Jin Uchiha?
Danzo returned to the Anbu headquarters with Torune Aburame. Orochimaru was leaving, and his reasons were sound... However, there was one undeniable fact: Hiruzen would absolutely never allow him to continue conducting live human experiments right under his nose. That alone was enough to condemn Orochimaru.
But understanding the situation didn't make it any easier to swallow. Losing a pawn he had finally managed to get a firm grip on for nothing... Danzo's expression was dark, his mood thoroughly soured.
After all, he had originally planned to push Orochimaru into a position of power to rival that brat, Minato Namikaze, thereby achieving his goal of secretly controlling Konoha.
Now, everything had been thrown into disarray, and it was all ruined by a half-grown kid who hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy yet. Danzo sat behind his desk with cold eyes, recalling all the intelligence he had gathered on Roy. His expression shifted darkly. After a long moment, he looked up at Torune Aburame and asked, "Has there been any progress with the spy I told you to develop?"
Torune bowed slightly and replied, "I have already made contact with Shisui Uchiha."
The man adjusted the mask covering half of his face and spoke with considerable confidence, "The child neither agreed nor refused. He always says he needs to go back and think about it. I believe that if we give him a little more time and continue to work on him ideologically, we will definitely succeed."
Children were the most susceptible to the "Will of Fire" rhetoric. The idea of becoming a bridge between the clan and the village, saving the Uchiha, and even saving Konoha to become a great hero revered by both his people and the village—Torune felt that no young person could resist such an intoxicating prospect. He was very experienced in this regard.
"Then hurry up!"
Danzo slammed his cane heavily onto the floor, producing a dull thud. With another sharp look from him, Torune responded in a deep voice, "Yes, sir!"
He bowed and retreated.
Meanwhile,
In the southern forest, at a training ground near the Uchiha clan compound.
Roy strolled under the sunlight with his hands in his pockets, unhurried, carefully reflecting on Orochimaru's life.
During his time in the Akatsuki, he had been hit point-blank by Itachi's genjutsu, failing to seize his vessel. Then, he set his sights on Sasuke, painstakingly cultivating him for three years, only to be killed by Sasuke right when he was about to switch vessels. Forced to reside within Sasuke's body and wait for an opportunity, he finally saw his chance during the life-and-death battle between the brothers. In the end, however, he was absorbed by the Totsuka Blade wielded by a dying Itachi, burned by Amaterasu, and completely perished. One had to admit...
This guy really had quite the ill-fated connection with their family.
And all of this seemed to be... the fault of the Sharingan.
It was the classic case of coveting a treasure you could never possess while watching others use it effortlessly. Desiring something but being unable to obtain it was truly maddening.
He arrived at the training ground.
Roy stopped in his tracks and watched Shisui and Itachi meticulously practicing their sword strikes, sweating profusely. Here were two more pairs of Sharingan that Orochimaru desperately desired but could never obtain.
"Brother,"
"Someone approached me recently."
Five thousand three hundred and twenty-one... Five thousand three hundred and twenty-two... Shisui struggled through his ten thousand practice swings, managing to spare a glance at Roy as he spoke.
Roy gave a soft, expressionless hum of acknowledgment.
He deployed [En], and a mind bug casually slipped into Shisui's body, bringing back an image.
It was a ninja wearing a cat-faced mask with two short swords strapped to his back. Judging by the attire, it was undoubtedly an Anbu. As for whether he was from Root... Roy couldn't see the cursed seal on his tongue, but based on the conversation with Shisui, which was full of manipulation and brainwashing, it was a given that he was one of Danzo's men.
"Focus. When you practice the sword, just practice the sword. Don't get distracted." Specks of fluorescent light bloomed in his hands. 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. He began practicing carving a wooden sword with a light blade to increase his understanding of [Yang Style] and solidify his recent gains.
Shisui suddenly shuddered and shouted, "Yes!"
He swung his long sword down, a faint fiery glow flickering around it—a sign that he had just crossed the threshold of Flame Breathing.
Five thousand three hundred and twenty-three... Five thousand three hundred and twenty-four... Seven thousand... Eight thousand...
Itachi was there too. Seemingly unwilling to lose to Shisui in front of his older brother, Itachi gripped his wooden sword and swung it strenuously, keeping pace with Shisui.
Gradually, the sun began to set, dyeing the horizon in a magnificent shade of red.
A series of notification sounds suddenly emerged.
[Prompt: Your believer "Obito Uchiha" has become proficient in using the Sharingan. In a mock battle with Kakashi, he landed a direct punch on the opponent for the first time. "Power of Faith" +7...]
[Prompt: Your believers "Uchiha Yashiro"... "Tekka"... "Inabi" have improved their strength. Due to their gratitude for your help in awakening their eyes, "Power of Faith" +2+1+3+1+2...]
The carving knife made from [Light Style] fell gently, shaving away small wood chips. Just like Urokodaki Sakonji sitting on a tree stump in the courtyard amidst a snowstorm, Roy's hands moved with precision. Gradually, a small, exquisite wooden sword took shape in his hands.
