Three days later, the news of Sakumo Hatake's suicide spread throughout the village. This powerful and gentle white-haired man had ultimately taken his own life.
When the Third Hokage first heard the news, he felt a wave of shock and regret. In his initial plan, he had intended to use the incident to tarnish White Fang's reputation slightly, to remind him of the true duties of a ninja, and to keep him in check. The goal was never to drive him to such despair.
"Sakumo.. Is this your way of upholding your own ninja way, or is this the result of me turning a blind eye?" He pondered, wondering if anyone understood the depth of his intentions.
Seated behind his desk, Hiruzen gazed at the photos of the previous Hokage on the wall. These images, devoid of life, seemed to watch him silently, their eyes fixed on the Hokage and the village.
"Have I made a mistake? But everything I've done has been to protect the village!" he mused, feeling the weight of his decisions.
The news shocked the patriarchs of Konoha's major families. The formidable figure who had been a beacon on the battlefield, a man who upheld the protection of the village and his comrades as his 'ninja way,' was now dead. He had died silently in his own home, by his own hand, and under the crushing weight of malicious gossip and insults. The clan leaders of the village were collectively stunned into silence, their gazes turning toward the Hokage building as they began to piece together the implications of what had happened.
Even the ordinary ninjas were taken aback. This event forced them to reconsider the balance between their duties and their loyalty to their comrades. From then on, they understood the harrowing choices they might face between completing their missions and protecting their companions.
Is it due to his lifelong commitment to his ninja way, which the village ultimately rejected? Or does he resent the Third Hokage for turning a blind eye to the matter? Perhaps he felt guilt for failing his mission, or maybe it was for the sake of his young son. The reasons behind Sakumo Hatake's suicide remain a mystery.
Ironically, with the news of White Fang's death, the villagers who had surrounded his house, hurling insults, and the companions who had accused him of abandoning his mission to save them, all vanished overnight, as if they had never existed. The people in the village even deliberately avoided discussing the topic.
All that remained was a five-year-old child, an empty mansion, and a broken heart. Konoha had gained another orphan.
A three-minute silence was enforced at Konoha's White Fang's funeral.
At this time, Toshiro was sitting cross-legged at the low table in his study at home. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, illuminating his back and casting light on the scrolls, notes, and manuscript papers spread out on his desk.
He was deep in study, focusing on ninjutsu, specifically the three basic techniques required for graduation from the ninja academy.
Many traversers often focus solely on the substitution technique among the three basic ninja techniques, neglecting the clone and transformation techniques. In his opinion, this is a narrow perspective.
While the substitution technique is crucial, allowing one to switch places with a pre-prepared object to evade an attack and create opportunities for counterattacks or escape, it's only part of the equation. This technique is indeed a lifesaver.
Orochimaru later developed the Great Snake Substitution Technique, which could negate bodily harm, albeit with a somewhat grotesque method. Despite its unsettling nature, the technique is highly effective.
Regarding the clone technique, the version taught in the academy creates an intangible clone using chakra, serving mainly to confuse the enemy. However, more advanced versions, such as the shadow clone technique, allow a clone to carry a portion of the user's consciousness. When the clone dissipates, it transmits its experiences back to the original body.
This principle ties into the advanced applications of chakra and the founding purpose of the Ninja Sect: using chakra as a bond to share and communicate consciousness among individuals, fostering peace.
In the original series, both Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki sealed parts of their consciousness within Naruto.
It is crucial to use chakra to carry one's soul.
These techniques are all variations of the clone technique, but their applications and degrees of use differ significantly.
Now, let's discuss the transformation technique.
Transformation is often regarded as a marginal skill by ninjas. Whether it's turning into objects, stones, or pieces of wood during battle to deceive enemies, or using transformation to impersonate someone else during a mission, the primary goal is to mislead and confuse.
However, this technique tends to be ineffective against experienced ninjas or those with special sensory abilities or bloodline limits.
An exceptional application of the transformation technique is seen with Hiruzen's summoning beast, Enma. This creature's transformation is not only robust but also highly versatile, capable of stretching, shortening, and varying in thickness and thinness.
Additionally, consider the Akimichi clan's expansion technique. It seems unlikely that members of the Akimichi clan can transform into giants merely by consuming more food. Transforming flesh, bones, and internal organs to increase in size and then revert to normal is a process so extraordinary it would defy conventional medical knowledge. It's more plausible to attribute this to a combination of the transformation technique and yang release.
There is also the multiplication technique, which can be particularly advantageous. Once mastered, the possibilities seem endless, including potential benefits for one's future personal life.
Oops, that might be a bit off-topic...
Even Itachi Uchiha, beloved by many fans, demonstrated a remarkable technique during the Fourth Shinobi War. He summoned a crow with Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan from Naruto's body. Is that crow truly a summoning beast? It seems more likely to be a combination of the clone technique, transformation, and sealing techniques. Otherwise, how could a crow survive inside Naruto's body for so long without food, water, or air while also carrying the ocular power of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan?
