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"Kirigakure ninja, the enemy is here!"
Upon spotting the enemy's trail, a Konoha ninja launched a signal flare into the sky. He quickly followed up by throwing shuriken and explosive-tagged kunai, attempting to stall the enemy until reinforcements arrived.
"We've been spotted! Quickly, kill him!"
Realizing their infiltration had failed, the Kirigakure ninjas immediately attempted to eliminate the Konoha ninja before retreating to report the mission's failure or attempting to infiltrate the Land of Fire from another direction.
"Water Release: Water Whip!"
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
The Kirigakure ninjas utilized Water Release techniques—one to defend against the incoming shuriken and explosive tags, and the other to launch a water whip toward the Konoha ninja who had sent the signal.
The Konoha ninja swiftly dodged, but the Kirigakure ninja wielding the water whip pursued him, forcing him to counter with his own jutsu.
"Lightning Release: Thunder Arrow!"
Momentarily repelling the two Kirigakure ninjas before him with his Lightning Release technique, the Konoha ninja began to feel uneasy. He had likely strayed too far from his comrades, and even if they saw the signal flare, it would take some time for them to reach him.
But he was only a chunin, and he couldn't afford to expend too much chakra on such techniques.
"Water Release: Water Collision Wave!"
Shuriken and senbon rained down, and the Konoha ninja utilized the Substitution Jutsu to evade. However, with three Kirigakure ninjas attacking, even if he dodged one's strike, the other two's attacks nearly inflicted a fatal wound.
"Die! Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
In the nick of time, a figure appeared in front of the Konoha ninja, rapidly forming hand seals and unleashing a scorching Fire Release technique that canceled out the enemy's water dragon.
"Shisui, thank goodness you arrived," the rescued Konoha ninja sighed in relief upon seeing the Uchiha fan symbol, knowing he was safe with Shisui around.
The Kirigakure team leader recognized Shisui and grew tense. Although the young Konoha ninja before him was young, he was already well-known in Kirigakure.
"Shisui of the Body Flicker, huh? Although the infiltration mission failed, if we kill you, it'll still be worth something. Water Release: Hiding in Mist Technique!"
After activating the Hiding in Mist technique, the Kirigakure jonin was determined to kill Shisui. If this were the old days, failing the mission would simply mean reporting back and facing reprimand.
But recently, failure had become unacceptable for Kirigakure ninjas. Under the even harsher Bloody Mist policies, failing a mission was worse than dying in battle.
As the thick mist enveloped the area, Shisui's eyes immediately displayed the three tomoe Sharingan. After scanning the surroundings, he frowned slightly and said, "This could be tricky. This Kirigakure ninja must be a specialist in Silent Killing. Sanosuke, stay alert behind me; I'll handle the rest. Don't worry; his Silent Killing won't succeed."
Just as Shisui finished speaking, a laugh echoed through the mist.
"Hahaha! My Silent Killing won't succeed? Shisui of the Body Flicker, you're not the first confident ninja to say that."
As the voice faded, the forest shrouded in mist grew eerily silent. All sounds vanished in an instant, and Tanaka Sanosuke could even hear his own breathing. The deathly silence dragged on, second by second. While Shisui remained composed, Sanosuke's psychological pressure increased, cold sweat beginning to bead on his face.
Swish!
A faint sound reached Shisui's ears, prompting him to turn and dash toward the Kirigakure ninja who had suddenly appeared behind him. He swiftly reversed his kunai and stabbed toward the ninja's heart.
Thud.
Warm blood splattered onto Shisui's hand.
A real person!
As this thought flashed through Shisui's mind, he suddenly noticed Sanosuke's body shift beside him, followed by a loud shout: "Shisui, watch out!"
In the next moment, Shisui felt a push and turned to see Sanosuke's throat being slit by the Kirigakure jonin's short sword. The ninja Shisui had just killed dissolved, revealing that it had been a transformed Kirigakure genin, who had sacrificed himself to deceive Shisui and lower his guard.
"Damn it..."
Furious, Shisui rolled across the ground and threw ten shuriken, but the Kirigakure jonin deflected them with his short sword and leaped back into the thick mist.
"Heh, you got lucky this time. Next time, you won't have a scapegoat," the Kirigakure jonin's voice echoed from the mist. However, Shisui simply knelt beside Sanosuke, who had already passed away. Shisui had only taught him one C-rank jutsu, but from that moment on, Sanosuke had always treated him as a close friend.
