The meeting room was on the verge of exploding.
But the moment Shuoye Uchiha stepped over the threshold, every argument died on the spot. All eyes turned to him.
Shuoye acted as if he hadn't noticed. He took his place calmly, swept his gaze across the room, and spoke with steady force.
"Everyone, I know you have doubts. Some of you are angry. But listen carefully—this is not a discussion. This is a decision already approved by Konoha's highest leadership."
His voice did not rise, yet it carried weight.
"Have you ever asked yourselves why Konoha grows weaker with each generation? It's because the great clans have sealed themselves off. That arrogance is exactly why other villages now dare to step on our heads."
"If we're talking about foundation, Konoha's is the strongest. Opening our ninjutsu archives is the only way to break this deadlock and become truly powerful again."
He paused, then delivered the first cut.
"The Uchiha will lead by example. We will open all Fire Release techniques to every Konoha shinobi—unconditionally."
Shuoye walked to the long table, his eyes quiet and deep, as though he could see through every calculation in the room.
"Clan heads, I understand your concerns. Now I will announce the rules for donating ninjutsu."
The room stayed silent as he laid out his terms, unhurried and precise.
"First: any clan head who contributes their clan's ninjutsu will receive generous merit rewards—and the chance to have their name carved into the Hokage Rock, remembered by future generations."
"Second: every time another shinobi learns your clan's technique, the contributor will receive a five percent merit-point share, as recognition of your contribution."
Shuoye let the words sink in before continuing.
"Of course, if you choose not to participate, I won't force you. But remember—this era belongs to the strong. Only constant progress and open exchange will let us resist foreign threats and protect our home."
"And those clans that cling to old walls and refuse cooperation will be eliminated by history."
For a moment, the meeting room fell into a heavy hush.
The clan heads exchanged looks, minds racing.
They all understood the hunger behind "being remembered." A name on the Hokage Rock was more than honor—it was permanence.
"This… is a clean trap," someone muttered at last, almost in admiration.
"Shuoye's move is ruthless."
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged a glance. They saw the same conclusion in each other's eyes.
This tide could not be reversed.
Koharu Utatane quietly tugged at Homura Mitokado's sleeve, stopping him from making a futile argument.
After that, Shuoye continued—item by item.
He detailed new force deployments, opportunities for civilians to learn ninjutsu, and a system where everything would be measured by merit. Noble or commoner, clan-born or not—anyone who contributed to Konoha would receive what they earned.
The room was shaken.
And everyone understood something clearly:
Shuoye was not posturing. He meant every word.
Fugaku Uchiha stood off to the side, watching Shuoye guide the room with effortless control. Admiration settled deep in his chest.
I'll catch up, he swore silently. In strategy. In strength. In everything.
Outside the windows, onlookers were equally stunned.
It felt like Konoha's future had cracked open—an age where birth mattered less, and power could rise from anywhere.
After Shuoye's policy was announced, Konoha moved as though a spring wind had swept through it.
Civilians poured into the streets, gathering in corners and crossroads, talking about change with bright eyes and trembling hope.
"Lord Shuoye is our savior," a young mother said, hugging her child as tears welled up. "My son finally has a chance to become a shinobi… to serve Konoha."
"He's brilliant—and he actually cares about ordinary people. He's Konoha's pride!"
Praise spread like fire.
Fugaku Uchiha walked behind Shuoye and saw it all. There was no jealousy in him—only deeper respect.
He knew what Shuoye was doing was for Konoha's prosperity, for every villager's future. And he knew how much he still had to learn.
Uchiha Xuanjing, as Shuoye's personal guard, witnessed Konoha's transformation firsthand. He had seen the same people who once looked hollow and defeated now walking with purpose.
He felt a quiet relief.
Choosing to follow him… was the right decision.
On a sunlit path within Konoha, Shuoye ran into Minato Namikaze.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering across their shoulders.
Minato Namikaze walked with his head lowered, steps heavy—clearly burdened.
