Chapter 127: 123: Uchiha (1)
Shikkotsu Forest
Once Katsuyu's clone had introduced Shiraishi to various locations within Shikkotsu forest, it left Shiraishi alone and returned to its main form.
Standing atop a lofty mountain, Shiraishi could feel the natural energy here was even more intense than at the mountain's base. Practicing Sage Mode here could yield twice the results with half the effort.
As Shiraishi surveyed the panorama of Shikkotsu forest, footsteps approached from behind him. He recognized the arrival without hesitation. In Shikkotsu forest, aside from himself, Tsunade was the sole human presence.
"Are you here to seek justice for those fallen Konoha ninjas? I must say, I don't really wish to engage in combat with you." Shiraishi remarked, his head slightly tilted as he watched Tsunade approach.
Tsunade's eyes retained a lingering coldness. Shiraishi's actions in Konoha had been exceptionally audacious. The Konoha ninjas below might have been unaware of the full story, but Tsunade was privy to undisclosed information.
When Shiraishi left from Konoha, he not only demolished the village's infrastructure but also spirited away members of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans.
To make matters worse, the 'caged bird' seals on the foreheads of the members of the Hyuga branch family had malfunctioned, plunging the Hyuga clan into internal chaos, arguing with each other endlessly.
The Hyuga clan now grappled with the fear of defection among the remaining branch members, fostering an atmosphere of exclusion and mistrust within the clan.
The Uchiha clan was no better off. The rift between the police force and the village appeared to deepen with each passing day. After all, Ruri, an Uchiha, had participated in the confrontation with the Hokage that fateful night.
"I'm simply curious about your motives for inciting so many to leave Konoha. It's impossible to take so many people away without doing anything."
Tsunade asked with a serious expression.
The witch and the black beast that had attacked Kusagakure were Shiraishi's subordinates. Their assault seemed to be connected to the remnants of the Uzumaki clan.
Later on, Shiraishi had provoked members of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans to leave, prompting Tsunade to worry that Shiraishi harbored hidden secrets that might endanger the legacy of the Konohagakure, established by her grandfather, Senju Hashirama.
"I'm just interested by such matters. Don't worry; I have no intentions towards Konoha. As for the Uchiha's departure, I can only say it was their own choice. I never coerced them. However, the hearts of those yearning for freedom can't be contained. A caged bird, upon glimpsing the hope of flying freely, loses all fear of life and death. Isn't that the truth, Tsunade-sensei?" Shiraishi responded.
Tsunade opened her mouth to argue but found herself unable to dispute Shiraishi's words.
Even she couldn't understand the caged bird of the Hyuga clan. It was purportedly to protect the Byakugan, but the main members could activate the curse seal to control the branch members. Such measures seemed excessive.
"What about the Uchiha then?"
Tsunade sighed, her concern deepening.
"That's a problem that stems from history. It's rather complicated to explain in detail, as it involves some hidden secrets. I regret I can't state the reasons comprehensively." Shiraishi responded.
He remembered the conditions needed to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan and felt that some secrets couldn't be casually divulged to outsiders or the Uchiha clan. It was best to keep such secrets concealed from all.
"Do you genuinely believe the village has no thoughts?" Tsunade questioned. "Sarutobi-sensei trusted you greatly. He mentioned to me more than once that you embody the true Will of Fire in the Konoha's tradition."
Tsunade regarded Shiraishi with a complicated gaze.
Reflecting on it now, the ninjas in Konoha considered by Hokage as the inheritor of the Will of Fire had become the biggest irony.
Shiraishi had hidden his true nature remarkably well until his rebellion. No one could have fathomed his betrayal, transforming from someone loyal to the village to a defected ninja.
Shiraishi didn't respond to Tsunade's question. Instead, he seated himself and stared unblinkingly at the mist-shrouded mountainside.
"Or perhaps... it's related to Sakumo's incident?" Tsunade guessed again.
