201-205

*Chapter 201: What? I Have to Teach Him How to Beat Me?*

Compared to Minato, Uchiha Shinji undoubtedly had an exceptional physique.

Both had sustained serious injuries—Minato had been stabbed by Kushina, leaving a gaping wound that would take three months to recover.

But as for Uchiha Shinji?

Thanks to his immortality, the forbidden technique Body Rebirth, and his newly acquired Tailed Beast constitution, the two severed arms he lost due to his recklessness had already grown back without anyone knowing exactly when.

His extraordinary recovery was evident—he was already jumping out of bed with vigor as soon as he woke up. This robust vitality left Minato, who lay motionless in the adjacent hospital bed, deeply envious.

Before long, under the watchful eyes of Jiraiya and Minato, Uchiha Shinji followed Aburame Ryoma out of the Konoha Hospital and headed south.

On their way, they passed by the entrance to the Ninja Academy and arrived at the Hokage Tower beneath the giant shadowy cliffs.

However, instead of taking him directly to the Hokage’s office to report in, as standard protocol for mission debriefs would dictate, Aburame Ryoma led him to a room on the second floor of the Hokage Tower.

This room, which seemed to serve as a lounge, was surrounded by cabinets and furnished with sofas, benches, and a rectangular table in the center. A deck of playing cards was scattered messily on the table.

Uchiha Shinji immediately recognized it—this was likely the location featured in the original series during Kakashi’s time in the ANBU.

An ANBU job where you could play cards? It seemed like a cushy position.

No wonder Might Guy was so desperate to join ANBU—he probably wanted to play cards with Kakashi every day!

“This is the ANBU squad's assembly point. Technically speaking, we in Root are considered part of ANBU too,” Aburame Ryoma explained as he led Uchiha Shinji to a cabinet by the window. He pulled out a key and tossed it to him.

“This cabinet will be yours from now on.”

“Put on the uniform inside, then follow me,” Ryoma instructed.

Uchiha Shinji took the key, opened the cabinet, and found three neatly folded sets of ANBU uniforms inside.

In the original series, these uniforms came in two styles, likely issued according to the season.

The three sets in front of him were different:

One was a sleeveless design, predominantly black from top to bottom, leaving both arms exposed. It came with a distinctive silver vest and protective gear, including arm guards, kneepads, and thick-toed ninja boots.

The second was a long-vest version with a similar design but provided more coverage.

The third… was the rather revealing outfit Sai wore in the original series—cropped to expose the waist and abdomen!

At this moment, Aburame Ryoma leaned in with a sly smile, pointing to the third outfit. “You have to wear this one. It’s the official Root uniform~!”

“No way!”

Uchiha Shinji’s eyes widened in horror at the revealing outfit.

If he wore that to meet Mei Terumi and Hidan, they’d laugh at him for a lifetime!

Gritting his teeth, he shoved aside his eccentric superior and grabbed the same ANBU uniform Kakashi wore. He quickly donned it and took the blue-striped cat-face mask from the cabinet.

Expressionless, he turned to Aburame Ryoma and said coldly, “Let’s go.”

Aburame Ryoma chuckled and donned his own mask. However, instead of leaving immediately, he lounged on the sofa in the room and gestured for Uchiha Shinji to wait. “No rush. We’re still waiting for one more member.”

As he spoke, a small white snake slithered out from a corner of the room, climbed onto the table, and spat out a scroll.

“A communication snake?” Uchiha Shinji was slightly surprised, quickly recognizing it. He turned to Ryoma with a questioning look.

“What are you and Orochimaru up to now?” he asked.

Ryoma didn’t respond. He simply unrolled the scroll, scanned its contents, and a faint smile appeared under his mask.

Time passed slowly.

Before long, the door to the lounge creaked open, and a timid figure poked their head inside.

“Hello! Aburame Ryoma-sama, Shura-sama!”

“I… I am Code A.”

Hearing this voice, Uchiha Shinji raised an eyebrow and looked over, stunned.

The newcomer wore a puffy black combat uniform with an ANBU vest, a Leaf Village forehead protector covering part of their face, and a brown buzz cut. They were shorter than Uchiha Shinji by a head.

The familiar face left Uchiha Shinji bewildered.

This person was none other than Yamato—the second ninja in Konoha to master Wood Release after the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

At this time, Yamato had yet to meet Kakashi or witness the destruction of the Iburi Clan. Nor had the Third Hokage recruited him and given him the name "Tenzo." He was still known by the name Danzo had assigned him—Code A.

In Root, “Code A” signified the most exceptional ninja.

But why would Danzo send over this precious protégé of his?

Sending someone capable of Wood Release to stand before a Uchiha—was this meant to show off?

"Alright, you're right on time!"

Aburame Ryoma got up from the sofa, grabbing Yamato and shoving him in front of Uchiha Shinji.

