Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms

"Who did this?!"

Danzo was stunned, disbelief and shock etched across his face.

No. Konoha was supposed to have only one rumor-monger—him, wasn't it?

He had already planned to lie low and live peacefully for a while. How had someone ended up plotting against him instead?! This was outrageous!

"Lord Danzo, we have not found anything for the time being. According to the investigation, the news came from a brothel, and the people involved were unfamiliar faces, so I'm afraid it will be difficult to find the rumor-monger."

The Root operative in the patterned mask spoke stiffly, without the slightest emotion.

"Damn it!" Danzo's expression turned even colder. "If Kaede and Toru were still here, we would have found the answer to such a simple matter long ago."

But now, Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Toru were both dead.

It was all Uchiha Akira's fault!

"No matter what, find the person spreading these rumors for me."

Shimura Danzō's triangular eyes were cold and sinister as his face remained hidden in the darkness.

"What filth has not been thrown upon this old man? When Orochimaru defected back then, this old man was smeared with filth as well. Yet now, this old man is still the leader of Root. If the rumor-monger thinks this will force this old man to submit, then their methods are far too childish."

He had experienced such things more than once.

The name Danzo could make children stop crying at night.

He spoke each word slowly, like a hungry wolf patiently waiting for prey on the grasslands. "Since you refuse to let this old man have peace, then this old man will play with you. Also, ask Orochimaru how the fusion of Wood Release and the Sharingan is progressing."

"This old man needs greater power!"

He was confident that rumors could not do him much harm.

Yet they had given him a faint sense of urgency. He had just killed Uchiha Shisui, and now another Uchiha Akira had appeared!

The Uchiha Clan truly never ended!

Senju Clan.

Uchiha Akira's family courtyard.

"This is fucking ridiculous."

Watching Asuma Sarutobi struggle to maintain Sage Mode, a trace of disdain appeared in his eyes.

"Tsk."

"Why the fuck can't you enter Sage Mode on your own? Are you going to need me to help you enter Sage Mode every time you fight in the future?"

What the hell.

Naruto had only just learned Sage Mode and was still inexperienced, but he could at least enter Sage Mode on his own. Asuma Sarutobi, on the other hand, needed Akira's help just to enter Sage Mode.

And he could only maintain it for one minute.

"Hehe, isn't it because my talent is poor?"

Asuma Sarutobi's face was full of excitement as he looked at Akira with reverence and gratitude.

His face was covered in intricate red markings, and his body had undergone subtle changes, becoming sturdier and darker.

"If it weren't for you, big brother, I would never have learned Sage Mode in my life. Being able to hold on for one minute already satisfies me. Once I can enter Sage Mode by myself, I'll definitely make the old man drop his jaw!"

He let out a long breath and straightened his back.

The gloom that had been suppressing him for years beneath the title of "Third Hokage's son" vanished at that moment!

He felt utterly refreshed, and the grievances of the past along with his awkwardness toward his father drifted away like clouds.

"Strange. I actually think the way I used to butt heads with the old man was kind of stupid."

Asuma Sarutobi scratched his head.

He felt that his former self had been rather unreasonable.

"Excessive inferiority makes people rude and unreasonable for no reason."

Uchiha Akira agreed wholeheartedly.

He spoke meaningfully. "So, when you feel inexplicably unreasonable or inferior, remember this: you are not truly being unreasonable. You hate that you lack sufficient strength. You hate your own weakness. That is why you must work even harder. Becoming stronger is the only path."

Because he was weak, he hated himself.

Because he worked hard, his heart became calm.

He remembered that in his previous life, there had been a time when he was extremely anxious and had no idea what direction to take. It was not until he encountered Wang Yangming's Philosophy of the Mind that the clouds cleared and his heart became utterly lucid.

"So that's how it is."

Asuma Sarutobi came to a sudden realization. All the changes in his emotions finally found their explanation and understanding at that moment.

Whether it had been his inexplicable dissatisfaction with the old man before,

His rebellious act of leaving Konoha,

Or his disgust toward the title "Hokage's son," all of it ultimately stemmed from his own lack of strength. But now, he possessed the strength to step into the Kage realm, and he owed it all to his big brother, Uchiha Akira!

He understood it very clearly.

Without Akira, he would at most have become an Elite Jonin in this lifetime!

"Th-This is unbelievable!"

Kurenai Yuhi's pretty face was filled with astonishment, her beautiful eyes wide. "Asuma, you actually entered Sage Mode. That means... you've already stepped into the Kage realm!"

What did a Kage-level expert represent?

As far as she knew, in all of Konoha right now... it seemed there was only the Third Hokage who was a Kage-level expert, wasn't there?

Her gaze toward Akira shone brilliantly!

"Akira, Akira, I don't care! I want to become a Kage-level expert too!"

Kurenai wrapped her slender arms around Akira. The soft touch and waft of fragrance stirred the heart, and when Uchiha Akira glanced sideways, he saw waves as turbulent as the sea.

Especially Kurenai's outfit.

The combination of white bandages and black clothing accentuated her slender, long legs.

It was truly enough to set one's heart racing.

"You're different from Asuma."

Uchiha Akira shrugged. "With your abilities, you can at most reach Elite Jonin."

"Why?!"

Kurenai crossed her arms and demanded indignantly, nearly face-to-face with Uchiha Akira. Akira could even see the fine fuzz on her fair face.

"I want to learn Sage Mode and become a Kage-level expert too!"

She had always been competitive since childhood and refused to fall behind others.

Now that she saw Asuma on the verge of becoming a Kage-level expert, she felt as though an invisible whip were urging her onward from behind!

"You don't have Chakra as decent as Asuma's."

Uchiha Akira shook his head and explained,

"The first requirement for entering Sage Mode is having a fairly massive amount of Chakra. Without it, you cannot gather much natural energy within your body. Naturally, entering Sage Mode would be out of the question."

It was like leveling up in a game. You needed enough experience before you could advance to the next level.

Without enough natural energy, she could not even activate Sage Mode, much less maintain it.

Kurenai immediately deflated.

Disappointment filled her eyes. "Honestly, sooner or later, I'll find a way to become stronger!"

Uchiha Akira did not respond.

Seeing that everyone had finished asking their questions, Hyuga Neji spoke with hope written all over his small face.

"Teacher, I've already learned the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. Next, I want to learn the Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms. Can you teach me?"

Last time, his teacher had taught him the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

This time, the Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms...

A trace of unease appeared on his face. As far as he knew, the Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms was a secret technique mastered only by the Main Family. Even Branch Family members had no chance to learn it, even after reaching adulthood!