Kotoamatsukami

But Kurama had no real sense of its own size.

"Oh, happy birthday."

Faced with Naruto's excitement, it merely nodded perfunctorily, its eyes still glued to the television.

It was simply too comfortable in this Sealing Space and had no interest whatsoever in the things outside.

What it had once desired most was to break free of the seal, roll around to its heart's content across the vast earth, and savor the taste of freedom.

But now...

What? You wanted to talk to it about freedom?

What was freedom worth? Wasn't it comfortable to lie around while its Chakra kept growing?

It admitted that it had become lazy, but lying around really was comfortable.

Even if Madara Uchiha were to pry open his Coffins and try to summon it out now, it figured it would bare its fangs and open its jaws to bite Madara Uchiha.

Naruto felt quite disappointed by Fox Teacher's perfunctory attitude.

Although his academic level was no longer low, his mental age was still far from mature.

"Kurama."

With a smile on his face, Menma leaned close to the Nine-Tails and whispered, "What you're watching now is the final episode of this anime's first season."

The final episode?

Kurama, who had been watching the anime with rapt attention, froze.

But only for a moment before it reacted.

If this was the final episode of the first season, then that meant there was a second season?

Menma, that guy... could he be...

In an instant, Kurama's expression and tone both turned gentle, even carrying a hint of flattery.

"Happy birthday, Naruto. You've grown another year older and become even more dependable."

Naruto, who had been feeling a little down, immediately smiled until his eyes narrowed. "Thank you, Fox Teacher."

As he spoke, he reached out and rubbed the Nine-Tails' fluffy, soft tail.

Seeing the brat take advantage of it, the Nine-Tails' eye twitched, and the smile on its face nearly collapsed.

"Damn it, this brat is pushing his luck!"

Menma was one thing.

But as the strongest Tailed Beast, how could it let a brat pet its fur!

The Nine-Tails dearly wanted to sweep him away with its tail.

But seeing Menma beside them with his eyes curved in a smile, it could only withdraw that bold thought.

A fox had to bow its head under another's roof.

The two boys and one fox spent a simple birthday together.

This time, Menma did not leave Naruto any homework, and Naruto rarely got a proper night's sleep.

When the ANBU changed shifts, Menma's figure appeared in Little Naruto's bedroom once more.

"This guy still sleeps so restlessly."

Menma picked up the blanket Naruto had kicked away and covered him with it, a gentle smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

"Good night, Naruto."

Now, it was time for him to go get Naruto's birthday present.

Within Naka Shrine in the Uchiha Clan compound.

Shisui's face was gloomy as he looked at the clansmen gathered inside the shrine.

As far as the eye could see, they were all Uchiha elites from the Police Force, mostly jonin who had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Ordinary jonin within the clan were not even qualified to attend this Clan Meeting.

Fugaku Uchiha stood at the very front with his arms crossed, his expression stern.

"Has it finally reached its limit?"

Shisui had already vaguely guessed the topic of this Clan Meeting.

Just then.

"Father."

Under the watchful gazes of the gathered clansmen, Itachi Uchiha actually walked in.

A hint of surprise appeared in many people's eyes.

Only clan members who had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan had ever been qualified to attend the Clan Meeting at Naka Shrine.

And Itachi Uchiha...

But Itachi paid no attention to their stares.

After greeting Fugaku, he silently made his way to the corner, to Shisui's side.

Shisui frowned and asked, "Itachi! Why are you here?"

Itachi said nothing. Instead, his eyes suddenly turned red, three tomoe appearing in each of his pupils.

"This..."

Shisui froze for a moment, then said excitedly, "You awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan?!"

Itachi nodded expressionlessly. "I also joined the ANBU."

The ANBU?

Shisui's face filled with astonishment, and just as he was about to say something—

"Clan Head!"

Inabi Uchiha stood up and said bluntly, "Why is Itachi allowed to attend the Clan Meeting? That goes against the rules, doesn't it?"

His words rang out with force.

As a member of the Uchiha Clan's Radical Faction, he had come to this Clan Meeting to force Fugaku into agreeing to a coup.

Naturally, he had to seize the initiative, and this was the perfect excuse.

The other clan members also showed expressions of agreement.

"No."

Fugaku crossed his arms, his black eyes fixed directly on Inabi. "Itachi is already qualified to attend the Clan Meeting."

He swept his gaze around the room and announced loudly before everyone, "Itachi has awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and he has also joined the ANBU."

The entire hall immediately erupted in an uproar.

"What?!"

Everyone's eyes turned toward Itachi Uchiha and Shisui in the corner.

Naturally, they also saw the three tomoe within Itachi's scarlet eyes.

Some Uchiha clan members with weak ocular power even looked away, unwilling to meet his gaze.

This left everyone speechless.

After a moment of silence, Yashiro Uchiha suddenly stood up.

"Clan Head!"

His expression was somewhat agitated as he said, "You saw it today as well. That old man Hiruzen Sarutobi doesn't care about the feelings of our Uchiha Clan at all. He even openly favored the Sarutobi Clan!"

"I, Yashiro, will never swallow this humiliation!"

Another Uchiha jonin from the Conservative Faction also stood up.

But to Fugaku's surprise, he too had sided with the Radical Faction.

He said, "Although Yashiro went a little too far in this matter, after what happened today, it is clear that the Uchiha Clan and Konoha can no longer coexist."

"If we do not strike first, then we will inevitably face a purge from Konoha's High-Ranking Officials."

After speaking, the Uchiha jonin looked toward Shisui in the corner.

"Shisui, you have been in the ANBU for some time now. You must know something about the ANBU's strength, right?"

Within the entire Uchiha Clan, Shisui alone knew the most about the ANBU.

Thus, the Uchiha Clan could only obtain reliable intelligence regarding the ANBU through Shisui.

Seeing everyone look toward him, Shisui felt utterly helpless.

He understood that the Uchiha coup could no longer be stopped.

Not even the Clan Head could stop it.

Beside him, Itachi Uchiha had watched everything expressionlessly from beginning to end, a faint scarlet gleam flashing through his eyes.

After the Clan Meeting ended.

"Third Hokage."

Shisui arrived at the rooftop of the Hokage Building that very night and dropped to one knee before Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Shisui reported that the Uchiha Clan was about to stage a coup, and proposed his own solution.

"I have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."

A flicker of surprise passed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's cloudy eyes.

Mangekyō Sharingan...

He had suspected that Shisui was hiding some secrets, but he never imagined it would be the Mangekyō Sharingan.

But before he could say anything, Shisui's next words completely wiped the smile off his face.

"My Mangekyō ocular technique is called Kotoamatsukami. It can unknowingly manipulate others at will, permanently and completely altering a person's thoughts and will."

Please don't stockpile chapters, everyone. You'll really kill the story that way, QAQ.

My daily read count has been dropping nonstop lately. It's honestly messing with my mindset, orz.

I'm begging you all, please keep up with it every day, QAQ.

Wang Tianxiao was reborn thirty years in the past. His wife was about to give birth, they were starving and freezing, his brothers were heartless, and his mother played favorites.

He made a swift decision and cut all ties with his family.

With the mountains at his back, he made a living by hunting, growing medicinal herbs, and raising livestock, creating a wonderful life.

No face-slapping, no showing off—just a pure hunting-and-farming story.