Reclaiming the Sharingan

Chen Baojun, an Elite Jonin, had mastered every Taijutsu style in Konoha and blended them together, creating a powerful technique known as the "Dragon God."

A year ago, his chosen disciple had died on the battlefield. Heartbroken and disillusioned, he erected a gravestone for himself at the village entrance and faked his death to withdraw from the world.

One of the practitioners of the Eight Inner Gates.

Might Duy, a Konoha Genin, could barely use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, but he was exceptionally gifted in Taijutsu and possessed an unwavering will. Danzo had taken a liking to him and forbidden him from leaving the village on missions. As a result, he had earned the mocking title of "Eternal Genin" over the years, but he paid it no mind. He trained his body tirelessly every day for the sake of the village, all for the moment he would finally bloom.

One of the practitioners of the Eight Inner Gates.

Besides those two, there had been another in Root. However, during the Shinobi World War, he had exhausted his vitality while escorting vital intelligence and died on the battlefield.

The Hyuga Clan and Inuzuka Clan should each have had one person according to their allotted shares. However, that had been an oath Senju Tobirama made with the two clans. Even in Danzo's memories, there were no detailed records of the candidates. Moreover, after the Second Hokage's death, whether the two clans had upheld that agreement remained unknown.

To prevent any mishaps, Guo Wang intended to give Chen Baojun an opportunity, having him work with Orochimaru to maintain absolute suppression over the Land of Water.

He truly could not bear to use a simple pawn like Might Duy, whose heart held no darkness.

But clearly, someone did not appreciate the gesture.

Two figures blurred and crossed in rapid succession. The crackling sounds of Taijutsu clashes rang out, followed by sharp bursts of air that made Guo Wang, standing some distance away, activate his Sharingan. Only with the tomoe spinning in his eyes could he barely make out the speed of the two combatants.

"Orochimaru, I am already a dead man. Why must you make things difficult for me?"

Short in stature, with two thin mustaches, sunglasses, and a green headscarf, Chen Baojun struck with fierce fists and windlike kicks. In a contest of pure Taijutsu, he actually suppressed the soft-bodied Orochimaru.

"I had only heard that you combined the two great styles of Leaf Strong Fist and Gentle Fist, earning the title of strongest Taijutsu shinobi. I did not know you had also trained in the Eight Inner Gates. As for forbidden techniques, I have an extraordinary interest in them."

After twisting away from a Leaf Whirlwind, Orochimaru's vertical pupils flashed coldly. A sharp sword emerged from his mouth, stabbing toward Chen Baojun, who was suspended in midair with no way to leverage himself.

"Leaf Dragon God!"

A gust of wild wind howled as a palm-sized tornado descended, knocking aside the Kusanagi Sword controlled by the Sword of Sky.

"A change in airflow triggered purely through Taijutsu? There is also a special method of Chakra manipulation within it. You have already incorporated part of the Eight Inner Gates' essence into your own Taijutsu. A fine test subject."

Though he lacked a Sharingan like Guo Wang's, Orochimaru's years of experience dissecting bodies and breaking down Ninjutsu allowed him to grasp most of the technique's principles after seeing it once.

"My death certificate was personally approved by the Third Hokage. Orochimaru, are you defying the Hokage's orders?"

The pale-skinned youth before him was even stronger than Chen Baojun had imagined. Without opening the Eight Inner Gates, his proud Taijutsu could not gain even the slightest advantage. If Orochimaru had not deliberately wanted to observe the forbidden technique and had attacked at full strength, Chen Baojun probably could only have fled.

"A death certificate? I truly know nothing about that. I came here under that lord's orders. He needs you to accompany me to the border of the Land of Water."

"Danzo!"

Chen Baojun did not need the name spoken to know why Orochimaru had come for him. Compared to Konoha's Hokage, this darkness hidden within Root made even him, a veteran of countless battles, shudder.

The first time he had seen him was at the side of the blue-armored, silver-haired Second Hokage.

That cold-faced boy with black hair and black eyes had shouldered half the village's darkness while still in his teens. No matter how much Chen Baojun disliked his conduct or despised his methods, upon hearing that name, he was reminded of those days that had been worse than death.

"Though it is his order, if I am to act, I still need the Third Hokage's permission..."

"Oh? Since when could the Third Hokage's orders override the Second Hokage's? If this old man remembers correctly, you swore before Teacher Tobirama that you would burn your last drop of blood for Konoha, a dead soldier under this old man's command."

An aged voice rang out. At some unknown point, Guo Wang, clad in a black overcoat over white inner garments, had arrived before the two men's gravestones. His gaze fell upon Chen Baojun, who could not help taking a step back, unable to meet his eyes.

"I naturally will not break my oath, but the Second Hokage is already dead. It is now the Third Hokage..."

Before Chen Baojun could finish, he felt the air around him turn heavy. His breathing quickened, and his remaining words caught in his throat, unable to come out.

"You must understand that the Third Hokage can only secretly excuse a deserter like you. If this old man turns you into a real corpse here, he will not say a single extra word over it."

The overwhelming aura forced Chen Baojun back again and again. This Taijutsu master who had faked his death no longer possessed the vigor of his youth.

"I understand."

Naka Shrine.

The Uchiha Clan's Regular Meeting was underway. Fugaku sat at the head, with every clansman who had awakened their eyes gathered before him.

"Clan Leader, Kakashi's Sharingan must be reclaimed. Those eyes can only belong to our clan."

"That is right. Even if Obito was trash, he was still an Uchiha, and he had awakened Three Tomoe. This cannot be treated lightly."

"And Elder Danzo's eye—that is a Mangekyo..."

At those words, the previously clamorous underground chamber suddenly fell silent. Everyone turned their gaze toward the long-haired man who had spoken, cold sweat immediately beading on his forehead.

"The war has not ended. We cannot throw the village into turmoil over our own concerns. Let this matter end here."

"Clan Leader!"

Some of the more radical members were still unwilling to let it go. Danzo was a Kage-level expert, and after receiving a Mangekyo, he had even been able to defeat the Raikage head-on. The Uchiha Clan could not match him in either strength or influence. But Kakashi was merely a Jonin. Though he belonged to the Hokage faction, he was still separated from the Third Hokage by two generations. Furthermore, his father bore a stain on his name, which could serve as a pretext to reclaim the Sharingan.

"Shisui, what do you think?"

After hesitating for a moment, Fugaku turned his gaze toward the youth in the corner, attending the Regular Meeting for the first time.

Kagami Uchiha's line had always served as the bridge between the clan and the village, but that seat had previously belonged to Shisui's father. After his death, Fugaku had worried that communication with the village would become impossible. Yet he had not expected Shisui Uchiha to be so outstanding.

Not only had he joined the Anbu, but he had also been accepted as a disciple by that important figure from Root.

Most importantly, he had awakened the village's third pair of Mangekyo.