Changes to the Demonic Path Inheritance Compendium

"Aaargh!"

With a scream, the puppeteer controlling several kunai with Chakra threads had his throat slit by Asuma and collapsed to the ground.

A puppeteer without puppets was like a tiger without fangs or claws. Facing Asuma and Kurenai's combined assault, he resisted fiercely, but was ultimately killed.

Uchiha Feiyu's soul reserve increased by one. Asuma and Kurenai had finally gained experience in fighting ninjas to the death, and that puppeteer's life had ultimately provided only that.

After killing someone, Asuma's face was flushed red as he panted heavily—not because he had expended too much stamina, but simply because he was too tense after taking a life.

Killing one of their own kind for the first time would shock most people. Due to his personal experiences, Uchiha Feiyu did not care much about it, but the impact on Asuma, who was not yet ten, was much greater.

Fortunately, the ninja training they had received since childhood allowed Asuma and Kurenai to quickly recover, though their demeanors had changed somewhat.

After eliminating that small squad of ninjas, the rest of the journey went without incident. Hizashi Hyuga's team soon delivered the storage scroll to the Battlefield Hospital and completed the handover.

After returning to Konoha, Hizashi Hyuga submitted his mission report and, as expected, was summoned to the Hokage Office by the Third Hokage.

"Hizashi, is everything you wrote in the report true? Uchiha Feiyu is actually that strong?"

After reading the report Hizashi Hyuga had submitted, the Third Hokage knew that this elite member of the Hyuga Clan would not speak nonsense, yet he still asked with some uncertainty.

The strength displayed by that Uchiha outcast, as described by Hizashi Hyuga, was simply too astonishing!

Though Hizashi Hyuga had only just turned twenty, his Byakugan Kekkei Genkai already qualified him as an Elite Jonin. He believed himself to be no match for Uchiha Feiyu at all, which meant Uchiha Feiyu was at least an Elite Jonin.

An Elite Jonin at thirteen or fourteen was virtually impossible for an ordinary ninja without a Kekkei Genkai. Only ninjas with top-tier bloodlines could possibly achieve such a feat.

After hearing the Third Hokage's question, Hizashi Hyuga answered with great certainty.

"Uchiha Feiyu's strength has definitely surpassed mine. Compared to an ordinary Elite Jonin, he is likely stronger by a considerable margin."

"Ordinary Sand Shinobi Chunin were basically killed in a single move, while that Special Jonin only managed to exchange two moves with Uchiha Feiyu."

"By my estimation, Uchiha Feiyu has at least reached the level of an Elite Jonin, and may very well possess Quasi-Kage strength."

Hearing this, the Third Hokage took two puffs from his pipe, frowned, and continued asking.

"Then did you see Uchiha Feiyu's Sharingan? To what level has he developed it?"

Hizashi Hyuga paused before replying.

"The Sharingan? Feiyu's Sharingan is still only at the Two-Tomoe level. It has not reached the Three-Tomoe stage."

"I see... All right, I understand. You've worked hard, Hizashi. Go back and rest."

The Third Hokage quietly breathed a sigh of relief and dismissed Hizashi Hyuga.

Having inherited the teachings of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, Sarutobi Hiruzen was exceptionally familiar with the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan.

An Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan could remain at the Three-Tomoe level, but it could not disguise itself as a Two-Tomoe Sharingan. In other words, a Two-Tomoe Sharingan was Uchiha Feiyu's true level; there was no possibility that he was hiding it.

As long as he had not awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, the Third Hokage had no need to worry too much. Though Uchiha Feiyu's talent was indeed remarkable, ordinary ninjas still had certain limits.

Even if he became a Quasi-Kage at thirteen or fourteen, then reached Kage-level a year or two later, it would only mean his strength had grown quickly. Breaking past the limits of Kage-level without relying on a Kekkei Genkai was still nearly impossible.

Moreover, Uchiha Feiyu clearly did not possess much talent in developing the Sharingan Kekkei Genkai. The Third Hokage even felt that he had awakened the Two-Tomoe Sharingan only because his exceptional ninja talent had driven its evolution.

How did this brat suddenly awaken the Sharingan when he was ten? Forget it... In any case, it would be far too wasteful for a genius like this to remain in an ordinary Genin squad.

Fortunately, his relationship with the Uchiha Clan is not particularly good, so there is no need to worry about their influence over him. Though Danzo failed to stir up the darkness in his heart, he at least left an irreparable rift between him and the Uchiha Clan.

But that brat's personality is difficult to handle... Getting him to join a department like the Anbu is definitely impossible. Sending him directly to the front lines... I wonder whether he would agree?

The Third Hokage had no doubt that if his arrangements for Uchiha Feiyu dissatisfied him, the best outcome would be that he put in an appearance without putting in any effort. Even outright defection was not something Uchiha Feiyu would be incapable of doing.

He did not believe in the so-called Will of Fire, nor did he have any deep ties to Konoha. He did not even care about his reputation or what others said about him. In the Third Hokage's view, Uchiha Feiyu was certainly not a qualified ninja, but precisely because of that, he could not be used as cannon fodder—after all, he truly might defect.

If an ordinary Genin or Chunin behaved with such cowardice and selfishness, the Third Hokage had plenty of ways to discipline and control them—though Chunin and Genin were not worth the Third Hokage's attention in the first place.

But with strength at Uchiha Feiyu's level, the Third Hokage's tolerance was naturally much greater. Indeed, because Feiyu appeared unconcerned with the bigger picture, the high command became even more cautious in making arrangements for him.

After pondering for a while without reaching any conclusion, the Third Hokage decided to speak with Uchiha Feiyu. With the talent the youth had displayed, Konoha would have another figure like the White Fang within just a few years at most.

Even if his personality prevented him from entering Konoha High Command, no one could ignore his own wishes once he possessed Kage-level strength.

While the Third Hokage was troubled over how to arrange Uchiha Feiyu's future, Feiyu himself was staring in surprise at the black Demonic Path Inheritance Compendium in his mind.

Beneath the Demonic Path Inheritance Compendium, a small altar had appeared, with three tiny wisps of black Ki constantly circling within it.

One wisp of black Ki appeared somewhat stronger, while the other two were weaker. Clearly, these were offerings sacrificed to the Demonic Path Inheritance Compendium.

As for where the black Ki had come from, Uchiha Feiyu understood after merely recalling what he had done—it came from the three unlucky ninjas he had killed.

The stronger wisp of black Ki should have come from the Special Jonin, while the other two had come from the two Chunin.