Killing with Praise

Inside Minato Namikaze's tent, Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze sat facing each other, seemingly discussing the upcoming battle.

Suddenly the sound disappeared. Jiraiya frowned slightly and gave Minato Namikaze a meaningful look. The two fell silent, their eyes showing a hint of seriousness.

"Minato Namikaze, something's not right..."

"Jiraiya- sensei, have you discovered something?"

Minato Namikaze's eyes showed a thoughtful expression. His senses were also very sharp, but he couldn't detect anything amiss.

"I have a vague feeling of being watched..."

"A very sophisticated Sensory Ninjutsu..."

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed slightly. If he hadn't practiced Senjutsu, he probably wouldn't have been able to sense it. Thinking of this, he quickly Hand Seals, and the runes of the Summoning Technique Jutsu flashed by. A green-skinned, purple-haired old Toad appeared before him.

"Little Jiraiya, what's the matter so late?"

"Shima, it seems someone is watching us in the shadows, but their methods of concealment are quite sophisticated..."

"Understood..."

Toad Shima nodded, opened his mouth slightly, and slowly extended his tongue. After sensing for a moment, his long tongue shot out like a swift lightning bolt.

"Found it!"

"Really!"

Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze a glance, a cold glint in their eyes. They quickly dashed off, following Toad 'Shima tongue towards the direction of Kusagakure.

"Minato Namikaze! Lord Jiraiya!"

The Chunin unaware of what had happened and were momentarily panicked.

"Don't make a fuss about this. You can continue your patrols..."

After replying hastily, the two people and the frog vanished without a trace.

"Have we been discovered?"

Kato Osamu's gaze passed through the Soulfire Insect and landed on the green-skinned, purple-haired Toad. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He could sense that there seemed to be a special energy within the Toad's body, which seemed to be the Senjutsu Chakra Orochimaru had once told him about.

"Senjutsu Chakra..."

"Strange energy..."

As the figures of the two people and the frog drew closer, Kato Osamu's body began to turn transparent and gradually disappeared into the void without a trace.

A moment later, Jiraiya and Shima Minato Namikaze appeared next to the tree where Kato Osamu had just stood. Toad slowly retracted his long tongue, a hint of doubt appearing in his eyes.

"The source is right here... but we can't sense it anymore..."

"Did they run away...?"

"They're really perceptive..."

Minato Namikaze searched for traces in the vicinity, his brows furrowing deeply, his eyes also showing a hint of seriousness.

If Jiraiya hadn't happened to be there today, he probably wouldn't have been able to detect such a tactic at all. Such a deceptive approach would likely make them enemies, not friends...

His gaze turned to the other side of the Land of Grass, where the Iwa Stone Shinobi forces were hidden among the towering mountains.

"They shouldn't be from Stone Shinobi or Cloud Shinobi. If they were, they wouldn't be stuck here..."

"In terms of perception, aside from the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, only the Uzumaki Clan's Mind's Eye of the Kagura has such a range. However, I've seen Lady Mito's Mind's Eye of the Kagura before, and it feels different..."

Jiraiya kept analyzing, but it was all for naught; there was too little information, and he couldn't come up with any results.

"However, we need to be careful from now on..."

Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya exchanged a glance, a shadow falling over their hearts.

"Master Xu actually managed to kill the Fourth Mizukage!"

"The Fourth Mizukage! The Fourth Mizukage!"

Since returning from Mist Shinobi, Iruka seemed to have become somewhat quiet, probably realizing that his talent was limited.

He then focused all his efforts on mastering basic ninjutsu, and under Itachi Uchiha's intentional or unintentional guidance, his Fire Release Ninjutsu also gained some power.

However, these past few days, ever since the news of the Fourth Mizukage's death at the hands of Kato Osamu spread throughout the Shinobi World, he has been unable to control himself.

In the past, his idol was Minato Namikaze, but now it has gradually changed to Kato Osamu. This situation is not uncommon among the Genin of Konoha.

After all, the title of "Shadow of a Village" is too awe-inspiring to the world!

"I heard it, I heard it..."

"It's so kind of you to say it every day..."

Uzuki Yugao rolled her eyes at Iruka, but a smile involuntarily appeared on her face. After all, he was their teacher, now a renowned ninja, and she couldn't help but feel a little proud.

"I'm leaving now..."

Itachi Uchiha remained expressionless. Each time he came, he would only stand quietly for two or three minutes without saying a word before hurriedly leaving.

Near the jungle outside the Konoha camp, many chunin Genin often seize every moment to improve their strength. Having been through the baptism of war, everyone understands that the stronger they are, the better their chances of surviving in the war.

