After sending Uchiha Fugaku and the others to Whirlpool Island, Shin Uchiha returned to his dimension. Rather than rushing back to Konoha, he stayed there to finish his Lightning Release Armor training for the day.
Shin Uchiha had a feeling that, as his physical strength increased, his Mangekyō Sharingan was close to evolving into the eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Over the past two days, his eyes had felt as though they were stirring, ready for a change.
Shin Uchiha finished his training in a cheerful, expectant mood. He did not linger in the dimension, turning to leave and returning to his home in Konoha.
He washed up briefly at home, since he had worked up quite a sweat during training, then gathered all his gear, left the Uchiha District, and headed for the Hokage Building in the center of Konoha.
Since Shin Uchiha was still just an unremarkable Jōnin of Konoha and had yet to officially join the Anbu, as well as being the Uchiha Clan's Deputy Clan Leader, he observed the formalities. Instead of entering the Hokage Building directly, he asked the personnel on duty to announce his arrival.
Soon, Shin Uchiha was invited into the Hokage's office. Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk in casual clothes, a large pipe between his lips. When he saw Shin Uchiha enter, he smiled and beckoned him forward, looking every bit the friendly little old man.
Shin Uchiha was not fooled by the Third Hokage's appearance. That image might deceive civilians or inexperienced children, but if the Third Hokage were merely a kindly little old man, how could he have become Konoha's longest-serving Hokage? Of course, the Ninja Academy also promoted him as the strongest Hokage in history.
Shin Uchiha responded to the Third Hokage's greeting neither with excessive deference nor