101-105

*Chapter 101: The Flaw of Izanagi*

Uchiha Obito lay on the stone bed, his single red eye turning listlessly, taking a moment before it focused on the figure standing at his bedside—a plant-like creature shaped like a human-sized pitcher plant.

"Zetsu?"

His voice was hoarse as he spoke.

"Do you remember who you are?"

"...Uchiha Obito," he replied, slowly moving his limbs. "I remember everything clearly. That mental breakdown was just an accident. Don't worry. I won't die or go mad before I create the new world!"

It was the normal Obito.

Black Zetsu quietly breathed a sigh of relief. If Obito had truly gone insane, things would have been troublesome for him.

"How long was I unconscious?"

"A little over ten hours since you were defeated by Uchiha Sōgen."

"More than ten hours, huh? So this is... a temporary base." Obito propped himself up, his single Sharingan spinning as he took in the familiar scenery around him. "That means we're still on the eastern coast of the Land of Fire. It's not too late yet. White Zetsu, transform into Yagura Karatachi and lead the Mist Ninja to continue attacking Konoha."

"Eh? We're continuing with that plan?"

White Zetsu was shocked.

"Whether Konoha wins or the Mist Ninja suffers a crushing defeat, the outcome will work in our favor. Ideally, both Konoha and the Mist would severely weaken each other, though that's unlikely..." Obito shook his head in regret. He knew the current state of the Mist Village far too well—it was no match for Konoha.

"But Yagura Karatachi was captured by Uchiha Sōgen. Can Konoha and the Mist still fight?"

White Zetsu seemed reluctant to engage in such undercover work, trying hard to find a flaw in the plan.

"Don’t worry. The war won’t end so quickly. Negotiations between Konoha and Yagura will take time, and the Mist Village is undergoing internal changes. Some decisions are no longer Yagura's to make. Just keep the war going when you impersonate him, and even if you're exposed later, it won’t matter."

Hearing this, White Zetsu realized there was no escaping the mission.

Black Zetsu, throughout the entire conversation, remained silent.

He didn't care about the war between Konoha and the Mist Village, nor who won or lost, as long as it didn’t interfere with his own plans. Watching Obito assign tasks to White Zetsu in such a clear-headed manner improved Black Zetsu's mood.

It seemed Obito's mind was still intact.

He was still useful.

White Zetsu wriggled, splitting apart. He had worked with Yagura before, so he didn’t even need hand signs or preparation. Once he fully separated from Black Zetsu, he transformed into Yagura’s form: a green-haired, purple-eyed boy with a doll-like face and a height of barely 4’7” (140 cm).

The only flaw was the absence of the Three-Tails.

No matter how skilled White Zetsu was, he couldn’t replicate a tailed beast. However, as long as Yagura didn’t have to personally fight, White Zetsu’s transformation was flawless, even to the Byakugan. Unless he exposed himself, his cover should hold for a while.

White Zetsu was part of a larger collective. Most of them had low combat abilities and were mainly used for gathering intelligence, like walking surveillance cameras. Only a few, like the one impersonating Yagura or the one who attacked Sōgen with the Wood Clone Technique, had the strength to assist Obito.

Once the transformed White Zetsu left, Black Zetsu found another one to fuse with. The large pitcher plant reappeared in Obito’s field of vision.

"Obito, what exactly happened? Why did things turn out like that?"

Finally, Black Zetsu asked the question that concerned him the most.

"Didn’t you use *Izanagi*?"

Obito raised his pale right hand, silently looking at it without comment. With half his body replaced by White Zetsu’s cells, gaining another right hand didn’t bother him. He touched his mask and took it off.

Black Zetsu wasn’t interested in Obito's scarred face.

He focused on Obito’s opened left eye, which was clouded with dust-like haze. Beneath it, faintly visible, were three black tomoe. Obito pressed his fingers into the eye socket, pulling out the now-useless Sharingan, leaving only a dark, hollow cavity like the entrance to hell.

"If you used Izanagi, then..."

Black Zetsu was momentarily puzzled.

He had witnessed many Uchihas use Izanagi before. Uchiha Madara, for instance, had used it to fake his death against Senju Hashirama, as it was the ultimate technique capable of rewriting even death.

So why had it failed for Obito?

"Uchiha Sōgen's eye technique is strange. It’s called a genjutsu, but it's unlike any other. His eye technique... devours my visual power!" Obito wasn’t interested in hiding information. He leaned against the cold stone wall, his lone eye staring at the dim flame of an oil lamp on a nearby stone platform.

"Devours visual power?"

Black Zetsu blinked.

He had never heard of such a Mangekyō Sharingan ability before. But if what Obito said was true, it would explain why Izanagi failed. In reality, Izanagi didn’t fail. Its flaw was that it couldn’t restore the user’s lost chakra. Visual power, being a form of chakra, couldn't be recovered either.

"I had to exhaust nearly all my visual power just to escape Sōgen's technique. The imbalance in my mental energy caused the breakdown you witnessed."

There was another reason Obito didn’t mention: to better play the role of Madara, he had been giving himself mental suggestions that "I am Uchiha Madara."  

That confusion had contributed to his breakdown, leading him to actually believe he was Madara.

