Chapter 54: Winds of Change

"Kazuki, you little brat, you see it clearly..."

Tsunade snorted lightly, rubbed Kazuki's head, and smiled with satisfaction when she saw Kazuki frowning slightly.

The reason Tsunade took them on low-level missions was to make them visible in the village, showing everyone that her disciples had her complete trust and support, and making it clear that no one was to mess with them.

Therefore, Tsunade's team has been a hot topic recently among the high-level officials and shinobi circles of Konoha.

Tsunade leads the team, and the members are a genius Uchiha, the son of the Hokage, and a talented civilian medical-nin. The setting can be described as luxurious and reasonable.

This lineup looks like the future Hokage, Hokage assistants, and Konoha consultants.

Be it Ino-Shika-Cho, a loyal supporter of the Third Hokage, or the two advisors of Konoha, or even the Uchiha clan, or shinobi with a bit of insight and sensitivity, they all smelled the scent of power from the composition of this team...

"But, I want to tell you that the happy time of doing odd jobs is over..."

Tsunade's expression became serious, and she said slowly: "As a shinobi, from the moment you put on the forehead protector, you must be prepared to kill and for others to want to kill you."

"Killing is not the same as training. When you pierce an enemy's chest with a kunai or destroy their limbs with ninjutsu, that feeling is something you have to get used to over time..."

"I will soon assign you a mission to exterminate some bandits. There are many enemies, and you will have to kill them one by one with your own hands."

"Kazuki, Asuma, Rin... you must adapt to the life of a shinobi as soon as possible and harden your hearts in the face of death..." After finishing, Tsunade looked uncomfortable and quickly said: "Get ready!"

Immediately, she left with heavy steps, skipping the usual team meal they had had for the past few months.

 Asuma looked at Tsunade's back and snorted. "Kazuki, Tsunade-sensei underestimates us. It's only our first combat mission!"

Rin gently shook her head and whispered: "Asuma-kun, this really is an important step. Even many experienced jonin suffer trauma on the battlefield..."

Kazuki stared at Tsunade's figure and laughed inwardly.

This woman truly saw him as her disciple. Despite her phobia of blood, she was determined to guide them in this essential lesson for all shinobi.

No matter how much you prepare yourself by training with dummies, when the real thing comes, if you haven't gone through the proper mental process, you're bound to falter. So, to perform at your best on the battlefield, you have to get used to having blood on your hands beforehand.

Kazuki shook his head with emotion, said goodbye to Asuma and Nohara Rin, and walked towards the Uchiha clan.

And in the Uchiha clan.

The discussion about Kazuki has become the hottest topic in recent days...

An Uchiha working alongside the Hokage's son and being trained by Tsunade...

The high-level admission ticket that the Uchiha clan wanted for decades was actually obtained by Kazuki so easily?

Is the Will of Fire really so useful?

Many Uchiha clan members, after seeing the amazing treatment given to Kazuki by Sarutobi Hiruzen, pinched their noses and glanced at the Will of Fire textbooks of the Ninja School, trying to see something from it.

But even with the Sharingan, it was still incomprehensible gibberish.

However, the internal turmoil within the Uchiha clan could no longer be avoided. Kazuki's name was constantly mentioned in conversations.

And at this moment.

In the home of Uchiha Yashiro.

Yashiro, sitting in the main seat with an air of superiority, looked down on Uchiha Tetsuhi and Uchiha Komehi, who were both smiling forcibly. Lifting his sake cup, he took a long drink before speaking slowly: "So? Have you understood what kind of person Kazuki is?"

"I still remember that when Kazuki brought that Nohara Rin to the clan land, you two wanted to cause trouble..."

"Why, do you still want to do it now? I stopped you two at that time, didn't you complain to me afterwards?"

Yashiro slammed the table and let out an arrogant laugh. "Come on, talk!"

Tetsuhi and Komehi looked at each other, scratched their heads awkwardly, and smiled. "Haha, Yashiro-aniki, look at what you said!"

"Although there was a misunderstanding at the time, didn't we still listen to you? Fortunately, there was no trouble..."

Yashiro snorted coldly, looked at the empty cup and pursed his lips.

Komehi, understanding the gesture, took the jug of sake and carefully filled his cup, showing him respect.

The truth is, if it hadn't been for Yashiro stopping them from acting at that moment, they would have had a direct conflict with Kazuki. And that could have been disastrous...

In the Uchiha clan, the difference between the so-called hawks and doves is how to obtain a high-level position in Konoha.

The hawks advocated using a tough attitude to intimidate Konoha, demanding that the village return the high-level seats and other benefits that the Uchiha clan deserved.

The doves believed that the Uchiha clan had no allies, and that a tough attitude could not deter Konoha, but would only have a counter-effect and be further suppressed, and further planning was needed.

From the perspective of Yashiro, Tetsuhi and Komehi, three of the top members of the Hawk Faction, although Kazuki's actions seemed closer to Konoha's higher-ups and distant from the Hawk attitude, that didn't matter.

The important thing was the result.

Even these die-hard Uchiha hawks had to admit that Sarutobi Hiruzen's impact this time was astonishing...

If the Third Hokage had offered such benefits to the Uchiha years ago, any Hawk would have been the first to prevent any revolt within the clan.

Why was the Uchiha clan always in conflict with Konoha? Because after more than twenty years working in the Konoha Police, they saw no possibility of promotion...

But now, with Kazuki's arrival, there was hope.

Tetsuhi and Komehi also began to relax, drinking happily as the conversation flowed.

"Yashiro-aniki, how far do you think Kazuki will go in the future?" Tetsuhi asked, his face flushed from the alcohol, daydreaming. "I think he'll at least become a Konoha advisor! I even see him as an assistant to the Hokage..."