"Starting today,"

"Uchiha Shinji, this guy is your subordinate!"

"?" Uchiha Shinji raised his head, utterly confused, staring at the young boy standing before him.

He felt as though the world was becoming increasingly absurd.

Aburame Ryoma coughed, shoving the still-dazed Uchiha Shinji and speaking seriously:

"Don’t underestimate this kid. He carries a power that terrifies the entire ninja world—"

"Wood Release!"

Uchiha Shinji scratched his head. He already knew this information, but to match Aburame Ryoma's solemn expression, he pretended to be surprised. Feigning shock, he asked:

"So, why send him to me?"

"To follow me to Hell Valley on a suicide mission?"

"At his age, he probably doesn’t have the capability to complete an S-rank mission, right?"

At this moment, standing before two legendary shinobi with battle records so remarkable they could infiltrate enemy territory and assassinate village leaders,

the young Yamato turned bright red.

He suddenly bowed at a 90-degree angle!

"Senior Shura, I was sent here as a tool to control you in case you go berserk!"

"In the future, I humbly ask for your guidance!"

"???" Uchiha Shinji stared blankly at Aburame Ryoma, scratching his head in disbelief.

Look at this kid—so straightforward!

He just outright told me he’s here to keep me in check?

"That’s right," Aburame Ryoma said earnestly, patting Uchiha Shinji on the shoulder.

"Orochimaru has already used some method to awaken the Tailed Beast within you."

"Its power is immense, so you need a caretaker."

Aburame Ryoma glanced at the young boy bowing deeply before him, his expression slightly awkward.

"Although... the kid's age is, well..."

"Which means you’ll need to train him properly until he’s strong enough to beat you!"

"Yes, sir!" The young Yamato bowed even deeper, shouting loudly:

"I’ll do my best, Senior Shura!"

Uchiha Shinji was utterly dumbfounded by this sudden turn of events. What the hell was going on?

This kid was sent to fight me, fine—but now I’m supposed to teach him how to beat me?

This world has become too ridiculous.

Instinctively, Uchiha Shinji activated his Sharingan, glancing at the Eight Trigrams Seal containing the Zero-Tails.

The young, snake-like creature within lazily raised its head under Uchiha Shinji's gaze, even scratching the red tuft of hair on its head with its tail.

"Chirp?"

It let out a sound that could only be described as utterly brainless.

Uchiha Shinji twitched his mouth uncontrollably.

No, seriously—

You call this immense power?

How is it even remotely impressive? Because I sure don’t see it.

Back in reality,

after a moment of speechless frustration, Uchiha Shinji sighed deeply under the expectant gazes of Aburame Ryoma and the young boy before him.

He looked at the little kid who had sworn loyalty to him, shook his head, and said with a slight headache:

"Alright, for now, just follow me."

After a pause, Uchiha Shinji sized up the boy from head to toe, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Also,"

"For convenience, starting today, your name will be—"

"Yamato."

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 202: Mission: The Hell Valley Ambush! Sarutobi Hiruzen's Interrogation!*

"Alright, let's begin the mission briefing!"

"The goal of this mission is to head to Hell Valley and cooperate with the Uchiha clan stationed there. Together, we must defend Hell Valley and prevent the elite forces of the Hidden Cloud Village from freeing the Blood Pond clan."

Inside the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat solemnly behind his desk, smoking his pipe with an air of seriousness.

To the right of the desk stood Nara Shikaku, who had recently succeeded his predecessor as a key advisor to the Hokage. Holding a mission dossier, Shikaku addressed the nine elite Konoha shinobi kneeling before him.

"Take note—"

"This mission has a high probability of facing the 'A-B Combo' from the Hidden Cloud Village, along with their elite ninja, including jonin-level opponents."

"Hence, this mission is classified as S-rank!"

Hearing the name of this formidable duo, the nine kneeling shinobi displayed varied expressions. Those who had heard of their fearsome reputation couldn't help but exchange uneasy glances.

The "A-B Combo" was widely regarded as the strongest force below Kage-level in the Hidden Cloud's history.

Though this generation's A-B Combo was still young, their power had already made them famous across the ninja world. Ordinary jonin wouldn't last ten moves against them before being overwhelmed.

And now, the Hokage was sending them to face these two monsters? What were they supposed to do—sell vegetables at a market?

However, among the group, three individuals remained calm, as though they had expected this.

Interestingly, these three were not from the team of Uchiha Shinji, Aburame Ryoma, and Yamato. At the moment, Uchiha Shinji and Yamato were silently standing behind Aburame Ryoma by the wall on the right side of the office, keeping a low profile.

On the opposite wall, members of the Hokage's personal ANBU team stood hidden.

This was Uchiha Shinji's first time realizing there was a hidden chamber behind the walls of the Hokage's office. No wonder, in the anime, the Third Hokage could summon ANBU with a wave of his hand—they were all hiding here!

