6-10

*Chapter 6: Ultimate Technique - The Art of Speech*

“Sougen, you...”

Shisui pointed at Sougen, his hand trembling as he tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. He was at a loss.

His mind was in turmoil. The fact that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was in Sougen's house had utterly shocked him. This was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki! The most powerful weapon in Konoha, and the personal possession of the Third Hokage and the elders!

What kind of trouble would this bring to the clan? What would the village’s reaction be...?

A million thoughts swirled in his mind, and he couldn’t think straight.

“Stop pointing at me,” Sougen said. “I already told you, I’m not plotting anything. It’s the Third Hokage who's pulling the strings. You’re part of the Anbu, Shisui. Don’t tell me you’re unaware of how many Anbu guards are always around the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? If the Third Hokage hadn’t approved this, do you really think Tōka could’ve brought the Jinchuriki here?”

“This was just an accident. No one expected her to bring him back,” Sougen said slowly. “The Third Hokage is most likely using this as an opportunity to keep suppressing our clan. After all, it’s not often he gets such a perfect excuse.”

“And you? What are you planning?” Shisui took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “What do you want to achieve by involving the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?”

Sougen didn’t answer.

Because it was time for dinner.

“Tōka, dinner’s ready!” Sougen called out from the veranda. Within seconds, Tōka and Naruto came rushing out of the bamboo grove. But upon seeing Sougen, Naruto slowed down, looking a little scared.

"Why does he seem afraid of me? Isn’t my smile friendly enough?" Sougen wondered, rubbing his chin.

He then playfully ruffled his sister's hair. "Tōka, look at you! You’re filthy! Were you wrestling with a toad?"

“What! You’re the one wrestling with toads!” Tōka snapped back, kicking Sougen’s leg.

The two siblings started playfully bickering, their footsteps echoing on the wooden veranda.

Then came the reckoning.

Uchiha Saki slapped her son hard on the back for not acting like the eldest sibling, while Tōka, who clearly had no ladylike manners, was dragged into the kitchen by her ear for a scolding. Her exaggerated cries of pain frightened Naruto, who stood trembling by the veranda.

Finally, by 7:10, the house quieted down.

After washing up, Sougen and Tōka sat obediently at the dinner table, facing each other. Shisui stayed for dinner, seated next to Sougen, and Naruto was placed next to Tōka, across from Shisui.

“Dad, tonight’s dinner looks amazing!” Tōka’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the towering pile of fried chicken on the table. Beside her, Naruto swallowed hard.

“If you like it, eat as much as you want! I made plenty, and there’s more if needed!” Uchiha Shinosuke said with a smile.

Sougen greatly resembled his father, sharing the same sharp black hair and dark eyes common to the Uchiha. Tōka, on the other hand, looked more like their mother, though she too had inherited the Uchiha’s signature dark hair and eyes instead of her mother’s brown ones.

“Naruto, eat up! Dad’s fried chicken is the best!” Tōka said proudly, treating Naruto like her first (and only) loyal follower.

School life hadn’t turned out the way she expected. Tōka had dreamed of recruiting a gang of followers and ruling the academy, but so far, Naruto was the only one. For some reason, everyone else avoided her and Naruto, except for Sasuke, who she didn’t think much of.

Naruto timidly picked up his chopsticks and glanced at Sougen, who was a little annoyed. “Am I really that scary? Why does he look so afraid of me? Does he somehow sense that I plan to use him?” he thought.

“It’s delicious!” Naruto’s eyes lit up after tasting the fried chicken.

“See? I told you, Dad’s fried chicken is the best in Konoha!” Tōka bragged, beaming with pride.

Shinosuke was pleased, unaware of Naruto’s true identity. As a non-shinobi and a novelist, he simply saw Naruto as a friend his daughter had made at school.

Dinner was lively.

Sougen and Tōka bickered throughout, even though their mother had already scolded them. Their chopsticks clashed above the table, and under the table, their feet played a game of tag.

After dinner, Sougen and Shisui went out to sit on the veranda, gazing up at the starry sky.

“Did you notice?” Sougen asked.

“Notice what?” Shisui replied, looking confused.

“I’m not talking about the stars,” Sougen rolled his eyes. “I mean the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, that kid... Didn’t you notice anything off?”

“No...”

“His life’s been hard! He’s the same age as Tōka, yet he’s shorter. He was eating fried chicken like he’d never had it before... Don’t you think it’s strange how poorly he’s been treated?”

