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[NTU] [ARC-13] Chapter : 183
🕑 Added 2024-10-05 17:09:31 +0000 UTC"Oh! Hiashi-san!"
Fugaku didn't hesitate despite being a little perplexed by the sudden invitation. Why would Hiashi invite him for tea out of the blue?
"Ikeda Kaikan? That would be my pleasure!"
Fugaku accepted the offer without hesitation, unaware that he was being used as a pawn in Hiashi’s subtle expression of discontent toward the Third Hokage.
Internally, Fugaku was caught in a web of conflicting thoughts. On one hand, he was astonished by Toshiro’s immense power, far exceeding his expectations. On the other hand, he was grappling with the growing restlessness among the clan's elders. If word of this reached them, their agitation would only increase.
The Ikeda Kaikan was known as one of the more upscale establishments in Konoha, frequented by the village’s most influential figures. The patriarchs and elders of the major clans often chose this spot for their meetings and discussions.
Although Fugaku wasn’t a regular at the Kaikan, he was no stranger to its prestige.
"In the future, if Uchiha-san finds the time, it would be great for you to visit more often. With the Uchiha’s presence, the guild hall would truly shine."
As they entered, Hiashi guided Fugaku through the hall, occasionally introducing him to familiar faces and acquaintances, making it clear how well-connected the Hyuga clan was in these circles.
In the past, the Uchiha clan naturally commanded respect, that changed during the course of Tobirama and Hiruzen's reign as Hokage, but now, with the Third Hokage showing signs of aging and the Uchiha rising to prominence, even the patriarchs of smaller and mid-sized clans have started forming alliances with them. This shift in relationships was not without reason.
"You're far too kind, Hyuga-san," Fugaku responded. "With your introductions, I’ll certainly be visiting more often."
Fugaku had long known the reputation of the Ikeda Kaikan, but one major reason for his absence was the lack of allies among Konoha’s prominent clans. Even if he had visited before, it would have been a lonely affair.
However, with Hiashi Hyuga now making the effort to introduce him, it seemed like an opportunity to finally integrate with the others. Of course, what Fugaku didn’t realize was that Hiashi had orchestrated this intentionally, aiming to publicly show that the Hyuga and Uchiha patriarchs were on friendly terms.
—
"What did you say? The patriarchs of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans sat together, drinking tea and chatting pleasantly?"
Barely half an hour had passed before this news reached the Third Hokage, delivered by someone keeping a close watch.
"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes!"
"I understand. Don’t mention this to anyone," the Hokage said, waving the informant away. A deep frown formed as he rubbed his temples, feeling an unusual sense of dread.
Uchiha and Hyuga—how did those two end up together? One has little in the way of allies but possesses great strength, while the other is weaker yet well-connected. If these two decide to join forces...
As soon as this thought crossed their minds, the expressions of the Third Hokage and the others darkened.
"Hiruzen, this is no small matter. We can't allow the Uchiha and Hyuga to unite!"
"Even on our worst day, we need to handle this carefully. Otherwise, it could spiral out of control."
Just moments earlier, they had all agreed to suppress the Hyuga clan, but now, they quickly reconsidered their stance.
"Exactly!"
"Hyuga's situation can be set aside for now. We must focus on the bigger picture."
—-
In the camp, Toshiro sat cross-legged on a cushion, carefully examining a scroll in his hands.
The intricate script on the scroll, along with the clan crest on its back, clearly indicated its origin—the Uzumaki Clan.
"The Third Hokage actually kept his word this time," he muttered.
After skimming through half of the contents, Toshiro was quite pleased with what he found. Unlike the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, which had been altered before, this time there seemed to be no tampering.
However, one thing caught his attention—what exactly is the Reaper Death Seal?
The inclusion of such a powerful jutsu in the scroll was an unexpected and puzzling surprise.
Is it because I witnessed the Fourth Hokage using this jutsu that it wasn’t removed from the scroll? I hope that’s the only reason and nothing more concerning.
The scroll even provides a detailed explanation of how to perform this jutsu, the process of contracting with the Reaper, and specifically mentions that the Death Mask is located in the Uzumaki Clan’s shrine. The ink on these notes is still fresh...
What surprised him most, though, were the various sealing techniques described in the scroll. They were both astonishing and made perfect sense.
Unlike the Uchiha's techniques, which often center around their family’s signature Fire Release and Sharingan abilities, most Uzumaki sealing techniques seem to require the Adamantine Sealing Chains, a unique bloodline ability of the Uzumaki Clan. This distinction made the complexity of their techniques both impressive and logical.
This kind of secret technique tied to a bloodline limit, even if you had the training methods in front of you, would be useless without the corresponding lineage. Without the blood of the Uzumaki Clan, it’s nearly impossible to perform these sealing techniques. At best, you would need an Uzumaki to assist in their execution.
“No wonder the Third Hokage handed over the scroll so readily—it’s because of this limitation,” he mused.
Unlike the Fourth Hokage, who had an Uzumaki wife to help with these seals, he lacked that advantage.
"However, what the Third Hokage likely didn’t anticipate is that I’ve already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and one of its powers allows me to copy or learn abilities from others!"
Touching his eyes, Toshiro smiled contentedly.
Unlike others like Sasuke or Obito, whose Mangekyō Sharingan awakened through intense emotional trauma, his awakening was a gradual, almost natural process. It unfolded smoothly over time, leaving him with a sense of completeness.
However, his two unique Mangekyō abilities were quite unusual, even by Uchiha standards. Both were difficult to describe. Neither had direct offensive capabilities, but one allowed him to perceive the chakra structure of others' techniques with incredible clarity. He could not only understand their composition but also manipulate his own chakra to replicate those abilities.
No matter the type of bloodline limit, its foundation always lies in the interplay of physical and spiritual energy. Once the structure is understood, it isn’t impossible to attempt to replicate it.
This ability offers another advantage—he might even use it to synthesize a Bloodline limit, potentially awakening the Rinnegan.
The range of this imitation is vast, extending beyond just Bloodline Limits. He sensed that as his eyes continued to evolve, he could one day analyze even other Mangekyō Sharingan techniques and replicate them.
Now, he only needed an opportunity to witness the Adamantine Sealing Chains for himself.
There are few people left in the Ninja world with such unique abilities. As far as Toshiro knew, the only ones who might possess them were Konoha’s Kushina, Karin in the Land of Grass.
"It seems I’ll have to make haste and track down Karin’s mother and her. The only question is—will they resist?"
Originally, B had been a prime target of use, but unfortunately, reapplying the iron seal was child's play for Kushina. There wasn’t even a need for her to use the Adamantine sealing chains.
After tidying up the scroll in his hand, Toshiro pulled out another letter and began reading it.
"Such a tiresome political game," he muttered.
After reading the letter, Toshiro curled his lips in disdain.
The letter, written by Uchiha Fugaku, outlined the shifting stance of the Third Hokage during the ongoing negotiations with the Cloud Shinobi. It highlighted how the Hokage's policies had changed since Fugaku's public meeting with Hiashi Hyuga.
This was one of the reasons why Toshiro held little regard for the position of Hokage. Once someone ascends to that role, they are burdened with the constant task of suppressing the powerful clans within their own village, making endless compromises during negotiations with other villages, and juggling political maneuvering with the Daimyo.
Of course, the position came with its perks—access to secret techniques, loyal subordinates, and various privileges. But Toshiro knew all too well that leadership came with far more challenges than rewards.
Comments
Dragonslayer29
Hope he can save Karin and her mom. Since Karin mom death was so sad especially since she was once part of the powerful uzamaki clan
