186-190

Chapter 186: Tonight, I Shall Set Sail, Fugaku: You Need to Get a Job First  

As Uchiha Shinji stepped out of Root's headquarters, carrying the scroll inscribed with the Inner Four Symbols Seal, a sudden wave of confusion about his life's direction washed over him.  

Reflecting on his current situation, he realized he had accumulated a significant number of jutsu to practice.  

He had already mastered Orochimaru's Orochimaru-Style Substitution Jutsu early due to the Curse Mark of Heaven, crossing that off his list. 

Then, his teacher, Orochimaru, handed him a scroll titled Curse Mark Experimentation Secrets to help him perfect the transformation state of the mark.  

Additionally, he still had:  

• Lion’s Mane Jutsu, given by Jiraiya.  

• Forbidden Technique: Izanagi, prearranged for him to master by the Uchiha clan.  

• And now, from Danzo, the Inner Four Symbols Seal. 

With the development of the Third Shinobi World War, the next major battle was likely only a few months away.  

At present:  

• Konoha and Sunagakure were locked in a stalemate in the Land of Rain following a fierce battle.  

• Meanwhile, Iwagakure had launched a surprise attack against Kirigakure, traversing most of the ninja world. Historically, this battle ended with Iwagakure’s victory near the reefs of Kirigakure's main island. 

However, Uchiha Shinji's butterfly effect had extended the conflict into a drawn-out war, exhausting Iwagakure's potential despite their strong supply lines. 

This prolonged clash gave Konoha the opportunity to surprise Sunagakure, pushing them back to the borders of the Land of Rain. 

The four great nations of the ninja world had all mobilized, except for one—the Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.  

Historically, during this period in Konoha Year 47, Kumogakure sent a task force led by the A-B brothers to launch an invasion into the Land of Fire, crossing the Valley of Clouds and Lightning and advancing through the Lands of Frost and Hot Water.  

Konoha responded swiftly, dispatching Minato Namikaze to intercept them, leading to his first confrontation with the A-B brothers.  

However, Kumogakure's attack had been delayed because Iwagakure's invasion of Kirigakure used the Land of Hot Water as a bridgehead, blocking Kumogakure's path. 

But even Iwagakure couldn’t sustain their extended supply lines forever. The war of attrition between Iwagakure and Kirigakure would soon end, and when it did, Kumogakure would inevitably make their move.  

Uchiha Shinji predicted that the window of calm before chaos resumed would be brief.  

The conflict between Iwagakure and Kirigakure stemmed from a deep-seated grudge dating back to the Second Shinobi War. Yet wars fueled solely by hatred rarely lasted.  

As Yahiko had once said: 

"Feel pain, experience pain, understand pain, and accept pain. Once both sides have tasted it, they will fear it."  

Kirigakure's terrain was notoriously challenging, and while Iwagakure struggled with long supply lines, Kirigakure faced internal strife. 

This war, prolonged by Konoha’s machinations, had left both sides in unbearable pain. 

A war without profit cannot be sustained.  

After contemplating the war’s trajectory for a while, Uchiha Shinji found himself back on the streets of Konoha.  

The lone moon hung high, its silver glow illuminating the brightly lit village. From above, the network of lights weaving through Konoha's streets resembled glowing rivers.  

Listening to the bustling chatter, watching the crowds jostle past, and observing ninja academy students chasing each other through the streets, Uchiha Shinji snapped out of his chaotic thoughts.  

Glancing down at the scroll in his hand, he couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.  

Mastering the Lion’s Mane Jutsu and Izanagi wouldn’t be too difficult—both were practical jutsu for combat. 

The former required only three seals (Hare, Goat, Boar), while the latter was a seal-less technique. With his Sharingan and chakra control, he could pick them up quickly and practice to combat-ready proficiency.  

But the other two techniques posed a bigger challenge.  

Orochimaru's Curse Mark training manual, like his Orochimaru-Style Substitution Jutsu, was filled with dense experimental data. Understanding it required studying anatomy, medicine, and genetics—without that, he risked disastrous results.  

Danzo’s Inner Four Symbols Seal was even more complicated. A pure Uzumaki sealing jutsu, it looked like gibberish to Uchiha Shinji. 

Thanks to his knowledge of barrier jutsu, he recognized it as a sealing technique, but that was all. To truly master this self-destructive seal, he’d need external help or a specialized tutor.  

All these jutsu awaiting his mastery felt like unique, challenging “girls” demanding his attention. The thought of exhausting himself over the next few months made Uchiha Shinji rub his temples in frustration.  

Just then, a soft, alluring voice drifted out from a nearby building, making his face flush.  

Uchiha Shinji suddenly raised his head and saw that, without even realizing it, he had returned to the place that once brought him such humiliating memories—Konoha's infamous Red-Light Alley!  

Gazing at the peach-pink glow of the doors before him, the graceful shadows moving like clouds behind them, and the decadent sounds emanating from within, Uchiha Shinji couldn't help but swallow nervously.  

But then, straightening his back, he scoffed disdainfully, 

"Hmph!"  

"Such wicked temptations will never shake my resolve!"  

"Still, as they say, a true villain rises from where they fall. Besides, cultivation requires a balance of work and rest."  

