I Can Also Talk, I Can Also Love Konoha!

Kazuhiko was deeply conflicted; how exactly should he choose his promotion mission?

This concerned the ultimate ocular technique he would awaken upon unlocking his Mangekyo Sharingan, so he could not afford to be careless.

The Mangekyo Sharingan of the Uchiha clan granted vastly different ocular techniques to different individuals.

Kotoamatsukami, Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, Kamui, and so on—aside from the Amaterasu that Itachi passed down to Sasuke, resulting in both possessing the same Mangekyo technique, no two Uchiha had ever shared the same ocular powers.

Therefore, his choice of mission would determine the type of ocular technique he would awaken in the future.

Based on the known Mangekyo techniques, he made his deductions:

Ninjutsu-type ocular techniques were the first to be ruled out by Kazuhiko.

Representative techniques: Amaterasu, Kagutsuchi.

Itachi's Amaterasu, the inextinguishable black flames, were touted as having the temperature of the sun and would burn the target to nothingness.

However, its actual combat record was dismal; no one had ever actually died from this technique.

Parentheses, White Zetsu are not people, end parentheses.

As for Kagutsuchi, it and Amaterasu were counted as two separate techniques, but without Amaterasu, you'd be playing with a hammer.

Regarding ninjutsu-type ocular techniques, Kazuhiko's assessment was that they were trash.

Amaterasu would burn for ages only to singe some clothes; aside from being useful against members of the Akatsuki who had a "must-strip-to-die" habit, it was high-consumption and slow-moving. Ninjutsu-type ocular techniques? Not even a dog would want them.

Genjutsu-type Uchiha Chunin.

"Genjutsu is my foundation, but since I can eventually obtain Kotoamatsukami and Tsukuyomi through Shisui and Itachi, choosing it now feels like a bit of a loss."

These were top-tier genjutsu, and there was even the Infinite Tsukuyomi beyond them.

If Kazuhiko truly chose the genjutsu path, he couldn't imagine any ocular technique that could surpass these top-tier Mangekyo abilities.

So, the genjutsu path was out?

But this mission could upgrade the [Genjutsu Mastery] entry.

If his genjutsu could advance further, he might be able to help Shisui awaken his Mangekyo.

With Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, Shimura Danzō would no longer pose a threat to Kazuhiko, or even the Uchiha clan.

"Genjutsu path: pending."

Had any Uchiha ever awakened a taijutsu-type ocular technique?

Did Madara's combat prowess, which rivaled Hashirama's, count?

If it did, then this taijutsu path seemed quite promising.

In the world of Naruto, even if you were at the Super Kage level, you would still die if you sustained a fatal injury.

A taijutsu-type Mangekyo that could enhance the body was very attractive to Kazuhiko, whose current taijutsu was a "battle power of five" scrub.

"Taijutsu path: pending, pending."

"Space-time ocular techniques, top-tier, definitely top-tier."

Obito's dual Kamui were simply broken mechanics; they were the best of the best among Mangekyo techniques.

As long as he could awaken a space-time ocular technique, no matter the specific mechanism, it definitely wouldn't be weak.

"But could it be stronger than Kamui?"

Kazuhiko put a question mark next to space-time ocular techniques.

"Space-time path: pending."

Summoning-type Uchiha Chunin?

What was the meaning of this?

Uchiha Druid!

That would certainly make for quite a spectacle during team fights.

Support-buff-type ocular technique.

"I don't play support! Who am I supposed to buff? Buff what, exactly?!"

Excluded! The support-buff path must be excluded.

"Sealing-type Uchiha... Rule-type ocular technique..."

They looked like they could be quite powerful.

The notification from [Deep Blue] suddenly rang out, interrupting Kazuhiko's internal struggle.

[Shimura Danzō's favorability towards you has dropped significantly to: Hatred (A naturally evil Uchiha brat; if he cannot be controlled by this old man, he must be erased immediately!)]

[Shimura Danzō independent entry card pool unlocked]

[Kage-level entry draw chance +2]

The sudden surge of hatred and the Kage-level entry draw chances left Kazuhiko stunned.

