With the Hatake Clan and the Uchiha Clan working together, Konoha fell into a somewhat strange atmosphere.
Hatake Sakumo, one of Konoha's top fighters, had officially become the Uchiha Clan's chief consultant on ninja tools, taijutsu, and swordsmanship.
To Konoha High Command, the significance of this news was no less than the "giant Susanoo" Uchiha Fucheng had created earlier.
Both had an equally immense deterrent effect.
If the Uchiha Clan suddenly turned rebellious again, like Uchiha Setsuna had...
Until Jiraiya and Orochimaru returned to the village, Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't even confident he could face Uchiha Fucheng alone.
The Third looked at Danzo seated across from him, then wrestled with the decision. "Danzo, how about we recall the people we have in the Land of Rain for now?"
Danzo's eyes lit up, but he soon fell silent and shook his head.
"No. At least, not yet. I've received reliable intelligence that Hanzo might declare war on Konoha."
"Wasn't Hanzo preparing to attack the Sand Ninja? Why would he want to declare war on Konoha?" Sarutobi Hiruzen furrowed his brow.
"He's still fighting the Land of Iron. Has that arrogant bastard gotten so conceited that he wants to fight on three fronts?"
Shimura Danzo furrowed his brow and sighed. "Hanzo's actions may seem suspicious, but the intelligence I received this time is extremely reliable. A major war between Konoha and the Land of Rain is imminent. It seems unavoidable."
Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed his fist on the table! The Third was genuinely furious.
The Third was now in his prime, not yet burdened by the timidity and concessions that would come later.
Seeing Salamander Hanzo act so arrogantly only made Sarutobi Hiruzen's anger flare.
"If Hanzo wants to fight, then we'll fight until he submits!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen glared, his brows drawn together. "Does he really think he's the Demigod of the Ninja World? That bastard's been dumbed down by his salamander's poison gas!
"Since we can't suppress the Uchiha for now, we'll placate them a little in the village. At the very least, we should be friendlier toward them. Danzo, you need to rein in Root as well. Before the war, at least, don't provoke the young and hot-blooded new Uchiha clan head. After the war, we'll have plenty of time to think of other ways."
Danzo got to his feet, about to object, but faced with the Uchiha Clan's current strength, he swallowed his retort.
"Hiruzen, I need you to give me more authority. I need more shinobi from small clans to bolster Root. I need more resources and manpower to expand Root."
Shimura Danzo waved his right hand emphatically, his tone forceful.
Hiruzen remained unmoved by Danzo's words.
"We're facing a war. I don't have resources to spare either. Stop thinking about expanding Root. Give up on that idea."
Seeing that they were getting nowhere, Danzo didn't want to stay another half minute.
He stormed out in a huff.
Only when he reached the doorway did Danzo turn to glare at the Third, finally venting his anger.
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen barked, "Enough! Danzo, remember this: I'm the Hokage!"
Bang!
The office door slammed shut with a groan, bringing their discussion to an end.
The village had relaxed its surveillance, and the Uchiha Clan had been enjoying a very comfortable time lately.
Uchiha Fucheng also had Mikoto's team train every day alongside the young Uchiha shinobi under Hatake Sakumo's advanced tutelage.
The engagement ceremony Fucheng had carefully prepared was also held in grand style on the clan grounds.
Fucheng didn't care about the tedious details of the engagement ceremony.
What he was looking forward to was seeing how Mikoto would merge with the "mysterious-looking" grand prize for new players.
[Reward: Uchiha Fucheng's Fate Dice]
This was the reward for rolling a six.
The ball of energy, marked with a mysterious lightning symbol, could be guided by Fucheng to merge with a contracted follower.
At that moment, Mikoto and Fucheng sat facing each other in a sealed room.
Before using the reward, Fucheng had even activated his Mangekyō Sharingan so he could observe how the reward was used and merged.
Reward activated!
Follower: Misaka Mikoto!
Rebirth reward: Lightning
Follower reward [Merge].
Misaka Mikoto, enhanced into an Electro Master.
Ability gained: Electrokinesis (Level 5).
