How Should Seniority Be Calculated? (Please Follow)

How Should Seniority Be Calculated? (Please Follow~)

"Unfortunately, I can't discuss this kind of training with Forever with Sis..."

During this time, Uchiha Hikari's strength had steadily improved, and Minato Namikaze had provided no small amount of help. The Fourth Hokage's knowledge and way of thinking were both far ahead of his time. Even when faced with problems he had never encountered himself, he could often quickly help her come up with solutions.

But Yachihoko's ability was one of Uchiha Hikari's greatest trump cards. She absolutely could not reveal it to anyone else.

Not even the members of the chat group.

Besides, there was someone else who definitely understood this sort of thing very well.

—The owner of Heavenly Hand Power, Uchiha Shisui.

Unfortunately, he could not help her either. In fact, he was someone she needed to be especially wary of.

For the current Uchiha Hikari, opponents like Jiraiya in Sage Mode, Eight Gates Guy, or the Six Paths of Pain might be powerful, but there were still ways to deal with them. But an ability like Heavenly Hand Power was practically a bug. With nothing more than a simple glance, it could forcibly twist someone's will without them noticing in the slightest.

Uchiha Hikari had the advantage of two souls, and her ocular power far surpassed that of an ordinary Mangekyo, but she was not completely certain whether she could withstand Heavenly Hand Power's brainwashing...

She did not even dare to try.

"I can only take it slowly."

"I just hope Shimura Danzō, this test subject, can last a little longer..."

It was already late at night.

Yet the Hidden Leaf Hospital remained brightly lit.

Starting that morning, one section of the hospital had been isolated. Large numbers of Anbu moved in and out, bringing in the wounded cleared out from the Root Base, as well as jars filled with nutrient solution and Experimental Subjects. The Sealing Team worked with medical ninja, attempting to treat them.

The air was thick with the smell of blood and disinfectant.

In the corridor, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood with his hands behind his back, listening to the hospital director's report.

"...Lord Danzō's condition has stabilized for the moment. Due to the First Hokage's Cells, his vitality is remarkably strong, and many of his injuries are already showing signs of healing. However, his consciousness seems to have suffered a severe blow. He will need to recuperate for some time before waking up."

"His consciousness..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen recalled the genjutsu he had personally witnessed before and immediately understood. "I see. What about the others?"

"The other Root ninja are still receiving intensive treatment, and we cannot determine when they will regain consciousness. As for the children used as experimental materials... most of them had already suffered organ failure before they were sent here. They were only barely clinging to life with nutrient solution. I'm afraid fewer than one in ten can be saved..."

At this point, the hospital director paused. "Oh, right. Among those Root ninja, there is one who was also implanted with the First Hokage's Cells. And according to our examination results, he may very well have awakened Wood Release..."

"Wood Release?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression changed in shock. "You must save him!"

"I will do my best."

After giving his assurance, the hospital director sighed faintly. "It's a pity Lady Tsunade is not in the village right now. If she were here, she certainly could have done better."

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen could not help sighing as well. "In any case, I'll leave the rest of the treatment to you. I'll try writing to Tsunade and persuade her to return to the village as soon as possible."

With that, the hospital director entered the ward again.

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned and took a few steps. As he listened to Shinnosuke, who had just arrived, report on the thorough investigation of the Root Base, he mulled over the matter of writing a letter.

In truth, Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted even more to write to another of his disciples.

Although Danzō was arbitrary and reckless, often showed no regard for him as Hokage, and had even sent people to assassinate him... Danzō's existence had indeed helped him resolve quite a few troubles.

Now that the entire Root faction had been wiped out, even if Danzō awakened, he could no longer continue holding power. And Uchiha Hikari's existence might soon be exposed to all the clans of the Hidden Leaf. The development of the situation had already somewhat exceeded the Hokage's control. Under such circumstances, he needed someone strong enough to hold things together.

Therefore, recalling Jiraiya was imperative.

As for Tsunade...

He could only give it a try.

But Sarutobi Hiruzen had no confidence at all that this disciple would be willing to return.

"Troubled times once again..."

"I only hope the Uchiha Clan stays quiet and doesn't take this opportunity to cause trouble..."

Standing before a window at the Hidden Leaf Hospital, Sarutobi Hiruzen gazed in the distant direction of the Military Police Building and fell into deep thought.

Just as brightly lit as the Hidden Leaf Hospital was the home of Clan Head Fugaku within the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Naturally, the Uchiha Clan had received the news as well.

After all, the commotion at the Root Base had been far too great. Moreover, when Danzō and the others had been sent to the Hidden Leaf Hospital, many ninja had witnessed it firsthand. Those with ulterior motives could naturally piece together some of what had happened.

Compared to the Hidden Leaf's other clans, the Uchiha had two informants within the Anbu: Shisui and Itachi. When Sarutobi Hiruzen had urgently summoned the Anbu to the base that day, both of them had been present. As their clan head and father, Uchiha Fugaku quickly learned the course of events.

And so...

The Uchiha Clan convened a gathering virtually overnight. A group of elders hurried over from their homes and launched into an intense discussion over Uchiha Hikari's existence.

Although they had never met this young Grand Ancestor.

She was a Humanoid Weapon from the Warring States period!

She possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, was powerful enough to defeat Shimura Danzō with ease, and had even mocked the Third Hokage and the two advisors to their faces as "children," yet faced no consequences afterward... These were things the current Uchiha Clan members did not even dare dream of!

Before the gathering had even ended, people were already chanting, "Welcome the Ancestor's Return!"

Some of the more radical clan members even proposed seizing this rare opportunity to rise up, gather the power of Two Pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan, and make the Uchiha great again.

Amid this frenzied atmosphere, three people felt as though they were sitting on pins and needles.

The first two were Uchiha Shisui and Itachi.

Both had witnessed that day's battle firsthand. They knew more about Uchiha Hikari's strength, and they also knew where that girl from the Warring States period currently lived—at the home of Konoha's Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki Naruto... But they did not dare breathe a word of any of this.

Simply knowing that Uchiha Hikari existed had already made the clan members this excited.

If they learned the other details as well, someone might run to Naruto's house tonight and try to cause another Nine Tails Riot...

The third was Uchiha Mikoto.

It was only midway through the gathering that she remembered the girl she had met yesterday at Ichiraku Ramen.

(In other words... that girl named Uchiha Hikari wasn't some clan member who had been left out in the world, but the Grand Ancestor of the entire Uchiha Clan?)

But...

Uchiha Mikoto suddenly realized there was a problem—

Given that Uchiha Hikari was the Grand Ancestor of both her and Sasuke.

And given that Naruto called her big sister, and she had acknowledged it.

Then...

How exactly were Sasuke and Naruto supposed to calculate their generational seniority?