Bathed in the rosy light from the doors, Uchiha Shinji hesitated for a moment. Then, with sudden determination, a steely expression spread across his face, the look of a man among men.  

"This isn’t about indulgence! No, this is... a challenge to my weakness!"  

"I’m Uchiha Shinji, destined to become a notorious rogue! This time, I’ll right the wrongs of the past! That wretched cur who kicked me last time—I'll make sure he gets a taste of his own medicine!"  

"Hmph!"  

"A ninja must not have any flaws!"  

With this thought, 

determined to achieve a state of perfect, unshakeable balance,  

tonight, I set sail on this treacherous voyage!  

Uchiha Shinji summoned his courage, his face flushed and heart racing, as he took steps toward this forbidden place.  

Placing both hands on the heavy doors,  

he pushed them open, the narrow gap widening until the pink light engulfed him entirely.  

Uchiha Shinji’s heart trembled slightly, and a sly smile crept across his lips.  

But in the next instant— 

Snap! 

The light vanished, plunging the surroundings into pitch-black darkness.  

A playful, mocking voice broke the silence— 

"See, Captain? I told you, as long as we used this genjutsu, he'd definitely fall for it!"  

In the endless darkness,  

dozens of scarlet Sharingan eyes suddenly flared to life, all fixed on Uchiha Shinji.  

From the shadowy attic,  

step... step...  

With slow, heavy footsteps, a face appeared in front of Uchiha Shinji, its expression calm and unreadable, its eyes sharp and menacing, half-hidden in the dim light.  

It was none other than Uchiha Fugaku!  

Uchiha Shinji’s eyes widened, and his triumphant smile froze in an instant!  

At that moment,  

Uchiha Fugaku gazed at the young man in front of him, a mix of exasperation and a furrowed brow evident on his face. In a deep, weary voice, he said:  

"Young clan leader,"  

"It’s time we had a talk... about you demolishing the ancestral shrine!"  

(End of Chapter) 

Chapter 187: Fugaku’s Amazement! Family Arrangements and News from the Land of Hot Water

"Michiko's due date is this June."

"I’m about to have my first child. I plan to name him Itachi."

"Itachi Uchiha!"

In the heart of the Uchiha clan's territory stood a grand and elegant *shinden-zukuri*-style residence. On the open veranda bathed in moonlight, Fugaku Uchiha sat in the traditional Japanese room. Across the low wooden table, Uchiha Shinji listened quietly as Fugaku shared the news.

After pouring tea for both of them, Shinji gazed at the bright moon in the sky, his thoughts drifting into silence.

Whether due to Fugaku’s newfound emotions as a father or Shinji’s own reserved nature, the atmosphere between the two felt somewhat stagnant.

"Isn’t the name Itachi considered unlucky?" Shinji asked, holding his steaming cup of tea, a trace of surprise in his tone.

In the ninja world, an itachi—or weasel—is viewed as an omen of misfortune.

But Fugaku had always been peculiar with names. His eldest son was named Itachi, while his youngest would later be named Sasuke, after the Third Hokage’s father. Shinji could never quite understand the man. Whether in his past life or the present, Fugaku always seemed to be shrouded in an enigmatic veil, hard to fully comprehend.

Some saw Fugaku as a pacifist, yet he was willing to lead the clan in rebellion. Others saw him as a hawk, but his actions were often puzzlingly inconsistent. In the end, Fugaku remained a mystery.

“This child will be born into a cursed era,” Fugaku said after a long pause.

“War, bloodshed, hatred, and vengeance run rampant in this world. Perhaps, as a so-called ‘unlucky’ person, he might live a little easier in such chaos.

"After all, we've endured enough pain ourselves.”

Fugaku shook his head as if wanting to share more, but he ultimately chose to remain silent. Then, suddenly, he looked up and spoke in an even tone.

"Uchiha Shinji."

“I’ve heard about the elders nominating you as the future clan leader.”

“What do you think of it?”

Ji raised his head in shock, looking at Fugaku, who spoke as if discussing a trivial matter. It was almost as if the title of clan leader, which had been rightfully Fugaku’s, held no weight in his eyes.

Fugaku shook his head, his voice calm.

"It doesn’t matter who becomes the leader. What’s important is what that person brings to the clan."

"To be honest, Shinji, I feel relieved by this decision."

Taking a sip of tea, Fugaku exhaled as if a burden had been lifted.

"I had prepared myself to lead the clan, but I know that, compared to Uchiha Madara, who founded the village, or Uchiha Kagami, who bridged the gap between the clan and the village, I am lacking."

"There are many issues I understand but cannot resolve. All I can do is delay the inevitable, patching holes as they appear."

“But you, Shinji…” Fugaku suddenly stood, his gaze sharp as he fixed his eyes on the young man before him. His tone deepened.

“You are different.”

“Your growth astounds me.”

“From relying solely on Fire Release and shuriken techniques in your first battle, to fighting shadow-level enemies in the cult of Jashin, and even becoming a disciple of one of the Legendary Sannin, mastering the power of the Tailed Beast.”