“What are you trying to say?” Shisui frowned.

“That kid’s the Fourth Hokage’s son, the grandson of the Third Hokage’s master. Yet instead of being treated like a hero’s child, he’s been shunned and feared like a monster. Isn’t that too cruel?” Sougen said, openly criticizing the Third Hokage.

Shisui stayed silent.

Sougen wasn’t wrong. The truth was hard to deny.

“Even the son of a hero is treated this way. Do you really think the Third Hokage will accept the Uchiha?” Sougen continued relentlessly.

“Sougen, this... The Jinchuriki and our clan are two different things,” Shisui argued weakly. But he had no real defense.

“What’s different? The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is valuable, and the Third Hokage is playing a game of manipulation, trying to control him. That’s what’s really going on.”

Sougen’s words hit hard, and Shisui couldn’t refute them.

Sougen sighed. “You don’t have to decide now. Take some time, think about it. But remember, things aren’t what they seem.”

With that, he got up to take Naruto home.

Shisui wanted to go with him, but Sougen declined, saying, “It’s just escorting a kid. No big deal.”

Shisui smiled. “There’s no way they’d attack you over something like this.”

He really believed that.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 7: Naruto's Way Home

The Uchiha clan's settlement was located to the northeast of Konoha Village, along the lower reaches of the Naka River. It was quite a distance from the village center, which meant Naruto had a long way to walk home. Letting a five-year-old child walk this far alone was clearly irresponsible.

Especially since Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.

If something happened to him on the way, not even a hundred Uchiha could explain it.

For safety's sake, Sougen (the older brother) decided to personally escort Naruto home.

"Sougen, be careful on the road," said the nearly seventy-year-old man, still full of energy. His back was straight as a blade honed through countless battles. He stood at the doorway, looking at his accomplished eldest grandson, and gave a heartfelt reminder: "It's dark, be cautious on the night road!"

"I will, Grandpa," Sougen replied with a soft smile. "I even brought out my most prized weapon." He was dressed in the traditional Uchiha dark blue robes, bearing the clan's fan emblem on the back. A long sword hung at his waist, but the most eye-catching item was the enormous object wrapped in bandages strapped to his back, resembling a door panel.

"...Good," replied Uchiha Genshi, turning back inside without saying anything more. After all, anyone who had survived the battlefield didn't need many reminders—just a quick word of caution would do.

"Naruto, see you at school tomorrow," Fujika, who had also come out to send off her only little brother, or rather, her friend from the ninja academy, waved goodbye to Naruto.

"Yeah, see you at school," Naruto nodded enthusiastically. He was in a great mood.

For the first time, he had eaten at such a lively dinner table, and it wasn’t just ramen or instant noodles. His heart was filled with unprecedented joy... Even his fear and wariness towards Sougen had diminished, though they hadn’t completely disappeared just yet.

Once Uchiha Shinshi and his wife Soki led their daughter back inside, only Sougen and Naruto remained at the entrance.

"Alright, Naruto, it's time for you to head home," Sougen said, ruffling Naruto's messy hair. Despite his malnourished appearance, his hair was oddly healthy—probably a result of his Uzumaki bloodline.

As they walked, Naruto frequently glanced up at Sougen. After walking about a hundred steps, he finally mustered up the courage to speak. "Um, Fujika's brother... I, uh..."

"What is it? Need to use the bathroom? Number one or number two? Forgot toilet paper?" Sougen teased.

"No! That’s not it!" Naruto shot back indignantly.

"Haha!" Sougen laughed loudly at Naruto's reaction. "Relax, kid. I'm not some villain. I'm really happy you're friends with Fujika. She's ten years younger than me, the baby of the family. Grandpa, Dad, and even I have spoiled her since she was little. Now she's got a bit of a wild streak..."

Sougen's expression grew serious. "I've been worried she wouldn’t make any friends at the ninja academy and might even be ostracized or bullied... The fact that you can put up with her temper and be her friend really puts me at ease. Thank you, Naruto!"

"...Fujika's brother, I should be the one thanking you!" Naruto said quietly, kicking at a stone as they walked. "Today was my first time making a friend at the academy, my first time being invited to a friend’s house, and my first time eating such delicious fried chicken... I’m the one who should be grateful!"

Sougen glanced sideways at Naruto in surprise. Was this really the future hotheaded, single-minded protagonist? His sensitivity outpaced even that of Fujika, a girl!

