I Have a Divine Tree

As he looked at Kazuna's Mangekyō Sharingan, a thought suddenly flashed through Shisui's mind.

What expression would the Third Hokage wear if he knew the Uchiha now had three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan?

He remembered something Kazuna had once said... Your smile looks even uglier than crying!

After a moment of silence, Shisui looked at Itachi, his eyes filled with shock and regret. "Itachi, when did you awaken your Mangekyō?"

As the owner of a Mangekyō Sharingan, Shisui knew all too well how heart-wrenching the equivalent price for such eyes was.

Although Kazuna also had a Mangekyō, Shisui was more inclined to believe that he had awakened it during the Third Shinobi World War.

On that battlefield of blood and fire, nothing that happened would have been surprising.

The deaths of comrades and loved ones could all become triggers.

But what about Itachi, who had lived in peacetime?

Why had Itachi been pushed to such a point as well?

A rare trace of embarrassment appeared on Itachi's face. He scratched his head and said, "Brother Shisui, I understand what you mean. I didn't experience that pain."

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

Itachi lowered his head and said nothing.

Shisui came back to his senses and said apologetically, "Sorry, Itachi. I was just too shocked."

To a ninja, nothing was more important than intelligence. It concerned a ninja's life.

Probing into someone else's secrets was the most impolite thing to do, even if they were close friends!

"No, it wasn't that. It was just..."

Itachi opened his mouth, but did not know how to explain it.

"Because of me!"

At that moment, Kazuna suddenly cut in.

His words made Shisui's eyes widen once more.

Kazuna?

Because of him, Itachi had gained a Mangekyō?

Could a Mangekyō be artificially created?

"Hehe, don't make that face, Shisui. We all have some special abilities, don't we?"

Kazuna spoke meaningfully.

Shisui immediately thought of his Dojutsu, Kotoamatsukami.

Even he had been astonished by such a heaven-defying ability. It did not seem strange for Kazuna to possess some special power as well.

Seeing Shisui's enlightened expression, Kazuna smiled and sank his consciousness inward.

Within his Sea of Consciousness stood a towering ancient tree that seemed capable of containing the entire world.

It stood there, growing quietly.

Its trunk was thick and brimming with vitality.

Its bark was split apart like little dragons, exuding an ancient aura.

At the base of the tree was an aged face, complete with features and a long beard.

Its eyes were closed, as if it were asleep.

At the top of the tree grew two silver Fruits, sparkling like gemstones.

Kazuna's consciousness swept over the Fruits.

LV·3 (Fire Release)

LV·4 (Dojutsu)

This was Kazuna's cheat after being reborn into the Naruto world.

Kazuna called it the World Tree.

The World Tree grew by absorbing life energy.

Once its life energy reached a certain level, it bore Fruits. The more energy it had, the higher the Fruit's level.

Of the two current Fruits, the LV·3 one contained Fire Release power, while the LV·4 one contained Dojutsu power.

As for obtaining life energy... whether animals or humans, all of them could provide life energy.

As long as they lost the ability to resist!

During the Third Shinobi World War, Kazuna absorbed the life energy of ninjas.

After the war ended, Kazuna began absorbing the life energy within animals.

The two Fruits contained all the accumulation Kazuna had gathered over the past few years.

They could become Kazuna's power at any moment.

"Just a little more, and the Fire Release Fruit will advance to LV·4. I'll eat it once it reaches LV·6! And the third Fruit is about to appear!"

Kazuna stared deeply at the space between the two Fruits.

A peculiar power was gathering there.

When he had first arrived in this world, he had been lost and terrified.

If not for his cheat, he would have died long ago.

After killing his first enemy and absorbing that person's life energy, the first Fruit awakened. He set it as a Fire Release Fruit.

Although it had only been the initial LV·1, it had greatly increased the power of his Fire Release.

After consuming several more LV·1 and LV·2 Fruits, he became Blood Flame Kazuna.

For the second Fruit, he chose the Uchiha's Kekkei Genkai—the Sharingan!

That was how he awakened his Mangekyō!

He had long since planned out the third Fruit.

Although Shisui would not completely obey him, at least he would not ruin anything.

The pieces were on the board. The plan could begin.

A wicked smile appeared on Kazuna's handsome face.

The Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall from the Original Work seemed to be approaching. Did that mean... Shisui was about to die?

In that case, it was time to act!

