It was still that same little grove, burned to charcoal.
After all.
This was the only route back to Konoha.
Kakashi stopped, his feet resting on the ashes, and looked back. The Uchiha Compound stood quiet and forbidding.
He sighed.
Then he continued on his way.
On a distant hillock, Shinji watched Kakashi's retreating figure, the corners of his mouth lifting.
[Challenge quest completed: Defeat Kakashi once and rid him of his shameful "Mr. Fifty-Fifty" nickname for good (Reward: Green Treasure Chest ×1)] [Challenge quest completed: Remove Lord Kakashi's mask and see his true face (Reward: Blue Treasure Chest ×1)]
He really hadn't expected this.
The rewards for Kakashi's quest series were actually this generous!
A Green Treasure Chest guaranteed at least 200 gold coins, and a Blue Treasure Chest guaranteed at least 300. That alone was a huge haul! The gold coins he had just spent were already replenished.
Whether green, gold, red, crimson gold, or obsidian, all the treasure chests had a chance of yielding plenty of useful items.
Everything from S-rank ninjutsu to Soldier Pills.
Simply put, they all shared the same loot pool, just with different drop rates!
"Open!"
[Congratulations! You opened a Green Treasure Chest and obtained Tachi: Flowing Flame (Blue). You opened a Blue Treasure Chest and obtained Secret Technique: Spirit Transformation Technique!]
Shinji grinned. "Quite a haul!"
The tachi he currently used was called Steel Cutter. He had used it for five or six years without the slightest damage. It remained as sharp as ever and conducted chakra extremely well.
It was a weapon that ranked among the finest in the Shinobi World. In Shinji's eyes, it was every bit a match for Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen!
And Flowing Flame was actually blue-tier?
The Spirit Transformation Technique... was akin to projecting a yin spirit, allowing the soul to leave the body and roam the skies...
Of course, none of that mattered.
What mattered most was that his words had planted more than one seed in Kakashi's heart.
All he had to do was wait for Kakashi to come to him with questions...
Well, he wasn't plotting some underhanded scheme.
He just couldn't stand seeing Kakashi in that miserable state.
The man needed to pull himself together and make a little real "contribution" to the Shinobi World!
"Big Brother Shinji, why did you say all that to Senior Kakashi? Do you really want him to become Hokage?"
Uchiha Itachi appeared silently behind Shinji.
His voice held neither sorrow nor joy.
"Oh, Itachi."
"What would be wrong with him becoming Hokage? Without clan ties, there would be no conflicts of interest. He could be a normal, fair, impartial Hokage who treated everyone equally."
Shinji smiled. "After all, there's no way the position of Fifth Hokage will go to the Uchiha Clan. In that case, why not find someone who would be fair and beneficial to everyone? I don't want a puppet, and I certainly don't want to prop up someone close to us to help the Uchiha expand our influence."
"Because that's all bullshit. It doesn't do a damn thing. All I need is a normal Konoha. Itachi, do you understand what a normal Konoha is?"
"..."
Itachi fell silent.
His way of thinking had only just begun to change. He really couldn't understand Shinji's somewhat forward-thinking, far-sighted strategy of "normality."
After all.
His brain was still the same brain.
Everyone knew the people of the Shinobi World had something wrong with their heads. They were extreme, hysterical. If they couldn't solve a problem, they wiped out the whole clan, created a new world, destroyed the old one, made everyone dream together...
Their thinking was terribly warped.
When Itachi failed to answer for a long while, Shinji looked back and found the boy frowning in deep thought.
He slapped his forehead. "Well! Forget it. You're still young, after all. You only need to remember one thing: fairness, fairness, and... fairness!"
"Besides... I doubt Kakashi will stay Hokage for very long."
With his hands on his hips, Shinji said quietly, "You can't be so shortsighted that all you see is this tiny Konoha. How could you change the Shinobi World by playing pointless games of house with these vermin every day?"
Change the Shinobi World?
Startled, Itachi finally snapped out of his thoughts. "But... Big Brother Shinji, if the Third Hokage doesn't step down, how will we get Senior Kakashi into office?"
"Besides, Senior Jiraiya and Princess Tsunade..."
Shinji scratched his temple. "If he won't step down, I can help him step down, can't I? Relax! Why are you making that face? People who want Konoha's Hokage dead are a dime a dozen in this world. Where do you think we Uchiha rank on that list?"
"As for Jiraiya and Princess Tsunade... they've probably heard what just happened and are hurrying back without a moment's rest."
"We'll deal with that when the time comes."
Itachi looked perplexed.