The three of them also had a nearly private space, and perhaps because of Kato Osamu, some of the Genin looked at them with a hint of envy.

"There hasn't been much news from the Mist Shinobi battlefield lately. I wonder if Teacher Xu will come to the Stone Shinobi battlefield..."

"Teacher Xu is so strong... If he came, would it be possible for him to take down Ōnoki...?"

"To become the Fourth Hokage?"

Iruka ignored Itachi Uchiha. After spending so many days together, they had come to understand Itachi Uchiha Uzuki Yugao an excited tone.

His words, however, made Itachi Uchiha stop in his tracks, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

After a moment, without further hesitation, he hurried away, his steps seemingly even faster.

They left the jungle and headed straight for Fugaku Uchiha's camp.

"Father..."

Fugaku Uchiha and a group of the Uchiha Clan members seemed to be discussing something. When they saw Itachi Uchiha arrive, a subtle smile appeared on his face.

Although Itachi Uchiha was still young, he was very satisfied with his eldest son. Putting aside his strength, apart from Shisui Uchiha in the clan who was definitely stronger, no one of his peers could match his genius.

Besides, Shisui is a few years older than Itachi. When Itachi reaches Shisui's age, he will definitely not be weaker than him.

Although he wasn't good with words, he knew that Itachi was actually a very kind child.

"Hmm... Itachi, you can listen from the side for now..."

The surrounding Uchiha Clan members also smiled. They were very satisfied with Fugaku Uchiha's eldest son, who was not only a genius but also very sensible. For a large clan, such a successor was needed.

Suppressing his inner thoughts, Itachi listened to his clansmen discuss the war with the Stone Shinobi, which inevitably contained some of the Itachi Uchiha Clan's expectations, causing him to hesitate several times before speaking.

Fugaku Uchiha seemed to have seen through Itachi's thoughts, ended the discussion, and after everyone left, his gaze couldn't help but turn to Itachi Uchiha.

"Father..."

"Mr. Kato Osamu, what do you think?"

"Oh? A young prodigy, incredibly strong. He's a force to be reckoned with, a true pillar of Konoha..."

After a moment of contemplation, Fugaku Uchiha's voice reached Itachi Uchiha's ears, as if he was pondering the reason for Itachi Uchiha's question.

His initial move was merely to cultivate a good relationship with Minato Namikaze, but it unexpectedly yielded positive results. The possibility of the Uchiha Clan being integrated into Konoha under his leadership seemed to have increased, and a sense of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

"Does Father really think so?"

A glint flashed in Itachi Uchiha's eyes.

"I remember my father once vaguely mentioning that Minato Namikaze was too close to the Third Hokage, and the future of the Uchiha Clan was uncertain..."

"So, if Kato Osamu becomes the fourth generation..."

"Bang!!!"

Fugaku Uchiha's expression changed instantly. He slammed his palm down, shattering the table into countless pieces. His eyes were filled with disbelief and anger as he stared intently at Itachi Uchiha.

"Who else have you told such a thing?!"

"Tell me the truth immediately!"

"No..., only my father said so..."

"Um..."

He let out a long sigh in a deep voice, slightly relieved, and looked at Itachi Uchiha, his eyes flashing.

This child is still too young, yet thinks too complicatedly. He's easily misled and may go astray...

After all, he was his own son, so he calmed down and explained with more patience.

"Although Kato Osamu has risen to fame, he is ultimately a member of Orochimaru's faction and is disliked by the Third Minato Namikaze's attempt to win him over is likely to appease Orochimaru's followers after his loss of power."

Although this person is famous in the Shinobi World today, his foundation is too shallow. He is like a rootless duckweed, and no one will support his rise to power...

"Moreover, he comes from the Root and has intricate connections with Danzo. Who can know what role he actually plays in all of this?"

"But he won't be as close to the Third as my father said..."

"Hmph, what do you know? With such a complicated background, even if he rises to fame and everyone outwardly treats him with respect, no family will truly confide in him. What makes him think he can rise to power?"

Moreover, the Third wouldn't just stand by and watch...

For some unknown reason, a glint flashed in Fugaku Uchiha's eyes, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"Itachi, what made you think of such a thing?"

"But what are they saying outside?"

Upon hearing this, Itachi Uchiha frowned slightly.

"What some Genin ninja said casually was probably just a joke..."

"Is that so...?"

Fugaku Uchiha for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. He seemed to be somewhat certain that although this person came from Root, he was probably not Danzo's man.

This tactic of praising someone to death is exactly the same as it was a few years ago...