Obito shook his head, pushing the unpleasant memories aside. "If my guess is correct, Sōgen can convert the visual power and mental energy he absorbs into his own strength. Waiting for him to lose his eyesight is probably futile."

"We need a new plan!"

He rubbed his temples, feeling a dual-layered headache—both physical and mental. Even with half of his body being sustained by the regenerative powers of the Zetsu cells, the loss of his visual power wasn’t something a mere ten hours of rest could fix. He needed more time to restore his chakra flow.

Moreover, he realized how dangerous Sōgen's ability was. It was no wonder they found Danzo in the hospital in such a dire state when they infiltrated Konoha. He must have been drained by Sōgen's technique, leaving him in a vegetative state.

"A technique that devours mental energy, huh? That’s a troublesome ability indeed," Black Zetsu mused.

Obito's fear had come true. Uchiha Sōgen’s Mangekyō Sharingan had awakened into an ability that even Obito found difficult to deal with. The Uchiha clan continued to produce more and more terrifying individuals. Perhaps only the Rinnegan, a power that surpassed the Mangekyō Sharingan, could nullify Sōgen’s genjutsu.

Although genjutsu-based eye techniques were powerful, they were vulnerable to higher-tier abilities. The Rinnegan, being a superior evolution of the Sharingan, possessed high resistance to genjutsu, particularly those from the Sharingan, and could even render them ineffective.

All this knowledge had been painstakingly researched by Uchiha Madara.

"If necessary, we’ll have Nagato act," Black Zetsu suggested.

"Now isn’t the time to reveal the Rinnegan. If we expose it without taking down Uchiha Sōgen, Nagato will face relentless pursuit from the entire ninja world. We’re not ready to take on the world yet. It’s not worth risking everything for this—it doesn’t fit our plan..." Obito thought for a moment, deciding to temporarily swallow his anger. "For now, let’s focus on helping Nagato strengthen the Akatsuki as planned."

"As for Uchiha Sōgen, keep an eye on him. If there’s an opportunity, kill him. If not, we’ll take care of him when the time comes."

After all,

Their focus on the Uchiha clan was merely precautionary. In truth, neither Uchiha Sōgen nor the Uchiha clan had any direct influence on their current plan. There was no need to waste energy fighting them.

"If that’s your decision, I understand," Black Zetsu agreed.

Both fell silent.

The room was enveloped in long-lasting quiet.

Obito leaned against the stone wall, closing his single eye as he tried to calm his disordered chakra. The gaping hole where his left eye used to be was unsettling, even to Black Zetsu, who quickly averted his gaze.

Breaking the silence, he asked, "Obito, do we have any more Sharingan?"

"There should be two pairs left."

"Then find some time to implant them. Izanagi is still useful. This time, it was just bad luck."

"You don't need to remind me of that. If there's nothing else, just leave me alone for a while," Uchiha Obito waved his hand, dismissing him.

Black Zetsu said nothing more. The large pitcher plant slowly sank into the ground, leaving Uchiha Obito alone in the room. He sat on the stone bed, as still as a stone statue leaning against the wall. Only if you got close to his chest could you hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, proving that he was a living, breathing human.

For the sake of that beautiful new world, he had long since been prepared to risk everything, whether it was his life or his soul. He had already wagered it all.

So,

No one could stand in the way of his progress.

No matter who they were.

Anyone who dared to block his path, he would crush without mercy.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 102: The Deal with Yagura Karatachi

The war was far from over; in fact, it had only just begun.

Even though Yagura Karatachi, the Fourth Mizukage, had been captured, the war continued unabated. The Mist Ninja showed no signs of realizing their Mizukage was now a prisoner of the Leaf. They continued launching ferocious assaults, wave after wave, trying to break through the ironclad defenses the Leaf had established along the long coastline.

Unfortunately for them, sheer determination wasn't enough to overcome the gap in strength between the two sides.

At first, the Mist Ninjas gained some ground by eliminating the command center of the border defense forces. But once the Leaf reinforcements rebuilt the command system, bringing the previously disorganized defense units back under control, the Mist Ninjas lost their advantage.

Black Tide Fortress.

Inside the castle keep:

“Is Yagura still refusing to cooperate?” Sougen asked with his eyes closed, sitting cross-legged on a cushion with his long Uchiha fan resting on his knees. Ever since the last meeting in the keep, he had grown quite fond of this place. The elevated position offered a wide, peaceful, and quiet view.

Thus, it had become both his bedroom and office.

The space inside the keep wasn’t small, but it was divided by shoji screens into different sections for various uses.

“Yes. He refuses to betray the Hidden Mist Village, even though I’ve already lowered our demands. He still won’t agree. I apologize, Lord Sougen, this is my failure,” Nara Suzaku said bitterly. He and the think tank from the command unit had spent two days and nights deliberating and concluded that the best way to maximize the Mizukage’s value was to wake him up and negotiate directly.

However, Yagura’s stubbornness exceeded their expectations.

A week had passed since Yagura was awakened. The best negotiators had worn themselves out, yet they still couldn’t reach an agreement. With each passing day, Suzaku’s face grew darker.

“It was I who approved your plan and made the decision, so the responsibility lies with me, not you. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with your plan. It just seems like our Mizukage here hasn’t yet accepted the reality of his situation.”

