The Third Hokage

Konoha Ninja Village in the Land of Fire was hailed as the strongest ninja village in the Ninja World, the victor of the Third Great Ninja War. It was Well-known throughout the Ninja World. Even though Konoha had suffered a great decline in strength due to the departure of the Sannin, the Fourth Hokage's sacrifice, and the destruction of the Uchiha Clan, no other village dared underestimate it. Even a weakened Konoha still exerted a powerful deterrent over the other villages.

At this moment, inside the Hokage Building in Konoha, Kurenai Yuhi and Might Guy were respectfully kneeling on one knee in the Hokage's office. Behind the desk before them sat a short old man with a head full of white hair.

The old man wore a red-and-white Miko Robe. His face was covered in the marks of time, with several age spots on his cheeks. He was clearly quite advanced in years, yet the occasional sharp glint in his cloudy eyes proved that he was no ordinary elder.

This man was Konoha's current ruler and nominal supreme leader, the Third Hokage, known as the Ninjutsu Doctor. He was also the longest-serving Hokage in Konoha's history, having devoted nearly his entire life to Konoha Ninja Village. His prestige within the village was immeasurable.

The old man quietly listened to Kurenai Yuhi and Might Guy's report on this mission. Ordinarily, a routine mission like this did not require a report. Countless missions began and ended in the village every day; it was impossible for the Hokage to hear reports on every one of them. Only a handful of exceptionally important missions were reported directly to him.

Kurenai Yuhi and Might Guy's assignment had originally been nothing more than a standard escort and protection mission. A B-rank mission like this did not need to be reported to the Hokage, but they had discovered something unusual during the mission.

"Uchiha Shurikenjutsu!!!?" When the Third Hokage heard the Uchiha Clan mentioned in Kurenai Yuhi and Might Guy's report, his pupils immediately contracted slightly.

"It was indeed Uchiha Shurikenjutsu. Back when we were still Genin, an Uchiha Clan ninja from our class once used this Shuriken Technique. We were there at the time, so there is no way we could be mistaken. Although the Shuriken's strange flight paths were somewhat different, the throwing technique was almost identical. That is why we suspect that Wu may have some connection to the Uchiha Clan," Kurenai Yuhi said gravely.

Upon hearing Kurenai Yuhi's report, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, gradually fell into deep thought. Kurenai Yuhi said that only because she did not understand the Uchiha Clan well enough. Yet after hearing her report, the Third Hokage had practically concluded that Wu was an Uchiha Clan member!!

Kurenai Yuhi and Might Guy did not know much about the Uchiha Clan, but as Konoha's Hokage, he understood the Uchiha Clan extremely well.

According to Kurenai Yuhi and Might Guy's report, the Shuriken Technique used by that Wu had been exceptionally fierce and bizarre, instantly killing four Rogue Ninja. Even within the Uchiha Clan, very few could achieve such a level.

To use Uchiha Shurikenjutsu perfectly, proficient use of the Sharingan was a necessary condition. At the very least, one needed a Two-Tomoe Sharingan, because the Uchiha Clan's Shuriken Technique differed from all other Shuriken Techniques. It required immensely powerful Dynamic Vision and predictive ability to calculate the Shuriken's flight paths. It was nearly impossible for ordinary ninja to reach such a level; even the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan in Konoha could not accomplish it.

The Byakugan's perception was indeed powerful. It could see through Chakra within the human body and even clearly observe the body's meridians and the flow of Chakra. But that was only useful for reconnaissance. In predictive ability and reaction speed, the Byakugan was far inferior to the Sharingan.

The Sharingan could clearly perceive every subtle movement of an opponent and predict their next move. It could even copy Ninjutsu that did not belong to a Kekkei Genkai. Such terrifying perception and reaction ability were far beyond the Byakugan's reach.

Regardless of whether Wu was an Uchiha Clan member, it was certain that he possessed the Sharingan. But before the Uchiha Clan was exterminated, apart from Kakashi's Sharingan, no Sharingan had ever left the clan.

As a Kekkei Genkai Family, especially one with a Dojutsu-type Kekkei Genkai, the Uchiha Clan guarded its Kekkei Genkai with extreme strictness. Every clan member who underwent Opening Eyes was recorded in the archives. Even if one died in battle, the clan would recover the body and cremate it, then mark it in the records. Furthermore, if an enemy attempted to seize a Sharingan on the battlefield, that Uchiha Clan member would generally destroy his own eyes. Therefore, the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan was extremely difficult to obtain. Not a single village had acquired one during the Third Great Ninja War, or else Konoha and the Uchiha Clan could not possibly have remained unaware.

Now that the Uchiha Clan had been destroyed, aside from Uchiha Itachi, who had defected from the village, only Uchiha Sasuke remained. Sasuke could be ruled out immediately. He had not even undergone Opening Eyes, and he had remained within Konoha the entire time, never leaving the village.

According to Kurenai Yuhi's report, the Bounty Hunter Ninja named Wu was around sixteen or seventeen years old, not far from Uchiha Itachi in age.

Could it be Itachi!!? the Third Hokage thought to himself, then shook his head. Itachi should still be monitoring that organization, and with his personality, he would not become a Bounty Hunter Ninja.

Just then, there was a knock on the Hokage's office door. The Third Hokage said calmly, "Come in." A Chunin slowly opened the door and entered. The Third Hokage turned to Kurenai Yuhi and Might Guy with a smile. "Kai and Kurenai, you have worked hard. I understand this matter now. Go get some rest."

"Yes!!" Might Guy and Kurenai Yuhi respectfully saluted, then slowly withdrew from the Hokage's office.

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