Growing Distant!

Three days later, Sunagakure signed a compensation treaty as the defeated party. Li had killed a Sand Ninja Chunin, and according to their agreement, there was nothing they could do, no matter how unwilling they were. Three days after that, the Third Kazekage left Konoha with his entourage, and the matter was finally put to rest.

"Li, what was the Ninjutsu you used when you fought the Sand Ninja last time?"

With the Sand Ninja matter settled, things at the Military Police Force had quieted down. Uchiha Hao finally found some time to call Li into his study and ask about Flash Step.

"It's a Dojutsu that came with my Sharingan after it evolved into the Two-Tomoe Sharingan. I named it Flash Step!"

Li bowed slightly. His face showed no hint of panic as he met Uchiha Hao's gaze, his dark eyes steady and untroubled. He had come up with this excuse well in advance. After all, the Dojutsu of the Sharingan were all kinds of strange. Not even Uchiha Hao—and perhaps not even Madara Uchiha—could know what kind of Dojutsu another person's Sharingan might awaken.

"Dojutsu?" Uchiha Hao furrowed his brow slightly, weighing the truth of Li's words. My Sharingan has already evolved to the Three-Tomoe stage, yet I don't have any Dojutsu. Li's Sharingan only has two Tomoe, so how could he have one? Uchiha Hao couldn't understand it. He knew about the Mangekyō Sharingan. After awakening the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he had gone to see the Stone Tablet in the Uchiha Clan's Ancestral Hall. It recorded that once the Sharingan evolved to its peak, the Three-Tomoe would change and evolve into the even more powerful Mangekyō Sharingan. Each eye of the Mangekyō Sharingan housed a Dojutsu, though the specific Dojutsu varied from person to person. That was why it was called the Mangekyō.

But for a Dojutsu to appear in a Two-Tomoe Sharingan was truly baffling.

"Mm, I understand. You may go."

Unable to make sense of it, Uchiha Hao decided to set the matter aside for now.

"Yes, Clan Head!" Li narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew that Uchiha Hao might have grown wary of him because of this. The faint distance in his tone had been unmistakable. After bowing, Li left Uchiha Hao's study.

"What are you really thinking, Li...?" Watching Li's retreating figure, Uchiha Hao narrowed his eyes. For the first time, he sensed how frightening Li could be. Li's performance had been flawless—perfect, even. But that very perfection aroused suspicion in Uchiha Hao. More and more, Li seemed to him like someone shrouded in fog, impossible to see through.

Unlike Uchiha Hao, the younger generation of the Uchiha Clan greatly admired Li. After all, Li had killed a Chunin at just six years old. He was a genuine prodigy, with the potential to surpass even the ancestors of the Uchiha Clan.

"Lord Li!"

Whenever the younger clan members saw Li along the way, they would stop and respectfully greet him. The ninja world was one where the strong preyed on the weak, and strength meant everything. With Flash Step, Li could currently kill only a Chunin—but he was just six years old. In a few years, the Uchiha Clan might well reclaim its former glory thanks to this child, who was only six for now.

After returning to his room, Li closed the door and sat down in a chair, frowning. Uchiha Hao's attitude had struck him as odd; the distance in it had been barely concealed. Li knew Flash Step wasn't the only reason for this. Some of his past habits had probably already made Uchiha Hao suspicious, but because they hadn't been obvious, Uchiha Hao had instinctively ignored them. Now Flash Step had merely been the spark that sounded the alarm.

There was no doubt that Uchiha Fugaku would be the next Clan Head if nothing unexpected happened. But Li was now an unexpected variable. Whether in terms of scheming or talent, he posed a great threat to Uchiha Fugaku. Li had never wanted to become the Clan Head, but there was no telling whether Uchiha Hao would see it that way.

"I can't believe Sunagakure has caused me so much trouble this time!" Li let out a soft sigh. If he had power like Madara Uchiha, he might have gone straight to Sunagakure and slaughtered his way through the village.

He hadn't realized how many problems might lie ahead until he started thinking them through. First, Uchiha Hao would certainly become wary of him, fearing that he might compete with his son for power. Second, the Third Hokage had taken him on as a student to repair relations between the Uchiha and Konoha. But now the Third Hokage would surely think him scheming and ambitious, and their master-student relationship would come to an end. Third, there was Danzo, lurking in the shadows. That man never let anyone go if they seemed likely to threaten Konoha. Danzo's thinking was almost identical to the Second Hokage's: he was deeply wary of the Uchiha Clan and wished he could eliminate them as soon as possible. As long as he could keep them under control, he wouldn't act. But the moment they showed signs of slipping out of his grasp, Danzo would likely strike at once. Li had performed so well that a little investigation would reveal his usual personality and habits. Put the pieces together, and Danzo would probably see him as a schemer too.

In his previous life, Li had been a college student. After being reborn into this world, it was only natural that he couldn't bring himself to play with little children. To Li, that was perfectly normal. But to Uchiha Hao, the Third Hokage, and Danzo, it was strange. They would only see a child who had been different from the others from the very beginning. And it went without saying what being different implied. Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju had both been different. So which one was Li more like—Madara or Hashirama?

Why am I worrying about all this? The most important thing right now is to get stronger. With enough strength, I'll be able to handle whatever happens! Li pushed those thoughts aside. At his current strength, thinking about it wouldn't help. If Uchiha Hao wanted to eliminate him as a threat to his son, Li wouldn't be able to fight back. And if Danzo came after him, he'd be just as powerless.

With that thought, Li quickly entered the System Space. His most urgent task was to improve his strength—in other words, his chakra. With more chakra, a few more Ninjutsu under his belt, and the Mangekyō Sharingan awakened, Danzo would have to think twice before coming after him.

"System, list the things that can rapidly generate cells for me!"

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