Chapter 125

When Nawaki stepped out of the Sarutobi clan's compound, a sense of exhilaration washed over him. He felt as if he could burst into dance, so lighthearted was the thrill coursing through him. However, reality quickly reminded him of its limitations.

The video technology in this world was still in its infancy, far from what he needed to capture the moment. He could only imagine how much he would enjoy filming the dramatic scene—the bitter clash between his grandfather's former students—and replaying it on a loop when boredom struck. Unfortunately, even if he could afford the camera from the Land of Snow, they weren't exactly known for selling them cheaply. For now, he'd have to settle for a still shot.

As the night passed, the sun rose from the horizon. This day was originally scheduled for the public trial of Hokage Assistant Shimura Danzō. Many villagers rushed to the square early in the morning to witness the event. However, what they encountered was not a public trial but shocking news.

Yesterday, prisoner Shimura Danzō, along with over 30 members of the Root, escaped from Konoha prison and attacked the Sarutobi clan. They killed two senior advisers, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura. The Third Hokage had reportedly dealt with the criminals.

This story might deceive the general public, but even a ninja school student with a year or two of studies could spot several flaws immediately. First and foremost, how did Danzō escape from prison? As such a high-profile prisoner, wouldn't the Fourth Hokage, Tsunade, have ensured he was guarded by the elite shinobi?

And it wasn't just one person; more than 30 people from the Root also escaped from prison. Are we running a prison or a public toilet in Konoha? Come and go as you please.

What baffled many of Konoha's ninjas was why Danzo targeted the Third Hokage and the two advisors. Weren't they close friends since childhood? Why turn against each other now?

Even though doubts piled up like a mountain, most of the Konoha shinobi wisely kept silent. They all realized that the situation was too complex and dangerous to get involved in.

..

..

"Wood Style: Four-Pillar House!"

Under the watchful eyes of Tatsuya, Tsunade, and the others, Uchiha Shisui quickly pressed the seal to the ground. The destroyed houses of the Sarutobi clan began to regenerate at an astonishing rate.

"Grandpa's Wood Style... I never thought I'd see it with my own eyes again," Tsunade said, her eyes wide with surprise.

Beside her, Nawaki's face clearly showed his envy.

"Don't even think about it," Tatsuya said, seeing through Nawaki's thoughts. "The probability of you mastering it is lower than being struck by lightning. If it was that easy to obtain wood style your other grandpa Tobirama would have mastered wood style long ago."

Nawaki scratched his head, embarrassed. With their parents' enemies mostly defeated, he no longer felt the same drive to pursue power.

"But Wood Style suits you," Tatsuya continued, addressing Shisui, who was still under ten years old. "Maybe you'll even be able to use advanced techniques like Deep Forest Emergence and Wood Golem Technique in the future."

Even though the butterfly effect had caused Yamato to be elsewhere, Tatsuya could tell from Shisui's mastery that the Hashirama cells had fused with him better than with Yamato.

The true potential would be determined by the extent of Shisui's abilities when he grows older and be compared to those of the reanimated Madara.

"Senju and Uchiha—now that the two powers are fused within you, you must have become the key training focus of the Uchiha clan. Fugaku even has the idea of making you the Fifth Hokage, right?" Tatsuya asked.

Shisui looked awkward and scratched his side, secretly thinking, "Why is your guess so accurate?"

"It doesn't matter. As long as you have the strength, anyone can become Hokage. But I am curious about something, Shisui," Tatsuya said with a smile. "Do you hate Konoha?"

Shisui's expression suddenly froze.

"Don't worry; tell the truth. Think about the bad things that have happened to you. It's normal to have resentment in your heart," Tatsuya said calmly. "The Sharingan of the Uchiha, also known as the Eye of the Soul's Reflection—now that you have those eyes, it speaks volumes."

Shisui fell into a long silence. After a while, he spoke quietly, "Indeed, I hate Konoha's darkness, but when I regained the light, I saw a Konoha that smiled from the heart under Tsunade-sama's command."

"I want to protect that Konoha," Shisui said, raising his head and speaking in a firm tone.

Tsunade was slightly stunned by Shisui's demeanor. It reminded her of one of Grandpa Tobirama's most trusted guards, Uchiha Kagami.

"Prepare to report to the Anbu," Tsunade decided after a moment of consideration.

As an Uchiha, Shisui was to join the Anbu, directly under the Hokage's command. There was no doubt that Uchiha Shisui was the first choice for this role, a testament to Tsunade's trust in him.

"Thank you very much, Master Hokage," Shisui said gratefully, kneeling on one knee.

"There's one more thing that requires your attention," Nawaki interjected after a moment of thought. "The Uchiha clan seems to be showing signs of unrest lately. It might be wise to keep a close watch on them."

...

...

Located in an underground secret grotto between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth,

"Have these things been happening in Konoha recently? Heh, these disciples chosen by Tobirama aren't all that impressive, but they're skilled in internal conflicts," the elderly Madara sneered with disdain as he listened to White Zetsu's report.

Afterward, shifting his gaze to the recovery training area, Obito lay down on a wooden bed and fell asleep. In truth, his injuries should have healed long ago. However, Uchiha Madara had ordered White Zetsu to quietly worsen Obito's condition by corroding his body during his sleep, preventing proper healing.

The reason was simple: He couldn't find an opportunity to capture that girl, Rin. To push Obito completely into darkness, a chance had to be created.

Although the old Madara was reluctant to admit it, the truth was right before his eyes.

The Hatake family was born outside the direct bloodline of the Sage of Six Paths, they didn't possess a bloodline limit. Currently, there's no way to defeat or keep him busy. Unless he can resurrect himself in his prime, he doesn't have the confidence to control him.

Trying to snatch the girl named "Rin" from under his nose is too difficult. His power seems almost too strange. Even though the Gedo Statue continuously provides chakra, there are limitations.

If he doesn't seize the opportunity soon, it might be too late.

"Master Madara, perhaps we don't need to capture that little girl. We should still be able to achieve our goal without her, right?" White Zetsu interjected suddenly, his voice laced with uncertainty.

Madara glanced sideways, an eyebrow raised in mild intrigue. "Tell me your idiotic plan," he replied coolly, his tone betraying a hint of amusement as he prepared for yet another of White Zetsu's misguided ideas.

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