Sarutobi Rogge

"Do you know how Madara Uchiha's younger brother, Izuna Uchiha, died?" Rogge was in no hurry to make a move and simply asked lightly.

Uchiha Shimizu's expression darkened. He did not understand what Rogge meant.

Izuna Uchiha had died from grave injuries sustained in battle against Tobirama Senju.

During the Warring States Period, amid the prolonged conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan, Izuna Uchiha, Madara Uchiha's younger brother, had been immensely powerful.

In one battle, he had clashed with Tobirama Senju.

With his outstanding tactical skill and ninjutsu, Tobirama Senju used the Flying Thunder God Slash and struck Izuna Uchiha with lightning speed.

Izuna suffered catastrophic injuries. Although the Uchiha Clan did everything they could to save him, he ultimately died from his wounds.

Having read the Uchiha Clan's history, Uchiha Shimizu naturally knew exactly how Izuna had died.

The watching ninjas knew as well, but none of them understood what Rogge was trying to say.

Only Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura were startled.

Could it be... Rogge had already learned the Flying Thunder God Technique?

"Enough nonsense. Die!" Uchiha Shimizu's face turned cold as his hands rapidly formed seals. He shouted, "Water Release—Water Shock Wave!"

In an instant, powerful chakra surged through his body.

The air before him was stirred by chakra, and moisture rapidly condensed.

Then, a massive pillar of water burst forth like a roaring dragon.

Several meters wide, the water pillar charged toward Rogge with terrifying pressure and impact.

The four ANBU special jonin watching from the sidelines reacted swiftly. Taking positions at the four corners of the arena, they formed seals simultaneously. "Four Violet Flames Formation, activate!"

In an instant, the vast arena was enclosed by a pale violet barrier.

Inside the barrier, atop the arena.

Wherever the water pillar passed, the ground was smashed apart by the violent current, sending dirt and broken stones flying everywhere.

The rushing water roared like thunder, deafening to the ears.

Radiating an icy chill, the water pillar rushed toward Rogge at tremendous speed like a raging flood intent on swallowing everything in its path.

Uchiha Zhenghong, watching the battle, smiled as he explained, "Shimizu possesses Fire, Water, and Earth chakra nature transformations. Water Release ninjutsu is also one of his specialties!"

"Heh, a cheap trick. Watch this!" Rogge did not form any seals. Instead, his entire body turned into molten lava, transforming him into a scorching magma form.

At a thought from him, the awakened power of the Magma-Magma Fruit began to surge.

The ground around Rogge started to tremble faintly, as though some immense force were about to erupt from beneath the earth.

Then red light spread from beneath his feet, rapidly expanding across the ground like blazing fire.

Wherever that glow reached, everything began to change.

Earth, stone, vegetation, even particles in the air were assimilated in an instant and transformed into scorching magma.

The rocks on the ground flowed slowly like wax melted by extreme heat, forming a blazing sea of magma.

The magma continuously churned and surged, radiating a terrifying heat.

The red magma advanced in wave after wave like a raging sea.

A pungent sulfurous smell filled the air, and the surrounding temperature soared. It was as if the entire space had become a gigantic furnace.

The moment the enormous water pillar touched the magma, it let out an intense sizzle.

The scorching magma rapidly eroded the water pillar with unstoppable force. Its edges began to vaporize, sending wisps of white steam billowing upward.

Under the magma's searing heat, the water pillar gradually evaporated from its edges, turning into vast clouds of white mist.

The once-mighty water pillar visibly shrank, as though an invisible giant hand were slowly crushing it apart.

Soon, thick white fog blanketed the entire arena.

The mist was as dense as heavy clouds, making it nearly impossible to see the surrounding scene.

Visibility instantly fell to almost nothing. Everything became blurred, with only faint red glimmers of magma intermittently visible through the fog.

Some ordinary ninjas without Byakugan or Sharingan frowned and asked, "What's happening in the arena?"

Sharingan, activate!

The Uchiha Clan's ninjas opened their Sharingan one after another, revealing the figures of Rogge and Uchiha Shimizu within the dense fog.

The Sharingan could see through smoke and mist, producing an effect similar to x-ray vision, though unlike the Byakugan, it could not see through the human body or discern an enemy's chakra flow.

In the original manga, when Kakashi Hatake faced Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, and his Hidden Mist Technique, Kakashi lowered the forehead protector covering his left eye for the first time, revealing the Sharingan that normally only members of the Uchiha Clan could awaken—a gift from Obito.

