This Is How the Uchiha Should Be!

The boy stared at Sage Mode on the panel.

Considering that,

ninety-nine percent of the Uchiha had chakra that was predominantly Fire Release,

and were all skilled in fire-style jutsu,

he didn't need to worry about their knowledge of ninjutsu.

After all,

with the Sharingan copying techniques for a thousand years,

they weren't lacking in that department.

They even had the Uchiha Flame Formation, an absurd barrier capable of defending against a Tailed Beast Bomb.

So,

it would be easy to decide what kind of improvement to give his clan.

All he had to do was turn Sage Mode, which only worked for him, into a highly adaptable technique, and the Uchiha would soar.

With that thought,

Aura Epiphany struck, and understanding flooded him.

When it was over, Uchiha Genmei looked at the changes in the information on the panel.

Sage Mode (Human): A Sage Power technique bestowed by Aura, exceptionally suited to humans.

Aura: 214 strands

It had cost him fifty strands? Still, it was worth it.

The lingering effects of Aura told him

that the modified Sage Mode wouldn't be any weaker.

Its threefold base enhancement wouldn't decrease; it would only increase.

Thinking about how, after teaching it to the clan,

it would give their enemies a huge surprise in the war that would break out before long,

the boy washed up and went to bed, content.

Mount Myoboku,

Gamamaru sat in the enormous chair and listened to Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima's report.

He sighed helplessly.

"So, just as you saw, that divinity was absorbed by Uchiha Genmei?"

"That's right. Nature's energy told me so." Sage Fukasaku raised his head calmly and explained to the Great Toad Sage, "That divinity is already inside his body."

Sage Shima, however, poured cold water on the conversation.

"Don't forget, we just said that brat doesn't much want to deal with us."

Its voice was cold. The mere thought of that Uchiha made it furious.

What did he mean, he didn't want to bond with Mount Myoboku because of his aesthetic preferences?

Wasn't that just saying toads were ugly?

At this, Gamamaru smiled faintly.

As though everything were under control, his eyes gleamed.

He looked down at the two sages and said calmly,

"It's all right. I already saw it: the battlefield in the Land of Water a few years from now will be our opportunity!"

At the thought of what lay ahead, he sprang up in excitement.

Opening his enormous toad mouth, he cried,

"Then we'll take that divinity and ascend from sagehood to godhood!"

Surging Sage Power boiled around him, churning the clouds above Mount Myoboku and whipping the winds into a frenzy.

It was clear just how excited he was.

Below, the two Toad Sages watched it all calmly.

They knew their father,

the Great Toad Sage, far too well.

Just because he usually acted muddleheaded didn't mean that was what he was really like.

Mount Myoboku had meddled in the affairs of the Shinobi World for years.

Did anyone think they did it out of charity?

Once the Great Toad Sage had calmed down,

"Old Man, if we're really going to scheme against that brat," Fukasaku asked solemnly, pressing his hands together, "what's the plan?"

He sat back in his chair and propped his head on his webbed hand.

After a moment's thought,

he calmly replied,

"When the time comes, I'll lead the children in a surprise attack on the Uchiha's battlefield position."

Then he lifted his head from his hand and slowly lowered it.

Facing Fukasaku and Shima, he continued, enunciating each word:

"We'll split up their top fighters and keep those Mangekyo apart. That will be the moment of his death!"

His firm, decisive tone made it sound as if the boy's doom had already arrived.

With that,

he waved for them to leave.

"Don't worry about it. Go on."

Fukasaku and Shima bowed and left.

But, Gamamaru...

Was the future really something you could toy with?

Remember,

even an all-knowing god couldn't fathom it.

Meanwhile, elsewhere,

in a dark cave,

Zetsu was discussing the Uchiha with Uchiha Madara.

"Lord Madara, was what you just said true?"

Uchiha Madara gave White Zetsu a sidelong glance.

He snorted.

"I don't make a habit of lying about things like this. I really did sense it just now."

As he spoke, he clenched his fist.

Frowning, he went on to explain,

"A surge of ocular power, just a little stronger than mine, flared somewhere in the distance."

A sense of foreboding stirred in his heart,

much like with that lowlife Tobirama,

who could sense chakra fluctuations hundreds of kilometers away.

At his level of ocular power,

he could also sense a powerful burst of it in the distance.

After all,

ocular power was just a special kind of chakra. He knew that better than anyone.

Just then,

"It must have been Uchiha Genmei. Heh... what an incredible person." Black Zetsu, connected to White Zetsu, slowly responded to his foreboding.

Uchiha Madara glanced at him and said with unmistakable pride,

"That must have been him. I never expected this generation to produce such an Uchiha."

Black Zetsu was baffled. What was he so proud of?

He asked,

"That boy makes you proud? Lord Madara, he's already a major threat."

At this, Uchiha Madara's face lit up with amusement,

the corners of his mouth gradually stretching into a smile.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

"Of course I'm proud! This is how the Uchiha should be!"

He thrust out his left hand, clenched it into a fist, and continued excitedly,

"I thought that after I left, Tobirama's schemes would make the Uchiha slowly fall from grace."

"But look at what he's done! He's built up the Police Force to such a degree."

"He's a thorn in Konoha's side, and they can't do a thing about it!"

At that,

he lifted his chin and sang out triumphantly.

"Dogs are raised with feed, people with money, but no one can make use of the Uchiha!"

"He's put that principle into practice. Why shouldn't I be proud?"

He turned around

and walked into the darkness. Slowly... wisps of malice rose around him.

"But that's a separate matter. He's obstructed my grand plan, so he deserves to die."

Black Zetsu followed and chimed in:

"What should we do, then, Lord Madara? He's no pushover."

"I have my own way. Come on, it's time to use that pawn, the Third Mizukage."

And so,

a plan born of coincidence was about to close in on the boy!

Land of Demons,

early the next morning, the boy met the Shrine Maiden again at the same shrine.

"Miko, what was it you wanted to tell me yesterday?"

At his question, the Shrine Maiden's bright eyes turned toward him.

She smiled faintly and explained,

"You possess the divinity of Ame no Oshiho-mimi. If you made a pact with those monsters, they would be the ones to benefit."

Uchiha Genmei was a little surprised. He met her gaze.

He asked slowly, "What do you mean?"

Miko parted her lips and said,

"Ame no Oshiho-mimi is the ruler of Ashihara no Nakatsukuni."

"If you really made a pact with them, they'd be able to draw on the power of the earth without restraint, using it to nourish themselves."

The boy nodded to show that he understood.

He watched the Shrine Maiden's hesitant expression.

Smiling, he said,

"You don't only want to tell me that, do you?"