Shuoye's mouth lifted in a knowing, slightly teasing smile.
"Minato, why do you look like the world's sitting on your shoulders?" Shuoye said, giving him a light, mischievous pat on the shoulder.
Minato Namikaze looked up and managed a strained smile.
"Shuoye… you really know how to win and still act innocent. Becoming Hokage used to be my dream. Now you're already ahead of me, and even the Hokage is willing to follow behind you."
Shuoye's smile faded into something more sincere.
"Minato, everyone walks a different road. The path I'm on might not suit you. You have your own talent, your own brilliance. If you keep chasing your dream, you'll find the light that belongs to you."
As they spoke, Kushina Uzumaki came running from the distance. Without hesitation, she threw herself into Shuoye's arms.
They exchanged a smile—wordless, sweet, perfectly in sync.
Minato Namikaze watched for two seconds, then sighed like a man who'd just been force-fed a mountain of romance.
He raised a hand to his forehead.
Then, with the Flying Thunder God, he vanished.
At that same moment, a cold, mechanical voice sounded inside Shuoye's mind.
[System Notification]
Congratulations, Host. You have completely resolved the Uchiha extermination crisis.
Reward: Five-Nature Chakra.
Shuoye froze for a heartbeat—then joy flashed in his eyes.
After spending a short while being close with Kushina Uzumaki, he headed straight for his training room.
Inside, Shuoye sat down and closed his eyes.
He felt five basic chakra natures stirring within him.
Fire—fierce and scorching.
Water—soft and flowing.
Lightning—violent and sharp.
Wind—light and cutting.
Earth—heavy and steady.
They wove together inside him, overlapping and blending, like a miniature world taking shape.
He could sense each nature's traits and shifts with perfect clarity—and manipulate them with ease, even combining them in complex patterns.
As his mastery deepened, his strength climbed at a frightening pace.
He began attempting to fuse all five natures into something new.
Every attempt carried risk. Every attempt held uncertainty.
And Shuoye enjoyed it.
When he finally stepped out of the training room, he wore a satisfied smile.
Another trump card—secured.
Later, while wandering the village, Shuoye overheard a piece of gossip that made him laugh under his breath.
Kakashi, apparently, had become obsessed with the Mind Body Switch Technique.
Rumor said he was so determined to master it that he trained day and night, refusing to put the scroll down even to eat or sleep.
Shuoye couldn't help but find it absurd.
Deep within a dark hideout, Obito clenched his fists, resolve burning in his eyes.
Konoha's changes made him restless. Shuoye's existence made him feel cornered.
At last, he stopped waiting.
He would turn White Zetsu into the blade that shattered the silence.
"If the other villages are too afraid of Shuoye to move…" Obito said lowly, "then I'll be the one to light the first fire."
He issued orders quickly.
Under cover of night, the White Zetsu force advanced toward Konoha.
On a high tower inside the village, Shuoye stood with eyes like fire.
During his earlier clash with Obito, Shuoye had left a trace of chakra on him.
Now that trace was moving—fast—toward Konoha.
By the timing alone, Obito had finally reached his limit.
A faint smile touched Shuoye's lips.
He already had a plan.
Under Fugaku Uchiha's confused gaze, Shuoye began setting up defenses—complex at first glance, yet flawlessly precise.
Fugaku Uchiha didn't fully understand.
But he trusted Shuoye absolutely, and carried out every order without hesitation.
"Fugaku," Shuoye said softly, "Konoha's free sparring partners are about to arrive."
Night deepened.
The White Zetsu force approached like a swarm of ghosts.
Some disguised themselves as trees. Others became drifting mist, trying to surround Konoha with sheer numbers.
Then—
A thunderous blast erupted.
Flames surged into the sky, nearly lighting up the whole night.
The shockwave tore through the enemy ranks, forcing them back. Even so, they didn't retreat.
White Zetsu crawled out of craters and sprinted into the village.