Sougen opened his eyes, a fleeting red glow appearing in them.

Even so, the pressure from his pitch-black gaze weighed heavily on Suzaku. Since capturing the Fourth Mizukage, Sougen’s image had grown towering in their eyes. Whether it was respect or fear, all showed him immense reverence due to his power.

“Let’s go!”

He stood up, hanging the Uchiha fan next to the armor stand.

Since Yagura’s capture, Sougen had stayed out of battle for a week. The elder Hyuga Masayuki kept advising him not to take unnecessary risks, and Sougen didn’t argue. He didn’t boast about being invincible or that no Mist Ninja could challenge him.

Hyuga Masayuki was right.

Sougen wasn’t the sword of the army; he was the hand wielding the sword.

As commander, charging into battle headfirst wasn’t his role. His duty was to lead thousands of Leaf Ninja in combat, not to fight on the front lines himself. Besides, he needed time to study the Uchiha fan he had just acquired.

“Let’s see our Mizukage. It’s time to make a decision after all this stalling.”

Sougen walked ahead, his long black robe flowing like angry waves in the wind.

Nara Suzaku hurried to follow.

It wasn’t surprising that Black Tide Fortress had a dungeon; any castle built by a daimyo without one would be odd. Nobles always needed hidden spaces to handle delicate matters.

Descending the narrow stairway, dimly lit oil lamps hung from the walls, barely illuminating the steep steps. After traversing three nearly identical stairways, they reached the lowest level of the dungeon.

The scene changed abruptly: cold, damp air carrying a foul stench hit them. To be honest, the smell had been noticeable for a while but wasn’t as overpowering earlier.

Unlike the spacious upper levels, this area was much more confined. There was only one cell here, its bars as thick as bowls, much sturdier than the upper cells, and a powerful barrier surrounded the area. This was where they held the most dangerous prisoners.

Yagura Karatachi, the Fourth Mizukage, was confined here.

Sougen stopped in front of the cell, narrowing his eyes to inspect the interior.

The cell was empty except for a simple wooden bed, in one corner of which lay a dirty blanket. Yagura sat cross-legged on the bare wooden bed. Upon hearing footsteps, he opened his eyes, meeting Sougen’s gaze.

Their eyes locked.

“Mizukage, we meet again,” Sougen broke the cold silence.

“Uchiha clan leader,” Yagura looked up at Sougen from within his cell. “You took longer than I expected. Doesn’t the Leaf want this war to end soon?”

“No one likes war, Mizukage. But while you may have the freedom to start a war, when it ends is up to us. We don’t like war, but we don’t fear it either. And if this war serves to remind would-be aggressors that the Leaf is still untouchable, then so be it.”

The dungeon warden swiftly brought over a clean stool.

Sougen sat down outside the cell, looking leisurely at Yagura.

Nara Suzaku dismissed the warden and stood silently beside Sougen. Not just anyone could listen to what was about to be discussed.

“So the Mist has been chosen as the Leaf’s sacrificial ‘chicken’ to warn the other villages?” Yagura asked bitterly.

“No. You brought this upon yourselves,” Sougen said bluntly. “In fact, if you hadn’t struck first, we had no intention of engaging in a war at this time.”

“But I should thank you. Your actions stirred up internal conflicts within the Leaf, giving us the opportunity to oust the Third Hokage. Without your Mist’s provocation, who knows how long it would’ve taken to resolve those issues.”

Sougen offered his sincere thanks.

The reasons for the Third Hokage’s fall were complex, but there was no doubt that the Mist’s threat of war was a key catalyst.

Yagura’s face turned pale. “Uchiha clan leader, we didn’t start this war. You know that. The mysterious man is our common enemy. Continuing this war benefits neither of us.”

“Regardless of what you or I know, Mizukage, everyone else believes this war was started by Yagura Karatachi, the Fourth Mizukage,” Sougen said, spreading his hands.

“Or are you planning to tell everyone that the war was actually caused by a mysterious man claiming to be Uchiha Madara, who controlled you and started the conflict between the Mist and the Leaf?”

“Come on, Mizukage. Even if that story were true, how many people do you think would believe it?”

Faced with Sougen’s sharp questioning, Yagura had no answer.

Everyone knew he had started the war. Shifting the blame to an unidentified mysterious figure? No one would believe it.

Sougen added, “We also uncovered some interesting information from the minds of captured Mist Ninjas. Apparently, the Fourth Mizukage himself is personally leading the Mist on the frontlines.”

Yagura’s face changed drastically.

Another Fourth Mizukage? How could that be?

Was it possible that someone had set up a puppet in his place? No, that couldn’t be it. Based on his understanding of the power-hungry elites in his village, if he had gone missing for an extended time, people like Zabuza Momochi would be vying to become the Fifth Mizukage, not putting up a puppet to fool others.

But he didn’t think Sougen would lie about something like this. There would be no benefit in doing so, only a loss of trust.

A chilling thought crossed his mind.

Could that masked man still be pretending to be him in the Mist?

“One more thing. The Mist has been launching aggressive attacks recently, but the tactics seem... lacking. It’s almost like the Fourth Mizukage is deliberately gifting us victories. Luckily, I’m not the Hokage and don’t have to worry about handing out rewards afterward,” Sougen added, as if concerned Yagura might not fully grasp the situation.

