Five-Style Nature Transformation and the Five-Style Great Barrage

Bitter Fruit Entry System

Target Detected: Sarutobi Hiruzen

Triggered Bitter Fruit Type: Triple Bitter Fruit - Malice/Remorse/Betrayal (Composite)

Content: Harboring killing intent toward Danzo but failing to act due to cowardice; bone-deep remorse for his own weakness and tacit approval; desperate realization of his betrayal of his former self.

Harvesting in progress...

[Harvest Successful!]

[Sarutobi Hiruzen's Triple Bitter Fruit]

[Extractable Entry Rewards: Five-Style Nature Transformation (Proficient), Five-Style: Great Barrage Technique (S-Rank), Enma Clan Contract (Summoning)]

[Triple Bitter Fruit: Select two rewards at random]

Hm?

Hayato was surprised. The Third Hokage's bitter fruit had appeared suddenly, likely due to Uchiha Fugaku.

But to have gathered three major types excluding causality—could a person really be this complex?

The next instant, Hayato shook his head, abandoning the thought, and turned his attention to the entry rewards.

"These rewards are all quite good."

Five-Style Nature Transformation alone was a formidable tool; mastering two or more styles was enough to qualify as a Jonin, and in the original story, Sarutobi Hiruzen was one of the few who could skillfully master and utilize them.

Furthermore, he had developed a ninjutsu based on this: the Five-Style: Great Barrage Technique.

"The reason it reaches S-Rank isn't due to its destructive power, but because it requires the simultaneous deployment of five different elemental chakras."

Hayato looked thoughtful. Although the Five-Style: Great Barrage Technique relied on the Shadow Clone Technique to be performed, the chakra consumption of this jutsu was equivalent to five A-Rank ninjutsu. How could an ordinary person ever achieve such a feat?

"Select Five-Style Nature Transformation (Proficient) and Five-Style: Great Barrage Technique (S-Rank)."

[Passive activated, doubling in progress. Entry rewards updated to: Five-Style Nature Transformation (Proficient+), Five-Style: Great Barrage Technique (S-Rank) with Shadow Clone Technique included.]

Yo, this doubling effect is quite nice.

Shadow Clone, a B-Rank ninjutsu. I can choose some chakra-related rewards later; if I can reach the level of Naruto's chakra reserves, it could become a cultivation accelerator.

Hayato felt the new memories flooding his mind and felt quite pleased.

The rewards produced by the Bitter Fruit entries seemed to be related to the owner of the fruit.

While the Enma Clan contract was a decent asset, it clearly belonged to the Sarutobi clan, so it was better to leave it be.

Being able to master the proficiency of five chakra attributes undoubtedly strengthened his foundation, as he had originally only possessed the Fire Style.

"However, with the bitter fruit being this complex, it means..."

The Third Hokage had once again weighed two evils and chosen the lesser one for the sake of balance.

Hayato walked to the window and looked at the scenery outside, the Hidden Leaf Village visible in the distance. "Wanting to protect the clan while stabilizing the village—if this drags on, only extreme options will remain."

And that option was undoubtedly the annihilation of the Uchiha clan.

What a screwed-up world.

Hayato rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, his mind racing. He needed to accelerate his growth.

He also needed to preserve the strength of the Uchiha clan as much as possible. As for Shisui within the clan, he would set him aside for now; he hadn't awakened his Mangekyo yet.

That left Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Itachi, and Sasuke, who was still a little baby, as his targets.

Since he had decided not to defect, the Uchiha had to escape their original fate of annihilation and fight for as much influence within the Hidden Leaf as possible.

When others are the butcher, I am the meat.

After taking a deep breath, Hayato opened his eyes. Now, he would see what benefits he could reap the next time Fugaku came to visit.

Uchiha Clan Council Chamber.

Fugaku looked at the corpses sent by Root, his expression blank.

Bang!

"This is an insult!" Uchiha Inabi slammed his fist against the floor, roaring.

The other two clan elders were also filled with rage.

The Anbu had just arrived and handed over the bodies, all of them singing the same tune: "The culprits have been brought to justice; the Anbu will strengthen control over this matter in the future."

A single, airy sentence was all it took to brush off the lives of four of their clansmen.

The elders' words did not affect Fugaku; there was no expression on his face.

In truth, Fugaku felt no waves in his heart at this moment. Before leaving the Hokage's office, he had already seen it.

There was guilt, helplessness, and exhaustion in the Third's eyes, but it was the only place where the answer he wanted was absent.

"Clan Leader!" Yashiro looked at Fugaku, his voice laced with fury. "We cannot go on like this anymore!"

"Yes, we cannot go on like this anymore." Fugaku looked up and said softly.

As these words fell, a strange silence descended upon the Council Chamber.

Uchiha Yashiro was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up with surprise. "Then what are we waiting for? Since that's the case, we should just—"

"Just what?" Fugaku's voice was steady, but his gaze was fixed directly on Uchiha Yashiro. "Rebel? Do you know what that would mean?"

"The Uchiha clan would stand in opposition to the entirety of Konoha. If we failed, even if a few managed to escape, they would be hunted down by the entire Ninja World."

Uchiha Yashiro opened his mouth, but for a moment, he could not find the words.

This was the reason why the Uchiha clan's meetings were held time and again, yet never resulted in any action.

Even those among them who favored war had no confidence in their hearts.

"I know you are angry, and I am angry too. But anger cannot solve problems. What we need to do is think clearly about what it is that our Uchiha clan truly wants."

Uchiha Inabi looked at Fugaku before him and spoke up, "Then, Clan Head, have you thought it through?"

Fugaku turned his head to meet Inabi's gaze. "I have."

"Then tell us; we are all listening." Inabi stopped Uchiha Yashiro, who was beside him, signaling for him to be quiet.

"Starting today, we will gather intelligence—intelligence regarding the higher-ups. We must know what the village leadership intends to do and what they are planning."

"Second, we will accumulate strength. Not the strength to rebel, but the strength to protect ourselves. We must utilize the authority of the Police Force to its absolute limit. The training of our clansmen and the development of the Sharingan must be intensified."

"The Uchiha are not lambs waiting to be slaughtered."

After Fugaku finished speaking, he looked at the three elders before him, bowed his head until it touched the floor, and said in a voice that was soft yet powerful, "I ask that you elders, for the sake of the Uchiha clan, work with me in unity."

Inside the Council Chamber, the three elders exchanged glances.

After a long while, Uchiha Inabi was the first to speak. "Uchiha Inabi is willing to go through fire and water for the Uchiha clan!"

"Uchiha Yashiro is willing to give everything for the Uchiha clan!"

"Uchiha Setsuna is willing to follow every instruction of the Clan Head!"

The elders all bowed their heads to the floor, responding to Fugaku's request.

"Thank you."

Fugaku straightened his body, his eyes filled with nothing but calm.

From this day forward, the Uchiha clan would no longer be a clan waiting to be manipulated by fate.