In Konoha: Three Choices at the Start

With the Second Shinobi World War breaking out, this was hardly the time to learn Senjutsu.

Besides, he already had the Mangekyo, Ice Release, and plenty of other abilities. He ought to make a name for himself in this war.

He had long since abandoned his old plan to keep his head down.

"No problem! You're welcome in Shikkotsu Forest anytime!"

After returning from Shikkotsu Forest, Liuyun slipped out of Konoha alone.

He arrived before a waterfall flanked by two enormous statues.

This was the Valley of the End!

The place where Uchiha Sasuke and his rival had fought twice.

He had come to see just how far he could take his giant warrior.

He pushed his sensory abilities to their limit. There wasn't a trace of Chakra nearby.

Without further hesitation, he willed the Chakra inside him into motion.

His eyes changed rapidly: One-Tomoe, Two-Tomoe, Three-Tomoe, and finally the Mangekyo.

The sickle-shaped patterns spun like windmills as Mental Energy and Chakra poured out of him.

A skeleton wreathed in dark-blue flames silently appeared behind him.

His vision remained clear. Apart from an initial swelling sensation, he felt no other side effects.

"Looks like I can keep going," he murmured. The patterns in his eyes spun faster.

As Liuyun poured in more Chakra and Mental Energy, the blue-flamed skeleton behind him began to change again.

Bones, muscles, and veins took shape. A dark-blue cloak of flame covered its body, and a long spear of blue fire appeared in its hand.

Aside from a faint ache and numbness in his eyes, he felt nothing unusual.

Liuyun poured in still more Mental Energy and Chakra!

The dark-blue cloak of flame transformed again, becoming a suit of dark-blue Tengu Armor!

The spear in its hand grew brighter and more imposing.

At a thought from Liuyun, the giant warrior behind him casually swept its spear toward the waterfall!

Humm!

An invisible wave of force burst from the spear!

It sliced the rushing waterfall in two and slammed into the rock behind it, carving a long, straight scar.

A thunderous crash and violent tremor followed!

It was as if a boundless storm had swept through the area, raising towering waves across the once-calm lake.

The shaking went on for some time before fading, and the surroundings gradually settled.

A moment later, he noticed something astonishing: the water flowed into the gash first, then spilled out once it had filled.

From a distance, the entire waterfall looked as though someone had split it in half with a single slash.

Liuyun came back to his senses, his mouth twitching. He had only meant to give it a casual try. He hadn't expected this.

Just then, he sensed a pulse of Chakra nearby.

Liuyun immediately dismissed the giant warrior and vanished from the spot.

He had tested nearly everything he wanted to.

With his current Mangekyo, he could reach the third form without suffering side effects under normal conditions.

If he encountered a particularly troublesome enemy, he could push it to the fourth form.

As for the complete form, Liuyun didn't even consider it. He was too young to be dreaming like that.

When had Madara reached the complete form? After gaining the Eternal Mangekyo!

Liuyun was already satisfied that his Mangekyo could take him this far.

Not long after Liuyun left, a figure rushed onto the scene.

"So the disturbance I sensed earlier was real!"

"Who could split a waterfall in one stroke? Has Lord Sakumo returned?"

"Forget it. I'd better tell Lord Hokage at once!"

The young man muttered to himself, then turned and raced toward Konoha.

His amber-red eyes gave away his identity.

He was Shinku, one of Konoha's Eight Colors and the father of Kurenai Yuhi.

By the time Liuyun got home, the sky had darkened.

His young wife Mikoto had already prepared dinner. She sat with her chin in her hands, waiting for him.

"You're back, Liuyun!" The moment he entered, a beautiful smile blossomed across Mikoto's face.

"Mm!" Liuyun's gaze grew heated.

He hadn't expected Mikoto to be so considerate. She had already put on the white stockings he'd been looking forward to!

She wore a pale-pink short-sleeved blouse, a pleated pink skirt that fell below her hips, and white stockings that reached her knees.

She looked like a little princess straight out of a fairy tale.

"D-does it look nice?" Mikoto asked softly, blushing under his heated gaze.

"It looks great! Your husband loves it!" Liuyun chuckled and gave her pert bottom a light pat.