From his vantage point, Uchiha Shinji could see Nara Shikaku continuing to speak and assigning groups and objectives for the mission.

"Team One: Aburame Shihei, you'll lead Hakumo Yamakaze and Yuki Mizunotsuki as a tactical support team for the main combat unit."

"Understood!" replied a black-haired young man dressed in a tightly sealed protective suit and gloves.

"Team Two: Sarutobi Shinnozuke, you'll lead Chen Lao and Yuhi Makoto as another tactical support team for the main combat unit."

"Understood!" responded a robust, dark-skinned man with spiky hair. Wearing a jonin vest, he carried two weapons resembling knuckle knives called 'Flying Swallows.'

"Team Three: Hyuga Hizashi, you'll lead Hyuga Kenji and Inuzuka Jaw as a sensory team supporting the main combat unit."

This time, a man with a stoic demeanor and pale eyes, dressed in a light-green coat over black combat gear, silently accepted the order.

With Minato Namikaze severely injured and unable to act, Konoha had no choice but to assign the next best candidates.

Aburame Shihei, Sarutobi Shinnozuke, and Hyuga Hizashi were all considered geniuses of the same generation as Minato.

But as Jiraiya once said—

"Compared to Minato, anyone else pales in comparison."

Minato's brilliance was so dazzling that it seemed his generation lacked talent apart from him. It wasn't until Kakashi's generation that new prodigies emerged to fill the gap.

However, this wasn't entirely accurate. During this period, Konoha still had many geniuses. Unfortunately, most were buried in the smoke of war.

The most lamentable examples were the three team leaders of this mission.

Uchiha Shinji observed the impressive lineup and nodded slightly in approval. It was clear that Konoha was showing significant sincerity toward the Uchiha clan in this mission.

Aburame Shihei was the father of Aburame Torune and possessed mastery over the Aburame clan's nano-sized poisonous insects, making him an unquestionable elite jonin.

Sarutobi Shinnozuke, the elder brother of Sarutobi Asuma and the eldest son of the Third Hokage, was a formidable warrior akin to a more mature version of Asuma—another elite jonin.

Hyuga Hizashi, meanwhile, was the strongest fighter of his Hyuga generation.

Apart from these three elite jonin, the other members of the mission also had their moments of glory in the original storyline.

Due to Uchiha Shinji's actions, the Hidden Cloud's plan to take Hell Valley had failed, shifting the confrontation between Konoha and the Hidden Cloud from the Land of Fields to Hell Valley in the Land of Hot Springs.

And this time, it was a heavyweight clash right from the start!

Additionally, thanks to Orochimaru's influence, the importance of Hell Valley as a natural barrier to Konoha was made clear to the higher-ups.

As a result, Konoha's attitude toward Hell Valley had changed significantly, prompting them to spare no effort.

In the original timeline, due to the Hidden Cloud's ambush, the death of the elder Uchiha Satsuna, and the massacre of his clan, Uchiha Enya's desperate fight out of Hell Valley had devastating consequences for the Uchiha clan stationed there.

But now, thanks to Uchiha Shinji's continuous actions, the Uchiha clan had unknowingly avoided a catastrophic loss in strength.

The surreal reality left Uchiha Shinji scratching his head in frustration.

To be honest, he had never intended to save the Uchiha clan. In the beginning, all he wanted was to secure some form of personal protection.

Yet now—

The three captains standing below furrowed their brows slightly upon hearing Nara Shikaku’s instructions.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke glanced to his left and right at the two perplexed individuals beside him. Taking the initiative, he raised his head and asked:

“Lord Hokage, the teams under our leadership are meant to support the elite main forces in completing the mission and thwarting the Hidden Cloud’s plans for Hell Valley.”

He paused for a moment, then hesitantly asked:

“So… where are our main elite forces?”

The Third Hokage silently took a puff from his pipe, exhaling a heavy cloud of smoke before he finally spoke:

“This time, the main elite force consists of the powerful shinobi who earned great merits during the last Rain Country campaign.”

“To prevent any information leaks, the details will only be disclosed upon reaching Hell Valley.”

“Shinnosuke…” Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to have more to say, but after a moment of thought, he shook his head and spoke gravely instead:

“You all bear the responsibility of preventing a war on the scale of the Rain Country campaign.”

“Keep that in mind. Go and make your preparations.”

“Departure is set for 8 AM sharp tomorrow.”

The nine elite shinobi exchanged glances, their expressions thoughtful. In the end, they could only rise, bid farewell, and leave the Hokage’s office.

Once the Hokage’s office fell silent again—

Aburame Ryoma brought Uchiha Shinji over the wall and into the room, stopping in front of the Third Hokage.

This marked Uchiha Shinji’s first meeting with the controversial figure, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

At first glance, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Uchiha Shinji, but contrary to what Uchiha Shinji had anticipated, he did not greet him with a warm, grandfatherly smile.