A few seconds later, the Kirigakure ninja reappeared, raising his short sword to stab Shisui, "Die!"
But his sword hit only air, as the figure before him suddenly turned into an illusion.
"A clone? When did..."
"When I awakened these eyes," Shisui's voice calmly answered, just as the Kirigakure jonin felt a sharp pain in his chest. A kunai had pierced his heart. Summoning his last bit of strength, the Kirigakure jonin turned to see a pair of blood-red Mangekyō Sharingan, and then darkness overtook him.
...
Rin's body shuddered for a moment, and then her face flushed with a rosy hue.
It was only after a while that Rin began to catch her breath.
"Rin, you don't have to do this."
"No, no, Yoichi-sensei, I must. This is my reward for the new pill you developed."
Yoichi had just successfully improved the Beast Strength Pill and had Rin test its effects.
After taking the pill, Rin's strength increased significantly. With just a bit of chakra reinforcing her fists, she shattered the wooden wall that Yoichi had created.
To fully test the pill's effects, Yoichi had created three walls in total—the last being over two meters thick, but Rin smashed through it with one punch.
This was pure physical strength. If paired with Super Strength, it would be terrifying. And even without Super Strength, the enhanced power allowed a ninja to maintain a constant state of great strength. If combined with the Wind Pill, it would grant them the speed and power of a jonin.
The small Healing Pill had also been successfully improved. However, when testing it, Yoichi didn't want Rin to injure herself, so he found a clansman to volunteer.
In the Uchiha clan, Yoichi's commands were treated like divine orders. When asked to test the Healing Pill, the volunteer didn't hesitate to stab himself seven or eight times in non-lethal areas.
Once Yoichi signaled to stop, the volunteer dropped the kunai and took the Healing Pill.
The pill dissolved almost immediately upon entering the mouth, and within seconds, the bleeding stopped, and the wounds began to heal visibly.
This amazed both the volunteer and the onlookers, as eight wounds healed in just twenty seconds, faster than what even a medical jonin could manage.
Satisfied with the results, Yoichi dismissed his clone, relaying the successful outcome back.
The improved effects were extraordinary, leaving both Yoichi and Rin, who had been assisting him, extremely pleased. Rin, blushing, insisted on celebrating with Yoichi, leading to an hour-long "celebration."
"It's a shame that these pills can't be mass-produced using industrial machines. Many of the ingredients are too rare, and each herb's age varies, requiring different extraction times with fire... I'll have to make them by hand slowly."
After cleaning up, Yoichi glanced at the Beast Strength Pill and commented with some regret.
Pills from the first to third ranks were still considered basic, made from herbs that could be cultivated in large quantities with controlled ages, achieving about 98% uniformity.
But fourth-rank pills were different, requiring more rare ingredients that couldn't be mass-cultivated. Even the Natural Energy Stone was difficult to melt, requiring Yoichi's chakra to guide the process.
In short, fourth-rank pills couldn't be produced on an industrial scale. Although third-rank pills had a high failure rate, if the herbs were of the same age, there was still a 40-50% success rate.
"Yoichi-sensei, it's getting late. I should be heading back."
After tidying up, Rin checked the time and informed Yoichi. It was already dark outside, and her legs felt weak.
"Alright, be careful on your way back, Rin."
"Yoichi-sensei, will you be here making pills for the next few days?"
"I will. I plan to finish off the remaining herbs first. After that, we'll have to wait for new supplies."
Yoichi had just inventoried some herbs. If the success rate held, he could make around thirty-four Beast Strength Pills and seventeen small Healing Pills with the current stock.
After that, he would need to gather more herbs, specifically those that had aged sufficiently.
The Beast Strength Pill and the small Healing Pill would become signature medicines of the Uchiha clan, though they wouldn't be extremely rare. At least the herbs needed could be cultivated, but they required a place rich in energy to grow properly.
If a jonin carried several of the Uchiha clan's secret medicines, they might even be able to go toe-to-toe with a Kage-level shinobi.
Enhancing strength, boosting speed, healing injuries, protecting the meridians, and restoring chakra—taking all these pills together would apply five layers of buffs, enabling a jonin to challenge a Kage-level opponent. Even if they couldn't win, they could certainly hold their own until their chakra ran out. However, it was unlikely that they would be outlasted, given the chakra-restoring pill.
That's the power of a clan's secret medicines.
In the past few days, besides spending the mornings at the Hokage building handling village affairs and visiting Tsunade at the hospital, Yoichi had been holed up in the alchemy room, focusing on pill-making.
