Naruto Enrolls

Mangekyō Sharingan...

Those were the eyes possessed by Madara Uchiha, the Shinobi World's Asura—powerful eyes containing godlike and demonic strength.

They wielded power on an entirely different level from the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

And according to Shisui, he had likely awakened his Mangekyō some time ago, perhaps even developed its Mangekyō ocular technique.

And the ability of that technique...

"Kotoamatsukami... is that your Mangekyō ocular technique?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi still faced Leaf Village, his back turned toward Shisui.

Unable to see his expression, Shisui felt somewhat uneasy, but he still had no intention of concealing anything.

"Yes, Third Hokage. I hope you can give the Uchiha Clan one last chance. I will use Kotoamatsukami on Fugaku Uchiha and have him stop the Uchiha Clan's coup."

After saying that, Shisui raised his head slightly and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's somewhat stooped back.

"...Yes. I have seen your unwavering faith in the Will of Fire. Go ahead and do it. I will send people to assist your operation."

Hearing the Third Hokage's gentle words, Shisui could not help but smile. The heart he had been holding high finally settled.

Sure enough, the Third Hokage did not wish to completely break with the Uchiha Clan either.

But unbeknownst to him, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression had already darkened where Shisui could not see it, a deep wariness flashing through his eyes.

Kotoamatsukami could directly invade another person's mind without them noticing and permanently, completely alter their will.

Didn't that mean Shisui could turn a target into his Puppet in an instant?!

This Mangekyō ocular technique, with no known upper limit, was simply too terrifying. And according to the records, Madara Uchiha had once controlled the Nine-Tails using the Mangekyō...

The more Hiruzen Sarutobi thought about it, the more frightened he became. He even wondered whether his own will had already been altered without his realizing it.

Clearly, Shisui's Kotoamatsukami had far exceeded the bounds of his control.

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had great confidence in Shisui's "Will of Fire" and believed Shisui was unlikely to betray him, one could never be too careful.

Entrusting one's fate to another's goodwill was simply too foolish.

Though Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart was filled with chilling intent, he remained calm on the surface.

"Shisui, like Kagami, you are a shinobi who has inherited the Will of Fire."

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to face Shisui, walked to his side, and patted his shoulder. "With young people like you taking up the Will of Fire in Leaf Village, we can rest easy even if we must sacrifice ourselves."

"Third Hokage..."

Hearing the satisfaction in Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice and feeling the faint warmth of the hand on his shoulder, Shisui's resolve grew even firmer.

"Lord Hokage, then I'll be leaving first."

"Mm. Go without worry."

Shisui used the Body Flicker Technique, vanishing from where he stood.

Yet he failed to notice that Hiruzen Sarutobi had kept his eyes lowered and had never once met his gaze.

Hiruzen Sarutobi then returned to his office.

After writing a few brief lines on a scroll, he ordered expressionlessly, "Deliver this secret letter to Shimura Danzō."

As soon as he spoke, an ANBU appeared silently before him.

After taking the scroll from his hand, the figure vanished in an instant.

"Shisui... your ability is simply too frightening..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed inwardly, feeling a measure of regret.

He had put considerable effort into cultivating Shisui as a pawn.

But Kotoamatsukami was simply too terrifying.

He had no desire to constantly guard against Shisui and spend the rest of his life in fear and anxiety.

However, he was the Hokage who stood bathed in sunlight.

He absolutely could not—and absolutely would not—lay a hand on the villagers under his command.

That was why, at times like this, he needed Root, buried deep beneath the ground.

He had written only about Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan and the effects of its Mangekyō ocular technique on the scroll, nothing else.

But based on what he knew of his old companion, once Danzō learned of Shisui's Mangekyō ability, even if he guessed he was being used as a blade, he would still make a move to seize it.

That was Danzō—a man who craved power at every moment.

"Danzō, I hope you can handle this cleanly. Don't make me clean up your mess again."

Early the next morning, inside Naruto Uzumaki's home.

Ring... Smack!

Naruto, already fully dressed, then switched off the noisy alarm.

Today was his first day at school, so he had gotten up half an hour earlier than usual.

"Hehe, Fox Teacher, don't you think I look handsome?"

Standing before the mirror, Naruto asked excitedly in his mind.

Kurama, inside the Sealing Space, curled his lip but did not say much, perfunctorily replying against his true feelings, "Yeah, yeah. You're the most handsome, brat."

Though he did not want to admit it, once Naruto had dressed himself up, he really did resemble his late father in a few ways.

The boy in the mirror stood tall and straight, carrying an air of refinement.

He wore a black high-collared coat, a white sweater, and black casual trousers, with slightly long blond hair.

His childish little face bore six whisker-like markings.

Yet those markings added a touch of warmth to his somewhat aloof and refined temperament.

Aside from teaching him academic knowledge, Menma-nii would also teach him things that cultivated his sense of aesthetics whenever he had spare time.

After all, Menma-nii simply could not stand Naruto's utterly tasteless yellow X jacket. Every time he saw it, he thought it was hideous beyond words.

After breakfast, Naruto took his lunchbox and ran toward the Ninja School.

Although Naruto had not appeared before the public for many years, the six distinctive whisker-like markings on his face undoubtedly drew strange looks and hushed discussions from the villagers once more.

By the time he arrived at the school, the parents accompanying their children were looking at him even more strangely, their eyes filled only with coldness.

They pointed in Naruto's direction and told their children, "Don't go near him. He'll hurt you."

No matter how unique Naruto's temperament was, in their eyes, he was nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing.

But Naruto did not care about those stares or criticisms in the slightest.

To borrow Menma-nii's words:

"People are superstitious because they fear, and they fear because they are ignorant. Yet ignorance cannot rid them of laziness; it only plunges them deeper into it, making them degenerate and cowardly."

Naruto had engraved those words deeply in his heart.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at the school grounds with a kindly smile amid a chorus of praise.

Then, standing atop the platform, he passionately spoke to the new students about the Will of Fire passed down through generations in Leaf Village.

"Children, wherever the leaves dance, the fire burns on. Its light will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout."

Little Naruto sat below the platform as well, wearing the same hopeful expression as the children around him.

But in truth, he found it unbearably boring.

This empty, meaningless rhetoric...

No, the Will of Fire was merely feel-good nonsense that did not even qualify as a theory.

Having been systematically taught by Menma-nii, Naruto utterly disdained the so-called Will of Fire.

Especially Hiruzen Sarutobi's twisted and distorted version of the "Will of Fire."

Naruto calmed himself and said helplessly, "Fox Teacher, this is so boring. Where did Menma-nii go this time?"

"Menma..."

Kurama scratched his bulging belly inside the Sealing Space and said, "He probably went to get your birthday present."

A birthday present?

A trace of anticipation flashed through Naruto's eyes.

Everyone, please keep reading! After you finish the latest chapter, make sure to scroll to the final "To Be Continued" screen! If there are enough follow-up reads, I'll have the confidence to ask the editor for a massive update spree!