Anbu Invitation and Taking the Initiative

But meals had to be eaten one bite at a time, and work had to be done step by step.

From beginning to end, Arashi's initial target had always been Sarutobi Hiruzen. Only by surpassing him as he was now would Arashi have a chance to touch the realm of the God of Shinobi and truly carve out a place of his own in this turbulent ninja world.

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

Arashi said.

The door was pushed open, and Uchiha Fugaku walked in. Beneath his black clan robes, his hands clenched unconsciously—he had just come from a meeting with the clan elders, where those old men had been clamoring to mobilize the entire clan to protect the "grievously wounded and near death" Arashi.

The gentle smile on his face deepened. "Arashi, how are you feeling?"

"Thanks to you, I won't die." Arashi lifted his eyes, and as chakra flowed around him, it carried an unstoppable sharpness. "Those higher-ups in Konoha can't wait to make a move on me, can they?"

Fugaku's pupils shrank slightly.

This child's aura had not only been reborn; even his political instincts had become this sharp?

He said in a low voice:

"Your strength and the way you act have already caused obvious concern among the higher-ups. Quite a few people have proposed handing you over to Root for control."

"I want to make our master-disciple relationship public. That way, Konoha's higher-ups won't dare touch you lightly."

Arashi raised a brow. "Make it public? Let me wear the title of 'Fugaku's disciple' and borrow your prestige to protect myself?"

"This isn't protecting yourself!" Fugaku's voice suddenly rose.

"It's protection! You killed Rock Demon, and you just butchered Kushimaru Kuriarare. Konoha's higher-ups and Kirigakure are all watching you! With my name bearing down on them, they'll at least have to think twice before making a move!"

"Think twice?" Arashi gave a scornful laugh, flames dancing at his fingertips. "Perfect. I'd like to see just how much nerve they have."

He stood up, his wound splitting open and blood seeping out, but he did not care at all. "Teacher Fugaku, have you forgotten? The path of the Sharingan has always been walked over thorns. You want me to hide? You might as well cripple my hands right now."

Fugaku looked at the burning crimson in his eyes—that light was deeper than an ordinary Sharingan, and there were even faint signs of tomoe beginning to rotate.

He abruptly turned his head away and slammed a fist into the wall, cracks spreading outward.

"Good! Good, Uchiha Arashi! Remember what you said today! If there ever comes a day when you can't hold on anymore... the clan will always be your backing!"

"I won't fail to hold on." Arashi cut him off and turned toward the door. "I'll handle the discharge procedures myself."

The news that Arashi had killed Kushimaru Kuriarare spread through the ninja world like wildfire.

But what was even more shocking than "a six-year-old genin killing a jonin" was Munashi Jinpachi's mad description back in Kirigakure:

"He wasn't human at all! His Body Flicker was faster than lightning, flame bullets rained down like a storm, and that purple energy cannon at the end... even Water Release couldn't block it! I saw Kushimaru's blade blasted into dust!"

The moment Arashi heard that rumor, he knew the other party was making excuses for fleeing without fighting, but it also truly pushed Arashi into the eye of the storm.

Konoha, Uchiha Clan Compound.

"Lord Arashi is amazing! He killed one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist at six!" Several young clansmen gathered at the edge of the training field, their eyes full of worship. "If only we could get his guidance!"

"You all need to train hard if you want to keep up with Lord Arashi." Mikoto Uchiha had appeared behind them at some point, her gaze gentle. "From now on, anyone who can reach even half of Arashi's strength will be the pride of our Uchiha!"

The crowd nodded one after another, their eyes filled with fighting spirit.

And in the shadows, a gloomy gaze was fixed firmly on the training field—Shisui Uchiha's father, Kagami Uchiha's former subordinate, was currently clutching a secret letter. On it was Danzo's handwriting:

"Uchiha Arashi's existence has already seriously threatened the balance between the village and the Uchiha..."

Hokage's office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had just finished reading the Torture and Interrogation Force's report. The embers in his pipe flickered on and off.

"Supersonic movement, flight technique, high-explosive flame bullets, Galick Gun... this child's talent for ninjutsu is far more terrifying than his Sharingan. We must control him as soon as possible, or the consequences will be endless."

"Control?" Danzo pushed the door open and entered, ruthlessness flashing in his single eye. "He must be eliminated!"

"That child is too dangerous. Keeping him alive will only fuel the Uchiha's rebellious ambitions. Sooner or later, he'll become a calamity!"

"I've already sent Root people to 'handle' him!"

"You... you dare!" Sarutobi Hiruzen was so furious that his words nearly jammed in his throat. He had never expected Danzo to dare act first and report later.

He slammed the table, shaking loose the ash from his pipe.

"According to the Anbu's investigation, Fugaku protects him like his own son. If you touch Arashi, you'll be forcing the Uchiha to rebel! Konoha will be finished then!"

"Rebel?" Danzo sneered. "What waves can a six-year-old brat stir up? Once my people deal with him, the Uchiha won't have a chance to rebel even if they want to!"

"So that's why you're waiting for him to tear down Root?" An icy voice came from the doorway.

Arashi leaned against the doorframe at an angle, toying with a kunai in his hand. There was still fresh blood on the kunai.

Just now, on the road, the five Root ninja Danzo had sent had already become his "greeting gift."

"Danzo, your subordinates don't seem like much."

Danzo's expression changed drastically. "Why are you here?! Where are my men?"

"Your men?" Arashi walked into the office, and the kunai pinned itself beside Danzo's foot with a clang. "They've already reported to hell. Danzo, the people you sent were far too weak."

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned deeply. "Arashi, how could you casually kill ninja from the same village?"

"Casually kill?" Arashi interrupted him, his gaze sweeping over Danzo. "They attacked first. Lord Hokage, was I supposed to stand there and wait to die?"

He walked up to Danzo and lowered his voice. "Danzo, next time you send people after me, remember to have them bring enough coffin boards. Lying around at the roadside like that really affects the city's appearance."

Danzo trembled with rage and was just about to erupt when he saw red light flash in Arashi's eyes. The Double Tomoe Sharingan suddenly appeared!

That ocular power, like Mount Tai bearing down on him, made him freeze in an instant—this brat... he was only at double tomoe, yet he already had such massive ocular power?! This was a monster!

"Lord Danzo, do you really want to kill me?" Arashi's Sharingan stared fixedly at him, his killing intent almost solidifying into substance. "Too bad. You don't have the ability."

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched this scene with mixed feelings.

The soft feared the hard, the hard feared the ruthless, and the ruthless feared the ones who did not care about their lives. This Uchiha Arashi was exactly the kind of person who did not care about his life.

He sighed and picked up his pen.

"Arashi, I can choose not to pursue the matter of you killing them, but you must join the Anbu and accept the village's supervision."

"You're young, so you probably still don't know what the Anbu is. Its full name is the Special Assassination and Tactical Squad. It is Konoha's highest-level secret organization, directly under the Hokage, responsible for carrying out high-risk missions such as assassination, intelligence gathering, and protection. Every member's identity is highly classified, and they refer to one another by masks and code names. It is the strongest hero unit that protects Konoha from the shadows."