The Scroll of Seals: The Art of Inevitable Acquisition

A strange attack, beginning for no reason, and ending for no reason!

Until the Anbu and the Police Force arrived, Uchiha Suifeng remained in a state of utter confusion and bewilderment.

"His Silent Killing Technique is extremely proficient, and his swordsmanship is also very strong. The blade in his hand looks very much like the Kubikiribocho. I suspect he is Juzo Biwa of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!"

"Juzo Biwa?! The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist... it must be Danzo. It has to be that bastard! Aside from him, who else has the qualifications to collude with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist? It's him, it's him, it's definitely him!!"

With that confirmed, Uchiha Suifeng didn't care about evidence or motives; he was convinced that Danzo was the one plotting against him.

"Is this... caused by ninjutsu?!"

A series of pursuits, personnel coordination, and pacification efforts were carried out by the Anbu and the Police Force simultaneously. The leading Jonin stared blankly at the wasteland created by Uchiha Suifeng's Lava Release. They weren't the only ones; the Chunin and Genin, despite their own tasks, couldn't help but cast their gazes toward the vast expanse of lava covering the entire forest ahead.

The magma from the Lava Release had gradually cooled and solidified. A forest the size of three football fields had been reduced to charcoal, and the ground was covered in a thick layer of cooling lava. It hadn't fully cooled yet; the gradually blackening outer crust flaked off from time to time, revealing the molten, golden-red magma beneath, radiating a scorching heat.

Uchiha Suifeng's Lava Release: Lava Explosion Flow was, in fact, Majestic Destroyer Flame.

This was a major feature of his Lava Release; almost all Fire Release ninjutsu could be converted into Lava Release, and the hand seals could be used directly, which saved him a great deal of research time.

Furthermore, his Lava Release had been continuously enhanced by Red Ghost, and the power he unleashed was far beyond what other Lava Release users could compare to.

"Hideki and Shiro are injured quite heavily, but their lives are not in danger. As for Obito, he was pierced through the lung by a blade; his condition is quite serious, and he is currently unconscious!"

Uchiha Fukuyama walked up to Uchiha Suifeng and, looking at the silent youth, said, "The opponent should be Juzo Biwa of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. You did very well."

"It wasn't good enough!" Uchiha Suifeng said gloomily.

Before today, he possessed Red Ghost, the Tailed Beast Seed, a mastery of the Six Powers, and Lava Release. He had believed that the world was vast and he could go anywhere; as long as he didn't encounter a Kage-level powerhouse, no one could do anything to him.

Now, he had been slapped awake. Facing a single Juzo Biwa, he had actually felt helpless.

Yes, helpless.

In the thick fog, unable to find the enemy, he could have escaped using the Shave Body Flicker without issue. But he couldn't protect the others. Ninja warfare was never a one-man show, and his goal wasn't to be a lone wolf. In war, he had teammates and partners. In such moments, he couldn't just abandon them and run, just like today.

If Uchiha Fukuyama hadn't been there, Hideki, Shiro, and Obito would have been in extreme danger. He could protect himself, but not the others.

"Silent Killing Technique, Juzo Biwa, I have remembered you!"

Uchiha Suifeng took a deep breath, turned his head, and three tomoe quietly emerged in his eyes.

...I am a dividing line...

"Lava Release!!"

Outside the orphanage, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo stood side by side, their gazes fixed on the vast stretch of lava created by Uchiha Suifeng, falling into a long silence.

"What does the Uchiha clan say?!"

After a long while, Danzo asked in a hoarse voice.

"Uchiha Suifeng himself possesses Fire, Earth, and Lightning chakra natures. During his training, the Fire and Earth natures fused to form Lava Release, a first-generation bloodline limit!"

"A first-generation bloodline limit, meaning he can pass his bloodline on to the next generation!" Danzo said calmly.

"Yes!"

"In that case, the Uchiha clan will have yet another bloodline!" Danzo said. "Hiruzen, how do you intend to handle this?!"

"A single genius cannot change the overall situation. It is a good thing that Uchiha Suifeng awakened the Lava Release bloodline limit; it is not a reason to punish him," Hiruzen Sarutobi said. "He saved the children of the orphanage and drove away the assassin from Kirigakure. He has merit, not fault."

"The Uchiha clan has always been a scourge. Hiruzen, have you forgotten that man?! There cannot be another Madara Uchiha!"

"Suifeng is not Madara!"

