They talked late into the night.
"Sou, on behalf of the entire Frontline Defense Force, I want to thank you for what you've done."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood and bowed deeply to Uchiha Sou.
"I'll make sure to tell the Hokage everything, exactly as it happened. Given how fair he is, you'll earn at least an A-rank Ninjutsu for this—maybe even one of his own techniques.
As for your accomplishments, I'll announce them to everyone when the time is right..."
"Wait!"
Was he seriously going to repay my kindness with trouble? Uchiha Sou had been about to exchange a few polite words, but the moment he heard Hiruzen mention making his deeds public, he hurriedly cut in.
"Please don't, Eldest Brother Hiruzen. My strength is only around Special Jonin level at best. I'm not worthy of that kind of recognition. Just tell the Hokage about it privately.
As for everyone else, say the information came from the reconnaissance ninja afterward. Sorry for the trouble."
He knew all too well that a tree that stood out in the forest would be battered by the wind. With his current strength, he couldn't withstand the scrutiny of the major factions.
Others might not know it, but he understood that luck had played a major part in his obtaining the intel this time.
Besides, compared to empty fame, what he wanted more was tangible rewards—and plenty of time to grow.
That was the fundamental reason he'd done his best to delay the Shinobi World War.
"...I understand."
Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to realize something. After a moment of silence, he promised earnestly, "I'll keep what happened this time strictly confidential.
"And... I'll also try to persuade the Hokage on your behalf about your duel with Danzo."
He wasn't very confident about that. After all, Uchiha Sou had committed a grave offense. He hadn't tried to assassinate some ordinary member of the Senju Clan, but Tsunade Highness, one of the most beloved people in the entire Senju Clan—and even in Konoha.
The fact that Tobirama Senju had given Sou a chance to live had already astonished Hiruzen and the other students who knew him well.
"Then thank you."
Uchiha Sou smiled and nodded.
He wasn't surprised that Hiruzen knew about the duel. After all, if even this trusted confidant didn't know, why would Tobirama Senju have put him in charge of directing the fighting on the front lines?
As for the duel, he'd been a little worried about it a few days ago. But after that heart-pounding escape, both his strength and his perspective had improved considerably.
The Lightning Release Armor alone, if he could use it properly, would make improving his physical abilities no problem. And that was without even considering all the varied Ninjutsu he'd copied with his Sharingan.
Once he'd absorbed and mastered all of them, forget one Danzo—even two...
He was confident he could get away!
After saying goodbye to Hiruzen, Uchiha Sou fed Kagami some of the food that had been brought over, set a few warning threads around the tent, then leaned back inside and fell into a deep sleep.
The long journey of the past few days had left him utterly exhausted.
The next morning.
"Lord Hokage, Lord Hiruzen has sent S-rank Intel through a Summoning Beast."
The Tiger Mask Anbu appeared beside Tobirama in an instant, holding out a scroll with both hands as he spoke in a low voice.
"Oh? S-rank?"
Tobirama Senju raised an eyebrow, took the scroll, and began to read it carefully.
Ten minutes later.
His eyes lit up as he looked at the name "Uchiha Sou," which appeared dozens of times throughout the scroll.
It was him?
He hadn't expected that a move he'd made on a whim would have such an immeasurable impact on the entire war.
"Heh... Hiruzen doesn't often praise someone this much. Looks like he wants me to change my mind and cancel the duel between Sou and Danzo."
Knock, knock...
Tobirama gazed pensively at the report as he tapped his fingers on the desk.
The main reason he'd spared Sou in the first place was that Sou was closely related to Kagami by blood. His potential should have been decent, so Tobirama had given him another chance to live.
He hadn't expected the boy to surprise him so much in just a week or two.
Fortunately, that Uchiha's Idiot Pig didn't seem to value this talent for now. Otherwise, winning Sou over would have been even harder.
With that thought, Tobirama turned to the Tiger Mask Anbu, who was still kneeling on one knee, and said coldly,
"Nothing about this report ever happened. Understood?"
"...Yes. I'm here only to report the recent situation on the front lines to you, Lord Hokage." The Tiger Mask Anbu understood, lowered his head, and replied.
"Good. You may leave."
Whoosh!
The figure vanished, and silence returned to the room.
Phew...
A flame ignited at Tobirama's fingertips and burned the scroll to ash in an instant.
"Since I want to win him over...
"That makes it even more important not to cancel the duel. With Danzo's strength, even if the boy awakens his Sharingan in the short term, he still won't be a match for him.
"Then I'll swoop in with Flying Thunder God Descent, show him some kindness, and take him in as my dog!
"Perfect!"
Frontline Base.
Crackle...
Inside the tent, blue electric arcs flickered across Uchiha Sou's entire body. On closer inspection, the arcs were much stronger than they'd been a few days ago, both in color and size.
He shifted his gaze to the Skill Panel in front of him.
[Lightning Release Armor 0/100] [B-rank Ninjutsu: Wraps the body in lightning to increase its hardness and speed, and activate the body like armor]
"Just as I thought—it's the Lightning Release Armor, as famous as Flying Thunder God!"
Uchiha Sou was overjoyed.
After all, he'd already guessed that it was the Lightning Release Armor during his fight with Ginkaku, but that had only been a guess. Now that it was confirmed, he finally had a real sense that he'd obtained the secret technique.
I wonder if I'll be able to catch up to the Second Generation's Flying Thunder God once I've mastered this—and kick him right in his little butt.
Heh, just thinking about it got him a little excited.
"Same method as before. I'll test how well it trains my physical abilities."
He began doing push-ups on the ground.
One, two... until he reached a hundred.
With his current physique, he finished the set in just a few dozen seconds.
Yet the panel still hadn't shown any progress.
"Looks like ordinary exercise doesn't work anymore because my physical abilities have improved." Uchiha Sou considered the matter.
Should he add a few more sets?
Crack!
The Lightning Release around his body began to grow unstable.
He seemed to realize what was happening, and his expression changed.
"This feeling... I'm running out of chakra!"
With that thought, he quickly withdrew the Lightning Release Chakra around his body. He still remembered all too clearly what had happened the last time his Lightning Release went out of control.
At the strength he'd just been using, if it went haywire, he wouldn't just end up twitching from the lightning striking his body.
Uchiha Sou closed his eyes and carefully sensed how much chakra he had left. His face darkened at once.
He'd woken up with his chakra nearly full, but now he had barely a trace remaining.
His chakra reserves were already close to those of an ordinary Jonin.
"The Lightning Release Armor consumes a terrifying amount of chakra! No wonder even the Fifth Generation Raikage of the Cloud Village couldn't master this technique!"
If he hadn't been blessed with a Destiny, he probably wouldn't even have been qualified to learn it!
But...
Although his plan to use the Lightning Release Armor in battle had fallen through, there were plenty of ways to grind its progress. As long as he kept at it, he'd gain insights and feedback.
Once the two were combined...
"Then my Thunder Breathing will become the true Armor of the Thunder God of the entire Shinobi World!"
Uchiha Sou clenched his fists, his fighting spirit high as he murmured to himself.
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