"And... I'm sorry. Because of me, Fujika doesn’t have other friends. Most of the kids run away when they see me... It’s my fault she can’t make friends. I..."

"You're Fujika’s friend, and she’s the one who invited you to our house. Why are you telling me this? Tell it to her. I hate being a go-between. If you have something to say, say it directly. Don’t make others pass messages for you."

"...Fujika’s brother, you really don’t mind that I'm friends with her?" Naruto asked, looking at Sougen in disbelief.

Until now, when Naruto played with kids his age in the local park, parents would always drag their children away as soon as they saw him. Those kids never returned to the park afterward.

"I already told you—what does your friendship with Fujika have to do with me? It’s not like you’re trying to be friends with me. But listen, kid... Fujika is my precious little sister. Don’t get any funny ideas!" Sougen warned, though Naruto, being only five, had no clue what he meant by “funny ideas.”

At his age, boys and girls could still sleep on the same mat without a second thought. Naruto didn’t understand Sougen’s later words, but he got the gist of the earlier ones—Sougen didn’t object to him being friends with Fujika.

Growing up under constant judgmental stares, Naruto could always sense when someone harbored ill will toward him. He hadn’t felt any of that malice from Fujika’s family.

Even his earlier fear of Sougen... That had been a different instinct, the kind you get when sensing danger, like when he had come across a water snake by the creek last summer. But the feelings weren’t exactly the same.

From start to finish, Naruto hadn’t felt any of the depressing, soul-crushing hostility from Fujika’s family.

"Fujika’s brother, thank you!" Naruto said suddenly.

"...What are you thanking me for? You’re just a kid—stop acting like an adult. Kids should act their age," Sougen replied, giving Naruto a playful punch on the head. Naruto didn’t get angry; instead, he grinned and rubbed his head.

"Um, Fujika’s brother, Fujika said you’re a really amazing ninja. Is that true?"

"Of course it is!" Sougen puffed out his chest.

"Is it true you once sliced six mosquitoes with a single slash?"

"Is it true your sword can catch fire? Doesn’t it burn your hands?"

"And, and..."

Sougen’s temple veins twitched. This kid sure asked a lot of questions, rapid-fire like a machine gun. What on earth had Fujika told Naruto? They’d only known each other for a day, and it felt like Naruto knew everything about him already.

And so, as they chattered away, they left the Uchiha district behind.

The road they traveled was deserted—no one else in sight. The Uchiha’s current land was quite isolated, with no neighbors other than Uchiha clan members. Between their district and the nearest populated area lay a long stretch of forest, devoid of human presence.

Sougen scanned the surroundings and narrowed his eyes slightly.

This place...

Would be perfect for an ambush.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 8: Dancing Under the Moonlight

An unexpected event is only called unexpected because it is completely unforeseen. But if you had some sense that something might happen from the start, would it still be considered unexpected?

The time was now a little past eight, nearing nine o’clock. On an April night, you could still feel a bit of chill seeping through your skin. The night wind howled through the forest, creating an eerie melody that drowned out the faint and unnatural rustling of trembling branches.

Suddenly:

"You didn’t hide your killing intent well!"

Sougen halted his steps and fixed his gaze on the dark forest to the left.

"Brother Sougen?"

Even Sougen hadn’t noticed when Naruto changed how he addressed him. Somewhere along the way, the kid had shifted from calling him "Big Brother of the Fujiwara Family" to "Brother Sougen." The transition was so smooth and natural that it slipped right by Sougen without drawing any attention or irritation.

Naruto blinked his sapphire-blue eyes, puzzled as he watched Sougen suddenly stop.

“Naruto, you’re now a student at the Ninja Academy, which makes you a ninja in training. From here on… keep quiet. No matter what you see, don’t be afraid. If you’re really scared, just close your eyes.”

“Huh?”

Before Naruto, still full of questions, could react, Sougen grabbed him and leapt forward, sprinting toward the village center.

In the next instant, shuriken flew at them like a torrential downpour from the forest beside them.

“Even attacking Naruto too? Is it ROOT or…?”

Sougen let out a grunt. The long sword hanging from his waist was unsheathed, and the misty, illusory blade created a defense as solid as an iron wall. Sparks flew as every single shuriken was deflected, but it also slowed down their movement. He could hear footsteps in the forest around them—no longer hidden—suggesting that the attackers were closing in.

