Chapter 246: Kikyo's Water Breaks x Newborn
Jin Uchiha?
Danzo brought Torune Aburame back to the Anbu. Orochimaru's reason for leaving was well-founded... Just one point alone, that Hiruzen would absolutely not allow him to continue using living humans for experiments right under his nose, was enough to convict him.
But understanding aside, a pawn he had finally "grasped" was lost just like that... Danzo's face was gloomy, practically seething with anger. It should be known that he had originally planned to push Orochimaru into a higher position to compete with that kid Minato Namikaze, thereby achieving the goal of secretly controlling Konoha. Now, everything was thrown into chaos, and it was ruined by a half-grown child who hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy... Danzo sat behind his desk with cold eyes, recalling all the intelligence gathered on Roy previously, his expression dark and uncertain. After a long while, he looked up at Torune Aburame and said, "Has the spy you developed produced any results?"
Torune Aburame bowed and said, "Contact has already been made with Shisui Uchiha."
The man adjusted the mask covering half his face and said quite confidently, "That child neither agreed nor refused. He always says he needs to go back and think about it. I believe that giving him a little more time to work on his thoughts will definitely succeed."
Kids are most susceptible to the "Will of Fire" rhetoric. Becoming the bridge connecting the clan and the village, saving the Uchiha, and even saving Konoha to become a great hero revered by both the clan and the village—Torune Aburame felt that no young person could resist being hot-headed about it... He had a lot of experience in this regard.
"Then hurry up!"
Danzo struck the ground heavily with his cane, producing a muffled "thump". With another glance... Torune Aburame responded in a deep voice, "Yes!" and bowed out...
Meanwhile,
In the Southern Border Forest, inside a training ground near the Uchiha clan compound.
Roy, with his hands in his pockets, strolled under the sun, unhurriedly savoring Orochimaru's life.
During his time in the Akatsuki organization, after experiencing Itachi point-blanking him with Genjutsu and failing to seize a vessel, then... targeting Sasuke, painstakingly cultivating him for three years, only to be slain by Sasuke when it was time to switch vessels, forcing him to reside within Sasuke's body to wait for an opportunity. In the end... after finally waiting for the brothers' life-and-death battle, he was ultimately drawn into the Totsuka Blade by the dying Itachi, burned by Amaterasu, and completely perished... It had to be said,
This guy had also forged quite a karmic bond with his family...
And all of this seemed to be... the trouble caused by the Sharingan.
A bicycle you are reluctant to ride, yet someone else stands up and pedals it away; desiring but failing to obtain is the most maddening.
Arriving at the training ground,
Roy stopped his steps and watched Shisui and Itachi practicing swordsmanship meticulously and sweating profusely—two more pairs of Sharingan that Orochimaru desired but could not obtain. "Nii-san,"
"Someone approached me recently."
Five thousand three hundred and twenty-one... five thousand three hundred and twenty-two... Shisui painstakingly performed his ten thousand practice swings, struggling to spare a glance at Roy as he spoke. Roy gave a slight, expressionless "Mm".
Releasing [En], a Heart Worm casually shot into Shisui's body and brought back a scene.
It was a ninja wearing a cat-face mask, carrying two short swords on his back... Judging by the attire, it was definitely Anbu. As for whether it was Root... he couldn't see the mark on the tongue coating. But from the conversation between the other party and Shisui, full of enticement and brainwashing, he didn't need to think; it was Danzo's man. "Focus, just practice the sword, don't get distracted." Specks of fluorescent light bloomed in his hand. Roy cast a sidelong glance at Shisui. With Wood Style in one hand and Light Style in the other... he casually found a large bluestone to sit on and began practicing carving a wooden sword with a "blade of light" to deepen his understanding of [Yang Release] and solidify his recent gains. Shisui gave a violent shudder and roared, "Yes."
The long sword in his hand swung down, faintly flashing with firelight... That was the portrayal of just entering the gateway of "Flame Breathing".
Five thousand three hundred and twenty-three... five thousand three hundred and twenty-four... seven thousand... eight thousand...
Itachi arrived. Seemingly unwilling to lose to Shisui in front of his Nii-san, he gripped the wooden sword in his hand and swung it strenuously, closely following Shisui's pace. Gradually, as the sun neared the western hills, dyeing the sky with a magnificent hue...
Several prompt sounds surfaced in succession...
[Prompt: Your believer "Shisui Uchiha"'s swordsmanship has progressed, "Faith Power" +5...]
[Prompt: Your believer "Itachi Uchiha"'s swordsmanship has progressed, "Faith Power" +5...]
[Prompt: Your believer "Obito Uchiha" is using the Sharingan proficiently. In a mock battle with Kakashi, he landed a solid punch on the opponent for the first time, "Faith Power" +7...]
[Prompt: Your believers "Yashiro Uchiha", "Tekka Uchiha", and "Inabi Uchiha"'s strength has progressed. Due to the grace of you helping them awaken their eyes, "Faith Power" +2+1+3+1+2...]