“To the world, your sudden rise seems like the culmination of twelve years of effort. But I know the truth—”

“You achieved all this in just three days!”

“Without a doubt, Shinji, you are a greater prodigy than Madara himself.”

“Unassuming for years, but when you act, the world is stunned!”

“Wait, that’s not entirely…” Shinji hesitated upon hearing such praise.

His meteoric rise was not due to innate talent but rather a series of coincidences—and, frankly, cheats.

Had he followed the normal path of training and completing missions, even with his advantages, he would never have reached such heights so quickly. His success felt like a fluke, leaving him with an unsettling sense of instability—like standing on a castle in the sky, fearing the day it might collapse beneath him.

Since returning to the village, the frequency of battles had decreased, and so had the pace of his growth. Once reaching the threshold of Kage-level strength, further improvement came much more slowly.

After all, the limits of the ninja world were clear.

Without attaining the Six Paths’ power, everything felt hollow.

“I understand how you feel,” Fugaku said, noticing Shinji’s troubled expression. His gaze softened, as if seeing a younger version of himself.

He remembered his own uncertainty, hesitation, and lack of confidence at the same age. Yet Fugaku couldn’t fully grasp Shinji’s anxiety. With such formidable strength, Shinji was already on par with the legendary Uchiha Kagami, if not stronger. And his potential promised even greater heights in the future.

In the end, Fugaku chalked it up to the pressure of responsibility suddenly thrust upon a young man.

Looking at Shinji’s conflicted face, Fugaku’s expression grew nostalgic, his eyes gentle. This moment reminded him of his own 16-year-old self, standing triumphant after defeating three elite clan jonin to earn the title of Police Force Captain.

The look on Shinji’s face now was exactly the same as his back then.

At that moment, did the older Uchiha members look at him the same way he now looked at Uchiha Shinji?

As this thought crossed his mind, Uchiha Fugaku couldn’t help but smile slightly.

He walked up to Uchiha Shinji, crouched down in front of him, and placed a hand on his shoulder, looking at him with the gaze of someone recognizing a kindred spirit.

“Don’t worry. I’ll help you!”

Uchiha Shinji looked up in surprise, staring at Uchiha Fugaku’s face, which was filled with an expression of deep emotion.

He couldn’t help but twitch the corners of his mouth.

Here we go again. Seriously?

These Uchihas—are they all crazy or what?

The Great Elder was like this. Kiyoshiro, Shinichi, and Shisui were like this too.

Now, even Uchiha Fugaku had joined the ranks.

What on earth is this guy imagining in his head right now?

“Let’s get back to business,” Fugaku said, his expression turning serious.

He lowered his voice and asked gravely, “I know it’s presumptuous to ask about someone else’s techniques, but this is crucial for the training program the clan is arranging for you.”

“Ji,” he continued, “can you now use the Fire Release: Chakra Mode without harming yourself?”

Uchiha Shinji frowned slightly but eventually nodded.

He had only demonstrated the Fire Release: Chakra Mode twice in front of other Uchiha members, but that information had made its way back to the clan, leading them to deduce this nearly impossible outcome.

The clan’s intelligence-gathering capabilities truly couldn’t be underestimated.

When Fugaku saw Shinji confirm it, a knowing expression appeared on his face. He nodded solemnly and said,

“The Great Elder sent word from Hell Valley about this matter.”

“If it’s true,” he continued, “then in addition to practicing the clan’s forbidden techniques, you’ll need to train in Uchiha-style swordsmanship and the associated ocular genjutsu. This will allow you to fully master the clan’s S-rank forbidden sword technique—‘Dance of the Solar Eclipse!’”

“Moreover, the clan has invested 300 million ryō in Orochimaru’s laboratory. You’ll need to cooperate with him to complete experiments to cultivate the tailed beast within you.”

“Additionally, Orochimaru informed us that you’re training in a unique ability that requires extensive trial-and-error with medicinal ingredients. We’ve allocated resources to create the necessary training materials for you.”

“The clan has also spent 500 million ryō to purchase half of the Nara family’s medicinal fields and an additional 30 million on top of that…”

As Fugaku continued listing the clan’s investments while counting on his fingers, Uchiha Shinji’s face grew paler and paler.

For the first time, he realized what it truly meant to be “filthy rich.”

The clan had spent nearly 100 million ryō on basic needs and equipment alone. Then came the laboratory investments, the outright purchase of half the Nara family’s land, and acquiring a subsidiary hospital of the Leaf Village Medical Corps. They even reassigned most of the pharmacists and doctors from the hospital to develop the elixirs needed for his training.

If it weren’t so impractical, Uchiha Shinji wouldn’t have been surprised if they had tried to buy the entire Leaf Village hospital!

All in all, the clan had spent a staggering *1 billion ryō* just to support his training!

This… this was like forcibly turning Uchiha Shinji into a pay-to-win warrior!

After discussing all this, Fugaku pulled a sealed envelope made of kraft paper from his robes and handed it to Shinji.

“By the way,” Fugaku said, “this is a letter from the Land of Hot Springs. It’s addressed specifically to you.”

“The sender seems to go by the name… Hidan?”

“Huh?”

Uchiha Shinji was momentarily stunned, quickly taking the letter.