"You and your sensei think remarkably alike. The Third Hokage asked me the same question the night I left Konoha." Shiraishi said, his expression tinged with helplessness.
"So let me clarify once more. The Konoha ninja known as Sakumo Hatake was just that, a Konoha ninja. His death is regrettable, but I won't use it as a pretext to seek vengeance on anyone. If you're dwelling on this issue, you don't need to. I hold no interest in Konoha's affairs. You're about to leave, and from what I know, Konoha's current situation is rather dangerous."
Shiraishi reminded Tsunade of the ongoing Ninja War. With Konoha, the Heart of Fire, under attack, the situation was undeniably critical.
Seeing that Shiraishi was reluctant to divulge more information, Tsunade realized that she wouldn't glean any more insights from him. This was Shiraishi's genuine self, without the gentle, polite facade he had donned in Konoha. His amiable demeanor within the village had been a guise to win people's trust.
Tsunade drew a deep breath, her composure returning to her face as she turned and lef5 without hesitation.
Listening to her retreating footsteps, Shiraishi knew that his relationship with Tsunade was irreparably damaged.
Yet, there was no other course of action.
From the moment he left Konoha, he had been well aware of this.
No matter the excuses he made up, his actions that night had been aimed at dividing and devastating the village established by the first Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
For Tsunade, this village was undoubtedly a cherished place, one that no one was permitted to tarnish or destroy.
Singlehandedly dismantling it had understandably made her hostile and furious.
Had this not been the boundary of Shikkotsu forest, a personal confrontation might have ensued.
However, such considerations didn't concern Shiraishi.
He had numerous objectives to achieve and couldn't allow a single village, even Konoha, to obstruct his path.
The Third Ninja World War had begun, an opportunity that only came once in a lifetime.
Missing this chance meant that after the war's conclusion, finding a similarly propitious opportunity for his endeavors would be challenging.
"Although I'd love to return soon, let's acquaint ourselves with this environment first."
Indeed, there were many treasures within the ninja world that Shiraishi needed to explore.
The Spring of Life, which could heal and aid in the training of Senjutsu, and the resilient trees capable of withstanding the corrosive mucus secreted by Katsuyu, brimming with natural energy, all demanded his attention.
These resources would be invaluable for his various development plans.
"First, I should ask with Katsuyu about the possibility of creating a simplified version of the Spring of Life."
After all, the Spring of Life on this mountaintop was vast, with both deep and shallow sections, some of which were large enough for substantial psychic beasts to swim in.
Shiraishi intended to construct more conventionally sized therapeutic hot springs outside, which could serve both personal and commercial purposes, offering unforeseen benefits.
Yet, he couldn't help but wonder: Would this endeavor lead to the bankruptcy of the hot spring industry in the Land of Hot Springs?
Shiraishi believed it was a possibility.
...
After Shiraishi's disappearance, some people were naturally distressed about his absence.
No one had anticipated such a turn of events.
Ruri and Ayane had to find Shiraishi's clones, Raimei and Ameyu, who had chosen to remain behind.
"Is our father missing?" Raimei asked, perched on Ameyu's shoulder, was surprised after hearing Ruri and Ayane's narration.
"We suspect he was summoned to Shikkotsu Forest using reverse summoning jutsu." Ruri said.
Indeed, Shiraishi's name had appeared on the scroll containing the summoning contract with Shikkotsu Forest. Both she and Ayane believed that the forest's Slug Sage had whisked him away.
"Shikkotsu Forest? I believe he should be fine. If he were in grave danger, he would have summoned us to aid him. My sister and I are still here, which suggests that our father is in a relatively safe situation." Raimei asserted.
"Let's use the reverse summoning jutsu to summon him back. The current situation is quite concerning."
Ayane proposed. However, she remained somewhat skeptical. What if Shiraishi had encountered an unimaginable danger and he fell before he could use his jutsu?
"Alright Mother, I will use the reverse summoning jutsu immediately..."
Suddenly, Raimei felt a bone chilling sensation enveloping his body, causing him to shiver.
