[Bitter Fruit Entry System] Target detected: Sarutobi Hiruzen Bitter fruit type triggered: Triple Bitter Fruit · Malice/Regret/Betrayal (Composite) Content: He had wanted to kill Danzo but had been too cowardly to act, felt bone-deep regret over his own weakness and tacit consent, and had come to the despairing realization that he had betrayed his former self. Harvesting... [Harvest successful!] [Sarutobi Hiruzen's Triple Bitter Fruit] [Extractable entry rewards: Five-Style Nature Transformation (Proficient), Five-Style: Great Barrage Technique (S-rank), Contract with the Enma Clan (Summoning)] [Triple Bitter Fruit: Randomly select two rewards]
Huh?
Hayato was startled. The Third Hokage's bitter fruit had appeared out of nowhere, probably because of Fugaku.
But he'd gathered three of the four types, all except the causal type. Could anyone really be that complicated?
The next instant, Hayato patted his head and stopped thinking about it. Instead, he looked at the entry rewards.
"These rewards are all pretty good."
Five-Style Nature Transformation was already a formidable weapon. Anyone proficient in two or more chakra natures could be considered an elite jonin, and Sarutobi Hiruzen was one of the few in the original story who had mastered and used them all proficiently.
He had even developed a jutsu because of it: Five-Style: Great Barrage Technique.
"It must be S-rank not because of its power, but because it requires the simultaneous use of five different chakra natures."
Hayato wore a thoughtful expression. Although the Five-Style: Great Barrage Technique was performed using Shadow Clones, its chakra consumption was equivalent to five A-rank jutsu. How could an ordinary person possibly manage that?
"Select Five-Style Nature Transformation (Proficient) and Five-Style: Great Barrage Technique (S-rank)."
[Passive effect activated. Doubling rewards...] [Entry rewards updated: Five-Style Nature Transformation (Proficient+), Five-Style: Great Barrage Technique (S-rank), with Shadow Clone Technique]
Oh, doubling them was pretty nice.
Shadow Clone was a B-rank jutsu. Later, he could choose some chakra-related rewards. If he could reach Naruto's chakra reserves, it would become an accelerator for his training.
Hayato felt the memories that had appeared in his mind and was in a very good mood.
The rewards produced by Bitter Fruit entries should be related to the person who bore the bitter fruit.
A contract with the Enma Clan would be a good asset, but it clearly belonged to the Sarutobi Clan. He could do without it.
Mastering all five chakra natures had undoubtedly strengthened his foundation. Before this, he had only possessed the Fire Style nature.
"But this bitter fruit was so complicated. That means..."
The Third Hokage had once again chosen the lesser of two evils to maintain the balance.
Hayato went to the window and looked out at the view. In the distance, Hidden Leaf Village was barely visible. "He wants to protect the clan and keep the village stable, but if he drags this out, only extreme choices will remain."
And that choice was undoubtedly the extermination of the Uchiha Clan.
This fucked-up world.
Hayato lightly rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, continuing to think. Next, he needed to accelerate his growth.
He also needed to preserve as much of the Uchiha Clan's strength as possible. He would set Shisui aside for now; he hadn't awakened the Mangekyo yet.
That left Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Itachi, and little Sasuke as his targets.
Since he had decided not to defect, the Uchiha had to escape their original fate of extermination and fight for as much influence in Konoha as possible.
With others holding the knife, we were the meat on the chopping board.
After taking a deep breath, Hayato opened his eyes. Now he just had to see what he could gain before Fugaku came to visit again.
Uchiha Compound, Council Chamber.
Fugaku looked at the corpse Root had sent over, his face expressionless.
Bang!
"How dare they!" Uchiha Inabi slammed his fist into the ground and roared.
The other two clan elders were furious, too.
The Anbu had just arrived and handed them the corpse. Their words had all carried the same tone: "The culprit has been dealt with. The Anbu will strengthen its control over this matter going forward."
With one offhand remark, they had brushed aside the deaths of four of their clan members.
The elders' words did nothing to affect Fugaku. His face remained blank.
At that moment, Fugaku felt nothing. He had already seen it before leaving the Hokage Office.
The Third Hokage's eyes had held guilt, helplessness, and exhaustion—but not the answer he wanted.
"Clan leader!" Yashiro looked at Fugaku, his voice burning with anger. "We can't go on like this!"
"Yes, we can't go on like this." Fugaku raised his head and spoke softly.
At his words, the Council Chamber fell into an eerie silence.
Uchiha Yashiro first froze, then looked delighted. "Then what are we waiting for? If that's the case, we'll just have to—"
"Have to do what?" Fugaku's voice was steady, but he looked Yashiro in the eye. "Rebel? Do you know what that would mean?"
"The Uchiha Clan would stand against all of Konoha. If we failed, even the few who managed to escape would be hunted by the entire Ninja World."
Uchiha Yashiro opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.
That was why the Uchiha Clan kept holding meetings without ever taking action.
Even those among them who favored fighting had no confidence.
"I know you're angry. I'm angry, too. But anger won't solve anything. We need to figure out what the Uchiha Clan really wants."
Uchiha Inabi looked at Fugaku and asked, "Clan leader, have you figured it out?"
Fugaku turned to meet Inabi's gaze. "I have."
"Then tell us. We're listening." Inabi stopped Uchiha Yashiro from interrupting and signaled for him to quiet down.
"Starting today, gather intelligence on the higher-ups. We need to know what the village's leadership wants and what they're planning."
"Second, build up our strength—not to rebel, but to protect ourselves. We must make full use of the Police Force's authority. We need to intensify our clan members' training and develop their Sharingan."
"The Uchiha are not lambs waiting to be slaughtered."
After speaking, Fugaku looked at the three clan elders before him, bent down, and pressed his forehead to the ground. His voice was quiet but firm. "I ask you, honored elders, to work with me wholeheartedly for the sake of the Uchiha Clan."
The three elders looked at one another in the Council Chamber.
After a long silence, Uchiha Inabi was the first to speak. "Uchiha Inabi is willing to brave fire and water for the Uchiha Clan!"
"Uchiha Yashiro is willing to give everything for the Uchiha Clan!"
"Uchiha Setsuna will follow all of the clan leader's instructions!"
The elders all bowed their heads to the ground, answering Fugaku's plea.
"Thank you."
Fugaku straightened up, calmness the only thing left in his eyes.
From this day forward, the Uchiha Clan would no longer wait for fate to decide its future.
Before you continue