Kakashi Hatake's Sharingan possessed the ability to see through mist.

This x-ray effect was merely one of the most basic abilities of the Sharingan's Eye of Insight. Nearly every Uchiha ninja who awakened the Sharingan could use it.

Fugaku Uchiha also activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and explained, "I see it. Rogge threw three kunai at Lord Shimizu..."

"Lord Shimizu dodged the kunai. Rogge is charging in. He's planning to use taijutsu..."

"Uh..."

Above the arena, thick mist swirled.

Using the Summoning Technique, Rogge summoned the demon sword Murasame that he had kept at home.

He stared into the surrounding mist, his gaze cold and sharp.

Suddenly, Rogge moved.

Using his Observation Haki, he casually threw three kunai toward Uchiha Shimizu.

With the Sharingan's perception, the thick mist did not affect Uchiha Shimizu in the slightest.

He easily dodged the three incoming kunai.

Holding his sword in both hands, Rogge charged toward Uchiha Shimizu.

Uchiha Shimizu sneered inwardly. Heh, does he intend to challenge me in taijutsu?

But in the next instant, Rogge's figure vanished from the spot like a ghost.

Suddenly, Rogge appeared behind Uchiha Shimizu.

He was so fast that there was no time to react.

Uchiha Shimizu's heart jolted. He hurriedly turned around, only to see a flash of cold light.

The demon sword Murasame in Rogge's hand shot forth like lightning, precisely piercing his heart from behind. Blood burst out instantly.

Uchiha Shimizu's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

He had never imagined that Rogge would defeat him so easily.

"This... this is the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju's... Flying Thunder God Slash..." With every sentence, Uchiha Shimizu coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face filled with shock and unwillingness.

Only when death descended did he understand what Rogge's opening question had meant.

Izuna Uchiha had been killed by Tobirama Senju's Flying Thunder God Slash, and today, Uchiha Shimizu would be killed by Rogge in exactly the same way!

Rogge pulled out the demon sword Murasame and watched Uchiha Shimizu slowly collapse, without a trace of pity in his eyes.

In this cruel ninja world, only the strong could survive.

Blood stained the ground red, and the thick scent of blood permeated the mist.

Standing in place with the demon sword Murasame in hand, Rogge resembled a cold-blooded god of slaughter, sending chills down everyone's spine.

A bead of cold sweat appeared on Fugaku Uchiha's forehead. He took a horrified step back and said, "Th-this is impossible. Lord Shimizu actually just..."

Uchiha Zhenghong looked as if he had witnessed something terrifying. He roared, "Shimizu!"

Damn it, the Flying Thunder God Technique was specifically designed to counter the Sharingan!

Rogge actually learned such a forbidden technique as the Flying Thunder God Technique!

Hiruzen Sarutobi must have taught it to him. He must have!

"This is a conspiracy! A conspiracy against the Uchiha Clan! I must stay calm. I cannot act rashly. I have to stabilize the situation. I have to endure!" The current Uchiha Clan leader, Uchiha Zhenghong, let out a roar of humiliation and resentment from within his aged body.

On the arena, Rogge directly reached out and dug out Uchiha Shimizu's pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan. He placed them into a glass test tube filled with saline solution and sealed it with a stopper.

Then Rogge controlled the magma to melt Uchiha Shimizu's corpse, reducing it to nothing and destroying the evidence.

Next, Rogge used the Flying Thunder God Technique to instantly teleport himself into a secret cave in the Grass Country, where he hid the Three-Tomoe Sharingan he had taken as spoils.

Finally, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique again to teleport back to the arena.

On the spectator platform, Tsunade had learned some sensory ninjutsu, so she loudly narrated as well. "Uchiha Shimizu's presence has disappeared... Did Rogge win? No... that's not right. Rogge's presence suddenly disappeared too. Huh... Rogge's presence has appeared again."

"Outrageous!"

"Damn it! How dare you steal the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan!"

Uchiha Zhenghong finally could not hold back any longer. He roared, "Rogge, not only did you destroy Shimizu's corpse, you even took his Sharingan! You're courting death!"

Hm?

The many ninjas present all showed astonished expressions.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Tsunade, and the others looked shocked.

Seeing the Uchiha Clan's ninjas gritting their teeth in fury.

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately ordered the four ANBU special jonin maintaining the formation, "You... dismiss the Four Violet Flames Formation. The duel is over."

"Yes!" The four ANBU special jonin acted in unison and shouted in low voices, "Four Violet Flames Formation, release!"

