Satsuki nodded and charged towards a thick oak tree nearby. Her long black hair streamed behind her, her small figure tracing a graceful arc under the sun.
Crack!
After running a short distance up the tree, a sharp sound rang out. The moment Satsuki's foot touched the trunk, she crushed a large piece of bark. She quickly used her kunai to make a mark above the damaged spot, then flipped back down to the ground.
Satsuki looked up, comparing the marks on the two trees—hers was a little higher than Naruto's. The discovery brought a flash of joy to her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a solemn expression. I didn't realize maintaining a stable chakra output was so difficult... I injected too much chakra just now and was repelled.
Meanwhile, Naruto began his own practice. Although the system had granted him affinity and mastery over Fire Style, tree-climbing tested a completely different skill. It was like being able to peel an apple with chakra didn't mean you could walk a tightrope with it.
Closing his eyes and concentrating, Naruto replayed the tips from the original story in his mind. Don't be too tense... don't be too fixated... Naruto regulated his breathing and focused his mind on the tree.
Soon, the only sounds in the forest were the soft rustling of feet against bark and the crisp scratching of kunai against wood. The two small figures practiced with intense focus.
Satsuki charged up the tree again. This time, she deliberately reduced her chakra output. But being too cautious had its own consequences—before she reached her mark, the chakra at her feet dissipated. She quickly used her kunai to steady herself, her face filled with frustration.
Seeing this, Naruto's lips curled into a slight smile. "Hey Sasuke—I mean, Satsuki, want to have a race? See who can reach the top first?"
Satsuki was taken aback, but then she said proudly, "Of course!" She tossed her long hair and got back into a starting position. "I'll show you the power of the Uchiha. I will definitely win!"
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi had just seen off Fugaku Uchiha. He now sat at his large desk, his pipe emitting curls of smoke, his brow deeply furrowed.
This decision... perhaps it's too risky...
The Third Hokage took a deep drag from his pipe, letting the acrid taste of tobacco fill his mouth. He had already warned the Uchiha clan and ordered the ANBU to increase surveillance. If any suspicious activity was detected, he would immediately cut off all contact between Naruto and Satsuki Uchiha.
But this wasn't just about making Naruto feel a sense of belonging to the village; it was also a chance for the Uchiha clan—a chance to reintegrate into Konoha. The embers in his pipe glowed and dimmed, much like his wavering resolve.
That guy... should be here soon. He smiled wryly and shook his head, beginning to think about how to deal with his old friend's questioning.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before the office door was thrown open, forgoing even the basic courtesy of knocking. A grim figure appeared in the doorway, half his face wrapped in bandages, his hunched but sturdy frame dressed in a gray-black kimono under a white coat.
"The Darkness of the Shinobi," Danzo Shimura.
Without looking up, the Third Hokage continued to review the documents in his hand. "What is it, Danzo? I don't recall summoning you."
Danzo's face darkened further. He strode to the desk, his cane thumping heavily on the floor. "Sarutobi!" his voice was laced with suppressed rage. "You know why I'm here... and you know what foolishness you're committing!"
"Danzo, watch your tone... This is the first time Naruto has formed a bond in the village. Human emotions need an anchor. If the jinchuriki has no sense of belonging to the village, that would be the real disaster."
A sinister glint flashed in Danzo's exposed eye. "But that anchor! Is of Uchiha blood! What if the village's weapon is brainwashed by the Uchiha—"
"Enough!"
The Third Hokage cut him off sharply. "That will never happen! Fugaku's daughter is only three years old, and the ANBU are monitoring their every move. If the Uchiha show any signs of suspicious activity, I will sever their connection immediately."
Seeing the Third Hokage's unyielding rebuttal, Danzo's face was so dark it looked like it could drip ink. He would never forget Sarutobi's furious reaction when he proposed taking Naruto into his own care—"What do you think you're doing to the hero's orphan?" How sanctimonious.
Hah... how ironic.
Danzo sneered inwardly. Back when he had secretly spread the "demon fox" rumors, Sarutobi had known but chose to allow it. And Minato's child... the kid who should have been revered as the son of a hero, was instead deliberately isolated amidst the villagers' malice.
His original, carefully crafted script was for Naruto to fester in darkness from long-term hatred and loneliness, hopefully leaking the Tailed Beast's chakra out of resentment. Then, he could justifiably take control of the jinchuriki into "Root" under the pretext of "protecting the village."
But Naruto's precociousness had completely ruined his plan. The child not only didn't crave attention as expected but actively distanced himself from those who despised him, taking a clear "out of sight, out of mind" attitude. This calmness, so beyond his years, had rendered all of Danzo's schemes useless.
"Is this how you honor the Second Hokage? Have you forgotten our master's teachings?!"
The Third Hokage slowly exhaled a ring of smoke. "Master's teaching was to make the Uchiha useful to the village, but to never let them touch the core of its power."
He stood up. "Over the years, because of endless suspicion, the relationship between the village and the Uchiha has become extremely strained. Now, this is a chance for the Uchiha to prove themselves."
"I have already made it clear to Fugaku: he is not to interfere with Satsuki and Naruto's interactions, nor are other Uchiha clan members allowed to approach Naruto."
"Have you forgotten Kagami? Back then... Master even considered Kagami Uchiha as a candidate for the Third Hokage."
Danzo knew he could no longer persuade his stubborn old friend. He turned with a grim face. At the door, he paused and, without looking back, threw one last line.
"Sarutobi! Your decision will lead Konoha to ruin!"
-------
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