News of a monstrous genius emerging from Konoha instantly spread throughout the entire Ninja World.
At only twelve years old, his strength had already reached the level of an Elite Jonin.
However, that was not even the most shocking part.
The truly unbelievable thing was that the boy had managed to escape from the pursuit of the Third Kazekage himself.
Not only that, according to the intelligence leaked from Sunagakure, the strongest Kazekage in history had even suffered a small loss at the hands of that child.
Most importantly, the boy possessed an extremely terrifying Lightning Release Ninjutsu.
Based on the Kazekage’s own evaluation, even he did not dare confront that technique head-on.
The name Uchiha Yu instantly spread throughout every hidden village.
His previous battlefield achievements were dug up one after another.
The battles he fought during the past two years all became classified intelligence among the Five Great Nations.
Soon afterward, every major village raised his threat level significantly.
Inside the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the intelligence report in his hand while feeling somewhat dazed.
How old was that child again?
Twelve?
Hiruzen understood the Third Kazekage’s strength very clearly.
That man was not merely called the strongest Kazekage casually.
His Magnet Release and Iron Sand techniques were enough to make countless shinobi despair.
Yet Uchiha Yu had not only escaped from him…
He had even injured him slightly.
This result left even Hiruzen speechless for a long while.
At the same time, an instinctive sense of vigilance quietly arose in his heart.
Nearby, Utatane Koharu also held a copy of the intelligence report, cold sweat unconsciously soaking her back.
When she recalled the look Yu had given her previously inside the Hokage Office, her expression gradually became ugly.
If that child had really cast a Genjutsu on her back then…
She truly might not have been able to withstand it.
Danzo, meanwhile, maintained a calm expression on the surface.
However, the vigilance within his heart had already reached its peak.
The information he received was even more detailed than theirs.
Uchiha Yu had completely won over many shinobi on the battlefield.
Especially the Uchiha Clan members who had followed him into the Land of Rain.
Those people were practically worshiping him now.
And Fugaku…
That fellow was clearly pretending not to notice any of it.
“What exactly does Uchiha Yu want to do?” A cold glint flickered within Danzo’s eyes as countless thoughts rapidly surged through his mind.
Hiruzen slowly placed the intelligence report down before picking up his pipe calmly.
“Another powerful shinobi will soon emerge within the Village.
This is not necessarily a bad thing for Konoha.”
Danzo immediately frowned.
“Hiruzen, he is an Uchiha.”
Hiruzen calmly puffed smoke from his pipe.
“He is indeed an Uchiha.
But he is also a shinobi of Konoha.”
Danzo coldly snorted.
“Have you forgotten our teacher’s warning?
The Uchiha are naturally unstable.
The Sharingan itself is a dangerous power.
Once their emotions lose control, something unimaginable could happen at any moment.”
“That’s right!” Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado immediately nodded in agreement.
“Hiruzen, if that child eventually becomes another Madara, then by the time you regret it, everything will already be too late.”
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes slightly while looking toward the three of them.
“And how can you be so certain he will become like Madara?”
Thump!
Thump!
Danzo’s cane struck the floor heavily.
“Does this even require discussion?
Have you forgotten the nature of the Sharingan?
Besides, that child even killed members of Root previously.”
The other three immediately looked toward him strangely.
Killed members of Root?
Wasn’t it merely a confrontation last time?
Did Danzo truly think they were idiots?
Danzo remained expressionless.
“That’s correct.
He killed my men.”
Silence immediately filled the office.
All of them clearly understood Danzo’s intentions.
He wanted to completely eliminate Uchiha Yu.
As for whether Root members had truly died or not…
Did such details really matter?
Hadn’t they all done similar things countless times already?
If Danzo insisted someone had died, then that person could naturally “die.”
If corpses were required, they could be arranged.
As for witnesses and rumors…
Those methods were already old habits for the people sitting inside this office.
After remaining silent for a long time, Hiruzen finally shook his head slowly.
“He did not kill anyone.”
Danzo’s face instantly darkened completely.
In his eyes, Hiruzen had changed.
This man had forgotten the Second Hokage’s final warnings.
He had abandoned their teacher’s will.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen ignored Danzo’s expression entirely.
He naturally had his own considerations.
Although he had not interacted deeply with Uchiha Yu, he could tell that the boy was fundamentally different from Madara.
