The Uchiha Clan's Blind Swordsman

"However, his value is something I shall be the one to recognize."

"Just focus on your research into the Hashirama Cells and leave the rest to me."

"If you need test subjects, just let me know!"

"For now, stop snatching people from the village at will, even those on the list. That is an order."

After leaving these words behind, Danzo flicked his sleeve and departed.

Once Danzo had completely vanished, a smile crept across Orochimaru's face.

"As expected, an exceptional person will always attract attention, no matter where they go!"

"Chiba, before you can accept my embrace, you will have to deal with both Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen."

Although Orochimaru had long known this day would come.

Perhaps he held a sliver of expectation deep within his heart.

That was why he had written the nonsense in his report about Chiba having no research value.

But in the end, Chiba was simply too dazzling.

"I hope you do not lose yourself amidst the darkness!"

"Otherwise, I will only conclude that everything you said to me before was nothing but empty talk."

Facing the two great shadows of Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Chiba, will you be like me... will you choose to play it safe, or will you dispel the darkness?

Orochimaru was filled with anticipation.

He then turned his attention back to his own research.

He certainly desired Chiba.

But eternal life was his true dream.

[Living Corpse Reincarnation] still required time.

The Uchiha Clan's ceremony concluded amidst the hustle and bustle.

The fading of the cherry blossoms seemed to signify the passage of time once more.

The representatives from the various clans who had come to attend the ceremony had all returned home.

The sky gradually began to darken.

Koizumi helped guide Chiba, leading him in the direction of his home.

However, they stopped before they were even halfway there.

"Koizumi, you should head back first."

"Hm? What's wrong, Chiba?"

"I have some matters to attend to, but I will be back soon."

Hearing this, Koizumi cast a suspicious glance at Chiba.

She nodded shortly after.

She was not worried about him.

Ever since she witnessed Chiba trading blows with Shisui earlier today, she finally realized just how strong her childhood friend truly was.

"Then I'll be waiting for you at home, Chiba!"

At these words, Chiba smiled and patted Koizumi on the head.

"Go on, hurry back."

Koizumi skipped away into the distance.

When Koizumi had completely vanished over the horizon.

Chiba stood firm, leaning on his cane, radiating an indescribable aura.

"You've been following me the entire way; why not just show yourself?"

No sooner had the words left his lips.

A figure appeared behind Chiba.

She walked forward silently, observing Chiba with a gaze filled with admiration and wonder.

Her blood-red hair was even more vibrant and striking than the cherry blossoms.

As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, she possessed an innate, exceptional sensory ability.

"Little one, you... seem quite different from the rest of the Uchiha Clan."

"I am blind, so it is only natural that I am a bit different."

Kushina Uzumaki walked slowly up to Chiba and smiled.

"You are indeed blind, but—you saw what is inside my body, didn't you?"

She pointed to her abdomen.

Sealed within that place was the most ferocious of the Tailed Beasts—the Nine-Tails.

Chiba remained silent.

So, he had been discovered after all?

His Observation Haki expanded unconsciously.

Back when he fought Shisui, his Observation Haki had already captured Kushina Uzumaki and the Nine-Tails within her.

He just hadn't expected Kushina Uzumaki to come looking for him directly.

"You don't need to deny it."

"Do you know? As members of the Uzumaki Clan, while we possess powerful chakra and vitality, there is something else that stands at the pinnacle of the ninja world."

"Chakra that suppresses Tailed Beasts?"

Hearing this, Kushina was taken aback for a moment.

"Well, that is one of them, but I am talking about something else..."

"Sensory ability!"

Chiba slowly exhaled.

How could he not know?

That would be the strongest sensory ability in the entire world of the Hokage, aside from Sage Mode—

The Mind's Eye of the Kagura!

"Whatever it is you want from me."

"I think it is best if you and I do not get too close."

Facing Kushina Uzumaki's questioning, Chiba spoke calmly.

Today was truly an accident.

Who could have guessed that his Observation Haki would actually sweep over Kushina?

And, as it happened, her Mind's Eye of the Kagura had actually sensed the presence of his Observation Haki.

"Oh? Why?"

"I am an Uchiha, and you... are a jinchuriki. Is that reason enough?"

Hearing this, Kushina fell silent for a moment.

She looked at the Uchiha Chiba before her, feeling somewhat surprised. A five-year-old child knew about the relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha?

The Uchiha and the jinchuriki.

Such a sensitive topic—even some jonin from marginalized clans might not be aware of it.

Yet, Chiba knew.

Thinking of this, Kushina smiled.

"That cannot be used as a reason. After all, I am best friends with the wife of the Uchiha clan head."

"It is precisely because she is the clan head's wife that... you two are best friends."

Chiba looked up, facing Kushina directly, and spoke calmly.

"Do you know the reason?"

"I am all ears!"

"Because the Hokage knows that our clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, loves his wife very much."

"If something were to happen to the jinchuriki because of the Uchiha clan, then... the first person to be suspected would be your best friend!"

"And since your best friend is the clan head's wife, even Uchiha Fugaku would be implicated."

"Therefore, even if only for his own sake and for the sake of his wife, Fugaku, as the clan head, cannot allow anything to happen to the jinchuriki—or at the very least, he cannot allow it to happen because of the Uchiha clan!"

"This is practically a disguised way for the Uchiha to protect the jinchuriki, while simultaneously keeping the Uchiha in check."

"I don't know if you have ever heard that the Uchiha clan was once the Clan of Love!"

"And this love is often a weakness!"

"Where there is a weakness, it is easily exploited."

As his words fell, Kushina Uzumaki remained silent for a moment.

It seemed as if she were trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

She ruffled Chiba's hair with practiced familiarity.

"You little one, aren't you overthinking things?"

"At your age, shouldn't you be thinking about how to get stronger or how to chase after pretty girls?"

The next moment, Kushina's tone shifted abruptly, turning sharp and cold.

"These words... did your clan head tell you this?"

"Do you really think someone who can become the head of a clan wouldn't understand that some things simply cannot be spoken aloud?"

Some secrets, in the end, must be left to rot in one's heart.

At this moment, Kushina looked at Chiba calmly, though her expression betrayed a growing sense of shock.

"Then how did you come to know these things?"

"History does not lie."

"And human nature has an eternal, dark side."

"The relationship between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha—wasn't it set in stone the very day Konoha was founded?"

"I don't think these are secrets at all."

Indeed, they could hardly be called secrets.

How could something recorded in the archives be considered a secret?

The relationship between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha, however subtle, was something every major clan was well aware of.

It was just unexpected to hear such words coming from the mouth of a five-year-old child.