Seeing Uchiha Mahiru was still hesitating, the White Zetsu continued:
"That Anbu Fox who went to the Land of Rain with you, he's a bad one.
If he had used Wood Release against Lord Madara right from the start, would Lord Madara have even bothered with you few weak Uchiha?
It was only after four Uchiha died that Fox intervened, reluctantly saving you.
Someone like Fox is just an extension of the Konoha leadership's will. He was the one supervising your entry into the Land of Rain.
Think back, wasn't it him who led you to Lord Madara?
Didn't he arrive late, after you had suffered heavy casualties?"
Uchiha Mahiru's breathing became short.
Yes, it was Fox who led them to Uchiha Madara.
Why did Fox know how to find Uchiha Madara? Their group had been wandering around the Land of Rain like headless flies. Without Fox's tip, they might not have found Uchiha Madara even in a month.
Striking while the iron was hot, the White Zetsu said again: "I saw you kill an Anbu member. How about we join forces and kill Fox?"
Hearing that the white-skinned freak had witnessed his crime, Uchiha Mahiru's first reaction was to silence him immediately.
He crushed another White Zetsu.
His power had greatly increased, but the Deputy Anbu Commander, the renowned Copper Fox, still put considerable pressure on Uchiha Mahiru.
When another White Zetsu appeared, Uchiha Mahiru felt irritated. The White Zetsu seemed endless. He asked:
"Why do you want to deal with the Anbu's Copper Fox? It can't be just to help me cover up the truth, can it? Give me a reason to believe you!"
The White Zetsu said: "Before, I could come and go from this Konoha village as I pleased.
Konoha's barrier is the same as it was decades ago when Lord Madara was in Konoha; it hasn't improved at all.
Lately, I've been having trouble.
Someone can sense my presence. I didn't know who it was before.
Now I know. The Anbu's Copper Fox acquired Wood Release through experiments. It must be him.
Only by killing him can I regain my freedom to enter and leave Konoha freely.
And by killing him, you can both avenge your teacher and deal a heavy blow to Konoha.
Copper Fox is the Deputy Anbu Commander. With two consecutive Deputy Commanders dying tragic deaths, Konoha's forces in the shadows will suffer the pain of losing a limb.
Mahiru, Konoha will never trust the Uchiha clan. The peace you enjoy now is a false peace.
One day, Konoha will bare its fangs and devour the Uchiha clan living within the village alive!"
Uchiha Mahiru was tempted. He said, "I will consider your suggestion."
With that, he once again seized the white-skinned freak's throat and crushed it.
Several corpses of the white-skinned freaks lay on the floor.
Uchiha Mahiru used a Fire Release technique to burn the bodies to ashes.
The bodies were strange; when burned, they didn't smell like burning protein or charred meat, but rather like burning wood.
Uchiha Kirika rushed upstairs in a panic.
"Brother! Why did you use Fire Release! Did someone come?!"
Uchiha Kirika was terrified, wondering if his brother's act of killing the Anbu had been exposed and the Anbu had come to arrest him.
"It's nothing, Kirika. I just burned some things that shouldn't see the light of day."
——
Inside the Anbu base.
Yōkō, Squad Leaders Golden Eagle and White Ram, the three of them stared at the corpse covered by a white cloth.
Yōkō said: "Golden Eagle, White Ram, we cannot let the brutal death of our comrade go unpunished.
From now on, monitor the Uchiha compound twenty-four hours a day. Specifically, monitor Uchiha... Mahiru."
Golden Eagle had thought they would monitor the entire Uchiha clan, but it turned out to be a specific individual.
Yōkō recalled the argument between Uchiha Kane and Uchiha Mahiru in the Land of Rain.
Under Uchiha Kane's management, the Uchiha clan as a whole was relatively moderate, without such great ambition.
Even if Uchiha Kane discovered the Anbu were monitoring the Uchiha clan, he wouldn't take action.