This time, Yagura couldn’t remain calm.

He had underestimated Sougen’s plans. The Leaf wasn’t just trying to end the war; they wanted to use this conflict to send a message to other villages. And that mysterious masked man was still causing chaos in the Mist. His village couldn’t withstand much more of this.

Yagura stood up and walked to the cell door, staring directly at Sougen.

“I’ll accept your terms. The Hyuga Clan’s Byakugan will be returned, and war reparations will be paid as agreed. But the Hidden Mist’s finances are in bad shape right now, so we’ll need to make payments in installments. Also, we’ll fully cooperate with the Leaf in tracking down and dealing with that masked man.”

“Now, can I at least move to a different room? The stench in here is unbearable,” Yagura said, waving a hand in front of his nose.

“By the way, Uchiha clan leader, I hope your actions will be quick. If the village strips me of the position of Mizukage, my promises will lose all effect and value.”

“Thank you for the reminder, we’ll keep that in mind,” Sougen replied with a smile and a nod.

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 103: If Only I Were Really the Fourth Hokage's Child!*

Kikyo Yagura’s residence had been moved from the depths of the dungeon to a floor just below the main tower, becoming a neighbor to Sougen. No matter what, Yagura was still the Fourth Mizukage. Even though the experts from the sealing squad had placed the strongest seal they knew on him, no one could guarantee how much restraint that would have on a jinchuriki.

So, Nara Suzaku cautiously probed whether Yagura could be housed on a lower floor of the main tower. After a moment of consideration, Sougen agreed. Although being neighbors with the Fourth Mizukage felt odd, he didn't mind much. If Yagura had any rebellious thoughts, Sougen wouldn’t hesitate to remind him of what it felt like to be controlled by the Uchiha!

...

"Smack!"

The bamboo sword hit a slender wrist with perfect precision, causing pain but not injury to Uchiha Fujika.

"Fujika, pick up the sword."

Uchiha Chihaya, dressed in a traditional black robe of the Uchiha clan, tapped the stone floor with her wooden sandals, her face stern, exuding the imposing air of a battlefield goddess.

Rubbing her wrist, which now had several red marks, Fujika silently picked up the fallen bamboo sword and resumed her stance.

The training continued.

If this had been in the past, she might have persisted, but tears would have already covered the floor.

But after witnessing the brutality of the battlefield under Chihaya’s guidance, she had become much stronger!

"Is that your younger sister? Is she five or six?"

"Five."

"Sending someone that young to the battlefield seems a bit early, doesn’t it?" Sougen commented while playing a game of Go with Yagura under the eaves.

The most popular game in the shinobi world was undoubtedly shogi, but Sougen wasn’t interested in its complexity. Instead, he commissioned a famous craftsman to create a set of black-and-white Go stones, which he would pull out when feeling restless or bored.

Unlike shogi, Go was much simpler and easier to learn, making it more accessible.

Even though it was Yagura’s first time playing, he was already holding his own in their game.

“So, Mizukage-sama, when did you first learn to kill?” Sougen asked casually while contemplating his next move.

“Me?” Yagura’s expression grew complicated. “I was about five. My father took me to kill a group of bandits terrorizing the Land of Water. That was the first time I slit a person’s throat with a kunai. After that, I lost count of how many I’ve killed.”

He looked down at his clean, white hands, but to him, they seemed stained with endless blood, save for the pure white Go stone in his palm.

"I went to the battlefield at five, too," Sougen said as he finally placed his stone. "In a world like this, if you don’t learn about its brutality early, it’ll swallow you whole."

“You make this world sound utterly hopeless,” Yagura sighed bitterly.

“Isn’t it? Sending children barely taller than a blade to war. This world is a pile of crap!” Sougen’s words visibly disturbed Yagura, but he dropped the subject.

Changing the topic, Yagura asked, “When will this pointless war end?”

“That’s not something easily answered,” Sougen replied, placing another stone. “It involves the relations between two villages, so it requires the approval of the Hokage. If I weren’t tied up commanding the frontlines, you’d have to visit Konoha yourself.”

“The Fifth Hokage, huh? I hope you can end this soon. A broken Kirigakure can’t help you track down that one-eyed bastard.”

“Is that so?” Sougen chuckled, paying little mind.

With a click, four black stones connected in an unbroken diagonal line.

The game was over.

————

As the downpour drenched the village, Uzumaki Naruto sat alone on a narrow platform of a playground slide. Though the mushroom-shaped roof shielded him from the rain, it couldn’t block the chilling wind or the cold rain that seeped into his heart.

He hugged his knees, his expression blank, his blue eyes staring through the rain at the distant Hokage Rock. His gaze lingered on the youngest face—the Fourth Hokage’s.

Recently, he had overheard a rumor.

It claimed that he was the Fourth Hokage’s child.

A ridiculous, laughable rumor. How could a “demon fox” be the child of a “hero”? The gossiping housewives dismissed it as nonsense, finding it unbelievable and even distasteful.

But Naruto didn’t laugh it off.

The thought made his heart race, keeping him awake at night. Whenever he was alone in his empty, lonely home, that wild thought grew like weeds in his mind.

If only…

If only he really were the Fourth Hokage’s child!