He also talked to Mikoto about gathering more of these herbs. However, many of the required herbs were hard to find, especially those that had aged properly. The ones he had now were bought at a high price from a medicinal merchant.
...
Meanwhile, at the Sarutobi residence.
Shikaku had finally managed to buy a hind leg of a magical mountain goat, intending to share a meal with his family.
However, he received an invitation from Hiruzen, who also invited Inoichi and Choza.
So, Shikaku left a portion of the goat meat for his wife and brought the rest as a gift to Sarutobi's home.
Upon arriving at the Sarutobi clan's grounds, Shikaku coincidentally met up with Inoichi and Choza, and they proceeded together.
After knocking on the door, Hiruzen opened it and, seeing the goat leg in Shikaku's hands, remarked in surprise, "What a coincidence, Shikaku! I also managed to get some magical mountain goat meat, though not as much as you."
"Well, in that case, Lady Biwako can cook it all together. Otherwise, it wouldn't be enough just for Choza to eat, Lord Third," Shikaku joked as he handed over the meat, and the three were welcomed inside by Hiruzen.
"It's true that Uchiha's magical mountain goat meat is hard to come by. Even if you go early and queue up, it sells out in half an hour. But it's worth it—Choza has been craving this for a while, and now he'll finally get his fill."
Choza chuckled, "The meat's texture is indeed amazing, and it's refreshing too. But it's too bad they sell it in such limited quantities. Shikaku, how did you manage to get so much?"
"I hired three people to queue with me. They paid for theirs, and I got to take the meat. But this method won't work for long; it's bound to annoy people."
Shikaku scratched his head, realizing he should have split the goat leg beforehand to avoid drawing attention.
"Everything's ready, but Jiraiya hasn't arrived yet. We'll wait for him," Hiruzen said, leading them to the main hall. The table was set with individual small grills for each person, along with pre-cut meat, seafood, and other grilled dishes.
Today, Jiraiya was returning from a mission, so Hiruzen had invited Shikaku and the others over.
A little while later, Jiraiya rushed in, having just handed in his mission report. As he entered, he saw the group seated at the table, waiting for him.
"Sorry, sorry! I got delayed handing in the mission. My apologies," Jiraiya said hastily as he took his seat. In truth, after leaving the Hokage building, he had been unable to resist going to Kushina's house.
He saw her training with shadow clones and sensed that she hadn't given up on seeking revenge. After watching her for a while, he finally made his way to the Sarutobi residence.
Once Jiraiya sat down, Biwako Sarutobi began serving the grilled dishes for everyone to enjoy.
After a while, Hiruzen suddenly spoke, "Shikaku, I'm thinking of nominating Jiraiya to be the Fifth Hokage."
The room fell silent, save for the sound of sizzling meat. After a couple of seconds, Shikaku finally responded, "Lord Third, are you confident about this?"
"Jiraiya has been taking on missions continuously. His mission record is now the best in Konoha. If he keeps this up for another year or two, no one in the village will have anything to say."
Shikaku's mouth twitched at this. He couldn't imagine completing high-difficulty missions for one or two years straight, but that's what Jiraiya was apparently planning to do.
Seeing Shikaku's expression, Jiraiya smiled wryly, "Don't worry, Shikaku. No matter how reluctant I am, I won't shy away from the responsibilities I must shoulder."
"If Jiraiya-sama is resolved, that makes things easier," Shikaku said, slipping into his role as strategist. "Minato… The last time you lost to the Fourth Hokage, it wasn't just because he was too strong to find fault with. The other factors were your connections within the village and with the daimyo's office. These are areas we can work on, for instance…"
As Shikaku laid out his plan, both Hiruzen and Jiraiya nodded in agreement. Hiruzen had great faith in Shikaku. The friendship between the four clans went back a long way, all the way to the Warring States Period.
Without the Sarutobi clan, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio might not have even joined Konoha.
With Shikaku's guidance, Jiraiya felt as if he suddenly had a clear head, knowing exactly who his opponents were and what steps to take next.
After a while, Shikaku thoughtfully rubbed his chin and said, "Lord Third, Jiraiya-sama, if Yoichi is the only opponent, that would be manageable. We do have our advantages. But the most challenging part is… Does the Fourth Hokage intend to step down?"
"Shikaku, I've noticed that Sakumo often leaves the Hokage office early, and many village affairs are handled by Yoichi instead."