Jade must be carved to be useful; the same was true for swords, for people, and for Light Style. With the final cut shaping the tip of the blade, Roy held the sword up. The setting sun cast a bewitching red glow over the wooden blade. The young man casually twirled the sword in a reverse grip, elegantly dematerializing it back into his [Unconscious Domain], waiting only to brand it with [Divine Script] before giving it to Itachi.
"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-three... Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-four... Ten thousand!"
*Whoosh!* Two sword gleams wreathed in flames sliced through the air, striking two wooden dummies nearby. Then came the sound...
*Crack!*
The wooden dummies were cleanly severed at the waist. The cut surfaces were as smooth as mirrors, bearing faint scorch marks from the flames—becoming the latest victims of Shisui and Itachi's blades.
"Phew." The two boys let out heavy sighs, wiping the fine sweat from their foreheads with the backs of their hands. Their eyes clearly sparkled with joy as they turned to look at Roy in unison.
The young man offered a timely, subtle smile. "Well done."
Shisui and Itachi exchanged a glance and broke into smiles.
"Brother, I want to eat ramen!"
"Me too."
"Alright." Roy took Shisui and Itachi by the hand, one on each side. "All-you-can-eat ramen today. Put it on your brother Obito's tab."
Shisui: "..."
Itachi: "..."
They looked at each other in dismay.
They were dragged along toward the central commercial district of Konoha.
*Step, step...* The sun set in the west, and the daylight gradually faded. In the east, a bright moon was obscured by clouds, casting a hazy glow.
Walking on the way to Ichiraku Ramen,
They were nearing the edge of the southern forest, and the massive Hokage Monument was already visible in the distance. Shisui looked up at Roy and asked tentatively, "Brother, is the clan really that unreasonable?"
Unreasonable? Holding Roy's hand, Itachi peeked over at Shisui, then looked up at Roy.
Roy smiled and said, "The ninja with the cat-faced mask told you that, didn't he?"
Shisui was startled. *Big brother knows?*
Roy just smiled without explaining. He casually glanced in the direction of an inconspicuous underground hideout and said lightly, "Wherever there are people, there will be conflict. You only need to remember that."
"He said he wants me to join them. Should I?"
"Why not?" Roy let go of Shisui's hand and gently patted his forehead. "Do whatever you want to do. If it feels too difficult or wrong, then don't do it. It's that simple."
Shisui looked thoughtful. Itachi looked back and forth between him and Roy, not fully understanding but feeling a sense of awe. As for Roy, he continued walking at a leisurely pace, completely unbothered.
A moment later, Shisui seemed to have made a decision. Weighing his words carefully one last time, he asked, "Brother, aren't you afraid they might be bad people?"
Roy slowly came to a halt. He raised his hand and pointed at the Hokage Monument, specifically at the stone face of Hashirama Senju, and asked Shisui in return, "Do you know who that is?"
Shisui nodded. "I know. The First Hokage."
He then proceeded to list Hashirama Senju's glorious achievements as if enumerating his family's treasures.
Roy listened silently without interrupting. He waited until Shisui's mouth was dry from pouring out his endless admiration for Hashirama in a rapid-fire stream. Only then did he ask again, "Do you know why everyone respects him so much?"
"Father said it's because without the First Hokage, the current Konoha wouldn't exist," Itachi blurted out, recalling the heroic tales Fugaku had told him about Hashirama.
His words earned a nod of agreement from Shisui.
Of course, heroes were worth praising, and Hashirama Senju, who founded Konoha, certainly deserved the title of God of Shinobi.
*But, my foolish little brothers...* Roy crouched down and pulled Shisui and Itachi into a hug, one in each arm. "There is only one true reason why the First Hokage is respected and revered... and that is—"
"He was strong enough!"
Roy looked at the two boys, enunciating every word. "He was strong, so whatever he said and whatever he did was right."
Shisui and Itachi were visibly stunned.
Before they could recover, they both cried out in surprise. Their bodies turned into specks of light as Roy carried them away along with the moonlight. With a few flashes, they appeared in a dark, narrow, deserted alley right next to Ichiraku Ramen in the blink of an eye.
"Meow!" A calico cat foraging at the end of the alley was startled by the three people appearing out of thin air. Its fur stood on end, and it scrambled frantically over the wall to escape.
Shisui and Itachi's black hair was a mess. They seemed to still be reeling from the shock of the Light Style teleportation. A moment later, they each received a warm smack on the back of the head from Roy. Still dazed, they stumbled out of the alley and plunged straight into the Ichiraku Ramen shop.
Shisui and Itachi had no idea how they managed to eat that meal of ramen.
The two boys' eyes seemed to be filled with nothing but light. They dazedly finished their noodles with Roy and dazedly returned to their respective homes. It would likely take them quite some time to digest everything.
Roy didn't mind them. He simply took Itachi and headed straight home.
*Creak.* The door opened.
"We're back." Roy gave Itachi a light pat, reminding him to change his shoes. Stepping out of the entryway, he glanced toward the kitchen and could faintly see his mother, Mikoto Uchiha, bustling about behind the curtain.