With a hero for a father, maybe people wouldn’t hate him so much.

But such daydreams were fleeting, and he quickly smothered them. He knew better than to believe in such fantasies—if he did, the tears he fought so hard to hold back might start falling uncontrollably.

And yet, at this moment, he had no one to talk to.

His only friend wasn’t home.

No one was there to listen to his pain.

...

“Has Uzumaki Naruto been acting strangely for a week now?”

Akimichi Torifu tugged at his raincoat, the largest size available, yet still too tight for his bulky frame. He regretted not sticking with his old, worn-out straw cape.

From the rooftop of a nearby building, Torifu and other Konoha higher-ups watched Naruto from a distance.

As Konoha’s “weapon of war,” the Nine-Tails jinchuriki was under constant surveillance by the ANBU. His unusual behavior hadn’t gone unnoticed.

Reports had been filed.

Upon reading them, the Fifth Hokage had immediately acted. The last thing they needed was an unstable jinchuriki, especially with the ongoing war against the Mist Village and the possibility of Uchiha Madara’s involvement.

Torifu sighed. Being Hokage was far more exhausting than it seemed.

The last thing he wanted was for Naruto to become a bigger problem.

“Yes, the rumor that Naruto is the Fourth Hokage’s child seems to be the cause,” Nara Shikaku explained, glancing at Uchiha Genshi, who stood silently beside him.

After Sougen left for the eastern front, Uchiha Genshi had temporarily taken his place in the village’s political affairs. As for Uchiha Fugaku, no one would trust him with such responsibilities anymore.

Uchiha Genshi remained expressionless as the Fifth Hokage’s temporary replacement glanced at him. However, inside, he was secretly muttering to himself. From what he knew, it seemed that rumor had originated from his precious grandson. After the Matsutake Pavilion incident, in front of so many people, the various mistakes committed by Sarutobi Hiruzen were listed out, one of which happened to be the mistreatment of the Fourth Hokage's orphan.

That rumor had been circulating ever since.

Fortunately, such a rumor didn’t have much traction. Most villagers didn’t believe that the ‘Demon Fox’ could be the child of a ‘Hero,’ and even the few clever ones couldn’t change much. Moreover, with so much big news flooding the village lately, it was assumed that the rumor would soon be buried in the dust of the past.

But no one expected the Nine-Tails’ Jinchūriki to overhear the rumor and undergo some unsettling changes as a result.

"This is the conclusion reached by those experts in the ANBU based on Uzumaki Naruto's recorded words and actions."

Nara Shikaku raised his voice slightly, a small inconvenience brought by the noise of the heavy rain. "Barring any surprises, their assessment should be accurate." The ANBU was a mysterious organization. Originally a special assassination tactical squad, it had become a bloated entity under the Third Hokage.

To ensure that the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki didn’t go down the wrong path, Sarutobi Hiruzen had gathered psychological experts from various departments, experts in interrogation, to form an anonymous research group. This group was specifically tasked with studying the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki’s personality, preferences, and behavior, providing Sarutobi Hiruzen with sound strategies to guide the Jinchūriki into genuinely loving Konoha.

These were real experts.

Even Nara Shikaku, after reading those confidential documents he originally didn’t have clearance for, had to express his admiration.

As he spoke, he let out a soft sigh.

He had been friends with the Fourth Hokage. Although not close enough to entrust families to each other, they shared a strong bond on the battlefield. Seeing Naruto now, in such a desolate and lonely state, it was impossible for Shikaku to remain entirely unmoved.

But still—

That child was, after all, a Jinchūriki.

No one knew when a Jinchūriki might go berserk. No matter how sympathetic one might be, no one dared to risk their own children or family. Additionally, getting too close to a Jinchūriki could be seen as having ulterior motives. The Jinchūriki was a village weapon, not a private asset of any family.

So, keeping a respectful distance was the unspoken choice of the noble clans.

They wouldn’t stoop to bullying a child, but nor would they offer any particular kindness. Especially since the Third Hokage had his own way of handling things, there was no need for the clans to meddle. All these complex factors combined had forged the current situation of the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki.

The village that the Third Hokage had left behind was fraught with contradictions and endless troubles.

And without a doubt, the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, Uzumaki Naruto, was one of the most troublesome issues among them.

This hot potato had now been passed to Akimichi Torifune.

But honestly, Akimichi Torifune had no idea what to do at this moment. Continue with Sarutobi Hiruzen’s training plan? The problem was, he wasn’t Sarutobi Hiruzen, and that plan was far too long-term. Torifune knew he didn’t have Hiruzen’s patience.

But doing nothing wasn’t an option either. This was the precious Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki. If he lost control... well, Torifune certainly didn’t have the ability to seal a tailed beast like the Fourth Hokage!

“A Jinchūriki being in a prolonged state of mental instability... that's not good! Shikaku, do you have any ideas? How can we calm this brat down?” Torifune, unable to come up with any solution, had to ask Nara Shikaku again.

A solution?

Shikaku had none!

Nara Shikaku’s face looked as if he had just swallowed a whole bitter melon. Ever since Akimichi Torifune became the Fifth Hokage’s temporary replacement, Shikaku felt like he was losing hair by the handful every day. His poor brain would be completely drained sooner or later.