A letter from little brother Hidan? Come to think of it, it had indeed been about a month since he left. He had no idea what things were like in the Land of Hot Springs now.

He opened the envelope and pulled out the letter. As he began reading, his expression gradually turned grim.

When he reached a certain line, Uchiha Shinji suddenly stood up.

He turned to Fugaku, his face serious, and said gravely,

“War is about to break out!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 188: Shocking News in the Letter—A Storm is Coming!

*(Opening the letter)*

*To my esteemed brother, early spring greetings:*

Brother, how have you been?

I have something to confess—

I’ve been terrible!

What a fool I am!

Ever since the war between the Rock and Mist began,

the survivors from the Village Hidden in Hot Water and I fled the village and took refuge in a cave near Hell Valley.

When I woke up in the morning,

my ears were assaulted by the endless sound of explosions.

It seemed to be the Rock Village’s demolition squad? (Footnote: They weren’t wearing headbands. There was a pair of burly men—one large, one small, both dark-skinned—and a beautiful blonde girl about my age.)

Birds took flight in terror, their wings flapping furiously. Market stalls collapsed with deafening crashes.

Again and again, we crawled out from the ruins. Again and again, we ran for our lives through the rain of jutsu.

Fields, seas, towns, paths—everywhere we could see, ninjas were fighting to the death.

No one would spare us.

I’m no longer lost.

The places I could cry have been reduced to rubble.

Crying won’t save the Land of Hot Water.

In short,

Brother, thank you for giving me courage.

Starting now—no, from that day forward—

I’ve understood what I truly want.

And now,

Many people have gathered by my side.

We are called the “Immortal Zealots.” (Footnote: Actually, I’m the only one dying out here, damn it!)

Now, this great lord shall embark on a journey—

We are going to accomplish something that will shake the entire ninja world!

I hesitated for a long time before picking up my pen,

but I’ve decided to tell you about my resolve.

I truly hope that after this, I’ll survive,

and that I’ll get to witness the day your ambitions come to fruition.

For now, this great lord takes his leave!

Sincerely,

Ninja Calendar, April 6th.

Hidan

*To Uchiha Shinji-sama.*

---

Standing in place,

Holding the letter, Uchiha Shinji fell into silent contemplation.

This completely insincere promise,

This shameless vow, deceiving both others and himself,

was so absurdly grandiose that it was almost laughable.

And yet, Hidan actually believed it.

Not only that—he was putting his life on the line to fulfill it!

That foolish younger brother truly believed that Uchiha Shinji could conquer the Five Great Nations, unify the ninja world, and bring peace to it.

Ridiculous!

Such things—

Uchiha Shinji clenched his fist in frustration, crumpling the letter into a ball.

Beside him, Fugaku furrowed his brow, his expression growing serious as he asked:

“Ji, what’s wrong?”

“Why did he say that?”

Fugaku was referring to the part where Uchiha Shinji claimed that war was about to break out.

But Uchiha Shinji shook his head, his face darkening, unsure of how to explain.

The letter mentioned

that Hidan and his group encountered a team of ninjas near Hell Valley who weren’t wearing headbands.

The description of these individuals was vague,

but when Uchiha Shinji pieced it together, he could deduce who they were.

Nii Yugito was born in Year 39 of the Hidden Leaf Calendar, matching Hidan’s description of their age—four years younger than Uchiha Shinji, making her about eight years old now.

Adding to this, the detail about the burly duo, one large and one small.

At this moment, the only group that matched this description and would plausibly appear near Hell Valley

was the Cloud Village’s team of A and B,

along with the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, Nii Yugito!

This conclusion was drawn from his memories of the original series from his past life.

But how was he supposed to explain this insight to others? How could he prove it?

The information about Jinchūriki was absolutely classified.

He had no evidence to back it up.

If he outright said, “The Cloud sent two tailed beasts and the heir to the Raikage to Hell Valley. By the way, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki is actually an eight-year-old girl. I don’t have proof, but trust me, I’m sure of it!”

Who would believe that?

The Cloud’s presence in this area wasn’t just about persuading the Blood Pool Clan of Hell Valley to join them.

A much larger scheme was at play.

The Rock Village has already begun retreating!

Once the war between the Rock and Mist Villages ends, the Cloud Village's ravenous assault on the Land of Fire will surely follow! Unlike in the original story, where the Cloud Village detoured through the Lands of Frost and Hot Springs before invading the Leaf Village via the Land of Fields, this time, the Cloud Village might target Hell Valley directly! This place might turn into a complete disaster!

At the beginning of his journey, Uchiha Shinji studied the ninja world map.

During the Third Ninja War, the reason the Cloud Village crossed two countries and invaded the Leaf Village through the Land of Fields, instead of directly heading south through the Land of Hot Springs, was due to Hell Valley.

This natural fortress stands in the path of any route from the Land of Lightning to the Land of Fire via the Land of Hot Springs. It is an unavoidable chokepoint along the (Lightning-Frost-Hot Springs-Fire) route.

If the Cloud Village gains the allegiance of the Blood Pool Clan—who have long dwelled in Hell Valley—they could use the clan to guide them through the valley. Once past Hell Valley, the relatively flat terrain from the Land of Hot Springs to the Land of Fire would allow them to march all the way to the gates of the Leaf Village!