"Tch, looks like I won’t get out of this without a fight."

“So cool…”

Naruto was about to exclaim in awe but remembered Sougen’s earlier warning. He quickly covered his mouth with his hands! His courage was admirable; he didn’t look scared at all.

Maybe he wasn’t old enough to know fear yet? His eyes gleamed as he watched Sougen’s long sword, and had the situation been different, he’d probably have reached out to touch it.

“Naruto, don’t shout, and don’t move.”

With that warning, Sougen leaped up to a sturdy tree branch, holding Naruto with one arm and gripping his sword with the other. His scarlet eyes scanned the surroundings, with the three black tomoe of his Sharingan slowly rotating as he monitored every slight movement.

He didn’t attack right away.

If he were alone, he could have fought freely, but now he had a child to protect—a burden he couldn’t allow to get hurt. This called for caution.

Naruto, obedient and still like a wooden figure, didn’t move or speak. The only sign of his excitement was his eyes, which darted around in wonder. Up until now, this bloodless battle hadn’t scared him—it had only fueled his enthusiasm.

But that might change once blood was spilled.

Suddenly, Sougen thrust his long sword into the tree beside him. With his free hand, he reached into his pouch, pulling out three shuriken. Chakra silently flowed into the shuriken, and the power of “A Knight Never Dies Empty-Handed” activated, turning the ordinary shuriken into objects with the properties of D-rank Noble Phantasms.

“Go!”

He threw the shuriken with a flick of his wrist.

From the darkness of the forest, faint rustling could be heard as the attackers moved to new positions.

“Fools. Underestimating an Uchiha will only bring misfortune!”

A malicious grin spread across Sougen’s face.

The three shuriken collided in midair after flying into the forest. The crisp, metallic clink echoed through the night, sparks flaring briefly before the shuriken split off in different directions. In the next moment, three distinct sounds echoed from the darkness.

The hum of something being split.

The dull thud of flesh being struck.

The splash of water.

“Hmm, impressive! Only took down one.”

Sougen narrowed his eyes.

The attackers were more skilled than he initially thought. No wonder they were elites from the ANBU or ROOT. Uchiha-style shurikenjutsu wasn’t something just anyone could avoid. It was a technique that only worked in conjunction with the Sharingan, unique to the Uchiha clan.

Dodging that attack meant these weren’t weaklings.

“Wind Style: Vacuum Bullet!”

From the darkness, one of the attackers initiated a jutsu.

Bullets of compressed wind shot out one after another, their rapid fire akin to a human machine gun.

Thankfully, ninjas were like human tanks. Sougen spotted the sudden surge of chakra in the dark. He grabbed Naruto and pulled his long sword from the tree. Moving like a cat—fast yet silent—he jumped from branch to branch. The fierce assault only managed to shred a few old trees, leaving no other damage.

“Secret Technique: Mind Body Switch Jutsu.”

Among the attackers, there was a member of the Yamanaka clan.

“Fool.”

Sougen shifted quickly, using Naruto as a shield to block the mental energy attack.

Ordinary people couldn’t see the mental energy emitted when a Yamanaka used their secret technique, but the Uchiha, who were masters of manipulating mental energy, were a different story. With his three-tomoe Sharingan, Sougen could faintly sense the wave of energy as it burst forth.

For someone like Sougen, the slightest clue was enough to reveal the whole picture.

Before ‘Naruto’ could make any odd moves, Sougen looked down and locked eyes with him.

“Demonic Illusion: Scorching Flames.”

It was an illusion technique favored by the Uchiha.

In the illusion, flames coiled around the victim, burning them alive. The spiritual shock was so intense that the Mind Body Switch Jutsu broke instantly. A masked attacker crouched on a tree branch not far away screamed in agony, unable to endure the searing pain of the illusionary fire.

To be fair, pain directly affecting the soul was harder to endure than physical pain.

"Clang!"

Sougen’s body wavered under the force of an attack from behind.

An attacker wielding a wind-infused blade had struck, confident in his ability to cut through anything. His wind blade had sliced through hardened Earth-style users before.

But this time, his strike didn’t go as planned.

The massive sword on Sougen’s back, wrapped tightly in bandages, was harder than steel.

“Uchiha Style: Sword of Flame.”

Sougen swiftly turned around, his sword igniting with intense flames.