He immediately understood:

It must be that Danzō found out about Shota awakening the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

The Uchiha clan had long since become a sieve.

Senju Tobirama had established a system of institutionalized surveillance against the Uchiha clan.

After the Nine-Tails incident, the Third Hokage and Danzō had escalated this surveillance to an all-encompassing level.

Not a single person in the Uchiha clan was an exception; from Uchiha Fugaku down to the ordinary civilians, everyone was within the scope of surveillance.

In addition to the network of surveillance cameras, the Anbu, and the dual monitoring by the Root organization, sensory barriers had been set up around the Uchiha compound.

Through these barriers, the high-ranking officials of Konoha could capture fluctuations in Sharingan ocular power and large-scale chakra gatherings at any time.

With all these monitoring methods corroborating one another, the Uchiha had absolutely no secrets from Danzō and the Third Hokage.

After all, Danzō had even managed to master Izanagi, a forbidden Uchiha technique.

Therefore, Kazuhiko was not the least bit surprised that Danzō knew about the awakening.

What he was curious about was:

"Does Danzō really have Kage-level strength?"

He stroked his chin, carefully recalling.

In the original work, Danzō's strength had always been a mystery.

Kotoamatsukami plus ten Three-Tomoe Sharingan—in that state, there was no question; although he was soloed by Sasuke, his strength was undeniably Kage-level.

What did Danzō have now?

Summoning beasts, powerful Wind Style, an unknown number of sealing techniques, and perhaps the addition of the Sharingan and Izanagi.

Looking at it this way, it wouldn't be wrong to call him Kage-level.

Moreover, he was a disciple of Senju Tobirama himself, one of the Hokage candidates cultivated by the Second.

Compared to those top-tier Kage-level combatants, Danzō would be courting humiliation, but his strength could certainly count as an average Kage-level.

"Kage-level is good, Kage-level is wonderful..."

Kazuhiko looked at the entry draw opportunity contributed by Danzō, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

"Although you have a strong murderous intent toward me, I still have to thank you for this Kage-level opportunity."

A free draw opportunity—it would be a waste not to take it.

But his smile quickly faded, his eyes turning solemn.

Danzō's threat was no joke; that old thing would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

If he made up his mind to eliminate him, there was nothing he wouldn't do.

There is no logic in guarding against a thief for a thousand days.

He had to strike first before Danzō made up his mind.

Shimura Danzō and the Root organization, you just wait for This Lonely One!

Those who dare to criticize the faults of This Lonely One to his face shall be executed; those who remonstrate with This Lonely One shall be granted a self-inflicted death; those who slander and gossip in the markets and courts to reach the ears of This Lonely One shall have their nine generations exterminated.

[Sarutobi Hiruzen's favorability toward you has risen significantly to: Friendly (Continue to demonstrate your Will of Fire, and he will place great trust in you)]

[Sarutobi Hiruzen's independent entry card pool unlocked]

[Kage-level entry draw opportunity +1]

Kazuhiko looked at the [Friendly] level of favorability, feeling somewhat surprised.

If it were an Uchiha ninja, this level of favorability would already mean they held you in high regard.

They would look you in the eye and wouldn't look down their nose at you.

"I can continue to fleece favorability and draw opportunities from the Third... perhaps I'll have a chance to get some other benefits."

Although the Third wasn't exactly cut out to be Hokage, his ability to cultivate ninjas was beyond reproach.

The legendary Sannin—Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade—were all of Kage-level strength.

Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God, Might Duy's Eight Inner Gates, and the Kage-level combatant Hatake Sakumo all appeared and rose to fame in the ninja world during the Third's tenure.

This shows that the Third was still willing to cultivate and invest in Konoha's geniuses.

It was just that the level of protection provided to those geniuses was open to debate.

But that didn't matter.

I can also talk about the Will of Fire, and I can also love Konoha!

I welcome the Third Hokage to bestow upon this Uchiha genius the Flying Thunder God, the Eight Inner Gates, and the Impure World Reincarnation.

In the future, when I bear the name of Hokage, or even the titles of Raikage or Mizukage, I will surely make Konoha great again!