But Uchiha Mahiru was different. He had awakened the Mangekyō and was extremely inflated.
If anyone was most likely to have killed the Anbu member, it could only be Uchiha Mahiru.
Very few people knew Uchiha Mahiru had awakened the Mangekyō, and Yōkō was one of them.
Yōkō hadn't reported this information to the village, so Golden Eagle knew nothing about it.
Golden Eagle didn't ask why and said: "Sir, I will arrange for Hyūga clansmen to monitor Uchiha Mahiru 24 hours a day without interruption!"
"Maintain distance. Don't get too close to Uchiha Mahiru." Yōkō said:
"Uchiha Mahiru was formerly the head of the Police Force's Interrogation Division. He has a ruthless disposition.
Later, he failed his promotion to Jōnin because he accidentally killed a war orphan during an interrogation. Now, with his drastically changed temperament, he might desperately jump over the wall if cornered."
Golden Eagle nodded and said, "I understand, Sir. I will have my people be careful."
——
Inside the Root base.
Uchiha Mizukiku knelt on one knee, waiting for Lord Danzo.
Danzo slowly emerged from the dark shadows, revealing an unusually pale face.
Danzo had experienced severe rejection reactions, but his foundation was good, his strength was great, and he was also lucky, having obtained the powerful vitality of Hashirama's Cells.
Sarutobi Hiruzen would age; he would not.
He would maintain his physical peak for a long time, just like Tsunade, with very slow physical deterioration.
"Otsu, do you have any important intelligence to report?"
Uchiha Mizukiku said: "Lord Danzo, Uchiha Mahiru's personality has changed drastically. He may have mastered the Uchiha clan's ultimate ability."
Danzo's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but take a step forward: "Explain in detail."
"Lord Danzo, you taught me how to awaken the Mangekyō.
In the Land of Rain, Uchiha Mahiru's teacher, Uchiha Michi, died right in front of him while saving Uchiha Mahiru and his brother.
Uchiha Mahiru received an extreme stimulation.
This fulfills the necessary condition for awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan that you mentioned.
I suspect Uchiha Mahiru has already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Uchiha Mahiru's temperament has changed drastically, from a silent, interrogation-specialist Uchiha shinobi to someone high-profile and active.
Especially when he faces Clan Leader Uchiha Kane, even Clan Leader Kane has to yield to him.
Judging from Clan Leader Uchiha Kane's attitude, Uchiha Mahiru's strength has greatly increased; otherwise, the Clan Leader wouldn't be so patient and value Uchiha Mahiru so highly.
Uchiha Mahiru's status within the clan has skyrocketed.
In all settings, Uchiha Mahiru's ranking is above Uchiha Tōka's, second only to the Clan Leader."
Danzo nodded repeatedly.
His luck had been good these past few days. Having just acquired the power of Wood Release, he immediately received intelligence about the Mangekyō.
Danzo asked: "Otsu, what is Uchiha Mahiru's attitude towards the village?"
"Very poor." Uchiha Mizukiku said:
"After Uchiha Mahiru's temperament changed drastically, he became an extreme militant."
The people around him are all those within the Uchiha clan who are dissatisfied with the village.
They are unwilling to be content with the Police Force's tedious daily patrols, catching thieves, dealing with drunks, and other boring tasks.
They want to become Jōnin, they want to become Guardian Ninja, they want to become village leadership, they want to obtain power, claiming that status should match strength."
Danzo's eyes turned sinister. He looked down at Uchiha Mizukiku, very satisfied with her. He said:
"Otsu, monitor Uchiha Mahiru closely. We absolutely cannot allow anyone to destroy the village.
Those who hold grudges against the village are all targets we must eliminate.
In a couple of days, design a mission for him, lure him to a deserted place, and I will deal with him."
"Understood, Lord Danzo."
Danzo suddenly remembered something and asked: "Otsu, your child was born, wasn't it?"