“This…”

Shikaku squeezed his brain for an answer, searching for any so-called "solution."

At that moment,

An ANBU operative rushed in through the rain, knelt before Akimichi Torifune, and presented the latest intelligence from the frontlines.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 104: Maybe the Nine-Tails is the One Who Needs Comfort*

"Lord Hokage, what’s happening on the front lines again?" Hyuga Hiashi, wearing a straw hat, couldn’t contain his curiosity, wondering what kind of trouble had emerged. Ever since receiving the hasty meeting notes from the front eight days ago, the higher-ups of Konoha were stunned!

The Fourth Mizukage captured?

The Fourth Mizukage had been controlled by a mysterious person for a long time?

The mysterious person claims to be Uchiha Madara?

The Nine-Tails' attack five years ago was connected to this mysterious figure claiming to be Uchiha Madara?

The war between the Mist Village and Konoha was also orchestrated by this figure behind the scenes...

The meeting notes were brief, but the information was shocking and unsettling. When Akimichi Torifū saw the name Uchiha Madara, he nearly choked. The thought of that terrifying man still being alive made even the acting Fifth Hokage lose his appetite.

Thankfully, the notes were accompanied by a report from Uchiha Sougen, summarizing his thoughts on the war and offering a speculation that the mysterious man was likely not Uchiha Madara.

Even if Madara were alive, he surely wouldn’t be at his peak strength anymore. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have stayed hidden for so long after the First Hokage’s death.

With that thought, the acting Hokage’s mood improved slightly.

"Good news!" Akimichi Torifū opened a letter and quickly scanned it.

At last, a smile appeared on his previously troubled face.

"The Fourth Mizukage has agreed to our terms and is willing to cooperate with us to deal with the mysterious figure claiming to be Uchiha Madara and any organization or force behind him." As he spoke, Torifū glanced around at the others.

Akimichi Torifū had immediately issued a gag order about the possibility of Madara being alive. Only the village’s top officials were allowed to know, as revealing it would likely cause panic.

"As expected of Sougen, achieving such remarkable results so quickly," praised Hyuga Hiashi with a hint of envy. As a clan leader, he had to admit that Uchiha Sougen surpassed him in both strength and boldness.

No, the most crucial factor was strength.

The power gap made Hiashi lack the boldness that Sougen possessed. His efforts to reform the Hyuga clan had met immense resistance from both the main and branch families. The centuries-old system was deeply ingrained in most clan members.

The main family believed that the branch families existed to protect them, while many branch members saw it as their life's purpose, even considering it an honor.

Hiashi sighed deeply once again. The road to reform was long and difficult.

"So, does this mean the war is ending?" Uchiha Genshi asked.

He wasn’t too concerned about the complexities—he just missed his grandchildren, whom he hadn’t seen in nearly half a month.

"Not so fast," Torifū shook his head.

"The Fourth Mizukage’s situation is complicated. There are bound to be unidentified parties trying to stir up trouble. The war’s end will likely take some effort. But regardless, this war with the Mist Village is essentially our victory!"

With that, Torifū's mood became even more cheerful.

This news was even more uplifting than the report from eight days ago. He waved the letter, signaling to the nearby ANBU agents holding lanterns to come closer, and carefully reread the text, falling into deep thought.

Though the war wasn’t over, unless something catastrophic happened, their victory was assured.

And this victory would be a highlight of his tenure as acting Fifth Hokage.

"Shikaku, help me draft an order," Torifū said. "Tell Uchiha Sougen that I’m granting him full authority to act on my behalf on the front lines. Every decision he makes, I will back him. Make it clear that I need an indisputable victory to silence those annoying elders."

Although Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu had lost their advisory roles, the Council of Elders still existed. It was filled with old veterans from the Second and Third Ninja Wars. Torifū himself had once been a member.

These elders, though stripped of most of their power and weakened by age, had earned their place through past contributions. A few of them were even older than Torifū himself.

Whenever they spoke, even if people didn’t want to listen, they had to at least pretend to pay attention. Lately, these elders had been criticizing Torifū, accusing him of being power-hungry and waging war with the Mist for personal glory, disregarding the lives of his comrades.

Shikaku Nara was shocked. So were Hiashi and Genshi. This order meant Torifū was fully aligning himself with Uchiha Sougen—either they both succeeded, or they both failed.

"Lord Hokage?"

"That’s the plan."

Torifū cut off Shikaku’s unspoken advice.

"...Yes, Lord Hokage," Shikaku hesitated but ultimately agreed, thinking that since the war was almost won, this shouldn’t lead to any serious problems.

With the war decided, Torifū’s attention shifted back to the matter of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

"Shikaku, have you come up with a way to stabilize the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

Shikaku's face fell.

What could he do? The previous Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Mito and Kushina, were both from the Uzumaki clan. Uzumaki Mito, as the First Hokage’s wife, controlled the Nine-Tails with ease, and Kushina’s Adamantine Sealing Chains were equally effective.

But now, despite inheriting part of the Uzumaki bloodline, Naruto had neither their sealing techniques nor their experience. Plus, he was too young. The biggest issue was finding someone close to Naruto who could communicate with him.

If they sent the wrong person and triggered a loss of control, what then?

No one wanted to take that risk, however small.