A natural-born fire user, he poured his chakra into the blade, and the fire roared to life. With a swift swing of the flaming sword, he struck. The attacker, who had trained rigorously in wind-infused swordplay, parried the attack.

But, fire beats wind.

Instead of weakening Sougen’s blade, the wind chakra only fed the flames. The inferno roared and consumed the attacker, burning him alive within seconds.

Though this sequence of events seemed long, it all happened in under a minute.

In that short time, Sougen had killed two attackers and severely wounded one—all while protecting Naruto. These weren’t just ordinary enemies; they were elite specialists—family ninjas with secret techniques, wind-style masters skilled in swordplay.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 9: The Flame Demon*

The attackers lurking in the darkness were undoubtedly the elite of the elite, showing no hesitation in using their signature secret techniques. It seemed they were determined to succeed or die trying in this assault.

This battle was far from over.

Sougen was keenly aware of this.

Sure enough...

"Secret Technique: Shadow Imitation."

Another clan ninja used a secret technique. In the moonlight, a pitch-black shadow slithered out like a snake, connecting with Sougen's shadow cast on the ground from the treetops. In an instant, an invisible and intangible restraint fell upon him, binding his limbs like a puppet controlled by unseen strings.

Sougen remained frozen in place, standing on the treetop, one arm holding Naruto and the other raised, ready to strike with his long blade.

The moment he was immobilized, two more figures emerged from the forest behind him, their bodies crackling with electricity. Like the previous sword-wielding expert, these two were clearly skilled in close combat, moving at lightning speed. They had learned from their fallen comrade's mistake and, rather than making a steady strike, aimed to bypass the massive load on Sougen's back and stab upward toward his kidneys from beneath his ribs.

"Idiots, who do you think you're underestimating?"

Though his body was restrained, he could still speak.

The two attackers saw Sougen's mocking smile, and as for how they saw his smile while positioned behind him—

The answer lay in the reflection. The flame that once burned on the raised blade had faded away, and the blade had shifted from vertical to parallel, its surface clear as still water, reflecting the bright moonlight like a mirror.

Sougen's smile was reflected in the blade, as were his scarlet eyes.

"Illusion Technique: Shackles of Agony."

As they caught sight of that mocking grin, the attackers naturally also saw his blood-red Sharingan. In an instant, their consciousness was dragged into a hellish illusion, where massive metal stakes pierced deeply into their bodies, completely robbing them of the ability to move.

Even though they were aware they had fallen into a genjutsu, the two skilled attackers couldn’t escape from the illusory world.

They had disrupted their chakra flow, but it was to no avail.

The Sharingan was just that powerful.

"Next... Uchiha Style: Firefly Light." Flames ignited on the long blade once again, but unlike the intense heat before, this time the fire emitted a dazzling glow, dispelling the shadows on the ground.

Sougen's shadow twisted and contorted.

He continued to fiercely resist the Nara clan member lurking in the darkness.

The already strained Shadow Imitation Technique was finally broken.

"Uchiha Style: Blazing Sword Leap."

Freed from his constraints, Sougen instantly spun around and swung his blade. The searing edge slashed through the necks of the two attackers standing rigidly on the nearby tree branch. Their charred wounds contracted together, with no excess blood spilling out, and their headless bodies fell to the ground with a thud.

The treetop still trembled.

Sougen's figure had vanished.

In the next second...

The flaming blade illuminated the darkness nearby, and the Nara clan attacker—a man with a pineapple-shaped ponytail—was decapitated. His wound charred black, not a drop of blood flowed, raising the death toll to five.

However, the remaining attackers did not retreat.

They seemed to fear nothing, as the sacrifice of their comrades didn’t stir any reaction in them. They merely continued with the assault.

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu."

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough."

The loss of their comrades had left no impact on the survivors, but it did provide valuable experience. Close combat offered no advantage against Sougen. In fact, after losing five comrades and having one suffer mental trauma, they had not managed to inflict any visible damage on him.

At most...

They had merely depleted some of his chakra.

Standing on the corpses of their comrades, they finally understood that the Uchiha known as "The Flame Demon" was no mere title-holder. Even though they had overestimated Sougen's strength as much as possible before the mission, it turned out they still underestimated him.

Therefore...

They no longer worried about harming the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. To be precise, they didn’t have the luxury of considering such things anymore.

They abandoned the plan to fight Sougen up close and switched to the backup strategy.