Instead—

His expression remained calm, his eyes contemplative.

After a brief moment of thought, the Hokage spoke slowly:

“Uchiha Shinji,”

“Let me ask you a question.”

“The answer to this question will determine whether you or I will go to Hell Valley.”

Sarutobi Hiruzen paused, narrowed his eyes slightly, and fixed his gaze on Uchiha Shinji before continuing:

“Everyone desires power, but only those with true wisdom and courage can wield real power.”

“For instance, your teacher, Orochimaru—his gaze hides malice and ambition. Even so, I pretended not to notice because, in this era of chaos, his extraordinary talent gives me hope. I wished for him to inherit everything from me.”

“I can sense it. The will I entrusted to Orochimaru is now being passed on.”

“Orochimaru, much like myself, has entrusted this will to you!”

“So, if you are to be the future Fifth Hokage of Konoha—the Uchiha Hokage—”

“Can you comprehend—”

“What this power truly means?”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 203: A Prophecy Fulfilled, the Art of Shuriken Shadow Clone!*

*What is strength, truly?*

When Hiruzen Sarutobi presented Uchiha Shinji with a grand vision of becoming the Fifth Hokage, posing this question to him, Uchiha Shinji was momentarily silent.

His strength had come so effortlessly.

It felt as though merely taking a step forward would make the entire world follow,

Lifting him up, crowning him as king.

This was the unshakable confidence the "Steel of Heart" bestowed upon Uchiha Shinji.

In his eyes, strength, armed with his cracked version of the Shinobi World program, was nothing more than a matter of following a set path, certain to be obtained.

If this power had to hold any significance,

Uchiha Shinji thought his distant ancestor, Uchiha Madara, put it best:

"Strength is not willpower; it is merely the physical phenomenon that makes things happen."  

He arrived at this conclusion because, unlike Madara, Uchiha Shinji stood on even higher ground—armed from the start with vast intelligence, a God’s-eye view from the pinnacle.

And so, after a brief moment of reflection,

Uchiha Shinji calmly raised his head and looked at the still-prime Third Hokage, a shinobi Orochimaru once claimed could defeat the latter even ten years later. With a steady voice, he replied:

"Third Hokage, to me, strength is merely a tool for battle. It is neither noble nor base."

"But no matter the circumstances, regardless of the odds—"

"I will fight with everything I have."

He paused, raising his head again, his gaze unwavering as he declared:

"Because it is my inescapable destiny!"

The power Uchiha Shinji had gained through his battles emboldened him to speak these words. It allowed him to shed pretense, stand firm in his convictions, and refuse to bow to the so-called "Will of Fire."

Thus, he could fearlessly and openly express his stance to the Third Hokage,

Even if the Third chose to strike at that moment, to restrain him, or confine him within the village.

The Hell Valley mission—he would go.

Not even divine intervention could stop him.

"Is that so?"

Hearing Uchiha Shinji’s response, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn’t help but shake his head slightly. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly:

"As I thought, you’re still young—just a child."

He observed Uchiha Shinji, recalling his deeds up to this point, which inevitably brought to mind Uchiha Kagami, his former comrade.

The same naivety, the same willingness to give everything for comrades.

But—

Uchiha Shinji and Uchiha Kagami were ultimately different.

For one, Uchiha Shinji, as a clan shinobi rather than a Leaf shinobi, could never earn Hiruzen's full trust.

Moreover, Uchiha Shinji was, by chance, Orochimaru’s disciple.

Since Orochimaru had infiltrated the forbidden scroll archive under Hiruzen’s watch, taking everything he desired, the bond between Orochimaru and the village had gradually eroded. If not for his sudden return and significant contributions in the recent war...

Hiruzen hesitated, setting down his smoking pipe.

He gazed at Uchiha Shinji, sighing deeply before speaking earnestly:

"Uchiha Shinji,"

"I can see it—the thirst for power in your eyes, a pure pursuit similar to Orochimaru's."

"But this pursuit may blind your heart, causing you to overlook what truly matters."

"You have yet to endure soul-crushing despair, to truly lose something you hold dear, or to find the answers that resonate within your heart."

"But some things are predestined. One day, you will realize—"

"When the time comes to protect those you cherish most, a shinobi’s true power will manifest."

These words made Uchiha Shinji furrow his brow.

The Third Hokage’s cryptic statement left him unsure of Hiruzen’s intentions—whether he wanted him to fight or stay in the village.

Scanning his surroundings with a sharp gaze, Uchiha Shinji prepared for the possibility that, at Hiruzen's command, countless ANBU operatives might emerge to surround him.

At that moment, Aburame Ryoma, standing nearby, broke the silence with a question:

"Third Hokage, what is your decision?"

Hiruzen closed his eyes in thought, then suddenly opened them.

"Very well."