Hiruzen couldn't help but feel disappointed in Sakumo. If he found the administrative work burdensome, why hadn't he asked for advice from Hiruzen, who had so much experience in running the village?
Handing over these tasks to a younger person was no solution; from what Hiruzen had heard, both Sakumo and Yoichi often used clones to deal with mundane tasks. How could that be responsible governance?
"It seems his desire to continue as Hokage is waning. In another year or two, he might not be able to keep up and will need to choose a successor."
Shikaku clicked his tongue. Sakumo was the perfect candidate for Hokage, yet he didn't seem to want the position. Why had he even run for the position if he intended to give it up so soon? Shikaku was at a loss for words.
"In that case, there shouldn't be any issues. We just need Lord Third to focus on garnering support from the daimyo's office while the rest of us handle things on our end."
"Agreed. Let's follow your plan, Shikaku," Hiruzen nodded. "No one can come up with a better strategy than you."
...
"Lady Tsunade, please, I beg you, take me as your disciple."
Kushina earnestly pressed her hands together, pleading with Tsunade. After much consideration, she had decided that training under Tsunade was the best and most suitable path for her.
Kushina had been training on her own for a while, but the results were limited. She had also gone through the training notes Minato had left behind and learned the Rasengan, but she hadn't been able to take it further.
Minato hadn't managed to incorporate nature transformation into the Rasengan, and after trying for a while, Kushina hadn't succeeded either.
However, she didn't want to waste the power of the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. After much deliberation, she concluded that ninjutsu training wasn't her forte, and that Tsunade's combat style might be more suitable, especially since Tsunade was back in the village.
But hearing Kushina's request, Tsunade looked a bit troubled.
"Kushina, it's not that I don't want to teach you, but I have a lot of other work on my plate right now. If I were to use a shadow clone to teach you, it would be quite taxing. Can you wait for a while?"
Tsunade sighed. She could guess why Kushina wanted to grow stronger, but that only made it harder for her to refuse. After all, Kushina had lived in her house since childhood.
However, managing two experiments every day was already mentally exhausting for Tsunade. Using a shadow clone didn't drain her chakra, but the memories transferred back from the clone were the real burden.
Orochimaru had once conducted four experiments a day, and after dismissing his shadow clones, he would need an hour or two of quiet time to organize his thoughts. After taking Nawaki as his disciple, he had even temporarily suspended one of his experiments.
Tsunade had similar concerns, so she tried to persuade Kushina to wait. Once she had more time, she would take her as a disciple.
"Kushina, you're also raising Naruto right now. There's no rush to train. Let's wait a few months, and when I'm less busy, I'll teach you ninjutsu and taijutsu."
Just as Tsunade finished speaking, someone knocked on the door and entered.
"Tsunade, there's been a breakthrough in the experiment… Oh, Kushina, you're here too."
It was Yoichi, who had been contacted by Tsunade about a breakthrough in one of their experiments. That's why he had come over.
"Kushina, did you need something from Tsunade?"
"I wanted to ask Tsunade to take me as her disciple, but… I'll wait. I'll be leaving now, Lady Tsunade."
Kushina lowered her head and excused herself before leaving the room.
After she left, Tsunade bit her lip and muttered, "It seems Minato's death has really affected her."
When Kushina left, she didn't even call Tsunade "big sister" anymore. Had she started calling her "Lady Tsunade" just because Tsunade hadn't immediately agreed to take her as a disciple? Such a childish reaction.
But Tsunade wasn't angry. She had been through a similar experience herself, so she could understand Kushina's feelings.
"It's probably not just Minato's death."
Yoichi added, as he activated the Nine-Tails Chakra within him. He still had enough left to enter the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
After entering the mode, Yoichi scanned the area but then deactivated it. "She's too far away now; I can't sense any malice anymore."
"What's going on?" Tsunade asked, curious about Yoichi's concern for Kushina.
"Kushina asked me to help her control the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode recently. At that time, she might have been affected by the negative emotions within the Nine-Tails' chakra, and her inner darkness could have grown."
Yoichi pondered for a moment. This was highly likely, as he had sensed something off in Kushina's gaze earlier.
"I'll have Mina keep an eye on her. If it turns out to be true, we'll need to come up with a plan. But this is something Kushina will have to overcome on her own. Now, Tsunade, which experiment made a breakthrough?"
Tsunade, noticing Yoichi's shift in focus, led him further inside. "The clone body you requested is now developing into an infant. You should use your chakra to take control of the clone's body right away."