"So they really came…"
Hidden Konoha shinobi—already lying in ambush under Shuoye's orders—felt their hearts jump.
Earlier, when Shuoye suddenly gathered them outside the village, many had been confused.
Now they understood.
"Chase them down!" Shikamaru shouted immediately. "Don't let a single one escape!"
But the violent explosion had wrecked terrain and flooded the area with firelight and smoke. Many shinobi couldn't lock onto targets.
And as more White Zetsu poured in, they didn't have enough manpower to spread out and block every route.
In the end, the enemy broke into the village and began spreading inward.
"Damn it—what now?" Shikamaru's voice tightened.
The White Zetsu force had already reached the village entrance. In two or three minutes, they would hit the central district.
The civilians had been evacuated in advance, but if the village's buildings were destroyed, the repair cost alone would be enormous.
As White Zetsu neared the center, Shikamaru clenched his teeth.
"Rasengan—die!"
At that moment, Minato Namikaze formed seals, a powerful aura rising around him.
"Rasengan: Wind Cutter!"
A deafening roar split the night.
The Rasengan's cutting force dwarfed ordinary wind blades—so violent it even ripped up the ground.
Its target was a White Zetsu trying to force its way into the village center.
A scream tore through the air.
The wind pressure shredded it, its arm severed and thrown to the ground.
"…This is brutal," Shikamaru muttered, staring at the battered streets. "These White Zetsu are too hard to deal with."
Then a chill ran down his spine.
"Watch out!"
A short blade grazed past his neck.
He twisted aside just in time, avoiding a fatal strike.
A masked White Zetsu failed its ambush and fled.
"Slippery bastard," Shikamaru cursed.
"Everyone stay sharp," he warned. "There are more hidden nearby—stick together!"
The White Zetsu were not weak. They had to be handled with discipline.
Kunai flew in from multiple angles. Shikamaru dodged one—only to have more flash toward him from blind spots.
He let out a cold laugh and swept his right hand.
Dozens of kunai changed trajectory, knocking the incoming blades away and sending them back.
Nearby, Shikaku controlled his own weapons while searching for the hidden attacker.
He locked onto a direction.
With a low shout, he condensed a short blade in his hand and slashed hard.
The strike carried fierce momentum.
A wet tearing sound followed.
The ambusher was split in two—
But Shikaku's brow furrowed.
It was an afterimage.
His mind tightened. He snapped his head up.
"What is that—?!"
A snow-white White Zetsu crouched on a rooftop, baring cold fangs.
With a dull impact, its claw slammed onto Shikaku's shoulder.
Shikaku spat blood.
The creature sucked in a sharp breath, clearly startled.
It had thought this would be easy.
Then… I can only retreat for now.
But the moment they stepped into Shuoye's carefully arranged trap, nothing remained simple.
The battle detonated across multiple lines.
Konoha's shinobi responded instantly, moving exactly as Shuoye had arranged—each position sealed, each defense airtight.
Lightning Release users moved at high speed, striking like bolts and knocking airborne White Zetsu from the sky.
On the ground, Fire Release and Water Release teams worked in perfect rhythm—walls of flame, curtains of water—blocking advances and cutting off retreat routes.
The night filled with roaring firelight and the streaking glow of ninjutsu.
In the village's undercurrent, Danzō Shimura appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi, calculation glittering in his eyes.
"Third Hokage, this is our perfect chance. We can use the chaos to attack Shuoye and take Konoha back."
His voice was low, tempting.
Hiruzen Sarutobi only shook his head, weariness heavy in his eyes.
"Danzō… I'm tired. Konoha needs unity and peace, not endless struggle. Shuoye has his own plan. We should trust him."
His tone was flat as he turned away.
For a moment, Danzō Shimura's expression shifted.
Then it smoothed over again.
Sarutobi… you really are useless. This easily, you've lost your spine?
With a cold laugh, Danzō Shimura left—already forming a new plan.
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