While pondering all these theories, there was a knock on his door. Opening it and seeing the person waiting surprised him, and he immediately invited him in.
"Please, have a seat!"
It was rare to have a visitor, but today, a guest was present in Toshiro's home. The visitor was a member of the Uchiha police force. in his early twenties, slightly taller than the average Uchiha.He had two long nasolabial folds on his face, and his medium-length hair fell behind his head, giving him a serious, traditional, and meticulous appearance. .
This man was none other than Uchiha Fugaku, the future father of Itachi and Sasuke. He was not yet the patriarch of the Uchiha clan. Although he was the son of the current patriarch and his strength was widely recognized by the family, with the butterfly effect in play, who could predict the future with certainty?
"My apologies, I rarely have visitors, so I wasn't prepared!"
"Please, have some tea!"
Toshiro quickly brought out a tray with two cups of freshly brewed green tea. He handed one cup to Fugaku and picked up the other cup himself. Sitting down across from the table, he looked at Fugaku quietly.
Toshiro was puzzled by Fugaku's visit. He couldn't understand why someone of Fugaku's stature would concern himself with a young boy who had not yet become a ninja.
As far as Toshiro knew, the 'future patriarch' had high expectations from the current patriarch and was quite busy. Fugaku not only held an important position in the police force but also often received various difficult missions from the Hokage.
Village affairs, family matters, and the police force are all managed meticulously at some level by him, showcasing his capability as the clan's heir. Hopefully, this visit isn't bad news.
'Facing people when speaking and receiving guests, his etiquette is very thoughtful!'
'He doesn't exhibit the usual panic of ordinary children when facing elders in the clan, appearing mature and calm!'
'Coupled with his training efforts over the years, his character is good!'
Since entering, Fugaku hadn't spoken a word. He merely observed Toshiro's every move, noting how he treated guests and responded to his sudden visit.
After a few minutes of observation and considering some information collected by the clan, Fugaku could make a basic judgment. The young man before him was a good ninja prospect and would likely become a pillar of the family in the future.
"I don't know what brings Fugaku-senpai here today. If there's anything I can do, please let me know!"
The silence didn't last long.
As the head of his household, Toshiro spoke first, his attitude being very respectful. He presented himself as ready to assist with any family matters, willing to go all out to complete any tasks assigned by the family, provided they were within his capabilities.
He was no more than eight years old. The kid was still in the academy, believing his clan had no plans for him. Without hesitation or preamble, he got straight to the point.
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku did not rush to respond. Instead, he took the hot tea in his hand and gently blew on the steam rising from the cup. He glanced at Toshiro briefly before speaking calmly.
"As a prodigy in the family, what do you think of the current situation in the ninja world?"
'What do I think? I already saw it with my eyes!' he thought sarcastically. He hadn't expected Fugaku to ask such a question after such a long buildup. Was this really a question for a child?
"Fugaku-senpai, you are thinking too highly of me. How could an ordinary academy student like me know the answer to that?"
"But since you asked, I will reluctantly offer my thoughts!"
"This year, the academy has changed its rule regarding the age required for enrollment!"
Unlike Toshiro, who enrolled at age six, the school now accepts not only six-year-olds but also five-year-olds.
Both Uchiha Obito from his clan and Kakashi Hatake, the son of the 'Konoha White Fang,' have enrolled this year as five year olds.
Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku was somewhat surprised. He had asked the question casually, not expecting a reliable answer.
'I didn't expect this kid to observe so carefully and have such a unique perspective compared to adults.'
"Indeed, you are a rare genius in the clan!"
"Fugaku-senpai, you are too kind. A genius? I just working harder than most people!"
Geniuses in the Hokage world don't have it easy. Whether it is Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Itachi, or even Kakashi Hatake, who later gained the title of genius, none had a smooth path.
There's a saying: the higher you rise, the harder you fall.
"Since you are not as naive as ordinary children, I will speak to you directly!"
"Based on the information collected by the family and various materials related to the war, such as iron, medicinal supplies, and food, prices are all slowly increasing.
Some experienced clan elders speculate that the major ninja villages might be dissatisfied with some of the treaties and outcomes of the last war. Another war may break out in the near future.
Hearing this, Toshiro was not too surprised. After all, the Third Ninja War, as depicted in the original story, was the most tragic of all previous ninja wars. The duration was long, and the loss of ninjas was devastating for all the villages.
The heads of all major clans were almost entirely replaced.
When Minato takes over as the Fourth Hokage, the representatives of the major families attending the succession ceremony—such as the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans, as well as the Uchiha—are all from the younger generation. Where are the current patriarchs? All died in the war.
As he spoke, Uchiha Fugaku had been observing the changes in Toshiro's expression. To his surprise, Toshiro's face remained unchanged at the news of an impending war.
What reaction could there be? For someone who already knows the outcome.
As for pretending to be surprised, he figured that out long ago. It's too risky to try micro-expressions in front of an Uchiha Jonin."
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Currently published 18 extra chapters with 32K words in P@treon.