Ruri stared at him with clear black and white eyes, as if looking at a cold corpse, her eyes were dark and terrifying.
"What did you just call her?"
"Uh... I... that... the word earlier was..."
Raimei,was drenched in cold sweat, retreated timidly, seeking refuge behind Ameyu. The gaze of the maternal figure before him was truly frightening.
Did she intend to devour him on the spot?
He was certain his flesh wouldn't taste good. It would likely be sour and bitter.
"Okay.. Okay , he's still a child less than two years old, after all, it's a child's word. Our top priority is finding . Shiraishi-kun's whereabouts."
Ayane intervened, although her smile suggested she was in good mood.
"Yes, maybe Father is currently facing unprecedented danger. I will use the reverse summoning jutsu to check."
Raimei had no idea if Shiraishi had encountered some danger that he couldn't face, but if he couldn't get through his own situation, he felt like he would be lying on a plate on the dining table tonight ready to he devoured.
After he finishing speaking, without waiting for Ruri's reaction, he swiftly moved to the center of the field, ready to immediately summon Shiraishi with the reverse summoning jutsu. Raimei only hoped that Shiraishi would return quickly to serve as his shield.
These two mothers, no matter which one, were truly terrifying.
One was straightforward and oppressive. She induced stress with each penetrating stare. The other, seemingly kind and friendly, constantly sowed discord and escalated situations.
Raimei wished for a gentle mother who would lovingly care for him and cook delicious foods everyday for him. But thinking about it carefully, he realized such maternal fantasies were only imagined in dreams.
It was a rather pitiable circumstance.
Raimei started the gathering of chakra into his forelimbs. Unlike humans, his body's ninjutsu system permitted certain jutsus without the need for hand seals.
Regarding the unique contract between him and Shiraishi, it was far more intimate than typical ninja contracts with summoned beasts.
The intricate seals he created quickly took effect, but the seals returned back, receding and becoming absorbed into Raimei's body.
"What's happening?"
"Father has rejected my summons."
Raimei was momentarily stunned but quickly grasped the situation and thought
His contractual relationship with Shiraishi was clearly hierarchical. He couldn't decline Shiraishi's summons, but whether to respond to his clone's reverse summon call depended on Shiraishi's discretion.
The good news was that, as far as Rainei could tell, his father didn't appear to be embroiled in any critical incidents. However, due to his own pressing matters, he couldn't respond to the reverse summoning call.
The bad news? Raimei's plan to find a suitable shield had failed.
As the atmosphere in the field grew increasingly tense, Raimei made a hasty retreat.
"Ahem, i suddenly remembered that my father entrusted me with a very important mission before leaving. I would like to try and complete it before his return. Ahem, mothers, I have other things to do and will temporarily leave now."
The oppressive atmosphere was stifling, and Raimei feared he might truly die if it continued.
Without waiting for Ameyu's response, he transformed into a bolt of blue lightning and rushed towards the depths of the forest, disappearing in an instant.
Ameyu tilted her head, her expression one of suspicion, as she watched her younger brother disappear.
If she remembered correctly, their father had merely instructed them to clear the area in the forest. Why was there suddenly a new mission?
Her brother, Raimei, was a big liar.
"Since this is the case, it seems we will have to wait for Shiraishi-kun to return to learn what happened. It's getting late; I'll return and take a nap."
Ayane said while stretching her arms. In this cold weather, she had little desire to go outside. She longed for the warmth of others.
"Don't leave in a hurry. Recently, I've been studying a new type of ninjutsu, and I'm in need of a sparring partner of comparable strength. Would you be interested?"
Ruri said as calmly as possible.
Since leaving Konoha, Ruri had come to view this woman as even more dangerous.
She was constantly flirting with her man. 'A shameless woman!!'
"Well, since you put it that way, I suppose I have no objections. It has been some time since we sparred. Come to think of it, I'm curious about my current strength."
Ayane smiled amicably, and agreed to Ruri's request, Her acceptance was far from rude.
