Gray Snake's mouth twitched at Fugaku's words. Away from Danzo's iron-fisted rule, he was becoming more and more like a normal person.
The Shinobi World had been torn by war for years, and most people longed for peace. When Akatsuki was founded, its goal had been to end the fighting in the Land of Rain.
In just a few years, it had grown powerful enough to threaten Hanzō. Later, Akatsuki drew many formidable shinobi to its ranks. Pain's strength was one reason; the dream of building a world without war was another.
Even people like Kisame were willing to give their lives for that dream, knowing it was a fantasy.
"Your strength still needs work. Don't forget to train while you're busy with the organization."
"My lord, my talent is average at best. I'm afraid improving will be difficult."
Fugaku knew that without Gray Snake telling him. Even a shinobi as strong as Orochimaru was, in the Third Hokage's eyes, a talent seen only once in decades.
That said plenty about the aptitude of most shinobi. The Land of Fire lay at the heart of the Shinobi World, and Konoha produced no shortage of talent. Its shinobi were already fairly gifted.
"Keep up your usual training for now. I'll leave you some Ninjutsu Scrolls later."
"Yes."
Fugaku soon left. As the Uchiha Clan Leader, he found many things much easier to arrange.
So long as it wasn't wartime and the Security Force ran smoothly, it didn't matter if he was away from it.
This time, he had left on the pretext of visiting a family in the Land of Fire's capital as Clan Head. Members of the Assassination Team had accompanied him.
Once he had finished the official business, one of them used the Transformation Technique to take his form,