"Actually, with Minato's strength, it would've been nearly impossible for the Nine-Tails to kill him."
"And the most likely reason Minato died at the Nine-Tails' claws was that he chose to die with Kushina. After all, once the Nine-Tails was extracted from her, she was sure to die. Sigh, another person hopelessly in love!"
At the Third Training Ground, Uchiha Chen sat beneath a large tree, rubbing his chin as he sank into thought.
Perhaps because of the Hokage succession ceremony, the training ground was completely deserted except for Uchiha Chen. That was exactly what he wanted.
"Put another way, if I can prevent Kushina's death, then Minato won't die either, right?"
"If that's the case, it looks like I'll have to study Medical Ninjutsu more seriously."
Just as Uchiha Chen was thinking about how to improve his Medical Ninjutsu, a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties approached from a hundred meters away. His right hand was hidden inside his robe, and bandages wrapped around his head, leaving only his right eye exposed.
Four guards followed behind him. They wore identical jōnin uniforms and different masks.
Uchiha Chen merely raised his head a little and saw the group.
He recognized the man leading them at a glance: Shimura Danzō!
Watching Shimura Danzō walk straight toward him, Uchiha Chen couldn't help wondering:
Why had Shimura Danzō come looking for him? He hadn't done anything to provoke him, had he?
As Shimura Danzō drew closer, the thoughtful look in Uchiha Chen's eyes gave way to confusion.
"You're Uchiha Chen."
Shimura Danzō spoke first when he reached Uchiha Chen. His low voice, combined with that old face, inexplicably made Uchiha Chen feel uncomfortable.
Still, Uchiha Chen stuck to the principle of not bothering others unless they bothered him first. He looked up with a smile and said,
"That's right. May I ask what you want?"
"Uchiha Chen, are you willing to become one of my subordinates?"
Shimura Danzō watched Uchiha Chen without expression, though he was secretly considering the matter. Orochimaru had written him a letter before, telling him to keep an eye on Uchiha Chen.
After observing him for some time, Shimura Danzō had found that Uchiha Chen was indeed worth watching. In just a few months, he had gone from a mere Genin to a genius capable of matching a One-Tail Jinchuriki.
Though Jiraiya and Tsunade had played a part, Shimura Danzō believed the main reason was Uchiha Chen's Sharingan!
And that was how they'd ended up here today.
"Uh... and you are?"
Uchiha Chen tilted his head, looking like he had no idea who the man was.
Just then, the grass beside Shimura Danzō rippled outward like water. A pale-skinned man radiating a sinister aura slowly rose from the ground.
"Lord Orochimaru?"
Uchiha Chen's pupils widened. He sprang to his feet and shouted in shock, with a hint of delight in his voice.
The man who had emerged from the grass was none other than Orochimaru.
"Oh? You know me?"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow and glanced at Uchiha Chen in surprise.
"As one of the Konoha Sannin, Lord Orochimaru's name is known throughout the entire Ninja World!"
Uchiha Chen rubbed his hands together, and there was even a hint of excitement in his gaze as he looked at Orochimaru...
Hm? Uchiha Chen's reaction is a little unexpected.
If that's really the case, then my experiments... might go quite smoothly.
"Mm."
Orochimaru studied Uchiha Chen thoughtfully, then nodded.
"I wonder what Lord Orochimaru and this gentleman have come to see me about today."
Uchiha Chen looked expectant.
"By the way, allow me to introduce him. This is Lord Shimura Danzō. He was once an aide to the Third, and he's also in charge of the Anbu training division. As for me, I'm one of Shimura Danzō's close associates."
Perhaps because he was in such a good mood, Orochimaru actually took it upon himself to introduce Shimura Danzō.
"What?! Lord Orochimaru is this gentleman's close associate?"
Uchiha Chen stared at Shimura Danzō in shock.
"So, what's your answer to what I asked you earlier?"
Shimura Danzō glanced down at Uchiha Chen, wearing a hint of smugness as he asked with an air of utter confidence.
"Lord Danzō, I'm just an utterly ordinary shinobi. To receive your favor is so overwhelming that I hardly know what to do!"
Uchiha Chen looked flattered.
"Hmm? Are you saying no?"
Shimura Danzō frowned. Uchiha Chen's answer left him very dissatisfied.
Even Orochimaru's gaze toward Uchiha Chen began to change.
"Lord Danzō, you've misunderstood. I'm just so happy all at once that I don't know what to do.
"How about this? Give me five days to calm down and think it over properly!"
Uchiha Chen hurriedly waved his hands and explained, as if he were genuinely afraid Shimura Danzō would get the wrong idea.
"Five days is too long. I'll give you two days at most to think it over."
Shimura Danzō's expression softened slightly, but his gaze remained cold.
"But..."
"Hmm?"
"Fine! Two days it is. Lord Danzō, Lord Orochimaru, rest assured—I'll give you an answer you'll be satisfied with!"
Uchiha Chen's expression turned serious, and he answered at once.
"Good. I hope you won't disappoint me."
Shimura Danzō looked him up and down, gave him a warning glance, then turned and left with his guards.
Orochimaru gave Uchiha Chen a meaningful look but said nothing before leaving as well.
"Danzō, Orochimaru, are you really that impatient?"
Watching Shimura Danzō and Orochimaru walk away, Uchiha Chen smiled faintly. All the panic and flattery vanished from his face...
The moment he sensed Orochimaru, Uchiha Chen had already guessed why Shimura Danzō had come looking for him.
It could only be Orochimaru's unspeakable experiments—and his own Sharingan!
"Sigh, sometimes being too talented is a nuisance. People are always keeping an eye on me!"
Uchiha Chen shook his head with a smile. He didn't seem particularly afraid.
"Big Brother Minato, you might have to help me deal with these troubles.
"After all, only if nobody bothers me can I properly study Medical Ninjutsu—and then I'll be able to save your wife, right?"
As he spoke, Uchiha Chen didn't hurry to leave. Instead, he sat cross-legged again, letting the knowledge of Medical Ninjutsu surface in his mind.
As the saying goes, reviewing the old lets you learn the new. Maybe he'd come across something unexpected.
Unfortunately, the trees wished for stillness, but the wind would not subside...
Uchiha Chen had barely sat down when another figure suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Could today be some kind of lucky day? So many people have come to see me. Am I really that popular?"
Uchiha Chen slowly opened his eyes and looked ahead.