Itachi saw Might Guy looking a little embarrassed, and Guy gave him a smile before turning to watch the others train.
After all, he had finally come across such a novel training method. Might Guy couldn't help getting excited, since it gave him even more ways to train his Taijutsu.
My youth, I, Might Guy, can burn even brighter!
Unlike Might Guy, who was very interested, Hyuga Hiashi lost interest after observing for a while.
Although these training methods came in different forms, they weren't much different from basic training. They all aimed to strengthen the body.
And that wasn't very useful to the Hyuga Clan.
After all, the Hyuga Clan had its own traditions, unlike the youthful Might Guy, whose only specialty was a single core skill.
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen felt relieved after observing them, he also felt a little more uneasy.
After all, in his view, the absence of problems was the biggest problem.
Sarutobi Hiruzen continued chatting with Uchiha Setsuna, while indirectly probing him about Uchiha Fugaku's situation.
"I heard that Captain Fugaku even handed the Military Police Force's work over to a little girl."
"While he, the clan head, has started taking it easy. Meanwhile, poor me, the Hokage, still has to handle all kinds of affairs."
Hearing this, Uchiha Setsuna wasn't sure how to respond for a moment, so he could only smile and say,
"That's not quite true. The clan head still goes to check on things every day."
"Besides, Izumi Uchiha can handle the work without any problems because the clan head supervises her."
But as soon as Uchiha Setsuna answered, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately raised another question.
"Elder Setsuna, I've been at the Uchiha Clan Compound for quite some time. How come I haven't seen Clan Head Fugaku?"
"I went to all this trouble to visit the Uchiha Clan, yet I can't even see Clan Head Fugaku. It's a bit of a shame."
Uchiha Setsuna couldn't help feeling tense. Although he didn't know what his clan head was doing, he understood that there was no way Fugaku would come meet Sarutobi Hiruzen. But what excuse could he use to brush him off?
Given Sarutobi Hiruzen's shrewdness, an ordinary excuse wouldn't fool him. But if he couldn't fool him, he could at least stall for time.
With that in mind, Uchiha Setsuna said,
"The clan head may have been held up by something."
At the mention of something keeping Fugaku busy, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes lit up. The reason he'd come to visit was to see if he could uncover any of Uchiha Fugaku's secrets, as well as the reason the Uchiha had suddenly begun training in Taijutsu as a clan.
He hadn't found the reason for their Taijutsu training, but uncovering some of Uchiha Fugaku's secrets would still be worthwhile.
After all, the people training here included practically every shinobi in the Uchiha Clan. Yet, after observing them, Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't noticed anything unusual. Their bodies hadn't changed at all.
Perhaps they were hiding something. But Uchiha Fugaku's sudden absence had given Sarutobi Hiruzen a breakthrough.
What was Uchiha Fugaku up to that was more important than meeting him?
And what could be more direct than meeting Fugaku in person to find out?
Sarutobi Hiruzen continued,
"Then do you know what Clan Head Fugaku is busy with? Is he avoiding me? Is it something we're not supposed to know?"
"Besides, I'm the Hokage. If I knew what was going on, I might even be able to help."
Hearing this, Uchiha Setsuna gained a newfound understanding of Sarutobi Hiruzen's shamelessness.
Isn't the whole point to keep you from finding out? And you want to help?
Help wipe out the clan, maybe?
Still, Uchiha Setsuna smiled and said,
"Lord Hokage, I don't know much about the clan head's affairs, so I can't tell you anything."
Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen became even more determined to get to the bottom of things.
Then he said,
"In that case, why don't you take me to Clan Head Fugaku's home so I can ask him?"
"If something has happened to him, I might be able to lend a hand."
?????
Are you serious? Are you sure you're going to help him, and not send him to his grave?
But Uchiha Setsuna couldn't think of an excuse to refuse.
A familiar voice rang out.
"No need for Lord Hokage to trouble himself. I'm here now, aren't I?"
Uchiha Fugaku walked over, dressed in his clan head's robes.
Seeing Uchiha Fugaku approach, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help feeling a little regretful. He'd just missed his chance. Otherwise, he might have seen what Fugaku had been busy with that had kept him away.
But when Sarutobi Hiruzen took a closer look at Uchiha Fugaku's aura, he froze.
What the hell? Uchiha Fugaku had gotten stronger?
It had only been a few days. How had his strength increased again?
No, this wasn't an ordinary increase. That energy surrounding him...
Chakra? No, it wasn't... Could it be Natural Energy?
Natural Energy? Senjutsu—Sage Mode?
Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart jolted, and an unbelievable thought surfaced in his mind.
Could Uchiha Fugaku be training in Sage Mode?
But how could the Uchiha Clan have a Summoning Scroll from one of the Three Great Sage Regions?
The Summoning Scrolls from the Three Great Sage Regions were all in the hands of his three disciples.
And no other suitable place to learn Senjutsu had ever been discovered.
Besides, Sarutobi Hiruzen was certain that the Uchiha Clan had no way to learn Senjutsu. Otherwise, Madara Uchiha wouldn't have lost to Hashirama Senju, the First, back then.
So where had Uchiha Fugaku learned Senjutsu?
But since he couldn't figure it out, he might as well ask directly. If Fugaku made up an excuse, perhaps Sarutobi Hiruzen could spot a flaw and get to the heart of the matter.
Then Sarutobi Hiruzen asked,
"Clan Head Fugaku, the energy surrounding you seems to be Natural Energy, doesn't it?"
"Have you learned Senjutsu, Clan Head Fugaku?"
Seeing that Sarutobi Hiruzen had indeed recognized the Natural Energy, Uchiha Fugaku saw no reason to hide it and said,
"Yes. I'd been thinking about it in my sleep last night, and then this morning, I suddenly had a bit of inspiration."
"I created a Senjutsu unique to the Uchiha Clan, and it took me a while."
"See? As soon as I was done, I came to welcome you, Lord Hokage."
"But I didn't expect you and Clan Head Hiashi to arrive so soon. I've only just created the Senjutsu. I hadn't even had the chance to surprise everyone on the battlefield, and you two had already come running after hearing about it."
Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Hyuga Hiashi were both deeply shocked.
He'd created his own Senjutsu.
But this wasn't a surprise. It was downright terrifying.
(Sarutobi Hiruzen: Now I have even more reason not to let you go. Uchiha Fugaku, I'll make sure to take you away.)
(Hyuga Hiashi: We're both clan heads. Why haven't I ever suddenly had the inspiration to create a Senjutsu unique to the Hyuga Clan? But now that the Uchiha Clan has Senjutsu, it'll be even harder for the Hyuga Clan to claim the title of Konoha's number one clan!)
The two men felt differently about Uchiha Fugaku learning Senjutsu, but they did share one opinion.
Neither Sarutobi Hiruzen nor Hyuga Hiashi believed Uchiha Fugaku's explanation at all.
Hardly anyone in the Shinobi World had even learned Senjutsu, let alone created it.
He'd created Senjutsu from a bit of inspiration? What a joke.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen still wanted to see if it was real, so he continued,
"Clan Head Fugaku, could we see the Uchiha Clan's Senjutsu for ourselves?"
Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku thought for a moment before replying,
"If I refused, it would make the Uchiha Clan seem too stingy."
"I suppose there's no harm in showing you. However, I only learned it a short while ago."
"If I startle you, Lord Hokage and Clan Head Hiashi, I hope you won't take it to heart."
Hearing that Uchiha Fugaku was willing to demonstrate it, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Hyuga Hiashi exchanged surprised glances.
Then they said in unison,
"Of course not. Please, Clan Head Fugaku, show us what you can do."
Before you continue