Thinking about this, Uchiha Shinji’s face darkened.

It wasn’t because the Leaf Village might fall but because the people guarding Hell Valley right now were his own Uchiha clan members!

Among them was the great elder Uchiha Satsuna, who had shown him kindness.

Carrying the dreams, hopes, and unconditional trust of so many people who were willing to risk their lives for him, Uchiha Shinji—who initially only wanted to scheme his way back home—felt a deep sense of inner turmoil.

But now, the blade was already at the throat of someone he cared about!

There was no time for hesitation!

He had to act decisively!

Exhaling deeply, Uchiha Shinji turned to Uchiha Fugaku and asked in a grave tone:

“Fugaku, can I trust you?”

Fugaku raised an eyebrow at the question. After a moment of thought, he looked up and directly asked:

“What are you trying to do?”

“I don’t have time to train anymore,” Uchiha Shinji said seriously. “I need to leave the village right now! I’m going to Hell Valley!”

Fugaku shook his head with a helpless expression.

“That’s impossible. Your current status is too sensitive. As the Leaf Village’s newly emerged second Tailed Beast Jinchūriki, even if the Uchiha clan petitioned on your behalf, it’s unlikely they’d let you leave during this critical period.”

He paused, furrowing his brow in hesitation.

“Unless…”

Uchiha Shinji’s eyes widened, and he quickly asked, “Unless what?”

Fugaku didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he asked with a frown, “What’s going on? Or rather, what do you think is going to happen?”

Uchiha Shinji hesitated for a moment before replying honestly:

“I suspect that the war between the Rock and Mist Villages is nearing its end. Previously, the Cloud Village has always wanted to seize back the Blood Pool Clan under our Uchiha clan’s watch.

"Now, the Cloud Village has already begun to move!”

“They’ve dispatched two Jinchūriki and even the heir to the Raikage!”

“If nothing is done, everyone guarding Hell Valley—including the great elder—will die!”

Hearing this alarming information, Fugaku’s expression barely changed. He simply frowned slightly and asked,

“Do you have any evidence?”

Uchiha Shinji shook his head but responded firmly,

“No, but I’m certain this will happen!”

“That makes things difficult,” Fugaku said, his brows knitting tighter as hesitation flickered in his eyes.

Seeing Fugaku hesitate, Uchiha Shinji’s expression darkened.

With Hidan likely off doing something reckless and the great elder Uchiha Satsuna in immediate danger of being overwhelmed, Uchiha Shinji couldn’t suppress the frustration in his heart.

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, he grabbed Fugaku by the collar and shouted in agitation:

“Difficult or not, we have to act!”

“Fugaku, right now, I’m the clan leader!”

Fugaku, startled by the outburst, froze momentarily.

But those words seemed to jolt him out of his position as clan head and make him think from the perspective of an ordinary Uchiha member.

Once Fugaku began to consider things from this angle, his expression quickly settled into calm determination.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Fugaku patted Uchiha Shinji’s hands and said gravely:

“Go find Orochimaru and tell him about this. He’ll know what to do.”

Then, gritting his teeth slightly, he added,

“I’ll take care of the rest!”

Hearing this, Uchiha Shinji looked at Fugaku in surprise. The sudden shift in Fugaku’s attitude felt like finding a hidden “Uchiha Fugaku instruction manual.”

With a clear plan in place, Uchiha Shinji’s face lit up with a bright smile.

He adjusted Fugaku’s collar and gave him a playful punch on the chest.

“Then I’m counting on you!”

With that, Uchiha Shinji leapt into action.

He scaled the veranda, climbed onto the rooftop, and vaulted upward!

Beneath the moonlit sky of the Leaf Village, he leapt from rooftop to rooftop, barefoot on the tiles. Quickly forming hand seals, he summoned a small white snake to guide him to Orochimaru.

Back in the house, Fugaku watched Uchiha Shinji disappear into the distance. Glancing down at his now-disheveled collar, he thought back to the boy’s bright smile before leaving.

Shaking his head with a wry smile, he murmured to himself,

“Being called ‘big brother’... it’s been a long time since I felt that.”

(Chapter End)

Chapter 189: Turning a Fake Battle into Reality, Nine-Tails' Rampage!

Orochimaru's laboratory was located on the eastern side of Konoha.

When Uchiha Shinji found Orochimaru, the latter was dressed in a white lab coat, tinkering with various bottles and jars.

The lab was relatively clean—at least not as gruesome as it had been during their encounter in the Land of Rain.

After finding Orochimaru, Uchiha Shinji relayed his speculations in their entirety:

“That’s the situation, Orochimaru-sensei.”

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow slightly and rasped,

“You’re saying that Kumogakure has already started planning an operation in Hell Valley?”

“In other words, they want to use the Blood Pool Clan within Hell Valley to cross it and launch a direct attack on Konoha from the Land of Hot Water?”

Orochimaru soon stopped what he was doing, furrowed his brows, and murmured,

“That location...”

“It could be utilized.”

Uchiha Shinji looked at Orochimaru in surprise.

