Chapter 64 (Patreon)

“Put me in charge of the ANBU?”

Yujiro touched his chin and fell into thought.

To be honest, he did not have much interest in it.

“Yes,” Minato said seriously. “Yujiro, the ANBU witnessed your performance on the battlefield with their own eyes.”

“If you take command of them now, there will be no objections. You would become the ANBU Commander directly.”

Minato’s gaze was sincere.

“And I need your help.”

Yujiro looked at him for a moment, then smiled.

“Let me think about it for two days.”

He nodded lightly.

“Do not worry, Minato-sensei. You are more reliable than the Third Hokage.”

Minato gave a small, helpless smile, then turned toward Shisui.

“Shisui, from now on, I’m assigning you to Yujiro’s team.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama!”

Shisui accepted the order without hesitation.

Although Yujiro was much younger than him, Shisui had no dissatisfaction at all.

If anything, there was a faint trace of admiration in his heart.

After all, in the shinobi world, strength was something everyone respected.

Yujiro did not object either.

Shisui’s strength was already among the highest in Konoha.

Moreover, Shisui should have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan by now.

The only thing Yujiro was not sure about was whether he could use Susanoo yet.

Yujiro narrowed his eyes slightly.

Several thoughts had already begun to take shape in his mind.

Earlier, while he was outside the Hokage Building, Yujiro had noticed the dispute between Sarutobi Hiruzen and Minato.

Overall, Minato’s approach was not bad.

However, his attitude was still not firm enough.

Then again, Sarutobi Hiruzen was still his elder and the previous Hokage.

Even so, Yujiro had also confirmed something important.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was displeased that Minato had begun taking real authority into his own hands, and he had likely joined forces with Shimura Danzō.

If those two old foxes worked together, Yujiro doubted he would have many peaceful days ahead.

“Shisui,” Yujiro asked after they reached an open space, “have you awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?”

Shisui froze for a moment.

Then he answered honestly.

“Yes.”

“Then can you use Susanoo now?” Yujiro asked again.

“Not yet…”

Shisui was stunned inwardly.

This should have been a secret of the Uchiha clan.

How did Yujiro know about it so naturally?

As expected, Yujiro was terrifying.

“Notify Kakashi and Itachi. We have a mission within the next two days,” Yujiro said, narrowing his eyes.

Although Danzō’s Root was rotten, that did not mean everything inside Root was useless.

Yamato, who possessed Wood Release, was still there.

At present, Wood Release was also the only nature-transformation kekkei genkai within Konoha.

Aside from that, Konoha only had the Byakugan and Sharingan.

Scorch Release, Boil Release, Lava Release, and the other kekkei genkai were all in other villages.

It seemed that when he had time, he would need to pay a visit to the other shinobi villages as well.

After all, Yujiro had no intention of letting useful kekkei genkai slip away.

That afternoon, in the mountains behind Konoha.

Kakashi, Shisui, and Itachi were already standing in front of Yujiro.

“The mission this time is simple,” Yujiro said.

“We infiltrate Root and rescue Yamato.”

“Yamato?”

Kakashi, Shisui, and Itachi looked at one another.

None of them had heard that name before.

“Yamato is one of Orochimaru’s experimental subjects. He inherited Wood Release and is currently being secretly raised inside Root,” Yujiro explained calmly.

“You all know what kind of place Root is. Our mission is to get him out.”

Kakashi frowned slightly.

“I know a little about Root. Their base should be heavily guarded. If it is a direct attack, the four of us can force our way in. But infiltration is another matter.”

“Kakashi,” Yujiro said casually, “do not forget that we have two pairs of Sharingan here.”

His gaze swept over Shisui and Itachi.

“How many Root shinobi do you think can withstand genjutsu from the Uchiha?”

Kakashi’s eye curved slightly.

“That is true.”

“We move tomorrow night,” Yujiro said. “Kakashi, inform Minato-sensei.”

“Understood.”

Kakashi nodded.

“Dismissed.”

After Yujiro spoke, the three of them disappeared one after another.

Yujiro carried his black blade and walked leisurely toward home.

In the original timeline, Yamato had also been an interesting person.

He liked growing greenery every day, and his personality was not bad either.

The plan to save Yamato was not something Yujiro had decided on a whim.

First, Yamato had left a good impression on him in the original story.

Second, Yamato was currently the only person in Konoha who possessed Wood Release.

Even if it was only a weakened version, things would be different once Yujiro used his own ability to simulate it.

Yamato’s Wood Release was weak because it came from Hashirama cells being implanted into his body.

Yujiro’s method would be direct simulation and acquisition.

The process was different.

Naturally, the power would also be different.

Moreover, Danzō had Wood Release ninjutsu scrolls left behind by the First Hokage.

Yamato had not learned any of Wood Release’s true high-level techniques, but that did not mean Yujiro could not learn them.

In other words, Yujiro had every reason to enter Root.

When he returned home, the moment he stepped through the door, a refreshing fragrance reached him.