In the past, during their sparring sessions, she had consistently suffered humiliating defeats. A Sharingan user with such a average chest, she would be happy if Ruri's strength was equally average.
But times had changed. Her mastery of the Byakugan was vastly improved compared to the past, and she had discovered several practical and powerful moves. This time, she was determined to become the winner.
.... Konoha.
Minato had been discharged from the hospital for a while. During his hospitalization, he had experienced discomfort and stiffness in his body. However, after taking the activating agent developed by the Purple Rose Company, he had nearly returned to his state before the injury within a day of leaving the hospital.
Surviving that near dangerous ordeal had left Minato with a profound appreciation for a second chance at life.
Naturally, he was more vigilant about Shiraishi.
After all, death wasn't an experience one could take lightly. The memory of Shiraishi's cold eyes looking at him just before his death still haunted him.
The next time they crossed paths, he must be more careful and should avoid close combat whenever possible.
However, for the moment, Minato had set aside concerns about Shiraishi. While many Konoha ninjas harbored resentment for Shiraishi's actions that night, such as destroying the village, killing fellow ninjas, and wishing to tear him to pieces, the most important thing at the moment was the imminent battle against Suna and Iwa.
In comparison, Shiraishi posed a considerably lesser threat.
The enemy had chosen their moment carefully. Rather than attacking when Konoha had dispatched numerous ninja squads, they had waited until their strength was pow, not only out of caution but also to prove their might to an existence as powerful as Konoha.
Thus, they had resorted to containment tactics and hit-and-run strategies. The powerful Konoha ninja that night had been primarily concerned with Kushina's safety, so they weren't willing to fight to the death. Some deadly forbidden and secret jutsus could not be readily used.
Therefore, Konoha had only sent a token pursuit force after that night. The primary focus remained on repelling Sunagakure and Iwagakure.
Dealing with a dangerous defector Shiraishi would have to wait after dealing with the war.
Minato would soon join the fray in the war against Suna and Iwa.
But before that, there was one more matter to attend to—the formation of Team Minato.
Since becoming a Jōnin, Minato hadn't led a Jōnin team in the traditional sense. Instead, he frequently teamed up with others or operated solo.
A few days after being discharged from the hospital, Minato felt that his body had almost recovered. The Academy's graduation ceremony was approaching, with two new graduates, and one particularly remarkable case—Hatake Kakashi, a genius ninja who had graduated several years ahead of schedule and was now a Chunin.
In an open area near the academy, Minato held the information on his team members, detailing the graduates' performance and future assignments, which he had received from the Hokage.
As he was thinking about how to get along with the memvers within his team, he heard approaching footsteps.
The individual had silver-white hair, a mask concealing their features, and a finely crafted short blade secured at their back.
Minato recognized the weapon—it was the White Fang, formerly wielded by the fallen Konoha ninja Hatake Sakumo.
The newcomer's identity was unmistakable: Hatake Kakashi, the son of the White Fang.
Graduating at the tender age of five and achieving Chunin status by six, Kakashi was hailed as a child genius. Even high-ranking officials held high hopes for his future.
Given Kakashi's talents, his growth rate suggested it was only a matter of time before he surpassed his father, Konoha's White Fang.
However, ever since the White Fang incident, Kakashi had closed himself off, avoided interaction with others, and disregarded the lives and safety of his teammates, prioritizing the mission above all else. Anyone, including fellow comrades, who obstructed his mission would be ruthlessly abandoned.
"You're Hatake Kakashi. Hello, I'm Minato Namikaze, and I'll be your Jōnin leader moving forward."
Minato greeted with a warm smile.
Kakashi merely nodded, his eyes without any emotions. After this curt nod, he leaned to the side, crossed his arms, and patiently awaited the arrival of the others.
Minato paid no mind, but it reinforced the rumors that Kakashi was at odds with his peers.
And now, the three subordinates of his late father had become Konoha rebels...