The carving knife created via [Light Style] fell gently, taking away some wood shavings. Roy, just like Sakonji Urokodaki back then, sat on the tree stump in the courtyard amidst wind and snow, his knife rising and falling... Gradually, a delicate wooden sword took shape in his hands...
Jade cannot be made into a vessel without cutting and polishing; the same applies to swords, people, and Light Style... With the final cut shaping the sword tip, Roy held the sword, watching the setting sun add a touch of bewitching red to the wooden sword. With a backhand motion, the boy spun the sword, smoothly de-conjuring the wooden sword into his Unconscious Domain, waiting to be branded with [Divine Letters] and given to Itachi.
"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-three... nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-four... ten thousand!"
Whoosh— Two sword lights wreathed in flames tore through the air, hitting the two wooden stakes not far away. Then...
Crack
The wooden stakes snapped at the waist, the cut surface smooth as a mirror, bearing a trace of a scorch mark left by the flames. They successively became the "dead souls beneath the swords" of Shisui and Itachi.
Phew— The two little ones exhaled heavily, raising the backs of their hands to wipe the fine sweat from their foreheads. Their eyes visibly sparkled with joy as they turned their heads to look at Roy together...
The boy smiled slightly at the right time: "Well done,"
Shisui and Itachi looked at each other and smiled in succession...
"Nii-san, I want to eat ramen!"
"Me too."
"Alright." Roy held Shisui and Itachi, one in each hand. "All-you-can-eat ramen today, put it on your Brother Obito's tab."
Shisui: "..."
Itachi: "..."
Looking at each other in dismay,
They were dragged towards the most central commercial district in Konoha.
Tap... tap... The sun set in the west, and the daylight gradually dimmed. A bright moon in the east was slightly obscured by clouds and mist, looking hazy... Walking on the way to Ichiraku Ramen,
The edge of the Southern Border Forest was approaching, and the massive Hokage Rock could already be seen in the distance. Shisui looked up at Roy and probed, "Nii-san, is the clan really that unfeeling?"
Unfeeling? Itachi, holding Roy's hand, poked his head out to glance at Shisui, then looked up at Roy.
Roy smiled and said, "Was it that ninja wearing the cat-face mask who told you that?"
Shisui was shocked. Big brother knows?
Roy smiled and didn't explain. He just casually cast a glance in the direction of a certain inconspicuous burrow and said faintly, "Where there are people, there is conflict. You only need to remember this point, and that is enough."
"Then he said he wants me to join them. Should I join?"
"Why not?" Roy let go of Shisui, gently touched his forehead, and said, "Do whatever you want to do. If you feel troubled, then don't do it. It's that simple."
Shisui was thoughtful... Itachi followed suit, looking at him, then at Roy, not fully understanding but feeling it was profound... Roy was left unhurriedly strolling forward, completely unbothered. After a moment, Shisui seemed to have made a decision. Weighing his words one last time, he asked, "Isn't Nii-san afraid that they are bad people?" Roy leisurely stopped his steps, raised his hand to point at the Hokage Rock, at the stone face belonging to Hashirama Senju, and asked Shisui in return, "Do you know who that is?" Shisui nodded: "I know, the First Hokage-sama."
Then, he recounted Hashirama Senju's glorious achievements as if enumerating his family's valuables...
Roy listened silently, not interrupting him, waiting until his mouth was dry and he poured out his overflowing reverence for Hashirama like beans from a bamboo tube... Only then did he ask him again, "Do you know why everyone respects him?"
"Father said that it's because of the First Hokage-sama that Konoha exists today," Itachi blurted out, remembering the heroic deeds of Hashirama that Fugaku had told him.
This statement gained Shisui's agreement.
Of course, heroes are worth praising, and Hashirama Senju, who founded Konoha, also deserves the title of "God of Shinobi."
However, my foolish little brothers... Roy crouched down, wrapping one arm around Shisui and the other around Itachi, and said, "The one and only reason the First Hokage-sama truly commands respect and attention... is..."
"He is strong enough!"
Roy looked at the two little ones, enunciating every word: "He is strong, so whatever he says and whatever he does, is right..." Shisui and Itachi were clearly stunned.
When they recovered their senses, they exclaimed in unison, turning into specks of light and were taken away by Roy along the moonlight. Flash... flash... flash again... In the blink of an eye, they appeared in a dark, narrow, deserted alley next to Ichiraku Ramen...
Meow~ A calico cat foraging at the head of the alley suddenly saw the three people appear out of thin air and was startled. The fur on its back bristled, and it panicked, jumping over the wall and fleeing...
Shisui and Itachi's black hair was messy. They seemed to have not yet emerged from the shock of Light Style. Then, the backs of their heads felt hot as Roy gave each of them a slap. Dazed, they stumbled out of the alley and plunged headfirst into the Ichiraku Ramen shop.
How they ate this meal of ramen, Shisui and Itachi didn't know.
The two little ones seemed to only have light left in their eyes. Dazed, they finished the noodles with Roy, and dazed, they each returned to their respective homes. It would probably take some time to digest it all...
