Naruto Bloodline Theory? Nothing but Trash — Chapter 48

Mingren suddenly realized.

Could it be...

Had Hanzo been waiting for him to go to Amegakure before making his final decision?

He shook his head and drove the thought from his mind.

He was not the sort of person to be arrogant and narcissistic enough to think that was possible.

Crunch.

With a casual squeeze, he crushed a head and brought the slaughter in the town to an end.

Mingren slowly lowered his blood-dripping right arm.

"Aren't you... afraid?"

Mingren turned slightly and looked at the girl behind him.

Over the past week, they had gotten rid of quite a few unsavory people.

Each time, his methods had been brutal. Intact corpses were rare.

Either their heads exploded, their chests were pierced through, or their bodies were folded in half.

In short, he did it however viciously he could.

After watching seven days' worth of different ways to die, Hanzo's Granddaughter should have known to back off by now.

Especially since every one of the dead had been found at his request, using her sensory abilities or investigative skills.

"..."

Asuka shook her head slightly.

She did not think there was anything wrong with it.

Because...

"Everyone you killed was a bad person. You're making this country better, so its people can live and work in peace, aren't you?"

Asuka's rhetorical question and affirmation represented the approval of someone his own age.

At that moment.

An idea formed in Mingren's mind.

Perhaps he could begin gathering companions with Hanzo's Granddaughter.

Then, he could unite more and more people and, through everyone's efforts, speed up the realization of his dream.

"Let's go."

After washing the blood from his arm, Mingren turned and put on his raincoat.

Where were they going next?

Asuka asked with her eyes.

"To Amegakure..."

Mingren gave the answer she had been waiting for.

"It's about time." Shennong nodded slightly and smiled. "Once we get to Amegakure, let's have a proper feast. My mouth's gone bland from eating nothing good..."

The three vanished into the rain curtain, setting off for Amegakure...

Far away, in Amegakure.

At the entrance to a bridge battered by wind and rain.

An envoy from Konoha presented a diplomatic scroll.

Over the past seven days.

Although Hanzo had replied several times, the contents had all been evasive and deliberately drawn out.

This had made the Konoha High Command somewhat impatient.

Every day the troops remained stationed there meant another day of food and money spent.

So they sent another envoy, intending to make one final diplomatic overture.

And this time.

They had sent the most suitable people.

"So this... is Amegakure's headquarters."

The square-faced Konoha ninja stared sternly across the water.

He waited for the other side to relay the message.

Behind him stood two companions, a married couple.

Their black hair and black eyes, along with the flame-patterned fan crests embroidered on their clothes, identified them.

These three were members of Konoha's famous great clan, renowned throughout the Ninja World... the Uchiha.

Several Amegakure guards watched the three Uchiha with tense expressions.

Not merely because the clan they belonged to was so famous, its strength feared throughout the Ninja World.

But also because of the identity of their leader... the head of the Uchiha Clan, Fugaku Uchiha.

"These Amegakure Ninja don't seem to bear us any goodwill..." The clansman standing behind Fugaku Uchiha frowned slightly as he swept his gaze over their impoverished faces.

"We've invaded them for years. Of course they'd react this way." His wife took over.

The Konoha High Command had also issued forceful diplomatic terms.

If Hanzo still refused to give an answer this time.

The three of them would directly declare that Konoha would continue the war against Amegakure.

Their confidence came from the large Konoha force already gathered nearby under the command of Danzo.

It could be said.

The war between the two countries would likely be clarified by Hanzo's decision today.

It would also determine the final direction and outcome of the Third Shinobi World War.

"Wait calmly. It's the only thing we can do now."

Fugaku Uchiha replied.

This diplomatic mission was extremely tricky.

If negotiations broke down, never mind whether the two nations went to war.

The fact that the high command had sent the Uchiha to carry out this mission made it obvious they wanted someone to take the blame.

Fugaku Uchiha could only grit his teeth and accept it.

After all, he was an Uchiha, but he was also a Konoha ninja.

No matter how absurd the high command's orders were, as a ninja of the village, he had to obey.

Talks Between Two Nations

Whoosh...

The rain continued pouring down.

"This weather... really is annoying..."

He looked up at the sky.

This was already the third day the three had spent in the Land of Rain.

For three consecutive days.

The rain in the Land of Rain had not stopped.

And according to common knowledge in the Ninja World, rain fell in the Land of Rain all 365 days of the year without interruption.

"By the way, Captain Fugaku, I heard from the clan that you sent Itachi to the battlefield..."

The married couple looked at Fugaku Uchiha.

While the Amegakure ninja went to report their arrival, the three standing at the bridge entrance began chatting about family matters.

"Yes." Fugaku Uchiha nodded.

"But Itachi is only four years old. Even if it's to let him witness the true nature of the Ninja World, isn't that too early..."

What if it caused serious psychological harm?

The couple asked.

"Don't worry. That boy is my son, after all. He can adapt."

At the mention of his son, Fugaku Uchiha's expression instantly turned serious.

"More importantly, Shisui. I heard that child has already awakened the Sharingan."

Fugaku Uchiha had come down from the battlefield without even having time to return home.

The Konoha High Command had immediately assigned him another task, sending him to Amegakure on this diplomatic mission.

Thus, he had only heard from fellow clansmen that the couple's child, Shisui Uchiha, had awakened the One-Tomoe Sharingan.

"As for Shisui, I heard him say that his eyes awakened only after his good friend was injured..."

Thinking of their son awakening the power within the Uchiha bloodline.

The couple could not help smiling.

One could still be an Uchiha without the Sharingan.

But only by awakening those eyes could one truly bring out the power of the Uchiha Clan.

"A good friend..."

Fugaku Uchiha's thoughts drifted for a moment.

During the previous great war.

His friend had died.

And because of that, he had gained the power known as the Mangekyō Sharingan.

But if it had been possible.

He would never have wanted his friend to die before his eyes.

"Then do you plan to let Shisui take part in this Chunin Exam?"

Fugaku Uchiha asked again.

Konoha's purpose in winning over the Land of Rain this time was nothing more than ending the Third Shinobi World War.

And whether Hanzo agreed to an alliance or not.

Konoha would hold a Chunin Exam, hoping to demonstrate Konoha's strength at the end of the Third Shinobi World War and bring the conflict to its final conclusion.

The Chunin Exam was a microcosm of war.

The reason they invited genin from every country was to reduce the scope of the war.

Using the Chunin selection as a chessboard and genin as the pieces.

They would conduct a miniature war game, making the other ninja villages concede willingly.

The Third Shinobi World War had lasted five years.

Countless people had died in the various ninja villages, and there had been no true victor.

Presumably, the Kage and leaders of the other ninja villages would agree to these terms.

And considering the age-appropriate candidates.