The air inside the archives of the Hokage Building carried the dusty scent unique to old documents. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, casting scattered patches of light across the neatly arranged scroll shelves.
Chiya's fingers brushed across the seals of several scrolls marked "S Rank Confidential" before finally stopping on a dark scroll labeled "Orochimaru."
With a slight movement of his fingertips, he undid the complex sealing technique on it and slowly unrolled the scroll.
The information inside was not especially detailed, but it clearly pointed toward one location.
The mountain range along the southwestern border of the Land of Fire, where it bordered the Land of Grass.
Several recent cases of mysterious disappearances, along with traces of unusual chakra experiments, had all been analyzed by the Anbu as being connected to Orochimaru's activities.
"The southwestern border..."
Chiya muttered softly, his gaze deep.
Orochimaru, once one of Konoha's greatest contributors, had ultimately strayed from the village because of his obsession with forbidden techniques and the mysteries of life.
Although the Third Hokage was heartbroken, he still seemed to retain some affection for his genius disciple. These intelligence reports looked less like records for capturing him and more like surveillance records maintained with silent approval.
Working together with Orochimaru was no different from seeking the skin of a tiger.
He possessed the research ability Chiya desperately needed, an exceptional understanding of forbidden techniques, and perhaps even special methods to deal with White Zetsu.
However, he was equally dangerous and unpredictable.
Just as Chiya was weighing the pros and cons and considering whether it was worth personally traveling to that remote location to find Orochimaru, the long absent mechanical voice suddenly echoed in his mind once again.
[Mission Triggered.]
[Mission Objective: Make Orochimaru willingly return to Konoha.]
[Mission Reward: One random Mangekyō Sharingan ability or Secret Technique.]
Chiya raised an eyebrow as a ripple passed through his heart.
Bring Orochimaru back to Konoha?
And make him do it willingly?
This mission was far more difficult than all the previous interception missions.
Orochimaru's ambition and independence were extremely strong. He had long since become completely disappointed with Konoha's leadership. Using ordinary methods to make him sincerely return was nearly impossible.
"Willingly..."
Chiya rubbed his chin as a thoughtful light flashed through his eyes.
Using force would come at too great a cost, and it would not satisfy the mission requirements.
Lure him with benefits?
What Orochimaru pursued was eternal life and the ultimate truth of the world. Although Konoha could provide abundant research resources...
It still might not satisfy his endless thirst for knowledge and...
His extremely low moral standards for experimentation.
Suddenly, a name flashed through his mind like lightning.
His disciple.
Uchiha Shisui.
Shisui's gentle yet determined eyes appeared before him.
More importantly, he possessed the technique known as the strongest genjutsu.
Kotoamatsukami.
It could alter another person's will without them ever noticing, subtly changing their thoughts over time...
If Kotoamatsukami were used to make Orochimaru willingly believe that returning to Konoha and cooperating with him was the best path toward achieving his ultimate goal...
The idea was incredibly tempting.
But it also caused a trace of caution to rise within Chiya's heart.
If he abused such power...
How would he be any different from Uchiha Madara and the Infinite Tsukuyomi that he despised?
Both twisted another person's will in pursuit of their own goals.
Yet at the moment...
There seemed to be no more direct or effective method.
Perhaps extraordinary people required extraordinary measures.
Chiya's eyes gradually became sharp and cold.
He had already made his decision.
He carefully restored Orochimaru's scroll to its original state, reapplied the seal, and returned it to its place as though no one had ever touched it.
Then his figure blurred.
Without making a sound, he left the Hokage Building and headed toward the Uchiha Clan compound.
Under the sunlight, the Uchiha Clan compound was peaceful and quiet, feeling like an entirely different world from the bustling center of the village.
The crisp sounds of shuriken striking targets echoed continuously across the Uchiha training grounds.
Chiya slowed his pace and looked toward the center of the training field.
A nimble young boy was patiently teaching an even younger child.
The older boy had handsome features, and his gentle eyes contained a maturity far beyond his age.
It was Uchiha Shisui.
Beside him stood a child who looked only four years old.
His large, round black eyes were exceptionally clear, and his small fair face was filled with concentration as he carefully copied Shisui's movements while awkwardly but seriously throwing a small shuriken.
This child...
Was Uchiha Itachi.
Chiya's gaze lingered on Itachi's innocent little face for a moment.
This was the child who, in the original timeline, would shoulder an unbearably heavy sense of justice, stain his own hands with the blood of his family, and ultimately walk toward destruction.
Clan exterminator.
One Hit Seven.
Itachi God.
The Great Filial Son.
Konoha spy.
The embodiment of the Uchiha tragedy.
One label after another flashed through his mind.
But now...
Looking at the pure light in the child's eyes and the complete trust and dependence he placed in Shisui, Chiya's heart stirred slightly.
He was still so young.
Nothing had been decided yet.
His future still held endless possibilities.
If properly guided from childhood, then with his talent...
Perhaps he could truly become the pride of the Uchiha Clan.
Just then, the system notification sounded once again.
[Mission Triggered.]
[Mission Objective: Accept Uchiha Itachi as your disciple.]
