The Uchiha tents lay quiet under the border night, canvas rustling with the distant sea wind. Yoru slipped inside, shoulders sagging as if he'd dragged half the forest back with him.
Shisui looked up from a stack of mission notes. "Yoru-san… what happened? You look exhausted."
Yoru let out a long breath. "Shisui, you're not going to believe this. I managed to get into Mitarashi Anko's squad."
Shisui blinked. "Already? We've been here less than half a day."
"Exactly." Yoru dropped onto a crate. "Do you understand how hard it is to get close to a student of Orochimaru? She's practically guarded by reputation alone. Half the front line treats her like she walks with a sannin's shadow."
Shisui's expression shifted—surprise first, then something like admiration. "So it's true… the Clan Council said your talent wasn't just in ninjutsu. I didn't expect results this quickly."
Yoru hid the urge to sigh. Results cost money, genius. Lots of it.But instead he let his voice fall into a weary rhythm.
"It wasn't simple. Anko and I used to be in the same academy class. She and Kurenai were close, so you can imagine the… complications."
Shisui nodded solemnly—far too solemnly. Yoru could almost hear the gears in his idealistic head turning, inventing an entire tragic romance behind Yoru's expression.
This guy is going to get himself tricked by half the world if he keeps believing people this easily…
"Yoru-san," Shisui said quietly, "if you're putting yourself in a difficult position for the clan's sake, I'll report everything to the Clan Head personally."
Yoru almost smiled. He needed exactly that.
"Shisui, listen. Anko's willing to speak to Orochimaru on my behalf. If I gain his attention as a potential student—"
Shisui straightened, sharpness flickering behind his eyes. "That would restore a direct link between the Uchiha and the Hokage's circle."
"Exactly." Yoru leaned forward. "If Orochimaru becomes the Fifth Hokage—and everyone can see the village leaning that way—then we're looking at the first genuine bridge between our clan and the future administration."
A teacher-student bond carried weight in shinobi society. It wasn't quite family, but close—something built on survival, loyalty, and shared battlefields.
Shisui's excitement was clear. "If Anko is pushing for you, then it's practically guaranteed…"
Yoru raised a hand.
"There's a catch."
Shisui blinked again—this time, wary.
"Anko's not like other kunoichi," Yoru said. "She doesn't need favors. She doesn't need gear. She doesn't even need mission credit. She's Orochimaru's student—she gets everything directly from him."
"So what does she need?" Shisui asked.
"Investment," Yoru said simply. "Support. Influence. Someone the clan can shape into a proper partner for negotiations with Orochimaru. If the Uchiha want this to succeed, they need to back me properly."
He didn't spell out the details: equipment, travel funds, gifts, subtle bribes for access.Shisui filled in the blanks immediately.
"I'll contact the clan tonight," he said with sudden firmness. "The Council needs to hear this. If you're really making progress with someone that close to Orochimaru-sensei, they'll support you. They have to."
Yoru allowed a flicker of embarrassed reluctance.
"Shisui… I hate asking. It feels like leaning on the clan too much."
Shisui shook his head. "We asked you to take this mission. The clan benefits most. It's only right we provide what you need."
Finally, Yoru thought. A complete success.
He masked the triumph with a tired nod.
"Thank you. Truly."
Shisui smiled, the kind of earnest expression that made Yoru both fond and deeply concerned for him.
"I'll send the message immediately. You focus on securing contact with Orochimaru-sensei. I'll handle the rest."
When Shisui ducked out into the night, Yoru's posture loosened. The façade dropped.
Good. Very good. The clan will pour resources into this, and all those resources will go straight into my power curve.
He needed strength—fast. Orochimaru's defection was coming; the clan's downfall was looming. Once the Uchiha were cornered, every unsafeguarded fund, every secret stash, every long-hoarded reserve would vanish into the village administration.
Better he harvest it now and turn it into chakra, gear, and real survivability.
Still… clan funds alone weren't enough.
He needed a second income stream. Something steady. Something no one would question.
Information.
Konoha was unstable. Borders were shifting. Alliances were fraying.And Yoru stood right where rumors became opportunities.
He allowed himself a small, sharp smile.
If I play this correctly, I won't just survive the coming storm. I'll profit from it.