"Elder Sora."
Fugaku walked up to Elder Sora, who was leisurely basking in the sun ar the corridor, and greeted him with a slight bow. He continued to observe Elder Sora.
The elder appears to be getting older with each passing year, but it hadn't reduced his hearty appetite or strong health. According to the maids, he occasionally engaged in physical exercise to maintain his health.
Itachi, who followed Fugaku, also bowed slightly to Elder Sora, then looked towards the elder curiously.
"Fugaku, you're here. Please, feel free to sit and join me; there's no need for formalities."
Elder Sora invited Fugaku to sit and discuss whatever he wanted to. However, Fugaku remained standing, still maintaining his respectful demeanor.
"Elder Sora, I hope you could mentor Itachi for a while. Within the Uchiha, there's no one more suitable for this role than you."
"I've stopped caring about the outside world."
"I knew you were concerned about Ruri leaving Konoha initially. and now you have ideas of retiring. But Itachi is different from Ruri. He will have an important role in the future of the Uchiha, his potential as a ninja may even be higher Ruri's."
Fugaku's words left Elder Sora surprised. Rindo shared the same surprise. He was well aware of Ruri's extraordinary talent. At just twelve years old, she had already achieved the rank of Jonin and could force him to go all out during their battles.
Her Sharingan genjutsu was powerful enough to immobilize him with a single glance. He, like Ruri, had the Three Tomoe Sharingan, but Ruri's Sharingan seemed to beyond the capabilities of a typical Sharingan. Though it fell short of the maybe legendary Mangekyou Sharingan, her pupil power was remarkable.
Now, Fugaku claimed that the child beside him showed even greater potential than Ruri. The declaration raised doubts in Rindo's mind.
"Itachi."
Fugaku looked at son.
Itachi understood his father's intention, even though he didn't believe this old man, with one foot in the grave, could teach him anything useful. But, he couldn't refuse his father's wishes. He began forming seals and opened his mouth.
"Fire Release - Fireball Jutsu!"
A fireball shot out from his mouth, startling Rindo.
'Uchiha Itachi..... Fugaku's child, couldn't be more than five years old.' Rindo's shock wasn't without cause. Fugaku said that Itachi's talent may even be higher than that of Ruri. It wasn't a lie but the truth.
"Itachi learned this jutsu after seeing me use it without the use of Sharingan." Fugaku spoke. The pride in his tone couldn't be concealed. And also seeing the shocked Elder he felt a sense of excitement washing over him. He knew Ruri had always been the Uchiha the elder held in the highest regard.
Fugaku also knew the reason he could become the Uchiha clan's head was mainly due to Ruri's defection. If not for her defection, Fugaku might never have gotten the position. Ruri was not only stronger than him, but also showed a firm resolve and was younger. Many radical members had chosen her as the next Uchiha head.
In the wake of the third ninja war and Ruri's departure, the Uchiha's radical factions had been considerably weakened, leaving Fugaku as the head of the powerful Uchiha clan. With time, he had gained influence and gradually swayed the majority of the Uchiha clan. The talent of his son surpassed even Ruri's, so.. Fugaku's pride was justified.
Rindo understood Fugaku's character, although he knew Fugaku could be vain at times but wasn't one to exaggerate. It meant that Itachi had learned this jutsu only by observing Fugaku use the Fire Release, without the Sharingan. Rindo struggled to find words to describe such exceptional talent.
Seeing Elder Sora's silence, Fugaku knew his goal was achieved.
"Since Itachi needs to learn other things, Elder Sora, you can train him for one hour a day. It doesn't have to be long, three months should be enough. This won't take too much of your time. I hope Itachi will have a strong foundation before entering the academy."
Fugaku's tone appeared to change from respectful to authoritative, causing Rindo to frown.
"Since you're placing your trust in me, I agree."
Fugaku then patted Itachi's head. "Itachi, you have to study hard here with Elder Sora. I'll send someone to pick you up when the time comes."
"Yes, Father."
Itachi nodded obediently. A strange atmosphere enveloped the conversation between his father and Elder Sora, and he sensed something was wrong, but he couldn't tell what was wrong.
Fugaku left, and Elder Sora brought Itachi to the training ground, with Rindo following closely.
Rindo was filled with curiosity regarding Itachi's talent. He wanted to witness for himself whether Itachi's abilities truly surpassed those of Ruri, as Fugaku had claimed.