"This time, I will entrust you as heroes of the Leaf to continue protecting this village!"

---

As the sun set,

Uchiha Shinji strolled through the bustling streets of Konoha, now holding a scroll with a red cover.

Before leaving the Hokage’s office,

The Third Hokage had paused to offer him one final piece of heartfelt advice:

"You only live once. Don't force yourself to walk a path you dislike. Live freely or die freely—it’s up to you. But whatever path you choose, never forget to protect those you hold dear."

After finishing speaking, he handed over the scroll to him.

The scroll in hand contained the technique Shuriken: Shadow Clone Jutsu, an advanced A-rank jutsu developed by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

This technique could transform a single shuriken into thousands, creating a web-like sword formation. Since the replicated shurikens were tangible, it became nearly impossible for enemies to evade. In essence, it was a flawless encirclement strategy! For someone like Uchiha who excelled in shuriken techniques, the value of this jutsu was self-evident.

Moreover, after understanding its principles, Uchiha Shinji seemed capable of extracting the rudimentary concept of the Forbidden Jutsu: Multi Shadow Clone Technique from this jutsu. It appeared this technique was developed based on the Multi Shadow Clone Technique.

The Multi Shadow Clone Technique, a forbidden jutsu created by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was notorious for its excessive chakra consumption. For anyone without a vast chakra reserve, using it would harm their body or even endanger their life. However, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, circumvented this limitation by creating a version of the technique that utilized tools without sensation, thus eliminating its drawbacks. This allowed ordinary ninja to master and employ it in battle, solidifying Hiruzen’s reputation as the “Professor of Ninjutsu.”

Whether this was a gift from his grandmaster or a reward from a recent mission, receiving this technique brought a satisfied grin to Uchiha Shinji's face—a look that practically screamed "free loot!"

Having previously obtained Kakuzu’s secret technique Earth Grudge Fear, which allowed him to use threads to sew ninja tools for free, and now gaining the Shuriken: Shadow Clone Jutsu, Shinji felt like his expenses on ninja tools could now be drastically reduced.

As the intensity of battles increased, the Uchiha-style Wire-Controlled Shuriken Technique, which was being gradually phased out, now seemed to have new possibilities thanks to this newly acquired jutsu.

The sun sank lower, and the light in the sky dimmed, casting long shadows from the utility poles along the streets. A flock of sparrows flitted across the scene as warm white lights began to illuminate the roadside.

Lost in thoughts about the potential applications of the Shuriken: Shadow Clone Jutsu and the Uchiha-style Wire-Controlled Shuriken Technique, Shinji marveled at how no Uchiha could ever resist such a flashy playstyle.

At that moment, a small hand tugged at the hem of his short kimono.

“Senpai, please wait!”

The voice belonged to his new subordinate, Yamato. After Aburame Ryoma had informed them about tomorrow's meeting time, he had left the kid in Shinji’s care. Ever since then, the child had been trailing him like a shadow.

“Hmm?” Shinji stopped in his tracks and snapped out of his reverie.

Only then did he realize he had wandered through the Tea Street in front of the Hokage Tower, past the Yamanaka family’s flower shop, and along the road toward the southern part of Konoha, eventually arriving near Ichiraku Ramen.

“Oh~” Shinji suddenly understood. After wandering around all day, his superior, Ryoma, had neglected to treat them to a meal. Shinji himself didn’t mind, but seven-year-old Yamato, who was still growing, must have been starving. Too embarrassed to ask directly, the boy had resorted to dropping subtle hints.

Shinji reached into his pockets, but his expression quickly changed. The outfit he was wearing wasn’t his usual one, and he didn’t have a single coin on him. Moreover, this wasn’t Uchiha territory, so he couldn’t rely on Grandma Koharu’s goodwill.

Awkwardly, Shinji coughed twice and said, “Well, Yamato, a ninja is someone who can endure anything.”

“Hold out a little longer. Let’s head back to my place. I’ll fry up a couple of eggs for you. Besides, as your senior, I have to warn you—eating at these roadside dives isn’t very sanitary.”

“Senpai, what are you even talking about?” Yamato sighed helplessly, covering his face. He tugged Shinji’s arm, turned him around, and pointed toward Ichiraku Ramen.

“Over there! Someone’s calling you!”

Shinji froze for a moment, then followed Yamato’s gesture and looked up. At Ichiraku Ramen, Kushina Uzumaki was sitting on a high stool, turning around and waving enthusiastically at him.

She cupped her hands around her mouth to amplify her voice and called out loudly:

“Oh——!”

“Yes, you! That brat from the Uchiha clan!”

“Get over here right now~!”

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 204: Kushina's Scroll, The Looming Crisis!*

At dusk, under the setting sun, shadows danced in the light.

In front of Ichiraku Ramen, Uchiha Shinji sat on a high stool, restless and sweating profusely, enduring the stares directed his way.