Otsu looked up, her tone carrying joy: "Yes, my Lord. It's a boy, named Uchiha Shisui."
Danzo nodded and said, "While you monitor others, you must also pay attention to your own safety. You are a father with a child now."
"Thank you, my Lord."
Watching Uchiha Mizukiku leave with the Body Flicker Technique, Danzo secretly resolved that Uchiha Mahiru's Mangekyō was something he must obtain.
Uchiha Mizukiku also had high Dōjutsu talent. He could also kill Uchiha Shisui to刺激 Uchiha Mizukiku into awakening the Mangekyō.
That way, he would possess four Mangekyō Sharingan.
He moved his right shoulder.
On his right shoulder was a face of Senju Hashirama. His body was now special and could completely bear more Sharingan.
The consumption of the Sharingan in his right eye was usually very small.
Danzo summoned Hei.
"Hei, how is the progress of Orochimaru's self-built laboratory?"
Hei said: "Sir, Kō's self-built laboratory has taken shape and is currently searching for test subjects."
Danzo said: "I will revoke Orochimaru's codename. He is no longer Root's Kō. Bestow the codename 'Kō' upon that infant, Tenzō. Send people to raise Tenzō well."
Hei was inwardly shocked. Making a 1-year-old child become Root's Kō?
Was Lord Danzo placing such importance on Tenzō?
"Understood, Lord Danzo."
Danzo added: "After delivering the final batch of experimental supplies, cease providing any further support to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru will come to realize that without my support, he can't even capture test subjects.
Even if he captures them, he will be exposed sooner or later.
Even if he operates concealedly, I will make sure he is exposed.
Until he comes back to beg me, until he understands that without me, even if he obtains forbidden techniques, he lacks the ability to research them."
"Yes, Sir!"
Danzo turned and walked back into the darkness.
Konoha's present no longer had anything to do with him.
His contributions to Konoha, doing the dirty and hard work for Konoha, had ultimately resulted in Root and the Shimura clan suffering repeated heavy blows.
Danzo believed that only by accumulating power in the shadows could he become the Fourth Hokage after Sarutobi Hiruzen.
By obtaining power stronger than Hatake Sakumo's, stronger than Orochimaru's, he could make everyone shut up.
Konoha's future definitely belonged to him, Danzo.
——
On the afternoon of October 14th.
Uchiha Kane walked out of the Hokage Building with a grim expression.
He had just recommended to the Third Hokage that Uchiha Mahiru be promoted to Jōnin.
However, his recommendation was rejected on the spot by the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage said he remembered Uchiha Mahiru; he was the former Jōnin in charge of the Police Force's Interrogation Division.
Uchiha Mahiru had killed a war orphan during an interrogation, and his reputation was extremely poor.
The Third Hokage stated that, due to this serious stain, Uchiha Mahiru could never become a Jōnin in this lifetime.
Furthermore, the Land of Rain investigation mission couldn't be considered successful. They couldn't treat a funeral as a wedding; no Jōnin could come out of that mission.
Uchiha Kane argued with the Third Hokage for a few sentences, but the Third's attitude was firm and he wouldn't grant him this favor.
Failing to secure the Jōnin recommendation, he didn't know how to soothe Uchiha Mahiru.
Returning to the clan compound, Uchiha Kane summoned Uchiha Mahiru and told him about his Jōnin recommendation being rejected by the Third.
What made Uchiha Kane feel the situation was bad was that Uchiha Mahiru's attitude was calm, as if he had expected it.
"Clan Leader, it doesn't matter. Since the Third Hokage says I can never be promoted to Jōnin in this life, then let him think that.
I will use my own methods to make him bow his head and admit his mistake. I will make all Jōnin feel inferior when they see me.
Konoha is utterly rotten now. I will become part of the leadership, or even the Hokage, in the next era."
Uchiha Kane was stunned. Hokage?
Uchiha Mahiru, are you serious?
***
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