After reaching the training ground, there were eight wooden targets, each the size of a human head and with black dots at their center.
Itachi stood in the center of the field, under the watchful eyes of the two, he showed no signs of losing his composure. His expression was calm, far from what one would expect from a child.
With a shuriken held between each of his fingers, Itachi didn't make any useless prelude. He released a calm breath, bending his knees, launched himself into the air, executing a graceful rotation on air. He spread his arms widely.
Ka!!!!
The sound of shurikens finding their mark resonated in the training ground. Every one of the eight targets with the black dots at their center, struck flawlessly.
'Wonderful'
Even Rindo couldn't help but praise silently. Fugaku hadn't been exaggerating; Itachi was undeniably a genius.
Elder Sora, who had been observing, remained composed and nodded approvingly. It was evident that Itachi's talent surpassed that of Ruri. During Ruri's childhood, she'd spent her time fighting boys and playing ninja games. Back then, she had been weaker than Itachi.
"Itachi."
Itachi approached Elder Sora.
"You can visit at this time every day. But, remember that it's only for an hour." Elder Sora said emphasizing the "One Hour" time limit.
"Yes." Itachi responded, though he showed a hint of hesitation.
"Is there something on your mind?"
"Well... does Father not like you, Elder?"
Elder Sora stared at Itachi with a deep, searching gaze. He found Itachi's expression to be curiously without innocence and instead brimming with thoughtfulness. He chose not to provide an answer. He believed that Itachi was too mature and his mind too sharp for his age.
After an hour had passed, Elder Sora had taught Itachi the skills of shuriken throwing and taijitsu. Despite the short duration, Itachi gained valuable insights. It was then Itachi knew that this old Uchiha who had half a foot in grave was above average.
...
Afterward, Itachi would visit Elder Sora daily for training.
On the first day, they focused on shuriken and taijutsu. The second day centered around Kunai and Fire Release techniques. The third day involved taijutsu training, with Rindo serving as his sparring partner.
After an hour passed, Itachi needed to leave from the training session.
Itachi quickly realized why his father held Elder Sora in high esteem, and sending him here was likely meant as both a warning and a demonstration. The training was a secondary purpose.
Elder Sora understood this as well, which left Itachi curious about why Elder Sora had agreed to teach him.
Over the past few days, Itachi had thought about the matter, finally concluding that Elder Sora's decision to grant Fugaku's request had been an impromptu action, without any deeper meaning.
Itachi confirmed his guess. Although still a child, he was no ordinary one. Having witnessed war and the harsh realities of the world, Itachi haf a level of maturity beyond his years.
As Itachi prepared to leave, he heard Elder Sora's words:
"Starting tomorrow, there's no need for you to come."
Itachi was confused, as this was only the third day, whereas the agreement had been for three months.
"I've taught you the basic ninja skills. There's nothing left for me to teach you."
Rindo at the side was slightly surprised, yet remained silent. He had witnessed Itachi's exceptional performance over these three days. Itachi was no ordinary child, he was foo matured, even causing him a Jonin to feel intimidated.
"I see.." Itachi responded. With no further need to stay, he bid his farewell.
"Thank you for your teaching during these days." Itachi bowed as he expressed his gratitude respectfully.
Although their time together had been short, he had already gained valuable insights that would require much time to fully understand.
"Even without me, you can continue on your own. But i have an extra question for you, Itachi. Is there anything you want to do in the future?"
Elder Sora stared closely at Itachi's immature yet unusually mature face.
Upon hearing Elder Sora's question, Itachi responded without hesitation, "I want to become a better ninja than anyone else, and then i will use my own power to end all the fighting in the world."
This aspiration was incredibly ambitious, leaving Rindo somewhat dumbfounded. Could a child have harbor such thoughts?
But when Itachi said his words with such seriousness, it was clear that he was dead serious. While others his age were still playing, Itachi was already thinking about his future.
"Then, what do you think makes an excellent ninja?"
"I will like your advice elder."
"Look at the people around you, from ordinary people to fellow ninjas, from the commoners to the nobles. Solving the world problem isn't a mission that can be achieved by a single person or a single generation. It involves much bloodshed, surpassing any ninja war. Moreover, no matter how strong one was, no person can bear the entire burden."
"I understand, Elder."
Itachi responded. Although he believed this statem6 might be correct, but he felt the need to confirm its if it was truly correct through his own personal experience.