“Yugao, the chicken soup is ready,” Kurenai’s voice came from the kitchen.

“Okay, I’ll bring it out now.”

Uzuki Yugao walked out of the kitchen while carrying the chicken soup.

After placing it on the dining table, she raised her head and saw Yujiro standing there with a smile on his face.

“Yujiro!”

The moment she saw him, Yugao threw herself into his arms.

Only after doing it did she suddenly realize her action was a little too forward.

Her face reddened, and she quickly let go.

“You… you’re back. Dinner is ready.”

Seeing Yugao’s flushed face, Yujiro could not help smiling.

“Good. Let’s eat.”

Kurenai Yuhi also walked out of the kitchen.

When she saw Yujiro, a smile appeared on her face as well.

“Come on. To celebrate Konoha’s great hero, we made a proper dinner tonight.”

Yujiro did not stand on ceremony.

He picked up a chicken drumstick and started eating.

The taste was indeed excellent.

At the same time, deep beneath Konoha.

Inside a vast underground chamber.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood with a gloomy expression, staring at Shimura Danzō in front of him.

“Sarutobi,” Danzō said calmly, “I told you long ago. Minato is not suited to be Hokage.”

“You can no longer control him.”

There was even a trace of satisfaction in Danzō’s voice.

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen being treated this way by the very Hokage he had promoted made Danzō feel a strange sense of pleasure.

In his eyes, he was the one truly suited to become Hokage.

A Hokage should be someone willing to use any means necessary for the sake of the village.

“Danzō,” Hiruzen said in a low voice, his face dark, “can you truly control Yujiro?”

“Yes,” Danzō answered.

“Then show me something that can convince me.”

Hiruzen gritted his teeth.

His dignity had been shattered in front of Minato.

For someone who had always stood above others, that humiliation was not something he could swallow easily.

And the reason Minato had dared to act so firmly was Yujiro.

Yujiro…

Why had he failed to notice that child’s potential earlier?

“Very well.”

Danzō narrowed his eye.

Then he raised his hand and slowly removed the bandage wrapped around his right eye.

When his right eye opened, a scarlet Three Tomoe Sharingan was revealed.

“What?!”

Hiruzen froze, disbelief flashing across his face.

After a long silence, he spoke in a deep voice.

“Even with that, you cannot control Yujiro.”

“Do not be impatient,” Danzō said with a faint smile.

Then he removed the bandages wrapped around his right arm.

A golden restraint appeared before Hiruzen’s eyes.

“What is that?” Hiruzen asked.

An ominous feeling rose in his heart.

Danzō said nothing.

He slowly unlocked the golden restraint.

Click.

As the restraint opened, a right arm covered with Sharingan appeared before Sarutobi Hiruzen.

At the upper part of the arm, a human face had also formed.

“This is… Sharingan… and…”

Hiruzen’s voice trembled.

“Exactly, Sarutobi.”

Danzō’s smile deepened.

“The power of the Uchiha clan and the power of the Senju clan now both reside within me.”

“Hashirama cells and Sharingan, fused into one body.”

“Do you still think I lack the means to control Yujiro?”

Cold sweat appeared on Hiruzen’s forehead.

What exactly had his disciple done all these years?

There was no one in Konoha capable of creating such an arm for Danzō.

The only possible person was his own student, Orochimaru.

And over the years, Orochimaru had been secretly cooperating with Danzō.

Hiruzen had known.

Yet he had chosen to turn a blind eye.

“Hah…”

Hiruzen slowly exhaled.

“Fine.”

His expression gradually hardened.

“Minato is planning to let Yujiro take command of the ANBU. When that time comes, I will bring Yujiro and his team here under the pretext of an investigation.”

“That will be your chance.”

Danzō narrowed his eye.

“Good.”

Then he paused.

“There is only one regret.”

“I had my eye on someone’s Sharingan. Unfortunately, Minato interfered and ruined it.”

“Who?” Hiruzen frowned.

“Shisui,” Danzō whispered.

“I already possess many Sharingan, but I can sense it. Shisui’s eyes are different from ordinary Sharingan.”

“They are stronger.”

“It is possible… that he has awakened the Mangekyō.”

The moment he said the word Mangekyō, Danzō’s face revealed an uncontrollable excitement.

Konoha’s higher-ups naturally had records regarding the Mangekyō Sharingan.

According to those records, Uchiha Madara had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

And during the Warring States Period, the only one capable of standing against him was Senju Hashirama.

That alone proved how powerful the Mangekyō Sharingan was.

“No wonder you wanted me to recommend Shisui for Root so strongly,” Hiruzen said with a deep sigh.

“Sarutobi, you and I both know that the Uchiha clan is a great hidden danger to Konoha,” Danzō said coldly.

“Enough. I will make the arrangements later.”

Hiruzen’s expression grew increasingly severe.

After saying that, he left Root with a heavy look in his eyes.

Danzō slowly raised his head and murmured to himself.

“Sarutobi… you have changed as well.”

Then his voice lowered.

“But I have never changed.”

“Because my resolve has always been the same.”