Most importantly…
Hiruzen understood that child’s temperament very clearly.
If they pushed him too far, he might truly defect from the village.
And if a genius of that level became a missing-nin…
The losses Konoha would suffer would be unimaginable.
Danzo lowered his head in thought for a long time before suddenly speaking again.
“Hiruzen, I wish to go to the front lines personally.”
The other three immediately looked at him in surprise.
What was this old fellow planning now?
Danzo calmly nodded.
“The war in the Land of Rain has dragged on for two years already without significant progress.
If this continues, Konoha’s casualties will only continue increasing.”
His objective was actually very simple.
Since Hiruzen had forgotten the teacher’s will…
Then he himself would inherit it.
And the first step toward that goal was naturally obtaining the position of Hokage.
To become Hokage, prestige was essential.
And the battlefield was undoubtedly the fastest place to gain such prestige.
Currently, Konoha was fighting against two enemy forces simultaneously while still maintaining the upper hand.
This was the perfect timing.
As long as he personally ended the war in the Land of Rain…
His reputation within the village would rise tremendously.
As for whether Hiruzen would willingly step down afterward…
Danzo did not care in the slightest.
If necessary, he could simply remove him by force.
Someone who betrayed their teacher’s will did not deserve mercy.
Hiruzen pondered quietly for a long time before finally nodding slowly.
“The war should indeed be brought to an end soon.”
“It’s fine if you go.”
“Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Sakumo will assist you.
If possible, end the war quickly.
Konoha cannot afford to continue dragging this conflict out forever.”
A trace of joy instantly appeared within Danzo’s eyes.
Originally, he had still been considering how to seize command authority.
Yet Hiruzen had directly handed him the position himself.
This saved him considerable effort.
After thinking briefly, Hiruzen spoke again.
“Also, have Uchiha Yu return to the village.
His injuries this time were extremely serious.
Let him recover in Konoha for a period first.”
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado immediately relaxed inwardly.
This was more like the Hiruzen they knew.
He would never allow the Uchiha Clan to become excessively powerful without restraint.
Necessary suppression would always exist.
Meanwhile, far away on the border of the Land of Earth, inside the hidden cave beneath the Mountains’ Graveyard, an old man sat quietly upon a stone chair.
His long white hair draped across his body while countless tubes connected his back to the enormous Demonic Statue behind him.
This person was none other than Uchiha Madara.
Madara slowly lowered his gaze toward the black figure beneath him.
“Has anything interesting happened recently within the Ninja World?”
Black Zetsu immediately revealed a sinister smile.
“Lord Madara, an impressive genius has emerged from the Uchiha Clan recently.
At twelve years old, he already awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan and even escaped alive from the Third Kazekage.”
“The strongest Kazekage?” Madara’s eyes instantly revealed deep disdain.
What strongest Kazekage?
In his eyes, such a title was nothing more than a joke.
In this world, the only person worthy of his respect had always been Senju Hashirama alone.
Still…
Awakening the Three Tomoe at twelve years old truly was remarkable talent.
Madara slowly narrowed his eyes.
“Such talent means he will likely awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan eventually.”
“What is the child’s personality like?
And what about his family?”
Black Zetsu swayed slightly while speaking.
“Unfortunately, Uchiha Yu does not seem suitable to become Lord Madara’s pawn.
His thoughts are very deep, and his vigilance is extremely strong.”
“As for his family…
they died when he was very young.”
“And they died rather miserably.”
Madara immediately fell silent.
After a long while, he slowly shook his head.
“What a pity.”
“In that case, his limits are already predetermined.
At best, he can only reach the Mangekyo stage.
He will never reach the final level.”
Black Zetsu immediately nodded in agreement.
“Indeed.
Aside from Lord Madara, nobody else in this world can truly step into that realm.”
Madara lowered his head thoughtfully.
“Someone like him would only disrupt the plan.”
“Continue observing the Uchiha Clan.
If a truly suitable candidate appears, report it to me immediately.”
After pausing briefly, Madara spoke once more.
“Also, personally head to the Land of Water.”
Black Zetsu’s smile immediately deepened.
“As you wish, Lord Madara.”
After a brief pause, he asked carefully:
“Do you intend for Kirigakure to join the war as well?”
Madara slowly closed his eyes again.
“You ask too many questions.”