Slash Release! Crimson Eye

Intel from the Iwagakure front lines also reached Orochimaru.

Looking over the intelligence, Orochimaru fell into deep thought.

Wasn't the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Kushina?

No matter how muddled the Old Man got, he wouldn't make an Uchiha into a jinchuriki!

There had to be some anomaly here that This Humble One didn't know about.

Still...

Defeating the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, clashing head-on with Dust Release...

Forcing Ōnoki to agree not to invade the Land of Fire for half a year...

This brat's rate of evolution was far too fast!

And there was another piece of covert intel.

Danzo had ordered Namikaze Minato to reinforce the Land of Wind battlefield, but he had disobeyed.

Even though the Iwagakure front was temporarily safe, Minato still refused to help Orochimaru—his intentions were worthy of death.

"Heh."

Orochimaru burned the Root secret letter and let out a cold laugh.

"Just a shadow lurking behind the Old Man. Since you've chosen to be a shadow, don't think about stepping into the light."

After some deliberation, Orochimaru personally wrote a letter and handed it to his Summoning White Snake.

Land of Fire border.

After several days of recovery, all the bandages had been removed except for the brace on his arm.

His newly grown skin was pale and delicate, making Kagami Uchiha look even more handsome.

A small white snake appeared beside him, spitting out a scroll.

"Jing-kun, reading this is like seeing you in person.

I heard you were unwell, and my heart is troubled, but the battle ahead is intense, and I cannot leave my post.

I have specially authorized Jonin Namikaze Minato to escort you back to the village for recovery.

As your uncle by seniority, I have failed to protect you.

Attached is a scroll of a self-created Chakra Activation Technique; please study it at your leisure."

Kagami Uchiha silently flipped through it. It was Orochimaru's ideas on body modification, using chakra to stimulate cell activity—a form of self-healing technique in disguise.

It was likely the precursor to his later Regeneration Ninjutsu.

This technique was precious; by analogy, it was equivalent to Jiraiya's secret art, the Wild Lion's Mane Technique.

At this point, Orochimaru had not yet joined Root as the Third Hokage's spy, nor had he been influenced by Danzo. His ideas weren't yet twisted.

His purpose in doing this might not have been that complicated...

Simply because he wanted to become Hokage and needed to rally powerful supporters.

When did Orochimaru truly fall?

The exact time was uncertain, but it was definitely after Namikaze Minato succeeded as the Fourth Hokage.

Orochimaru might not have cared about the Hokage position itself—he just wanted Sarutobi Hiruzen's recognition.

In simple terms: I can not want it, but you can't not give it.

Given Orochimaru's status and position, what kind of ninja couldn't he get for experiments? Why did he have to pick ordinary ninjas from the village?

With his intelligence, would he really get caught red-handed?

Of course, that didn't mean Orochimaru was a good person forced into that path.

It was just that this venomous snake still cared about his teacher at the time and restrained himself.

Kagami Uchiha wouldn't define the people he met now based on the images from his original memories. As Namikaze Minato said, people change.

Of course, except for Shimura Danzo.

That guy had been set in stone since the day the Second Hokage died—resentment and regret haunted him his entire life.

He could only spare no effort in carrying out the Second Hokage's ideals to prove himself.

Right now, Shimura Danzo still harbored the illusion that Hiruzen would pass the title to him. In a few years, when he realized Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't choose him...

That was when he would go mad, colluding with Orochimaru to continue the Wood Release and Sharingan research.

Kagami Uchiha would never allow that filthy man to lay a hand on the power of the Sharingan.

He had to find a way to send Shimura Danzo to his grave in this battle.

Perhaps... the Land of Rain would serve as his burial ground.

Before long, Namikaze Minato walked in with Kakashi.

"Yo, Kagami Senior Brother, that's quite a beating you took~"

Kakashi shot a cold glance at him. "You think I can't kill you with one hand?"

"I can! Of course I can!"

Kakashi leaned in to examine Kagami Uchiha's right arm. "I heard all about it—you actually drove off the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure! That's insane, way too crazy!"

I gave it my all, paid a heavy price, just to tank one of his jutsu.

And it's already blown up into me driving off the Tsuchikage...

Seeing Kagami Uchiha frown, Minato said, "That rumor came from Iwagakure's side."

"The newly risen Uchiha genius not only defeated the Four-Tails Jinchuriki but also forced the Third Tsuchikage to retreat, setting a six-month pact."

"You've already got a title out there now."

Praise to kill...

As for the six-month pact, Kagami Uchiha never took it seriously.

He'd already planned to send word to Cloud Village—Iwagakure was vulnerable, why not swoop in for a raid?

But someone else had beaten him to it.

Raising an eyebrow, Kagami Uchiha asked with interest, "What title?"

"Slash Release! Crimson Eye!"

Kakashi made an exaggerated slashing motion with both hands, his voice dripping with envy.

"That's such a cool title! Just like my father's!"

That epithet... isn't auspicious...

Rubbing his brow, Kagami Uchiha looked at Minato. "Why did you call Kakashi back?"

Minato placed a hand on Kakashi's head and smiled. "I've thought it over carefully. Unless absolutely necessary, at his age, he shouldn't be on the battlefield."

"Huh?"

Kakashi was taken aback. That wasn't what Minato had said before they came—he'd been on patrol, and Minato had picked him up, claiming there was an important mission.

"Lord Orochimaru sent me a message, telling me to take you back to the village to recover, so I figured I'd bring Kakashi along too."

"I heard from Kushina that there's a girl at the Ninja Academy who keeps asking where Kakashi went."

"And a certain Uchiha youth has been asking about you and Kakashi as well."

Kakashi thought back. There were plenty of girls at the Academy who liked following him around... the worst one was probably Rin.

As for the Uchiha youth, he didn't need to guess.

Obito.

"I'm already a Chunin, Minato Senior Brother. Don't you trust my abilities?" Kakashi grumbled, feeling disrespected.

"Kagami's already made a name for himself, and I want to too!"

Kagami got injured and went back—that made sense. I haven't even done anything yet, so why should I go back like this?

Kagami Uchiha looked at Kakashi. With his father still alive and Minato and Jiraiya stepping in to guide him, he hadn't fallen into that dark period.

He'd matured early into an adult personality—sly, lazy, and unserious.

And he loved reading Icha Icha Paradise.

Tch. If you ever saw the original history of the Ninja World, you'd get on your knees and thank my ancestors eight times over.

Comparing yourself to me? You think you're worthy, you white-haired brat?

"Kagami! What's with that look!"

"Don't just stay silent—that's the look you give a loser, isn't it!"

Kakashi knew that look all too well. He used to give it to Obito all the time.

Karma, basically.

"Cut it out, Kakashi."

Kagami Uchiha tapped Kakashi's forehead with his left finger, a light flick.

"You've still got a long way to go. Go back to the village and play ninja games with them."

"Bastard! What did you say!"

Watching his two junior disciples bicker, Minato wore a gentle, motherly smile.

He put a hand on each of their shoulders.

"Alright, consider it a temporary vacation. Get ready."

Whoosh!