Utter darkness blinded people just the same.
Back then, Hashirama Senju had used [Bringer-of-Darkness Technique] to fight head-on against a Genjutsu master of Madara Uchiha's caliber.
For me, Uchiha Minamoto, to use [Bringer-of-Darkness Technique] against Uchiha Itachi, Shisui Uchiha, Obito Uchiha...
Would be no problem.
Uchiha Minamoto set aside the idea of testing [Bringer-of-Darkness Technique] and looked at the hundred thousand Great Love Points he had just acquired on the panel.
He had made it this far and reached his current level entirely through his own hard work and talent.
[Heart of Great Love], add points!
Without any hesitation.
Uchiha Minamoto poured all hundred thousand points straight into [Yang Extremity Breathing Technique]!
[Heart of Great Love], activate!
[B-rank Nintaijutsu [Yang Extremity Breathing Technique] undergoing derivation and upgrade...] [You have acquired A-rank Nintaijutsu: [Sage Way Breathing Technique]!] -- [Sage Way Breathing Technique] [Rank: A] [Ability: Through a special breathing rhythm maintained around the clock without interruption, fuses Lightning Release chakra, Yang Release chakra, and natural energy to continuously enhance cellular activity throughout the body, permanently increasing physical strength, neural reaction speed, and life energy strength.] [Evaluation: To be honest... I'm not very good at Senjutsu.] --
C-rank [Thunder Breathing].
B-rank [Yang Extremity Breathing Technique].
A-rank [Sage Way Breathing Technique].
Every upgrade of the [Breathing Technique] was a qualitative leap.
Previously, Uchiha Minamoto had used [Thunder Breathing] and [Yang Extremity Breathing Technique] to rapidly raise his [Life Energy Strength] to Jonin level.
Now that he had obtained [Sage Way Breathing Technique], his [Life Energy Strength] could continue rising to A-rank!
After all, this was a form of "Senjutsu" involving "natural energy"!
Although [Sage Way Breathing Technique] had yet to reach the level of true "Sage Mode."
It had to be acknowledged that [Sage Way Breathing Technique] had already touched the threshold of "Sage Mode."
The next step in raising [Life Energy Strength] will be true [Sage Mode]...
Feeling refreshed and clearheaded, Uchiha Minamoto took a deep breath, and an entirely new breathing rhythm began.
He could clearly feel an invisible energy in the surrounding air being drawn into his body, merging with Lightning Release chakra and Yang Release chakra before flowing through his limbs and every part of his body.
Warm, full, brimming with power.
It felt like standing still and disconnecting-scratch that-wirelessly charging.
Despite not having eaten anything, Uchiha Minamoto felt a strange sense of "fullness."
Is my life of twenty bowls of ramen per meal about to leave me behind... how sad~
Uchiha Minamoto glanced at the remaining Great Love Points on the panel.
A little over thirty thousand remained.
These were mainly the points he had earned from killing Shimura Ryo earlier.
Uchiha Minamoto did not use any more for the time being.
His [Life Energy Strength] had the support of [Sage Way Breathing Technique], and his [Mental Energy Strength] was assured by the [Sharingan].
Everything else was secondary.
Uchiha Minamoto needed to find some time to take proper stock of his current abilities before deciding how to fill in the gaps.
The third floor of the Great Love Newspaper Office.
After a simple yet sensational opening ceremony.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not leave the Great Love Newspaper Office. Instead, he accompanied Uchiha Minamoto to the president's office on the third floor.
As for Shimura Danzō?
Even Uchiha Minamoto had not noticed when he left.
He had only vaguely caught sight of the bedraggled back of a despondent old dog...
"Minamoto."
Sitting in an upholstered armchair with the newspaper still in his hand, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke slowly.
"Won't writing about him like this hurt him too much?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not specify who "him" referred to, but he thought Uchiha Minamoto should understand what he meant.
"Lord Third."
Uchiha Minamoto chose to play dumb.
"Isn't this newspaper well written?"
Not well written?
Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help glancing at the front-page headline again, the one that read "Exclusive exposé..."
To be fair.
This news report really was very well written.
Although it covered an incident from many years ago, it praised him, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to the skies.
From courage to responsibility, from ability to character, this author named "Anonymous" had practically portrayed him as the true embodiment of the Will of Fire.
Some of the wording in the report even made Hiruzen Sarutobi blush.
"No, this report is very well written. I like it very much."
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, dispensing with the platitudes and making himself a little clearer.
"But what concerns me isn't the part describing me. It's... the other part."
"You must mean the 'deserter' in the report?"
Uchiha Minamoto dropped the pretense too and spoke bluntly.
"Or rather, Elder Shimura Danzō!"
"Yes..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed with the weary air of an old man.
He did not mention Mitokado Homura or Utatane Koharu.
Although those two were also among the village's senior officials.
Their presence in the village fell far short of Hiruzen Sarutobi's and Shimura Danzō's.
Besides, this news report from the Great Love Newspaper Office had all but named "Shimura Danzō" outright!
No ninja capable of independent thought would associate the "deserter" in the report with Mitokado Homura or Utatane Koharu.
Well, perhaps...
"You know, Danzo is an old friend of mine. We've fought side by side for decades."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke slowly.
"Although his methods are a little extreme, everything he does is for the village.
"Danzo loves Konoha."
Shimura Danzō?
He loves Konoha?
The only person he's ever loved is himself!
Inwardly, Uchiha Minamoto scoffed at Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.
On the surface, however, he still put on an indignant expression.
"I love Konoha too, and so do the Uchiha!"
The Uchiha Clan is already plotting a coup!
And you still claim to love Konoha?
Konoha can't take that kind of 'love' from you!
Hiruzen Sarutobi really could not stand continuing this evasive exchange with Uchiha Minamoto.
How could this Uchiha brat be so slippery at such a young age?
"This report!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi laid it all out.
"Will leave Danzo deeply embarrassed!"
"How exactly?"
"Uh, this report will damage Danzo's reputation!"
"Does Elder Shimura Danzō need a reputation?"
Uchiha Minamoto smiled, his expression earnest and candid.
"Lord Third, Elder Shimura Danzō is the 'Darkness of the Shinobi,' the leader of Root.
"A good reputation has never been a necessity for him, has it?"
Uchiha Minamoto's voice was not loud, but every word was perfectly clear.
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly.
He admitted that Uchiha Minamoto's words did sound somewhat reasonable.
Shimura Danzō was the village's covert operative who specialized in doing its dirty work and hard labor. What did he need a good reputation for?
In fact, if he set personal feelings aside.
This news report seemed to offer him, Hiruzen Sarutobi, every benefit and no harm at all.
"Lord Third, I don't think you need to worry about Elder Shimura Danzō at all. Besides..."
Uchiha Minamoto's smile appeared gentle and sincere, but in truth, it did not reach his eyes.
"Let Danzo bear the hardship, and you take the good name.
"Hasn't that always been the way?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi left.
Uchiha Minamoto stood on the third floor of the Great Love Newspaper Office, looking through the window at the Third Hokage's retreating figure below.
In truth, there was one more thing he had left unsaid.
"Does the fact that it's always been that way make it right?"
Toward evening.
The setting sun dyed the waters of the Naka River golden.
Shisui Uchiha sat on a large rock by the riverbank, a fishing rod in his hand, looking as though he were fishing.
But his gaze was not on the water. Instead, it rested on the distant horizon, as though he were thinking about something.
Footsteps sounded behind him.
Before you continue