Naruto’s social circle was almost nonexistent due to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s handling of his upbringing. Only Sarutobi had visited him regularly, and they couldn’t exactly dig up Sarutobi now.

"Lord Hokage, we need someone who can communicate with Naruto," Shikaku said helplessly. Without someone to talk to him, they were stuck.

"Who has interacted with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

Torifū asked, but the room fell silent. Everyone had kept their distance from Naruto, never expecting this situation.

Uchiha Genshi stroked his beard, thinking that, technically, he had interacted with Naruto. The boy had visited his house to play with his granddaughter, and they had even eaten at the same table...

But he wasn’t fond of the kid, not because Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but because he didn’t like boys hanging around his precious granddaughter.

After a moment, Genshi decided to stay silent. No need to invite trouble.

"Grand Elder Genshi, if I recall correctly, Naruto is friends with your granddaughter. He should know you, right?" The typically quiet Shibi Aburame spoke up. Though expressionless behind his sunglasses, he was genuinely concerned about Naruto’s safety.

If he hadn’t feared for Naruto’s life, Shibi wouldn’t have brought Uchiha into this.

All eyes turned to Genshi, including Torifū’s.

"I can try, but I can’t guarantee results," Genshi said reluctantly. If things went wrong, he wouldn’t take the blame.

"This is a decision we’ve all made together. If anything goes wrong, it won’t be solely on you," Torifū assured him grandly, signaling Genshi to proceed without fear. If something went wrong, they’d all bear the responsibility.

"Grand Elder, please," Hiashi said politely.

With Hiashi taking the lead, the others also spoke up, making it clear that they were all in this together.

"Let’s hope it goes well," Genshi sighed, jumping off the roof and heading toward the park.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 105: She’s My Only Friend*

Torrential rain poured down, as if the sky had split open. The white sheets of rain fell so hard they almost formed a solid wall. Drops the size of soybeans pounded on Uchiha Genshi's straw hat with a relentless patter. Fortunately, Konoha Village's drainage system, built under the supervision of the Second Hokage, was excellent. The water was quickly drained away, sparing the old man from having to waste chakra walking on water.

He arrived in front of a slide, slightly raising his head to meet Naruto’s gaze, who was sitting on the platform, hugging his knees.

Naruto hadn’t expected to run into anyone at this place, especially not now. He stared in surprise at Uchiha Genshi for a moment, until Genshi broke the silence.

“Hey, kid, what are you hiding here for?” Uchiha Genshi barked, his tone anything but friendly.

“...Fujika’s grandpa?” Naruto finally recognized the face under the straw hat, which he’d seen a few times before. Instantly, he became flustered. His instincts had told him from their very first meeting that Uchiha Genshi didn’t like him much.

But this dislike was different from the usual scorn he encountered. Though Naruto didn’t fully understand the difference, he knew one thing for sure—Genshi was Fujika’s grandfather. To protect his only friend, Naruto forced a smile to try and win over the old man.

“I... I’m just hiding from the rain,” Naruto stammered, offering an excuse that was obviously a lie.

He couldn’t admit what was really on his mind.

If it had been his friend standing before him, he would’ve opened up without hesitation. But this was just his friend’s grandfather, a man who didn’t seem to like him.

“I see,” Uchiha Genshi nodded in understanding. “The rain sure came on fast today. Well, kid, don’t just sit here spacing out. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Come on, let’s go grab a bite. I haven’t eaten anything all day either.”

“Huh? But...”

“What are you standing there for, kid? Hurry up and come over here. And here, put this on.” Uchiha Genshi pulled out another straw hat from behind him and placed it on Naruto’s head. It was big enough to shield Naruto’s small frame from the wind and rain.

Naruto grabbed the rim of the hat and followed Uchiha Genshi out of the park.

To be honest, Torifu Akimichi and the others were overreacting a little. The Eight Trigrams Seal inside Naruto wasn’t going to break so easily. The seal, created by the Fourth Hokage at the cost of his life, wouldn’t just fall apart at the slightest disturbance. That would be underestimating the legendary Yellow Flash.

Unfortunately, none of those present were experts in sealing techniques. Despite the Byakugan’s great insight, it couldn’t comprehend the intricacies of sealing jutsu. So when Naruto’s spirits had been down for a while, it alarmed the village leadership into taking unnecessary measures.

---

“I don’t understand why young people these days like these useless things. What’s wrong with good old-fashioned straw hats and raincoats? Instead, they all wear these flashy, impractical things.” Torifu Akimichi grumbled as he struggled to peel off a raincoat that was a size too small for him, clearly unhappy with the younger generation’s taste.

Shikaku Nara chuckled bitterly.

None of the others—Hiashi Hyuga, Shibi Aburame, or the rest—said a word.

Luckily, the interim Fifth Hokage didn’t waste time on such trivial matters. Tossing his raincoat aside, he sat cross-legged on a tatami mat and nodded lightly at Shikaku Nara, signaling for him to begin. Shikaku pressed the remote in his hand.

A fourteen-inch screen in the corner of the room flickered to life. Despite its low resolution, it clearly showed Uchiha Genshi and Naruto sitting in a private room downstairs, waiting for their food. Genshi’s voice echoed in the room, synchronized with the movements of his lips.

