The Shinobi Hero in His Middle Years

Zetton's abilities were actually quite simple.

They amounted to absorbing energy and enhancing it before turning it back against enemies, instantaneous teleportation, the self-healing ability Uchiha Yuji had added after adjusting it, and the Trillion Fireball that every Zetton could use.

Since it was still an egg, none of these abilities were very powerful. Its fireball couldn't even be launched outward because Zetton was still too young.

At first, it could only teleport within a ten-meter radius, and it couldn't do so repeatedly within three seconds. Its energy absorption had no upper limit, but right now it could only swallow energy, not release it. Absorbing too much at once might give the Zetton Egg an upset stomach.

Its self-healing ability was weak, too. It could only repair flesh in limited areas and restore ocular power. As it was now, the Zetton Egg had no combat ability whatsoever!

But that didn't matter!

If this were Earth, it might not grow very quickly.

But this world was twisted, and the people of the Shinobi World produced emotions of exceptionally high quality.

The hatred, anger, resentment, and intense bloodlust born of war; the courage people felt when protecting their loved ones and village; the hope that arose when they saw victory.

All of it became nourishment for Zetton.

Hatred tasted bitter, like black coffee, while anger was more like strong spirits, with a burning kick. Resentment was like black coffee with just a hint of sourness.

Courage tasted and felt a lot like cream puffs. Its sweet flavor was enough to make anyone feel invigorated. Hope, on the other hand, was much like a sweet cake, the kind you could eat until you were sick of it.

Among these emotions, those specifically directed at Uchiha Yuji were noticeably higher in quality.

With more and more emotions feeding it, the Zetton Egg was growing rapidly. It would surely hatch before long and wreak havoc.

But that wasn't the most important thing. The real combatant wasn't the Zetton Egg, but Uchiha Yuji, the one who had created it.

Chakra was drawn from spiritual energy and physical strength. The people of the Shinobi World had more cells and greater spiritual potential than people on Earth in his previous life, while Zetton utterly surpassed them in terms of life level.

Without a will of its own, Zetton served as a tool, producing Chatonra without complaint and letting Uchiha Yuji draw upon it. It really was gentle.

The amount of chakra a ninja had couldn't determine how strong they were, but a ninja with Chatonra was sure to be no pushover. If a ninja was powerful, they were bound to have plenty of chakra, too.

With inexhaustible Chatonra and a Mangekyo that was practically an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, in this era of infighting in the village, Uchiha Yuji could have stood up and declared, "The vacancy on the throne of heaven is over. From now on, I shall stand above all!" and it wouldn't have been too much.

But some immortal who was still spying on the Shinobi World even after his death might pop out and have a heart-to-heart with him, so Uchiha Yuji held back.

It was best to keep his feet on the ground.

Unlike the Uchiha Clan, who were celebrating with great joy, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in the Hokage Building beneath Kage Rock, the pipe in his mouth never going out.

Smoke filled the cramped office. The thick fumes even seeped through the door and choked the Anbu outside, but Hiruzen seemed not to notice.

The fighting on the border continued, and now the Uchiha were stirring up trouble in Konoha. He used to have Danzo to help him eliminate the wrong answers, but now Danzo was gone, too.

If he mishandled things, Konoha might be overrun by those Cloud ninjas, who could charge straight into the heart of the Land of Fire.

Since taking office, Sarutobi Hiruzen had never faced a more difficult time.

"Hiruzen, cough, cough."

The Hokage's office door suddenly opened, but the visitor was stopped at the threshold by a cloud of smoke.

"Homura, Koharu, you're here." Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a wry smile.

Unlike Shimura Danzō, who had become Danzo paste, and Torifu Akimichi, who was practically retired, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu had continued working as advisors, making outstanding contributions to the effort to suppress the Uchiha.

"The Anbu have already told you the news, right?"

"Mm."

Silence fell over the tiny room.

No matter how eloquent they usually were, faced with the death of a close friend and such a complicated situation, neither of them could reach a decision quickly.

Sarutobi Hiruzen walked slowly to the window and opened it, letting the smoke drift outside. "The Uchiha have produced another powerhouse like Uchiha Madara. His temper is just as bad as Madara's."

Most of the Uchiha were hotheads, the sort who were vicious and didn't waste words, but were ruthless when it came to cutting people down.

"After giving up the Police Force, the Uchiha no longer have any real positions. Without the Police Force holding them back, they'll rack up battle achievements quickly. The next Hokage candidate might even be nominated from among the Uchiha."

"After all, everyone has seen how they perform on the battlefield."

"But the Uchiha can't shoulder the position of Hokage." Mitokado Homura smiled disdainfully. "Even Uchiha Madara never became Hokage."

Everyone knew how hot-tempered the Uchiha were. And after three generations, Konoha's hierarchy had become firmly established. The existing power groups would never allow an Uchiha to take the position of Hokage.

Unless it served a greater interest.

But after quietly repeating the name "Uchiha Madara" a few times, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes suddenly widened, and his spirit seemed to surge.

"It doesn't matter if the Uchiha become Hokage! It doesn't matter at all!"

"Have you gone mad, Hiruzen?"

"Do you even know what you're saying?"

"I know exactly what I'm saying." Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was solemn, but the flames in his eyes seemed ready to leap out.

"The era of First and Uchiha Madara was an era without war."

"That was because of the overwhelming strength the two of them wielded over the Shinobi World."

"As an enemy, that man, Uchiha Yuji, would be utterly terrifying. But if he were a blade..."

"Then he would be an incredibly sharp blade, a sword even sharper than White Fang."

"That sword could bring peace."

"A blade that sharp could cut its wielder, Hiruzen," Mitokado Homura warned gravely.

"The Uchiha can't be trusted! That's what Teacher Tobirama taught us, Hiruzen. Have you forgotten?" Utatane Koharu furrowed her brow and slammed a hand down on the Hokage's desk.

"This isn't the era when the Senju and Uchiha had just founded the Shinobi World. It'll be difficult for an Uchiha to take that position."

"Uchiha Yuji isn't Uchiha Madara."

"And I'm no First."

"I am Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Shinobi Hero—the Third who will lead Konoha and bring peace once more!"

The Shinobi Hero in his middle years grinned savagely. "I'll show those bastards that Konoha isn't to be trifled with."

"We'll use this unsheathed blade—a sword we won't mind breaking, even if it costs us!"