The Third Lord's Guess

Although he had seen some ambiguous words on the clan's stone tablet before, when Fugaku Uchiha truly received a definite answer from Zhang Miao, he still inevitably fell into shock and deep thought.

"So the conditions for evolving the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan are this harsh—so harsh they can even be called cruel?"

If the Mangekyō Sharingan awakened through the loss of someone important was born of helplessness, then the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan meant making the parents and siblings of the Uchiha Clan kill one another!

As someone who had lived through much, Fugaku Uchiha knew very well that many people would do anything for power!

This made him even more worried about the Uchiha Clan's future.

"Could it be that the Uchiha really are a cursed clan? Then how am I supposed to save the Uchiha Clan?"

While Fugaku Uchiha was consumed by worries for his clan, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had just returned to Konoha, also frowned after hearing Owl's report.

"What? You said that Ryunosuke is hanging around with people from the Uchiha Clan now?"

"Yes, Third Lord!"

Facing Hiruzen Sarutobi, Owl did not dare conceal anything and answered honestly.

"Ryunosuke is very close to Itachi Uchiha, the eldest son of Fugaku Uchiha, the Uchiha Clan's patriarch. Starting a few days ago, he has gone to Fugaku Uchiha's residence every afternoon and does not return until evening!"

"Every afternoon?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed even deeper. "Other than Fugaku Uchiha's family, who else has been in contact with Ryunosuke?"

"This..."

Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's question, Owl thought for a moment before speaking again.

"There is indeed one person. His name is Might Wei, and he is said to be Might Duy's younger brother, but the archives have no information on him. Also, when I first saw him, I heard him call Ryunosuke his master."

"Hm? He calls Ryunosuke his master?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi also realized that this form of address was far from ordinary. He frowned, then took a deep puff from his pipe and exhaled a long stream of smoke.

"How strong is this person?"

Owl did not hesitate over this question. In particular, he still vividly remembered Might Wei's heavy kick that could have killed him in an instant.

Therefore, the moment Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, he immediately answered.

"In terms of taijutsu alone, he is no weaker than an Anbu captain!"

As an Anbu elite, Owl was quite confident in his own strength. He believed that apart from Anbu captains, no one could take him down within a few seconds.

After hearing Owl's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed even more deeply as he pondered in secret.

"The Third Shinobi World War has only just ended. This person is so strong, yet the archives have no information on him. Then he should not be from the Five Great Nations. But he calls Ryunosuke his master... Could he also be a contingency Minato left behind?"

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's view, as Konoha's Fourth Hokage, it would not have been difficult for Minato Namikaze to leave behind some safeguards for his son.

Especially after the Nine-Tails had been sealed, the bodies of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki had suddenly vanished, which also indirectly proved that Minato Namikaze had indeed left something behind.

Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze toward Owl again.

"After this Might Wei came to Konoha, besides Ryunosuke, who else did he come into contact with? What does he usually do?"

At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi had basically concluded that Might Wei was the contingency Minato Namikaze had left behind. He was only asking now to confirm his judgment.

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's question, Owl thought briefly before answering again.

"Besides Ryunosuke and Naruto, Might Wei has had the most contact with a boy named Might Guy. Other than protecting Ryunosuke, he takes Might Guy to the training grounds outside the village every day. Apart from that, he has not had contact with anyone else!"

Owl's words undoubtedly confirmed Hiruzen Sarutobi's guess, so his expression eased somewhat. He then nodded at Owl.

"Alright, I understand. Continue monitoring Might Wei. Go bring Kakashi to me!"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Owl promptly agreed and withdrew. Before long, another knock sounded at the door.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Come in!"

As Hiruzen Sarutobi's words fell, Kakashi, dressed in full Anbu gear, entered from outside.

"Lord Hokage, you sent for me?"

"Mm!"

Looking at Kakashi as he entered, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded while holding his pipe, then slowly opened his mouth.

"Kakashi, you are closest to Ryunosuke. I want to know whether he has ever said anything unusual to you, such as something about his parents or family."

"This..." Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Kakashi immediately hesitated, but in the end, he still shook his head. "No! He never said anything!"

Seeing Kakashi deny it, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression softened somewhat. He first rose from his seat, then slowly walked over to Kakashi.

"Kakashi, I actually know about Ryunosuke and Naruto's origins. I also promised their mother that I would take good care of them. The reason I called you here is simply to clarify one matter—does Ryunosuke already know about his own origins?"

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's view, if Might Wei was a contingency Minato Namikaze had left behind, then Zhang Miao definitely knew his own identity.

And since Kakashi was Minato Namikaze's disciple and was so close to Zhang Miao, he would surely know something as well.

However, seeing that Kakashi's expression remained unchanged, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that unless he offered some real information, there was no way to make this suspicious boy speak.

Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi held his pipe in one hand and placed the other on Kakashi's shoulder.

"Ryunosuke and Naruto are the Fourth Hokage's sons. You know that, don't you, Kakashi?"

"Uh..."

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi directly reveal Zhang Miao's identity, Kakashi immediately raised his head to look at him, surprise flashing in his eyes.

Seeing his reaction, Hiruzen Sarutobi already had his answer. He immediately nodded.

"Mm, I understand now. Go bring Ryunosuke here. Tell him I want to see him!"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Kakashi immediately agreed and withdrew.

However, when he reached the door, he seemed to remember something and promptly turned around, returning to Hiruzen Sarutobi's side.

Seeing Kakashi's actions, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head in some confusion.

"Is there something else?"

"Mm!" Kakashi nodded at once, then took a kunai from his clothes and held it out before Hiruzen Sarutobi. "This is my teacher's Flying Thunder God Kunai. Ryunosuke gave it to me!"

Looking at the three-pronged kunai in Kakashi's hand, with the words "Sword of Ninja Love" written on its handle, surprise immediately appeared in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. But he quickly recovered and nodded at Kakashi.

"Mm, I understand. Since it belonged to your teacher and Ryunosuke gave it to you, keep it. Alright, you may leave!"

"Yes!"

Kakashi answered, turned, and left the Hokage's Office. After he was gone, Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed a helpless smile.

"This boy is reminding me not to forget the Fourth Hokage's sacrifice for the village? What a suspicious yet sentimental boy!"