They were at a restaurant called Moon Lake.

Though it wasn’t as elegant or interesting as Matsutake Pavilion, it was still a decent restaurant in Konoha. Having grown accustomed to ramen and instant noodles, Naruto felt out of place in a restaurant like this, a place he’d always avoided walking past. He felt uncomfortable until they were seated in the private room, where he finally began to relax a little.

Truth be told, Uchiha Genshi wasn’t a fan of this kind of restaurant either.

He much preferred izakayas.

But since he had a little brat with him, that wasn’t an option. Besides, it wasn’t his idea to pick this place. He’d seen Shikaku Nara standing at the entrance and knew he had no choice. Sure enough, once inside, he noticed the cameras and audio equipment.

“...There were no classes at the ninja academy today?” Uchiha Genshi took a sip of tea, trying to make conversation.

“It’s a day off,” Naruto answered cautiously.

“A day off, huh?” Uchiha Genshi paused, then nodded heavily as he remembered. “With Fujika not around, I forgot it was a day off. Looks like I’m really getting old.” The old man sighed sincerely. His son and daughter-in-law were busy with their own work, while Sozen and Fujika were far off on the eastern border of the Land of Fire. Living alone at home had made him feel quite lonely recently.

When Fujika’s name came up, a small light flickered in Naruto’s blue eyes. Gathering his courage, he asked, “Um, Grandpa, when will Fujika come back to school?”

“I’m not sure. Probably a while longer,” Uchiha Genshi replied, shaking his head. Though the war likely wouldn’t last much longer, it was unlikely that Sozen and Fujika would return as soon as it ended. The situation on the front lines was more complicated than anyone imagined, and it would take time to sort through the chaos.

The light in Naruto’s eyes dimmed instantly.

He wanted to share his troubles with his only friend, but unfortunately, that friend wasn’t in the village right now. So all his worries remained bottled up inside, the bitterness gnawing away at him.

“What’s the matter? Got something you want to tell Fujika?” Uchiha Genshi asked, his sharp, clear eyes studying Naruto.

“No, it’s nothing. It’s just... Lately, the ninja academy feels really boring. Fujika is my only friend!” Naruto forced a smile, worried that if he upset Uchiha Genshi, the old man might forbid Fujika from playing with him in the future.

"Only friend." Those heartbreaking words left Uchiha Genshi speechless for a moment.

Naruto, the son of the Fourth Hokage—the child of the hero who had saved Konoha—had received neither the glory nor recognition he deserved. Instead, he had endured nothing but cold glares and malice. It was enough to make anyone feel disgusted.

Not only did Uchiha Genshi feel this way.

Even Torifu Akimichi and the others upstairs fell silent. Whatever the reasons, they had stood by and let the Fourth Hokage’s orphan suffer the cruelties of the world. At such a young age, Naruto had already learned to watch others’ expressions carefully.

None of those present were fools.

Even with the low-resolution monitor, they could clearly see how Naruto constantly observed Uchiha Genshi’s face, adjusting his behavior and mood according to the old man’s reactions, a behavior so well-trained it was painful to watch.

“Hmph! A bunch of old fools,” Shibi Aburame muttered under his breath.

He didn’t name names, but everyone knew who he was talking about.

No one called Shibi out for disrespecting the dead. The Fourth Hokage had been an extraordinarily charismatic man. His charm hadn’t just captivated the village women, young and old; even men couldn’t bring themselves to envy him.

In fact, many were deeply inspired by him.

Shibi Aburame, Torifu Akimichi, Tsume Inuzuka, and Kagemura Youmakura—these were people who still hadn’t forgotten the bright light that was the Yellow Flash of Konoha.

Just then, the speakers crackled back to life.

“...Hey, kid, are you afraid of dead people?” Uchiha Genshi suddenly asked.

“Dead people?” Naruto was confused. He scratched his head in bewilderment. “I don’t know. I guess... I’ve never seen a dead person before?” he replied uncertainly. In the deep recesses of his mind, broken fragments of memories suddenly flashed.

In that fleeting image—

He saw blood-red hair, and a pair of eyes brimming with endless love and tenderness.

His heart throbbed like it had been pricked by a needle.

Tears silently streamed down his face.

He didn’t notice until they landed on his pants. Panicking, he rubbed his eyes with his sleeve. “It’s just... there was some sand—or, no, it was a mosquito! Yeah, a mosquito flew into my eye.” Naruto lied, his voice hoarse, as Uchiha Genshi’s face grew darker and darker.

Upstairs,

The room had fallen into utter silence.

If not for the sharp attention of everyone present, you could hardly hear a breath.

The interim Fifth Hokage said nothing, watching the screen in quiet contemplation.

"Kid, hurry up and wipe those crocodile tears. It's just a mosquito bite! Making such a fuss, aren't you ashamed? A real man doesn't cry at the drop of a hat!" Uchiha Genshi scolded angrily. Once Naruto wiped away his tears, Genshi continued, "If you're not afraid of death, then go find Tōkah! It's about time you saw the world outside the village. You'll never grow if you just stay cooped up here."

As he said the last sentence, he glanced at the camera hidden behind the landscape painting.

Those words—

were meant for Akimichi Torifu upstairs.

(End of this chapter)