Was this really something they could resolve properly by waiting until the last minute to think of a solution?
The Konoha Sannin were renowned throughout the Shinobi World, their fame and might known to everyone. No matter how talented Kakashi was at his age, surely he couldn't compare with those two?
He simply stopped thinking about it and changed the subject. "Big Brother Shinji... I've actually been thinking about what you said at the Clan Meeting. Even now, with you wanting to make Kakashi Hokage, I... don't really understand."
"Itachi, have you ever heard the saying, 'A dynasty lasts a hundred years, but a great family lasts a thousand'...?"
Uchiha Itachi shook his head blankly.
"Forget it."
Shinji patted Itachi's shoulder. "Itachi, you'll understand when the time comes. As for now... do you remember what I told you before?"
Uchiha Itachi's expression turned solemn.
"Yes!"
"Go say goodbye to Uncle Fugaku, Aunt Mikoto, Sasuke... oh, and your little girlfriend. Then come find me, and I'll tell you what to do. Also... that little trick of yours is honestly ridiculous. Sending such an innocent girl to hang around Kei and the others to fish for information about me?"
Shinji looked utterly speechless. "How did you come up with such a stupid idea?"
Itachi's expression grew conflicted.
"I..."
"Forget it. Go. Izumi is a good girl. This time... don't let her down again, understood? Otherwise..."
A chill ran down Itachi's spine. "Yes!"
"Clan Head, what brings you to this old man's home?"
Uchiha Genshiki poured Shinji a cup of tea. Shinji thanked him and drained it. "Elder Genshiki, I came to ask you about something..."
Uchiha Genshiki was truly ancient. His hand trembled slightly as he held his teacup. "Oh? What could you need to ask a useless old man who's about to return to dust?"
Shinji Uchiha said earnestly, "Elder Genshiki, I've heard a saying: an elder in the family is a treasure in the home. There's still so much we need to learn from our seniors. You survived the Warring States Period and countless wars afterward. Now that we're in peacetime, take good care of yourself, and you'll surely live to a hundred... uh, no, two hundred!"
Uchiha Genshiki's clouded eyes brightened slightly.
He tipped his head back and laughed, then coughed. After catching his breath, he said, "Then may your kind words come true, Clan Head. Whatever you wish to ask, go ahead."
"Izanagi and Izanami."
Shinji leaned forward, his expression solemn. "First, I need these two forbidden techniques of the Uchiha Clan. Can you give them to me, Elder Genshiki?"
Uchiha Genshiki paused, a trace of nostalgia showing in his eyes. Only after a long while did he sigh. "Clan Head, the harm these two techniques inflict on their users is irreversible. The price is one the Uchiha Clan cannot afford to pay. As your senior, please forgive me for refusing to pass such forbidden techniques on to a younger generation."
"Not even on the Clan Head's authority?"
"..."
Uchiha Genshiki sighed, his voice weak. "Clan Head, these techniques invite chaos!"
Shinji was silent for a moment. "I'm not a madman... you can rest assured of that. What if I said I could avoid the consequences of using these forbidden techniques?"
Hum—!
As his words fell.
Shinji opened his eyes, revealing a dazzling Mangekyo Sharingan in each socket.
"Tsk... as I thought."
Uchiha Genshiki fell silent for a moment, then sighed. "Clan Head, do you know who you remind me of right now?"
Shinji's lips curved. "You aren't going to say Madara Uchiha, are you, Elder Genshiki?"
"No."
"Hm?" Shinji froze.
Uchiha Genshiki stared steadily at Shinji and said slowly, "Tobirama Senju. That hateful murderer who killed Young Clan Head Izuna!"
"..."
Shinji Uchiha's cheek twitched. "Please don't insult me... I admit he was a powerful shinobi worthy of respect, but as far as the Uchiha are concerned..."
"I beg you not to use your seniority as an excuse to call me names."
"Ha ha ha—cough, cough!"
Uchiha Genshiki slapped the table, roaring with laughter. Overcome with excitement, he bent his head and started coughing again. "Wonderful! Wonderful! It's been so many years since anyone insulted Tobirama Senju from such a peculiar angle. This old man is delighted! Since you need them, Clan Head, I can give you the techniques."
"?"
Insult Tobirama Senju and gold coins drop?
Oh, now that really is the right answer for an Uchiha...
Then.
Shinji Uchiha watched the old man take a slip of paper and scribble on it. In less than half a minute, he handed it over.
"Here, Clan Head."
"What's this?"
Shinji looked down in confusion.
One glance left him rooted to the spot in stunned disbelief. "This... is it?"
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