The so-called backup plan—

Was to crush Sougen with a barrage of long-range and continuous jutsu, relying on their numerical superiority. If they could exhaust his chakra, even the most skilled warrior couldn’t work without resources.

Two of them initiated the attack with a combined Wind and Fire Style assault.

This wasn’t a true combined technique; rather, it used the Wind Style to enhance the Fire Style's power, boosting a C-rank Fire Style jutsu to the destructive force of a B-rank one. The blazing flames surged forward in a straight line, aiming for the position the sensory ninja had detected.

"Fire Style?"

When the Dragon Flame Jutsu was unleashed, Sougen blinked in disbelief.

Wow.

Who were these rookies trying to impress? Using Fire Style in front of an Uchiha was laughable. These fools probably had no idea how the Uchiha used Fire Style to counter the Mist's Water Style during battles.

Besides...

In the current Uchiha clan, Sougen's Fire Style was unmatched. If he claimed the second spot, no one would dare to claim the first.

"Clang!"

The long blade plunged into the ground.

Sougen formed the Tiger Seal with one hand.

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!!!"

A massive amount of chakra concentrated in his throat, and Sougen unleashed a tsunami-like sea of fire. The small flames charging towards him were swallowed by the firestorm without causing even a ripple. The surrounding trees, grass, and everything else were consumed by the inferno.

The two attackers who had used Wind and Fire Style attempted to escape with the Body Flicker and Substitution Techniques.

However, both techniques had movement limitations, and unfortunately, their maximum range wasn’t enough to evade the firestorm.

Their figures disappeared in the blinding sea of flames, while the remaining attackers, who were far enough away, saw the danger and quickly fled, narrowly avoiding the terrifying Fire Style.

If not witnessed firsthand...

It would be hard to believe that a single person unleashed such a Fire Style. People would sooner believe that a group of seventeen or eighteen had performed the jutsu.

"So, this is 'The Flame Demon'?"

Someone murmured.

The others fell silent, realizing the truth in their hearts. This fearsome Fire Style truly lived up to the name "Flame Demon."

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 10: The Third Generation*

“What is that?”

“Why is it so bright?”

“Could it be… a fire?”

No matter how remote this forest is, it’s still within the boundaries of the village. Residents who hadn’t gone to bed yet saw the blazing inferno burning in the northeastern corner of the village. With even the villagers noticing the commotion, some naturally couldn’t continue to turn a blind eye.

At the village center, beneath the Hokage Rock:

In the Hokage office:

“Sarutobi, what is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki doing in the Uchiha clan?”

The elders, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, stormed into the Hokage’s office with great urgency.

“Just a small coincidence.”

“Coincidence?”

“Yes, a minor, insignificant coincidence—just children’s friendship, nothing more.” Behind the large mahogany desk, the elderly man dressed in white casual clothes, his hair gray and his beard speckled with white, puffed on a pipe, sending puffs of smoke into the air.

This elderly man was none other than the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

“Coincidence?”

Mitokado adjusted his glasses. If it weren’t for years of friendship and knowing what kind of person his friend and classmate was, he might have actually believed it was just a coincidence.

Not dwelling on that issue, he asked, “Sarutobi, what’s your plan this time? Are you going to use this opportunity to continue suppressing the Uchiha?”

“I already said it was a coincidence. While I can't deny the danger posed by the Uchiha, they haven’t done anything wrong this time. Besides, using a child to strike against the Uchiha is unacceptable. As long as the Uchiha don’t betray the village, they are Konoha’s Uchiha.”

Hiruzen firmly rejected Homura’s suggestion.

“In that case… the northeastern forest, is it Danzo?” Koharu gathered more details from the Third Hokage’s attitude. It seemed that this incident was similar to previous ones, with Sarutobi planning the operation and Danzo executing it.

“They’re spies from other villages,” the Third corrected Koharu’s slip of the tongue.

“Spies from other villages…” Koharu glanced at the Third Hokage, then shifted her question. “Can you explain why these spies from outside the village attacked the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? Did they think they had a chance to steal the Jinchuriki?”

“It would be quicker to ask the person involved.”

The Third Hokage put down his pipe and covered the crystal ball in the box with a soft silk cloth.

He then stood up.

Pulling off the loose white robe, he revealed the black combat suit underneath.

“Sarutobi, are you going to go yourself? Wouldn’t it be better to stay here and manage the situation? And there isn’t enough intelligence on what’s happening in the northeastern forest…” Koharu voiced her concern.