(End of Chapter)
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"Kushina, are you training?"
"Who is it!?"
Upon hearing the voice, Kushina frowned and turned to see that it was Mei holding Naruto, who had been placed at a distance. Seeing this, her tense expression gradually softened.
"Oh, it's Mina. I'm just exercising... Is there something you need?"
"Can't I come to visit you just because? Also, Kushina, your training is too loud; it made Naruto frown in his sleep."
Mina sighed as she held Naruto in her arms, noting that Kushina hadn't used a shadow clone to take care of Naruto while she trained. The technique she had just practiced was powerful enough that if she generated a shockwave, it could easily flip Naruto's baby carriage.
"I'll be more careful next time, Mina."
Kushina withdrew her Tailed Beast Chakra Mode and then approached Naruto. She took him from Mei and placed him back in the baby carriage.
Seeing this, Mina felt a twinge of concern and thought to herself, 'Yoichi was right; Kushina is beginning to distance herself from me. I fear even Mikoto wouldn't be able to change that.'
But Mina wasn't one to keep things bottled up. She directly confronted Kushina, saying, "Kushina, you've already been affected by the negative emotions of the Nine-Tails' chakra. You need to stop and correct this."
"I'm fine, and the Nine-Tails can't affect me."
Kushina immediately refuted, "Mina, I've sealed the Nine-Tails for over a decade and have never been influenced by it. Just because Yoichi said something doesn't mean he's right."
"Then why do you resent Yoichi? Is it because he refused to resurrect Minato?"
Kushina fell silent at this, unable to respond.
Deep down, this was indeed what she thought. At first, she knew such thoughts were wrong, but she couldn't help it. From initially reminiscing, to complaining, to slowly harboring resentment—Minato's death wasn't Yoichi's fault, but she couldn't stop herself from feeling resentful. She hated that Yoichi had the power to bring Minato back but refused to offer her any hope.
Yoichi was the leader of the Uchiha clan and an advisor to the Hokage, so even though Kushina harbored resentment, she didn't dare to show it openly.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just training, trying to get strong enough to avenge Minato. Mina, if there's nothing else, you should go back."
Hearing Kushina's stubborn words, Mina continued to urge her, "Kushina, if you don't overcome your dark side, you won't have such a comfortable environment in the future. The village will assess your danger level!"
"A Jinchuriki who can be taken over by a Tailed Beast at any time is a growing threat!"
This was something Mina had learned from Yoichi. If Kushina didn't heed the warning, the village would have no choice but to reassess her threat level.
The worst-case scenario could involve taking Naruto away from her and having the Hyuga seal her chakra points, placing her in confinement, or even choosing a new Jinchuriki and transferring the Tailed Beast.
But Kushina seemed unaffected by Mina's words and simply pushed Naruto's baby carriage back home.
Seeing that her words had no effect, Mina stomped her foot in frustration, nearly deciding to use Adamantine Sealing Chains to tie Kushina up and bring her back. "That stubborn fool, how deeply has she been affected?"
Returning home, Kushina placed Naruto aside and reflected on Mina's words, feeling increasingly unsettled.
After a while, Kushina's surroundings changed, and her consciousness was pulled into the sealed space within her.
In front of her was the Nine-Tails, but it was bound in a spherical seal, its nine tails pinned down by sealing stakes and its body wrapped in layers of adamantine chains.
"Human, why have you come to me again? Are you here to take more of my chakra?"
The Nine-Tails roared, but this time, seeing Kushina, there was a flicker of delight in its eyes.
Tailed Beasts possess intelligence not inferior to humans, but the Nine-Tails, having been controlled by Madara and sealed by Hashirama for decades, harbored an intense hatred towards humanity, making it perpetually enraged.
However, after hearing the name of the Gedo Statue, the Nine-Tails realized that Yoichi knew about the Rinnegan and the Gedo Statue. He must also be aware that gathering the chakras of all nine Tailed Beasts in the Gedo Statue could revive the Ten-Tails.
If the Gedo Statue appeared and absorbed it, the Nine-Tails would truly be dead; the Yin-Yang Release could create the Tailed Beasts, and once absorbed by the Ten-Tails, their consciousnesses could be gradually erased.
Thus, the Nine-Tails realized it had to save itself by escaping, and its opportunity lay with Kushina.
As the Tailed Beast most attuned to malice, the Nine-Tails could sense the darkness within a human's heart. Even though it was sealed, as long as its Jinchuriki approached, the darkness within them could be perceived.
