Regret My Shadow!

The Root jonin looked at one another; their masks hid their faces, but could not conceal the shock in their eyes.

After all, for a figure like Jiraiya to take the initiative to contact the Uchiha... it couldn't possibly be for the sake of writing erotica, could it?!

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

Therefore...

Everyone lowered their heads, feeling that the seemingly filthy report in their hands contained a deeper, hidden meaning.

This was no discussion on the creation of erotica; this was clearly a coded conversation between the Third Hokage and the Uchiha.

A conversation meant to hide from Danzo and bypass the eyes and ears of Root!

Perhaps even this completely unmasked posture was intended to lull them into a false sense of security!

"Hiruzen... your intentions are truly sinister!"

Danzo sighed, slowly sitting back in his chair as he looked at the report on the desk.

Between the lines, he saw nothing but ambition!

The Third Hokage's ambition to conquer the Uchiha!

This was a grand undertaking that even the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju—his former teacher—had never managed to complete!

If Hiruzen were to actually succeed...

"To completely conquer the Uchiha!"

Danzo held his breath, a rare look of agitation appearing on his aged face:

"Hiruzen already sits in the position of Hokage; if he uses this opportunity to take the Uchiha into his own hands, how is this old man supposed to conduct himself then?!"

"He must not be allowed to succeed!"

"If the Uchiha are to be conquered, it must be by me!"

With this thought, Danzo no longer had the patience to wait.

After all, it was completely unclear just how deep the connection between the Third Hokage and the Uchiha had already become.

If it were already a done deal...

There would be no room left for maneuver!

Leaving behind professional ninja to decipher the dialogue between Uchiha Shingen and Jiraiya, he immediately led his men to storm the Hokage Building.

Bang—!

The door to the Hokage's office was pushed open with violence.

The Third Hokage, who had been hunched over his desk peeking around with his crystal ball, stiffened. He nimbly tucked the crystal ball away and frowned at Danzo:

"What is the meaning of this outburst?!"

Danzo sneered:

"Keep acting, go ahead and keep acting!"

"Tell me honestly, just how deep has your cooperation with the Uchiha gone!"

The Third Hokage's expression was blank, his hand gripping his pipe frozen in place; he had no idea what was happening.

But he did not know that to Danzo, this posture looked exactly like the panic of a secret being exposed!

"Have I seen through you?!"

"Hiruzen!"

A flash of triumph crossed Danzo's eyes, and he even felt a secret thrill in his heart.

How many years had it been?!

How many years had he been working under the Third Hokage?!

He had always been suppressed by the Third Hokage's few words; when had he ever seen the Third Hokage wear such an expression?!

In the end, I am the one with the superior skill!

Hiruzen!

"What on earth are you trying to say?!"

"I don't know!"

The Third Hokage realized the situation was wrong and took the initiative to refuse.

"Still acting!"

"Jiraiya's contact with Uchiha Shingen was authorized by you in private, wasn't it?! Perhaps even with Fugaku Uchiha's involvement!"

"In these two years, who in Konoha doesn't know that both of you want to ease the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha?!"

"Take my advice: you cannot handle the Uchiha!"

Danzo gave a cold smile, his tone softening as he adopted the posture the Third Hokage usually used to appease him:

"How far has your cooperation with the Uchiha gone?!"

"I am doing this to help you!"

The Third Hokage looked at Danzo, his expression unmoving.

He remained silent for a long time.

After processing what Danzo had implied, he felt incredibly surprised.

Jiraiya was actually making secret contact with the Uchiha?!

What was that brat trying to do?!

Betray the village?!

No, that brat was entirely focused on writing a few trashy books or searching for some so-called Child of Prophecy.

He didn't even want the position of Hokage, let alone cooperate with the Uchiha.

However, this was also an opportunity—a chance for the village to truly communicate with the Uchiha.

Thinking of this, the Third Hokage reached a decision, his expression turning cold:

"I have nothing to say to you!"

Danzo's expression stiffened. Seeing the Third Hokage's resolute attitude, he knew there was absolutely no room for negotiation.

"Hiruzen, you will regret this!"

"Danzo..."

"I am the one who is Hokage!"

Bang!

Danzo slammed the door and left.

After waiting for a long while, the Third Hokage watched Danzo's retreating figure through the window of the Hokage office, then gently clapped his hands.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Several Anbu jonin directly under the Hokage appeared, kneeling before the Third Hokage, awaiting orders.

"Investigate!"

"Find out exactly what Jiraiya has been doing lately, and who this Uchiha Shingen that Danzo mentioned is."

"I want to see the results before dawn!"

"Yes!"

The Anbu members responded respectfully and vanished from the office in the next instant.

Left behind, the Third Hokage turned to look toward the Uchiha clan's district, puffing on his pipe one draw at a time.

His gaze gradually deepened.

"The Uchiha, huh..."

As the biggest thorn in Konoha's side, yet also its sharpest blade, the Third Hokage's feelings toward the Uchiha were extremely complex.

On one hand, to deal with the coming ninja war, he had to rely on the power of the Uchiha.

On the other hand, he worried about when this blade might pierce Konoha's heart.

If the conflict between the village and the Uchiha could truly be resolved to face the upcoming war, Konoha would have much more confidence.

On the other side.

After leaving the Hokage Building, Danzo issued orders to Root.

Increase the number of people monitoring Uchiha Shingen, and notify him immediately if he is ever alone.

He intended to step in personally and bring this man under his command!

After all, the achievement of completely controlling the Uchiha was enough to propel one directly to the position of Hokage; how could he not want it?

Even if it didn't work out...

He could not let the Third Hokage succeed!

Over the next few days.

Uchiha Shingen continued to go to work as usual.

The only anomaly was that he could clearly sense the number of people tailing and monitoring him had increased.

However, Konoha's surveillance of the Uchiha clan had long been an open secret.

After observing for two days and confirming that the other party had no intention of making a direct move, Uchiha Shingen stopped paying attention, turning his focus back to clocking in for work.

Early in the morning.

The sun was bright, and dew still clung to the weeds by the roadside.

Uchiha Shingen arrived early at the gate of the Konoha Military Police Force to complete his daily clock-in.

The familiar prompt box popped up once again:

[Daily check-in complete!]

[Cumulative check-in 7 days, attribute points +1!]

[180 consecutive days of check-ins without interruption, received additional attribute points +3!]

"This is... the reward for consecutive check-ins?!"

The three additional attribute points made Uchiha Shingen's eyes light up.

With the 4 newly acquired attribute points, the total remaining in his hands reached 7, which should be enough to upgrade either his Sharingan or his chakra by one level.

Uchiha Xixunuan hurriedly pulled up his own panel.

Sure enough, behind the two abilities of chakra and Sharingan, a conspicuous "+" sign had appeared; this was the very proof that they could be upgraded!