Can control one billion volts of high-voltage electricity, electromagnetic waves, and magnetism.
In Uchiha Fucheng's vision, Mikoto seemed to be dyed a dazzling blue-white by that mysterious energy.
Beyond the chakra he could perceive, an unfamiliar energy erupted from Mikoto's not particularly strong body.
"It's neither chakra nor any other familiar kind of energy."
Blue-white lightning, a static field that made your hair stand on end, and powerful electromagnetic waves that resonated with the metal in the room made Mikoto seem mysterious and formidable as she merged with the reward.
The system's display of its follower, Mikoto, also showed some new changes.
Misaka Mikoto (Uchiha Mikoto)
Age: 14
Level: Elite Chunin, Electrokinesis (Level 5)
Bloodline: One-Tomoe Sharingan, Esper—Electro Master
Fucheng sensed an extremely dangerous energy brewing inside Mikoto's body.
Mikoto, who had only possessed the strength of an elite Chunin, had gained power that surpassed that of an ordinary Kage-level ninja in an instant.
It wasn't just her strength that had changed. Even Mikoto's hair seemed to be turning from black to a slightly brownish shade as the energy merged with her.
Fucheng's eyes widened in surprise. "Even the Railgun girl's hair color came over? Is Mikoto's appearance going to change too?"
Fucheng stared worriedly at Mikoto's chest.
The lovely curves hadn't changed at all.
"Thank goodness." Only after confirming that her bust was unchanged did Fucheng relax.
Everything about the Railgun girl next door was great, except that her chest was painfully flat.
Seeing that her face and figure hadn't changed, Fucheng finally felt some of his tension ease.
If she'd changed completely into a different person, he and those around him would have no way to explain it.
When the lightning faded, Mikoto came to and looked at Fucheng delightedly.
"Lord Fucheng, I—I think I've gained an incredible power."
Fucheng smiled broadly. From Mikoto's words, it seemed the ability's fusion hadn't affected her mind or memories.
"Don't call me Lord Fucheng anymore. We're engaged now. Before we get married, call me Fucheng-nii. After we're married, you can call me 'darling.'"
Fucheng teased Mikoto. "Calling me 'Lord' now would make us sound so distant."
Mikoto blushed, but happily nodded. "All right. Then I'll—I'll call you Fucheng-nii for now."
Mikoto wanted to demonstrate her new ability, so she reached out and took a kunai.
"My new ability seems to let me use Lightning Release to control metal. No, that doesn't seem right. This ability isn't a chakra nature transformation. I can't quite explain it. But it's easier to control than chakra."
The kunai hovered in the air above Mikoto's palm.
It could move up and down, and even turn left and right.
Fucheng nodded. "The ability I had you merge with isn't Lightning Release, and it isn't chakra.
"It's a special power outside the ninja system. I call it Electro Master esper ability.
"The way it's used and controlled is very similar to Lightning Release, but it isn't just ordinary lightning. It's a unified ability made up of three elements: electricity, magnetism, and waves."
Fucheng explained the specific definitions of electricity, magnetism, and waves, along with some basic concepts in physics.
Only after seeing Mikoto settle down did Fucheng give her careful instructions.
"When using this ability, just tell people you awakened a new Lightning Release bloodline limit. You only need to keep the fusion and the specifics of the ability a secret."
Mikoto nodded solemnly.
After hearing Fucheng's detailed explanation, she felt that the Electro Master esper ability—which was so similar to Lightning Release—seemed as if it had been made just for her!
Looking at the delighted Mikoto, Fucheng gently ruffled the girl's now-brown hair, enjoying the sense of accomplishment that came with "patting Mikoto's head."
"Your hair has turned brown too. Tell your mother in private that awakening a new bloodline limit changed its color. You don't need to hide that too much.
"There are a lot of guests on the clan grounds today. Let's meet tomorrow somewhere farther from the village, in a more spacious place. I'll teach you a new ability."
Mikoto was curious. "A new ability?"
Fucheng flicked a coin into the air with a crisp sound, then caught it stylishly.
"Railgun!"
"An ability that's perfect for you!"
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