After all, among children his age, and even those who were one or two years older than him, he hadn't met anyone he truly recognized as strong. These people played childish ninja games, and Itachi didn't believe he could gain any important knowledge from such activities; it would only be a waste of his time.
With this, Itachi decided to leave and might not return to Elder Sora in the future.
"Elder Sora, are you just going to let him go?" Rindo asked, his voice tinged with disappointment.
In Rindo's view, Itachi was an exceptional seedling who should not be let go so easily.
"He's chosen his path, much like Ruri did in the past. Whether it's pain or joy, I don't want to interfere too much. Besides, how long do you think I can truly teach that child?" Elder Sora snorted coldly.
This revelation left Rindo stunned, and he eventually understood the key point.
Fugaku had only given three months, one hour per day, for Elder Sora to teach Itachi.
In essence, Fugaku wasn't genuinely seeking an instruction; he only wanted Itachi to receive ninja knowledge. If Elder Sora went into other areas, Fugaku might take action, fearing that Itachi's color would be stained by ither colors and that he might escape from Fugaku's control.
Itachi's talent was just that exceptional.
"Is that so? It appears he has indeed mastered most of Uchiha's power. Even you are beneath his eyes." Rindo said sourly.
After working for numerous years and even becoming the head of Uchiha intelligence, it seemed like Rindo's prospects were now dim. Everything about the Elder Sora may be blocked.
Fugaku's intentions were not directed against Rindo but stemmed from his fear of Elder Sora, alongside concerns that the radical faction might retaliate.
"More than that, there are still pests lurking around the mansion."
"Eh?" Rindo was surprised. Anbu?
"Rindo, how long has it been since you last fought? Your vigilance has become weak."
"Sorry, probably because of the upset stomach this morning." Rindo said sheepishly, scratching his head.
Recently, his abilities had indeed been rusty, especially since he hadn't been to the battlefield. He was simply been living in the clan, feeling more like Elder Sora. An old man who does nothing.
However, Elder Sora's senses, despite his weak and slow nerve response, left Rindo amazed.
...
Two days later, Kakashi returned to Konoha.
He was escorted back by an Anbu team. It was reported that when Kakashi was found, he was on the brink of death, lying in a forest with severe injuries. He was nearly devoured by a passing creature.
Fortunately, the Anbu arrived in time, killed the creature, and the medical ninja following them stabilized Kakashi's injuries. He was then safely transported to Konoha Hospital for treatment.
This news was met with relief from both the Third Hokage and the Fourth Hokage. Kakashi's loss would have been a significant blow to Konoha, given his exceptional talents.
With his talents Kakahi was destined to become a pillar of Konoha, and standing up to protect his teammates had garnered admiration from the Jonin who had previously held prejudices against him.
Before being mentored by the Minato, Kakashi had been a cold-blooded ninja who prioritized the mission above everything else, even if it meant sacrificing his comrades. Minato had played a significant role in shaping Kakashi's values.
In any case, Kakashi had made a great contribution this time, and the Konoha ninjas who had followed Jiraiya into battle expressed their sincere gratitude to him.
Both the Third and Fourth Hokage paid their respects to Kakashi. His recognition by these two Hokages meant that Kakashi's path in Konoha would be clear and free from obstacles. This recognition came from almost all high-ranking Konoha members.
After spending two hours with Kakashi, Minato left, leaving instructions for the medical staff to take good care of Kakashi's recovery so that there were no worries concerning Anbu duties.
Although he didn't ask about the details of Kakashi's encounter with that group, the young ninja's injuries, disheveled appearance, and weakened body spoke of the fear he endured while being chased.
After returning to the Hokage Building's office, someone arrived before Minato could settle in. After seeing the person he was slightly surprised.
"Tsunade-sama, why are you here? Is it because you need additional research funding for your work?"
Minato asked because he was aware of Tsunade's research on a new drug to fight those explosive bugs and the possibility of her needing more resources.
"No, the drug research is nearly complete, and it can be finished without my presence." Tsunade said, her words indicating a she was about to leave.
Minato sensed that there was more to her visit and inquired, "Then what brings you here?"
"I'm planning to leave the village for a while." Tsunade said, her face showing her determination.
Minato considered her words and, and he finally recalled something. Without saying anything, he approved her mission and handed the documents to her.
"Thank you, Minato."
