Sarutobi Stands Firm, Danzo Hides

The Phantom God departed, walking into the ninja world.

The clone said, "This Seat, the name Phantom God is far too cringeworthy and embarrassing. I want to change my name to Nirvana, meaning to endure suffering and welcome a new life. It is also the supreme Buddhist state of transcending reincarnation, becoming immortal and indestructible. What do you think?"

"Heh, as long as you're happy." Qingwu looked at the deeply solemn Phantom God... Nirvana, his mouth twitching. Truly, he was himself; even acting cool was done with such righteous confidence.

Nirvana did indeed sound more prestigious than Phantom God, and it was also a true reflection of the clone's predecessor, Shisui.

"Indulging oneself, I agree."

"I'm so great."

In the small world.

"The visualization method based on the Demon Refining Pot is truly miraculous. Not only does it continuously temper my soul, but it also constantly purifies my energy, branding it with my will..."

Qingwu sat cross-legged under the God Tree, meditating. This was his daily required course. Powerful strength required a matching state of mind to control, otherwise, one would only slowly become a slave to that power.

"Remember, our lives were saved by Lord Qingwu. From today on, we live for him. Do you understand?" Izumi Uchiha looked at the remaining clansmen with a fierce expression.

Now that they had been saved and were living under someone else's roof, if they wanted the clan to survive, they—the survivors—had to show the right attitude.

Izumi had no choice.

Because she firmly believed there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world, especially when the other party was the Hyuga clan, another prestigious family.

"Yes, Lord Qingwu's command is our will."

A group of little ones, along with Uchiha women holding their children, knelt on one knee to pledge their loyalty to Qingwu.

There was no coercion.

The tragedy of that night was still fresh in their minds.

Over these past few days, they had heard and seen much from the shadows. They learned of the final fate of the Uchiha and how the village had carved up their family assets, leaving them grief-stricken.

"Ahhh!" At the thought that the Uchiha clan had been erased from the ninja world and their property divided, leaving them as wandering ghosts, everyone except the infants awakened their Sharingan in a fit of rage on the spot.

Izumi Uchiha, the girl who had been killed by the man she admired, had fallen into darkness, directly achieving the Three-Tomoe. If not for her slightly lacking foundation, Qingwu had no doubt she would have awakened the Mangekyo.

Qingwu thought, Damn, I hit the jackpot.

The Uchiha were a clan of love.

Their emotions were extreme—whether it was being love-struck, a brother-complex, a sister-complex, or camaraderie...

Once lost, that extreme emotion forged extreme power, awakening the Sharingan and even altering their personalities.

Once they set their minds on something, not even eight horses could pull them back.

Stubborn to a fault.

"Remember what you said. I truly hope I never have to execute any of you myself." Izumi Uchiha's eyes flashed with the Three-Tomoe, brimming with killing intent.

"Yes." All the Uchiha spoke in unison; they did not doubt her for a second.

"The Uchiha no longer exist. We beg Lord Qingwu to grant us a new name."

Izumi Uchiha lowered her head, biting her lip with endless sorrow in her eyes. No faction would want their subordinates to carry such a heavy label.

Abandon the Uchiha name?!

The others felt a tremor in their hearts. It was true; the Uchiha had been wiped out, and they were...

"Very well. From today on, you are the Shadow Guard. Keep the Uchiha surname; it is the only mark left of your clan. Always remember your origins. In the future, if the opportunity arises, I will allow you to take your revenge yourselves."

Qingwu thought about it and decided to grant them the name. He couldn't bring himself to make them change their surnames. The Uchiha clan was gone, and these were the only sprouts left; he had to give them something to hold onto.

Little did he know, this single gesture was what truly won the hearts of the Uchiha survivors.

"Thank you, Lord Qingwu. I swear to pledge my life to your service. Wherever you point, our blades shall follow."

Izumi Uchiha looked at Qingwu with gratitude, as did the other Uchiha survivors. Not having to abandon their name—it was wonderful.

"We swear to pledge our lives to Lord Qingwu."