He had merely informed Orochimaru of the potential danger to the Uchiha Clan and his desire to go to Hell Valley to provide support.

But from this, Orochimaru swiftly deduced the possible actions of Kumogakure and predicted the likely trajectory of the conflict.

His war intuition and big-picture perspective were almost absurdly sharp.

Before long, Orochimaru narrowed his golden, snake-like eyes and pulled a small scroll from his robe. He wrote a brief message on it, then performed hand signs to summon a small white snake, instructing it to swallow the scroll and slither away out of sight.

Only then did Orochimaru turn back, speaking calmly to Uchiha Shinji:

“Whether what you’re saying is true or just a fabricated excuse to justify leaving the village—”

“To achieve your goal—”

“You must conceal your true intentions and present the higher-ups with a reason they can’t refuse to send you out.”

“How should I do that?”

Uchiha Shinji scratched his head, puzzled. The tactics of maneuvering among elites were far beyond his experience as a commoner.

Though he had seen theoretical strategies in videos during his past life, applying them in reality left him feeling clueless.

“It’s simple,” Orochimaru replied with a faint smile.

“Change the source of the intelligence.”

“Provide information that is difficult to verify in a short time but requires urgent attention.”

“From the perspective of the Uchiha Clan, you could report to the Third Hokage that the Blood Pool Clan has gone berserk and that the mission is on the brink of failure. This would necessitate the village sending reinforcements. However, if you want to ensure the village specifically assigns you to the mission, there will inevitably be some troublesome negotiations involving interests.”

“And from my perspective...”

Orochimaru paused, looking up as a black ink hawk flew in from the horizon.

He extended his hand to catch the scroll dropped by the hawk, then tossed it to Uchiha Shinji.

At this moment, he said calmly,

“I just need to turn this fake battle into a real one.”

---

### Hokage's Office

Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, was gazing out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the peaceful village of Konoha.

He had just finished dealing with a mountain of paperwork and felt a bit fatigued. To stretch his legs, he stood and picked up his beloved smoking pipe, intending to enjoy a puff.

However, before he could, a series of rapid footsteps echoed from outside the door.

An uninvited guest barged in without so much as a knock.

“Hiruzen!”

“Urgent war report!”

Bang!

Shimura Danzo slammed a red-sealed emergency file onto the Hokage’s desk.

Sarutobi Hiruzen froze for a moment, frowning as he walked back to the desk and opened the file to read the intelligence within.

The more he read, the deeper his frown became.

“Kumogakure colluding with the Blood Pool Clan and instigating a riot in Hell Valley...”

“Additionally, Iwagakure has begun withdrawing troops. Their vanguard has already reached the village.”

“A sharp decrease in ninja activity within Kumogakure? It seems they’ve been redeployed for war preparations.”

“Spotted a Kumogakure unit of mid-sized scale in the Cloud and Thunder Gorge? Witnesses reported seeing ‘A,’ the heir to the Raikage, alongside his partner, ‘B.’”

After finishing the file, Sarutobi Hiruzen’s face darkened as he looked up.

The intelligence painted a grim picture, steering the Third Shinobi World War’s trajectory toward the scenario Konoha’s leadership least wanted to see.

“Is this intelligence accurate?”

Sarutobi Hiruzen fixed his gaze on Shimura Danzo and asked gravely,

“All primary intelligence sources are from Root, with only supplementary material from the Anbu. Could this be...”

Before he could finish, Danzo’s face hardened as he glared at Sarutobi Hiruzen.

“Hiruzen, are you doubting me?”

“I’ve lost countless operatives to gather this intelligence. And now, at this critical juncture, you...”

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and rubbed his temples, raising the file to cut off Danzo’s complaints.

“All right, all right.”

---

"Summon all the elders, as well as the three Sannin, Jonin squad leaders, and the heads of each clan in the village. Convene a meeting immediately."

"We need to discuss war strategies and decide on the personnel for deployment."

Soon after,

as orders were issued swiftly through the night,

the senior leadership of Konoha gathered in the conference room of the Hokage building.

A high-level meeting, just recently concluded, was being reconvened.

As the discussions deepened, the topic inevitably shifted to Konoha's newly acquired second Tailed Beast Jinchuriki:

Uchiha Shinji.

---

In the conference room of the Hokage building,

after Orochimaru analyzed the significant impact of the "Valley of Hell" on the course of the war,

a strategy was finalized to send reinforcements to the Valley of Hell to block Kumogakure and the Blood Pool Clan.

However, the Valley of Hell was only so large,

and its terrain was clearly unsuitable for large-scale ninja operations.

Thus, the mission was quickly defined as a small-scale operation to deploy elite squads tasked with disrupting Kumogakure's plans.

"Now, it's time to decide on the personnel for this mission,"

Sarutobi Hiruzen said, frowning as he looked at the list of names in his hand.

Kumogakure had dispatched a powerful duo known as the "A-B Combination."

Ordinary Jonin would likely stand no chance and might not last even ten moves against them.

The young "A" of this generation had earned the title of the "Fastest Ninja in the Shinobi World."

His partner, "B," was the perfect Jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails.

