Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Aomizu in the crystal ball, his eyes filled with appreciation.
In his eyes, Aomizu was completely unlike the narrow-minded, arrogant, traditional Uchiha.
In both word and deed, he shone with the dazzling Will of Fire.
Treating Might Guy’s injuries, encouraging him…
Even though Aomizu could have easily crushed him with Ninjutsu, he still fought him using Taijutsu as his primary means, offering encouraging words to his classmate.
In the end, he had even made a highly positive promise to become “lifelong rivals.” And as for Rin Nohara, although Hiruzen Sarutobi felt Aomizu’s actions had a somewhat deliberate touch of ambiguity, he was happy to see it and saw no issue with it.
Love was the bond best suited to anchor a shinobi’s heart, often representing the establishment of a family…
Hiruzen Sarutobi would love nothing more than to see every Uchiha take an interest in Konoha shinobi outside their clan.
That way, he wouldn’t have to worry so much; after a few generations, the Uchiha would naturally integrate with Konoha.
But what touched him most was what Aomizu had said to Obito Uchiha: “Do not let emotion and power blind your eyes.
A shinobi’s clear and rational mind is their most precious asset.” Combined with Aomizu’s fighting style—which heavily resembled Tobirama Senju’s across Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu—and his remarkably clear understanding of the Uchiha Clan, it gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a strange sense of déjà vu, as if a young Tobirama Senju had been reborn in Konoha, only to be reincarnated into the Uchiha Clan…
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head violently, quickly banishing this irreverent thought from his mind.
Remembering his teacher’s cold, stern eyes, he felt a customary chill run down the back of his neck.
“If Sensei knew what I was just thinking, I’d probably get a severe lecturing when I meet him in the afterlife…” Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head with a chuckle, talking to himself as he picked up the Anbu report on Aomizu.
As he read it with rapt attention, his expression grew increasingly brilliant.
After finishing, he pondered for a moment and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.
“Kagami, is Aomizu Uchiha actually your descendant?
If that’s the case, then things are different.” “No wonder Aomizu loves the Will of Fire so much, even imitating Sensei’s battle style.
The root lies there.
Everything makes sense now; he is a child with deep, orthodox roots…” “Ever since you passed away, the relationship between the village and the Uchiha has grown increasingly tense.
As your old teammate, I haven’t been able to take proper care of your descendant.
Please forgive me, Kagami…” For a moment, Konoha’s half-century-old Hokage closed his eyes, a flurry of chaotic thoughts rushing through his mind.
Childhood playmates, teammates in their youth, the descendants of friends, the entanglements between Konoha and the Uchiha…
After a long while, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly opened his eyes and muttered to himself, “I still need to have a personal chat with this little guy before making further plans.” “The Uchiha Clan will also find out about today’s events very soon.
Let’s see how they react first.
A seven-to-eight-year-old prodigy with a two-tomoe Sharingan, and Aomizu, a youth who resembles Sensei so much…” “They really produce one talent after another.
The Uchiha Clan’s talent is truly enviable.” Recalling Aomizu’s words, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly smiled.
“Ah, right.
The kid, Aomizu, said he was looking forward to the Will of Fire interpretation exam.
This time, this old man will personally write the questions and grade the papers to see how well he answers.” Hiruzen Sarutobi got up leisurely and walked toward the Ninja Academy, preparing to serve as a temporary exam-writer for half a day.
Even he didn’t realize…
After seeing Aomizu’s identity as Kagami Uchiha’s descendant and his performance, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s way of addressing Aomizu had shifted from “Aomizu Uchiha” at the very beginning to the affectionate “Aomizu kid,” subconsciously treating him as “one of their own.” This was the benefit of background.
In a world of transcendent power like that of the Hokage, someone with a background would always have a few more opportunities than an ordinary person…
However, risks and opportunities always coexisted.
*** “Brother, what do you plan to do from now on…” After the practical combat exam officially ended, Shisui and Aomizu walked home.
Shisui frowned, looking quite worried as he spoke.
“What happened with you will spread throughout Konoha in no time…” “An Uchiha who resembles the Second Hokage and loves the Will of Fire—this is simply too sensational.
From now on, I’m afraid both the Uchiha Clan and Konoha’s higher-ups will have their eyes on you.” “You understand, right, Brother?
Given the Uchiha Clan’s current attitude toward Konoha, the clan will definitely react with hostility to your performance and send people to suppress you.
Meanwhile, Konoha’s higher-ups won’t necessarily accept you either.” Shisui’s expression grew increasingly serious, and his eyes even held a hint of melancholy.
Aomizu glanced at Shisui in surprise and smiled.
Compared to the Obito Uchiha of the original timeline who wanted to destroy the world and force a reset on everyone, or the Itachi Uchiha who slaughtered his own clan, his younger brother Shisui, though also a bit of an abstraction, still had some boundaries.
In the original timeline, his suicide note read: “I am tired of missions.
At this rate, there is no future for the Uchiha clan, and I don’t want to walk this path anymore.
Just let me rest.” Overall, having seen the massive gap in military power between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha, and losing hope in Konoha’s Will of Fire after being ambushed by Danzo Shimura, he had simply lost all desire to live.
Though it could be called cowardly, no matter what, Shisui was beloved by his clan in the original timeline and never turned his blade against them.
What was even more interesting was that now, when Aomizu stepped forward and embarked on the path Shisui originally wanted to try with even greater momentum…
The six-year-old Shisui seemed to have become wiser than his fifteen-year-old self, seeing through the true colors of Konoha and the Uchiha leadership with perfect clarity, and worrying endlessly for his older brother, Aomizu.
Perhaps this was just how the Uchiha were…
When things happened to themselves, their thinking often went to extremes.
But if it happened to their siblings, their minds would run at high speeds with perfect clarity.
Aomizu pulled Shisui over with a grin, trapping him under his strong arm.
“So you actually knew?
A mere six-year-old kid, yet you were thinking of doing something so risky before?” “Don’t worry.
My Will of Fire is flawless.
My background is as a descendant of Kagami Uchiha, the Ninjutsu I excel at is the Second Hokage’s Water Style, and I even publicly stated the relationship between the Sharingan and emotions…” “Konoha’s higher-ups will pay close attention to this match.
My persona is perfect; you don’t need to worry about me.” “As for the clan, I will handle them.
Shinobi of the Uchiha Clan only respect strength, and as it happens, I am very good at dealing with them…” Aomizu pinched Shisui’s flushed cheek, his gaze turning deep.
He didn’t care about the Uchiha Clan, nor did he care about Konoha.
He only believed in his own strength.
With the Otsutsuki Clan watching like hawks from the heavens, the gains and losses of a single village or territory would seem utterly laughable in the future.
But what Aomizu could guarantee was…
On this path, for the shinobi who walked alongside him, Aomizu would at least ensure they had a better life than in the original timeline…
While for those who harbored malice toward him, Aomizu would squeeze out every drop of their value, turning their ashes into fuel to foster future peace…