As Uchiha Shisui handed over the file, a satisfied smile appeared at the corner of Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth.
His earlier decision to let Uchiha Shisui return to the Uchiha Clan had been a risky move, but at least nothing had gone wrong.
"Shisui, I'm leaving the Uchiha Clan in your hands from now on."
"Now that you're the deputy head of the Military Police Force, it's basically settled that you'll be the next clan head."
"With my support, taking that position should be easy."
"To make both the village and the Uchiha better, you'll have to shoulder many more responsibilities from now on, Shisui..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi began dangling promises in front of Uchiha Shisui.
To be fair, if Uchiha Shisui was willing to do as Hiruzen Sarutobi said, those plans had a good chance of working.
In fact, gaining control of the Uchiha Clan wouldn't be especially difficult.
"Understood, Lord Hokage!"
"There are still some matters I need to take care of in the Military Police Force."
"To be a worthy clan head, I must first hold myself to a high standard and never slack off."
"I'll take my leave."
After speaking, Uchiha Shisui vanished in a flash.
Once Uchiha Shisui had left, someone stepped out of the shadows.
"Shisui has already served his greatest purpose as a pawn."
"Controlling the Uchiha Clan is enough."
"As for anything else, we can leave it aside for now."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the person who had appeared and spoke in a low voice.
There was even a hint of warning in his words.
The man who had emerged from the shadows was none other than the leader of the Root Organization, Shimura Danzō!
"Are we canceling the entire original plan?"
Danzō didn't argue. Instead, he asked a question in return.
"Cancel it."
"However, we still need to keep the Uchiha Clan under surveillance."
"Until Uchiha Shisui has fully taken control of the clan."
"By the time Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke grow up, the Uchiha Clan won't pose any threat."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was calm, but he couldn't hide the pride in his heart.
After all, it was his Will of Fire that had won over the younger generation of the Uchiha Clan.
That was how things had come to this.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had never agreed with Danzō's extreme methods.
"Fine."
Danzō was ice-cold.
He simply nodded, left that one word behind, then turned and sank into the darkness once more.
Watching Danzō leave, Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a helpless expression.
The times were changing.
Things weren't the same as they had been before.
Now, he was Konoha's strongest Hokage, and he had the strongest clan in Konoha under his direct control.
From here on, his task wasn't to secure his position... but to figure out how to improve his reputation.
A symbol of darkness like Danzō had reached the point where he ought to leave Konoha's stage of history.
"Looks like the plan really does need to change..."
As Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, he took out a scroll and pulled a file from inside.
A huge storm was about to erupt among Konoha's leaders.
But Uchiha Sasuke, who was at the center of it all, was training as if nothing had happened.
Inside Uchiha Sasuke's room.
"No, still not good!"
"This method of tempering has its limits."
"My body's growth just can't keep up."
"What can I do to make my body keep pace with the improvements from tempering?!"
Sasuke sat on the floor, looking troubled.
He was aware of the problems with his body.
Last time, using enhanced cells to meet the requirements for tempering had already pushed him to his limit.
After all, Sasuke had only imitated the way the cells in Naruto's body regenerated.
His body was nowhere near as strong as Naruto's.
"Looks like I'll have to make physical training a priority again."
"Wait..."
Sasuke suddenly thought of someone!
If he wanted to train his stamina, that was the man to go to.
But... if he wanted to learn something from him...
That was right. Sasuke was thinking of Might Emperor!
The man who had nearly kicked his way to the end of the story.
He was a little eccentric, but his Taijutsu was genuinely incredible.
Sasuke wasn't worried about Might Guy's eccentricity. He was worried Might Guy would force him to wear those embarrassing clothes.
After thinking it over, Sasuke decided he'd give it a try.
He closed his eyes and began refining his chakra.
Whatever he was about to do, his chakra came first.
"Kid, come with me!"
Just then, a Black Shadow appeared inside Sasuke's room.
He grabbed Sasuke and disappeared with him.
"Jiraiya?!"
"What's he planning?"
Jiraiya dragged Sasuke along at a run, but Sasuke wasn't worried.
Given Jiraiya's character, he probably wouldn't do anything too outrageous to Sasuke.
Soon, the two of them arrived beside Shadow Leaf Lake.
"Kid, I have a very important training task for you."
"If you complete it, you can ask me to do anything I'm capable of."
"How does that sound? Aren't you excited by a promise from the Toad Sage, one of the Legendary Sannin?"
Jiraiya stared at Sasuke with a sly look and spoke quickly.
"Training?"
"Just say it. Which bathhouse are you trying to peep at? Can't find a way in?"
"And do you really think a little kid like me can help you?"
Sasuke didn't believe for a second that Jiraiya had any legitimate training in mind for him.
"Uh..."
Jiraiya immediately deflated.
He hadn't expected Sasuke to guess.
"Don't tell me it's the Uchiha Clan's bathhouse?"
Sasuke suddenly had a bad feeling.
Surely the guy wouldn't...
"I hadn't even had a chance to check it out before I was spotted!"
"Kid... no, Sasuke, help me this time, and I'll take you to Mount Myoboku for a feast."
"Your body needs training right now, and I can also provide the resources you need. How about it?"
Jiraiya spoke in a slightly panicked voice.
After all, getting caught peeping at the Uchiha bathhouse would be humiliating if word got out.
"Deal."
"Here's a contract. Write down everything you just promised first."
Sasuke immediately produced a scroll and handed Jiraiya a pen as well.
"You little..."
"I'll write it."
Jiraiya quickly wrote down a long list of promises.
"You need to add why you're agreeing to do all this for me—in other words, you need to write down that you were peeping at the bathhouse. When it's time to add your fingerprint, make sure it covers the statement too."
"If you try to back out, I'll take this scroll to the Third Hokage."
Sasuke looked at all the things Jiraiya had written, but the reason wasn't there.
Given this guy's character... Well, he didn't have any character to speak of in the first place...
Before you continue