"Can you guarantee that? Even Madara, at his age, wouldn't have had this level of strength. Even the First Hokage, at this age, could he have achieved what he has now? Once the Uchiha produce another powerhouse of that caliber, do you think they will still be willing to lie dormant? Hiruzen, use your brain!"

"I will have a talk with him!" Danzo's words made Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turn ugly. Indeed, although he appeared broad-minded on the surface, as a disciple of the Second Hokage, he had inherited the same hostility—or rather, wariness—toward the Uchiha clan. It just wasn't as extreme as Danzo's, nor as intensely expressed. After all, he was the Hokage, and he had to maintain the appearance of treating everyone equally.

An Uchiha clan with one or two geniuses was nothing; an Uchiha clan with a bunch of three-tomoe Jonin was also nothing.

Because the village had many geniuses and many powerhouses. Even after the White Fang committed suicide, he still had absolute confidence that he could suppress the Uchiha clan.

However, once a powerhouse like the First Hokage or Madara appeared, it would become uncontrollable.

Therefore, he needed to personally contact Uchiha Suifeng to see the child's thoughts, observe his attitude toward the village, and then make a decision.

"Hiruzen, you cannot use your methods to deal with the Uchiha. Hand him over to me; I will train him into the most perfect tool!"

"Hand him over to you? Go talk to the Uchiha yourself and see if they will hand Suifeng over to your Root!"

"You know that is not what I meant!"

"Hmph!" Hiruzen Sarutobi sneered and turned to leave.

Danzo, of course, didn't mean that. He didn't need to talk to the Uchiha clan; he needed Hiruzen Sarutobi to help him shoulder the pressure from the Uchiha. Once he successfully controlled Uchiha Suifeng, he would inevitably be in total opposition to the Uchiha clan. He knew very well how terrifying a crazed Uchiha could be; he couldn't withstand that pressure alone, so he needed the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage represented not just himself, but the entirety of Konoha. Only under the pressure of the Third Hokage would the Uchiha submit. Of course, there would be resentment in their hearts. When the time came, he would use some tactics to incite them to rebel, annihilate them in one fell swoop, and then there would be no need to worry about the biggest source of instability in Konoha.

This was his true goal. The Third Hokage knew his goal, but the Third Hokage was too indecisive and hesitant, losing too many opportunities.

"There isn't much time left!" Danzo took a deep look at the lava field, his resolve regarding Uchiha Suifeng growing firmer.

He couldn't wait any longer. Uchiha Suifeng's potential was too terrifying. In another year or two, once he truly matured, who would be able to deal with him? By then, it would be another Madara Uchiha, and Konoha could not withstand such turmoil again. Yes, it certainly couldn't.

Everything this old man does is for the sake of Konoha.

As if having made up his mind, he took one last look at the lava field and vanished with a Body Flicker Technique.

Uchiha Clan Compound, Great Elder residence.

Suifeng sat cross-legged opposite the Great Elder, his expression solemn.

"The investigation into the last Chunin Exams has concluded. It was spies from other villages posing as Anbu who attempted to sabotage the Chunin Exams. You thwarted their plans and saved all the examinees. The village has upgraded this mission to A-rank. In addition to the corresponding rewards, you are granted one opportunity to view the Scroll of Seals."

"The Scroll of Seals?!" Suifeng eyes lit up. He did not question the conclusion provided by the village; he had already pinned the blame on Danzo, and even if the village talked until they were blue in the face, he would never believe otherwise, so there was no need to argue. He only cared about the benefits, and viewing the Scroll of Seals was indeed an excellent reward.

Viewing the Scroll of Seals once would certainly not allow him to learn all the forbidden techniques within. Suifeng did not intend to learn them all; he had his sights set on three techniques: Flying Thunder God Technique, Darkness Technique, and Eight Inner Gates.

Of course, he could not be certain if the Eight Inner Gates had been recorded in the Scroll of Seals yet. After all, Might Duy had not yet died, and the Eight Inner Gates had not yet revealed its terrifying nature.

However, the Flying Thunder God Technique and Darkness Technique were certainly there.

There was no need to elaborate on the Flying Thunder God Technique; even if the original work contained a degree of exaggeration, this rare ninjutsu involving space-time was exceptionally profound.

The same went for the Darkness Technique. It was a genjutsu that seemed unremarkable at first glance, but if it were truly unremarkable, how could it have been recorded as a forbidden technique in the Scroll of Seals? Furthermore, this genjutsu was a prerequisite for another genjutsu he had envisioned. Therefore, compared to the Flying Thunder God Technique, the Darkness Technique was the one he absolutely had to obtain!