Slash Eyes

Intelligence from the Iwagakure front had also reached Orochimaru.

Looking at the intelligence, Orochimaru fell into deep thought.

Wasn't the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Kushina?

No matter how muddleheaded Teacher Hiruzen was, he couldn't possibly let a Uchiha become a Jinchuriki!

There had to be some abnormal circumstance he didn't know about.

However...

Defeating the Four-Tails Jinchuriki and taking on Dust Release head-on...

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

That kid's rate of evolution was far too fast!

There was another piece of secret intelligence.

Danzo had arranged for Namikaze Minato to reinforce the battlefield in the Land of Wind, but he had disobeyed the order.

The Iwagakure front was temporarily in no danger, yet Minato was still unwilling to help Orochimaru. His intentions were truly worthy of death.

"Heh heh."

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

"He's nothing more than a shadow hiding behind the old man. Since he chose to be a shadow, he shouldn't dream of stepping onto the stage again."

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

The border of the Land of Fire.

After several days of recuperation, all the bandages except the support on his arm had been removed.

The newly grown skin was fair and delicate, making Kagami Uchiha look even more handsome.

A small white snake appeared beside him and spat out a scroll.

"Kagami-kun, I hope this letter finds you well.

I heard that you were injured, and my heart aches for you. However, with the battle ahead in a critical state, I cannot spare the time to visit you.

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

As your junior uncle, I failed to protect you.

Enclosed is a Chakra Activation Technique I created myself. Please study it on your own."

Kagami Uchiha silently read through it. They were some of Orochimaru's ideas for modifying the body, using Chakra to stimulate cellular activity. It could be considered an indirect form of Regeneration Ninjutsu.

It was probably the forerunner of his later Regeneration Ninjutsu.

This technique was extremely precious. If one had to compare it, it was equivalent to Jiraiya's secret technique, Wild Lion's Mane Technique.

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

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

He simply wanted to become Hokage and win over powerful supporters.

When had Orochimaru completely fallen into depravity?

The exact point in time was uncertain, but it could be confirmed that it happened after Namikaze Minato succeeded to the position of Fourth Hokage.

Orochimaru might not have cared about the position of Hokage. He might only have wanted Sarutobi Hiruzen's recognition.

In simple terms, I can choose not to have it, but you can't refuse to give it to me.

Given Orochimaru's status, what kind of ninja could he not find for experiments? Did he really need to pick ordinary villagers?

With his intelligence, could he really have been caught red-handed?

Of course, that wasn't to say Orochimaru was a good man who had been forced into that state.

It was just that this venomous snake still cared about his teacher and was capable of restraining himself.

Kagami Uchiha would not define the people he encountered now according to their appearances in his original memories. Just as Namikaze Minato had said, people changed.

Of course, that excluded Shimura Danzō.

From the day the Second Hokage died, that man had been set in his ways. Dissatisfaction and regret had entangled him for the rest of his life.

He could only implement the Second Hokage's ideals with all his might, using them to prove himself.

At present, Shimura Danzō still fantasized that Hiruzen would pass the position of Hokage on to him. Once a few more years passed and he realized that Sarutobi Hiruzen would not choose him...

At that point, he too would descend into madness, colluding with Orochimaru to continue researching Wood Release and the Sharingan.

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

He had to find a way to send Shimura Danzō to his grave during this battle.

Perhaps... the Land of Rain would make a suitable burial ground for him.

Before long, Namikaze Minato walked in with Kakashi.

"Yo, Senior Brother Jing, you're pretty badly injured~"

Kagami gave Kakashi a cold glance. "You think I can't kill you with one hand?"

"I know you can! Of course you can!"

Kakashi moved closer to examine Kagami Uchiha's right arm. "I heard about it. You actually drove away the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure! That's amazing—no, that's absurdly incredible!"

I had fought with everything I had and paid a considerable price just to withstand one of his techniques.

And the story had already become me driving away the Tsuchikage...

Seeing Kagami Uchiha frown, Minato said, "The news was spread by Iwagakure."

"The newly risen Uchiha prodigy not only defeated the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, but also forcibly drove back the Third Tsuchikage and established a six-month pact."

"You already have a title circulating outside."

Was this a case of praising someone to death...?

What six-month pact? Kagami Uchiha had never taken it seriously.

He had originally planned to send someone to inform Cloud Village. Iwagakure was empty of defenses—why not take advantage of it?

Someone else had already done that job for him.

Raising his eyebrows, Kagami Uchiha asked with interest, "What title?"

"Slash Eyes!"

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

"What a cool title! It's just like my father's!"

That nickname really wasn't auspicious...

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

Minato placed a hand on Kakashi's head and said with a smile, "I've thought it over carefully. Unless absolutely necessary, someone his age shouldn't be sent to the battlefield."

"Huh?"

Kakashi froze. Before they came, Minato hadn't said that at all. He had still been patrolling when Minato came to pick him up, saying there was an important mission.

"Lord Orochimaru sent me a message, asking me to take you back to the village to recuperate. I thought I'd bring Kakashi back along the way."

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

"There was also a young Uchiha who asked about you and Kakashi."

Kakashi thought about it. There were plenty of girls at the Ninja Academy who liked following him around... The most serious one should be Rin.

As for the young Uchiha, there was no need to think about who it was.

Obito, of course.

"I'm already a Chunin, Senior Brother Minato. Do you still not trust my abilities?" Kakashi sounded somewhat dissatisfied, feeling that this was disrespectful toward him.

"Kagami has already made a name for himself. I want to as well!"

Kagami is returning because he was injured, which makes perfect sense. I haven't even done anything yet, so why am I being sent back?

Kagami Uchiha looked at Kakashi. His father had not died, and with Minato and Jiraiya intervening to guide him, he had not fallen into a dark period.

He had entered adulthood early, developing a scheming, aloof, lazy, and unserious personality.

He loved reading Icha Icha Paradise.

Tch. If you had seen the original history of the Ninja World, you would have to kneel and thank my ancestors for eight generations.

You want to compare yourself with me? Do you think a white-haired brat like you is worthy?

"Kagami! What kind of look is that?"

"Don't say anything. That's obviously the look you give a piece of trash, right?"

Kakashi was far too familiar with that look. He had often used it on Obito before.

This was karma coming back around.

"Stop fooling around, Kakashi."

Kagami Uchiha placed his left finger against Kakashi's forehead and flicked it lightly.

"You still have 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 laughing and bickering, Minato wore a smile as benevolent as a mother's.

He put one hand on each of their heads.

"All right, just treat it as a temporary vacation. Get ready."

Whoosh!