Now, the darkness in Kushina's heart had grown significantly stronger than the last time she came. This was its chance to escape, so the Nine-Tails was willing to use some tricks and temptations, even if it meant sacrificing some of its chakra!
Kushina coldly demanded, "Nine-Tails, what did you mean by what you said the other day? And I warn you, if you invade my dreams again, I'll add another layer to the seal, and you'll never get out!"
'Fool, I'm already trapped forever. Damn humans!'
The Nine-Tails nearly shouted these words out loud but restrained itself for the sake of its plan to escape.
"Hmph, human, let me tell you— that Uchiha kid lied to you!"
The Nine-Tails sneered, "The Rinnegan is the eye of the Sage of Six Paths. It's an eye that can control life and death, even connect with the Pure Land. Reviving someone is easy for the Rinnegan, with no difficulty at all. Even if that Uchiha kid doesn't have the Rinnegan, his Mangekyo Sharingan must have the power to resurrect the dead, and it wouldn't burden him nearly as much as he claimed. Fool, you were deceived!"
"Why should I believe you?"
"Do you think the Tailed Beasts just appeared out of nowhere? We were all created by the Sage of Six Paths. When it comes to the Rinnegan's abilities, no one in the entire Shinobi world knows more than us because we followed the Sage of Six Paths!"
The Nine-Tails' voice echoed throughout the sealed space. Hearing this, Kushina stood frozen in place.
This was the first time she had heard the origin of the Tailed Beasts, and to learn that they were created by the Sage of Six Paths... As for whether the Nine-Tails was lying, Kushina didn't think it was. The Nine-Tails' every word was filled with contempt and hatred towards her; there was no need for it to lie.
Since it was unlikely to be a lie, then what the Nine-Tails said might be true.
"Hmph, human, it doesn't matter. When that Uchiha brat gets the Rinnegan and the Gedo Statue, I'll be extracted, and you'll die. If I can take you down with me, it will be my revenge. It doesn't matter if you use my chakra; you don't have much time left anyway!"
The Nine-Tails finished speaking and began to release its chakra on its own.
However, this action confused Kushina. It seemed resigned. In the past, the Nine-Tails had been very protective of its chakra, but now it was willingly giving it to her.
"Don't try any tricks, Nine-Tails!"
With that, Kushina left the sealed space. She had learned a lot from the Nine-Tails today, and she needed to think it over.
After Kushina left, the Nine-Tails noticed that she hadn't rejected the chakra it had sent. It felt that its plan was already halfway successful.
Its chakra wasn't so easy to take. Even if Kushina didn't use it, she would be gradually affected by the negative emotions contained within its chakra.
The darkness in her heart would continue to grow until she succumbed to it and became its tool.
...
Elsewhere.
After returning home, Mina told Yoichi about what had happened today. Hearing this, Yoichi opened his strategy guide and saw that Kushina's favorability had dropped another three points. It was now at 42.
If it fell below 40, she would be considered an enemy who could be eliminated if necessary. It seemed Kushina was deeply influenced by the negative emotions of the Tailed Beast.
Mina pleaded, "Yoichi-sama, is there any way to help Kushina? Today, she was very impatient with me."
"For now, there's no way to help her. We'll monitor the situation for a while. You and Mikoto should avoid visiting her."
Yoichi responded. The only method that came to mind was the real waterfall in the Hidden Cloud Village, but it was located on Turtle Island and wasn't in a fixed location. Finding it to help Kushina would be too difficult unless he intervened directly.
Maybe he could look for an opportunity.
"I guess it's still about the resurrection. Plus, seeing how happy our lives are might have triggered her. Before, she wouldn't have thought so much, but after being exposed to the negative emotions in the Nine-Tails' chakra, every dark thought she has will be magnified."
Mikoto also expressed her concern, "Do you think Kushina can return to how she was before?"
Kushina had been lively and cheerful, always helping out in the Uchiha compound, which was how Mikoto had become close friends with her. Seeing Kushina like this now made her feel deeply sorrowful.
"Don't worry. If it comes down to it, we'll extract the Nine-Tails and ensure she survives."
Yoichi reassured them, then wrapped his arms around both Mina and Mikoto's waists, saying, "It's getting late. Let's go to bed."
The children were already asleep upstairs, and Mikoto was dressed in a seductive outfit, while Mina had just finished her bath, revealing large expanses of pale skin.