He could not just let him die, could he?!

Besides, if Danzo obtained Kotoamatsukami, it would be a huge problem.

After dealing with Shisui and Itachi, Kazuna carried a birdcage and a teacup as he leisurely entered a secluded courtyard.

The courtyard had an ancient, solemn exterior. Its heavy gate was covered in cracks and bore the marks of time.

The courtyard was large, but there were few people inside, making it seem empty.

Kazuna was very familiar with the place and headed straight for the rear courtyard.

The servants and guards along the way respectfully greeted him when they saw him.

By the pond, beneath a cherry blossom tree, an old man sat before a pot of tea, seemingly admiring the flowers.

His face was gaunt, his gaze sharp, and a cold, sinister aura radiated from his body.

Even the air seemed to freeze.

"Yo, old man, what are you thinking about? You're not even hiding your killing intent."

Kazuna sauntered up to the old man and teased, "Don't tell me you're reminiscing about the time you rebelled and got beaten senseless by Hiruzen Sarutobi."

The old man's face darkened. He glared viciously at Kazuna and gritted his teeth. "You little bastard, are you itching for a beating?"

Kazuna plopped down, picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup, and began drinking without a care.

The old man's face darkened further. He glanced at the empty teacup before him. "What about mine?"

Kazuna looked surprised. "What I just said didn't make you so angry that you were full? Old man, has your tolerance gotten stronger?"

Bang!

Without a second thought, the old man grabbed the teacup in front of him and viciously hurled it at Kazuna's head.

The next moment, the teacup was back in front of him, already filled with steaming hot tea.

The old man had not seen the process at all.

Wisps of tea fragrance drifted through the air.

"Elder Setsuna Uchiha, you're already so old, yet your temper is still this explosive."

Setsuna Uchiha stared at Kazuna. The rage on his face slowly subsided, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

Genjutsu?

As an Elite Jonin, when had he fallen under one?

As he looked at the smiling Kazuna, a thought stirred in his heart.

This brat had grown stronger again!

"Go on, then. What made you willing to come visit this old man today?"

"What kind of thing is that to say?" Kazuna replied innocently. "You're my grandfather, my biological grandfather. Isn't it perfectly normal for me to visit you?"

Setsuna Uchiha sneered. "You think I'd believe that?"

"I don't believe it either!" Kazuna spread his hands. "But don't blame me. You're the representative of the Uchiha Hawk Faction, always stirring up trouble. Being your grandson is too dangerous. What if someone sacks me and knocks me out one day? I wouldn't even have anywhere to cry."

The veins on Setsuna Uchiha's forehead throbbed.

This grandson, who made him so proud, was still exceptionally skilled at infuriating people. He practically wanted to strangle him to death.

"Hehe!"

Kazuna chuckled. "Anyway, old man, I'm preparing to do something soon. Remember to cooperate."

Setsuna Uchiha frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Soon? At a time like this, when everything is so turbulent?"

The relationship between the village and the Uchiha was growing increasingly tense.

Small-scale clashes had already broken out in some places.

Accidents were also frequently occurring among the Uchiha clan's three major factions.

At a time like this, was Kazuna, with his sensitive status, not worried about becoming a target for everyone?

"It's precisely because there are so many problems that I have to step forward!"

Kazuna curled his lip and said irritably, "Old man, I have a feeling something big is about to happen. The Uchiha might even get wiped out one day."

"By whom?" Setsuna Uchiha said disdainfully. "Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others?"

I knew you'd have that tone and that expression. No wonder the clan got wiped out.

Think about it. How many times have you fought them openly and secretly? Which time weren't you beaten senseless?

Why can't you learn your lesson?!

"Don't underestimate them." Kazuna said lazily, "Look at us Uchiha. We were even forced to relocate our clan grounds. Yet none of you organized any proper counterattack."

"That's because Fugaku, as Clan Leader..."

"Stop making excuses, old man!" Kazuna cut Setsuna Uchiha off, his expression turning somewhat serious. "Isn't everything Fugaku Uchiha has done also influenced by Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others? For all we know, every move he makes is subconsciously following their way of thinking."

"All of you are merely pieces on someone else's chessboard."

Setsuna Uchiha's expression darkened further.

After a long while, he slowly said, "What do you want to do?"

Done! As expected of my biological grandfather. Choosing you as the breakthrough point was the right call!