manynovel Scene 1 of Chapter 15, Hokage Building
Scene 1 of Chapter 15, Hokage Building
Zuo Yue nodded and rushed towards a sturdy oak tree beside her. Her long black hair fluttered behind her, and her small figure drew a graceful arc in the sunlight.
"Snapped!"
After running up the tree for a while, a crisp sound rang out, and Zuo Yue's foot had just touched the trunk when she crushed a large piece of bark. She quickly used her kunai to make a cut above the damaged area, and then used the momentum to flip and land on her feet.
Satsuki looked up and compared the marks on the two trees—her mark was even higher than Naruto's. This discovery brought a flicker of joy to her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by seriousness. She hadn't expected maintaining a stable chakra output to be so difficult... She had just injected too much chakra, and it had bounced back.
Meanwhile, Naruto also began his own training. Although the system had granted him adaptability and mastery of fire style, tree-climbing training tested entirely different abilities. Just like being able to peel an apple with chakra doesn't mean you can walk a tightrope with chakra.
With his eyes closed and mind focused, Naruto replayed the key points from the original work in his mind. He couldn't be too tense... nor could he be too fixated on it... Naruto adjusted his breathing and concentrated his mind on the tree.
Then, only the rustling sound of footsteps against tree bark and the crisp sound of kunai carving into tree trunks remained in the forest. The two small figures practiced intently.
Satsuki dashed up the tree again, this time deliberately reducing her chakra output. But the result of being too cautious was that before she even reached the mark, the chakra under her feet dissipated. She hurriedly used kunai to steady herself, her face filled with resentment.
Seeing this, Naruto's lips curled into a slight smile. "Sasuke... Sasuke, wanna have a contest? Let's see who climbs to the top of the tree first?"
Satsuki was taken aback for a moment, but then proudly declared, "Of course!" She tossed her long hair, repositioned herself for the race, and said, "I'll show you the power of the Uchiha clan. I'll definitely win!"
------
Inside his office in the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi, having just seen Fugaku Uchiha off, sat at his large desk, wisps of smoke rising from his pipe. His brow was furrowed.
This decision... might be too risky...
The Third Hokage took a deep drag of his cigarette, letting the pungent tobacco flavor fill his mouth. He had already warned the Uchiha clan and ordered the Anbu to intensify their surveillance. If any suspicious signs were detected, they were to immediately sever Naruto's connection with Uchiha Sasuke.
But this wasn't just about making Naruto feel a sense of belonging to the village; it was also about giving the Uchiha clan an opportunity—a chance to reintegrate into Konoha. The flickering light in his pipe mirrored his wavering emotions.
That guy... should be here soon. He shook his head with a wry smile and began to think about how to deal with his old friend's questioning.
Sure enough, not long after, the office door was flung open, with even the most basic knocking etiquette omitted. A gloomy figure appeared in the doorway, half of his face wrapped in bandages, his slightly hunched but sturdy body hidden beneath a gray-black kimono and white robe.
"The Darkness of Patience" by Danzo Shimura.
The Third Hokage didn't even look up, continuing to review the documents in his hands. "What's wrong, Danzo? I don't think I summoned you."
Danzo's face darkened further. He strode to his desk, slamming his cane heavily on the floor. "Sarutobi!" his voice cracked with suppressed rage. "You know why I'm here... and you know all too well the foolish things you're doing!"
"Danzo, watch your attitude... This is the first time Naruto has built a bond in the village. Human emotions need a place to reside; if a Jinchuriki has no sense of belonging to the village, that would be a real disaster."
A sinister glint flashed in Danzo's single exposed eye. "But that reliance! It's the bloodline of the Uchiha clan! What if the village's weapons are brainwashed by the Uchiha—"
"That's enough!"
The Third Hokage interrupted sharply, "That kind of thing will never happen! Fugaku's daughter is only three years old, and the Anbu are monitoring their every move around the clock. If the Uchiha show any abnormality, I will immediately cut off their contact."
Seeing the Third Hokage's merciless rebuttal, Danzo's face was so dark it could drip water. He would never forget Hiruzen's furious reaction when he suggested entrusting Naruto to his care—"What do you want to do to the orphan of a hero?" How high-sounding his words were.
Ha...how ironic.
Danzo sneered inwardly. When he secretly spread the rumors about the "demon fox," Hiruzen knew perfectly well but chose to condone it. And Minato's child... that brat who should have been hailed as the son of a hero, was deliberately isolated from the villagers' malice.
His original, meticulously crafted plan was for Naruto to develop darkness within himself through prolonged hatred and loneliness, ideally leaking the Tailed Beast's chakra out of resentment. In this way, he could legitimately bring the Jinchuriki under the control of "Root" under the pretext of "protecting the village."
But Naruto's precocious maturity completely disrupted his plans. The child not only did not crave attention as expected, but also actively distanced himself from those who disliked him, adopting a "out of sight, out of mind" attitude. This composure beyond his years thwarted all of Danzo's schemes.
"How can you do this to the Second Hokage? Have you forgotten your teacher's teachings?!"
The Third Hokage slowly exhaled a smoke ring. "Our teacher's instruction was to make the Uchiha clan serve the village, but never to let them come into contact with the core of power."
He stood up. "Over the years, due to endless suspicion, the relationship between the village and the Uchiha has reached its lowest point. Now, this is the Uchiha's chance to prove themselves."
"I have clearly warned Fugaku not to interfere with Satsuki and Naruto's contact, and even more so not to allow any other Uchiha clan members to approach Naruto."
"Have you forgotten Kagami? Back then... our teacher listed Uchiha Kagami as a candidate for the Third Hokage."
Danzo knew he could no longer persuade his stubborn old friend. He turned around with a gloomy face, and when he reached the door, he stopped and threw out a sentence without looking back.
"Sarutobi! Your decision will bring Konoha to its doom!"