Clearly, the ten-something Shisui Uchiha was perfectly suited to participate in this Chunin Exam and display the strength of the Uchiha Clan.
This was not merely about the clan's pride.
It might even influence the election for the Fourth Hokage.
"We will have Shisui participate."
The couple nodded with grave expressions. Naturally, they understood the stakes of this Chunin Exam.
A moment later.
The Amegakure ninja allowed them through.
The three stepped into Amegakure.
Inside Amegakure, at the Central Tower.
In a room at the top of the tower.
Fugaku Uchiha and the other two drew aside the curtains and met the Demigod, Hanzo of the Salamander.
The two sides first exchanged a few pleasantries.
Then Fugaku Uchiha explained why they had come.
Konoha wanted Amegakure to provide a definite answer.
"Lord Hanzo, please consider this carefully," Fugaku Uchiha reminded him.
"Is that a threat?"
Hanzo asked in return.
His face showed neither sorrow nor joy. Because of his unusual Mask Respirator, Fugaku Uchiha could not discern what he was truly thinking.
"In the end, the Ninja World speaks with strength..."
Fugaku Uchiha calmly said as he stared into those unusual eyes.
The two simply locked gazes.
Shisui Uchiha's parents could not help but grow tense.
After all, though Amegakure was small, it was guarded by the invincible ninja of this era—the Demigod.
If they truly fought, they would gain absolutely nothing from it.
After a while, Hanzo smiled. "As expected of the Uchiha, renowned throughout the Ninja World for the power of their Sharingan. You speak directly. Compared to many hypocrites, you are better by far..."
"..."
Fugaku Uchiha's expression shifted slightly.
He had not expected Hanzo to speak like that.
He had assumed that all those in high positions were hypocrites.
It seemed the Demigod was somewhat different after all.
"If I say no, the large Konoha force stationed near our Amegakure will take action, won't it..."
Hanzo suddenly said.
Clearly, he already knew what Konoha was doing.
"That depends on the instructions from the village higher-ups," Fugaku Uchiha replied in the same calm tone.
Hanzo nodded. He knew Fugaku Uchiha was merely a messenger, so he answered, "Very well. I will agree. But can Konoha fulfill the conditions you offered?"
Upon hearing Hanzo agree to the alliance.
The couple standing behind Fugaku Uchiha could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Wonderful...
The war was finally about to end...
This meant the mission had been completed perfectly as well, didn't it?
"Konoha will help Amegakure establish its sovereignty and eliminate Akatsuki," Fugaku Uchiha said quietly.
"There is no need to trouble your village over this... It is a minor nuisance. This old man can resolve it with a wave of his hand."
How could Hanzo not understand?
Konoha's supposed help in preserving Amegakure's sovereignty was false.
Its true purpose was to weaken the forces within the Land of Rain.
Though the Akatsuki formed by Yahiko had some problems, they were ultimately people of the Land of Rain.
When facing the Five Great Nations, they should unite and stand together against outsiders.
"Murdering so many high-ranking officials and nobles, as well as officials from various nations, is no minor nuisance..."
After saying that, Fugaku Uchiha stared fixedly at Hanzo.
"I will speak plainly, Lord Hanzo. The diplomatic wording given to us by the village was that Amegakure must hand over the culprits from the Akatsuki Organization and provide an explanation to the Daimyo and lords of every nation..."
"Mm..."
Hanzo rose to his feet, indicating that he understood.
"I will have my men track Akatsuki's movements."
Track them?
Fugaku Uchiha frowned upon hearing that.
Clearly, Hanzo was using another delaying tactic.
He said track, not eliminate.
Seeing Fugaku Uchiha's doubtful expression, Hanzo understood. "The Akatsuki Organization is a group of young people. The problem is that youthful passion makes them prone to impulsiveness. The one who gave the orders naturally bears fault, but the others... This old man believes they can be recruited into Amegakure."
He did not intend to truly eradicate Akatsuki.
Instead, he wanted to find a scapegoat and call it settled?
After absorbing Akatsuki, Amegakure would become even stronger and possess more bargaining chips when negotiating with Konoha...
"In that case, Lord Hanzo, I will report your words truthfully to Konoha's higher-ups... And besides..."
Fugaku Uchiha abruptly changed the subject.
"They are not as easy to reason with as we Uchiha are..."
Your scheme was not bad.
But when it came to calculation—or ruthless cunning—even a Demigod could not compare to Konoha's higher-ups, who had spent years immersed in politics.
Shisui Uchiha's Age and Strength Supplement
Official novel, Itachi's Story.
During the final stage of the Third Shinobi World War, around the time Minato Namikaze took office, in the period known as the "postwar era," before the Nine-Tails Attack.
Shisui Uchiha already possessed the Sharingan.
During one mission with a friend, he fell into an enemy encirclement.
While escaping.
Shisui Uchiha withdrew the hand he had extended, because he had envied his friend's brightness and excellence ever since their days at the Ninja Academy.
In the end, he caused his good friend's death.
Out of guilt, he awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Around the time he awakened his eyes, Shisui Uchiha was still a Genin.
After the Nine-Tails Attack, following Minato Namikaze's death.
Shisui Uchiha only gradually rose to prominence and gained the title Body Flicker Shisui.
It was not like in many fanfictions, where Shisui Uchiha slaughtered everyone during the Third Shinobi World War...
Entering Amegakure
While Fugaku Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha's parents were meeting Hanzo.
At the entrance to Amegakure.
Three more visitors arrived.
"Who goes there?!"
The guards immediately readied their weapons and blocked their path.
When Asuka pulled back her raincoat and revealed her true face, the guards' eyes widened instantly. "Asuka Young Lady!"
They immediately stepped to either side and let Asuka pass.
Having not seen Asuka for a week, the guards looked extremely excited.
"You seem quite popular."
Shennong followed behind, watching the guards' expressions.
Clearly, Hanzo's Granddaughter was well liked.
"These two are important guests. I will take them to see Grandfather."
Asuka briefly introduced Shennong and Mingren as honored guests, then led them into Amegakure.
Splash...
Fine rainwater pattered down onto the stone ground.
Mingren raised his head and surveyed this steel city built upon the sea.
An aura of steampunk washed over him.
"What do you think? Magnificent, isn't it?"
Shennong smiled.
After wandering about for five years, he had crossed countless mountains and rivers throughout the Land of Rain.
Yet this was the first time he had brought his disciple to somewhere as magnificent as Amegakure.
But Shennong did not know.
Mingren was studying Amegakure not because he had never seen the world, but out of curiosity.
He compared every scene from the manga to reality, matching them one by one.
He even spotted the hand of the Asura statue atop the Tower where Deva Path Pain would often stand in the original story.
Of course.
With his arrival, every future development was bound to change.
In the war-ravaged Land of Rain.
Amegakure was filled with ceaseless crowds and densely packed buildings.
Its various drainage ditches, sewers, and other drainage and waterway facilities were especially advanced.
The scent of seawater rushed toward them.
The Land of Rain was also home to a famous scenic location from the manga where a certain Sannin would perish.
"There certainly are quite a lot of people..."
Shennong said meaningfully.
Perfect for conducting some experiments in the future.
Very soon.
Asuka led Mingren to Amegakure's Central Tower.
Before you continue