“Eat already. Why aren’t you eating?”

“The chicken broth is delicious!”

With a gentle smile, Kushina twirled the narutomaki in her bowl with her chopsticks and gazed warmly at Uchiha Shinji.

Meanwhile, on Shinji’s right, the young and cub-like Yamato stared at him with a face full of silent reproach. Yamato’s stomach growled loudly, but his strict training from Root left him too disciplined to start eating first. He could only stare longingly at Shinji, his meaning abundantly clear:

“Eat already. Why aren’t you eating?”  

How could he start eating when his superior hadn’t touched his food yet?

Adding to Shinji’s stress was the presence of the youth behind the ramen stand. No one truly understood the enigmatic "Otsutsuki Ichiraku," a conceptual deity in human form. No one knew if, upon opening his eyes, they would reveal Mangekyō Sharingan, Rinnegan, or even the Nine Tomoe Rinnegan.

At that moment, Ichiraku Teuchi stood silently, his gaze piercing into Uchiha Shinji. His burning battle spirit practically radiated from his eyes. Teuchi nonchalantly scooped another ladle of fragrant chicken broth into Shinji’s bowl.

“Customer, eat already. Why aren’t you eating?”

“Is it that my humble little ramen shop isn’t to your taste?”

His tone carried a tinge of wounded disappointment.

Faced with the fragrant, perfectly balanced bowl of Ichiraku Ramen before him, Uchiha Shinji felt sweat trickling down his forehead.

Oh no!  

Teuchi must have overheard him calling Ichiraku Ramen a “humble little shop”!

He’s mad! He’s definitely mad!  

Could it be that he slipped a hand grenade into the ramen?

Under the hopeful gazes of everyone around, Uchiha Shinji reluctantly picked up his chopsticks with trembling hands and lifted some ramen.

“Slurp, slurp~”  

The springy, perfectly cooked noodles, paired with the rich and flavorful broth, slid into his mouth and warmed his stomach, spreading a comforting warmth throughout his body.

For someone who hadn’t had a proper meal in days, the taste made Uchiha Shinji’s eyes widen slightly in surprise.

“It’s delicious!”

Eating a bowl of Ichiraku Ramen in the heart of Konoha felt as exciting as enjoying the most authentic bowl of Lanzhou ramen—a bowl brimming with beef—in Lanzhou itself.

Seeing Shinji take a bite, the starving Yamato could no longer restrain himself. He clasped his hands together politely, holding his chopsticks, and spoke with earnest respect:

“I’m digging in!”

Watching the two ravenously devour their food like starving ghosts, Teuchi, behind the ramen stand, finally allowed himself a triumphant, relieved smile.

Off to the side, Kushina couldn’t help but smile warmly at the sight of the two eating.

“By the way, Shinji,” she suddenly asked,

“Mikoto told me that Fugaku is helping you gather sealing techniques. Are you learning sealing techniques?”

“This morning, she even came to me asking if I could sell some Uzumaki Clan sealing techniques to the Uchiha Clan.”

Hearing this, Uchiha Shinji was stunned.

When it came to sealing techniques, he did have a “Hidden Four Symbols Seal” scroll to master. He hadn’t expected Fugaku to know about it and already start making arrangements.

However, aside from the Uzumaki Clan techniques integrated into Konoha, the sealing techniques currently available weren’t particularly advanced. Most were basic types like single-line barriers and tri-seal formations.

These basics were helpful for foundational knowledge but insufficient for mastering the advanced Hidden Four Symbols Seal. Fugaku’s only real option was to seek help from Kushina.

What surprised Shinji even more was that even the pregnant Mikoto had been enlisted to help for his sake.

Thinking of this, Uchiha Shinji looked at Kushina and nodded.

“If you could sell some foundational knowledge about the Four Symbols Seal, it would be a huge help!”

Kushina shook her head and softly replied,

“In theory, it’s not allowed. The Four Symbols Seal, capable of sealing tailed beasts, is classified as a top-level secret technique.”

“But...”

She suddenly retrieved a scroll from the pouch strapped to her leg and pushed it toward Uchiha Shinji.

Kushina winked at him playfully and said,

“You didn’t see this, and you don’t know anything about it, okay?”

“If the Third Hokage asks, just tell him you ‘found’ this scroll somewhere.”

“Alright, I’m off to visit Minato.”

With that, Kushina stood, waved cheerfully at Uchiha Shinji, flashed a mischievous smile, and turned to leave Ichiraku Ramen’s stall.

“See you later!”

Her figure quickly disappeared into the swaying twilight.

Uchiha Shinji stared blankly at the scroll on the counter in front of him, a warm feeling spreading in his chest.

---

Until he saw the towering stack of ten bowls of ramen left behind at Kushina’s seat, his expression changed dramatically.

Wait a minute... Big Sis, you just said, "Add more," and left—did you even pay for your meal?

