Danzo Was Still Too Green

"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!" Shimura Danzō glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

If he could take Uchiha Yi and mold him into a tool, the Hokage's seat would be his, and he would unite the Shinobi World under his rule. Then the First Hokage, the Second Hokage, and the Third Hokage would be nothing before him, Shimura Danzō, the Fourth Hokage.

He would be the one who truly led Konoha to greatness!

Then he would prove to Tobirama Senju that he had been wrong. Danzo was the one best suited to become Hokage.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi's refusal to cooperate left Shimura Danzō seething.

"I am the Hokage, Danzo!" Hiruzen Sarutobi radiated the authority of a Kage. "Whatever the future holds, Uchiha Yi is a Konoha shinobi and a pillar of the village's future.

You are not to lay a hand on him!"

"Hmph!" Shimura Danzō snorted and slammed the door behind him, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi in his chair, staring blankly at it.

He knew Uchiha Yi was the right choice. But for the sake of his Family, he had to pass Yi over.

Of course, he would not actually target Uchiha Yi. He would still be a good Hokage and Yi's Uncle Sarutobi. He simply would not give Yi as much help from now on.

When Uchiha Yi sought the Hokage's seat, he would offer no support.

I'm sorry, Yi. A Hokage with a Family to look after cannot be a good Hokage!

To keep you from facing the same predicament I have, I can't let you become Hokage.

I'm sure you'll understand someday!

With that thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze grew firm.

Barring anything unexpected, Danzo would likely target Uchiha Yi next. Hiruzen only had to lend Yi a hand when necessary.

Danzo was still too green.

Uchiha Yi had no idea Shimura Danzō and Hiruzen Sarutobi had had that conversation. If he had known, he might have coughed up blood on the spot. He had even defended Hiruzen in his thoughts, dismissing theories about the Hokage's schemes as baseless.

He had figured that once he joined the Hokage's circle, he would not have to worry about being held back for the time being. Yet he was not even eight, and he already faced that very problem.

Unlike before, Tsunade deliberately slowed the group's pace this time. They traveled as though they were out for a leisurely excursion.

Along the way, Tsunade guided the three of them in their training and taught them what to watch for while traveling. She also told them about places she had visited, interesting things she had encountered, and where to find the best hot springs and food.

"Say, you've made quite a bit of progress with Lightning Release again, haven't you?" Tsunade remarked when she saw Uchiha Yi practicing changes in his Lightning Release chakra's nature even on the road.

If Nawaki worked as hard as Uchiha Yi, she would not have to worry about him.

"Yeah, I have made some progress lately.

I've heard the Raikage and his people use something called Lightning Release Chakra Mode. It gives them tremendous destructive power and terrifying speed, and it even improves their defense.

It's a shame I've never seen them in person. Otherwise, I'd study it properly." Uchiha Yi's talent for Lightning Release was already among the finest in the Shinobi World.

You could mock Sasuke for either getting beaten up or being on his way to another beating, but you could not deny his talent for Lightning Release.

Sasuke's original inspiration was Takemikazuchi, the god of thunder.

He mastered Chidori in a short time and later found countless ways to use it.

Every shinobi had different talents. Uchiha Fugaku had dismissed Sasuke's talent because he was less gifted at Fire Release than Itachi. Was that any different from deciding Naruto Uzumaki could not be a member of the Uzumaki Clan just because he was not good at Sealing Jutsu?

And was it really surprising that Sasuke lost to Killer B after awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan?

Was that Sasuke at his peak?

Yes, he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, but he was not yet accustomed to those eyes.

Itachi had wiped out the Cursed Seal Sasuke normally relied on. It would have been stranger if Sasuke had won.

At that stage, Sasuke was probably weaker than he had been during his fight with Itachi. He had not even found a new way to fight yet.

After gaining Sasuke's talent for Lightning Release, Uchiha Yi had developed Lightning Bird Style with ease. It had not seemed all that difficult.

"Lightning Release Chakra Mode? I'd rather not face those people." Tsunade's mouth twitched. Lightning Release Chakra Mode was not something an ordinary shinobi could learn.

Anyone who mastered Lightning Release Chakra Mode would be at least as strong as an Elite Jōnin.

There probably were not many shinobi in the entire Hidden Cloud who had mastered it.

At his age, Uchiha Yi would not survive an attack from fighters that powerful.

Tsunade thought it would be best if Uchiha Yi never ran into them.

"Heh, I'm rather looking forward to it. The Third Raikage is another matter, though." Uchiha Yi could not help feeling wary of the Third Raikage.

In overall strength, Hiruzen Sarutobi might have been the Third Raikage's equal. In a one-on-one fight, though, the Third Raikage would probably have the edge.

Even if Yi awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan now, he probably could not defeat the Third Raikage without an exceptionally powerful ocular technique.

The Mangekyō Sharingan was powerful, but it was not invincible.

"Hmph. What you lack most right now is combat experience and time. You won't be any weaker than them in the future." Tsunade patted Uchiha Yi's shoulder reassuringly. "But have you started your growth spurt, kid? You've grown at least ten centimeters this year, haven't you?"

You're the one who's been growing. You've gone up at least three cup sizes this year.

Uchiha Yi kept that thought to himself. If he said it aloud, he would probably end up no better off than Jiraiya.

"I don't think it's started yet. I've just been growing taller at a normal rate.

You're a medical ninja. You should be able to tell if you look closely." After a pause, Uchiha Yi added, "It might also have something to do with my recent Lightning Release training.

Lightning Release stimulates physical growth, but my growth spurt should still be a few years away."

"All right. It looks like you're right." Tsunade examined Uchiha Yi's cells and nodded slightly. "You'll probably grow quite tall, then. Maybe over a meter eighty-five.

Nawaki would cry if he knew. You've already caught up to him in height.

I'll be happy if he reaches a meter seventy-eight someday."