"Give me a few minutes, the tonkatsu will be ready soon."
Hearing the commotion, Mikoto called out.
Roy took off his shoes and walked into the house, immediately meeting Fugaku's complex gaze.
The man had taken off his Jonin vest and was wearing black loungewear, sitting upright on the tatami mat. A cup of tea sat on the low table, no longer steaming, indicating that he had been waiting for Roy for a long time since returning from duty.
"Father,"
"Come here. Sit."
Fugaku waved him over.
Roy nodded and sat down on the tatami next to Itachi, just in time to hear Fugaku recount his experience in the Hokage's office.
"The Hokage informed me that your mission to go to the frontlines and support Lord Jiraiya has been canceled, Jin,"
Fugaku Uchiha looked at Roy deeply and asked, "Do you know the reason behind this?"
The Hokage's orders, especially those involving wartime missions, were never easily changed once issued. For Sarutobi Hiruzen to suddenly change his mind within a single day, and even specifically call him from the Military Police Force to the office just to offer some words of encouragement... Fugaku wouldn't believe it had nothing to do with his son, even if he were beaten to death.
The man's gaze was burning. Beside him, Itachi, sitting close to Roy, looked at Fugaku and then at Roy after hearing his father's words.
The young man remained silent. He simply reached out and beckoned, summoning a pot of tea warming on the stove. Then, he split off a wisp of Nen, dividing it into [Water] and [Earth], urging them to intertwine and merge into a wooden cup. Lifting the teapot by the handle, he tilted it and poured. A fresh cup of tea, bubbling and emitting curling steam, appeared before Fugaku and Itachi.
The light in Itachi's eyes had yet to fade, and now a hint of wood was added to it. He subconsciously muttered, "Wood Style?"
As his words fell, the cozy living room, carefully arranged by Mikoto, instantly plunged into an eerie silence.
*Itachi is right... It's [Wood Style]!* Fugaku's mouth fell open slightly in sheer shock.
The wooden cup was ordinary, the kind you could see anywhere in the market. But a wooden cup created through Wood Style? Looking across all of Konoha, and even the Five Great Shinobi Countries, ever since the passing of the First Hokage, this was absolutely one of a kind!
"Father, have some tea." Roy smiled and pushed the wooden cup in front of Fugaku.
The tea in the cup swayed, creating ripples. Fugaku looked down and could even see his own stiff, utterly shocked face reflected in the water!
*So that's how it is...* The man suddenly understood. If he were Sarutobi Hiruzen sitting in the Hokage's seat, he absolutely wouldn't throw a ninja who had mastered [Wood Style] onto the battlefield either!
The reason was simple: this was the Kekkei Genkai that only the First Hokage had mastered. It was the ultimate insurance for suppressing, and even controlling, the Tailed Beasts!
Sending him to the battlefield... if anything were to happen to him, it would be a catastrophic loss for the village and the Land of Fire!
*Slurp...* Fugaku snapped back to reality and took a sip of the tea. He looked at Roy with a complex expression and asked, "What else... are you hiding from me?"
Space-Time Ninjutsu... Could it really be as the Third Hokage said, that this kid was good at learning in his dreams?
"I don't even know myself," Roy spread his hands helplessly. "Father, you know how it is. When you know too many things, you get decision paralysis. If you ask me to list them, I wouldn't be able to finish anytime soon."
Fugaku: "..."
Itachi: "..."
They took a deep breath.
For a moment, it seemed as if they had sucked all the cold air out of the living room!
*Brother... This is my brother...* This was Itachi's thought.
*I don't know.* This was Fugaku's thought.
Silence ruled the living room at this moment.
A moment later, as if sensing the chill in the living room, the kitchen curtain was lifted. Mikoto Uchiha walked out carrying several plates of tonkatsu rice bowls.
"Don't just sit there in a daze. It's time to eat."
"Oh." Finally, the chill dissipated, and the living room became lively once again.
Roy quietly finished his meal, went into the kitchen to wash the dishes, and later that night, bid Fugaku and Mikoto goodnight.
Fugaku Uchiha hesitated to speak, gave him a deep look, and waved his hand. "Go on."
Roy gave him a slight nod. He took Itachi for a quick bath and went back to their room to sleep. That night, perhaps out of exhaustion, or perhaps because he still hadn't recovered from the shock of the Light Style and Wood Style, Itachi obediently snuggled up next to Roy and fell into a deep sleep, saving them the trouble of their usual bedtime chatter.
Thus,
Roy also enjoyed a rare, relaxing night.
He closed his eyes.
Resting his hands over his lower abdomen, he soon fell into a deep slumber. His consciousness detached from the Naruto world and arrived once again at his Sea of Cognition. He traveled through the colorful dream tunnel... With a blink of his eyes, he returned to the Hunter x Hunter world.
However,
This time, Roy didn't wake up naturally. He was shaken awake. The person shaking him spoke with an urgent tone:
"Young Master, Madam's water broke. It seems... she's about to give birth."