Reciting the Will of Fire, Gaining Trust!

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

In the Uchiha Compound training ground.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

"Konoha Hurricane!"

"Byakugan: Gentle Fist!"

"Fire Style: Small Fire Snake Jutsu!"

Several small figures were trading blows back and forth within the training ground.

"Shisui, Sasuke's strength shouldn't require him to struggle to this extent against his classmates, right?"

"Is he holding back?"

"But why would he do that?"

"Wouldn't showing them the gap in their abilities be more of an incentive for Naruto and the others?"

Today, Shisui and Itachi were responsible for Sasuke's safety, so the two of them had been observing Sasuke's daily activities from the shadows.

Aside from having a large appetite and acting rather generous—thanks to the ample funds provided by Itachi and Jiraiya—he was essentially no different from an ordinary person in other respects.

What puzzled Shisui and Itachi the most was that, based on their understanding of Sasuke, his mindset should no longer be that of a child.

Logically speaking, he shouldn't be forming this kind of friendship with Naruto and the others.

"Perhaps this is the wisdom Sasuke possesses that we lack."

"When treating friends, what is required is not blind suppression."

"Instead, one needs to place oneself on an equal footing with them."

"Besides, Itachi, haven't you noticed a problem?"

Uchiha Shisui looked toward the training ground where Sasuke and the others were, his tone implying something more.

"A problem?"

"What are you referring to, Shisui?"

Itachi was somewhat confused, as he saw nothing other than Sasuke holding back.

"You'll know in a moment."

"According to previous intelligence, these little ones should be heading outside now."

Shisui did not state it directly, instead speaking these words slowly.

Sure enough, the battle between the little ones ended shortly after.

The group headed out of the Uchiha Compound.

Once they were outside, ninjas from the Root Organization and Anbu began their surveillance.

However, Sasuke did not care in the slightest about their professional monitoring.

"Next, it's time for our study of cultural subjects."

"Naruto is now able to recite the Will of Fire quickly."

"At the same time, he has added his own understanding to it."

"This is also the main reason why Naruto was able to pass his cultural test this time."

"As ninjas of Konoha, we must be familiar with our culture."

"The Will of Fire..."

Sasuke began.

Naruto was already accustomed to this routine.

But Neji, Lee, and Hinata all wore somewhat strange expressions on their faces.

Even children of their age knew that the Uchiha and the Konoha high-ranking officials were at odds.

Because of the high-ranking officials' suspicion, their compound had even been relocated to the edge of the village.

Fortunately, they had all received significant improvements from Sasuke, so they chose to ignore these matters.

Neji, in particular, was someone who detested dogmatic rules.

Yet, he still said nothing.

However, the more they understood the Will of Fire, the more the group discovered the loopholes within it.

That idea of abandoning everything just for the sake of the village...

That spirit of selfless dedication, protecting the village with the bodies of one's predecessors...

That...

These high-sounding words were nothing more than gaslighting everyone!

A child's heart is the most transparent.

The problem was quickly identified.

"Someone is watching us, so we must act enthusiastic. Stop thinking; this so-called Will of Fire is just something to use for passing exams."

"Everyone should have their own ninja way, not some so-called Will of Fire!"

Sasuke slowly wrote these words on the ground.

Upon seeing them, Neji and the others immediately understood Sasuke's intent.

They began to recite the Will of Fire that Sasuke had written with even greater enthusiasm.

This maneuver left Uchiha Itachi, who was not far away, completely stunned.

"Do you understand now?"

"The friends Sasuke has made are no ordinary friends."

"The number one genius of the Hyuga, Hyuga Neji!"

"The eldest daughter of the Hyuga main house, Hinata!"

"The student recognized by the taijutsu master Might Guy, Rock Lee!"

"And... the Konoha Tailed Beast Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Naruto!"

Shisui listed the identities of these individuals.

"You mean to say that Sasuke wants to rely on his own efforts to change the prejudice other clans hold against the Uchiha Clan?"

"And then, unite these clans."

"In the future, the Uchiha will no longer be a force fighting alone."

Itachi voiced his own interpretation.

"It might be more than just that."

"Among this group of little ones, Sasuke is clearly in the position of a leader."

"In the future, when these little ones grow up, perhaps it won't be as simple as just changing perceptions."

"Itachi, they say you have the mindset of a Hokage."

"But you lack this kind of action from Sasuke, which is truly like that of a Hokage!"

Uchiha Shisui said with a touch of emotion.

He, too, had once been a firm executor of the Will of Fire.

In his view, as long as the village became better, any individual sacrifice was worth it.

But now, Shisui's thoughts were beginning to change.

Especially since the Will of Fire he heard from the mouths of others was vastly different from the one he had imagined.

"I understand."

"The things Shisui-niisan has been doing lately must be related to this, right?"

Itachi spoke slowly.

"Yes."

"If the entire Uchiha Clan adopts this mode of thinking, we will become incomparably powerful!"

Shisui looked at the sky with a sense of longing.

What he had hoped for before might truly be drawing closer, step by step.

Moreover, the only ones in the clan capable of achieving these things now were him and Itachi...

After finishing their training, the group parted ways.

Tomorrow was the special training trial, after all.

Sasuke invited Naruto to come home with him for dinner.

Tomorrow, they could set off together.

Meanwhile, inside the Root Organization.

"My Lord, the people we arranged are all being watched by the Anbu and the Uchiha."

"There is no opportunity to make a move."

"Perhaps you should discuss this with the Hokage, My Lord. The way the Uchiha are acting so arrogantly now, it will soon become truly unstoppable."

A member of the Root Organization spoke with a face full of worry.

"Discuss!?"

"Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind is currently filled with nothing but the joy of having brought the Uchiha Clan to heel. Do you really think he's capable of listening to a word I say right now?"

"What a complete fool!"

"He has placed his trust in someone based solely on the so-called Will of Fire spouted by a mere child!"

"How on earth did a man like that become Hokage?!"

Danzo felt an immense sense of stifled frustration.

According to his original plan, he shouldn't even be here pondering these issues at all.

He should have already begun undergoing the technological transformations provided by Orochimaru.

The Uchiha Clan, Hiruzen Sarutobi...

These two parties had become a thorn in Danzo's side!