In an instant, the water mist scattered in all directions and soon spread throughout the entire dueling ground.

Danzo Shimura formed seals with both hands and used "Wind Release—Great Breakthrough!"

The powerful Wind Release blast dispersed the mist, and vast amounts of water vapor escaped through the dueling ground's ventilation shafts.

Soon, the arena at the very bottom of the dueling ground came into view.

Above a field of magma.

Rogge stood quietly, wearing a calm and carefree expression.

"Why is Rogge the only one there? Where is Uchiha Shimizu?"

"It looks like Rogge won. Uchiha Shimizu's corpse was destroyed."

"Did Rogge really take Uchiha Shimizu's Sharingan?"

On the high platform, some observing ANBU, Root, and other ninjas discussed the matter, making bold guesses.

"Rogge, hand over the Sharingan!" Uchiha Zhenghong's face was so dark it looked ready to drip water.

Fugaku Uchiha gritted his teeth and glared viciously at Rogge. His eyes had long since turned into the Three-Tomoe pattern in fury. "Rogge! You shameless thief!"

Below the platform, Rogge sheathed Murasame at his waist.

Then he used the Body Flicker Technique. With just two or three leaps, he arrived beside Hiruzen Sarutobi and smiled. "Godfather, I did not fail your expectations. I won!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened as he said in a low voice, "Rogge, I know you won, but tell me honestly. Did you take Uchiha Shimizu's Sharingan?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi suspected that he had misjudged Rogge. The child before him was not the innocent boy he had thought he was, but a monster blessed with premature wisdom!

What inheritor of the Will of Fire? No, this Rogge, so young yet already so calculating, was absolutely not one!

Rogge possessed the strength to kill an elite jonin, had taken a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and had even learned the Flying Thunder God Technique... Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that he had completely lost control of the situation.

Danzo Shimura abandoned the idea of having Rogge join Root and serve him.

Rogge's current strength was already enough to threaten Danzo Shimura.

Letting Rogge join Root would be like keeping a ticking bomb at his side!

"No. Uchiha Shimizu was consumed by my Lava Release. Even his corpse is gone. I never saw any Sharingan." Rogge shook his head, wearing an innocent expression.

"Lies! I clearly saw you dig out Brother Shimizu's Sharingan. Hand them over now!" Fugaku Uchiha pulled out a kunai and glared at Rogge with fury.

"You saw it?"

Rogge sneered and asked the others, "Did anyone else see it?"

Uchiha Zhenghong's face twitched as he shouted, "All of us in the Uchiha Clan saw you dig out his Sharingan."

"What a joke. Your Uchiha Clan has a grudge against me, so your testimony has no credibility whatsoever! You're clearly just looking for trouble!"

Rogge's face was full of mockery. Then he turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "Godfather, even if I took the Sharingan, they would be my spoils of war. Besides, I never took any damn Sharingan."

"Godfather, you have to stand up for me! I've decided to change my name today. From now on, I'll be Sarutobi Rogge! I even want to join the ANBU in the future and serve you!"

"Godfather, look at these Uchiha people. They look like they want to eat me alive."

"Godfather, I'm so scared!"

One "Godfather" after another left all the ninjas present dumbfounded.

This was simply too shameless.

The Uchiha Clan's ninjas thought to themselves, Just as expected... Rogge's backer is the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi!

Behind this life-and-death duel... was Hiruzen Sarutobi's scheme. Rogge was merely a pawn Hiruzen Sarutobi had pushed forward!

Even Danzo Shimura sighed inwardly. So... all of this was Hiruzen's plan? As expected, compared to Hiruzen's cunning, I am still lacking.

"Shut up!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression became extremely grim.

Rogge obediently shut his mouth and said no more.

Then Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around and loudly addressed Uchiha Zhenghong. "A life-and-death duel means the victor lives and the loser dies! Everything belonging to the defeated side, including the corpse... becomes the victor's spoils. This has always been the rule of the dueling ground!"

"Besides, Rogge says that he did not take Uchiha Shimizu's Sharingan. I believe Rogge."

"Rogge has always been a good child. He is my adopted son, Hiruzen Sarutobi's adopted son."

"Do not forget, I am the Hokage!"

"Disperse. This matter ends here."

The moment he said that, anyone with eyes could see that Hiruzen Sarutobi intended to shield Rogge.

It was confirmed!

Hiruzen Sarutobi was the mastermind behind it all. His purpose in doing this was to ruthlessly suppress the Uchiha Clan!