Chapter 6: Uzumaki Mito

Chapter 6: Uzumaki Mito

In the woods on the edge of Konoha.

The sound of thunder rumbled continuously.

In a large area of the woods, trees lay toppled and flames burned fiercely.

Standing motionless at the center of the destruction was Chiba, having just completed the final sword technique of the Thunder Breathing.

After enduring relentless torment, Chiba finally heard the divine message:

[Thunder Breathing simulation successful. Rewards have been issued, and the system will disengage.]

Once Chiba regained control of his body, he collapsed abruptly, curling up on the ground and convulsing.

Pain...

Everywhere hurt.

The pain was so intense that Chiba couldn't even muster the strength to scream.

Chiba regretted choosing the forest as the location for the system to take over his body.

Now he could barely move a finger, and the surrounding flames were threatening to consume him.

If he didn't find a way to save himself, he would burn to death.

After lying on the ground for a while, Chiba felt his body heating up more and more.

The will to survive compelled him to move.

Fortunately, the area he chose had a small river nearby. If he could crawl to the river, he would be saved.

But Chiba's crawling speed was agonizingly slow, and he could already feel the fire burning at his backside.

Just as Chiba was about to reach the river, several figures landed in front of him.

Straining to lift his head, Chiba's eyes widened in shock as he saw the leader.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Although Chiba had suspected that Konoha's people would notice the situation, he hadn't expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to come personally.

At least it meant he was probably saved; he could deal with the rest later.

As Chiba's tense state relaxed, he immediately lost consciousness.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Chiba with a frown, his eyes filled with confusion.

The damage around here clearly came from a Lightning Release ninja.

And there was only Chiba present, with clear burn marks on his hands from using Lightning Release techniques.

Yet the scale of the destruction seemed beyond what even a Chunin could achieve.

How could a student still in the Ninja Academy manage such a feat?

Hiruzen Sarutobi found it hard to believe.

Regarding Chiba, Sarutobi's perception was not entirely negative, though it was complex.

While Chiba's parents had previously defected from Konoha, it wasn't exactly a betrayal but more of a defection.

The conflict was between Chiba's parents and the Uchiha clan, not with Konoha itself.

However, the Uchiha clan denied Chiba, and the villagers of Konoha had vented their hatred for the Uchiha clan on him.

The resentment of Konoha's villagers towards the Uchiha clan had deepened, and there were signs of irreconcilable hostility.

Yet the current situation in the ninja world was not as peaceful as it seemed, and war could erupt at any moment. Konoha still needed the Uchiha's power.

So, Sarutobi couldn't take action against the Uchiha clan for the time being.

Caught between the villagers and the Uchiha clan, Sarutobi chose to ignore Chiba's presence.

He wasn't entirely sure if Chiba was responsible, but if he was, Sarutobi would have to reassess Chiba's value.

Sarutobi's eyes narrowed as he looked at the unconscious Chiba.

Moreover, Lightning Release ninjas were extremely rare in Konoha. If Chiba was indeed responsible for this, it would mean he possessed a powerful Lightning Release technique.

Since Chiba had not left the village since his mother brought him back, it meant he had learned this technique outside the village.

Such a technique, if learned by Konoha's Lightning Release users, could greatly enhance the village's power.

Sarutobi gave orders to the ANBU around him: "Extinguish the surrounding flames and take him to the hospital for treatment."

After the order was given, the ANBU ninjas used Water Release to put out the flames.

One of the ANBU picked up Chiba and carried him to the hospital.

...

In the estate of Uzumaki Mito.

Uzumaki Kushina, rejected by Chiba, returned dejectedly to the estate of Uzumaki Mito.

Kushina, who had just arrived in Konoha, was staying with Mito.

Seeing Kushina's return, Mito smiled and asked, "Kushina, how was your first day at the Ninja Academy? Did everything go smoothly?"

Kushina pouted and, sounding distressed, called out, "Grandma Mito."

Seeing Kushina's forlorn expression, Mito approached, embraced her, and sat her down on the tatami, asking, "What happened?"

Kushina recounted how she was nicknamed "Tomato" in class, had beaten up those who bullied her, and had been rejected by Chiba when she tried to befriend him.

Mito murmured, "Chiba, you say?"

Curious, Kushina asked, "Grandma Mito, do you know Chiba?"

"Hmm, I've heard of him."

Mito's voice was somber.

How could she not know?

Chiba's father was from the Senju clan, a relative of her husband, Hashirama Senju.

However, after Konoha was founded, Hashirama, as the head of the Senju clan, disbanded the clan, and its members intermarried with Konoha's villagers, blending into the community.

When Chiba's parents defected from Konoha, Mito had even pleaded with Sarutobi for leniency.

But it was to no avail, as Chiba's mother was from the Uchiha clan.

As the foremost clan in Konoha, the Uchiha clan deserved respect even from the Hokage.

Later, when Chiba returned to Konoha, Mito had also requested to adopt him, but Sarutobi refused.

The reason given was Mito's status and Chiba's background.

Chiba's parents were rogue ninjas and were not acknowledged by the Uchiha clan.

As the wife of the First Hokage, Mito was deemed unsuitable to adopt a child whose parents were rogue ninjas and rejected by the Uchiha clan.

At that time, Mito lamented how Sarutobi, after becoming Hokage, had become somewhat unfamiliar to her.

Mito stroked Kushina's hair and asked, "Do you know why Chiba rejected your offer of friendship?"

Kushina, feeling aggrieved, said, "He said, 'I'm isolated by the entire village. If you become my friend, you might also be isolated by everyone,' and then he left after telling me to change my seat when I returned to school."

Mito's eyes flickered with emotion. "Isolated by the entire village... sigh, Sarutobi, Chiba didn't do anything wrong."

Mito sighed deeply, feeling heartache for Chiba's situation.

But there was nothing she could do now; she couldn't change Chiba's circumstances.

Looking at the unhappy Kushina, Mito began to ponder.