[Mission Reward: One random Mangekyō Sharingan ability or Bloodline Limit.]
Chiya's pupils contracted.
Two missions in a single day.
And both rewards were incredibly generous.
An uncontrollable smile appeared on Chiya's lips.
Take Itachi as his disciple?
He had absolutely no objection to this mission.
Not only because of the system's reward.
It was also an opportunity to challenge and correct the original path of fate.
He truly wanted to see what kind of person this young Uchiha sapling would grow into under his guidance.
Shisui's perception was extremely sharp.
He seemed to notice the gaze coming from afar.
He immediately turned around.
The moment he saw Chiya quietly standing in the distance, surprise and respect instantly appeared on his face.
He quickly took little Itachi's hand and walked over.
"Teacher!"
Shisui respectfully bowed, his tone filled with heartfelt admiration.
Little Itachi also copied Shisui's movements, bowing properly while secretly looking at the legendary figure of the clan with curious eyes.
"Shisui, are you teaching Itachi?"
Chiya smiled gently, his gaze falling warmly upon both of them before finally stopping on little Itachi.
"Yes, Teacher. Although Itachi is still very young, he's extremely talented and works very hard."
Shisui smiled as he rubbed Itachi's head, his voice full of affection and pride for his younger brother.
Chiya crouched down so that he was eye level with the little boy.
"Do you like it here?"
Itachi seemed a little shy, but he still bravely met Chiya's eyes.
"Yes, Lord Chiya."
"Do you like shuriken?"
"Yes!"
The moment shuriken were mentioned, Itachi's eyes noticeably brightened.
"Brother Shisui taught me! I want to become as amazing as Brother Shisui, and... and one day become as strong as Lord Chiya and protect everyone!"
The childish words were filled with sincere determination.
Hearing that, Chiya smiled even more warmly.
He reached out and gently patted Itachi's shoulder.
"That's a fine ambition."
He stood up and looked toward Shisui.
His tone sounded casual, yet carried unquestionable authority.
"Shisui, Itachi has great potential.
Now that the war has ended and my work has finally become lighter, from now on he will study by my side."
The moment those words were spoken...
Not only was Shisui stunned.
Even several nearby Uchiha clan members, who had secretly been watching from a distance, showed expressions of complete shock.
The Clan Leader...
Was going to personally train him?
Was he taking a disciple?
And the disciple was only four years old?
Shisui was the first to recover.
An overwhelming wave of joy instantly flooded his heart.
Ever since Itachi was little, Shisui had always taken care of him.
He had long regarded Itachi as his own younger brother.
He never imagined that today his teacher would also accept Itachi as his disciple.
In Shisui's eyes, this would become an immeasurable blessing for Itachi's future.
"Teacher, this is an incredible blessing for Itachi!"
He quickly pressed a still dazed Itachi gently forward.
"Itachi, hurry! Hurry and thank Teacher Chiya for accepting you as his disciple!"
Although Itachi did not fully understand what this meant...
He could clearly feel Shisui's excitement and happiness.
He also knew exactly what he should do.
He obediently bowed once again.
"Thank you, Lord Chiya!"
Chiya smiled as he helped him up.
"From now on, call me Uncle when we're in the clan. Outside, call me Teacher. There's no need to call me Lord anymore."
"Yes!"
[Ding!]
[Mission: Accept Uchiha Itachi as your disciple. Completed.]
[Reward Distribution: Random Selection in Progress...]
[Congratulations, Host. Bloodline Limit Obtained: Steel Release.]
A completely new Bloodline Limit, containing the ultimate properties of hardness and reinforcement, instantly poured into Chiya's body and rapidly merged with his existing power.
Steel Release was a Bloodline Limit created by combining Earth Style and Water Style.
It could greatly strengthen the user's physical body and bones.
It could even transform chakra into incredibly hard steel for offense or defense.
This was quite an unexpected surprise.
It was an extremely practical reinforcement ability.
He just wondered whether it could also strengthen Susano'o.
Feeling the newly increased chakra flowing through his body, Chiya's mood became even better.
His chakra had broken through one hundred.
It had now reached one hundred and two.
Was his chakra volume now comparable to that of an ordinary Tailed Beast?
He looked once more at the small Uchiha Itachi before him.
There was now genuine anticipation in his eyes.
"Alright. That's enough training for today.
Shisui, go inform Fugaku that I will personally visit him later to explain everything. For now, take Itachi home."
"Yes, Teacher Chiya!"
Shisui respectfully responded with a bright smile.
After he and little Itachi bowed once more, he took Itachi's hand and left the training ground, repeatedly looking back over his shoulder.
Chiya remained where he stood, watching their departing figures while countless thoughts flowed through his mind.
Recently...
He had accepted quite a few disciples.
Once he finished dealing with the matters at hand...
It was time to properly train them.
These children would all become Konoha's important future talents.
Accepting Itachi as a disciple...
Was only the first step.
Next...
It was time to deal with Orochimaru.
As for Kotoamatsukami...
It seemed he would have to find a suitable opportunity to have a proper talk with Shisui.
After all...
This matter was of tremendous importance.
The sunlight stretched his shadow far across the ground.
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