Oh no!

Not only had he insulted Ōtsutsuki Ichiraku's ramen shop right to its face by calling it a hole-in-the-wall, but now he couldn’t even afford to pay for his meal. Was he about to dine and dash?

Sweating profusely, Uchiha Shinji stiffly raised his head, only to see a young man named Teuchi standing behind the counter. With a piercing gaze hidden behind his squinting eyes, Teuchi calmly asked:

“Customer... you’re not thinking of dining and dashing, are you?”

Ji blinked, his gaze involuntarily shifting to little Yamato, who was happily devouring his meal nearby. Letting out a dry laugh, Shinji asked with a guilty tone:

“Do you... accept child labor as a form of payment?”

Yamato suddenly shivered, a chill running down his spine. He raised his head in confusion and tilted it, locking eyes with Shinji in stunned disbelief.

“???”

---

Meanwhile, in the Land of Hot Water.

The capital city, City, was undergoing reconstruction.

In the southern district, within the notorious Black Hand Alley and its underground black market, an elderly woman with gray hair and a murderous glare walked coldly into a narrow alley. She passed through a ninja tool shop that served as the entrance to the underground black market and made her way to a branch of the country’s underground gold exchange—disguised as a funeral parlor.

Stepping over the shopkeeper, who was half-dead and slumped over a wooden board folding white paper flowers, she passed through the main hall and entered a small, chilly courtyard where coffins were lined up, exposed to the wind.

She strode past four rows of coffins and stopped at the fourth coffin in the fourth row.

Taking a deep breath, her face icy cold, she raised her hand and knocked four times on the coffin lid.

The next moment, a bald man dressed in white pushed the lid open and sat upright inside the coffin. His calm gaze landed on her as he asked:

“Honored guest, what brings you here?”

“Kidnapping, extortion, bounties, intelligence, assassination—whatever you want, even if you dream of becoming a noble of this country tomorrow,” he said with a sly smile.

“As long as you can pay the price, we bounty hunters will gladly serve.”

The elderly woman closed her eyes, exhaled deeply, and spoke in a low, resolute voice:

“I... want someone dead!”

The bald man’s smile widened slightly.

“No problem. Who’s the target?”

The woman’s expression twisted with rage, her eyes burning with an unquenchable hatred born of sleepless nights.

“A Leaf Village jonin, code name ‘Asura’—”

“Uchiha Shinji!”

“I want every piece of information about him exposed and a bounty of sixty million ryō placed on his head!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 205: A Distant Killing Intent! The Double Torment of Art and Money!*

The night was silent, with oppressive clouds looming overhead.

Birds flapped their wings, scattering into the distance, carrying intelligence to various destinations amidst the dark shadows.

Upon closer inspection, one could see figures dashing through the darkness—specialized ninja wearing low-brimmed hats marked with numbers and equipped with binoculars.

“Courier ninjas?”

At the entrance to the underground black market in the city , atop the loft of a tools shop,

Uchiha Seichiro frowned sharply as he sifted through the intelligence gathered recently, glancing down below the loft.

“Did someone leave the underground exchange? Who would dare orchestrate something on such a massive scale?”

Courier ninjas were a neutral group of operatives who served various national daimyo, nobles, ninja villages, and underground organizations—including the underground exchange itself.

When a massive bounty was issued, these ninjas were hired by the underground exchange to disseminate the information across the ninja world, ensuring bounty hunters everywhere could pick up the mission.

Realizing this, Seichiro couldn’t sit still any longer. He got up immediately, descended the stairs, and instructed his subordinates to investigate the matter.

It wasn’t long before the exchange’s deliberately unhidden information was collected and brought to Seichiro. The moment he read the intelligence, his expression shifted dramatically!

“The information on Uchiha Shinji has been made entirely public—for free!”

“Every one of his techniques, countermeasures against them, and even his next moves have been revealed.”

“And on top of that, there’s this massive bounty!”

“This is bad!”

“We must notify the clan and stop Shinji from leaving the village immediately!”

---

*The following morning:*

Through courier ninjas, summoning beasts, and messenger pigeons,

a bounty worth 60 million ryo was prominently displayed on the bounty boards of underground exchanges across the ninja world.

While delivery to Konoha was intentionally delayed,

within a single night,

countless bounty hunters became aware of one name:

*Uchiha Shinji.*

A 12-year-old jōnin of Konoha, possessing accelerated regeneration, exceptional fire release, taijutsu, and shuriken skills. Operating under the codename “Shura,” he participated in the Rain Country campaign and assisted the Yellow Flash in killing Sand Village elder Ebizō.

*Bounty: 60 million ryo.*

The key point of this bounty, however, wasn’t the reward itself—it was the freely available intelligence!

A 12-year-old jōnin, a genius ninja not yet fully grown,

and the potential existence of a unique, man-made tailed beast inside him.

