**Chapter 158: Two Years of Calm**

*One person, one thought!*

What would someone think if you told them a dark truth?

They might be grateful to you.

Or they might resent you.

Even if they really wanted to know the answer.

Now, if you only tell someone half of what they really want to know, do you think they'll pursue the rest of the answer?

The answer is obvious.

This is why Jiraiya called Uchiha Itsuki a devil who manipulates people.

Uchiha Itsuki had said two things:

One about the Uchiha clan, concerning Sasuke.

He's Naruto's good friend.

Will Naruto seek the answer?

Yes!

The second thing was about Naruto himself.

Think of all the suffering Naruto has endured over the years.

Will he pursue the answer?

Yes!

Especially since it involves his parents, he will absolutely search for the answer.

Moreover!

Naruto's personality…

Jiraiya was at his wit's end.

If there's one phrase to describe Naruto, it would be: "Single-minded to the end!"

"No way!" The Third Hokage decisively said, "Absolutely not. There is no answer; he must not pursue this."

Scared now?

Where was this attitude earlier?

Jiraiya glanced at the Third Hokage and said gravely, "Just because you say no doesn't mean he won't pursue it. Will he listen to you?"

"No, he won't!"

"So, what do you plan to do?"

"Lock him up?"

"With Naruto's personality—fidgety and restless—aren't you afraid he'll make himself sick? Aren't you afraid he'll release the Nine-Tails in frustration?"

The Third Hokage: "..."

"Sigh!"

Jiraiya sighed, unsure of what to do himself.

"Bring in Shikaku, let's discuss it!"

Naruto was still under ten years old and very innocent.

Although, due to Uchiha Itsuki, the Third Hokage had Iruka show up early to provide Naruto with some emotional support, Naruto still only had Sasuke as a real friend among the twelve young ninjas.

Others were just classmates, not really close.

As for his relationship with Sasuke, it was fate.

These two destined friends met early on.

They were bound for a life of love and rivalry.

The Third Hokage, Jiraiya, and Shikaku Nara discussed the matter all afternoon until dusk before they made a decision.

"Naruto is easier to handle. After all... he's still just a child," said Shikaku, looking at the Third Hokage and Jiraiya. "But how do we deal with the Uchiha?"

"Especially Uchiha Itsuki. He knows the Flying Raijin technique, meaning he can enter the village at will."

Unless Konoha was completely sealed off, there was no way to stop Itsuki with his Flying Raijin.

He's not like the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

Without considering the Flying Raijin, Minato's strength wasn't that terrifying—he was only somewhat stronger than Shikaku.

Itsuki, on the other hand, was different.

Multiple encounters had proven that he had the capability to single-handedly destroy a small ninja village.

If he moved unchecked within Konoha...

"I'll handle it!"

Jiraiya said slowly, "But, old man, you need to give me full authority to deal with this matter."

"...Fine!"

The Third Hokage gave Jiraiya a meaningful look.

After all that had been said...

Describing the danger posed by both Naruto and Itsuki, emphasizing the potential consequences...

It was probably all to set the stage for this.

You want full control over the Uchiha and Naruto, huh?

Fine...

Let him do it.

Jiraiya was his only, and best, option.

...

Time flew by, and two years passed.

These were two rare years of peace.

The Village of Hidden Fire had officially been recognized by all the other ninja villages, becoming a new shinobi village.

Furthermore...

The war had ended.

Originally, the Sand Village was to fight Konoha and the Stone Village.

The Cloud Village wanted to fight the Mist and Konoha.

The Stone Village wanted to take down the Cloud Village.

Konoha had to face all three.

But due to the rise of the Uchiha, the war never broke out.

Because of the overwhelming power displayed by the Village of Hidden Fire.

First, they wiped out three thousand ninjas from the Cloud Village and captured the Eight-Tails jinchūriki.

Then they made Konoha suffer tremendous chaos.

While the other villages acknowledged their strength, they also grew increasingly wary of them.

Several ninja villages, each for different reasons, paused their preparations for war, biding their time.

They knew there would be another battle sooner or later.

And!

That would be the Fourth Great Ninja War.

Thus, the world of shinobi once again entered a time without war.

The last time that happened was when Hashirama Senju was still alive.

In a way, Uchiha Itsuki had brought back the era of Hashirama's glory.

"Mmm..."

Itsuki lazily sat up on a ten-meter-wide bed.

On the bed, several graceful figures lay sprawled, deeply asleep.

Itsuki smiled with satisfaction.

This was life!

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Itsuki noticed something was off.

He narrowed his eyes and started counting carefully.

"One, two, three, four..."

"One is missing!"

Itsuki looked around again and pursed his lips.

One of his little kittens was missing.

No need to guess—she must have run off to play again.

There was nothing he could do.

When Yugito got exhausted, she would fall asleep, and the Two-Tails would seize the opportunity to come out.

According to the agreement between Itsuki and the Two-Tails, whenever Yugito fell asleep, the Two-Tails could go out to play, as long as she returned when Itsuki summoned her.

Thus!

Matatabi had the ability to help Yugito recover her energy and fight Itsuki for three hundred rounds, but she just wouldn't help.

Itsuki could only grumble, but he wasn't going to fall out with the Two-Tails over this.

Yugito was also frustrated with the Two-Tails.

In battle, she was very supportive.

But this was also a kind of battle, and they couldn't lose!

Unfortunately, Matatabi paid her no mind, and Yugito's desire to defeat Itsuki remained unfulfilled.

Every time, she was completely overpowered until she passed out!

"Awake?"

Kurenai lazily sat up, snuggling into Itsuki's arms. "Your kitten ran off to play again?"

"Yeah! A wild kitty!"

"Surrounded by the sea, and yet this cat covered in flames loves playing out there."

Itsuki picked up a pipe, lit it, and gently exhaled a puff of smoke—only to start coughing violently.

His eyes teared up.

Kurenai, beside him, facepalmed. "If you can't smoke, don't smoke. You're just seventeen, and already you're trying this stuff?"

Itsuki sheepishly tossed the pipe aside. "Every time I saw Hiruzen Sarutobi smoke, he looked so sage-like."

Kurenai rolled her eyes helplessly. "You're just looking for trouble, aren't you?"

"Trouble?"

"Yeah, trouble with Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

Kurenai stared at Itsuki. "Am I wrong? Dammit, Itsuki, it's only been peaceful for a few days, and you just can't..."

"Sigh!"

Itsuki sighed helplessly. "Kurenai, it's not that I want trouble, it's that Hiruzen Sarutobi wants it. I wish I could keep living like this forever."

"What do you mean?" Kurenai frowned. "Didn't you have an agreement with Jiraiya to never step into Konoha again?"

Two years ago, Jiraiya had visited Itsuki as his master, wanting to negotiate.

The outcome was that Konoha would provide substantial resources to the Village of Hidden Fire, and in return, Uchiha Itsuki promised not to set foot in Konoha again.

Jiraiya wanted to seal off Itsuki's Flying Raijin!

Now, was Itsuki about to break that agreement?

(End of chapter)