Roy ignored them and went straight home with Itachi.
Creak~ The door opened.
"I'm back." Roy gave Itachi a light pat, reminding him to change his shoes. Stepping out of the entryway, he peeked towards the kitchen and could vaguely see his mother, Mikoto Uchiha, bustling behind the curtain.
"Wait a few minutes, the katsudon will be ready soon."
Hearing the noise, Mikoto called out.
Roy took off his shoes and followed into the house, his eyes immediately meeting Fugaku's complex gaze.
The man had taken off his Jonin flak jacket and wore black loungewear, sitting upright on the tatami... A cup of tea sat on the low table, its curling steam no longer visible. Clearly, he had been waiting for a long time since returning from duty.
"Father,"
"Come here, sit."
Fugaku beckoned.
Roy nodded, brought Itachi to sit near the tatami, and timely listened to Fugaku recount what he saw and heard in the Hokage's office.
"Hokage-sama informed me that your mission to go to the front lines and support Jiraiya-sama has been canceled, Jin,"
Fugaku Uchiha looked deeply at Roy and said, "Do you know the reason behind this?"
The Hokage's orders, especially missions involving war, once issued, absolutely cannot be easily changed. Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly changed his mind in a single day, and even specifically called him from the Police Force to the office to encourage him. Fugaku would be beaten to death before believing that his own son wasn't the reason behind this.
The man's gaze was burning... Beside Roy, Itachi, upon hearing his father's words, looked at Fugaku and then at Roy.
The boy remained silent. He merely reached out and beckoned the pot of tea warming over the fire. Then... he separated a wisp of "Nen Aura", differentiating it into [Water] and [Earth], urging them to intertwine and merge, transforming into a wooden cup... Lifting the teapot handle, he tilted and poured... A cup of fresh tea, gurgling and emitting curling steam, reappeared in front of Fugaku and Itachi...
The "light" in Itachi's eyes had not yet faded, and now it was accompanied by a touch of "wood color." He subconsciously blurted out, "Wood Style?"
As his words fell, the cozy living room arranged by Mikoto instantly fell into an eerie silence...
"Itachi is right... It's [Wood Style]!" Fugaku slightly opened his mouth, stunned!
The wooden cup was ordinary, something you could see anywhere in the market... But a wooden cup generated via Wood Style, looking at the entire Konoha, and even the Five Great Nations, since the First Hokage passed away, this was the one and only!
"Father, have some tea." Roy smiled and pushed the wooden cup towards Fugaku.
The tea in the cup swayed, sending out ripples... Fugaku looked down and could even see his own face in the tea, stiffened from extreme shock!
So that's how it is... The man suddenly understood... If he were Hiruzen Sarutobi, sitting in the Hokage's seat... he would absolutely not throw a ninja who had mastered [Wood Style] onto the battlefield!
The reason was simple. This was a Kekkei Genkai only the First Hokage could master; it was an insurance... for suppressing Tailed Beasts, and even controlling them!
Letting him go to the battlefield, if anything were to happen... it would be an immense loss for the village and the Land of Fire!
Sip... Fugaku recovered his senses, took a sip of tea, and looked at Roy with a complex expression. "What else... are you hiding from me?" Space-Time Ninjutsu... Wood Style... Could it be, as the Third Hokage said, this kid really learns in his sleep?
"I don't know either," Roy spread his hands helplessly. "Father, you know, when you know too many things, you get choice paralysis. If you ask me to say it all, I won't be able to finish for a while."
Fugaku: "..."
Itachi: "..."
Taking a deep breath,
For a moment, it seemed as if they had sucked all the cold air out of the entire living room!
Nii-san... so this is Nii-san... This was Itachi.
I don't know. This was Fugaku.
Silence filled the living room at this moment.
Before long, as if feeling the chill in the living room... the kitchen curtain lifted, and Mikoto Uchiha walked out carrying several plates of katsudon... "Don't just sit there, time to eat."
"Oh," Finally, the chill melted away, and the living room became lively again.
Roy finished his meal silently, went into the kitchen to wash the dishes. That night, after saying goodnight to Fugaku and Mikoto,
Fugaku Uchiha hesitated to speak, gave him a deep look, and waved his hand: "Go."
Roy gave a slight nod, took a quick bath with Itachi, and returned to his room to sleep... Perhaps he was tired that night, or perhaps he hadn't recovered from Light Style and Wood Style. Itachi obediently snuggled next to Roy and fell into a deep sleep, saving them the usual time for chatting.
Thus,
Roy also enjoyed a rare, relaxing night.
Closing his eyes,
Hands crossed over his lower abdomen, he soon fell into a deep sleep. His consciousness detached from the Naruto World and once again arrived at his Sea of Cognition. He then passed through the colorful dream tunnel... With a blink of his eyes, he returned to the Hunter World.
Only,
This time, Roy didn't wake up naturally; he was shaken awake. The person shaking him spoke with an urgent tone, blurting out:
"Young Master, Madam's water broke. I reckon... she's about to give birth."
☆☆☆
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