This revelation immediately caught the attention of many interested parties.

After all, elite jōnin like Darui or Asuma were only valued at around 30 million ryo.

And here was a 12-year-old child, a jōnin likely far less capable, worth 60 million!

This didn’t even account for the value of the Sharingan possessed by the Uchiha clan or the tailed beast within him.

The release of this information sent shockwaves throughout the ninja world.

Rival villages couldn’t stand by and let such a talent mature,

greedy bounty hunters were lured by the immense reward and the seemingly disproportionate danger of the target,

and schemers and opportunists eyed the unique information with hidden motives.

And then—

In the Land of Wind, beneath the endless, sun-blocking sandstorms,

a red-haired, sharp-featured youth in a high-collared black cloak emerged from the underground exchange.

This youth was none other than the catalyst of the Third Shinobi War,

the one who assassinated the Third Kazekage, turned him into a human puppet,

and mastered the Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets.

*Sasori of the Red Sand.*

His hands were still stained with fresh blood, and his stance as he exited the underground exchange suggested he had just completed another dirty job to fund the high costs of maintaining his puppets.

At this moment,

Sasori was holding a thick booklet, meticulously reading the detailed and nearly excessive information about Uchiha Shinji.

“Accelerated regeneration, surviving fatal wounds… Such abilities. And these descriptions of his fire-release techniques—both dazzling and deadly!”

After finishing the document, his eyes lit up, and a faint smile curved his lips.

“So, true art is everlasting beauty that transcends time,”

“Only eternal beauty can be called art!”

“If I turn him into a human puppet, with his self-repairing and regenerating abilities… All I’d need to do is remove his internal organs, peel his skin, wash away the blood, and perform preservation treatments before adding my mechanisms.”

“Heh… This could be my most perfect masterpiece yet!”

“Uchiha Shinji… Interesting.”

---

Meanwhile, in the Land of Grass…

---

On the route that the Iwagakure forces had to take as they retreated from the Kirigakure battlefield,

a long-planned assassination had just concluded.

Ignoring the scattered remains strewn across the ground and stepping into a steaming pool of blood, Kakuzu raised his hand and extracted a still-beating heart from the chest of an Iwagakure expert skilled in Earth Release techniques.

In the next moment, countless black tendrils of Earth Grudge Fear emerged from his hand, winding around the heart. They devoured, assimilated, and converted it into Kakuzu's own power.

"Ahhh..."

Kakuzu exhaled a breath of satisfaction.

Finding a suitable heart was no easy task. After losing his Earth-nature heart during a fight with that penniless brat in the Land of Hot Water, he had traversed several countries to locate a replacement. Only in Iwagakure had he found an appropriate candidate to restore the full power of his Earth Release: Earth Spear technique.

"Tch!"

"What a nuisance—interrupting my money-making!"

Straightening his collar and tossing the lifeless corpse aside, Kakuzu shook his head with a cold snort. Once he had composed himself, he began considering what mission he should take on next to earn more bounties.

Just then—

"Caw!"

A sharp bird cry rang out in the distance.

A scroll descended from the sky and landed near Kakuzu.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, catching the scroll and unrolling it.

The moment his eyes scanned its contents, a look of surprise flickered across his face. The scroll contained intelligence on someone he thought long dead—the impoverished brat, Uchiha Shinji, whom he had once toyed with and cornered into a dead end.

"That kid is still alive?"

"He's mastered a new technique... an immortal body? And this... doesn't this description match my Earth Grudge Fear secret technique?"

"How did he learn that from me?"

"Plus, there's a bounty—60 million ryō?"

Kakuzu frowned in confusion, staring at the scroll as he fell into deep thought.

He was certain Uchiha Shinji had used a forbidden technique at the time, one that was a guaranteed death sentence. The colossal blazing sword he had summoned would have burned its wielder to a crisp.

To avoid unnecessary risk, Kakuzu had chosen to destroy Uchiha Shinji's forbidden technique with his Earth Grudge Fear: Ultimate Shot, ensuring his victory. But he had seen no need to fight to the death with a madman.

Little did he expect that his negligence would allow the brat to survive—and even steal his secret technique.

"Tch."

Kakuzu clicked his tongue in irritation, his brow furrowing as he read the massive bounty amount and the special invitation from the exchange office at the end of the scroll.

Narrowing his eyes, he calculated the value in his mind.

Before long, he released his frown, his gaze returning to its usual detached indifference toward the world.

"Hmph."

"Just another tiresome trip."

"Even in hell, judgments are dictated by money. That suits me perfectly!"

With those words, Kakuzu turned and headed in the direction of the Land of Hot Water.

In his ghostly green eyes burned a murderous intent so intense that even he himself failed to notice.

And so, unbeknownst to Uchiha Shinji,

a dual torment of artistry and greed was quietly closing in on him!

(End of Chapter)