Komehi nodded fervently, admiring Kazuki. "I really admire Kazuki, who has reached such a height just by learning the Will of Fire!"

Hearing this, Yashiro frowned.

Tetsuhi and Komehi both seemed to think that Kazuki won the favor of Sarutobi Hiruzen just by relying on the will of fire...

Before Yashiro could say anything, Tetsuhi sighed and said with a hint of worry: "Yashiro, although Kazuki has reached that position, he doesn't have a deep relationship with our Uchiha clan..."

"I'm worried that he will forget us clan members who are connected to him by blood..."

Komehi also nodded. "Yeah, maybe we should prepare for the worst."

"After all, the shinobi world still speaks with strength. The little guy Obito who appeared in the clan recently has opened the three-tomoe Sharingan at a young age. His future is limitless..."

"Also, I think that Leader Fugaku and Elder Setsuna seem to have some opinions about Kazuki."

Uchiha Yashiro sneered disdainfully.

Three tomoe Sharingan?

Although it is indeed very rare.

But Uchiha Yashiro will never forget that day in his life...

Kazuki seemed to be a fusion of Uchiha Izuna and Senju Tobirama. The combination of kenjutsu with fire release and water release brought this three-tomoe veteran to his knees and even caused him to hallucinate.

And after all that, Kazuki had treated him with compassion, healing his wounds.

"I'll tell you something..." Yashiro slapped the table and said something that Tetsuhi and Komehi couldn't understand. "Kazuki's strength is not something you can guess..."

"A genius with three tomoe sounds rare, but can you imagine an Uchiha who is a combination of Izuna-sama and Senju Tobirama?"

Tetsuhi and Komehi looked at each other in confusion. What was he talking about?

Had he had too much to drink?

How could it be possible for Izuna-sama and Tobirama to combine? If Izuna-sama heard this, he would probably jump out of his grave...

Yashiro ignored their incredulous stares, clenching his fists as he remembered Kazuki's disappointment towards the clan, though he had still treated him kindly.

What's reputation?

As a typical sentimental Uchiha who knows how to repay kindness, Uchiha Yashiro has already given half of his life to Kazuki in his heart!

Even if he tells his own ugly deeds, it doesn't matter as long as he can clear Kazuki's name!

"Take a look!"

Uchiha Yashiro tore open his shirt fiercely, revealing his upper body.

Tetsuhi and Komehi were shocked, looking at the dense and horrible scars and burn marks on Yashiro's body.

"This is the injury I suffered a few months ago, all caused by Kazuki..."

Uchiha Yashiro took a deep breath and slowly recounted the true scene of his fight with Kazuki that day.

Tetsuhi and Komehi listened in fascination.

When Yashiro talked about why Kazuki mastered the will of fire and planned to lead the clan into silence, Tetsuhi and Komehi's expressions turned heavy.

When talking about Kazuki's disappointment in the clan because of Yashiro's provocation, even though the two knew the approximate result, there was a trace of inevitable panic in their eyes.

"Now, do you understand? Kazuki is not just another user of the three-tomoe Sharingan, or even the Mangekyo. He is a being sent by the heavens to save the Uchiha clan!"

Tetsuhi and Komehi nodded repeatedly.

They finally understood the true value of the name Kazuki.

But soon, their gazes towards Yashiro turned strange.

So, it was you who provoked Kazuki first?

Uchiha Yashiro ignored the two's playful expressions and said with a stern face: "Anyway, Fugaku is an indecisive leader, unable to exercise his authority. How is he going to lead the Uchiha clan?"

"Uchiha Setsuna, this old guy, is even more extreme and outrageous. Apart from shouting that he has the will of Madara, he has not accomplished anything in all these years!"

"The future of the Uchiha clan is in Kazuki's hands, and only in his will it be safe."

Tetsuhi and Komehi adopted serious expressions.

It seemed like it was time to make a decision.

Without thinking too much, they both nodded seriously.

"You can tell my experience to those clan members who have misunderstandings about Kazuki secretly. Remember, find those clan members you trust and have opened your eyes, and quietly build a team for him in the clan while keeping it as confidential as possible..."

Uchiha Yashiro slammed the table and said: "Kazuki is struggling with the top leaders of Konoha. We should do something for him!"

...

Konoha.

At a tavern, the members of Team Sarutobi reunited after a long time.

Jiraiya raised his glass excitedly, taking a long drink. "Tsunade, Orochimaru, we three haven't gathered together for a long time!"

"I've already talked to the old man. Once we're done with Mito-sama, I'll be off to explore the shinobi world in search of the child of the prophecy. I don't know when we'll be able to see each other again..."

Orochimaru sneered, holding the cup elegantly with his fingers, took a sip and said slowly: "You are really an idiot, Jiraiya."

"You plan to use your own life to prove the prophecy of the toad. Do you like to waste your life?

Jiraiya shrugged indifferently and looked at Orochimaru with contempt. "What do you know? The Great Toad Sage is said to have talked with the Six Paths Sage..."

Orochimaru said coldly: "It's just a toad. "

For Orochimaru, even if he had to respectfully call the Lord of Ryuchi Cave the White Snake Sage, in his eyes, a beast is still a beast even if it can speak human language...

Especially when it came to something as vague as the child of the prophecy, something that only made Orochimaru even more distrustful of Mount Myoboku. A mere summoned beast could judge the fate of mankind?

In his opinion, only an idiot like Jiraiya would believe it unconditionally.

As Jiraiya's friend, Orochimaru had already persuaded him in his own way.

But it was obvious that Jiraiya didn't listen.

---

I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> patreon.com/TitoVillar

---