Minato couldn't help but chuckle wryly, realizing that this mission given by the Hokage would be quite a challenge.
Not long after, another individual joined them.
This newcomer was a gentle girl with short hair named Nohara Rin.
"Minato-sensei, I'm Nohara Rin . I'll be joining your team from today. Please guide me." she introduced herself with a warm smile. Minato could tell she was considerate of others.
According to the information, she had specialized in medical ninjutsu at the ninja school, and her instructor in medical ninjutsu besides Tsunade, was the S-class rogue ninja who had defected from Konoha Chiba Shiraishi.
"Hello, I'm Namakaze Minato. Let's rest here for a moment; I have something to discuss later." Minato responded with a smile.
"Of course." Rin replied obediently, moving aside. She was a bit surprised to see Kakashi here too.
"Kakashi, are you also part of the team?" Rin asked, suppressing her excitement. She hadn't expected Kakashi to be in Minato's group.
"Yeah." Kakashi replied briefly, closing his eyes to rest.
Seeing that Kakashi wasn't inclined to engage in conversation, Rin opted to remain silent and not disturb him.
About an hour later, another member hurried in.
This individual wore goggles, giving off a straightforward and bold impression. Such a person, if a ninja, would likely be the type to make others feel uneasy.
It was Uchiha Obito.
"Sorry, Sensei. On my way here, I came across an elderly lady who had fallen. I spent a bit of time assisting her and making sure she got home safely." Obito explained, realizing that his tardiness might create a negative impression.
"It's alright. While punctuality is important, today's meeting was mainly for me to get to know you all, not for an assignment. However, in official missions, it's crucial to adhere to schedules." Minato responded, choosing not to reprimand Obito but reminding him of the importance of punctuality in ninja missions.
"Yes, Sensei. Well, I'm Uchiha Obito, and I'll be part of this team starting today." Obito said, rubbing his nose and offering a confident smile.
Minato found himself oddly uplifted by Obito's cheerful demeanor. This Uchiha ninja named Obito was truly an anomaly within the clan known for its solemnity.
It was difficult to imagine that the typically lively and cheerful Obito hailed from the Uchiha clan, a place generally associated with seriousness.
"I'm Namikaze Minato, the Jōnin leading this team. The other two members are Nohara Rin and Hatake Kakashi; you should already know them." Minato said, gesturing for Rin and Kakashi to join them.
Upon seeing Rin and Kakashi together, Obito couldn't help but purse his lips, a smug expression crossing his face.
"This feels just like our school days. You need to start thinking like a ninja. A ninja is no longer a student." Kakashi remarked, clearly unimpressed by Obito's arrival.
"Alright, you two were classmates, so it's important to get along." Minato urged.
"Yes, I understand, Minato-sensei." Obito agreed, though he was struggling to imagine cooperating with Kakashi.
Minato looked to Kakashi, who finally spoke up. "As long as he doesn't hinder me, I don't care."
Minato couldn't help but chuckle in satisfaction.
"Now that everyone's here, let's proceed with a practical exercise." Minato suggested.
"A practical exercise?" Obito inquired.
"Don't worry; it's a simple exercise to help me gauge your abilities. Afterward, I'll determine the types of missions best suited for your team." Minato explained with a smile.
"Great! Minato-sensei, watch and learn. My first mission will surely be an rank challenge!" Obito declared, his enthusiasm bubbling over.
Minato smiled awkwardly, while Rin sighed inwardly, finding Obito's ambition rather unrealistic. It wasn't common for a ninja to engage in A-level missions right from the start.
Kakashi, as usual, regarded them with his usual aloof expression.
Minato led the trio to a nearby practice field.
In the clearing where they gathered, a figure slowly emerged. The individual had a pale complexion, a sinister grin tugging at their lips, and their eyes fixed on Obito's back.
"The kind-hearted and friendly Uchiha... easy to manipulate due to his lack of sense... Madara-sama seems to be in search of such a simple Uchiha." They mused darkly.
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