This duo represented the pinnacle of offense and defense.

Faced with such formidable opponents,

who would Konoha send to counter them?

At that moment, Shimura Danzo raised his head and said coolly,

"Hiruzen, what are you hesitating for? Don’t we have someone who is both a Jinchuriki and capable of suppressing a Tailed Beast?"

On one side,

upon hearing Danzo’s words, Mitokado Homura, one of the Hokage’s advisors, nodded immediately.

"The opponents are the Eight-Tails and A, the son of the Raikage."

"I propose sending Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina."

"With the power of the Nine-Tails and Kushina's sealing techniques, suppressing the Eight-Tails for a short time shouldn’t be a problem. And I believe Minato’s speed surpasses that of A, the Raikage's son."

Danzo, who had just been about to suggest Uchiha Shinji for the mission, frowned at the interruption.

However, Homura’s reasoning was so sound that he couldn’t find an argument against it.

Homura paused, glanced around the room, and continued,

"Furthermore, Minato is also skilled in sealing techniques, ensuring that if the Nine-Tails goes berserk, he can seal it again."

"Their combination is undoubtedly the best choice."

But before Homura could finish speaking,

from the direction of Konoha’s Third Training Ground,

a surge of crimson chakra suddenly erupted into the sky!

The windstorm it created was ten times stronger than what Uchiha Shinji had generated during his half-Tailed Beast transformation!

In just an instant—

Crack! Crack!  

The shockwave swept through the air,

shattering the glass windows of the Hokage conference room in a flash!

A massive, terrifying shadow with nine tails

suddenly appeared above Konoha!

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 190: Training Secret Arts, The Legend of the Fourth Hokage: Sudden Change!*

After a brief instruction session with Uchiha Shinji, Orochimaru was quickly summoned away by ANBU members sent by the Third Hokage.

The entire process was so seamless it seemed as though everything had been prearranged. No—considering Orochimaru's preparation of that scroll, it was impossible to organize such a complete response without meticulous planning in advance.

Reflecting on how the Uchiha clan assigned the Hell Valley mission to Konoha, seemingly facilitated by Orochimaru, one couldn't help but wonder: had this plan been devised long ago?

With his return to the battlefield during the Shinobi World War, Orochimaru might have already prepared a broad strategy for Konoha's four-front combat scenario.

Though the current actions of Kumogakure (Cloud Village) seemed abrupt, they were likely part of Orochimaru’s contingency plans.

Realizing this, Uchiha Shinji felt a faint sense of enlightenment. He couldn't help but scratch his head as if trying to digest a newfound understanding.

As Orochimaru was about to leave, he suddenly turned back, narrowed his golden, snake-like eyes, and casually pulled a book from the shelf by the door. Tossing it to Uchiha Shinji, he said indifferently:

“Stay here and wait for me. No matter what you see, it’s best not to run around.”

“Keep yourself busy. Read some books.”

“...?” Uchiha Shinji blinked, confused about Orochimaru’s intentions. But when he looked down, he saw the title on the book cover:

*"Introduction to Genetic Engineering"!*

Instantly, Uchiha Shinji felt as though he were holding a burning coal hotter than a fire-style jutsu. He immediately tossed the book aside.

What the hell? Is this something a battle-hardened Uchiha like me should be reading?!  

When he looked up again, Orochimaru’s silhouette had already vanished into the night outside the laboratory.

This laboratory, located within Konoha Village, appeared well-equipped and professional. A giant tree stood at its entrance, its presence adding a serene ambiance.

At that moment, the night wind howled, carrying fallen green leaves into the air. Despite it being only April, the atmosphere carried an inexplicable sense of oppression, stirring unease in one's heart.

Gazing at the cloudy night sky, with the moon obscured by thick clouds, Uchiha Shinji had a foreboding feeling that a storm was coming.

Still, he had done everything he could. Whatever happened next would be left to fate.

If Konoha’s leadership denied him the ability to leave the village, he was prepared to break out, even if it meant saving Uchiha Setsuna by force.

Given his current skillset and combat power, as long as Minato Namikaze wasn’t the one leading the pursuit, the situation wouldn’t pose too much trouble.

The gaps in his genjutsu abilities had been patched up, and when it came to dealing with sealing techniques or poisons, his quick reflexes, enhanced instincts, and battle intuition ensured he wouldn’t easily fall into traps.

Even Orochimaru himself wouldn’t be able to take him down so effortlessly now.

With nothing else to occupy his time, Uchiha Shinji allowed his thoughts to wander until, bored out of his mind, he pulled out a scroll he could actually understand. Finding a spot in the laboratory, he sat cross-legged and began studying:

*"Ninja Art: Wild Lion’s Mane Jutsu."*

The technique revolved around manipulating hair to harden it similarly to earth-style chakra transformations while incorporating elements of medical ninjutsu for regeneration. At its core, it was a hybrid ninja technique.

What set it apart from traditional earth-style jutsu and elevated it to the level of a high-level secret technique was that the material involved was the user’s body tissue—hair.

A ninja’s hair, like their chakra pathways, could serve as a medium for various techniques.

For example, the Regeneration Jutsu, as seen when Shizune treated Neji in the original series, used hair as a medium to regenerate missing parts by altering its cellular structure.

