Danzo's Shock

"Hiruzen, as for that Kazekage fellow, if he's dead, he's dead. They were never exactly well-behaved anyway."

"But... what is the deal with this Uchiha Yuzhen?! Can you give me, Danzō, a detailed explanation as to why he became Minato's student?!"

Shimura Danzō could hardly believe it. In the few months he had spent leading Root on missions abroad, stirring up trouble for the four great ninja villages and inciting civil unrest in Amegakure, all these changes had occurred in Konoha!

Look at him, just returning to Konoha and sitting down in Hiruzen's office, only to hear all of this!!

Namikaze Minato rescuing the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers and his son, the death of the Kazekage...

Uchiha Yuzhen holding his own against the notorious Sasori of the Red Sands.

The rescue mission was nothing to speak of; it had been completed beautifully.

As for the death of the Kazekage?

As a member of the Hawk Faction, he felt nothing regarding the Kazekage's demise.

But!!!

What was the deal with that Uchiha Yuzhen?!

Not only had he become Minato's student, entering the direct lineage of the Hokage's disciples, but this Uchiha brat was actually incredibly strong!

Just look at the heavyweight status of this Uchiha brat!

A Three Tomoe Sharingan at twelve years old?

He had barely learned the Flying Thunder God, yet he was already using it in battle against Sasori of the Red Sands?

Wait, that wasn't the point!

The point was...

Why had he never heard of such an Uchiha genius before?!

At this thought, his expression shifted drastically.

He continued impatiently:

"And why have I never heard of such a genius before!"

"Could this guy becoming Minato's student be some kind of trap set by the Uchiha?"

"Are they trying to use this to get their hands on the Hokage's throne?!!"

That was it, it had to be!

Only that could explain how such a genius

could suddenly pop out of nowhere at a time like this.

It must be that they saw him away on missions and decided to release this brat.

After all, in all of Konoha, among all the ninja clans and all the Jonin, who didn't know

that he was the one most opposed to the Uchiha?

As long as he was around, they certainly wouldn't dare pull such stunts.

However, while Shimura Danzō was still lost in his wild speculations, his old bond, Sarutobi Hiruzen, shook his head and chuckled, dismissing Danzō's thoughts.

"You're overthinking it, Danzō. The Uchiha... don't have that kind of brain."

"As for this kid Yuzhen..." Sarutobi Hiruzen pulled open a drawer and took out a ninja file: "Read this file first."

Slap!

Shimura Danzō impatiently snatched the file from his hand.

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't mind this rude behavior.

To be honest, he was just as shocked by what Danzō had said!

He had watched this kid grow into what he was today.

Just a few months ago, he was still an incredibly green ninja.

Not long ago, he had been stunned by the boy's ability to quickly master various ninjutsu, his slaying of Biwa Juzo, and his rapid growth to a Three Tomoe Sharingan immediately upon awakening it.

He felt that this kid would be just like Uchiha Madara.

A prodigy who awakened his Sharingan late, but soared to the heavens the moment he did.

At the time, he had guessed that this "immediately" would at least be measured in years.

Who would have thought that it had been less than a month since the slaying of Biwa Juzo.

Uchiha Yuzhen—

Was now putting on a show for him, contending with a Kage-level powerhouse.

This child...

He was truly terrifying!

Fortunately, he was his own disciple's disciple.

As for the rude behavior of Shimura Danzō, Namikaze Minato felt slightly dissatisfied in his heart.

He and this Elder Danzō basically had no dealings with each other.

They were strangers who had heard of each other and seen each other, but had never spoken.

He knew the man hated the Uchiha, but to hate them to this extent was truly unexpected.

His own disciple, Uchiha Yuzhen... the curve of his growth was indeed shocking.

His current strength was also truly astonishing.

But was now the time to discuss his own disciple?

The death of the Kazekage was the real headache, wasn't it!

This was a matter of national importance, right?

This Elder Danzō's heart was far too narrow, wasn't it?

Did he even have the Will of Fire in his heart at all?

At this very moment.

Namikaze Minato felt a strong resistance toward this Elder Danzō in his heart.

So, wanting to steer the topic back, he raised his eyes and looked at the Third Hokage.

"Lord Hokage, we should consider how the situation in the Ninja World will change after the Kazekage's death!"

Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen slapped his forehead, blaming Danzō for leading his thoughts astray.

As the Hokage, this was the more important matter right now!

"That's right, this is the important matter at hand!"

"Wait a moment, I will notify Koharu and Homura to come over."

Setting aside the Konoha high-level officials discussing how the situation in the Ninja World would develop following the Kazekage's death.

By now, the ninja clans with slightly better intelligence networks.

All knew about Yuzhen, who had played a crucial role in this rescue mission.

Konoha.

At the core residence of the Hyuga clan.

"Is this intelligence true?" Hyuga Hiashi asked his own younger brother, Hizashi Hyuga, with an expression of disbelief.

He simply could not believe that Uchiha Yuzhen, who had already entered the Hokage's faction, could be this strong!

One had to know...

He had already felt very uncomfortable when he heard that two members of the Uchiha had entered the Hokage's faction.

Now, someone was telling him.

This Uchiha boy who had joined the Hokage's faction was also a powerhouse who had already come into his own.

Wasn't this clearly a top contender for the position of Hokage?

Twenty years later, having accumulated sufficient qualifications.

Combined with his own formidable strength.

This potential to become Hokage was something that truly concerned him.

After becoming the head of the Hyuga clan, he had discovered that the Senju had simply vanished without a sound.

And the Uchiha were beginning to show signs of decline.

He had been planning to contend with the Uchiha for the title of Konoha's strongest clan.

Yet, this notion had barely taken root.

And then, out popped an Uchiha Yuzhen?!

Hearing the shock and skepticism in his brother's tone.

Hizashi, who knew his inner thoughts, spoke up with a bitter expression:

"This was told to me by a ninja in the rescue team who is on good terms with us."

"I see... it seems the intelligence is accurate." Hiashi furrowed his brows and let out a long sigh: "Sigh... to have such a figure emerge, the Uchiha are truly fortunate."

He felt quite helpless deep down.

It seemed his secret ambition to vie with the Uchiha for the title of Konoha's premier clan would have to be put on hold.

Uchiha Yuzhen dragged his exhausted body home.

He had a good, long sleep.

The next morning, feeling full of energy.

After a hearty breakfast, he pushed open his door.

He intended to head to a quiet training ground.

To take stock of his gains from this mission.

However, before he had even left the clan compound.

He discovered something that left him completely baffled.

Every time he encountered a patrol from the Military Police Force, these guys would cast gazes at him as if he were some rare animal.

After passing yet another patrol team.

That looked at him with such eyes.

Yuzhen could no longer hold back and stopped them.

After greeting them politely.

He asked with a smile:

"Um... seniors, what exactly is going on?"

"Many clansmen have been looking at me with strange expressions today."

Among the patrol team he had stopped, a brown-haired Uchiha youth.

Stepped forward, staring at Yuzhen with great interest.

"You don't know?"

"What am I supposed to know?"

"Uchiha Yuzhen, you've become famous!"

"Huh?!"