"L-Liuyun... You! I'm not talking to you!"

Mikoto let out a little cry and fled to her room, covering her flushed face.

All that good food over the past year hadn't gone to waste. She was even more springy than before!

Liuyun laughed to himself as a saying came to mind. It seemed especially fitting now.

When you're little, a smack on the bottom makes you cry. When you're grown, it makes you change positions.

"Ah! Being an adult is hard. Being the head of a household is even harder!"

It would be perfect if I could try all three ways!

After finishing the dinner Mikoto had made, Liuyun set about coaxing his young wife.

Early the next morning, an unexpected old man appeared at his home.

"I am Uchiha Oda, grand elder of the Uchiha Clan!"

Uchiha Oda spoke with a smile, his wrinkled face full of warmth as he looked at the two of them.

"What brings you here, Grand Elder?" Liuyun asked without preamble.

"I deeply regret what happened to you. But you must understand that the Uchiha Clan has always lived by the law of the strong!"

"That rule has endured since the Warring States era."

"Please just tell me what you came for. I understand all that, and I don't resent the Uchiha Clan!"

"As long as they leave me alone." Liuyun's voice was calm and distant.

The signs of the Second Shinobi World War were emerging, and the Senju Clan's glory was on the line!

The clan was free to follow the law of the strong, but Liuyun was just as free to distance himself from the Uchiha Clan.

When his talent had been hidden, they had cast him aside. Now that it was on display, they wanted to share in his success.

Sorry, but he had no need for a clan like that.

If he hadn't owed the old man a favor, Liuyun would have left already.

"Ah, very well." Uchiha Oda sighed.

The resolve in the boy's eyes told him there was no way to make him feel any loyalty to the clan.

"I have one request."

"Go ahead."

"If the Uchiha Clan ever faces extinction, I hope you'll step in and save it."

"All right."

Liuyun nodded. That would repay the favor he owed the old man.

With a desolate sigh, Uchiha Oda staggered away. Even his back looked forlorn.

"Liuyun, wasn't that a little harsh?" softhearted Mikoto asked.

"Don't worry. The Uchiha Clan will be fine. If it ever comes to that, I'll help!"

"Mm!"

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Ninja could be seen patrolling and standing guard throughout Konoha.

Those who were usually impossible to find seemed to be everywhere these past few days.

The night before last, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and a third companion had left without a word, taking a group of ninja with them.

Every sign pointed to the same thing: the Second Shinobi World War had begun!

Konoha's villagers had seen Tsunade and the others depart, and word spread quickly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi made no effort to stop the rumors. After all, it was better to let them flow than try to dam them up.

The Third Hokage's silence left Konoha's residents on edge.

Some had never forgotten the shadow cast by the First Shinobi World War.

One morning a week later, the entire Senju Clan stood before the Konoha Gate, waiting for it to open.

They were bound for the border between the Land of Fire and Iwa territory, where they would guard against a surprise attack on Konoha.

Their ranks were orderly, their faces solemn.

The crowd was made up of young and middle-aged adults. These were likely all the fighters the Senju Clan could muster.

Yet the clan's young heir, Senju Nawaki, was nowhere among them.

Nawaki was three years older than Liuyun, but he was still a boy. Besides, he was a direct descendant of the First Hokage.

Even if he wanted to go, the clan would never agree.

Of course, that was none of Liuyun's concern.

He looked at the Senju Clan members, all brimming with fighting spirit.

They've been sold out, and they'd still count the money for the seller. Liuyun shook his head inwardly.

Perhaps Tobirama Senju was so brilliant because he used up all the intelligence meant for the clan's later generations.

Otherwise, whoever had taken charge of the Senju Clan after Tobirama Senju's death should have known when to step back.

But they hadn't. During the First Shinobi World War, Tobirama Senju had led from the front as Hokage, costing the Senju Clan half its strength.

After decades spent recovering, the Senju Clan had not regained its former strength. Instead, it had fallen further into decline.

Was there no one in the whole Senju Clan willing to reflect on that?

The thought frustrated Liuyun so much that he wanted to march up to the clan leader and slap some sense into him.