toilet."
"Then go back to sleep quickly," she whispered. "And try not to wake your brothers and sisters."
By this point, Kabuto and Nonō already addressed each other as mother and son. Though they had known each other for barely a year, the bond had grown deep. To Nonō, the amnesiac boy who could not even remember his parents seemed unbearably pitiful, stirring all her maternal instincts.
She not only treated Kabuto as her own child, but after discovering his natural talent for medical ninjutsu, she began to teach him with great care, pouring her heart into nurturing him.
"Good night then, Mother," Nan, in Kabuto's body, said with a gentle smile.
This body was untrained, its chakra barely tempered. Just activating the Sharingan once had left it a little drained. Before long, Kabuto's body sank into deep sleep.
Meanwhile, Nan's true body lay awake in his own tent, too exhilarated to rest.
Uchiha Nan's body was different. It had undergone years of rigorous training and still contained residual energy from Uchiha Han that hadn't been fully assimilated. As a result, it brimmed with stamina and recovered with astonishing speed, leaving Nan with little need for sleep.
Still, he tried to rest whenever possible — after all, his body was still growing, and growth came during sleep. Lack of rest could stunt his height.
But this time, he simply couldn't fall asleep. Instead, he focused on the link between his two bodies. Kabuto's vessel had already entered deep sleep, while Nan's remained fully awake, his consciousness seamlessly aware in both.
It was a strange duality: one body resting, the other active, yet his mind clear in both.
In Kabuto's body, the conscious mind had shut down, but certain brain cells remained active. With his awareness suppressed, the subconscious stirred to life.
Ordinary people rarely notice their subconscious, though sometimes, in dreams, they wander into the illusions their subconscious weaves.
That was what mortals called dreaming.
After the technique succeeded, Nan's true body returned to his tent with the Flying Thunder God.
When Kabuto lowered the tent flap, a gust of wind slipped inside. Nonō stirred, faintly sensing movement. She opened her eyes just in time to see Kabuto adjusting the flap.
"Kabuto, did you just step outside?" she whispered, careful not to wake the other children.
Now under Nan's control, Kabuto answered softly:
"It's nothing, Mother. I only went to the bathroom."
"Then go back to sleep quickly," she replied gently. "And be quiet, don't wake your brothers and sisters."
Kabuto already called Nonō "mother," and though their bond was little more than a year old, she had fully embraced him as her child. An amnesiac who couldn't even recall his parents, Kabuto had stirred her maternal instincts deeply. She not only treated him as her own, but upon discovering his gift for medical ninjutsu, began earnestly teaching him.
Nan smiled warmly through Kabuto's body. "Good night, Mother."
Untrained and with little chakra control, Kabuto's body tired quickly. Just activating the Sharingan once left it fatigued, and before long, it fell into deep slumber.
Meanwhile, Nan's true body lay awake, too exhilarated to sleep. Unlike Kabuto's weak vessel, Uchiha Nan's body brimmed with stamina, still infused with remnants of Uchiha Han's energy. Rigorous training and quick recovery left it bursting with vitality, requiring little rest. Still, Nan usually forced himself to sleep more, knowing his body was still growing — and growth came during sleep. Lack of rest could stunt his height.
Tonight, though, he simply couldn't. His consciousness stretched between both bodies — one awake, one asleep. He realized something strange: he could sense and even influence the subconscious of his sleeping self.
Ordinary people couldn't do this. Dreams were usually fragments of the subconscious weaving illusions, but Nan, with his unique ability, could control them.
After experimenting for a while, he yawned. Tomorrow would be a long march back to Konoha, so he finally let himself drift into rest.
---
The next morning, Nan's squad regrouped, preparing to return with the main force. Nonō would also be escorting the orphans back to Konoha.
Though the war against Sunagakure had ended, their duty wasn't over. Squads like Nan's were tasked with protecting the wounded and the orphans during withdrawal. Even here in the Land of Wind, other villages might attempt ambushes while they retreated. Until they reached Konoha's gates, no one could truly relax.
By this time, however, the Third Hokage had already returned to the village. With Uchiha Han's incident weighing on him, he summoned the true ruling council of Konoha — Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and Danzo Shimura.
The news had spread quickly: Uchiha Han had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan — and defected.
The moment Danzo heard this, he slammed the table with a sharp crack, his voice thunderous:
"Hiruzen, you know exactly what the Mangekyō Sharingan means! How could you let Uchiha Han escape? Don't tell me that even you, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru together couldn't stop him?"
Hiruzen inhaled deeply, then exhaled smoke in a slow sigh.
"No one expected him to escape with Reverse Summoning. It caught us off guard."
Danzo's expression darkened further, his tone harsher:
"Then that only proves his accomplices were nearby. Why didn't you send a pursuit squad immediately?"
"It happened too suddenly," Hiruzen replied evenly. "And after the battle with Sunagakure, everyone was exhausted. Even we — the Sannin and myself — had no strength left to chase him."
Danzo clicked his tongue, displeased, but he knew the past couldn't be undone. Still, the Mangekyō was too dangerous to be left unchecked. It had to be secured under Konoha's control — under his control.
He spoke coldly:
"I propose we immediately designate Uchiha Han as an S-class rogue ninja. Put a bounty on him across the entire shinobi world. If possible, bring him back alive. If not… eliminate him before the Mangekyō Sharingan falls into Uchiha hands."
Hiruzen's brows furrowed. "Pursuing Han is necessary, but declaring him an S-class rogue and issuing a world-wide bounty is excessive. He hasn't committed any crime against the village."
Danzo snorted.
"Hiruzen, you're too naïve. Do you think Han is like Tsunade? He is Uchiha — untrustworthy by blood. A defection without reason may be part of a larger plot. Perhaps the clan intends Han to build a power base outside while they scheme within, waiting for the perfect moment to overthrow the village."
"You think too much," Hiruzen countered firmly. "The Uchiha are still our comrades. Yes, there are tensions, but those are internal matters. They've endured their share of grievances as well. I believe if we sit down and face these issues openly, reconciliation is still possible."
Danzo sneered, unconvinced. But no matter how he pushed, Hiruzen refused to sanction a world-wide manhunt. Instead, the Hokage promised only to monitor Han closely and deploy the ANBU at a critical moment to bring him back.
Homura and Koharu said little, remaining outwardly neutral. Both privately leaned toward Danzo's view, but Hiruzen was Hokage. Until the matter reached true crisis, they would uphold his authority.
The council dissolved in discord. Alone afterward, Hiruzen's face grew troubled. He understood all too well the danger the Mangekyō posed — not only in Han himself, but in how his awakening could stir discontent among the Uchiha.
Decades ago, Tobirama had already forced the clan into seclusion, breeding resentment. Now, with a Mangekyō among them, who knew what unrest it might ignite?
Perhaps Danzo was right: killing Han in secret might be safest for the village. But doing so could push the entire Uchiha clan into rebellion. Unless there was no other choice, Hiruzen would not take that path.
His thoughts turned to one boy — Uchiha Nan. Unlike Han, Nan embodied the Will of Fire. If nurtured properly, he could be the bridge between Konoha and the Uchiha.
Yes… if the boy grew strong and stood as proof of Konoha's trust, perhaps the rift could still be mended.