"Good, I accept your loyalty. Rise." Qingwu nodded in agreement and waved his hand for them to stand. Coming from Blue Star in his past life, he still wasn't used to people kneeling to him.

"Thank you, Lord!"

Izumi Uchiha and the others let out a sigh of relief, their hanging hearts finally settling. As long as he accepted their loyalty, it was fine. They didn't fear being used; they only feared being useless to Qingwu.

Useless survivors of a bloodline clan.

Nine times out of ten.

End up on an experimental table.

"However, your identities are special. You cannot appear in the ninja world for the time being, so stay here and cultivate well."

"Also, help me take good care of this place. You will likely be living here for a long time..."

After giving his instructions, Qingwu flashed and disappeared.

"Done~"

Do not mistake Qingwu for some delicate, indifferent flower who would trust others just because of a few words.

Do not forget where this is.

Qingwu's Small World.

For Izumi Uchiha and the others to swear an oath to Qingwu was equivalent to swearing before the Heavenly Dao; the Small World had branded their souls. To defy the Heavenly Dao, naturally, meant a miserable death.

Everything would be absorbed by the Small World as nutrients, leaving not even a chance for reincarnation—it was more terrifying than any Cursed Seal.

"Don't blame me. You Uchiha love too extremely; I have to be on guard. If I save you and leave behind the sparks of your legacy, only for you to betray me, then you do not deserve to live~"

Since arriving in the Ninja World, Qingwu had long ago put away his kindness.

"Don't blame me; everything is the world's fault. As long as you remain loyal... rebuilding the Uchiha in the future is not impossible..."

The Uchiha clan had been exterminated, and Konoha had become much calmer—at least for the civilians and children like Qingwu.

A world where only the Uchiha were hurt had been achieved; this world truly didn't stop spinning just because someone was missing.

In the span of a year, the probes from other ninja villages were all fiercely beaten back by Konoha. Basically, all suspicious forces that entered the Land of Fire during this period were wiped out, deterring all directions.

"Anbu, mobilize in full force. It is time to let them know what it means to be a Ninja Hero. I, Sarutobi Hiruzen, am only old, not dead." With the Uchiha no longer needing surveillance and defense, Sarutobi Hiruzen's Anbu forces were freed up to slaughter and purge.

Qingwu was stunned: "666~ Is this old guy Sarutobi Hiruzen really this gutsy now?"

The other ninja villages were also shocked. Damn it~ Everyone said the Third Hokage of Konoha was a coward and a softie, so why was he so tough this time?

"Everyone, passage ahead is prohibited~"

"Zzzzt~" A white-haired Anbu operative holding lightning, having already killed many, said coldly.

Leading the Anbu team was none other than Kakashi.

He had carved out the reputation of Copy Ninja Kakashi. Because he displayed thousands of copied ninjutsu, he was called Konoha's First Technician by the people of his own village—the man of a thousand unique skills.

Asuma Sarutobi also made a good name for himself with his Flying Swallow Piercing Sky; he was worthy of his thirty-five million bounty...

Might Guy's taijutsu was fierce and overbearing; his Morning Peacock and Daytime Tiger were earth-shattering, earning him the title of Blue Beast~

Gekko Hayate's swordsmanship was astonishing, though it was a pity that his overuse of Transparent Escape led to his flaws being discovered, damaging his lungs and leaving behind lingering complications...

Yamashiro Aoba was all-rounded in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu...

It was said that Ōnoki cursed the heavens for being unfair, wondering why they favored Konoha so much. The Raikage smashed another table, the Kazekage felt fortunate that his village hadn't participated in the probing, and the Mizukage (was under control)...

Root could have used this opportunity to clear their name, but instead, they fell into an eerie silence, missing the golden opportunity.

Qingwu couldn't help but sneer: "Old dog Danzo, he's probably busy digesting the spoils he plundered from the Uchiha, modifying himself."

"Truly, mud cannot be plastered onto a wall. Even when given a chance, you're useless. You don't strike when you should."

"And you still want to be Hokage with this? Eat sh*t~"