Although she felt a bit shy, Mina couldn't help but reproachfully say, "Yoichi-sama, we were in the middle of a serious conversation."
"Then Mikoto and I will head to bed first."
"No way! I'm going too!"
Seeing Yoichi scoop up Mikoto and head upstairs, Mina quickly hurried after them, forgetting all about her modesty.
Soon, the sounds of an intense bed creaking filled the upstairs.
The baby room was equipped with a strong soundproof barrier, so there was no need to worry. However, Yugito's room did not have one. The soundproof barrier had gradually worn off, and Mina had forgotten to reapply it.
The constant creaking from the bed made it impossible for Yugito to fall asleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she recalled what had happened last time.
"Damn pervert..."
Before long, rustling sounds came from Yugito's bed.
...
Clang! Clang clang clang...
Two chakra-infused short blades clashed violently, the sound of metal striking metal echoing continuously, so fast that the blades were practically invisible to onlookers. Only the occasional sparks could be seen, indicating the intensity of the battle.
Ding!
Shwoosh!
A blade of chakra energy extended suddenly, stopping just short of Kakashi's collar.
Although Kakashi saw the energy blade, he had exerted a bit too much force in his attack and couldn't pull back in time or block it with his own blade.
He managed to dodge slightly, but the edge of his collar was still sliced off.
"Father, I lost again."
After losing a piece of his collar, Kakashi conceded the match, realizing that his father had held back. If he hadn't, it would have been his throat that got sliced.
Sakumo said, "Kakashi, you can't rely solely on your eyes in swordsmanship, especially since it seems like the Sharingan doesn't sync well with your own eye. Just now, you were fighting with your right eye closed, using only the Sharingan to track my sword movements."
"Yes, the dynamic vision of the Sharingan is too strong. When I use both eyes, the information they receive is different. This discrepancy doesn't matter much against other opponents, but when facing you, Father, it's better to keep one eye closed."
Kakashi explained while lowering his forehead protector and handing a bottle of water to Sakumo.
"If you keep one eye closed, you'll create blind spots, which can lead to situations like the one we just had. But Kakashi, your improvement has been remarkable. The rest is up to you to overcome."
Sakumo smiled. Even relying solely on the Hatake swordsmanship, Kakashi was already among the top Jonin, and he knew various ninjutsu that allowed him to adapt to different situations.
The main thing was Kakashi's chakra. With the amount he had now, the Sharingan's consumption wasn't much of an issue. On the contrary, it provided powerful dynamic vision. Once he got used to it, it would be a great asset.
"It's all thanks to your training, Father. But is it really okay to do this?"
Kakashi asked, a bit curious, "Father, you're the Fourth Hokage, right?"
He was concerned that his father, as Hokage, spent four days a week training with him. Although Kakashi loved it, he worried that people might criticize Sakumo for neglecting the village.
"It's fine. Yoichi might complain, but I've left a shadow clone behind. If something important comes up, I'll be informed. Besides, I—"
Before Sakumo could finish, he noticed the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, approaching.
So Sakumo got up and walked over to greet him. Once close, he asked, "Lord Third, what brings you here?"
"I just wanted to talk to you, Sakumo."
Hiruzen smiled, leading Sakumo to a nearby stone bench by the training ground, with Kakashi standing off to the side.
"Sakumo, Kakashi's progress has been remarkable. He's truly the village's youngest Jonin. At this rate, in five years, you might find it hard to defeat him."
"Not at all, Lord Third. Kakashi still has a lot to learn."
Sakumo had a feeling about what Hiruzen was implying, but he preferred straightforward conversations, much like those he had with Yoichi.
So he asked directly, "Lord Third, is there something specific you wanted to discuss?"
"Yes, there's something I wanted to ask."
Hiruzen paused before asking, "Sakumo, it seems like you're not very interested in being Hokage. Recently, this has become more apparent. Are you considering stepping down and selecting a new Hokage?"
Sakumo's frequent absences weren't a secret anymore. While there was indeed a Sakumo Hatake in the Hokage's office, it was likely a shadow clone. Most village affairs were being handled in the advisor's office.
"I am considering it."
Sakumo admitted and then asked, "What are you getting at, Lord Third?"
"Jiraiya wishes to run for the position of the Fifth Hokage. He's willing to devote everything he has to the village. If you're planning to step down, I hope—"
Before Hiruzen could finish, Sakumo nodded in understanding and, after thinking for a moment, said, "Jiraiya, huh? He has indeed completed many high-level missions recently. His reputation and strength are impressive. How about this?"
