The Double-Crosser

"No, Shisui, you are wrong. This time, the Third Hokage is the one actively looking for trouble. With so many clans in Konoha, why did he specifically order the Uchiha clan to support the Kirigakure Front? Does he not know that the Uchiha clan excels at Fire Release? Does he not know that Kirigakure is highly effective at countering the Uchiha clan? No, he understands it better than anyone. The Third Hokage's purpose in doing this is simply to weaken the Uchiha clan." Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Shisui with cold indifference!

Although Fugaku did not activate his Mangekyo on the spot, the sheer pressure he exuded was still not something a mere Chunin like Uchiha Shisui could withstand!

"Waaah! Waaah!" At this moment, the baby in the cradle nearby seemed affected by the atmosphere. Itachi hurriedly stepped forward to pick up Sasuke and comfort him!

Seeing this, Uchiha Fugaku withdrew his pressure and said to Uchiha Shisui, "Just convey my words to the Third Hokage word for word: The Uchiha is no longer the Uchiha of the past, and Fugaku is no longer the Fugaku of the past! The Third Hokage needs to learn how to treat the strong!"

"Understood, Lord Fugaku. Shisui will take his leave; sorry for the intrusion!" Seeing the atmosphere turn so sour, Shisui felt it was best not to stay any longer!

"Father, wouldn't that be too rash? Perhaps the Third Hokage didn't mean it that way!" Uchiha Itachi had been listening from the side and was very confused by Uchiha Fugaku's arrogant and aggressive remarks! His father hadn't been like this before! How had he changed so much over this recent period, looking down on everyone and acting like a complete fool?

"Itachi, you are still young; you don't understand these things!" Uchiha Fugaku said, a rare smile appearing despite the deep lines around his mouth!

"But Father, you didn't have this attitude toward the Konoha high command and the Third Hokage before. Why is it different now?" Uchiha Itachi felt that all these problems had started from the night of the Nine-Tails incident!

"Yes, it is different now. I have grasped the truth, and now I am the truth. The balance of power has shifted; the Third Hokage is old and can no longer lead Konoha forward!" After saying this, Uchiha Fugaku offered no further explanation and went to the side to soothe his younger son!

What is the truth? The balance of power has shifted? Is the Third Hokage really old? Uchiha Itachi pondered to himself!

Konoha, Sarutobi Clan Compound~

"Is that really what Fugaku said?" Hiruzen frowned, lost in thought!

"Yes, Lord Third Hokage!" Although Uchiha Shisui did not want to relay such remarks that were detrimental to unity, since the Third Hokage pressed him, he had no choice but to report everything exactly as it happened!

"Very well, thank you for your hard work, Shisui. You did well; you may go now!" Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand, his face full of distress!

"Yes, Lord Third Hokage!"

What on earth is wrong with Uchiha Fugaku? He wasn't like this before! Why has he suddenly grown a backbone? Because Uchiha Gen gave him courage? That shouldn't be enough, right? According to intelligence, there is no special connection between the two! They barely spoke a few words to each other in a month... Hmm? Wait! Suddenly grown a backbone? Suddenly? The Uchiha mutation law? Mangekyo? Could this dog Uchiha Fugaku have awakened the Mangekyo?

Hiss~ The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. This guy wasn't this arrogant before. Today, his attitude was as if he couldn't wait to climb onto my head and defecate. Excluding all other possibilities, only an Uchiha mutation could explain it. Uchiha Fugaku wants to step on me to make a name for himself and kill the chicken to warn the monkeys!

Hmph, would I fall for your trick? Refuse, I must refuse! As long as I don't make a move, I remain the strongest Hokage in history! You want to use me as a stepping stone? Fugaku, you are still too green!

However, I could let Danzo test his mettle. "Someone, go invite Elder Danzo!"

"Yes, Lord Third Hokage!"

Konoha~ Uchiha Clan Compound, East Corner Cabin, Uchiha Gen's residence!

"Hahahahahahaha~!" Uchiha Gen let out a maniacal laugh while striking a classic Stephen Chow-style pose with his hands on his hips!

"Finally succeeded! Do you have any idea how many times I died? You dog, did you really think I couldn't handle you?" Uchiha Gen's soul hovered outside his body, looking down at his physical form still sitting on the ground, laughing wildly!

In total, he had consumed a full 60,000 points of ocular power and died over two hundred times. What the hell!

Is this the gap caused by a lack of talent? Is this thing even meant for humans to practice? It's a miracle Kato Dan didn't die. With the Spirit Transformation Technique, entering and leaving Konoha and roaming the ninja world would be much more convenient. In the original story, during the Fourth Great Ninja War, Kato Dan flew directly to the battlefield using the Spirit Transformation Technique. Flying techniques are rare in the ninja world, and the only one that is both stealthy and possesses speed and lethality is the Spirit Transformation Technique. Other techniques, like the Peacock Mysterious Method, all have their own pros and cons.

Uchiha Gen only learned this because he happened to have the chance to acquire the Spirit Transformation Technique. If he hadn't, he might have tried to make a trip to Hoshigakure in the Land of Bears. The Peacock Mysterious Method's flight speed is average, and while its attack power is strong, it is very conspicuous when in use! Uchiha Gen wasn't lacking in attack power, so the Peacock Mysterious Method could only be a backup plan. As for things like Light-Weight Rock or Dust Release, Uchiha Gen hadn't even considered them!

Both the difficulty of learning and the difficulty of acquiring them were on a completely different level than the first two. Just the strength of Iwagakure alone could not be underestimated. That old man Onoki hides deeper than anyone. He shouts about how terrifying Uchiha Madara is, but in actual combat, a single Dust Release technique can overturn several of Uchiha Madara's Susanoos in his prime!

Even under those circumstances, he still had enough chakra to withstand two Tengai Shinsei. In contrast, the Third Hokage of the same era... tsk tsk, he was nothing!

Onoki, the Two-Day Kage, could be considered a civilian genius no less than Might Guy! The problem is that this genius also hid and developed for decades. To go head-to-head with someone like that for a Dust Release technique that one couldn't learn? That would be pure insanity! One must know that Dust Release is a Kekkei Tota, not the kind of ninjutsu you can just steal and learn!

Didn't you see that no one in Iwagakure has been able to learn it for decades? And that's with Onoki teaching them. If one were to try and learn it alone, it would be like reading a heavenly book!

For something like the Spirit Transformation Technique, Uchiha Gen could use Izanagi to trade his lives for it, but Dust Release is entirely dependent on talent. No matter how many lives you have, if you can't learn it, you can't learn it!

As for Magnet Release, Uchiha Gen planned to learn it if he had the chance. After all, it is one of the four fundamental forces of the universe. Although its performance in the Naruto world is a bit lackluster, the gravity-based techniques that share its name are world-famous. Techniques like Shinra Tensei, Bansho Ten'in, and Chibaku Tensei are all derived from gravity.

One can only say that the power itself is not at fault; it depends on the user. It's time to make a trip to Sunagakure. Don't let my eldest concubine get killed by someone else's schemes. Also, I should get my hands on the One's Own Life Reincarnation technique; this concerns my future happiness! I hope Pakura is capable enough to get things done!