“It’s about Naruto and the Uchiha—I have no choice but to go!”

The Third sighed.

Mitokado noticed that his friend had already been wearing the combat suit, clearly prepared in advance. Also, with that crystal ball… he might not be entirely unaware of what’s happening in the forest.

“We’ll go with you,” he said suddenly.

“Very well.”

The Third considered for a few seconds before nodding. “Danzo might be there too. Make sure he doesn’t lose control.”

“Leave it to us!”

Mitokado agreed, and Koharu nodded slightly in concurrence.

The Third then opened the window, leaping out with a graceful agility that didn’t match his age of over sixty.

The two elders, who weren’t quite old enough to need walking sticks, followed closely behind. They had already changed into combat-ready outfits before coming here, anticipating the possibility of heading to the scene.

Nearby, a large group of Anbu followed in pursuit.

The Third Hokage moved swiftly, speaking as he traveled, “If I had to guess, it’s probably revenge. [The Flame Demon] Uchiha Sougen once slaughtered hundreds of Mist ninja on the eastern battlefield. These spies from the Hidden Mist Village are likely seeking revenge, and Naruto probably got caught in the crossfire.”

“In that case, the Uchiha clan didn’t think things through. Knowing they’re constantly troubled, they still went near the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki…”

Mitokado pondered for a moment, almost applauding in his heart.

Sarutobi’s approach was indeed clever. Instead of accusing the Uchiha of having ulterior motives in approaching the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, it was better to hold them accountable for not properly protecting the Jinchuriki. It seemed like a lighter accusation but still reduced the likelihood of a backlash from the Uchiha. Slowly, bit by bit, wearing down the Uchiha clan through a soft approach was their agreed-upon strategy.

Little by little, softening them, like water eroding stone or a rope sawing through wood, was the most appropriate way to deal with the Uchiha.

After all,

Danzo had always lacked Sarutobi’s finesse, only knowing how to use brute force, even coercing clan ninjas into joining the "Root." How could he compare to Sarutobi?

“All right, let’s discuss that later.”

The Third Hokage interrupted Mitokado’s criticism. “The priority is to rescue Naruto; his safety is paramount. Everything else can wait.” His face wore a worried expression, like a concerned elder fretting over a child’s safety.

The news of the Hokage personally rushing to the fire in the northeastern corner spread quickly, reaching many people like it had wings. The calm waters stirred with turbulent undercurrents, and the once-peaceful night was utterly disrupted. Shadows flew across rooftops, terraces, utility poles, and treetops.

Adding to the mix was the orderly flow of the police force.

Even the drunkards on the streets sensed something significant had happened and scrambled home as quickly as they could.

The crowd converged toward the northeastern forest.

…

“The last one.”

A blade engulfed in flames flashed through the air, beheading an attacker immobilized by a genjutsu. The headless body collapsed limply onto the grass. Sougen shook his long sword, extinguishing the flames. The blade, clear as water, reflected the flickering firelight.

Naruto, held under his left arm, remained unconscious.

It was normal to be knocked out for a while after being hit by the Yamanaka clan’s mental secret technique.

“Twelve attackers, four elite squads—they sure invested a lot!” Sougen prodded open the severed head’s mouth with his sword. By the fire’s light, he could see a black curse mark on the tongue, a sealing jutsu known as the Tongue-Cutting Seal.

“So it was that scoundrel Danzo! And the Third Hokage must have been aware…”

The curse mark on the tongue was fading as time passed, and the brain had already been destroyed by the seal’s power the moment the body died. Say what you will about "Root," but their secrecy measures were impressive. Not only the brain, but even the bodies self-destructed.

Though Sougen knew the chances of using the bodies to implicate Danzo were slim, and capturing a live one was nearly impossible,

Still,

For Danzo’s sealing technique to be so formidable—was it inherited from the forbidden jutsu master, the Second Hokage, or from the Uzumaki clan’s legacy, or perhaps developed by Danzo himself—it stirred Sougen’s curiosity.

Sealing jutsu was certainly valuable.

It could not only be used to control subordinates but also play a significant role in combat when employed skillfully.

“The opening act is over. Now it’s time for the main event, isn’t it?”

Sougen looked up at the sky. He had sensed a faint gaze observing the battle since it started. It didn’t take much effort to figure out who was watching. Just a few minutes ago, that presence had disappeared.

No doubt,

That prominent figure was already on the move.

(End of this chapter)