He understood that Tsunade had her reasons for leaving, and he had no intention of interfering. However, he emphasized, "Konoha cannot afford to be without you, but I hope you'll return as soon as possible."
"Don't worry, I'm just taking a break to deal with some personal matters. I'll be back when I'm done." Tsunade assured him.
With Tsunade's promise to return, Minato felt relieved, knowing that she would eventually come back to Konoha.
Before she left, Tsunade stopped as she seem to remember something.
"By the way.. there's something i need to remind you about."
"Please tell me, Tsunade-sama."
"Be careful of Chiba Shiraishi."
Minato's heart trembled as he heard the name she mentioned, feeling a dull ache in his heart.
Chiba Shiraishi.
This name stirred the bas memories of a traumatic event from that night.
Tsunade was aware of Minato's psychological shadow regarding Shiraishi and understood that, even with his exceptional abilities, he was not immune to the fear of someone who had once caused his death. She believed that Shiraishi might pose a threat to Minato if the latter were indeed the Child of Prophecy and Shiraishi had learned this information through Katsuyu. Shiraishi might attempt to attack Minato again.
Shiraishi remained a dangerous ninja whose abilities and strength were shrouded in mystery. He had Sharingans and Byakugans besides him. Moreover the information from five or six years ago was clearly unreliable.
Especially from Hyuga Ayane seen a few years ago. The undeniable fighting powers of Hyuga Ayane, which far exceeded that of even Kumo's Fourth Raikage.
Minato had firsthand knowledge of her powerful abilities, and her eyes posed a significant challenge to his Flying Thunder God Jutsu.
And not to mention, there was the last dangerous man whose strength and abilities was completely mysterious.
"I will be careful, Tsunade-sama."
Minato nodded assuring her. He knew that Tsunade wouldn't offer such an advice lightly, she was likely to have learned the information somewhere. Her warning was a stark reminder of the lingering dangers and the need to protect not only himself but also Kushina. That incident that night couldn't be allowed to happen against
....
In the eyes of those outside the village, Konoha appeared to have calmed down and was developing steadily.
However, Shiraishi, who was far away in the Land of Demons, understood that Minato, the Fourth Hokage, was busy gathering power, while the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, dealt with the aftermath of Danzo's actions.
Hiruzen dispatched agents to erase any traces of Danzo's dealings with the underground market and deployed Anbu to monitor both Danzo and Orochimaru, preventing them from making any small moves.
For this short period of time, Konoha didn't have the spare power to find the rogue ninjas.
Shiraishi knew that this matter would likely be completed quickly, and the spotlight would move away from Konoha in the near future. He couldn't rely on this situation alone, at most it would buy him time for a few months.
He needed to apply additional pressure to Konoha..The first step was from the inside and the second from the outside.
But in Shiraishi's view, these were not enough, and more pressure needed to be added to keep Konoha busy again.. Konoha couldn't be given too much free time.
Takigakure, the ninja village in the Land of Waterfalls, became Shiraishi's chosen target.
Despite their size, he believed that provoking a war between Takigakure and Konoha would distract the village and generate external pressure. The tense relations between Konoha and Takigakure concerning the Tailed Beast provided an opportunity for Takigakure to condemn Konoha righteously.
Shiraishi wanted to make this situation so taxing for Konoha that it would divert its attention from the bigger picture. His strategy was to let the ninja world focus on Konoha's affairs, making it the center of attention.
Additionally, Shiraishi had been monitoring intelligence indicating that Kumo was growing restless, hinting at a potential outbreak of the Great War. He was content with the way the situation was unfolding and awaited further news.
Shiraishi picked up the bill in front of him. It was sent by the Purple Rose Merchant Association. It listed Chiyo from Sunagakure as the borrower.
Sunagakure had recently applied for a second loan from the association, showing their intention to restore their village's strength after the war, and the amount was larger than the previous loan. Shiraishi hoped that Sunagakure would borrow more as much as possible, preferably to an extent where they couldn't repay it.
As he thought about the situation, a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
A messenger entered and handed him a letter.
"Shiraishi-sama, this is a letter from Konoha." the messenger said.
Shiraishi accepted the letter, he opened it, and read its contents. The message was brief and straightforward, it stated that Tsunade would be visiting the Miko.
----
I've been ill for about three days now. High temperature, sore and itchy throat, runny nose and coughs. Just getting better today.