"If anyone can capture members of the Akatsuki within a year, I'll step down from my position as Hokage and report their achievements to the Daimyo."
Sakumo finished and felt a sense of relief, thinking, 'Yoichi, it's not that I want to step down; it's that the Third Hokage is forcing my hand.'
Otherwise, year after year, Sakumo felt that if Yoichi delayed him this year, he would find another reason to delay him next year. Luckily, Hiruzen had come to him privately, giving him a legitimate reason.
Even with this opportunity to step down, Sakumo felt that Jiraiya had no chance.
Jiraiya and Hiruzen had distanced themselves from village affairs, but as the Fourth Hokage, Sakumo still oversaw some things. The village's development was largely due to the Uchiha clan.
The ratio of non-Uchiha to Uchiha in the Police Force was now fifty-fifty. In the past year, six Uchiha had become Jonin leaders, and many had joined other departments, performing exceptionally well.
They hadn't used their clan's reputation to intimidate others but had instead led by example.
It was said that Tsunade was interested in Yoichi, and Orochimaru also worked with him. Even the Daimyo favored Yoichi. And as the Fourth Hokage...
Sakumo almost wanted to tell Hiruzen to let it go. The village was thriving; wasn't that enough?
But saying such things would feel like betraying Yoichi.
"The Akatsuki, huh..."
Hiruzen fell silent for a moment but then said, "I understand. It's decided then."
With that, Hiruzen stood up to leave, and Sakumo got up to see him off.
The Akatsuki and the Rinnegan were indeed significant issues. If not for their deep concealment, this matter wouldn't have dragged on for so long.
Now that he had agreed, they would have to search the entire Shinobi world. But if they could capture someone, it would be a great achievement, and Hiruzen was convinced that this would ensure a smooth transition of power.
At least, that's what Hiruzen thought. However, in his eagerness to hear Sakumo agree to step down, he missed the implications of what Sakumo had said.
Now, Hiruzen was eager to gather information on the Rinnegan's whereabouts.
The combined forces of the Sarutobi and Ino-Shika-Cho clans were not inferior to the Uchiha clan. Gathering information could be done through the underground exchange network. As Hiruzen walked back, he was already formulating several strategies, but he decided to consult with Shikaku Nara first.
After Hiruzen left, Kakashi approached his father and asked, "Father?"
"Kakashi, what I didn't finish telling you earlier—I've been training with you for several days because I don't particularly enjoy being Hokage."
Sakumo patted Kakashi on the shoulder and then said, "I'm heading to the Hokage's office."
As he watched his father leave, Kakashi shook his head and said, "How strange... He doesn't want to be Hokage, yet he smiles and goes to the Hokage's office."
Kakashi wondered if his father had become overwhelmed by the workload recently.
"Maybe I'll make spicy grilled saury tonight. I don't know why Father suddenly likes it so much... Was he holding back because of me before?"
Recalling what Yoichi had told him last time, Kakashi decided to cater to his father's tastes from now on.
"Yoichi, that's how it is. This time, it's not my fault."
Sakumo sighed, "I've delayed it for a year, and now I'll even hand over the Anbu to you. Yoichi, I believe in you, but this is all I can do."
"Hold on a moment, Sakumo-senpai."
Yoichi called out to Sakumo, then gave him a sharp look, saying, "Let me analyze this: although Hiruzen approached you, you went along with it."
Sakumo replied with a serious expression, "How could that be? I'm still the Fourth Hokage, and I won't shirk my responsibilities as long as I hold this position."
After hearing this, Yoichi looked at the never-ending stack of documents on his desk, then back at Sakumo.
This was once a man of the warrior code, but after two years as Hokage, he's started sounding like a politician?
"Fine, you've already agreed. This might be Hiruzen's last hope."
Yoichi waved his hand dismissively. He didn't believe he would lose; soon, Shisui would use Kotoamatsukami on the Daimyo. Unless Hiruzen and Jiraiya assassinated the Daimyo and replaced him, even if they captured Nagato...
The Daimyo would still choose Yoichi as the Fifth Hokage. In a year's time, Shisui could modify the wills of six people with Kotoamatsukami. He wouldn't even need the dual-eye technique to deal with ordinary people; a single eye would suffice.
"Have the Anbu report to me tomorrow. But before you step down, don't take it too easy, Sakumo-senpai. You are still the Hokage!"
"Yoichi, I can serve as your advisor."
(End of Chapter)
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