Similarly, Kidomaru’s Spider Web Jutsu involved the manipulation of his silk glands and sweat glands.

Jiraiya’s Wild Lion’s Mane Jutsu employed a similar concept, manipulating the hair’s chakra pathways to control its growth, harden it, and enhance its regenerative properties. Unlike physical overdrive techniques like the Eight Gates or Seven-Day Breathing Method, which strain the body, hair-based techniques could be enhanced without causing the same overload.

This made the jutsu highly versatile—offering strong offense, durability, low chakra consumption, and regenerative properties. Countering it required either extremely high temperatures, like advanced fire-style jutsu, or pinpoint strikes, such as Gentle Fist techniques.

Even powerful attacks like Chidori and Water Severing Wave struggled against its regenerative properties. Cutting it only delayed the inevitable, as the hair would regrow rapidly, effectively acting as a perpetually regenerating armor.

In its ultimate form, combined with the Byakugan for precise strikes, this jutsu could rival the terrifying Rabbit Hair Needle of Kaguya Otsutsuki herself!

Fortunately, such techniques were easy to learn but hard to master. While Uchiha Shinji struggled to comprehend much of the advanced theory, the basics were relatively easy to grasp.

He formed the “Ram” hand seal to assist his control, attaching chakra to his hair and experimenting with hardening, growth, and projectile-like extensions.

Thanks to his prior experience with techniques like Earth Spear and manipulating the Kakuzu’s threads, he quickly adapted. After several attempts, a notification appeared before his eyes:

*[You have mastered: Ninja Art: Wild Lion’s Mane Jutsu (B, Beginner Level, compatible with Sage Mode for advanced upgrades).]*

“Well, what can I say? Guess I’m even tankier now,” Uchiha Shinji muttered.

Standing before a mirror in the laboratory, he manipulated his hair to form a lazy-looking hairstyle on his head. Considering the jutsu’s built-in styling capabilities, he imagined making a dramatic entrance with black hair wildly flaring, like a demon lord descending.

Man, this is just too cool!  

He chuckled to himself, poking the hardened hair atop his head and marveling at its granite-like toughness.

Just as he was about to delve deeper into the technique’s mechanics and wait for Orochimaru to return with news—

*Bang!*

*Crack!*

A surge of air, accompanied by a deafening roar, instantly spread out!

In just a moment, the laboratory's glass was shattered into pieces!

Uchiha Shinji looked up in astonishment, only to see, on the eastern side of Konoha,

a fearsome fox shadow with nine wildly thrashing tails suddenly appear in the night sky!

“That direction… is that the Third Training Ground? Has Kushina gone berserk?”

Uchiha Shinji’s eyes widened as his pupils abruptly contracted.

“This… this is the plot of The Tale of Minato! But the timeline doesn’t match. Why is this happening now?!”

“Besides, this commotion is way more exaggerated than in The Tale of Minato!”

“Damn it! The prince is in danger!”

In that instant, Uchiha Shinji realized two critical points:

First, the timing doesn’t match.

The events in The Tale of Minato occurred during the day, but now it’s nighttime.

Second, after the last time Kushina partially transformed into the Nine-Tails, causing massive destruction with two Tailed Beast Bombs and costing Konoha billions in damages, the village should have learned their lesson.

Surely they wouldn’t be foolish enough to assign just two ANBU to guard Kushina—a human time bomb.

Yet now, Kushina had still managed to break loose!

Moreover, compared to the scale of Kushina’s rampage in The Tale of Minato, this scene felt far more extreme!

He had carefully counted before—

In The Tale of Minato, Kushina had at most unleashed eight tails during her rampage!

But now—

This was practically the complete form of the Nine-Tails breaking free!

In her Eight-Tails form, Kushina had nearly killed Minato in The Tale of Minato, barely stopping herself in the nick of time.

If not, Minato would’ve been dead on the spot.

But now, with Kushina in this full Nine-Tails form?

It was important to remember—Naruto only had half the Nine-Tails sealed inside him, while Kushina housed the entire beast!

If this level of rampage continued, wouldn’t she just smack Minato to death with a single blow?

And at this point in time, Minato hadn’t even had the chance to "for love, leave behind the prince" (ahem, Naruto).

Uchiha Shinji couldn’t help but feel his scalp tingle.

This was insane!

If Naruto didn’t exist, where the hell was he supposed to find another savior?

At that thought, Uchiha Shinji suddenly became as frantic as an ant on a hot pan. He leapt from the ground in a single bound,

hurriedly stuffed the scroll into his storage pouch, and bolted toward the door!

However—

At that moment, two figures dressed in ANBU uniforms suddenly landed at the entrance to the laboratory.

Both raised their hands, blocking Uchiha Shinji’s path, and spoke in an awkward tone:

“Lord Asura!”

“Please stop!”

“Lord Orochimaru specifically instructed that you stay here and study!”

Uchiha Shinji halted his steps, furrowing his brows as he glanced at the two masked Root ninja standing before him.

For some reason, a strange sense of familiarity rose in his heart.

These two—he had definitely seen them somewhere before.

(End of Chapter)