Moreover, among these versions of Senjutsu, there was one especially important function—a key ability Uchiha Fugaku had suddenly thought of adding in order to complete a system mission.
Uchiha Fugaku called it the Descendant Enhancement Ability.
As the name suggested, it could strengthen the descendants of the Uchiha Clan. In other words, the children of clan members who had practiced Senjutsu would also be affected by their parents, becoming more attuned to Natural Energy and making Senjutsu far easier to learn.
That meant that as long as the Uchiha Clan continued practicing Senjutsu and having children, sooner or later they would become a clan made up entirely of sages.
Just as the three of them fell silent,
Uchiha Itachi, who had sneaked over at some point to eavesdrop on their conversation, wore a strange expression that flickered across his face and was gone in an instant.
After all, his father had previously told him that he wanted to make every member of the Uchiha Clan a sage and turn the clan into a family of sages.
Now he was watching his father solemnly lie to the Third Hokage and the Hyuga Clan head.
Uchiha Itachi found it quite amusing. He had never had the chance to witness something like this before.
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen had noticed Uchiha Itachi the moment he appeared. He also caught the fleeting change in Itachi's expression, which stirred a faint sense of unease in him.
After all, Uchiha Fugaku had been a little too cooperative when answering questions about Senjutsu.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen had never practiced it, so he had no way of detecting anything amiss. In the end, he could only let it go.
Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to see if he could get his hands on the Senjutsu training method, but he knew at a glance that it was impossible. Even the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, the three families most loyal to the Hokage, would never hand over their secret techniques.
And that was even more true of the Uchiha—not to mention when it came to Senjutsu.
Still, Sarutobi Hiruzen planned to ask Jiraiya about Senjutsu once he got back.
Jiraiya had practiced it, so perhaps he could spot some issues.
Sarutobi Hiruzen then decided to take his people and leave. Although he hadn't found out why the Uchiha Clan had started training in Taijutsu, he had at least learned by chance that Uchiha Fugaku had successfully mastered Senjutsu. It wasn't a completely fruitless visit.
Though he still didn't know the secret behind their Taijutsu training, Sarutobi Hiruzen understood that Uchiha Fugaku wasn't foolish. There was no way he would tell him what really mattered.
Besides, Sarutobi Hiruzen had only come to try his luck.
And even if he forced himself to stay, he probably wouldn't be able to learn anything more.
There was nothing else to do but let the matter drop.
There was one more reason: Uchiha Fugaku's Sage Mode had just shaken him so badly that he hadn't managed to defend himself in time. The injury he had forcibly suppressed to save face was about to flare up.
Showing weakness in the Uchiha Clan Compound would be a bad idea. It might fuel the clan members' ambition and make them think they could take his place.
After all, how could they accept a Hokage who couldn't even withstand their clan head's pressure, yet still presumed to rule over them?
Sarutobi Hiruzen then spoke.
"Clan Head Fugaku, it's getting late, and there's still a lot I need to take care of in the village. I'll take my leave."
Hearing this, Hyuga Hiashi chimed in. "It's the same for the Hyuga Clan. I have a few things to deal with as well, so I'll say goodbye here, Clan Head Fugaku."
Hearing that they wanted to leave, Uchiha Fugaku politely tried to keep them there.
"Lord Hokage, Clan Head Hiashi, why not have some tea before you go?"
Hyuga Hiashi glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who gave a wry smile and said,
"No, I really do have things to take care of. I'll have Clan Head Fugaku's tea another time."
Hyuga Hiashi echoed him.
Seeing that they had made up their minds, Uchiha Fugaku didn't try to stop them and said,
"All right, then. I'll see you both out."
As Sarutobi Hiruzen and Hyuga Hiashi prepared to leave, Might Guy reluctantly fell in behind them and followed along. After all, there were still some training methods he hadn't seen.
Uchiha Fugaku was a little surprised to see Might Guy. He hadn't expected Emperor Guy to come along this time.
I wonder if my Sage Susanoo could withstand his Eight Inner Gates Formation—and that move, Night Guy.
But Might Guy noticed Uchiha Fugaku's surprise.
He then asked outright,
"Clan Head Fugaku, do you know me?"
At Might Guy's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Hyuga Hiashi, whose minds had been growing hazy from their mental injuries, both perked up.
Hyuga Hiashi was the weaker of the two, and his mind was already at its limit. Sarutobi Hiruzen was stronger, but he had been focusing some of his attention on Uchiha Itachi's expression. That was why neither of them had noticed Uchiha Fugaku's surprise.
Hearing Might Guy's question, Uchiha Fugaku replied,
"I've heard about your father before—the story of how he used the Eight Inner Gates Formation to turn the Seven Ninja Swordsmen into the Lucky Three Treasures."
"Lucky Three Treasures?"
Hearing Might Guy's question,
Uchiha Fugaku froze for a moment, realizing he'd slipped up and used a modern expression in the Naruto world. But they wouldn't understand it anyway, so he might as well explain it however he liked.
Uchiha Fugaku continued,
"It's just a figure of speech I came up with."
"It means your father used the Eight Inner Gates Formation to kill four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen all by himself."
After explaining the Lucky Three Treasures, Uchiha Fugaku went on to show how much he knew about Might Duy's life.
"Might Duy is one of the shinobi I admire most..."
Hearing the head of a clan praise his father, Might Guy's opinion of Uchiha Fugaku shifted a little. That mission had been classified as top secret, so he hadn't expected anyone else to know about it—and even more, to hold his father in such high regard.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, standing nearby, gave a soft cough to interrupt their conversation.
"Clan Head Fugaku, we should get going."
Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku knew he wouldn't get the chance to talk with Might Guy for now.
However, he wasn't upset that Sarutobi Hiruzen had interrupted them. There was plenty of time.
Uchiha Fugaku then escorted the three of them to the exit of the Uchiha Clan Compound.
But all the way there, they were especially quiet.
Uchiha Fugaku watched as the three of them left the compound and disappeared from sight.
Once they were out of the Uchiha Clan's view, Hyuga Hiashi could no longer hold on. He spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed unconscious, while Sarutobi Hiruzen held up better—after all, he was a Kage Level shinobi.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen had lost the imposing air he'd maintained in the Uchiha Clan Compound. After spitting out a mouthful of blood, he leaned on Might Guy.
Might Guy had no idea what was going on. They had only sensed Sage Mode up close, yet they were injured this badly.
It was hard to imagine just how powerful Uchiha Fugaku was.
But he would surpass him someday.
At the thought, a blazing fighting spirit rose uncontrollably in Might Guy's heart.
Seeing Might Guy, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only shake his head in exasperation. What was he doing at a time like this? Shouldn't he be looking after the injured first?
Sarutobi Hiruzen softly interrupted Might Guy, who was lost in his youthful reverie.
"Guy, find someone to take Clan Head Hiashi and me to Konoha Hospital."
Only then did Might Guy snap back to his senses.
He then stammered,
"Lord Hokage, are you all right? I'll take you to the hospital right away."
Before you continue